diff --git "a/hi/pmindia.en-hi.en" "b/hi/pmindia.en-hi.en" new file mode 100644--- /dev/null +++ "b/hi/pmindia.en-hi.en" @@ -0,0 +1,56832 @@ +An advance is placed with the Medical Superintendents of such hospitals who then provide assistance on a case to case basis. +Since the DoHFW provides funds to the hospitals, the grants can be given from the Department to the hospital directly. +RAN functions can, therefore, be vested in DoHFW. +Managing Committee of RAN Society will meet to dissolve the Autonomous Body (AB) as per provisions of Societies Registration Act, 1860 (SRA). +In addition to this, Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) shall also be transferred to the Department. +The timeline required for this is one year. +JSK organizes various activities with target populations as a part of its mandate. +There has been no continuous funding to JSK from the Ministry. +Population stabilization strategies require private and corporate funding, which can be accessed through JSK. +Although, JSK will continue to play a significant role in population stabilization strategies, its existence as an Autonomous Body is not necessary. +Hence, JSK as an Autonomous Body can be closed as it can be administered by the Department as a fund. +The main concern of the Government is that ABs are required to be reviewed and rationalised with a view to improve their outcomes, effectiveness and efficiency, utilisation of financial and human resources, synergy, governance and relevance in current policy and programme context, with improved monitoring and oversight. +The Committee had recommended closure of RAN and JSK and their functions to be vested in the Ministry. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Kingdom of the Netherlands today. +Queen Maxima is visiting India in her capacity as UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. +Prime Minister Modi and Queen Maxima discussed the various initiatives taken in the last few years by the Government of India for enhancing financial inclusion in India, such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, and Atal Pension Yojana. +Queen Maxima appreciated the progress achieved by these initiatives. +The two leaders also discussed global development finance. +Sumitra Mahajan’s guidance would be of immense benefit as the House endeavoured to serve India’s people. +He said that Smt Mahajan had vast experience in public life, from being a corporator in the Indore Municipal Corporation, to an eight-term MP of the Lok Sabha. +The Prime Minister said that the sixteenth Lok Sabha was comparable to the first, with approximately 315 first-time MPs. +He said the House has an opportunity to leave behind many old traditions, and establish new ones. +He said Indian Parliament is a temple of democracy, and has the opportunity to present India to the world as a powerful democracy, with new energy. +He said the Speaker’s name itself suggests that everyone will feel she is a friend. +Our ancient texts also say – “Mahajaney yen gatah panthaya” – it is beneficial to walk the path on which Mahajans walk. +He assured the Speaker on behalf of the entire House, that she would receive full cooperation of all members in conducting the proceedings of the House successfully. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its ex-post facto approval for amendments to Section 44 and consequential amendments of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 by introducing the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in the Parliament. +The approved amendments will address concerns and apprehensions expressed by different categories of public servants and addresses the difficulties being faced in implementing the provision of section 44 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. +The amendments are in line with one of the recommendations of the Standing Committee. +On the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Health and Wellness Centre, to mark the launch of the Union Government’s ambitious Health Assurance Programme – Ayushman Bharat. +The Centre was inaugurated at Jangla Development Hub, in the aspirational district of Bijapur in Chhattisgarh. +In the course of over one hour, the Prime Minister interacted with a number of people, and was briefed on several development initiatives at the development hub. +At the inauguration of the Health and Wellness Centre, he interacted with ASHA workers. +Addressing an enthusiastic gathering, the Prime Minister paid homage to the martyrs from the region who had fought against British Imperialism. +He also paid homage to the security personnel who laid down their lives in Naxal-Maoist attacks, in the region. +The Prime Minister noted that the Union Government had earlier launched two significant development initiatives, the Syama Prasad Mukherjee Rurban Mission, and the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana, from Chhattisgarh. +Today he added, Ayushman Bharat and Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, are being launched from the State. +The Prime Minister said Babasaheb Ambedkar had a key role to play in the establishment of “aspiration” in the hearts and minds of crores of people. +Explaining the significance of holding this event in Bijapur today, the Prime Minister said that Bijapur is one of the over 100 aspirational districts in the country, which have got left behind in the development journey. +The Prime Minister said that the Ayushman Bharat scheme will go a long way in ending social imbalance, and ensuring social justice in the country. +He said the aim is to complete this task by 2022. +The Prime Minister asserted that people’s participation is the strength of the Government, which will help in the creation of New India by 2022. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Rashtriya Jan Jagriti Dharam Sammelan at Srisailam via video conference. +Wishing everyone on the occasion of Ugadi, the Prime Minister said that Ugadi is a festival of new beginnings and new hopes. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is working on various schemes with clear targets and timelines. +In this context, he mentioned the progress made in terms of opening Jan Dhan accounts, insurance for the poor, Ujjwala cooking gas connections, Mudra Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana etc. +He said the speed of infrastructure development has significantly increased. +He also mentioned the Ayushman Bharat scheme and the National Nutrition Mission. +He said that the Swachh Bharat Mission has led to significant increase in sanitation coverage in the country. +The Prime Minister said that today, the people want the country to rid itself of its weaknesses as soon as possible. +He said that the Government is working hard for the cause of nation building, and the support of everyone will give momentum to these efforts. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the policy for providing preference to domestically manufactured iron & steel products on Government procurement. +This policy seeks to accomplish the PM’s vision of ‘Make in India’ with objective of nation building and encourage encourage domestic manufacturing. +The policy mandates to provide preference to Domestically Manufactured Iron & Steel Products (DM1&SP), in Government Procurement. +The policy is applicable on all government tenders where price bid is yet to be opened, +DMI&SP policy provides a minimum value addition of 15% in notified steel products which are covered under preferential procurement. +In order to provide flexibility, Ministry of Steel may review specified steel products and the minimum value addition criterion. +While implementing who shall provide the policy, it poses trust on each domestic manufacturer who shall provide self-certification to the procuring Government agency declaring that the iron & steel products are domestically manufactured in terms of the domestic value addition prescribed. +It shall not normally be the responsibility of procuring agency to verify the correctness of the claim. +In few cases, the onus of demonstrating the correctness-of the same shall be on the bidder when asked to do so. +In case any manufacturer is aggrieved, a grievance redressal committee set up under the Ministry op Steel shall dispose of the complaint in a time bound manner, in four weeks +There are provisions in the policy for waivers to all such procurements, where specific grades of steel are not manufactured in the country, or the quantities as per the demand of the project cannot be met through domestic sources. +The policy is envisaged to promote growth and development of domestic steel Industry and reduce the inclination to use, low quality low cost imported steel in Government funded projects. +It shall be the responsibility of every Government Agency to ensure implementation of the policy. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Nagaland on their Statehood Day. +“Statehood Day greetings to the people of Nagaland. +I pray that Nagaland scales new heights of development and the aspirations of the state’s citizens are fulfilled”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended a book release function to commemorate Constitution Day, at Parliament House Annexe. +Two books: an updated version of the Constitution of India; and “Making of the Constitution” were released on the occasion. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that 26 November is being celebrated as Constitution Day since 2015. +He said that successive generations should be well acquainted with the Constitution, and recall it in the contemporary context. +The Prime Minister said that In India, when we recall the Constitution, we also recall Babasaheb Ambedkar. +He said that we must be connected with the spirit of the Constitution, and look for a balance between rights and duties. +Noting the importance of Constitution Day, the Prime Minister said 26 January (our Republic Day) could not have been celebrated without 26 November. +The Prime Minister said that the common citizen has today become a soldier in the fight against corruption and black money. +He encouraged people to use digital modes of money exchange to the extent possible, as this would increase transparency. +He asserted that every person has a right to spend his or her money, and no one can take away anyone’s money. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has extended his greetings on Army Day. +PM said, “On Army Day, I convey greetings to the soldiers, veterans and their families. +Every citizen of India has unwavering trust and pride in our Army, which protects the nation and is also at the forefront of humanitarian efforts during times of natural disasters and other accidents. +Our Army always puts the nation first. +I salute all those great individuals who sacrificed their lives while serving the nation. +India will never forget our valiant heroes.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Morocco on India-Morocco Cooperation in Renewable Energy. +The MoU was signed on 10th April, 2018 in New Delhi. +Both sides aim to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy issues on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity. +The MoU envisages establishing a Joint Working Committee to review, monitor and discuss matters relation to areas of cooperation. +The MoU aims for exchange of expertise and networking of information. +The MoU will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Russia. +“Greetings to the friendly people of Russia. +I look forward to my visit to Sochi tomorrow and my meeting with President Putin. +It is always a pleasure to meet him. +Am confident the talks with President Putin will further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Indian community in Yangon, Myanmar. +“You represent thousands of years of the shared culture and civilisation, geography and history, aspiration and achievements of the great sons and daughters of India and Myanmar,” the Prime Minister said, addressing the gathering. +The Prime Minister elaborated on the rich spiritual traditions of Myanmar. +The Prime Minister said that the Indian diaspora is like “Rashtra-doot” for India. +He said that the global recognition of Yoga is the achievement of the diaspora, who took it to all corners of the world. +“When I meet you, I also feel that communication of our people living in foreign countries with government authorities in India is not a one way traffic any more,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government in India is focusing on infrastructure. +He said that good infrastructure is no longer about roads and railways alone – it includes several other aspects that bring about a qualitative change in society. +He said that the Government has not shied away from taking decisions that are tough. +The Prime Minister said GST is ushering in a new culture across the nation. +He said that the people of India have the confidence that India can be transformed and we can break free from some of the evils that entered our system. +The Prime Minister said that people-to-people ties are the strength of India-Myanmar relations. +Mr. Phyo Min Thein, Chief Minister of Yangon Region, was present at the gathering. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people on the 350th Foundation Day of Sri Anandpur Sahib. +“Greetings on the 350th Foundation Day of Sri Anandpur Sahib. +This is truly a special & historical occasion. +We remain inspired by the tenets of Sikhism & bow to the great Sikh Gurus, who have left a very deep impact on our culture & society,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Protocol amending the Agreement between India and Vietnam for the avoidance of double taxation and for prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. +The Protocol provides for internationally accepted standards for effective exchange of information on tax matters including bank information and information without domestic tax interest. +Both the Indian and Vietnamese sides agreed to update Article 27 on the ‘Exchange of Information’ in India-Vietnam DTAA, to meet internationally accepted standards, and add a new Article on ‘Assistance in the Collection of taxes’, and enter into an Amending Protocol for the purpose. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Russia’s National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) in Moscow tomorrow on December 24th, 2015. +The NCMC is a multi level coordination centre designed to provide inter-agency coordination and alert the people about the threat of emergency situations. +The capabilities of the NCMC include state-of-art real time monitoring, data collection, analysis and modelling. +It uses global navigation satellite systems and global monitoring technologies based on remote sensing. +The Moscow based NCMC processes information from across Russia and is capable of monitoring industrial facilities, crowded areas, tsunami threats, other natural disasters etc. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and the Insurance Authority of United Arab Emirates. +The MoU was signed in February, 2016. +The MoU provides for enhanced cooperation between the two authorities in the field of insurance supervision by providing a framework for co-operation such as channels of communication. +It will also result in increasing mutual understanding through the exchange of regulatory and relevant supervisory information including confidential information to enforce or ensure compliance with their respective laws and regulations. +The Prime Minister outlined his Government’s development initiatives, including in the areas of financial inclusion, individual enterprise and renewable energy. +He said the concept of “climate justice” enables us to display our resolve to protect the poor from natural disasters. +The Prime Minister spoke of his Government’s commitments in the areas of renewable energy, Ganga cleaning and construction of toilets. +The Prime Minister met UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. +UN peacekeeping operations and reform of the United Nations Security Council came up for discussion. +On the subject of climate change, the Prime Minister said there is currently a trust deficit between developed and developing countries. +He also said focus should be on positive goals, and not just on reducing emissions. +The Prime Minister met King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. +The danger posed by ISIS and the issue of terrorism came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister said a global response is required on the issue of terrorism. +The Prime Minister met the President of Egypt, Mr. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. +Counter-terrorism and counter-radicalization measures came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister also met Mr. Kenny Davis Anthony, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated to the nation the indigenously designed warship INS Kolkata. +Addressing naval officers and sailors at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai after commissioning the ship, the Prime Minister described INS Kolkata as proof of India’s “Buddhi Bal” (intellectual capabilities). +He said India’s aim is to achieve such prowess in its defence capabilities, that no one dares to cast an evil glance at India. +“As we dedicate this ship to the nation, we display to the world, our buddhi bal and our manufacturing capabilities,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister remarked that being in Maharashtra, and talking about the Navy, one could not but remember Chhatrapati Shivaji, the great Maratha King, who conceived the navy as a means for securing India’s maritime trade interests. +The Prime Minister said that today, maritime security was a vital aspect of global trade, and India was playing its part in securing global trade. +He added that INS Kolkata is also a great communication platform, and will be useful in securing India’s trade interests at sea. +The Prime Minister mentioned the provisions made in the recent budget for defence offsets, and said the world’s best arms and equipment manufacturers would be invited to set up manufacturing facilities in India, and a day would come when India would be completely self-reliant in defence production. +The Prime Minister praised the valour of the Indian armed forces, and assured the jawans that the whole nation stood by them and was convinced that they would leave no stone unturned in defending the country. +The Defence Minister Shri Arun Jaitley congratulated the Navy on the commissioning of INS Kolkata. +The Governor of Maharashtra Shri K. Sankaranarayanan, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Prithviraj Chavan, the Chief of Army Staff Admiral R.K. Dhowan, the National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Doval, the Defence Secretary Shri R.K. Mathur, and senior officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister also visited various facilities onboard INS Kolkata and also wrote in the Visitor’s Book. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Air Services Agreement between India and Rwanda. +The Agreement has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange between India and Rwanda, bringing it in tune with developments in the civil aviation sector. +It will provide enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the carriers of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Russia on Bilateral Cooperation in the Road Transport and Road Industry. +The MoU will be signed during the upcoming visit of Russian President to India. +In order to develop and establish formal platform for cooperation in the Transport and Highways sector, a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Road Transport and Road Industry has been jointly negotiated and finalized by both countries. +Both the countries will benefit by mutual cooperation in the field of Road Transport and Road Industry. +Increased co-operation, exchange and collaboration with Russia will contribute to establish a long-term and effective bilateral relationship of communication and cooperation in road transportation and road industry and Intelligent Transport System (ITS). +Russia has developed technological solutions for satellite based tolling solutions. +Similarly, they have also adopted advanced intelligent traffic management systems including crash reporting/ monitoring systems. +Considering Russia’s proven experience in adoption of technology in the road transport sector, it would be beneficial to learn from such best practices through close interaction. +India is implementing at a rapid pace its highway infrastructure augmentation plans. +To make full use of the road infrastructure it is necessary to embrace technology to enhance transport productivity and safety. +This will also help in reducing overall logistic cost. +India’s own plans for massive highway and expressway infrastructure development can be attractive opportunity to infrastructure development entitles in the Russia. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to attending the G-20 Summit. +“I will be visiting Buenos Aires from 29 November -01 December 2018 to attend the 13th G-20 Summit hosted by Argentina. +The G-20 seeks to promote multi-faceted cooperation among the twenty largest economies of the world. +Through the ten years of its existence, G-20 has strived to promote stable and sustainable global growth. +This objective is of particular significance for developing countries and emerging economies such as India, which is today the fastest growing large economy in the world. +India’s contribution to global economic growth and prosperity underlines our commitment to “Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development”, which is the theme of the Summit. +I look forward to meeting leaders from other G-20 countries to review the work of G-20 in the last ten years of its existence and chart the ways and means to meet the new and upcoming challenges of the coming decade. +We will deliberate on the situation of global economy and trade, international financial and tax systems, the future of work, women empowerment, infrastructure and sustainable development. +Emerging economies, which played a major role in revitalizing the growth in the global economy pursuant to the financial crisis are today facing unprecedented economic and technological challenges. +I will highlight the need for reformed multilateralism which reflects the contemporary realities and can effectively strengthen collective action for global good. +There is also a serious need to strengthen international cooperation and enhance coordinated action against fugitive economic offenders and financing of terrorism. +As in the past, I look forward to the opportunity to meet leaders on the sidelines of the Summit to exchange views on bilateral matters of mutual interest”. +Flags off First Phase of Ahmedabad Metro; Inaugurates the New Civil Hospital and New Cancer Hospital +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, visited Ahmedabad and launched various development projects. +At Vastral Gam Metro Station in Ahmedabad, the Prime Ministerinaugurated the first phase of Ahmedabad Metro Service. +He laid the foundation stone for the second phase of the Ahmedabad Metro. +He then flagged off the Metro train and took a ride in the metro. +The Prime Minister, inaugurated the 1200 bed New Civil Hospital, New Cancer Hospital, Dental Hospital and Eye Hospital in Ahmedabad. +He also dedicated to the nation, the Dahod Railway Workshop and Patan-Bindi Railway Lineand laid the foundation stone of Lothal Maritime Museum. +Addressing the gathering at the BJ Medical College Ground, the Prime Minister said that it is an historic day, as the dream of Ahmedabad Metro has come into fruition. +He said that the metro will provide a convenient and environment friendly mode of transportation for the people in Ahmedabad. +He said the card would ensure ‘One Nation-One Card’ for mobility. +He said that the museum will have world class facilities and will increase the tourism potential of the State. +Narendra Modi said that the Government is committed towards fighting all the menaces in the country, ranging from corruption to terrorism. +He assured the people that strict action will be taken against elements working against the nation. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Tourism of India and the Ministry of Trade Industry and Tourism of Colombia for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism. +The main objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding are:- +(a). To expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector. +(b). To exchange information and data related to tourism. +(c). To encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders including Hotels and Tour operators. +(d). To establish an exchange programme for cooperation in Human Resource Development. +(e). To exchange visits of Tour Operators / Media /Opinion Makers for promotion of two way tourism +(f). To exchange experiences in the areas of promotion, marketing, destination development and management. +(g). To participate in travel fairs /exhibitions in each other’s country. +Colombia is an emerging tourism source market for India. +The Ministry of Tourism organized a Road Show in Bogota, Colombia in October 2014 which elicited good response from travel trade of both countries. +Similarly, India is a Potential source market for Colombia considering the huge outbound tourism market of India. +The outbound tourist traffic from India during 2013 was 16.63 million. +A Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Tourism Cooperation would be one institutional mechanism to further bilateral relations between the two countries to further deepen India’s relationship in the field of tourism. +At a public meeting, the Prime Minister unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of Foundation Stone of the Rail Coach Refurbishing Karkhana, Sonepat. +Once complete, this will be a major repair and maintenance facility for rail coaches in the northern region. +It is being set up using modular and prefabricated construction techniques, modern machinery, and environment-friendly features. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that Chaudhary Chhotu Ram ji was one of those social reformers, who made an important contribution for India. +He described Sir Chhotu Ram as a strong voice for the oppressed and the deprived. +The Prime Minister said that the Rail Coach Refurbishing Karkhana will contribute to the development of not just Sonepat, but the entire State of Haryana. +He said it will benefit small entrepreneurs in the region, besides generating employment for youth. +The Prime Minister complimented Sir Chhotu Ram’s vision. +In this context, he also spoke of the Bhakra Dam. +The Prime Minister mentioned Sir Chhotu Ram’s initiatives to provide remunerative prices to farmers, and also spoke of the steps taken by the Union Government in this regard. +Speaking about the progress of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the Prime Minister said that the first beneficiary of the health assurance scheme was from this State. +He expressed satisfaction that in two weeks, more than 50,000 people have benefited from this scheme. +The Prime Minister mentioned success achieved under the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” scheme. +He observed that girls born in villages of Haryana are making the country proud in the global arena, and the youth of Haryana is helping make India a global sports power. +He added that these are indications that we are progressing rapidly towards realizing the dreams of Sir Chhotu Ram. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that the work of the National Legal Services Authority, through legal aid mechanisms such as Lok Adalats, highlights their compassion for the poor, and their commitment to the cause of justice. +He was speaking at the event to mark Legal Services Day and Commendation Ceremony, in New Delhi today. +The Prime Minister said that Lok Adalats have become a means for people to access justice that is timely and satisfactory. +The Prime Minister also suggested that rendering free legal aid to poor could become a criterion in selection of judges. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the phasing out of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). +The proposal entails abolishing the FIPB and allowing administrative Ministries/Departments to process applications for FDI requiring government approval. +In addition, Foreign Investors will find India more attractive destination and this will result in more inflow of FDI. +The move will provide ease of doing business and will help in promoting the principle of Maximum Governance and Minimum Government. +The proposal for abolition of FIPB was approved by the Cabinet in its meeting on 24-05-2017. +Presently, applications are considered by FIPB in Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance comprising of various Secretaries of Government of India for making recommendation on FDI applications. +After the Cabinet decision, it would be handled independently by Administrative Ministries as per Sector. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has invited everyone across the world to visit India, on the occasion of World Tourism Day. +“On World Tourism Day, I invite you all to visit India and experience India’s beauty, diversity and warmth of our people”, the Prime Minister said. +His Excellency Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka +Secretary General of ITU, +Other distinguished dignitaries +Delegates from over 120 countries +Ladies and Gentlemen. +I welcome you to New Delhi, for the Global Conference on Cyber Space. +I also welcome all those who are joining this event remotely from across the world, over the internet. +We all know how cyberspace has transformed the world over the last few decades. +The senior generation among the gathering here, would recall the bulky mainframe computer systems of the seventies and eighties. +A lot has changed since then. +Email and personal computers brought about a new revolution in the nineties. +This was followed by the advent of social media, and the mobile phone as an important vehicle of data storage and communication. +Expressions such as the Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence, have now become commonplace. +These indicate that change continues, perhaps at an even faster pace now. +Indian IT companies have made a name for themselves globally. +Today, digital technology has emerged as a great enabler. +It has paved the way for efficient service delivery and governance. +Technology breaks barriers. +We believe it validates the Indian philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – the world is one family. +This expression reflects our ancient, inclusive traditions. +Through technology, we are able to give meaning to this expression, and indeed to the best of democratic values. +We have used this identity to liberate our people from queues and cumbersome processes. +Three factors: first, financial inclusion through our Jan-Dhan bank accounts; second, the Aadhaar platform; and third, the Mobile phone, have greatly helped reduce corruption. +Through better targeting of subsidies, the JAM trinity has prevented leakages to the tune of nearly 10 billion dollars so far. +Let me share a few examples of how digital technology is becoming a great facilitator for “ease of living.” +Today, a farmer can access a variety of services, such as soil-testing results, expert advice, and a good price for his produce, at the click of a button. +Digital technology is therefore contributing to increased farm incomes. +This leads to increased efficiency, and greater value for public money. +Pensioners no longer need to present themselves in front of a bank officer, to provide proof of life. +Today, a pensioner can leverage the Aadhaar biometric platform, to provide this proof with minimal physical effort. +Women form a significant part of the IT workforce. +Digital technology has facilitated several new enterprises led by women. +In this way the IT sector has contributed towards gender empowerment. +Citizens of India are increasingly adopting cashless transactions. +For this, we created the Bharat Interface for Money – or BHIM App. +This App is helping the movement towards a less cash and corruption free society. +These examples show the power of technology in improving governance. +We are using the digital domain to facilitate participative governance, or Jan Bhagidari. +When we assumed office in May 2014, many people, particularly youngsters expressed a keen desire to share their ideas and work for the nation. +It is our firm belief that there are millions of Indians, whose transformative ideas can go a long way in taking India to new heights. +Therefore, we launched the citizen engagement portal, MyGov. +Therefore, we devised a cyberspace based platform, called PRAGATI or Proactive Governance for Timely Implementation. +Technology breaks silos. +Sitting in our respective offices, aided by the cyber world, we discuss and resolve important governance issues. +I am happy to share with you that the PRAGATI sessions have resulted in faster decision-making, through consensus, in the larger interest of the nation. +PRAGATI has put back on track infrastructure projects worth billions of dollars which were stuck in red-tape. +I have even tried something of my own, through the Narendra Modi Mobile App. +This App deepens my connect with citizens. +The suggestions I get through the App are very useful. +Today, we launched the UMANG Mobile App, which will provide over a hundred citizen-centric services. +At the back-end, these services will be catered for by many different departments of the Union and State Governments. +This integrated approach will add an automatic layer of “peer performance pressure”, in the working of these departments. +We shall be happy to share our experiences and success stories with the global community. +On the other hand, India is keen to find scalable models and innovative solutions in education and health, using digital technology. +We also wish to make cyberspace an enabler for the differently-abled. +Recently, during a thirty six hour Hackathon, college students suggested solutions to chronic problems that were put forward by Ministries. +We look forward to learn from global experiences and best practices. +We believe that growth happens only when we all grow together. +Cyberspace remains a key area for innovation. +Our startups today, are looking to provide solutions to common everyday problems, and improving the lives of people. +I am confident that the global investor community, will recognize the immense potential waiting to be tapped from India’s startup pool. +I invite you to invest in this space, and be a part of the unfolding story of Indian startups. +The internet, by nature, is inclusive and not exclusive. +It offers equity of access, and equality of opportunity. +Today’s discourse is being shaped by Facebookers, Tweeples, and Instagrammers. +Social media platforms are making cyberspace participative for all. +News that experts tell us from studios, is now supplemented by experiences highlighted on social media. +This transition, to a blend of expertise and experience, is the contribution of the cyber world. +The theme of the Conference: “Secure and Inclusive Cyberspace for Sustainable Development” also highlights the importance of securing this vital asset for mankind. +The global community needs to approach the issue of cyber-security with confidence, as much as with resolve. +Cyberspace technologies must remain an enabler for our people. +The quest for an open and accessible internet often leads to vulnerability. +Stories of hacking and defacement of websites are the tip of an iceberg. +They suggest that cyber attacks are a significant threat, especially in the democratic world. +We need to ensure that vulnerable sections of our society do not fall prey to the evil designs of cyber criminals. +Alertness towards cyber-security concerns, should become a way of life. +One of the major focus areas should be the training of well-equipped and capable professionals to counter cyber threats. +Cyber-warriors who will remain on the alert against cyber-attacks. +The term “hacking” may have acquired an exciting, even if dubious overtone. +We need to ensure that cyber protection becomes an attractive and viable career option for the youth. +On a related note, nations must also take responsibility to ensure that the digital space does not become a playground for the dark forces of terrorism and radicalization. +Information sharing and coordination among security agencies is essential to counter the ever-changing threat landscape. +Surely, we can walk the fine balance between privacy and openness on one hand, and national security on the other. +Together, we can overcome the differences between global and open systems on one hand, and nation-specific legal requirements on the other. +Emerging digital technologies could impact our future in ways that we cannot yet foresee. +Important questions of transparency, privacy, trust and security may need to be addressed. +Digital technology serves to empower mankind. +We must ensure that it continues to stay that way. +The large multi-stakeholder participation at this event, is proof of the global endorsement that this platform has received. +Nation states, the industry, academia and civil society, all need to work towards a formal collaborative framework. +This will enable a secure cyberspace which improves quality of life. +This conference is perhaps the biggest ever such event in terms of numbers. +I am told that all the background and logistics have been handled digitally. +I hope delegates from around the world found it a smooth and seamless experience. +I conclude by wishing you fruitful and productive deliberations and outcomes. +I once again welcome you, and wish the conference all success. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a roundtable meeting with top American CEOs from the financial sector. +The CEOs present included Jamie Dimon, Chairman, CEO and President, J P Morgan; Steve Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-founder, Blackstone; Charles Kaye, Co-CEO, Warburg Pincus; Henry Kravis, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO, K. K. R; Bill Ford, CEO, General Atlantic; Peter Hancock, President and CEO, AIG insurance; Chase Coleman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Tiger Global; and Vicki Fuller, Chief Investment Officer, NY State Common Retirement Fund. +The CEOs expressed appreciation for the steps taken by the Prime Minister to improve ease of doing business, and his various initiatives including his push for infrastructure development and Digital India. +Many CEOs expressed keen interest in the Indian start-up sector, and showed willingness to invest in entrepreneurial ventures and innovative start-ups. +The CEOs mentioned taxation issues and residual bureaucratic bottlenecks as some of the concerns that still existed with regard to investment in India. +Making a strong pitch for increased investment in various sectors in India, the Prime Minister outlined his vision for “Start-Up India, Stand-Up India.” +He said that along with the public sector and private sector, he was laying emphasis to individual start-ups and entrepreneurs – whom he referred to as the “personal sector.” +He said start-ups and innovation had been at the heart of the IT revolution. +The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that all the CEOs at the roundtable had not only spoken about India’s possibilities, but also voiced their confidence in them. +He noted that they had articulated their concerns clearly. +The Prime Minister highlighted the economic successes over the last fifteen months. +He said FDI in India had increased substantially over this period, a trend contrary to what was seen across most of the world, and this showed increased investor confidence in India. +The Prime Minister spoke of the ease of doing business rankings among states, that had been done by the World Bank. +He said there was now a healthy competition among states in this area. +The Prime Minister spoke of the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme for LPG subsidy, which had emerged as the largest DBT scheme anywhere in the world. +The Prime Minister spoke of the liberalization of the FDI regime in sectors such as insurance, railways and defence. +The Prime Minister mentioned some specific sectors where there was great scope for innovative solutions in India, including insurance products for the agriculture sector and the health sector. +He mentioned defence manufacturing, electronic goods manufacturing, renewable energy equipment, railways and metros, Clean India and Digital India as sectors where immense potential existed for investment. +He said 50 million new houses by 2022, broadband connectivity for 600,000 villages, doubling of railway capacity and 175 Gigawatts of renewable energy generation were some of the concrete targets his Government had set, which created huge investment opportunities. +Exim trade between India and Bangladesh would be benefited by way of reduction in freight charges. +It will also improve the utilization of port capacities of Indian ports and open up new opportunity for Indian coastal vessels. +It will also help in decongestion of roads especially at the Land custom stations/integrated check posts at the Indo-Bangladesh boarder. +The Indian ports serving as transshipment ports for Bangladesh cargo will derive benefits by way of enhanced throughput as a result of Indo-Bangladesh coastal trade. +India and Bangladesh shall render the same treatment to the other country’s vessels as it would have done to its national vessels used in international sea transportation. +Shri Sitaram Kedilaya called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today, after the successful completion of Bharat Parikrama Padyatra undertaken by him. +According to Shri Kedilaya, he had embarked on the Bharat Parikrama Yatra on 9th August 2012 from Kanyakumari and completed the journey at Kanyakumari on 9th July this year. +In the course of the Yatra, Shri Kedilaya said that he had reached out directly to 9000 villages. +He also says that the message of the Yatra indirectly touched an additional 20,000 villages. +He interacted with lakhs of farmers and rural youth in course of the Yatra. +The Prime Minister appreciated Shri Kedilaya’s effort and wished him well for his future endeavour. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, interacted with around 380 Directors and Deputy Secretaries working in various departments and Ministries in the Government of India, in four groups. +The interactions happened on various days in the month of October 2017. +The last of these interactions was on October 17, 2017. +Each interaction lasted around two hours. +Subjects such as Governance, Corruption, Public Enterprises, Government e-Marketplace, Health, Education, Skill Development, Agriculture, Transportation, National Integration, Water Resources, Swachh Bharat, Culture, Communication, and Tourism came up for discussion during the interactions. +The Prime Minister exhorted the officers to work with full dedication towards creation of New India by 2022. +He said that silos are a big bottleneck in the functioning of the Union Government. +He urged the officers to adopt innovative ways to break silos, which will result in the speeding up of various processes of governance. +In the same vein, he said officers at the level of Director and Deputy Secretary must create teams, to achieve better results. +MoS, PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, and senior officers from PMO and Cabinet Secretariat were present during the interactions. +The scheme will help in reducing the demand for physical gold by shifting a part of the estimated 300 tons of physical bars and coins purchased every year for Investment into gold bonds. +The issuance of the Sovereign Gold Bonds will be within the government’s market borrowing programme for 2015-16 and onwards. +The actual amount of issuance will be determined by RBI, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance. +The risk of gold price changes will be borne by the Gold Reserve Fund that is being created. +The benefit to the Government is in terms of reduction in the cost of borrowing, which will be transferred to the Gold Reserve Fund. +The salient features of the scheme are:- +(i). Sovereign Gold Bonds will be issued on payment of rupees and denominated in grams of gold. +(ii). Bonds will be issued on behalf of the Government of India by the RBI. +Thus, the Bonds will have a sovereign guarantee. +(iii). The issuing agency will need to pay distribution costs and a sales commission to the intermediate channels, to be reimbursed by Government. +(iv). The bond would be restricted for sale to resident Indian entities. +The cap on bonds that may be bought by an entity would be at a suitable level, not more than 500 grams per person per year. +(v). The Government will issue bonds with a rate of interest to be decided by the Government. +The rate of interest will take into account the domestic and international market conditions and may vary from one tranche to another. +This rate of interest will be calculated on the value of the gold at the time of investment. +The rate could be a floating or a fixed rate, as decided. +(vi). The bonds will be available both in demat and paper form. +(vii). The bonds will be issued in denominations of 5,10,50,100 grams of gold or other denominations. +(viii). The price of gold may be taken from the reference rate, as decided, and the Rupee equivalent amount may be converted at the RBI Reference rate on issue and redemption. +This rate will be used for issuance, redemption and LTV purpose and disbursement of loans. +Since the bond, will be a part of the sovereign borrowing, these would need to be within the fiscal deficit target for 2015-16 and onwards. +(xi). Bonds can be used as collateral for loans. +The Loan to Value ratio is to be set equal to ordinary gold loan mandated by the RBI from time to time. +(xii). Bonds to be easily sold and traded on exchanges to allow early exits for investors who may so desire. +(xiii). KYC norms will be the same as that for gold. +(xiv). Capital gains tax treatment will be the same as for physical gold for an ‘individual’ investor. +Savings in the costs of borrowing compared with the existing rate on government borrowings, will be deposited in the Gold Reserve Fund to take care of the risk of increase in gold price that will be borne by the government. +Further, the Gold Reserve Fund will be continuously monitored for sustainability. +(xvi). On maturity, the redemption will be in rupee amount only. +The rate of interest on the bonds will be calculated on the value of the gold at the time of investment. +The principal amount of investment, which is denominated in grams of gold, will be redeemed at the price of gold at that time. +If the price of gold has fallen from the time that the investment was made, or for any other reason, the depositor will be given an option to roll over the bond for three or more years. +(xvii). The deposit will not be hedged and all risks associated with gold price and currency will be borne by Gol through the Gold Reserve Fund. +The position may be reviewed in case ‘Gold Reserve Fund’ becomes unsustainable. +(xviii). Upside gains and downside risks will be with the investor and the investors will need to be aware of the volatility in gold prices. +On Earth Day, let us reaffirm our commitment towards creating a better planet for our future generations. +Let us work together to mitigate the menace of climate change. +This would be a great tribute to our beloved Mother Earth. +I compliment all those individuals and organisations who are working towards promoting harmony with nature and ensuring sustainable development’’,the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Egypt for cooperation in the field of agriculture & allied sectors. +The MoU provides for cooperation in areas of agricultural crops (especially wheat and maize), agricultural biotechnology, nanotechnology, irrigation and water management technology including water harvesting and micro-irrigation technology, management of agriculture wastes management for energy production; food security, safety and quality; horticulture; organic agriculture; livestock husbandry, livestock breeding, dairying, fisheries, feed and fodder production; animal products and value addition; sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues concerning trade in plant and animal products; agriculture machinery in small scale; agri-business and marketing; pre and post-harvest procedures; food technology and processing; integrated pest management in agriculture; agricultural extension and rural development; agricultural trade & investment; intellectual property rights issues; technical know-how and human resources in seed sector; infrastructure development and capacity building in agriculture & allied sectors and other related areas of interest that are mutually agreed upon by both Parties. +Cooperation will also be effected through exchange of research scientists and experts; exchange of agricultural information and scientific publications (journals, books, bulletins, statistical data on agriculture and allied sectors); exchange of germplasm & agriculture technology; and conducting joint seminars, workshops, symposiums and other similar activities. +Under the MoU, a Joint Working Group (JWG) will be formed to enhance cooperation on matters of mutual interest including consultations on bilateral issues. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has called for making Ganga rejuvenation a mass movement. +He called for specific action plans to unite the strength of various sections of society dedicated to “Ganga Seva.” +The Prime Minister was chairing the first high-level meeting on “Namaami Gange” – an integrated plan for Ganga rejuvenation today. +The Prime Minister said the first priority should be “Nirmal Ganga” – a clean Ganga. +The Prime Minister said the first priority in this mission should be to stop fresh generation of pollutants. +He said teams of volunteers from various parts of the country could be involved in generating public awareness and perform Ganga seva by maintaining specific stretches of the river. +Shri Narendra Modi referred to his vision for solid waste management and waste water management in 500 urban centres across India, through the PPP model, and said the first priority under this vision would be given to towns on the banks of the Ganga. +The Prime Minister said suggestions being received from people on the MyGov website should be carefully studied. +The Prime Minister said that Ganga rejuvenation could also be envisaged as a major mission to conserve the environment, with the involvement of nearly half the country`s population. +This would invite positive global attention, expertise and commitment, he added. +The meeting was attended by Union Ministers Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Ms. Uma Bharati, Shri Prakash Javdekar and Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, and top Government officials. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the passing of renowned journalist, Shri Vinod Mehta. +“Frank and direct in his opinions, Shri Vinod Mehta will be remembered as a fine journalist and writer. +Condolences to his family on his demise,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has said that he remembers and bows to Shaheed Udham Singh on his martyrdom day. +“The valour of Shaheed Udham Singh remains etched in the memory of every Indian. +I bow to this brave son of India on his martyrdom day,” the Prime Minister said. +Shri Sher Bahadur Deuba, former Prime Minister of Nepal, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi yesterday. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said that India is fully committed to supporting Nepal in the post-earthquake reconstruction effort. +The Prime Minister appreciated the progress achieved in resolving outstanding Constitutional issues in Nepal, and expressed hope that all such issues would be resolved at the earliest in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has invited suggestions from the people on `International Day of Yoga` and services in Indian Embassies, on the MyGov platform. +“Share your ideas & inputs on marking the first ever `International Day of Yoga`, on this MyGov Open Forum. http://mygov.in/groupissue/celebration-of-international-day-of-yoga/show +Friends from the diaspora, share your inputs on certain aspects pertaining to our Embassies abroad. http://mygov.in/groupissue/your-experience-at-the-embassy/show +The inputs on the Embassies received through MyGov would be very valuable for the Conference of Heads of Mission, being held in February”, the Prime Minister said. +Dr. K. P. Yohannan, Metropolitan Bishop of Believers Church, Kerala along with a delegation called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today. +Dr. Yohannan donated Rs. 1 crore towards Ganga cleanliness campaign. +Prof. P.J. Kurien, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha was also present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today laid the foundation stone for the Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial, to be built at 26, Alipur Road in Delhi, the place of Mahaparinirvan of Dr. Ambedkar. +The plaque for the foundation stone was unveiled by the Prime Minister at Vigyan Bhawan. +He strongly condemned those who he said were spreading lies and misinformation in this regard. +He recalled that such misinformation had been spread even when Shri Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister explained that five places were being developed as “Panchteerth” in honour of Dr. Ambedkar. +These included his birthplace in Mhow, the place in London where he stayed while studying in the UK, Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur, Mahaparinirvan Sthal in Delhi, and Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai. +In addition, the Prime Minister also referred to the building for the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation being built at Janpath in New Delhi. +Describing Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions for the nation, he said that while Sardar Patel had united the country politically, Dr. Ambedkar had united it socially through the Constitution. +He recalled how Dr. Ambedkar had advocated equal rights for women, even in an era where this idea faced stiff political opposition. +Talking of recent policy initiatives and legislative measures, the Prime Minister said the vision for developing India’s maritime potential, and indeed for Inland Waterways, was first conceived by Dr. Ambedkar. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary. +Atal ji means so much to everyone. +A guide, inspiration and giant among giants. +His contribution to India is invaluable,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the revised cost estimates to the tune of Rs. 4,799 crore as against the originally approved cost of Rs. 2,500 crore, for setting up of five Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) at Kolkata, Pune, Mohali, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram. +These institutes will integrate Under-graduate education, Post-graduate education and research under the same umbrella. +Many areas of basic science eventually evolve as applied sciences e.g. lasers, super conductivity, semiconductors, nano-materials etc. +Research in such areas can generate significant intellectual properties which have the potential for generating sizeable revenue. +These institutes would also contribute to highly competent and trained manpower that would be a major catalyst for technological human resource revolution that would inevitably have an impact on the economic growth of the country. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today said that amid rising population and increasingly fragmented land-holdings, the need of the hour for the Nation is a second green revolution without any delay, which could only happen in eastern India. +The Prime Minister also called upon farmers to raise the level of pulses production in the country, to help make India self-sufficient in pulses. +Invoking former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri’s call “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” Shri Narendra Modi asked every farmer to try and grow pulses on a part of his land. +He also mentioned steps being taken by the Union Government for the pulses sector. +He said pulses were an important part of the diet of the common man. +The Prime Minister said he was happy to note that a large number of people from South Bihar were present at the function, because the Institute whose foundation was being laid today would serve that region as well. +The Prime Minister said Indian agriculture has been lagging in several areas including inputs, irrigation, value addition and market linkages. +He said the Union Government was committed to modernizing Indian agriculture and making it more productive. +He said this required proper allocation of resources and training. +Noting that population was rising and land holdings are getting fragmented, the Prime Minister emphasised the need to enhance productivity to ensure the nation’s food security as well as ensure good income for farmers. +Towards this end, the Prime Minister said proper research was required in all agro climatic zones of the country. +This would ensure best results, as well as greater acceptability among farmers. +He said this required the spread of agricultural research and education in various regions. +The Prime Minister said the need of the hour was a second green revolution, without any delay, in eastern India. +He said that the Union Government was therefore committed to the development of this region. +He mentioned the setting up of fertiliser plants, which would ensure proper availability of fertilisers in the region. +Shri Narendra Modi mentioned the Government’s programme to provide soil health cards to all farmers. +This too, he mentioned, could provide a source of employment to youth, through soil testing laboratories. +The Prime Minister said animal husbandry and fisheries were equally important for the agriculture sector. +He laid stress on the importance of raising productivity in the dairy sector. +He said the Government had decided to pay special attention to the dairy sector in Jharkhand. +He suggested that one district in each state could be developed as a honey producing district. +He also mentioned the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, to provide adequate irrigation to farmers. +Recalling his mantra of per drop, more crop, the Prime Minister said micro irrigation helped raise productivity and incomes for farmers. +The Governor of Jharkhand Smt Droupadi Murmu, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Raghubar Das, the Union Minister for Agriculture Shri Radha Mohan Singh and the Union MoS for Finance Shri Jayant Sinha were present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of an Agreement between Ministry of Rural Development and Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) for establishment of CIRDAP Centre at National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), Hyderabad. +CIRDAP Centre in NIRD&PR premises would give NIRD&PR an advantage of having first-hand knowledge of networking with organizations specialized in rural development programmes which in turn would help in building a repository of institutional knowledge for NIRD&PR. +This Centre will also help NIRD&PR to enhance its status in the region through linkages with other Ministries/Institutes in the CIRDAP Member Countries (CMCs). +The faculty of the NIRD&PR and the Ministry officials would benefit from exchange visits to the best practices in the CMCs. +The scope of work of the Centre is to focus on the implementation of integrated rural development, particularly poverty alleviation programmes within CMC member countries. +Background +India is one of the key founder members of this Organisation. +Its Headquarters is located at Dhaka. +Bangladesh, The objective of CIRDAP is to promote regional cooperation and act as a serving institution for its member countries for promotion of integrated rural development through research action, training, information dissemination etc. +CIRDAP has one sub – regional office in Jakarta, Indonesia. +This sub – regional office of CIRDAP in south-east Asia (SOCSEA) was established in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1997. +The objective was to assist and expand CIRDAP membership and its resources, to conduct training research and pilot projects relevant to South East Asian region. +There are 46 countries in Asia Pacific Region, therefore CIRDAP has great potential for expansion for which they would be assisted by CIRDAP Centres. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved abolition of existing “Guidelines for establishing Joint Venture Companies by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs)”. +These guidelines which were notified in February, 2012 will not be required for separate JV by the DPSUs. +The Guidelines issued by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) and Ministry of Finance (MoF) from time to time, which are uniformly applicable to all Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) will be applicable for the DPSUs to set up JV companies now. +This will meet the goal of indigenization / self-reliance in this sector. +The abolition of the existing JV Guidelines will provide a level playing field between DPSUs and the private sector. +All nine DPSUs i.e. Mazagon Dock Limited, Goa Shipyard Limited, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited, Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Earth Movers Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited will be benefited through this decision. +The decision comes in the backdrop of the issues which emerged in the operationalisation of JV guidelines of DPSUs. +The Department of Defence Production came to the conclusion that with the increasing participation of the private industry in defence sector and the transformation taking place in the defence acquisition eco system thereon, the requirement of having separate JV guidelines for DPSUs is no longer considered necessary. +In the emerging scenario with primacy being accorded to indigenous manufacturing / Make in India, it is felt that having multiple set of guidelines may lead to ambiguity and incongruity in the environment. +Background: +Consequent to this, a need was felt to supplement the DPE guidelines with formulation of JV protocols / guidelines tailored for DPSUs which would address the specific requirements of the defence sector and also ensure that the interests of DPSUs were safeguarded. +Accordingly the existing Guidelines for establishing Joint Venture Companies by DPSUs was approved by the Cabinet during the meeting held on 9th February, 2012 and the same was notified on 17th February, 2012. +Now, the requirement for having separate JV Guidelines for DPSUs has been reviewed in the context of the increasing participation of the private industry in defence sector and the transformation taking place in the defence acquisition eco system. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding between India and Japan on Development of Advanced Model Single Window. +The ‘Advanced Model Single Window’ is based on the best practices in and outside India, with measurable parameters and identify possible obstacles for establishment of the Single Window in India. +It will thus, facilitate investments. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Mumbai on 11th August, 2018. +He will deliver the Convocation Address, at the 56th Annual Convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. +After the Convocation, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the new building of the Department of Energy Science & Engineering; and Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, at IIT Bombay. +He expressed hope that President Sirisena’s victory will advance peace, reconciliation and development in Sri Lanka, and peace and progress in our region. +Describing Sri Lanka as a truly close neighbour and friend, Prime Minister offered India`s continued support and partnership to Sri Lankan Government and people in realising their aspirations. +Prime Minister thanked President Sirisena for accepting the invitation to visit India, and looked forward to receiving him at an early date. +He also accepted the invitation to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient date. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, was apprised about an MoU signed in February, 2019 between India and Republic of Korea. +Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Government of India and The Ministry of Science and ICT (Korea Post), Government of the Republic of Korea have mutually agreed to jointly issue Postage Stamps on the theme “Queen Hur Hwang-ok of Korea”. +The joint stamps will be released on a mutually agreed date by the end of 2019. +Mandatory Accreditation and Regulation of DNA Laboratories +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill 2018. +• The primary intended purpose for enactment of the “DNA Based Technology (Use and Regulation) Bill 2018” is for expanding the application of DNA-based forensic technologies to support and strengthen the justice delivery system of the country. +• The utility of DNA based technologies for solving crimes, and to identify missing persons, is well recognized across the world. +• Speedier justice delivery. +• Increased conviction rate. +• Bill’s provisions will enable the cross-matching between persons who have been reported missing on the one hand and unidentified dead bodies found in various parts of the country on the other, and also for establishing the identity of victims in mass disasters. +Forensic DNA profiling is of proven value in solving cases involving offences that are categorized as affecting the human body (such as murder, rape, human trafficking, or grievous hurt), and those against property (including theft, burglary, and dacoity). +The aggregate incidence of such crimes in the country, as per the statistics of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2016, is in excess of 3 lakhs per year. +Of these, only a very small proportion is being subjected to DNA testing at present. +It is expected that the expanded use of this technology in these categories of cases would result not only in speedier justice delivery but also in increased conviction rates, which at present is only around 30% (NCRB Statistics for 2016). +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed the India Today conclave in New Delhi today. +He appreciated the India Today Group for the awareness spread by them about the Swachh Bharat Mission. +Reflecting on his tenure so far, as Prime Minister, he said that his relative lack of experience at the national level turned out to be a blessing in disguise. +Taking the example of apprehensions that were expressed with regard to conduct of foreign policy, he said that the events of the last few days would have set at rest doubts in this regard. +He asserted that today’s India is a New India and a different India. +He said the life of every soldier is precious, and today no one can mess with India. +He said the Government is committed to taking every decision in national interest. +He said certain elements both inside and outside the country, who are against the country, are fearful of this unity seen in India. +He added that this fear, is actually good. +He said enemies are fearful of India’s valour, and the corrupt are fearful of the law, and this fear is good. +He said New India is marching ahead, confident of its abilities and resources. +He questioned the stance of those, who doubt the intentions of the Government and the Armed Forces. +He said that in opposing Narendra Modi, these people have started opposing India as well, and are harming the country. +He said such people doubt the Indian Armed Forces, but trust those who foment terrorism in India. +Specifically, he said that India felt the absence of the Rafale fighter jet recently, over which a lot of politics has been played. +He strongly criticized those whose actions adversely affect national security. +He said that those who ruled the nation for many years had interests in two things – doles and deals. +He said that the biggest sufferers of this approach were our Jawans and Kisans. +He said that the defence sector suffered because of the deals made by some, while agriculture suffered because there was no concrete policy beyond doles. +These doles were given so that the poor remain poor and remain at the mercy of the political class, he added. +The best example of this is the farm loan waivers, he said. +He explained that the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, a comprehensive scheme for farmer welfare, is part of the Government’s different approach to empower farmers. +It was launched within 24 days of announcement, he added. +He explained that fifty five months of his Government, and the fifty five years of the others have given two contrasting approaches to governance. +They had a ‘token approach’, we have a ‘total approach,’ he said. +In this context, he mentioned initiatives taken in the areas of One Rank One Pension for the Armed Forces; financial inclusion for the poor; clean cooking fuel (Ujjwala Yojana); Power for all; and Housing for all. +He asked a series of questions, such as why India was not Open Defecation Free till now; why there was no War Memorial or Police Memorial built for so many decades, etc. +He said India is today removing poverty at a rapid rate, and is the fastest growing large economy. +He explained how Infrastructure is being built at a rapid rate. +He said that his Government believes in combining Acts (laws or initiatives) with Action. +He said the period from 2014 to 2019, was to fulfil basic necessities for all; while the period from 2019 onwards is the period of fulfilling aspirations and achieving new heights of progress. +Thirty nine Officer Trainees of Indian Foreign Service, currently undergoing training in the Foreign Service Institute, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Addressing the Officer Trainees, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of representing India abroad in the context of India’s rich history, culture and traditions. +The Prime Minister said that IFS Officers should remain alive not only to the current national priorities, but also future requirements for national development. +The Prime Minister encouraged the Officer Trainees to become more tech-savvy and engage fully with the State governments and diaspora, who are increasingly important stakeholders in the conduct of foreign relations. +Two diplomats from Bhutan, also currently under training at the Foreign Service Institute, also joined the group. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today gave its approval for enhancement of. +Enhancement of share capital would expand its ambit of coverage and increase disbursement of funds to larger sections of the economically deprived scheduled caste population. +The target of NSFDC for the year 2015-16 is to cover 63,000 beneficiaries. +NSFDC will also implement its schemes through select Public Sector Banks, Regional Rural Banks and Other Institutions, wherever required, to enhance its outreach. +Background:- +The NSFDC provides loans through its Channelizing Agencies at concessional interest rates for self-employment & economic development activities to its target group. +Over 100 Officer Trainees of the 2014 batch of the Indian Police Service, today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, at 7 Race Course Road. +Interacting with the Officer Trainees, the Prime Minister said that their uniform was a symbol of power, and they should ensure that this ‘power’ is used to ’empower’ the common man. +The National Security Advisor, Shri Ajit Doval, was present at the interaction. +[Meaning: Days of separation are over; night of wait is coming to an end; Our friendship will stay forever.] +Today, we are all witnessing creation of history. +Not just for the people of our three countries, but for the entire region. +To build bonds of connectivity is the most basic of human urges. +Today, we seek to fulfil it. +We are grateful to Excellency Rouhani for hosting this unique event. +Thank you President Ashraf Ghani, for your presence. +It truly holds a special significance. +It is a privilege to be here. +Excellency Rouhani, President Ghani and I have just held detailed discussions on a range of issues. +The agenda for economic engagement is a clear priority for us. +We stand together in unity of our purpose. +To carve out new routes of peace, and prosperity is our common goal. +We want to link with the world. +But, better connectivity among ourselves is also our priority. +It is indeed a new dawn for the region. +Through centuries, art and culture, ideas and knowledge, language and traditions have formed a common bond between us. +Even through turmoil of history, our societies never lost touch with each other. +It is a new foundation of convergence between our three nations. +The corridor would spur unhindered flow of commerce throughout the region. +Inflow of capital and technology could lead to new industrial infrastructure in Chahbahar. +This would include gas based fertilizer plants, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and IT. +The key arteries of the corridor would pass through the Chahbahar port of Iran. +It’s very location, on the mouth of Gulf of Oman, is of great strategic significance. +Afghanistan will get an assured, effective, and a more friendly route to trade with the rest of the world. +The arc of economic benefit from this agreement would extend beyond our three nations. +Its reach could extend to the depths of the Central Asian countries. +When linked with the International North South Transport Corridor, it would touch South Asia at one end and Europe at another. +And, studies show that as compared to the traditional sea routes, it could bring down the cost and time of the cargo trade to Europe by about 50%. +Over time, we could even look to connect it with the strong sea and land based routes that India has developed with the Indian Ocean Region and South East Asia. +Today, the watch-words of international tiesare trust not suspicion; cooperation not dominance; inclusivity not exclusion. +This is also the guiding philosophy and driving spirit of the Chahbahar Agreement. +This will be a corridor of peace and prosperity for our peoples. +Motives of economic growth, and empowerment would drive it. +It will build our security without making others vulnerable. +It would break barriers among our nations and encourage new benchmarks of people-to-people contacts. +Political turmoil and undercurrents of economic stress continue to spread in West Asia. +In the Indo-Pacific,rise a mix of political competition and economic opportunities is putting pressure on the existing Asian order. +Global economy is yet to fully come out of uncertainty and weakness. +Our present growth and future prosperity is under threat from the spread of radical ideas and physical terror. +They are an asset in our national and regional development. +I am confident that economic fruits of the Chahbahar Agreement will expand trade, attract investment, build infrastructure, develop industry and create jobs for our youth. +The Agreement will strengthen our ability to stand in mutual support against those whose only motto is to maim and kill the innocents. +Its success will be a positive vote for peace and stability in the region. +In my vision, the full spectrum of connectivity agenda between Iran, Afghanistan and India should span: +Thank you all. +Thank you very much. +A group of 25 students of International Policy Studies from Stanford University, US, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +The group included students from various countries, including India. +Welcoming the students to India, the Prime Minister said that they are all soon-to-be policy-makers, and therefore, what they assimilate at this point in time, will definitely shape their decisions and choices in the near future. +In the course of the interaction, the Prime Minister answered questions on diplomatic relations between countries, India’s relationship with neighbouring countries, the Act East Policy, his recent visit to Silicon Valley, his commitment to technology and e-governance, and competitive cooperative federalism. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief at the loss of lives due to unseasonal rains and storms in MP, Rajasthan, Manipur & various parts of the country. +“The government is doing its best to provide all possible assistance to those affected. +The situation is being monitored closely”, the PM said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and their families on BSF Raising Day. +“Greetings to @BSF_India personnel and their families on BSF Raising Day. +BSF exemplifies fortitude and impeccable service to our nation. +They protect us from adversity, be it on the borders as well as in times of natural disasters and accidents. +We are proud of BSF.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Summit, will be co-hosted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, WHO South East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) and Stop TB Partnership. +The Prime Minister will launch Tuberculosis Free India Campaign on this occasion. +TB free India Campaign will take the activities of National Strategic Plan for TB elimination forward in Mission mode. +The National Strategic Plan for TB elimination is backed by funding of over 12,000 crore rupees over the next three years to ensure every TB patient has access to quality diagnosis, treatment, and support. +The new NSP adopts a multi-pronged approach which aims to ‘Detect’ all TB patients with an emphasis on reaching TB patients seeking care from private providers and undiagnosed TB in high-risk populations, +A provision of funds worth Rs. 450 crore has been approved for meeting the first phase expenditure towards establishment of the said University. +The Central University would be mentored by an existing Central University till its governing structure is in place. +The Rt. Hon’ble Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal, is on a State visit to India from April 6-8, 2018, at the invitation of the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi. +On April 7, 2018, the two Prime Ministers comprehensively reviewed the entire spectrum of multifaceted ties between the two countries. +They welcomed the growing partnership between the two governments, private sector and at the people’s level. +The two Prime Ministers resolved to work together to take bilateral relations to newer heights on the basis of equality, mutual trust, respect and benefit. +Recalling that the close and friendly India-Nepal relations are built on the strong foundation of shared historical and cultural links and close people to people contacts, the two Prime Ministers underscored the importance of regular high-level political exchanges in cementing bilateral ties. +Prime Minister Oli stated that his government attaches high importance to further strengthening friendly relations with India. +He expressed the desire of the Government of Nepal to develop bilateral relations in a way so as to benefit from India’s progress and prosperity for economic transformation and development. +Prime Minister Modi assured Prime Minister Oli that India remains committed to strengthening its partnership with Nepal as per the priorities of the Government of Nepal. +Prime Minister Modi stated that Government of India’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ is a guiding framework for India’s engagement with its neighbours for a shared vision of inclusive development and prosperity. +Prime Minister Oli stated that after the landmark political transformation, his Government has given priority to economic transformation with the motto ‘Samriddha Nepal Sukhi Nepali’. +Prime Minister Modi congratulated the people and the Government of Nepal for successful conduct of local level, federal parliament and first-ever provincial elections in Nepal and appreciated their vision for stability, and development. +The two Prime Ministers inaugurated the Integrated Check Post at Birgunj in Nepal. +They hoped that its early operationalization will enhance cross-border trade and transit of goods and movement of people bringing greater opportunities for shared growth and development. +The two Prime Ministers witnessed the ground breaking ceremony of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj cross-border petroleum products pipeline at Motihari, India. +The two Prime Ministers underlined the need for expeditious implementation of bilateral projects in Nepal, and to reinvigorate the existing bilateral mechanisms to promote cooperative agenda across diverse spheres. +The two Prime Ministers agreed that the visit has imparted new dynamism to the multifaceted partnership between the two countries. +Prime Minister Oli thanked Prime Minister Modi for the invitation and warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation. +Written in Kufic script, this manuscript is a prized possession of the Ministry of Culture’s Rampur Raza Library. +The Prime Minister also gifted the Iranian President Dr Hassan Rouhani specially commissioned reproductions of MirzaAsadullah Khan Ghalib’s collection of poetry in Persian,Kulliyat-e-Farsi-e-Ghalib, as also Sumair Chand’s Persian translation of Ramayana. +First published in 1863, Kulliyat-e-Farsi-e-Ghalib is a collection of over 11,000 verses by Ghalib. +Governor of Manipur, Dr. Najma Heptullah, +Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri N. Biren Singh +My ministerial colleague, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, +Other distinguished dignitaries on the dais, +They all made out-standing contributions to Indian science and education. +He was a friend of India and had visited our country twice. +The common man knows Hawking’s name, not because of his work on black holes, but because of his unusually high commitment and spirit against all odds. +He will be remembered as one of the world’s greatest motivators of all time. +I am happy to be here in Imphal today, on the occasion of the one hundred and fifth session of the Indian Science Congress. +I am delighted to be among scientists, whose work paves the way for a better tomorrow. +I am also pleased to see Manipur University hosting this important event. +The University is emerging as an important center of higher education in the North-East. +I am told, that this is just the second time in over a century that the Indian Science Congress is being held in the North-East. +This is a testimony to the resurgent spirit of the North East. +It bodes well for the future. +Science has been synonymous with progress and prosperity from time immemorial. +The time is also ripe, to commit ourselves to facilitate ‘Ease of Living’ for 125 crore Indians, through the power as well as potential of science and technology. +I stand here today, in this brave land of Manipur, where in April 1944 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s INA gave the clarion call for freedom. +When you leave Manipur, I am sure you will also carry the same spirit of dedication to do something ever-lasting for our nation. +I am also sure you will continue to work closely with the scientists you have met here. +After all, effective solutions to big problems of science and technology, also require close cooperation and coordination among scientists across diverse streams. +The Union Government has initiated several new programs for the North-Eastern States, in the area of science. +We are now working to expand this network to all districts of the North-East. +Several new centers are bringing relevant science and technology to the North-East. +An “Ethno Medicinal Research Centre“ has been set up in Manipur. +This will undertake research on the wild herbs available in the North Eastern region, which have unique medicinal and aromatic properties. +State Climate Change Centers have been set up in seven North-Eastern States. +They will undertake risk analysis, and raise public awareness about climate change. +We have freed “bamboo” from being treated as a ‘Tree’ species, and classified it as a “Grass,” which it scientifically is. +For this, we changed a decades old law. +This amendment will allow for the free movement of bamboo. +It will ensure that the production and consumption centers are seamlessly integrated. +It will make farmers realize the true potential from the entire value chain in the bamboo ecosystem. +Government is also revamping the National Bamboo Mission with an outlay of Rs. 1200 crore. +States like Manipur will benefit from this decision. +The Indian Science Congress has a rich legacy. +New India, should seek inspiration from the high standards of excellence, set by these great scientists. +During our interactions on various occasions, I have exhorted our scientists to seek solutions to our socio economic problems. +I have urged them to take up new challenges to benefit the poor and deprived sections of society. +In this context, the theme chosen for the Indian Science Congress this year, is quite appropriate: “Reaching the Unreached through Science and Technology”. +The theme is very close to my heart. +The roads made using this method are more durable, water resistant and load bearing. +At the same time he has found a constructive use for the ballooning problem of plastic waste. +Professor Vasudevan has given this technology to the Government for free. +This technology has already been used to lay over 5,000 kilometers of roads across 11 states. +Similarly, Arvind Gupta has been recognized with a Padma Shri in 2018, for inspiring generations of students to learn Science from Trash by using household materials and garbage to make toys for scientific experiments. +I therefore urge you to direct your research and innovation towards solving the problems of our times and meeting the aspirations of our people. +Scientific Social Responsibility is the need of the hour. +The Session’s theme also raises some questions. +Have we done enough to ensure that children in India are sufficiently exposed to science? +Are we giving them a conducive environment to develop their inherent talent? +Our scientific achievements need to be actively communicated to the society. +This will help inculcate scientific temper among the youth. +It will also excite and attract our young minds to careers in science. +We have to throw open our national institutions and laboratories to our children. +I call upon scientists to develop an appropriate mechanism for interaction with school-going children. +I also urge them, to spend 100 hours every year, with 100 students of Classes 10, 11 and 12 discussing various aspects of science and technology. +100 hours and 100 students, imagine how many scientists we can nurture this way! +We are committed to increasing the share of non-fossil fuel based capacity in the electricity mix above 40 per cent by 2030. +India is a leader in the multi-country International Solar Alliance and in Mission Innovation. +These groupings are providing a thrust to R&D for clean energy. +The Department of Atomic Energy is setting up ten new domestic Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors of 700 Mega Watt capacity each. +This is a major boost to the domestic nuclear industry. +It strengthens India’s credentials as a major nuclear manufacturing nation. +In recent times, CSIR has developed a hand-held milk tester, which helps every family to test quality of milk within seconds. +We are making concerted efforts to achieve complete elimination of TB from India. +Our space research program has the capacity to successfully place over one hundred satellites in space in one go. +This has been made possible through the hard work and dedication of Indian Scientists. +After the success of Chandrayan-1 we plan to launch Chandrayan-2 in the coming months. +This fully indigenous effort will include landing and travel on the surface of the moon by a rover. +The greatest scientist of the last century, Albert Einstein had given the theory about “gravitational waves”. +It is a matter of immense pride for all of us that 37 Indian scientists from nine Indian institutions participated in the international Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) Collaboration and proved this theory correct three years ago. +Our Government has already given approval to establish third LIGO detector in the country. +It will expand our knowledge in basic Sciences in the areas of lasers, light waves, and computing. +I am told that our scientists are tirelessly working towards making this a reality. +I have talked about developing Clusters of Excellence in Science in Cities, around important Scientific Institutions. +The objective is to create city-based R&D Clusters, which will bring together all Science and Technology partners, from Academia to Institutes, to Industries to Startups. +This will help promote new discoveries, and create globally competitive vibrant research hubs. +We have recently approved a new “Prime Minister’s Research Fellows” scheme. +Under this Scheme, bright minds from the best Institutions in the country, namely, IISc, IIT, NIT, IISER and IIIT will be offered direct admission in Ph.D. Programme in IIT and IISc. +This scheme will help address the brain-drain from our country. +It will go a long way in promoting indigenous research in cutting-edge Science and Technology domains. +India faces major socio-economic challenges which affect large sections of our population. +We need science and technology to help us make India clean, green and prosperous. +Let me re-iterate some of my expectations from scientists. +A large section of our tribal population is affected by सिकलसेलअनीमिया. +Can our Scientists come up with a simple, cost-effective solution to this problem in the near future? +A large proportion of our children are affected by malnutrition. +To address this problem, the Government of India has launched the National Nutrition Mission. +Your suggestions and solutions can help us meet the objectives of the Mission. +India requires crores of new houses. +Can our scientists adopt 3D printing technology to help us meet this demand? +Our rivers are polluted. +It requires your innovative ideas and new technologies to clean them. +We need a multi-pronged approach including efficient solar and wind power, energy storage and electric mobility solutions, clean cooking, conversion of coal to clean fuels like methanol, cleaner power from coal, smart grids, micro-grids and bio-fuels. +We have set a target of having 100 Giga Watts of installed solar power by 2022. +Imagine the resources we will be saving on this account. +ISRO uses one of the best battery systems to run satellites in space. +Other institutions can partner with ISRO to develop cost effective and efficient battery systems for mobile phones and electric cars. +We need to develop new procedures, medicines, and vaccines to get rid of silent killers like Malaria and Japanese Encephalitis. +Research should also be conducted in Yoga, sports, and traditional knowledge disciplines. +Small and medium scale industry units have been the main-stay for employment generation. +With global competition, they are facing increasing challenges. +Technology will allow far greater penetration of services such as education, healthcare, and banking to our citizens. +India should become a major player in developing technologies, devices, standards and manufacturing for 5-G broadband tele-communication networks by 2020. +Four years from now, we will be celebrating the 75th year of our Independence. +This goal requires whole-hearted contribution from each one of you. +The Indian economy is on a high growth trajectory. +But we rank low in Human Development Indicators. +One of the important reasons for this in-consistency is major inter-state and intra-state disparity. +To address this, we have launched a concerted effort to improve the performance of over 100 Aspirational Districts. +We shall focus on important sectors such as Health and Nutrition; Education; Agriculture and Water Resources; Financial Inclusion; Skill Development; and Basic Infrastructure. +All these sectors require innovative solutions, which cater to local challenges and requirements. +The “one size fits all” approach cannot work in this case. +Can our Scientific Institutions serve these Aspirational Districts? +Can they catalyze creation and diffusion of appropriate technologies that generate skills and entrepreneur-ship? +This would be a great service to Mother India. +India has a rich tradition and a long history of both discovery and use science and technology. +It is time to reclaim our rightful place among the front-line nations in this field. +I call upon the scientific community to extend its research from the labs, to the land. +I am confident that through the dedicated efforts of our scientists, we are embarking on the road to a better future. +The future we wish for ourselves, and for our children. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and United Kingdom (UK)on on Cooperation in Weather and Climate Sciences. +It will also the best environment for research and innovation for delivery of high-end research for societal benefit. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for introduction of Dam Safety Bill, 2018 in the Parliament. +It will help all the States and Union Territories of India to adopt uniform dam safety procedures which shall ensure safety of dams and safeguard benefits from such dams. +This shall also help in safeguarding human life, livestock and property. +The draft Bill has been finalised after wide consultation with leading Indian experts and international experts. +The Bill provides for proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all specified dams in the country to ensure their safe functioning. +The Bill provides for constitution of a State Committee on Dam Safety by State Government. +National Dam Safety Authority +State Committee on Dam Safety +There are over 5200 large dams in India and about 450 are under construction. +Plus there are thousands of medium and small dams. +Due to lack of legal and institutional architecture for dam safety in India, dam safety is an issue of concern. +Unsafe dams are a hazard and dam break may cause disasters, leading to huge loss of life and property. +It lays onus of dam safety on the dam owner and provides for penal provisions for commission and omission of certain acts. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for ratification of the two fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization namely, Minimum Age Convention (No 138) concerning minimum age for admission to employment and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No 182) concerning the prohibition and immediate action for elimination of the worst forms of Child Labour. +At present, the ILO has 187 members. +The principal means of action in the ILO is the setting up of International standards in the form of Conventions, Recommendations and Protocol. +India has so far ratified 45 Conventions, out of which 42 are in force. +Out of these 4 are Fundamental or Core Conventions. +Background: +Government has taken up a multipronged strategy including both stringent legislative and Project based approach to address the concerns related to child labour. +Presently, Convention 138 has been ratified by 169 countries and Convention 182 has been ratified by 180 countries. +Hence, by ratifying these two core conventions, India would join majority of the countries who have adopted the legislation to prohibit and place severe restrictions on the employment and work of children. +Today, the world over, Christians are observing Easter. +I extend my warmest greetings to everybody on the occasion of Easter. +Some of my young friends must be busy with their examinations. +Some of them must have gotten over with their examinations by now. +For those of you who still have examinations, it must be a testing time with exams on one hand and T-20 Cricket World Cup on the other. +I am sure you are eagerly waiting for the match between India and Australia this evening. +Some days ago India won two fine matches against Pakistan and Bangladesh. +We are seeing a fine momentum building up in this T-20 Cricket World Cup. +Today, as India and Australia get ready to play, I convey my best wishes to both the teams. +With the young comprising 65% of our population, there should be no reason why we should be absent from the world of sports. +This won’t do. +We need to usher revolutionary changes in sports. +Twenty-four teams from all over the world are coming to play in our country. +The Indian Football team won the gold medal at the Asian Games in 1951 and 1962, and came fourth in the 1956 Olympics. +Unfortunately, over the decades we have slipped from there to the lowest rungs. +Today our ranking in FIFA is so low that I feel reluctant even to mention it. +Young Indians take time out to get the latest information on these matches and watch them on television. +What I mean to say is, given this rising popular interest in Football and the opportunity of hosting FIFA Under-17 World Cup, shall we just play the role of a host and fulfil our responsibility? +Or will we use the opportunity to our advantage to promote sports? +Between now and the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2017, we should infuse a spirit of enthusiasm in the youth. +We can see all this happening in relation to cricket; we should now try to bring these elements in relation to other sports disciplines as well. +The FIFA event offers us a unique opportunity to do so. +Can you send me your suggestions on how best to use that opportunity? +I view the FIFA event as a great opportunity to establish India as a brand at a global level. +In the run-up to and preparation for the 2017 FIFA event, we can harness and display our many strengths; while doing so, we can do image-branding for India as well. +I look forward to your suggestions on the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup which you can send me through NarendraModiApp. +There are very few people who go abroad; most people visit places within their own states for a week or so. +Some people also go outside their states. +Last time too, I had requested all of you to upload photographs of the places you visit. +And I have noticed that the kind of work which our Department of Tourism, our Department of Culture, State Governments and the Government of India can’t do, that kind of work has been accomplished by millions and millions of Indian tourists. +Photos of such magnificent places were uploaded that it was truly a delight to view them. +We get to experience something fresh with each new place we visit – we learn about people, their languages, foods and lifestyles. +India is full of diversities. +Once you set out to see the country, for the rest of your life you will keep seeing new things and still never get enough of it. +I have been fortunate that I had a lot of opportunities to travel. +When I was neither Chief Minister nor Prime Minster, and I was young like you, I travelled a lot. +Perhaps there isn’t a district in India which I have not visited. +In this context, I would like to specially congratulate Coal India. +This in itself gives us an opportunity to see something new. +I hope that when you set out on a journey during the coming holidays you can contribute something to cleanliness too. +Both tourists and local residents of these places are contributing to it. +Can you too, being a tourist, lay stress on cleanliness at tourist destinations? +I am confident that our youth will definitely help me in this task. +Tourism is a sector that provides maximum employment. +Even the poorest person gets a chance to earn from tourism. +When tourists visit a place, even the not-so-well-off among them spend money. +Rich tourists are bound to spend more money. +There are many employment opportunities created by tourism. +India lags far behind in tourism when compared to the world. +But if we, 125 crore Indians, decide that we have to give importance to our tourism sector, we can attract the world. +Be it the government, institutions, society, citizens – we all have to come together to make this happen. +Come, let’s make an endeavour in this direction. +My dear young friends, I don’t like it when holidays are just frittered away. +You too should think along these lines. +Will you let your holidays during the most important years of your life slip away just like that? +I will give you something to ponder upon. +Can you resolve to add one skill, one special attribute to your personality, during your holidays? +There are so many skills to develop our personality. +Why not learn them? +This will help you in carving out your own identity and raising your self-confidence tremendously. +This time a lot of suggestions have come for Mann Ki Baat on www.mygov.in: – +Sound Byte- “My name is Abhi Chaturvedi. +Namaste dear Prime Minister, you had said during the last summer holidays that even birds feel the summer heat so we should fill a bowl with water and place it in the balcony or the terrace so that the birds can come to have water. +I did this and enjoyed it and in this way I made friends with a lot of birds. +Friends, I want to thank this boy Abhi Chaturvedi. +He has reminded me of a good deed by calling me. +The great Hindi poetess Mahadevi Verma used to love birds. +I greet Abhi and thank him for reminding me of this very important thing. +Shilpa Kukke from Mysore has raised a very humane issue. +She says milkmen, newspaper vendors, postmen come close to our homes. +Sometimes utensil hawkers and cloth sellers too pass by our homes. +Shilpa, I am very grateful to you that you have articulated something so sensitive in so simple a manner. +It is a small gesture but when the postman comes and we offer him water, he will feel good. +Of course, it is a part of our nature in India. +But I am glad, Shilpa, that you have observed these things. +My dear farmer brothers and sisters, you must have repeatedly heard the term – Digital India. +Some people feel that Digital India is to do with the world of the youth in our cities. +If you download this ‘Kisan Suvidha App’ on your mobile phone, you will receive a lot of information related to agriculture and weather at your fingertips. +There are many topics on this App, such as what is the state of the market, what is the position of the wholesale market, which crops are doing well these days, which are the appropriate pesticides. +Not just this. +There is a button on the App which will connect you directly with agricultural scientists and link you with the experts. +If you pose a question to them, they will reply to it; they will explain things to you. +If you feel it lacks in anything then you can complain to me also. +For farmers, the season just before onset of farming is of utmost importance. +We will have to give a thought to what will happen if there’s no water. +Can we utilise this time to visit ponds, check the routes through which water flows into these ponds and spot the places where garbage or something else blocks the water from flowing, because of which reservoirs get depleted. +Can we not remove the blockage and clean the inlets so that more water gets collected? +You must have noticed that this time it has been decided to construct five lakh ponds and farm water reservoirs. +Under MNREGA also a stress has been given to create assets for water conservation. +There must be many such villages in the country, many progressive farmers and many conscientious citizens who have already done this kind of work. +But we still need to do much more in this direction. +My dear farmer brothers and sisters, a few days ago the Government of India had organised a very big Kisan Mela, ‘Farmers’ Fair’. +I welcome this. +The same food would taste so bad, isn’t it? +Do remember, the more we save water, the more the farmers will benefit and more lives will be saved. +I call upon all of you to defeat Diabetes which plays host to so many diseases. +Once it enters yours body, a whole lot of undesirable guests in the form of illnesses follow it. +It is said that in 2014 India had about six and a half crore Diabetics. +Diabetes was found to be the cause of death in three per cent of all deaths. +Diabetes is of two types — Type 1 and Type 2. +Type 1 is hereditary; if the parents have it, so shall their child. +Type 2 is due to your habits, age and obesity. +We all know that our lifestyle is the biggest cause for Diabetes. +Physical labour is getting reduced. +There is not a trace of sweat; there is just no walking around. +Even if we play games, we play them online; very little happens offline. +Can we not, drawing inspiration from this year’s World Health Day and its theme, do something to defeat Diabetes in our personal life? +If every citizen of my country is healthy, then my country will be healthy. +Sometimes we are reluctant to get our medical check-up done. +When the condition worsens then only does it come to our notice that it is Diabetes to blame. +Please do be concerned about this. +On March 24th, the world observed Tuberculosis Day. +When I was a child we would be scared by the very mention of the word TB. +Paradoxically, when TB was linked to death we used to be duly afraid of it; but now that it is curable, we have become almost careless about it. +Compared to the world, we still have a large number of TB patients. +You have a persistent cough and fever and you have lost weight. +This shows TB is one illness that can be detected fast. +My dear fellow citizens, there is a lot of work being done in this direction. +And all these services are free. +Please go and get a check-up done. +This disease can be got rid of. +All one needs is the correct treatment and the treatment must continue till the illness is gone completely. +I would like to appeal to you all, whether it is TB or Diabetes, we have to conquer these. +We have to eradicate these diseases from India. +But this cannot happen with just the efforts of the government or by doctors or medicines till you don’t do something about it. +His 125th birth anniversary was celebrated all over the country. +The five pilgrimage spots associated with him – Mhow, his birthplace; London, where he was educated, Nagpur, where he had his ‘Deeksha’; 26, Alipur Road, Delhi, where his soul left him for its heavenly abode; and the cremation ground in Mumbai where his last rites were performed. +We are making a constant effort to develop these five pilgrimage spots. +I am fortunate to get the chance to visit Mhow, the birthplace of our revered Baba Saheb Ambedkar, on 14th April this year. +Baba Saheb has given us a lot to help shape us into ideal citizens. +We can pay our best homage to him by following the path set by him and becoming good citizens. +It is celebrated in different states in different forms. +Some call it Nav Samvatsar, some call it Gudi Padva, some Varsh Pratipada, some Ugadi, but it holds importance in nearly all the states of India. +You can listen to it on your own mobile handset. +All you have to do is to give a missed call. +I will be happy to remain connected with you. +My dear fellow citizens, my heartiest best wishes to you all. +Many, many thanks. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bolivia on Cooperation in the field of Geology and Mineral Resources. +The MoU was signed in Bolivia in March, 2019. +The MoU will provide an institutional mechanism between India and Bolivia for cooperation in the field of Mineral Resources. +The MoU provides for exchange of information on resources, laws and policy, organization of seminars to exchange views on development strategies, encouragement of transfer of technologies between the two countries, promotion of value addition, which will enable taking up of activities like documentation and dissemination etc. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives in the train accident between Lucknow Barauni Express and Krishak Express at Nandanagar railway crossing in Gorakhpur. +Prime Minister has sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs.2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs.50,000/- each to the seriously injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dedicated to the nation the 240 MW Uri-II hydropower project built by NHPC at a cost of Rs. 2290 crore in Jammu and Kashmir. +Addressing people at the project site, Shri Modi said his Government is committed to dispel darkness from the country. +He said this project was conceived during the Government of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and we have fulfilled that vision. +He said the country has hydropower potential of 1.5 lakh MW, but we have not been able to harness much of it so far. +Today, when global warming is an issue that affects all mankind, we will place maximum emphasis on renewable energy sources. +Our objective is to tap maximum hydropower potential, the Prime Minister added. +He said power is an essential requirement for development and economic growth. +The entire economy of Jammu and Kashmir will gain momentum from hydropower projects, he said. +Giving the example of Bhutan, he said the economy of that country was now being built around hydropower. +The Prime Minister said sufficient emphasis had not been given to power transmission lines network, and his Government will take this task forward through the PPP model. +The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri N.N. Vohra, The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Omar Abdullah, and MoS(I/C) Power Shri Piyush Goel were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today received the Foreign Minister of France, Mr Laurent Fabius. +Prime Minister strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and conveyed his deepest condolences at the loss of innocent lives in the attacks. +Prime Minister expressed hope for a positive outcome from the forthcoming COP-21 Summit that was equitable, balanced and guided by the principles and provisions of the UNFCC, especially the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities. +It should also provide for enhanced technological, financial and capacity building support to the developing and Small Island Developing countries to enable them to take even more ambitious climate action. +Prime Minister said that he looked forward to launch the International Solar Alliance along with the French President and other leaders during the COP 21 Summit. +The Foreign Minister of France appreciated the INDCs declared by India and stated that India would play an important role in the success of the COP 21 Summit. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. +“My best wishes to the people of Telangana on the occasion of their Statehood Day. +My best wishes for the State’s development journey. +Greetings & good wishes to my sisters & brothers of Andhra Pradesh in the development journey of this hardworking State,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will attend the birth anniversary celebrations of former President, Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, at DRDO Bhavan in New Delhi on October 15th, 2015. +As part of the event, the Prime Minister will unveil a statue of Dr. Kalam. +He will open and witness a photo exhibition titled “A Celebration of Dr. Kalam’s Life.” +He will address the gathering at Kothari Auditorium, DRDO Bhavan. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today had a telephonic conversation with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman, of Saudi Arabia. +The Prime Minister enquired about the health of His Majesty, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. +The Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes for the speedy and complete recovery of King Abdullah. +He also conveyed his best wishes to Crown Prince Salman for the discharge of his current duties and national responsibilities. +He gave me a rare book on the Parliament of World`s Religions of 1893. +The book contains a paper of Swami Vivekananda,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister also tweeted some pictures of the book. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to create one post of Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General (Coordination, Communication and Information System) in Pay Level-17 (by abolishing one STS level post) in the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India. +The Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General shall oversee the coordination among State Audits, audit of telecommunication and to coordinate the various Information Systems (IS) initiatives within the Indian Audit & Accounts Department (IA&AD). +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received a telephone call from Mr. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada today evening. +Both leaders exchanged views on developments of mutual interest, specifically climate change. +Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to take forward implementation of the Paris Agreement. +Prime Minister congratulated Prime Minister Trudeau on the 150th Anniversary of the Canadian Confederation this year. +He appreciated the steady all round progress in diverse areas of bilateral engagement with Canada. +Both leaders agreed to continue communication and cooperation to promote stronger ties. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Chandigarh tomorrow. +He will inaugurate the new civil air terminal at Chandigarh airport and attend the 34th Convocation Ceremony of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research. +The Prime Minister will inaugurate a new housing scheme and address a public meeting at Sector-25 in Chandigarh. +Later in the day, the Prime Minister will visit Swami Dayananda Saraswati Ashram in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. +PM lays Foundation stone of the new terminal building of KBR Airport in Leh +Several Development projects for Ladakh region unveiled by PM +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi arrived Leh in Ladakh in the first leg of his one day visit to Leh, Jammu and Srinagar today. +He inaugurated / laid foundation stones for various development projects there. +Applauding the crowd for braving a chilly winter, PM said “Those who live in difficult situations, they challenge every difficulty. +Your affection gives me a great motivation to keep working hard.” +He inaugurated the University of Ladakh and said, “Young students constitute 40% of the population of Ladakh. +There has been a long standing demand for a University in this region. +PM inaugurated 9 MW Dah Hydroelectric project in Dah near Datang village and 220 KV Srinagar- Alusteng – Drass- Kargil – Leh transmission system. +While inaugurating these projects PM said, “We’ve left behind culture of delays”. +He added that his Government will ensure that for all the projects for which foundation stone is laid by him will be inaugurated by him. +Five New tourist and trekking routes in Ladakh were opened today as well. +PM said that Life gets easier, economically as well once a city is well connected. +He added that, Once Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line is completed, the distance from Delhi to Leh will be reduced. +PM laid foundation stone of the new terminal building of Kushok Bakula Rimpochee (KBR) Airport in Leh by unveiling a plaque. +The new terminal will provide seamless passenger movement with all modern amenities. +These projects will He also said that with the projects will result in better availability of electricity, improved connectivity and thus resumore tourist footfalls in the region. +It will also open better livelihood opportunities to many villages. +In addition, Protected Area Permit’s validity has been increased to 15 days. +Now tourists will be able to enjoy their journey to Leh for a longer time. +PM said that a few changes have been made in the LAHDC Act and the Council have been given more rights concerning the expenditures. +Now the Autonomous Council releases the money sent for the region’s development, he added +About the interim budget the Prime Minister told that for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, there has been a hike in allocation by 30% and nearly 35% hike for the development of Dalits. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to enhance investment by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in Bharat Oman Refineries Limited (BORL). +The investment amount could be enhanced up to a maximum of Rs. 3000 crore by way of subscription of convertible warrants / other instruments giving right to convert it into equity shares to be issued by BORL, beyond DPE guidelines dated 05.08.2005. +The infusion of funds by the BPCLs will enable BORL to overcome the implications on account of the erosion of the net worth. +Besides it will enhance the availability of petroleum products in the Northern and Central parts of the country, industrial development of Madhya Pradesh and substantial increase in employment and tax earnings in the State. +Background: +Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. +It has promoted a joint venture company with Oman Oil Company Limited (OOCL) named Bharat Oman Refineries Limited (BORL). +The BORL has commissioned the 6 MMTPA (120 Thousand Barrels Per Day) Refinery at Bina in Madhya Pradesh, in June, 2011 at a project cost of about Rs. 12,754 crore. +Currently the refinery is operating at 100% of its installed capacity. +The company now proposes to undertake a debottlenecking project at the refinery to further increase the refining capacity from 6 MMTPA to 7.8 MMTPA. +The estimated project cost is Rs. 3,072 crore, with an overall implementation schedule of 36 months from date of receipt of environmental clearances (Zero Date). +The highlights of the proposal for debottlenecking project include certain modifications to produce products in accordance to the new Auto Fuel Policy. +Hence, there is a need for immediate infusion of funds in BORL by the shareholders. +OOCL while expressing their support for the project, had indicated that they are not prepared to commit further funds for the project at this stage. +Therefore, BPCL Board has decided to infuse funds to the tune of Rs. 3,000 Crore for funding the de-bottlenecking project and for meeting the extraordinary losses suffered on account of the sharp fall in the prices of crude oil and finished products. +Government has, accordingly, decided to grant approval to the proposal of BPCL to enhance its investment in BORL by an additional amount of up to Rs. 3,000 crore for completion of the de-bottlenecking project. +I am delighted to welcome President Kikwete and his delegation to India. +My Government has the pleasure of hosting him as the first Head of State from Africa on a State Visit to India. +President Kikwete’s vision and leadership over the past decade have advanced political stability and economic growth in Tanzania. +He has worked for a future of peace and cooperation in Africa. +And, we deeply value his strong commitment to relations with India. +India and Tanzania are connected by Indian Ocean. +Its currents have carried our centuries-old human links. +It prospers through nearly 50,000 people of Indian origin in Tanzania. +We have an emotional bond of a shared history of struggle against colonialism. +We have spoken in one voice for a life of equality and dignity for all people. +We have been partners in the cause of deeper cooperation among developing countries and a greater voice for them in international forums. +We have shared aspirations for inclusive economic development. +We have a common interest in maritime security in the Indian Ocean and a peaceful and prosperous Africa. +Terrorism in our respective regions is a concern for both countries. +We have agreed to establish a Joint Working Group to strengthen our co-operation in counter-terrorism. +We not only have a broad range of shared interests, but also a close relationship. +We are pleased to be Tanzania’s largest trading partner and a long-standing development partner. +President Kikwete and I had comprehensive and productive talks today. +I assured him of India’s continuing commitment to relations with Tanzania. +Our trade of over 4 billion U.S. dollars is heavily in India’s favour. +I urged President Kikwete to open up more sectors for investments and exports. +Indian investments in Tanzania exceed 3 billion U.S. dollars and cover many areas. +I offered our cooperation in the development of the potentially rich natural gas sector in Tanzania. +We discussed cooperation in the maritime sector and ocean economy. +The agreement on hydrography is an important step forward in our cooperation in this sector. +We are pleased to be a partner in the development of human resources, healthcare, agriculture, institutions and infrastructure in Tanzania. +I assured President Kikwete that our development partnership will continue, as our agreements today indicate. +Tanzanian nationals in growing numbers travel to India. +We have nearly 2000 Tanzanian students in India. +I have informed President Kikwete that we will soon extend our e-tourist visa scheme to Tanzania. +We also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest. +We are ready to expand cooperation in counter-terrorism and maritime security. +We greatly appreciate Tanzania’s support for India’s candidature for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council. +I briefed President Kikwete about the Third India-Africa Forum Summit to be held in October in New Delhi. +For the first time, we have invited leaders of the 54 African countries. +Tanzania is an important part of India-Africa partnership. +President Kikwete co-chaired the First India-Africa Forum Summit in 2008. +We look forward to his participation too. +Let me conclude by saying that our relations with Tanzania and Africa will continue to grow. +It is a great pleasure to host the leader of an Indian Ocean neighbour in Delhi. +This Centre will be a state of art facility exit point for perishables from the State of transit airports. +It will provide a world class facility under one roof to cater to all requirements of the traders and maintain the quality of produce. +This facility is to be created by MPWLC under PPP mode. +The creation of Centre for Perishable Cargo is expected to cater to the employment needs of the local population and has significant employment potential. +A total number of 113 persons will be required to manage the CPC. +The State Government of Madhya Pradesh has brought out that the CPC is proposed to be set up at Devi Ahilya Bai Airport, Indore. +The move comes in the backdrop of huge demand of export of pharmaceuticals, poultry products and horticulture products in Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. +The leasing out of the land will enable State Government of Madhya Pradesh to promote its agriculture and Horticulture sector by establishment of Centre for Perishable Cargo at Indore airport. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post-facto approval to the Letter of Intent signed on 10.2.2016 between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of India and the National Qualifications Authority of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E). +The Letter of Intent will strengthen relations between the two countries and pave the way for bilateral cooperation between the two countries on skill development and recognition of qualifications. +Also the MoU will facilitate workforce mobility, skill development and placement of youth in overseas jobs in UAE. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, made a number of announcements on consular and visa issues during his address at the Madison Square Garden in New York City on September 28th, 2014. +The Union Government has moved swiftly to implement these announcements. +According to a Gazette notification issued on September 30th, 2014, all PIO cards are now valid for the lifetime of the cardholder, instead of 15 years. +This effectively fulfils the Prime Minister’s announcement that PIO cardholders would enjoy a lifelong visa to India. +Fulfilling yet another announcement made by the Prime Minister, instructions have been issued to Embassies and Consulates that unless there are exceptional circumstances, visas to US nationals should normally be given for 10 years. +Systems are in place to introduce visa on arrival for US tourists in October itself. +The Ministry of Home Affairs is working on a new scheme that will merge the PIO and OCI schemes. +My dear countrymen, my heartiest and best Deepawali wishes to all of you. +Deepawali is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm throughout our country. +In India almost on all 365 days of the year, one festival or the other is celebrated in some part of the country. +Somebody watching from a distance would genuinely feel that festivity is a synonym for the Indian way of life, and this is natural too. +However, we can very well discern one characteristic that this entire journey of Indian festivals, its widespread effect, its depth, its reach to each individual are all interlinked with one spirit which exhorts evolution from the ‘self’ to the ‘whole’, the ‘collective existence’. +Our ancestors had very scientifically encompassed all these aspects in our festivals. +Today, the whole world is talking about the environment. +Destruction of nature is a matter of great concern. +India’s tradition of celebrating festivals has been one to strengthen our love for nature and to develop each individual, right from childhood, as a cultured person. +Festivals have evoked a sense of responsibility towards everything, be it trees, plants, rivers, animals, mountains, birds, etc. +Nowadays we observe Sunday as a holiday but in our older generations, labourers, fishermen and others from such sections of society used to observe holidays on New Moon, that is Amavasya and Full Moon, that is Poornima. +Now when we celebrate Diwali, as I said, each of our festivals carries a message and teaches us something. +The festival of lights Deepawali conveys the message of ‘TAMSO MA JYOTIRGAMAYA’, to move from darkness to light. +And, this darkness here does not merely signify the absence of light; it is also the darkness of superstition and blind-faith, darkness of ignorance, darkness of poverty and also darkness of social evils. +By lighting lamps on Diwali, we try to overcome the darkness of these social shortcomings and individual blemishes – attaining freedom from this darkness is the real essence of the festival of lights Deepawali, which we celebrate by lighting an earthen lamp, a ‘diya’. +One thing that all of us know very well is that wherever in India we go, whether to the home of the richest of the rich or to the humble dwelling of the poorest of the poor, during the Diwali festival we can see a cleanliness campaign going on in every household. +Every nook and corner of the house is cleaned. +The less privileged also put in all their efforts to clean their modest earthen utensils because it is Diwali time. +Thus, Diwali also encompasses a campaign of cleanliness. +From countries of the East to those of the West, from developed nations to developing nations and from countries of Africa to Ireland – everywhere we can see the glow and revelry of Deepawali. +You may be aware that in America, the US Postal Service has released a special postage stamp on Deepawali this time. +The Prime Minister of Canada has shared on Twitter a picture of him lighting a lamp on the occasion of Diwali. +And, what is that picture about! +It shows 16 women MPs of Singapore Parliament standing outside the Parliament all clad in Indian Sarees and this photo has gone viral. +What I mean to say is that the festival of lights, Deepawali is becoming a festival of inspiration for the world community also to move from darkness to light. +On Deepawali people adorn good clothes, enjoy delicious food items and along with these there is also the bursting of fire-crackers in a big way. +The children and the young people very much enjoy this bursting of crackers. +But, at times children indulge in reckless bravado and take unnecessary risks. +They unwittingly invite a mishap in trying to create a big blast by joining and bursting many crackers together. +They are not even mindful of their surroundings, which might have incendiary items leading to fire accidents. +News of such mishaps, fire breakouts and even tragic casualties become a cause of big concern on Deepawali. +To add to these woes, there is a situation of even the doctors in big numbers being unavailable as they too are away celebrating Deepawali with their families. +I specially urge the parents and guardians to be with their children with a watchful eye when they burst firecrackers, so that there is no carelessness or undue audacity and accidents and mishaps are avoided. +In India, the celebration of Diwali lasts for a number of days. +It is not restricted to just one day. +With a string of festive events such as Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, Laabh Panchmi till Kartik Purnima – this festival of lights goes on for quite a long period of time. +Alongside the festivities of Deepawali, we also prepare to celebrate Chhathh Pooja. +This Chhathh Pooja is a very important festival in the Eastern parts of our country. +But the adage is that people only pray to the rising sun. +However, during the Chhathh Pooja, people worship the setting Sun as well. +In the backdrop of the disturbing incidents taking place during the past few months, the soldiers of our defence forces have been sacrificing their all for our peace and happiness. +The sacrifice, devotion and zeal of the Jawans of our security forces occupies my mind and heart, my emotional universe all the time. +And from that emanated my feeling and resolve that this Diwali must be dedicated to our security forces. +I invited my countrymen to join the ‘Sandesh to Soldiers’ campaign. +And today, in all humility, I wish to proclaim that there would not be a single soul in India who would not have unbounded love for our Jawans, a sense of deep pride in the members of our security forces. +The way these sentiments have been expressed is surely giving strength to each of our countrymen. +Your messages to the Jawans of our security forces have proved to be a great morale booster which cannot be easily imagined. +Schools, colleges, students, villages, the underprivileged, traders, shopkeepers, political leaders, sportspersons, people from the cine world have all lit a lamp for the country’s Jawans, have joined in this campaign of sending a message of greetings and salutation to our Jawans. +While we are celebrating Diwali in the comforts of our homes, some of these Jawans are deployed in the desert areas, others are guarding the towering Himalayan peaks, some are guarding our industrial establishments and some are maintaining security vigil at the airports. +What great responsibilities they have on their shoulders! +And so if we remember them also while we are in our festive mood, our remembrance gets a new vigour which gets imparted to them also and they feel a new strength. +Just one message can enhance their capability and our country has shown it. +I earnestly express my gratitude to all our countrymen and women for this gesture. +It appears that my NarendraModiApp and MyGov have been overwhelmingly filled with emotional messages, in the shape of words, in the form of ‘Pinchhi’, colours, compositions, etc., encompassing innumerable emotions from all; I can imagine how proud our soldiers feel at this moment. +Many messages and other expression forms have been received on ‘Sandesh to Soldiers’ hashtag. +As a symbol of these, I would like to read a poem which has been sent by Shriman Ashwani Kumar. +Ashwani ji has written: – +Let’s hear what this representative of a military family says: +“Hello Mr. Prime Minister, I am Shivani Mohan calling. +The “Sandesh to Soldiers” campaign has been launched on this Deepawali and is proving to be a morale booster for our brothers. +My husband is an Army officer. +I would also like to say that along with Army Officers and soldiers their families and their wives also make sacrifices. +Hence the entire army community is receiving a wonderful message and I would also like to wish you a Happy Diwali. +My fellow citizens, it is true that military personnel guard not only our borders, but they stand as sentinels and fighters on every front of life. +Be it a calamitous natural disaster or a law and order crisis or having to deal with enemies or to display courage in motivating misguided youth to return to the mainstream of life, Our Jawans are motivated by a sense of patriotism while rendering service to the nation. +One incident has been brought to my attention and I also want to tell you that how at the core of success small things gather and become a force to reckon with. +You must have heard that Himachal Pradesh as a State is now Open Defecation Free, has attained the status of OFD. +The first state to achieve this was Sikkim, then Himachal Pradesh accomplished it and Kerala is going to be OFD on November 1st. +But how is this success achieved? +Well, I’ll tell you the reason, one of the security personnel of ITBP called Vikas Thakur is from a small village in Sirmour district of Himachal. +See his patriotism for the country; it is not that he serves the nation only by firing bullets on the enemies! +And that is how Himachal Pradesh has been empowered to become an Open Defecation Free state. +And similarly in Kerala, I really want to thank young people. +It came to my attention, that in the remote forests of Kerala where there is no path to tread upon and only after walking an entire day, some villages can be reached with difficulty; a tribal village panchayat named Idmalakudi is there. +It is rarely visited by people. +It came to the attention of Engineering students from the nearby urban areas that this village was in dire need of the toilets. +NCC cadets, NSS volunteers, Engineering students – all together decided that the toilets will be constructed by them. +The building material needed to construct the toilets whether it was bricks or cement, the entire construction material was carried by the young men on their shoulders, spending an entire day walking in those forests. +And they themselves worked hard to construct toilets in that village, thus achieving the goal of making a remote village in faraway forests Open Defecation Free! +So that is the reason why Kerala is on the verge of being declared free from open defecation. +The Municipal Councils and Corporations in Gujarat, numbering over 150 have been declared free from open defecation. +There is also good news coming from Haryana, Haryana is going to celebrate its Golden jubilee on 1st November and in next few months, Haryana as an entire state will be freed from the stigma of open defecation. +As of now, seven districts in Haryana have got rid of open defecation. +Work is progressing at a very rapid pace in all of these states. +I have mentioned the work being carried out in some of the places. +I convey my heartfelt thanks to all the citizens in these states who have joined in the task of eliminating from our country the darkness resulting from filth. +But generally due attention is not paid to this. +And so far I’ve heard that Haryana has managed to make seven or eight districts absolutely Kerosene free. +And with the pace at which this job has been undertaken, I believe that the entire state will soon be completely Kerosene free. +Just imagine the change that would be ushered in, theft will stop, the environment would benefit, and we will save our precious foreign exchange and the common folk will get facilities. +The only people feeling uncomfortable would be the dishonest persons and the middle-men. +My dear countrymen, Mahatma Gandhi is our guide forever. +Even today, his words guide us in setting up the standards and determining the direction that our nation must follow. +Your decisions should be based on such a benchmark. +It is the need of the times that we’ve to address the aspirations that have been arisen in the poor of our nation. +We have to help them in getting freed from their troubles in a stepwise manner. +Whatever the old dogmatic thinking might have been, but the society now must be freed from discrimination between our sons and daughters. +Now our schools are having toilets for girls as well as for boys. +For our daughters this is the opportunity to experience an India free from discrimination. +‘Mission Indradhanush’ is one such operation that involves a vaccination program covering those kids who got left out during previous immunization campaigns and empowers them with immunity against serious diseases. +The small trader, the small businessman, the vegetable vendor, the milk vendor, the one running a hair cutting salon has always been entrapped in the grip of the money lender, repaying interest all his life. +The stand up scheme and Jan Dhan account scheme are aimed at freeing these people from the clutches of notorious moneylenders. +For the common man this is an opportunity to come out of the grip of middlemen. +We should and do pay homage to the memories of our great personalities. +But a phone call from a gentleman from Punjab and his pain touched me: – +“Pradhan Mantriji namaskar, Sir, I am Jasdeep speaking from Punjab. +Sir, as you know, 31st October is Sardar Patel ji’s birthday. +Sardar Patel is the great personality who devoted his whole life to unite the country and, I think, he succeeded fully in this mission of his, he brought everybody together. +Sir, I want to know how we can check such unfortunate events and incidents from taking place”. +My dear countrymen, this is not the pain of an individual person. +One Sardar, as history goes, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the second great man after Chanakya who carried on the stupendous job of uniting our country. +But amidst all these turmoils, we have to march forward chanting the Mantra of Unity. +Unity in diversity is the strength of our country. +Different languages, different castes, different attires, different food habits and despite all these, unity in diversity remains our binding strength. +That is India’s great characteristic quality. +Each generation has this responsibility, the governments have this responsibility to explore possibilities of integration in each corner of the country and highlight the elements of our integration. +We should keep away from the idea of separatism or the attitude of separatism and also guard the country from any such ideology. +Sardar Saheb gave us one India, now this is our collective responsibility to develop a Great India, a Shreshtha Bharat. +The Mantra of national unity is the very foundation of a strong and great India. +Sardar Saheb’s journey started with a struggle for farmers. +He was the son of a farmer. +Sardar Saheb had a big role in taking the Freedom movement to the farmers. +Today, we often hear the name AMUL. +People of India and even those in other countries are familiar with every product of AMUL. +But, only a few people would know that it was only through his farsightedness that Sardar Saheb envisioned the creation of a Cooperative Milk Producers Union in Khera district, which was at that time called Kaira district. +My dear countrymen, during Diwali festivities, Kartik Purnima is also a festival of lights called PRAKASH UTSAV. +Guru Nanak Dev, his teachings and blessings are very relevant even now and are a source of inspiration for humanity as a whole. +Service, truth and everybody’s well-being was the message of Guru Nanak Dev. +Peace, unity and harmony were his principal teachings. +Every teaching of Guru Nanak Dev preached that a campaign should be carried on to abolish superstitions, social disparities and social evils from the society. +I wish that all your dreams and resolves get fulfilled in every possible way! +May your lives be blessed with success and happiness. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief on the loss of lives of CRPF personnel in Bihar. +Prime Minister has prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and extended his condolences to the families of the martyred CRPF personnel in this hour of sadness. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between India and Romania in the field of tourism. +The MoU was signed in September, 2018 during the visit of the Vice-President of India to Romania. +The main objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding are: +a) To expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector +b) To exchange information and data related to tourism. +To encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders including Hotels and Tour operators. +c) Investment in the Tourism and Hospitality sectors +d) To exchange visits of Tour Operators / Media /Opinion Makers for promotion of two way tourism +e) To exchange experiences in the areas of promotion, marketing, destination development and management. +f) Foster bilateral cooperation through film tourism for promoting the two countries as attractive tourism destinations and +g) To promote safe, honourable and sustainable tourism. +h) Facilitate the movement of tourism between the two countries +The signing of Memorandum of Understanding with Romania will be instrumental in increasing arrival from this source market. +India and Romania have enjoyed a strong diplomatic and long economic relationship. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today unveiled the plaque for laying of the Foundation Stone of the Fourth Container Terminal of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port at Mumbai. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the NCC Rally in New Delhi. +He said that whenever he is among the NCC cadets, he is filled with nostalgia. +He expressed happiness that in the last one year, NCC cadets have been associated with several important initiatives, such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Digital Transactions etc. +He said their contribution to the relief and rescue efforts during the Kerala floods was especially praiseworthy. +The Prime Minister said that today, the whole world looks upon India as a shining star. +He said that there is now a perception that India not only has a lot of potential, but is also fulfilling that potential. +He said that whether it is the economy or defence, India’s capabilities have expanded. +He added that while India is a supporter of peace, India will not hesitate to take any steps required for national security. +He said a lot of important decisions have been taken for defence and security in the last four and a half years. +He said India is now among the select few countries which have developed the nuclear triad. +He said that youth can realize their dreams only if the country remains secure. +He said many NCC cadets have gone on to make the country proud. +In this context, he mentioned the famous athlete Hima Das. +He said that hard work and talent are the determinants of success. +He said several steps are being taken to provide opportunities for women, and to increase their participation in the workforce. +He said women have now become fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force for the first time. +The Prime Minister appreciated the youth for their active involvement in key initiatives such as Swachh Bharat and Digital India. +He urged the cadets to spread greater awareness about the Government’s welfare schemes. +He also urged them to motivate the youth to vote in large numbers in the upcoming elections. +In this context, he mentioned the Kranti Mandir at Red Fort, and the Mahaparinirvana Sthal of Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar at Alipur Road. +He said a visit to these places can fill one with new energy to work for the people. +The New National Mineral Policy will ensure more effective regulation. +It will lead to sustainable mining sector development in future while addressing the issues of project affected persons especially those residing in tribal areas +The aim of National Mineral Policy 2019 is to have a more effective, meaningful and implementable policy that brings in further transparency, better regulation and enforcement, balanced social and economic growth as well as sustainable mining practices. +The National Mineral Policy 2019 includes provisions which will give boost to mining sector such as +Praying for the safety and wellbeing of those affected by floods, the Prime Minister hopes the situation in the affected areas normalises at the earliest. +“I pray for the safety and wellbeing of those in areas affected by floods in parts UP, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan & MP. +Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh ji is closely monitoring the situation. +He has spoken to the CMs and taken stock of rescue and relief operations. +Centre assures total support in the rescue and relief operations. +I hope the situation in the affected areas normalises at the earliest.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Supreme Head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +He was accompanied by a nine member delegation, comprising senior members of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. +H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, is currently on an Apostolic visit to India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep concern over the flood situation in Varanasi. +NDRF teams are present at Varanasi for rescue and relief work. +The MP office there is working round the clock to provide all assistance.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina today jointly inaugurated the Petrapole Integrated Check Post through video-conferencing. +Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee also participated from Kolkata in the video-conference. +Petrapole-Benapole is an important land border crossing for India-Bangladesh trade. +More than 50 per cent of the India-Bangladesh trade passes through Petrapole. +Trade worth more than Rs. 15000 Crore takes place through the Petrapole ICP, which is more than all the other Indian Land Ports and Land Customs Stations put together. +Approximately 15 lakh people and 150,000 trucks cross Petrapole-Benapole every year. +The Petrapole ICP will provide better facilities for effective and efficient discharge of functions such as security, immigration, customs, quarantine, etc. while also providing support facilities for smooth cross-border movement of persons, goods and transport. +Petrapole ICP will be the second ICP on the India-Bangladesh border after the Agartala ICP at the Agartala (India)-Akhaura (Bangladesh) land border. +It will also be the biggest land port in South Asia. +It is expected that the capacity will double with the commissioning of the Petrapole ICP and the local business community will benefit immensely from reduced transaction time and costs. +The commissioning of the Petrapole ICP will also serve to foster greater economic integration and connectivity between India and Bangladesh. +Your Excellency President Rouhani, +I am also grateful to you for the gracious hospitality given to me and my delegation. +On behalf of the 1.25 billion Indians, I extend warm greetings to the friendly people of Iran. +Through ages, the beauty and richness of the Persian heritage has attracted the world to Iran. +For me, visiting Iran, is indeed a great privilege. +India and Iran are not new friends. +Our dosti is as old as history. +Through centuries, our societies have stayed connected through art and architecture, ideas and traditions, and culture and commerce. +As friends and neighbours, we have shared interest in each other’s growth and prosperity, and joys and sorrows. +We can never forget that Iran was among the first countries to come forward in support when earthquake struck my state, Gujarat, in 2001. +Similarly, India is proud to have stood with the people of Iran during your difficult times. +I compliment the leadership of Iran for their far-sighted diplomacy. +We had last met in Ufa in 2015. +Your leadership and the clarity of your vision have deeply impressed me. +In our meeting today, we focused on the full range of our bilateral engagement. +We exchanged views on the emerging regional situation and global issues of common concern. +The agenda and scope of our partnership is truly substantial. +The outcomes and agreements signed today open a new chapter in our strategic partnership. +The welfare of our people is guiding our broad based economic ties. +Expanded trade ties, deeper connectivity, including Railways partnerships in oil and gas sector fertilizers education and cultural sphere are driving our overall economic engagement. +The bilateral agreement to develop the Chahbahar port and related infrastructure, and availability of about US$ 500 million from India for this purpose, is an important milestone. +This major effort would boost economic growth in the region. +We are committed to take steps for early implementation of the agreements signed today. +Later today we are going to sign the trilateral Transport and Transit Agreement with participation of Iran, India and Afghanistan. +It will be a historic occasion. +It will open new routes for India, Iran and Afghanistan to connect among themselves. +India and Iran also share a crucial stake in peace, stability and prosperity of the region. +We also have shared concerns at the spread of forces of instability, radicalism and terror in our region. +We have agreed to consult closely and regularly on combating threats of terrorism, radicalism, drug trafficking and cyber crime. +We have also agreed to enhance interaction between our defence and security institutions on regional and maritime security. +President Rouhani and I would leave no stone unturned to work for its glorious future. +Our friendship will be a factor of stability in our region. +Let me end with it: +[Means: Once we make up our mind, the distance between Kaashi and Kaashan is only half a step] +I once again sincerely thank you, Excellency for inviting me to Iran. +I also thank you all. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to legendary mathematician S Ramanujan on his birth anniversary. +“A genius who made a monumental contribution to mathematics, I pay my tributes to the legendary S Ramanujan on his birth anniversary”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the Ground Breaking Ceremony of Navi Mumbai International Airport. +At a function in Navi Mumbai, he also dedicated the fourth container terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust. +Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister noted that he had come to Maharashtra, a day before the Jayanti of the great Shivaji Maharaj. +The Prime Minister said globalization is a reality of our times and to keep pace with globalisation, we need top quality infrastructure. +He said the Sagarmala project is ushering not only development of ports but also port-led development. +The Prime Minister said that the Government of India is devoting significant efforts towards the development of waterways. +The Prime Minister said that the Navi Mumbai airport project has been pending for years. +He said delayed projects cause many problems, and the PRAGATI initiative had been initiated, to give priority to completion of projects. +He said India’s aviation sector is growing tremendously, and there is a sharp increase in the number of people flying. +This makes quality infrastructure in the aviation sector of prime importance, he added. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government has brought an aviation policy that is transforming the sector. +He added that a strong aviation sector also gives more economic opportunities. +Better connectivity leads to more tourists coming to India, he said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for notification of Preferential Treatment by India to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Trade in Services in the WTO. +India will notify preferential treatment to the LDCs in Trade in Services in respect of:- +(1). Article XVI of the GATS (Market Access); +(2). Technical Assistance and capacity building; and +(3). Waiver of visa fees for LDC applicants applying for Indian Business and Employment visas. +The preferences will be bound with validity for 15 years from the date of notification by India. +A generous offer in Trade in Services by India should win the country goodwill of LDCs. +India has already made a very generous offer to LDCs in the area of Trade in Goods in the form of a Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTF) scheme. +An equally generous offer in Trade in Services will help India preserve and consolidate its leadership position on LDC issues. +Further, given the development dimension of the Doha Round of the WTO, it is important that India makes liberal offers to LDCs in Trade in Services also. +Moreover, several of the LDCs are located in South Asia while majority are in Africa with whom India maintains special relations. +India’s preferential treatment to the LDCs in Trade in Services would involve a cost of Rs. 6.5 crore annually on account of waiver of visa fees and Rs. 2.5 to 3 crore, per annum, for providing training in management and technical consultancy courses to LDC applicants. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the scientists on National Science Day. +I salute all science lovers and wish them the very best as they enhance their scientific zeal. +India is extremely proud of our scientists”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has described technology as a means to “discover, learn, evolve and implement.” +He shared his thoughts during the Digital Dialogue, in which we has talked extensively on technology, what it means to him and the way ahead. +Other thoughts on technology: +“It (technology) combines 3Ss- speed, simplicity and service. +Technology is fast, technology is simple and technology is a brilliant way to serve people. +It is also a great teacher. +The more we learn about technology and the more we learn through technology, the better it is.” +“Technology empowers the less empowered. +If there is a strong force that bring a change in the lives of those on the margins it is technology.” +On the Digital India initiative he said, +“The entire Nation has joined hands to make the dream of a Digital India into a reality. +Youngsters are enthusiastic, industry is supportive and the government is proactive. +India is yearning for a digital revolution.” +“The investment committed by industry towards a Digital India indicates their optimism and the positive effects will be felt for generations. +Most notably, several job opportunities will be created for our people.” +On social media the PM opined: +“The future belongs to social media. +It is egalitarian and inclusive. +Social media is not about any country, any language, any colour, any community but it is about human values and that is the underlying link binding humanity.” +PM on mobile governance: +“M-governance is empowered governance. +It has the potential to make development a truly inclusive and comprehensive mass movement. +It puts governance into everyone’s reach. +It puts governance in your hands 24/7.” +Several big companies today are startups of yesterday.” +“We want India to emerge as the Innovation Hub where the next big ideas emerge, driven by the power of technology.” +On Saturday 4th July the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Tweeted that he would be having a Digital Dialogue with Tech Enthusiasts. +He urged people to share their views using #DigitalDialogue. +The response to his Tweets has been phenomenal. +Several Tweets and Posts have been shared. +At the same time, letters from the previous ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on technology and digital India were referred. +Here is the text of the dialogue: +The entire Nation has joined hands to make the dream of a Digital India into a reality. +Youngsters are enthusiastic, industry is supportive and the government is proactive. +India is yearning for a digital revolution. +When the Digital India initiative was launched, the fervour was unimaginable and unprecedented. +The investment committed by industry towards a Digital India indicates their optimism and the positive effects will be felt for generations. +Most notably, several job opportunities will be created for our people. +Never before has something been planned at such a large scale. +I want to add that this dream will be fulfilled not by the Central Government or the private sector alone. +Everybody (Centre, State Governments, organisations, corporates, people) has to come together and is working towards a digital India. +Several people wrote to me asking how Digital India will touch their lives. +They shared ideas for citizen-centric services from the national till the Panchayat level. @RishiBagree highlighted an App on waste management. @rangats and @kumawatraj have talked about PDS improvement and electronic ration cards. +I want to tell everyone – our quest for a Digital India is all encompassing. +It is going to touch your lives in several ways, making it easier. +For instance, the Digital Locker and e-Sign will manage all key documents with ease and efficiency. +Documents can be accessed at a click and that too without being inconvenienced. +He will be happy to know that DeitY is actively working on this. +The National Scholarship Portal brings together all scholarship schemes under a single application form. +Thus, you will have one convenient platform to search the right scholarship, filling several forms and tracking their progress. +The real strength of these initiatives will come when they are extensively used. +More usage will enable them to become mature and world class. +That is why, I urge everyone to use these innovative services as much as possible. +For instance, think of paying the salary of your support staff from your mobile to their Jan Dhan accounts. +Similarly, keep using these services in as many ways as possible. +Q2- @BGMahesh (BG Mahesh) asked – what is your tech routine. +In what ways in technology a part of your life. +This is a question many people ask me when I meet them. +They ask me about technology, what mobile phone I use, how often I check my mail. +Technology for me is- discover, learn, evolve and implement. +It combines 3Ss- speed, simplicity and service. +The more we learn about technology and the more we learn through technology, the better it is. +Technology enthuses the world. +I see technology as this vast ocean whose small droplets I have been able to touch upon. +Ofcourse, I want to know more and more about latest technology but due to my schedule it becomes very tough. +Yet, I am a curious mind when it comes to anything that facilitates public good and so, I try to learn more and more about how technology can ensure public good. +I keep thinking about it and try to know as much more as possible. +Like any common person, I scan my mails and try to be as regular in correspondence (by my own standards I am still slow). +Technology makes access to information a lot faster. +I am able to access news on the go. +I may be travelling in the hills, in the Northeast of in interior Chhattisgarh but thanks to technology I am abreast with what is happening. +I have been using technology for my work right from the days when I was doing party work. +As a Chief Minister I made attempts to integrate technology in the working of the government and my efforts to do the same continue in Delhi. +A few months ago we launched PRAGATI, a technology based multi-purpose and multi-nodal platform where projects are monitored and people’s problems are addressed. +On the last Wednesday of every month, I sit down with top officials during the PRAGATI sessions and we cover substantial ground in a wide range of sectors. +We are already seeing the difference this can make. +Technology transforms people’s lives. +From mitigating poverty to simplifying processes, ending corruption to providing better services, Technology is omnipresent. +It has become the single-most important instrument of human progress. +Technology is here to stay. +The future of technology lies in its humanization. +Technology on a day-to-day basis is getting adaptive to human emotions, preferences and choices. +To me technology used wisely is a catalyst to magically transforming the way we live. +The future belongs to social media. +It is egalitarian and inclusive. +Social media is not about any country, any language, any colour, any community but it is about human values and that is the underlying link binding humanity. +A great example is the recent #SelfieWithDaughter trend. +The rest is history. +Worldwide and in India this became a trend. +People from Africa, Europe, the Americas, South Asian neighbours shared selfies taken with their daughters. +When people were sharing selfies, they were not responding to the call of a Prime Minister, it was a connect between humans for a cause that is important for all of us and has resonance across the globe. +On Yoga Day the world could see what is happening all over due to social media. +Physical distance was rendered irrelevant. +Similarly, during the previous ‘Mann Ki Baat’ I asked people to share glimpses of #IncredibleIndia and I got lakhs of responses. +One Vietnamese person shared his memories of India and I got an opportunity to talk to that person on Twitter. +When a group of friends decided to clean the Ghats in Varanasi it created waves across the world. +If this doesn’t indicate something then what does? +My being on social media has enriched me in many ways. +After a long day at work, I log on to social media and it is very very refreshing. +I am active on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn and Instagram. +It gives me a pulse of what people think. +I get a lot of feedback. +For example, someone tweeted to me that during one of the speeches I spoke too fast. +It acts as a mirror for all of us in our otherwise very busy lives. +I am a firm believer in the use of social media. +It has given voice to the common man. +This is an empowering platform and it should be used as positively and creatively as possible. +That is when you will understand the power of that medium and you will be able to make a difference. +Q4- Narayan Reddy from Andhra Pradesh wrote: There is a sense that technology further empowers those who are already empowered. +How can technology change the lives of people on the margins? @RupamG (Rupam Ghatak) asks – rural India needs better internet penetration, how can digital India achieve that? +Technology empowers the less empowered. +If there is a strong force that bring a change in the lives of those on the margins it is technology. +It serves as a leveler and a springboard. +Take for instance the farmer. +Technology can make agriculture productive, prosperous and profitable. +We have seen this worldwide. +I was happy to know that crores of Indian farmers have been receiving agriculture related information trough SMS. +Just recently, the Cabinet cleared the Scheme of Promotion of National Agriculture Market through Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund. +When a person can call for an auto rickshaw from the mobile yes, it makes life convenient for him or her but imagine the difference it makes in the auto driver’s life. +Due to technology things like railway tickets have become easier to obtain. +No need to take a day off from work and stand in line. +Small entrepreneurs not having abundant capital, get a chance to create value, through technology. +Our handicraft workers who were dependent on seasonal tourist flow, can now sell their products across the world with a single click. +Aggregators of various kinds have given a fresh lease of life to thousands of people across our country. +Be it retail, tourism, transport, food industry, technology has given a new platform to thousands of people, most of who are on the margins. +I want to share a small story. +As CM, I went to a tribal area of Kaprada in Valsad district for inaugurating a chilling centre in a dairy. +Since there was less space to conduct a meeting at the centre itself, the programme was held 3 km away on a school’s ground. +Some 30-40 tribal women, who collect milk, were present at the venue. +While returning from the venue after the function, I saw nearly three-fourth of the women clicking photos from their mobiles. +I asked, “What will you do after clicking these photos from your mobile phones?” +They said we will get the photographs transferred to a computer and later get the printouts. +These are women who never attended school or college where they could learn what to do with photographs clicked with a mobile. +But they know that the photo can be transferred to a computer and later be collected in the form of a printout from the computer. +This is how technology has reached out to people on its own even at the margins. +Q5- Shaili Chopra- As a digital entrepreneur I would like to know how does technology and India’s demographic dividend converge, especially for young women? +I think this is a natural convergence and India is the natural place for such a convergence. +Yes, many parts of the world have technology but no other nation is blessed with a demographic dividend like ours. +India offers the complete package. +The industrial revolution may have come late to India, but we are going strong in the current start-up revolution. +I am told that we are currently the 4th largest startup ecosystem in the world and soon we are poised to be 2nd, only after USA. +And the best part is- this is driven by the youth. +This is drawing the interest of the world and has energized people across India. +This is convergence for you. +Exuberance and Talent of our youth is finding an outlet of expression through technology. +This is not only driven by demand side dynamics but is well complemented by our supply side potential as well. +Hence technology is serving as a connecting bridge between our ever expanding consumer market and our demographic dividend. +Here, I want to point to our MyGov experience. +It gives people the opportunity to contribute to Nation building through technology. +Many of the ideas we have got through MyGov are brilliant. +So, when @Priyanka_1512 (Priyanka Aggarwal) says, “please let youth like me (working in private IT companies) know how can we contribute to a Digital India” or when @thetakshakpai says, “how do you intend on encouraging fresher tech/engineering students to contribute to ‪#DigitalIndia‬?” – I want to tell them and many others- go to MyGov and enrich the platform with your contribution. +Q6- @MonicaBhatia (Monia Bhatia) asked- Despite high penetration of Internet, many are still not digitally literate. +How do you plan to spread digital literacy. +I don’t see it as being limited to digital literacy. +The larger point lies in encouraging people to use technology. +In some cases it may even be offering the technology the person needs. +We are attending to all these challenges. +Once we increase access to technology, the challenge of digital literacy will be mitigated. +I feel our emphasis on mobile governance will be a game changer as far as increasing technology penetration is concerned. +A mobile is something every Indian dreams of having and is something every Indian even ends up having. +We must make full use of this. +Giving our citizens a choice architecture, which enables them to choose technology led solutions through carefully calibrated nudges will help. +A robust choice architecture implies producers are constantly innovating and consumers have a gamut of products and services to chose from. +There will be something for everything. +It is important to harness technology in totality. +In the past we have seen use of technology in isolation. +The power of technology lies in convergence. +Convergence brings convenience and this increases usage. +We want to give every Indian a unique digital identity. +All of this is happening due to the alternatives technology offers to our lives today. +I am confident that Indians will be second to none in their embrace of technology in all aspects of their lives in the years to come. +Q7- Chandan Kumar from Bihar asked- What impact will technology and automation have on India considering a huge low skilled base? +Technology has time and again created opportunities for a whole new generation of Jobs and Industries. +I have been studying with great interest what is happening around the world. +We are seeing the advent of a new generation of Machines. +Some are calling it the next Machine Age. +3D Printing, Internet of Things, Intelligent Machines and Robotics will automate many Industries. +While some see a threat I see an opportunity. +Let me explain why – we in India already have a natural advantage given our strengths in Software and Information Technology. +Even as Technology and Automation may make low skilled jobs redundant in some sectors we have the natural advantage to learn new skills and lay claim to a whole new generation of jobs to manage all of this new age automation. +Hence my mantra is – don’t talk about “Digital India”, “Make in India”, “Design in India” and “Skilled India” in silos. +All of them are interrelated. +It is in the synergy across all three lies India’s Opportunity for the 21st Century. +Q8 – There are a lot of questions on PM’s vision for mobile governance and the NM Mobile application. +M-governance is empowered governance. +It has the potential to make development a truly inclusive and comprehensive mass movement. +It puts governance into everyone’s reach. +It puts governance in your hands 24/7. +I have been saying from Day 1 that we should be working towards a ‘Mobile First’ approach. +You may have seen that all our websites are increasingly getting mobile friendly. +Innovative mobile applications have been developed that deliver end-to-end services. +We will have to take into account the popularity of mobile and smart phones while taking decisions pertaining to IT. +A decade ago and beyond, the pressing challenge was to take mobile phones to as many people as possible. +Today, when already a large majority of people have mobile phones in the country yes, we do hope the number increases but the focus has shifted only beyond numerical reach of mobiles. +One small effort towards reaching out to the people on their mobile phones through the ‘Narendra Modi Mobile App.’ +Launched a few weeks ago, the App is a one stop destination for all the latest news and updates from my side. +It allows people to directly communicate with me and gives me an opportunity to hear their insights. +It is also a repository of earlier news, my blogs, good governance initiatives of the government and the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episodes; these episodes can be heard in 16 languages too. +Infact, the radio programme can be heard live through the App. +People can receive messages through me on the App as well. +The response to the Mobile App has made me very happy. +Q9- Ankhi Das- I compliment you for cutting through layers ad reaching out to all directly and having a conversation. +I hope this is a start of the many Digital Dialogues that you will have in our country. +What role do you see universal access and the internet playing within Digital India? +These 3As are important for a Digital India- Accessible, Additive and Affordable. +Access is key. +We want our 125 crore Citizens to be digitally empowered. +We already have broadband usage across India go up by 63% in the last year. +We need to accelerate this further. +The government efforts must be complemented by similar energy and proactiveness by other stakeholders. +I would also like to see the private sector become part of the efforts to ensure broadband Internet has the widest reach across India. +Our digital India initiative is about value addition. +It must enrich the lives of the people. +It must offer something unique to everyone, which can make a positive difference. +Similarly, Affordability is the third key. +Because, at the end of the day, who are we working for? +Who will gain the most from these initiatives- the poor, the marginalised, the neo-middle class. +In terms of scale, extent and influence, our Digital India initiatives must be path breaking and all inclusive, laying the foundation for how we script India’s development story in the 21st Century. +Q10 – In the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ letters, Kishore Trivedi from Rajkot asked- Prime Minister, what do you feel are the major challenges in the roadmap to achieve a digital India? +When we have taken up such an ambitious initiative and that too at such a large scale, there will be several challenges. +But, we should neither underestimate these challenges nor should we get overwhelmed by them. +We must be laser focused on our Mission and that is what we are doing. +I have already talked about access and affordable access. +The second challenge is Skills and Knowledge. +We have to empower our Citizens with the skills and knowledge to use Digital Applications and Services. +We also have to volunteer time and effort to share Digital Skills so our fellow citizens who have recently been digitally empowered get to know how to use this powerful medium and are able to get the maximum out of this medium. +The third challenge is reforming the citizen government Interface and the processes of governance. +A Digital First model of Governance will not only bring in efficiency and transparency but also will also dramatically reduce corruption. +The fourth challenge is Innovation and keeping pace with the latest in technology. +Every day there are new innovations that is making some piece of technology obsolete. +It is in this fast changing technology environment that we must realize the Digital India goals. +Q11- @sbikh (Sanjeev Bikhchandani) asked- What is your message to young tech entrepreneurs doing start-ups? +Startups are the engines of exponential growth, manifesting the power of innovation. +Several big companies today are startups of yesterday. +They were born with a spirit of enterprise and adventure kept alive due to hardwork and perseverance and today have become shining beacons of innovation. +Thus, my message- keep innovating. +Innovation is what will help us grow faster. +The world is changing, quicker than ever before and we cannot remain oblivious to that. +If we don’t innovate, if we don’t come up with cutting edge products there will be stagnation. +On the part of the Government, I assure absolute support. +We are doing everything possible to make enterprise and innovation easier. +We have covered substantial ground in the last 14 months and want to do a lot more in the future. +We want India to emerge as the Innovation Hub where the next big ideas emerge, driven by the power of technology. +1. At the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, Hon’ble Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Shri Narendra Modi paid a two-day official visit to the State of Qatar from 4-5 June, 2016. +The wide-ranging discussions were held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. +5. The leaders of the two sides expressed satisfaction with the current state of bilateral relations underpinned by the regular exchange of high-level visits. +They welcomed the conclusion of various agreements/ MOUs during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Qatar. +They acknowledged that these agreements and those already existing would strengthen the framework for the consolidation of friendship and cooperation between India and Qatar. +The two sides agreed to constitute an inter-ministerial High Level Joint Committee to regularly review all bilateral matters, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest. +7. Recognizing the existing goodwill, the two leaders agreed to further broaden and deepen bilateral engagement in diverse fields of mutual interest. +They agreed to further enhance high-level political exchanges, defence and security cooperation, trade and economic relations and people-to-people linkages. +They stressed upon the need for building a strong partnership for the 21st century between the two countries in keeping with their responsibility for promoting peace, stability and security in the region and the world. +8. Acknowledging that the agreement on Defence Cooperation signed in November 2008 provided the required framework to strengthen bilateral defence ties, the two leaders agreed to provide further impetus to these relations, including through joint exercises and enhanced training of naval, air and land forces, as also in the area of coastal defence. +The Qatari side evinced interest in the opportunities offered under the ‘Make in India’ initiative for joint production of defence equipment in India. +The Qatari side expressed appreciation for India’s offer to conduct special training programmes for the personnel of Qatar Armed Forces and Coast Guard in India and in Qatar. +11. The two leaders expressed strong condemnation of the phenomenon of international terrorism, reiterating their firm resolve to cooperate together to root out this global menace which threatened all nations and societies. +They noted that the spread of terrorist organisations at the global and regional level, and the significant rise in acts of terrorism directly undermined the international peace and security environment and endangered efforts to ensure sustainable growth and development. +12. Both leaders condemned all acts of violence, terrorism and extremism, which cannot be justified under any circumstances, regardless of their motivation, in all their forms and manifestations. +They reaffirmed that terrorism could not and should not be associated with any religion, civilisation or ethnic group. +The two sides further agreed to take action against illegal transfer of money. +Both leaders welcomed the signing of an MOU on cooperation in exchange of intelligence related to money laundering, related crimes and terrorism financing. +17. Both leaders highlighted that countering terrorism required a strong collective action by the global community. +They further agreed to strengthen their cooperation in combating terrorism within the relevant multilateral institutions. +18. The two sides described bilateral trade ties as an abiding link between the two countries. +Taking note of the excellent trade engagement, with the two countries being among the top trading partners for each other, both sides agreed upon the need to further strengthen these ties, particularly through diversifying the trade basket. +They agreed to encourage regular participation in each other’s trade fairs and exhibitions and to facilitate trade promotion measures. +The two sides expressed satisfaction at the growing presence of Indian and Qatari companies in each other’s market and agreed to further encourage such participation. +To promote business to business and tourism linkages, they also agreed to put in place appropriate mechanism for expeditious grant of visas to businessmen and tourists of the two countries. +19. The Qatari side welcomed the participation of Indian companies in the infrastructure development projects in Qatar in preparation for the FIFA 2022 World Cup and the development plans under “Vision 2030 for Qatar”. +Informing about the plans to create world class infrastructure in India through 100 smart cities; metro projects for 50 cities; modern waste management system for 500 cities; affordable healthcare within everyone’s reach; sanitation for all by 2019; and a roof over every head by 2022, Prime Minister Modi invited Qatar to be a partner in India’s growth story. +21. Expressing his appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s vision to further accelerate India’s growth and development, His Highness the Emir expressed his confidence in India’s growth narrative. +Noting their strong potential to provide Indian economy a positive thrust for growth, His Highness the Emir lauded the new initiatives of Prime Minister Modi including, “Start Up India”, “Make in India”, “Smart City”, and “Clean India” etc. +23. The two sides agreed to increase the level of participation in infrastructure projects in both countries. +They further deliberated upon the importance of cooperation between Qatar Investment Authority and National Infrastructure and Investment Fund set up by the Government of India. +The two leaders welcomed the signing of the framework agreement for participation of the Qatari institutional investors in the National Infrastructure and Investment Fund. +24. The two sides agreed for regular and timely exchange of information on available investment opportunities. +Both sides also recognized the need for arranging regular meetings between Qatar Investment Authority and relevant Indian authorities and public and private sector companies. +The Indian side appreciated Qatar’s contribution to India’s energy security. +28. The Indian side invited Qatar to invest in India’s exploration & production sector by bidding for the exploration blocks in India under the new “Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing” Policy and “Discovered Small Fields” Policy. +30. The two leaders deliberated upon the need for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the financial services sector, including banking, insurance and capital markets. +They decided to expand cooperation between the financial institutions of the two countries like Securities and Exchange Board of India and the respective Central Banks. +Both leaders welcomed the signing of an MoU on bilateral Cooperation in the Field of Health between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of India. +32. The Qatari side appreciated the initiative taken by Prime Minister Modi leading to the formation of International Solar Alliance. +They acknowledged the importance of this Alliance in advancing new solar technologies worldwide. +33. The two leaders emphasized that the overwhelming response to the International Day of Yoga was a reflection of the global community’s desire to come together to seek a balanced, healthier and sustainable future for the world. +34. The two leaders noted the role cultural exchanges played in bringing the peoples of India and Qatar together. +The two sides agreed to expand bilateral cultural and sports cooperation, including frequent exchange of cultural groups and sports teams, and by collaborating in the field of cinema. +Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation to the Qatar Museums for its decision to celebrate Qatar-India Year of Culture in 2019. +Both leaders welcomed the signing of the Agreement of Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Custom Matters; the MoU on Tourism Cooperation; and the First Executive Programme for the MoU in the field of Youth and Sports between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of India. +35. The two leaders noted that people-to-people contacts were at the heart of India-Qatar relations and both sides would continue to nurture these relations. +HH the Emir appreciated the role and contribution of the Indian community for the development and progress of the State of Qatar. +The Qatari side briefed the Indian side on the reform in labour laws which would protect the interest of skilled and unskilled labour in Qatar. +Prime Minister Modi conveyed sincere thanks to the Qatari leadership for hosting the Indian community and for ensuring their continued welfare and safety. +Both leaders welcomed the signing of the MoU for Cooperation in Skill Development and Recognition of Qualifications. +They also expressed grave concern regarding security situation in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen and reiterated the importance of peaceful resolution of these issues through dialogue and political negotiations. +38. Prime Minister Modi expressed his sincere gratitude to His Highness the Emir for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the inaugural session of the PIO-Parliamentarian Conference in New Delhi. +He said it is not surprising that people of Indian origin have integrated themselves fully with their adopted lands. +He added that while they kept the Indian-ness alive in themselves, they also imbibed the language, food, and dress of those countries. +The Prime Minister said that it appears as if a Mini World Parliament of Indian origin is gathered in Delhi today. +He noted that persons of Indian origin are today Prime Ministers of Mauritius, Portugal and Ireland. +He added that persons of Indian origin have also been Heads of State and Heads of Government in many other countries. +The Prime Minister said that the global impression about India has changed over the last three to four years. +He said the reason for this is that India is transforming itself. +He said the hopes and aspirations of India are at an all time high. +He said signs of irreversible change are visible in every sector. +The Prime Minister praised External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for continuously keeping an eye on issues being faced by Indian citizens abroad. +In this context, he mentioned the “MADAD” portal for real time monitoring and response of consular grievances. +The Prime Minister said that the Government believes that NRIs are partners for India’s development. +He said that NRIs have an important position in the Action Agenda till 2020, drafted by the NITI Aayog. +The Prime Minister said that the values of Indian civilization and culture can provide guidance to the entire world, in an era of instability. +Women and children from various groups today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at his residence on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. +They tied Rakhi on the Prime Minister’s wrist. +Minister for Minority Affairs, Dr. Najma Heptulla greeted the Prime Minister and tied a Rakhi on his wrist. +Sadhvi Rithambara also greeted the Prime Minister and tied a Rakhi on his wrist. +Meeting in Tokyo on 1 September 2014, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to realize the full potential of India – Japan Strategic and Global Partnership for continuing progress and prosperity for their people and for advancing peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world. +Elevating the relationship to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership, they called their meeting the dawn of a new era in India – Japan relations. +Prime Minister Abe expressed his deep appreciation for Prime Minister Modi`s choice of Japan as his first destination for a bilateral visit outside India`s immediate neighbourhood. +Prime Minister Modi described this decision as a reflection of Japan’s importance in India’s foreign policy and economic development and her place at the heart of India’s Look East Policy. +Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Abe for his deep personal commitment to strengthening India – Japan strategic partnership, the extraordinary warmth of his hospitality, and the bold vision that characterized their discussions in Tokyo today. +The two Prime Ministers noted that India and Japan are Asia`s two largest and oldest democracies, with ancient cultural links and enduring goodwill between their people. +The two countries are joined together by convergent global interests, critical maritime inter-connection and growing international responsibilities. +They share an abiding commitment to peace and stability, international rule of law and open global trade regime. +Their economies have vast complementarities that create boundless opportunities for mutually beneficial economic partnership. +The two Prime Ministers observed that the relationship between the two countries draw strength and vitality from the exceptional consensus on the importance and potential of this relationship across the political spectrum, the business community and people in all walks of life in the two countries. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the progress of individual cooperation programmes and projects enumerated in the Factsheet and directed the respective relevant authorities to further advance cooperation in a mutually satisfactory manner. +Political, Defence and Security Partnership +The two Prime Ministers decided to continue the practice of annual summits and to meet as often as possible on the margins of regional and multilateral meetings. +Recognizing the special quality of bilateral engagement between India and Japan imparted by multi-sectoral ministerial and Cabinet-level dialogues, in particular, those between their Foreign Ministers, Defence Ministers and Ministers dealing with finance, economy, trade and energy, the two Prime Ministers decided to intensify and invigorate such exchanges. +In this regard, they welcomed that the next rounds of Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue and Defence Ministers dialogue would be held in 2014. +They attached importance to the dialogue between their National Security Advisors, launched earlier this year soon after the creation of the National Security Secretariat in Japan, as a key instrument of building deeper mutual understanding and cooperation across the full range of security issues. +The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of defence relations between India and Japan in their strategic partnership and decided to upgrade and strengthen them. +They welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation and Exchanges in the Field of Defence during the visit. +In this context, they attached importance to the regularization of bilateral maritime exercises as well as to Japan’s continued participation in India – US Malabar series of exercises. +They also welcomed the existing dialogue mechanism and joint exercises between Indian and Japanese Coast Guards. +Prime Minister Modi welcomed the recent developments in Japan`s policy on transfer of defence equipment and technology. +The two Prime Ministers expressed the hope that this would usher in a new era of cooperation in defence equipment and technology. +They recognized the enormous future potential for transfer and collaborative projects in defence equipment and technology between the two countries. +They affirmed their shared commitment to maritime security, freedom of navigation and overflight, civil aviation safety, unimpeded lawful commerce, and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law. +Global Partnership for Peace and Security in the Region and the World +The two Prime Ministers affirmed their shared belief that at a time of growing turmoil, tensions and transitions in the world, a closer and stronger strategic partnership between India and Japan is indispensable for a prosperous future for their two countries and for advancing peace, stability and prosperity in the world, in particular, in the inter-connected Asia, Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions. +Prime Minister Abe briefed Prime Minister Modi on Japan’s policy of “Proactive Contribution to Peace” and Japan’s Cabinet Decision on development of seamless security legislation. +Prime Minister Modi supported Japan’s initiative to contribute to peace and stability of the region and the world. +The two Prime Ministers decided, in particular, to draw on the strength of their two countries` shared values, convergent interests, and complementary skills and resources to build a strong partnership to promote economic and social development, capacity-building and infrastructure development in other interested countries and regions. +The two Prime Ministers affirmed their intention to engage with other countries in the region and beyond to address the region`s challenges, deepen regional cooperation and integration, strengthen regional economic and security forums and promote peaceful resolution of disputes. +They underscored the importance of closer consultation and coordination between India and Japan in regional forums, including the East Asia Summit processes and forums. +They expressed satisfaction with progress in official level trilateral dialogue among India, Japan and the United States and expressed the hope that this would lead to concrete and demonstrable projects to advance their shared interests and that of other partners. +They decided to explore holding this dialogue among their Foreign Ministers. +They will also explore the possibility of expanding, at an appropriate time, their consultations to other countries in the region. +The two Prime Ministers condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, irrespective of their perpetrators, origin and motivations. +They emphasised that the evolving character of terrorism called for stronger international partnership in combating terrorism, including through increased sharing of information and intelligence. +They shared concern over deteriorating security situation in various countries, and affirmed, in this regard, the importance of elimination of terrorist safe havens and infrastructure. +They also called for reinvigorating multilateral action on terrorism, including through the finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations at the earliest. +The two Prime Ministers expressed concern over North Korea’s continued development of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, including its uranium enrichment activities. +They urged North Korea to take concrete actions towards denuclearization and other goals as well as to fully comply with its international obligations, including under all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and its commitments under the 2005 Six-Party Talks Joint Statement. +They also urged North Korea to address, at the earliest, the humanitarian concerns of the international community, including the abductions issue. +The two Prime Ministers stressed their shared interests, including with respect to energy security, in a stable and peaceful Middle East, West Asia and the Gulf regions. +They expressed their deep concern over continuing turmoil and instability in the region, from diverse sources of conflict, which has had tragic and devastating impact on countries and people in the region. +Ending the region`s conflicts, combating terrorism and resolving outstanding issues, they shared, was of paramount importance, not just for the people of the region, but also to the world. +They welcomed negotiations between P5+1 and Iran over the Iranian nuclear issue and urged all parties to show political will and seek common ground while accommodating differences. +The two Prime Ministers affirmed their shared determination, and called for sustained international commitment to promote Afghan-led economic development, political pluralism and capacity-building in security in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to help it become a united, independent, sovereign, stable and democratic nation free from terrorism, extremism and external interference. +The two Prime Ministers affirmed the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council, especially its expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories, to make it more representative, legitimate, effective and responsive to the realities of the 21st century. +They called for concrete outcome in this direction by the 70th anniversary of the UN in 2015 and decided to enhance efforts bilaterally and under the G-4 to realize this. +In this regard, they decided to strengthen their bilateral cooperation and outreach with other member states. +They also highlighted the outcome of the third round of India-Japan consultations on UN issues held in Tokyo in July 2014. +Civil Nuclear Energy, Non-proliferation and Export Control +The two Prime Ministers affirmed the importance of civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries and welcomed the significant progress in negotiations on the Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. +Prime Minister Modi appreciated the decision of the Government of Japan to remove six of India’s space and defence-related entities from Japan`s Foreign End User List. +They looked forward to enhanced trade and collaboration in high technology. +Partnership for Prosperity +Prime Minister Abe affirmed a broader and stronger Japanese partnership for Prime Minister Modi`s bold and ambitious vision for accelerating inclusive development in India, particularly by transforming the infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. +Prime Minister Modi expressed his deep appreciation for Japan’s continuous support for India’s economic development and stated that no country has done more for modernizing India`s infrastructure than Japan. +The two Prime Ministers announced the India–Japan Investment Promotion Partnership under which: +a) The two Prime Ministers decided to set a target of doubling Japan’s foreign direct investment and the number of Japanese companies in India within five years as an objective to be jointly achieved. +They also decided to work closely towards further expanding bilateral trade relationship to the next stage. +In this connection, Prime Minister Abe pledged ODA loan of 50 billion yen to India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) for a public-private partnership infrastructure project in India. +c) The two Prime Ministers welcomed the public-private initiatives between the two countries to set up Electronics Industrial Parks in India. +d) The two Prime Ministers directed their officials to work out an appropriate mix of financing mechanisms, including public-private partnership, and terms for utilization of public funds, taking into account the nature of the projects, developmental priorities, procurement policies, level of industrial and technological capacities and skills available locally. +They decided to explore ways to enhance Japanese and Indian participation in appropriate infrastructure projects in India. +e) Prime Minister Modi underlined his determination to further improve the business environment in India, including through tax, administrative and financial regulations, in order to boost investment. +The two Prime Ministers decided to further deepen bilateral economic and financial cooperation. +Prime Minister Abe welcomed the approval to establish Mizuho Bank’s Ahmedabad branch. +Prime Minister Modi briefed Prime Minister Abe on his initiative for Smart Cities and renewal of heritage cities, including the city of Varanasi. +Prime Minister Abe expressed Japan’s willingness to support this objective. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the document to promote partnership city arrangement between the ancient cities of Varanasi and Kyoto. +The two Prime Ministers look forward to the completion of the Joint Feasibility Study on High Speed Railway system on Ahmedabad – Mumbai route. +Prime Minister Modi invited Japanese investments in the development of new smart cities and industrial parks along these corridors. +Appreciating Japan’s contribution to the development of urban mass rapid transport system in India, Prime Minister Modi sought Japan’s association with Ahmedabad Metro Project. +Prime Minister Abe expressed Japan’s willingness to support the project in a mutually beneficial manner. +Recognising the critical dependence of their economies on imported energy sources and their vulnerability to supply shocks, the two Prime Ministers affirmed their intention to further strengthen energy cooperation through the India–Japan Energy Dialogue. +The two Prime Ministers also welcomed enhanced cooperation on utilizing highly efficient and environmentally-friendly coal-fired power generation technology and progress on cooperation in Clean Coal Technology (CCT). +The two Prime Ministers affirmed the commitment of both counties to actively engage in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations and to make RCEP a modern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement. +They decided to cooperate further towards conclusion of RCEP negotiations. +Exploring Science, Inspiring Innovation, Developing Technology, Connecting People +The two Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction the recent productive Ministerial discussions in the fields of education, culture, sports, and science & technology, and recognized that the two Governments can truly harness the full potential of their relationship by seizing the vast opportunities for collaborating in science & technology, innovation, education, skill development, health, and information and communications technology to create new opportunities for their talented people, transform lives and address global challenges. +The two Prime Ministers decided to spur cooperation, in particular, in the cutting-edge fields such as life sciences including stem cell research, material science, cognitive science, applied mathematics, computing and information science, ocean technology and ocean observations, clean and renewable energy, water technology, climate change science and outer space. +They recognized the importance to launch joint laboratories in India and Japan. +They welcomed the growing collaboration between their research agencies and laboratories, and attached priority to expanding research exchanges, in particular, between their young scientists and students. +The two Prime Ministers acknowledged that the richness of the relationship between the two countries came from the long-standing wealth of goodwill and warmth between their people, and expressed their determination to further enhance people to people contacts and promote mutual understanding. +In this connection, they welcomed growing cooperation in tourism, youth exchanges, educational collaboration, and cultural exchanges including the cultural activities which will be held under the Festival of India in Japan. +Prime Minister Abe expressed his appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s Digital India initiative. +The two Prime Ministers affirmed the importance of collaboration in the field of information and communications technology (ICT) through ICT Comprehensive Cooperation Framework. +They decided to make efforts to substantially increase the number of exchange students between India and Japan as well as to enhance Japanese language education in India. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the launch of cooperation in the field of healthcare. +They appreciated the growing cooperation in the field of women empowerment. +Prime Minister Abe briefed Prime Minister Modi on his efforts to create a ‘society in which all women shine’. +Sharing the view of Prime Minister Abe, Prime Minister Modi stressed the need to recognise the power of women and their important role in nation-building and the development journey of a country. +Leading for the future +Prime Minister Abe accepted Prime Minister Modi`s invitation to visit India for the next Annual Summit in 2015. +168 Officer Trainees of the Indian Revenue Service (including two from the Bhutan Royal Service), today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +The Officer Trainees interacted with the Prime Minister on a range of subjects, including the recent Union Budget, increasing the taxpayer base, and themes such as innovation and technology. +He exhorted the Officer Trainees to work towards meeting the aspirations of the people. +On 15 March 2016, President of Afghanistan Mr Ashraf Ghani made a telephone call to Prime Minister Modi. +Both leaders discussed steps to further enhance bilateral cooperation in different areas, including in political and economic fields. +They also exchanged views on the evolving situation in the region. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for placing the new Instrument adopted by International Labour Organization (ILO) – Recommendations concerning ‘The Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy (No.204)’ before the Parliament. +Under Article 19 of the ILO Constitution, each Member State of the ILO is required to submit the instruments adopted by the Conference before the competent authority (the Parliament in case of India) within a period of one year from the closing session of the Conference. +The Recommendation provides guidance to Members to facilitate the transition of workers and economic units from the informal to the formal economy while respecting workers’ fundamental rights and promote creation, preservation and sustainability of enterprises and decent jobs in the formal economy and prevent informalization of formal economy jobs. +The ratification of an ILO Convention is a voluntary process. +Once ratified, the ILO Conventions create legally binding obligations on the Member countries that ratifies the particular Convention. +ILO Recommendations are not open to ratification but they are meant to provide guidance to the National Governments as regards formulation and implementation of policy, legislation and practices. +A Protocol is an instrument that partially modifies a Convention. +As regards formal ratification of the Convention and Protocol to the Convention, the same is to be decided separately by Government keeping in view the national laws and practices. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of justice between India and Tunisia. +During the recent years, social, cultural and commercial relations between India and Tunisia have developed in a positive direction. +Signing of an agreement on cooperation in the field of justice will further enhance good relations between the two countries and add new dimensions in the field of judicial reforms. +On the margins of the ongoing G-20 Summit in Hamburg, Prime Minister Modi had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. +The two leaders briefly reviewed progress in bilateral relations, including in important projects, since their last meeting in Japan during Prime Minister’s visit in November 2016. +Prime Minister Modi expressed satisfaction at developments in bilateral relations since then. +The Prime Minister said that he looked forward to Prime Minister Abe’s forthcoming visit to India for the next Annual Summit and hoped that it would further strengthen their cooperation. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the National Policy on Software Products – 2019 to develop India as a Software Product Nation. +Initially, an outlay of Rs.1500 Crore is involved to implement the programmes/ schemes envisaged under this policy over the period of 7 years. +Rs1500 Crore is divided into Software Product Development Fund (SPDF) and Research & Innovation fund. +Implementation strategy and targets +The Policy will lead to the formulation of several schemes, initiatives, projects and measures for the development of Software products sector in the country as per the roadmap envisaged therein. +To achive the vision of NPSP-2019, the Policy has the following five Missions: +To promote the creation of a sustainable Indian software product industry, driven by intellectual property (IP), leading to a ten-fold increase in India share of the Global Software product market by 2025. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated a Traditional Medicine and Yoga Centre in Ashgabat. +He also unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi. +Speaking at the occasion, after witnessing a Yoga demonstration, the Prime Minister said that this was an occasion of immense happiness for him – where children greeted him in Hindi, a bhajan was sung as the bust of the Mahatma was unveiled, and some Yoga asanas were demonstrated so accurately. +The Prime Minister referred to his meeting with Turkmenistan President Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov earlier today, and said that the President had said this was a small beginning towards his vision of a world class Yoga Centre, which would demonstrate the effects of Yoga to people. +Referring to Mahatma Gandhi, the Prime Minister said the solutions to two big problems facing mankind today – terrorism and climate change – could be found in the life and thought of Mahatma Gandhi. +The Prime Minister hoped that the Yoga Centre and the Mahatma Gandhi bust would spread a positive message across Central Asia. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Indian Badminton player Saina Nehwal and K. Srikanth on their victories at the China Open Super Series Badminton Tournament. +“A wonderful day for Indian badminton! +Congrats to Saina Nehwal and K Srikanth for the victories at the China Open Super Series Badminton Tournament”, the Prime Minister said. +PM to students: Compete with yourself, not with others. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today urged students to shed their stress and worry, and develop a positive attitude. +He was addressing students on the radio programme Mann Ki Baat ahead of board and competitive examinations. +The Prime Minister said he is with them at an important juncture in their life. +He said he will not advise them on how to get more marks, but emphasized the importance of the right attitude towards exams. +He urged students not to get nervous or tense. +He said while all efforts should be made to perform well, exams should not become a burden. +Giving the example of the famous athlete Sergei Bubka, who broke his own record 35 times, the Prime Minister said competition should not be with others, but with oneself. +He urged students to have faith in their own abilities, preparation and hard work. +Be steadfast in your goals, firm in your resolve; success will follow, the Prime Minister said. +He said exams should be a means to learn and recognize one’s own capabilities, and not to show them off to others. +The Prime Minister wished all students well for the forthcoming examinations. +Your Excellency, Prime Minister Erna Solberg, All the distinguished guests visiting India from Norway, +For this I offer my heartfelt gratitude to her. +When I met Prime Minister Solberg in 2017 in connection with the G20 Summit then she had gifted a football to me. +That football did not represent the goal of soccer game, it actually represented the goals of Sustainable Development. +Prime Minister Solberg has given much encouragement to global efforts towards achieving sustainable development goals. +In this visit Prime Minister Solberg has also inaugurated Norway’s new Green Embassy in India. +And so if we talk about her global efforts any amount of praise will fall short. +Sustainable Development Goals are also totally in congruence with the development goals of India. +And it is a matter of happiness for us that both the countries are collaborating successfully on the subject of mother and child health through “Norway-India Partnership Initiative.” +Trade and investment are important in the relations between India and Norway. +Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global has made a portfolio investment of about $12 billion in India. +I am glad that representatives of more than 100 companies from Norway have come to India along with the Prime Minister. +They also had a useful interaction with India’s business leaders during yesterday’s India-Norway Business Summit. +I am confident that in the coming years, Norway’s companies will benefit from India’s immense potential both in Portfolio Investment and Foreign Direct Investment. +In particular there are many opportunities coming up for Norwegian companies in ship-building, ports and port-led development under the ‘Sagarmala Program.’ +Ocean Economy is a subject which is also related to this. +This sector is extremely important for India’s development and prosperity. +About 15% of India’s population lives in coastal districts. +In a way their life is directly related to the Ocean Economy. +And if we look at it indirectly then the population of India’s coastal states is more than 500 million. +And you can imagine Norway’s expertize on the subject of the Ocean Economy from the fact that 70% of Norway’s export is from Norway’s maritime industry. +And therefore, I am happy that in this important sector today we have added a new dimension of cooperation in our relations. +Our bilateral Ocean Dialogue will give direction to our cooperation in all the sectors related to this area. +India and Norway have very strong cooperation on the international forums too. +There are many topics like the UN Security Council Reforms, Multi-Lateral Export Control Regimes, and Terrorism, on which we both work with very close cooperation and coordination. +Today we reviewed all the areas of our cooperation, and discussed in detail ways and means to give them directions and energize them. +You accepted my invitation to visit India, for that, I once again express my gratitude with my heart. +We are all very excited to hear your address in Raisina Dialogue this evening. +I hope that your visit to India will be very pleasant and successful. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Note submitted by the Department of Commerce and approved the approach to be adopted by India at the Eleventh Ministerial Conference of the WTO held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in December 2017. +The mandate exercised and approach adopted at the Conference was aimed at protecting India’s interests, priorities and concerns during the Ministerial Conference. +Background +In the run-up to the Conference, decisions were expected on a permanent solution on the issue of public stockholding for food security purposes as per the Bali/Nairobi mandate and other agriculture issues. +Some WTO member countries were seeking outcomes on domestic regulations in services, disciplines on fisheries subsidies, E-commerce, Investment Facilitation and Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises (MSMEs). +However, ultimately, there was no outcome on public stockholding for food security purposes or on other agriculture issues due to an absence of consensus. +Thus, India’s foodgrain procurement programmes at Minimum Support Prices remain protected. +Ministerial decisions taken during the Conference include a Work Programme on disciplines on Fisheries Subsidies with a view to arriving at a decision by the Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the WTO, in 2019. +It was also decided to continue with the non-negotiating mandate of the existing Work Programme on E-Commerce, as proposed by India. +As was done in previous Ministerial Conferences, an existing moratorium on imposing customs duties on electronic transmission was expanded for two years. +Ministerial decisions on new issues like Investment Facilitation, MSMEs, gender and trade, which lacked a mandate or consensus, were not taken forward. +India did not support the draft Ministerial Declaration as it excluded or failed to adequately cover important issues such as multilateralism, the Doha Development Agenda and special and differential treatment of developing countries. +However, wide support was expressed for the multilateral trading system and the commitment to move forward on various areas of work in the WTO. +It is also noteworthy that even in the absence of a Ministerial Declaration, the existing mandates and decisions ensure that work will go forward and Members will continue to work on issues such as the permanent solution on public stockholding for food security purposes, an agricultural Special Safeguard Mechanism, agricultural subsidies and other issues. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his greetings to the citizens on the occasion of various festivals across the Nation. +In a series of tweets the PM wished that may these festivals bring joy and happiness in our lives. +“As we celebrate various festivals across India, my greetings to our citizens. +May these festivals bring joy and prosperity in our lives. +Bhogi greetings to all those celebrating. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval to rename the Agartala Airport in Tripura as ‘Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Kishore Airport, Agartala. +The decision comes in the wake of the long pending demand of people of Tripura as well as the Tripura Government for paying tribute to Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Kishore. +Agartala Airport was constructed in 1942 on the land donated by Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Kishore. +As a visionary ruler, who had travelled extensively across the globe, he took several steps for the all-round development of Tripura. +Hence, it is apt to rename the Agartala Airport after his name, which will be a befitting tribute to Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Kishore. +The signing of the MoU will help establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on the new and renewable energy issues, on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity. +The MoU envisages constitution of a Joint Working Group which can co-opt other members from scientific institutions, research centres, universities or any other entity, as and when considered essential. +The MoU will also help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between India and France. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan. +The MoC was signed on 29th October 2018 during the visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to Japan. +The MoC will enable establishment and promotion of closer and long-term cooperation between India and Japan in the field of environment protection and management of natural resources on the basis of equity, reciprocity and mutual benefits, taking into account the applicable laws and legal provisions in each country. +Further, the MoC entails exchange of information and technology between the two countries. +Environmental degradation falls on the socially and economically disadvantaged, more heavily than better-off sections of the society. +Any effort at thwarting environmental degradation would lead to environmental equity in the sense of availability of sound environmental resources to all sections of the society. +The MoC is expected to bring in the latest technologies and best practices suited for bringing about better environment protection, better conservation, better management of climate change and bio-diversity conservation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Tuesday held a meeting with top scientific officials of the Government of India. +These included Dr. V.K. Saraswat – Member, NITI Aayog; Dr. R. Chidambaram – Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India; and Secretaries related to scientific departments in the Union Government. +Officials briefed the Prime Minister on progress in various areas of scientific research. +The Prime Minister asserted that science, technology and innovation are the keys to progress and prosperity of India. +He said that the Government’s priority in the science and technology sector is to apply science to solve our country’s problems. +Giving the example of talent spotting in sports, the Prime Minister said that mechanisms should be made to identify the brightest and best science talent among school students. +He said that a lot of innovation is happening at the grassroots level. +Urging officials to break silos, the Prime Minister strongly emphasized that a mechanism should be formed to document and replicate successful innovations at the grassroots level. +In this context, he also mentioned innovations being done by defence personnel. +In the agriculture sector, the Prime Minister identified high-protein pulses, fortified foods, and value addition in castor, as priority areas which needed to be speeded up. +In the energy sector, the Prime Minister said that the possibilities of solar energy should be pursued to the maximum, to reduce dependence on energy imports. +Expressing confidence in the abilities of Indian scientists to rise up to the challenges, and provide solutions to improve the lives of the common man in India, the Prime Minister asked the officials to draw up clear targets to be achieved by 2022, the 75th year of independence. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated Ms. Saina Nehwal on winning the Silver Medal at the World Badminton Championships. +“A Silver at the World Badminton Championships is a momentous feat. +Congratulations to Ms. Saina Nehwal. +Her accomplishments truly inspire,” the Prime Minister said. +Mr. Dmitry Rogozin, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Mr. Dmitry Rogozin is visiting India for the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission meeting that is co-chaired by the External Affairs Minister of India. +Prime Minister noted with satisfaction the positive all round progress in bilateral cooperation between India and Russia. +He appreciated the frequent high-level exchanges between the two sides as both countries celebrate the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations this year. +Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +He briefed the Prime Minister on recent developments in the bilateral relationship as follow-up to the Prime Minister’s visit to France in June 2017. +The Prime Minister appreciated the contribution of Mr. Le Drian to the growing India-France engagement, in his current role as well as in his earlier role as Defence Minister of France. +The Prime Minister said that the significance of India-France Strategic Partnership is not limited to the bilateral context, but acts as a force for peace and stability in the regional and global context as well. +The Prime Minister also said that he looks forward to receiving President Macron in India at his earliest convenience. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has invited thoughts and ideas for his visit to Australia. +He also shared a webpage for citizens to stay updated on his visit to Australia. +“Do keep sharing thoughts & ideas for the visit. +Here is a great place to keep updated on the visit: http://international.narendramodi.in/australia_home/,” the Prime Minister said. +If we want to thank anyone, it should be the 125 crore people of India who have made Nepal’s pain their own and extended all help. +We must thank our armed forces, NDRF teams, doctors and all those volunteers who are overcoming every obstacle to restore normalcy in Nepal. +The immense co-operation between Centre and the States is a major asset in times like these. +A big thanks to all State Governments. +And above all, we salute the resilience of our sisters and brothers in Nepal and parts of India, for their courage in the face of disaster,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Indian Hockey Team for winning the Asia Cup 2017. +“Great game, great win! +Congrats to our hockey team for winning the Asia Cup 2017. +India rejoices at this stupendous victory”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister has also assured all possible support from the Centre to the injured and affected. +“Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the hospital fire in Odisha. +The tragedy is mind-numbing. +My thoughts are with bereaved families. +Spoke to Minister J P Nadda and asked him to facilitate transfer of all those injured to AIIMS. +Hope the injured recover quickly. +Also spoken to Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and asked him to ensure all possible help to the injured and affected. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for signing and ratification of an Inter-Governmental agreement between India and Armenia, on cooperation in the field of Agriculture. +This Agreement will promote cooperation through short and medium term programs, within the framework of the joint activities mentioned in the agreement. +The Biennial Work Plan will be drawn up by mutual agreement between the two parties to give effect to the objectives of the agreement. +The Joint Working Group shall identify areas and forms of cooperation, and shall coordinate their implementation. +The Joint Working Group shall meet periodically and alternatively in India and Armenia. +The agreement will promote understanding of best agricultural practices in the two countries and will be mutually beneficial. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today delivered the Convocation Address at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. +He exhorted the graduating students to treat patients with empathy, and to work towards eradication of superstition regarding mental illness in society. +The Prime Minister welcomed as special guests, poor school children from different schools in Bengaluru who were present at the Convocation. +The Prime Minister urged the graduating students to keep in mind people from various sections of society who had contributed in any way, in their success. +He said they should always attempt to live and work for the benefit of the poor and underprivileged sections of society. +He said this was the way to find inner happiness – Swantah Sukhaaye. +The Prime Minister told the graduating students that they had made a conscience call, and answered an inner desire, in choosing this profession. +He said their task was tough, but he was confident that their education, and their spirit of service would help them accomplish what they had set out to do. +The Prime Minister said superstition often blocked proper treatment and cure for the mentally ill. +He said that the field of mental health faces the triple challenges of “अज्ञानता, अजागरूकता, अंधश्रद्धा”, i.e. lack of knowledge, lack of awareness, and superstition. +He also said that people have to understand that mental illness can be treated, and is curable scientifically. +The Prime Minister said that along with skill and education, a certain empathy was also required from doctors, while treating patients suffering from mental ailments. +The Prime Minister congratulated all the award winners and graduating students. +Union Ministers Shri Sadananda Gowda, Shri Ananth Kumar and Shri J. P. Nadda, Governor of Karnataka Shri Vajubhai Vala and Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri Siddaramiah, were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister inaugurated the MR-PET Centre at NIMHANS. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh. +Boost to the vulnerable rural families in Jammu & Kashmir +Special Package to Jammu & Kashmir for implementation of DAY-NRLM – Umeed extended +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the extension of timeline for implementation of the Special Package under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) for Jammu & Kashmir for another period of one year during 2018-19. +The Cabinet also approved allocation of funds to the State under DAY-NRLM on a need basis for implementation of the Special Package without linking it with poverty ratio. +There is no additional financial implication as the approval is to extend the time line to cover two thirds of the vulnerable households in the State within in the originally approved financial outlay of Rs. 755.32 crore. +An amount of Rs.143.604 crore will be required for the period of one year during 2018-19. +1. This will help in covering all the vulnerable rural households in the State (estimated at two thirds of the total number of households) within a definite time frame. +2. It will ensure mobilization of households under the auto inclusion category and households with at least one deprivation category listed in the Socio Economic Caste Census – 2011. +3. It will also ensure coverage of all the blocks in Jammu & Kashmir under DAY-NRLM and ensures social inclusion, social development, promotion of livelihoods leading to poverty alleviation in the State. +Due to unavoidable reasons and disturbed conditions in the State, the Special Package as approved in May 2013 could not be fully implemented. +Now, the State Government has requested Government of India to consider extension of the earlier approved implementation schedule of the Special Package and continued funding of DAY-NRLM in Jammu and Kashmir on a demand driven basis without linking allocation with poverty ratio during this extended period. +Hence the approval by the Cabinet which will give a boost to the vulnerable rural families in Jammu & Kashmir. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the revision in the salaries, gratuity, allowances, pension etc. of the Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts and retired Judges of Supreme Court and High Courts. +It follows the implementation of recommendations of the 7thCentral Pay Commission in respect of Civil Servants. +The increase in the salary and allowances etc. will benefit 31 Judges of Supreme Court of India (including the CJI) and 1079 Judges(including the Chief Justices) of High Courts. +Besides, approximately 2500 retired Judges will also be benefited on account of revision of pension/gratuity etc. +Arrears on account of revised salaries, gratuity, pension and family pension w.e.f 01.01.2016 will be paid as one time lump sum payment. +Salaries, gratuity, pension, allowances etc. in respect of Judges of Supreme Court are governed by the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958. +Salaries etc. of Judges of High Courts are governed by High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954. +An amendment in the Acts is required whenever there is any proposal for revision of salaries/pension gratuity, allowances etc. in respect of Judges of Supreme Court and High Courts. +Therefore, Government proposes to move a Bill in the Parliament in the ensuing Session for amendment in the relevant Acts for giving effect to the revision of salaries and allowances. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has extended his greetings on World Radio Day to all the radio lovers and to those working in the radio industry. +“Greetings on World Radio Day. +I congratulate all radio lovers and those who work in the radio industry and keep the medium active and vibrant. +Radio is a wonderful way to interact, learn and communicate. +My own Mann Ki Baat experience has connected me with people across India. +All Mann Ki Baat episodes can be heard here. narendramodi.in/mann-ki-baat ”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS) for farmers for the year 2017-18. +This will help farmers getting short term crop loan up to Rs. 3 lakh payable within one year at only 4% per annum. +The Government has earmarked a sum of Rs. 20,339 crore for this purpose. +The interest subvention will be given to Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Private Sector Banks, Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) on use of own funds and to NABARD for refinance to RRBs and Cooperative Banks. +The objective of the scheme is to make available at ground level, agricultural credit for Short Term crop loans at an affordable rate to give a boost to agricultural productivity and production in the country. +The salient features of the scheme are as follows: +The Central Government will provide interest subvention of 5 per cent per annum to all prompt payee farmers for short term crop loan upto one year for loan upto Rs. 3 lakhs borrowed by them during the year 2017-18. +Farmers will thus have to effectively pay only 4% as interest. +In case farmers do not repay the short term crop loan in time they would be eligible for interest subvention of 2% as against 5% available above. +The Central Government will provide approximately Rs. 20,339 crore as interest subvention for 2017-18. +In order to give relief to small and marginal farmers who would have to borrow at 9% for the post harvest storage of their produce, the Central Government has approved an interest subvention of 2% i.e. an effective interest rate of 7% for loans upto 6 months. +To provide relief to the farmers affected by natural calamities, the interest subvention of 2% will be provided to Banks for the first year on the restructured amount. +In case farmers do not repay the short term crop loan in time they would be eligible for interest subvention of 2% as against available above. +Credit is a critical input in achieving high productivity and overall production in the agricultural sector. +The Cabinet’s approval of a sum of Rs.20,339 crore to meet various obligations arising from interest subvention being provided to the farmers on short term crop loans, as also loans on post harvest storages meets an important input requirement of the farmers in the country. +This institutional credit will help in delinking the farmers from non-institutional sources of credit, where they are compelled to borrow at usurious rates of interest. +Since the crop insurance under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is linked to availing of crop loans, the farmers would stand to benefit from both farmer oriented initiatives of the Government, by accessing the crop loans. +An important initiative of the government is market reforms, with a view to ensuring that the farmers benefit from remunerative prices for their produce in the market. +The electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) that was launched by Government on April, 2016 aims at integrating the dispersed APMCs through an electronic platform and enable price discovery in a competitive manner, to the advantage of the farmers. +While the farmers are advised to undertake on-line trade, it is also important that they avail themselves of post-harvest loans by storing their produce in the accredited warehouses. +The loans are available to Kisan Credit Card (KCC) holding small and marginal farmers at interest subvention of 2 per cent on such storages for a period of upto six months. +This will help the farmers to sell when they find the market is buoyant, and avoid distress sale. +It is, therefore, needful for the small and marginal farmers to keep their KCCs alive. +The credit from institutional sources will complement all such government initiatives like Soil Health Card, Input Management, Per Drop More Crop in Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yojana (PMKSY), PMFBY, e-NAM, etc. +Background: +The scheme has been running since 2006-07. +Under this, the farmers can avail concessional crop loans of upto Rs.3 lakh at 7% rate of interest. +It also provides for an additional subvention of 3%. +Prompt Repayment within a period of one year from the date of advance. +As a measure to check distress sale, post-harvest loans for storage in accredited warehouses against Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (NWRs) are available for upto 6 months for KCC holding small & marginal farmers. +During the year 2016-17, the volume of short term crop loan lent stood at Rs.6,22,685 crore, surpassing the target of Rs. 6,15,000 crore. +Attention: Brief for Electronic Media +In effect, crop loans are available to farmers at 4% rate of interest. +The scheme also envisages other benefits including interest at concessional rate of 7% for storage in ware houses accredited by Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA) for upto 6 months post harvest for avoiding distress sale. +This provides institutional credit to the farmers and disengages them from non-institutional sources of credit, where they are prone to exploitation by private money lenders. +All short term crop loan accounts will be Aadhaar linked from current year. +Your Excellency, Prime Minister Abe, Members of the media, +I am delighted to welcome Prime Minister Abe to India. +It is a great pleasure to host a personal friend and a great champion of India-Japan partnership. +No partner has played such a decisive role in India’s economic transformation as Japan. +No friend will matter more in realising India’s economic dreams than Japan. +And, I cannot think of a strategic partnership that can exercise a more profound influence on shaping the course of Asia and our interlinked ocean regions more than ours. +That is why we deeply value our Special Strategic and Global Partnership”. +It enjoys unmatched public goodwill and political consensus in India. +It also comes with great public expectations and huge responsibilities for us. +In the course of the past year, we have done much to live up to them. +We have made enormous progress in economic cooperation as also in our regional partnership and security cooperation. +Prime Minister Abe has been prompt and positive on our economic proposals, many of which are now unique to India. +Japanese private investments are also rising sharply. +Today, we have scaled new summits in our shared journey. +The Memorandum we signed on civil nuclear energy cooperation is more than just an agreement for commerce and clean energy. +It is shining symbol of a new level of mutual confidence and strategic partnership in the cause of a peaceful and secure world. +I know the significance of this decision for Japan. +And, I assure you that India deeply respects that decision and will honour our shared commitments. +We greatly appreciate Prime Minister Abe’s extraordinary package of approximately 12 billion U.S. dollars and technical assistance, on very easy terms, for this project. +This enterprise will launch a revolution in Indian railways and speed up India’s journey into the future. +It will become an engine of economic transformation in India. +We also appreciate the sharp increase in Japanese bilateral assistance programme and the strength of public and private Japanese commitment for the Make in India mission. +In September 2014 in Tokyo Prime Minister Abe spoke of 35 billion U.S. dollars of Japanese finance and investments for India over five years. +Our shared commitment to combating climate change is equally strong. +We are engaged in wide ranging collaboration in clean energy and energy efficiency technologies that will also create solutions for the benefit of others in the world. +The other agreements today reflect the depth and diversity of our cooperation. +Today, we have also taken two more decisive steps in our security cooperation. +The two agreements will deepen our defence relations and promote defence manufacturing in India. +This builds on our decision to expand staff talks to all three wings of the Armed Forces and make Japan a partner in Malabar Naval Exercises. +We have also advanced our regional partnership in the course of the year. +We have raised the level of our tri-lateral dialogue with the United States and launched a new one with Australia. +We will work together in East Asia Summit to promote an inclusive, balanced and open regional architecture and maritime security in the region. +I also appreciate Prime Minister Abe’s support for India’s membership of the APEC . +We will also strive for our rightful place in a reformed UN Security Council. +Culture and people breathe life into a relationship. +Our remarkable relationship also has a wonderful human touch. +The Kyoto-Varanasi partnership is one of its strong symbols. +Last year, Prime Minister Abe hosted me in Kyoto. +Later today, I will show him the ancient heritage of Varanasi and our plans for its modern future. +Finally , in recognition of our special relationship, India will extend ‘visa on arrival’ to Japanese citizens including for business purpose from 1st March 2016. +This is different from the electronic visa facility that is being extended globally. +Your visit, Mr. Prime Minister, is one. +As we work to realise the Vision 2025 of India-Japan ties, we will advance the prosperity of our people and shape an Asian century in our vision and values. +Prime Minister of Nepal Shri K. P. Sharma Oli telephoned Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today and briefed him on the political developments in Nepal. +Prime Minister emphasized the importance of finding a durable solution to the political problems facing Nepal based on consensus or ‘sahmati’. +Prime Minister extended his good wishes to the friendly people of Nepal for the New Year 2016. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Philippines. +“I will be in Manila on a three-day visit starting 12th November. +This will be my first bilateral visit to the Philippines where I will also participate in the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits. +My participation in them symbolises India’s commitment to continue deepening relationship with ASEAN Member States, in particular, and with the Indo-Pacific region, in general, within the framework of my Government’s Act East Policy. +Besides these Summits, I would also participate in Special Celebrations of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Leaders’ Meeting and ASEAN Business and Investment Summit. +The ASEAN Business and Investment Summit will boost our close cooperation to further enhance our trade ties with ASEAN member-states, which constitutes a significant 10.85% of our overall trade. +During my first visit to the Philippines, I look forward to have a bilateral meeting with President of the Philippines HE Mr. Rodrigo Duterte. +I will also have interactions with other ASEAN and East Asia Summit Leaders. +I also look forward to connecting with the Indian community in Philippines. +During my stay in Manila, I shall also visit the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Mahavir Philippines Foundation Inc. +International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) through Scientific Research and Development has developed better quality of rice seed and helped the global community in addressing food scarcity issues. +A large number of Indian scientists are working in IRRI and contributing to R&D in this field. +My cabinet approved on 12 July 2017 a proposal for IRRI to set up its South Asia Regional Centre at Varanasi. +This will be the first Research Centre by IRRI outside its headquarters in the Philippines. +The Varanasi Centre would help increase farmers’ income by enhancing and supporting rice productivity, reducing cost of production, value addition, diversification and enhancement of farmers’ skills. +My visit to Mahavir Philippines Foundation Inc. +(MPFI) will demonstrate India’s support for its activities in distributing free prosthesis “Jaipur Foot” among the needy amputees. +Since its establishment in 1989, MPFI has fitted nearly 15,000 amputees in the Philippines with Jaipur Foot making them capable of living a new life. +Government of India is making a modest contribution to the Foundation to support its noble humanitarian activities. +I am confident that my visit to Manila will give a new boost to India’s bilateral relations with the Philippines and also further strengthen the politico-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars of our engagement with ASEAN.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has extended his best wishes on Engineers Day. +He also remembered Bharat Ratna M. Visvesvaraya on whose Birth Anniversary Engineers Day is observed in India. +“On Engineers Day, best wishes to all engineers, whose intellect, dedication & curiosity has led to several path-breaking innovations. +We salute with pride & joy Bharat Ratna M. Visvesvaraya on his birth anniversary. +He is remembered & respected as a pioneering engineer”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today was informed about the signing of an Agreement on 9th February 2015 between the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (ESSO-IITM), an autonomous organization under the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO), Ministry of Earth Sciences and World Climate Research Program (WCRP), Geneva for setting up of an International Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) Monsoon Project Office (ICMPO) at ESSO-IITM in Pune. +Following this agreement ICMPO will be set up at ESSO-IITM and will have unique responsibilities. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his good wishes to all pilgrims on the start of the Kumbh Mela in Nashik. +“My good wishes to all pilgrims on the start of the Kumbh Mela in Nashik. +Have a wonderful pilgrimage, filled with joy and spirituality”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to the Chief Minister of Assam Shri Sarbananda Sonowal yesterday and today regarding the flood situation in the state. +The Prime Minister tweeted that the Central Government has been closely and constantly monitoring the situation and that all possible support is being provided to Assam for overcoming the flood situation prevailing in parts of the state. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will interact with schoolchildren tomorrow, on the eve of Teachers’ Day. +The event at Manekshaw Hall in New Delhi will include children from nine states across India, who will join the interaction through video-conferencing, besides the students present in the Hall itself. +The interaction will begin at 10 AM, and is expected to last for around 90 minutes. +The Prime Minister will release a commemorative coin in honour of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and launch the Kala Utsav website. +Kala Utsav is an initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to promote arts in education by nurturing and showcasing the artistic talent of school students at the secondary stage in the country. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed district collectors across the country via video-conference, on the theme of “New India – Manthan.” +The first-of-its-kind interaction with district collectors marked the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, and is aimed at catalysing “New India – Manthan” at the grassroots level. +He said the date symbolizes the willpower and ambition of the youth. +Shri Narendra Modi recalled how the senior leaders of the freedom movement were arrested at the beginning of the Quit India Movement, and youth across the country successfully carried the movement forward. +The Prime Minister said that when youth assumes a leadership role, goals are sure to be achieved. +He described the collectors, as not just representatives of their districts, but also of the youth of that region. +He said collectors are fortunate, because they have been given the opportunity to dedicate themselves to the nation. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is asking each individual, each family, each organization to aim for certain goals which they should accomplish by 2022. +He said that as representatives of their districts, collectors now have to decide where they want to see their districts in 2022, what deficiencies must be overcome, and what services must be ensured. +The Prime Minister noted that some districts have always lagged in basic services such as electricity, water, education and health. +He said that when the socio-economic conditions improve in the 100 most backward districts, it would give a big boost to the overall development parameters of the country. +This puts an onus on the collectors of these districts to work in a mission mode. +The Prime Minister encouraged replication, and scaling up of best practices from districts where good results are being achieved in a particular field or scheme. +The Prime Minister asked the collectors to seek help from colleagues, intellectuals of the district, and students of schools and colleges, to prepare a vision document, or resolution document for their district before the 15th of August. +This Resolution Document, should include those 10 or 15 objectives which they feel should be achieved by 2022. +The Prime Minister informed the collectors of the website www.newindia.in – which contains information and activities related to the ‘Sankalp Se Sidhhi’ movement. +He said that just as he is doing this Manthan with the collectors, they can do the same in the districts. +The Prime Minister mentioned the important features about the New India website, such as an online quiz on the freedom struggle, and a comprehensive calendar on various events being held as a part of the Sankalp Se Sidhhi’ movement. +The Prime Minister compared the development work in a district to a relay race. +He said that just as the baton is passed on from one athlete to the next in a relay race, with the ultimate objective of winning the race, similarly, the development baton passes on successively from one collector to the next. +The Prime Minister said that many times, schemes fail to have the desired impact, just because people are not aware about them. +He said collectors must make people aware about the benefit of initiatives such as LED bulbs, BHIM App etc. +Similarly, the Prime Minister said that the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is dependent upon a responsive administration, and awareness among people. +He said real change in this regard can only come through public participation. +The Prime Minister urged collectors to move beyond files, and go to the field, to understand ground realities, such as the condition of health services in remote parts of the district. +He said that the more a collector visits the field, the more active he will be on file. +On GST, the Prime Minister asked collectors to explain to traders in their district, how it is a “Good and Simple Tax.” +He asked them to ensure that each trader is registered under GST. +He also asked them to avail of Government e-marketplace for all procurement in their district. +The Prime Minister recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s message that the ultimate goal of governance should be to improve the lives of the poorest of the poor. +He urged the collectors to ask themselves every day whether they had done something to bring change in the lives of the poor. +He asked collectors to listen carefully to the poor, who approach them with their grievances. +In conclusion, the Prime Minister said that the district collectors, are young and capable and could make resolutions for New India of 2022, in respect of their district. +He expressed confidence that their resolutions would be achieved, and in the process, the country too, would reach new heights of achievement. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the Muslim community on Ramzan. +“As the holy month of Ramzan commences, I convey my greetings to the Muslim community. +May Ramzan deepen the bond of brotherhood and the spirit of harmony in our society”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for revised cost estimates for Phase-I of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project for Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. +The original cost has been enhanced by Rs. 835 crore to Rs. 2331.71 crore from Rs. 1496.71 crore. +This will address the vulnerability of coastal communities to cyclone. +This section of the population is generally poor and from the weaker sections of society. +The Central Government will provide financial assistance equivalent to Rs. 1843.94 crore through a World Bank loan. +The remaining amount of Rs. 487.77 crore will be contributed by the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. +The broad objectives of the project are to provide cyclone forecasting, tracking and warning systems, cyclone risk mitigation and capacity building in multi-hazard risk management. +The major infrastructure being constructed includes multipurpose cyclone shelters (including shelter-cum-godown and approach roads/bridges to habitations) and embankments (including construction and renovation of saline embankments). +The investments proposed in the States would strengthen the coastal infrastructure for protection of the coastal community and their evacuation, greater accessibility, improved warning dissemination and quicker response. +The project is expected to benefit 10.46 lakh persons in Odisha and over 7.18 lakh persons in Andhra Pradesh. +It will help protection of 38,296 hectares of land in Odisha and about 12,640 hectares in Andhra Pradesh. +The increased cost will cater to the construction of additional infrastructure (246 multipurpose cyclone shelters, 204 kms. of roads and 15 bridges) for cyclone risk mitigation in these States, on the basis of the experience gained during the handling of Cyclone Phailin. +This cyclone affected these States in October, 2013. +The time limit of the project has been extended from 31st January, 2016 to 31st March, 2018 to complete the construction of additional infrastructure. +Approximately 40 percent of total population in the maritime States lives within 100 km of the coastlines. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed and interacted with the Indian Community in Doha, shortly before leaving for Geneva on Sunday evening. +Addressing an enthusiastic gathering, he told the Indian community in Qatar that they are never disconnected from India. +He added that this change is due to the 125 crore people of India. +He expressed gratitude to the people and Government of Qatar for their exceptional warmth and hospitality during this visit. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of the King of Thailand H.M. Bhumibol Adulyadej. +“People of India and I join the people of Thailand in grieving the loss of one of the tallest leaders of our times, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. +King Bhumibol Adulyadej or Rama 9, was widely revered by his people. +My thoughts are with his countless well-wishers and family”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between United States of America and India to enhance cooperation in the field of wildlife conservation and combating wildlife trafficking. +With the approval, India will benefit from the expertise of the US Institutions in the field of wildlife conservation and management of wildlife areas and in combating illegal trade of wildlife and their derivatives. +India and the United States of America are endowed with rich biodiversity and natural heritage and have established a network of Protected Areas in their respective territories. +As there is scope for both the countries to share professional expertise to address priority wildlife conservation concerns, the MoU would provide a convenient platform for collaboration. +The MoU seeks cooperation between the two countries in the following areas: +a. Wildlife Forensics and Conservation Genetics: Useful in species conservation efforts and better scientific evidence collection in wild life crimes leading to better enforcement. +b. Natural World Heritage Conservation: Facilitating the institutional capacity of the existing UNESCO Category -2 – centre at Wildlife Institute of India. +Nature Interpretation and Conservation Awareness: Use of information technology in strengthening interface of forest managers with the people for sensitising people, especially the youth and children in understanding complex issues of conservation of biological diversity. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bahrain on cooperation in the field of Healthcare. +The MoU covers the following areas of cooperation:- +A Working Group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this MoU. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, paid tribute to the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, saying that those who create history, without seeking or holding power, are truly great. +The Prime Minister was speaking after the release of a commemorative coin to mark the 175th Birth Anniversary of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata. +He praised Jamsetji Tata for his vision of environment friendly energy, and for his initiatives for welfare of the people associated with the Tata Group. +The Prime Minister said that the culture of businessmen donating massive amounts in charity was new to the western world, but Jamsetji Tata had done the same long ago. +Shri Narendra Modi also referred to the meeting between Swami Vivekananda and Jamsetji Tata, on board a ship from Japan to Canada in 1893. +He said the two great men – one an ascetic and the other an industrialist – shared the same wavelength, and had a common vision for a self-reliant India. +The Prime Minister said it was a privilege for him to be releasing a commemorative coin in honour of Jamsetji Tata. +The MoS (Finance) Shri Jayant Sinha, and the Chairman, Tata Sons, Shri Cyrus Mistry were present on the occasion. +The swap arrangement is an agreement between India and Japan to essentially exchange and re-exchange a maximum amount of USD 75 Billion for domestic currency, for the purpose of maintaining an appropriate level of balance of payments for meeting short-term deficiency in foreign exchange. +The BSA is a very good example of mutual cooperation between India and Japan for strategic objective of assisting each other in times of difficulty and for restoring international confidence. +This facility will enable the agreed amount of Capital being available to India on tap for use. +Also, with this arrangement in place, prospects of Indian companies would improve in tapping foreign capital as there would be greater confidence in stability of country’s exchange rate. +Availability of such swap line to tide over difficulties arising out of Balance of Payment (BOP) would deter speculative attacks on the domestic currency and greatly enhance the RBI’s ability to manage exchange rate volatility. +The arrangement is another milestone in mutual economic cooperation and special strategic and global partnership between India and Japan. +On the sidelines of the G 20 Summit in Hamburg, the Prime Minister met today the President of the Republic of Korea H.E. Mr Moon Jae-in. +Prime Minister Modi extended felicitations in person to President Moon for his victory in Presidential elections. +The President recalled the Prime Minister’s congratulatory phone call and tweet in Korean language, which was warmly received by the people of South Korea. +Both leaders expressed their commitment to further develop the special strategic partnership between India and South Korea, particularly through participation in programmes such as Make in India, Digital India, Start up India, et cetera. +Prime Minister Modi’s discussions with Prime Minister of Italy H.E. Mr Paolo Gentolini focused on promoting bilateral relations, particularly trade and investment and people-to-people ties. +Prime Minister Modi invited Italy’s participation in World Food India – the food processing exhibition to be held in India in November this year. +The two leaders stressed the significance of promoting interaction between medium enterprises of the two countries for strengthening bilateral economic cooperation. +The Prime Minister of Italy appreciated Indian investments in his country, including in industrial sector. +The two leaders also discussed ways and means to work together for providing sustainable solutions to prevent climate change and promote development in Africa. +Prime Minister Modi and the Prime Minister of Norway H.E. Ms Erna Solberg discussed bilateral matters, especially strengthening of economic relations. +Prime Minister Modi invited participation of Norwegian pension funds in the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. +The Prime Minister of Norway invited India to participate in the Oceans’ Conference on the sidelines of UNGA. +In a gesture symbolising cooperation for attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Prime Minister Solberg presented to Prime Minister Modi, at the end of the meeting, a football with SDGs inscribed on it. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with the Indian community in Washington DC. +He said that the Indian diaspora rejoiced whenever there was good news from India, and wanted India to scale newer heights. +He appreciated the role played by the diaspora in contributing towards the American economy. +The Prime Minister said that people in India are now getting opportunities and the right environment. +He expressed confidence that soon, they would transform the country. +The Prime Minister asserted that in the last three years, there has not been a single allegation of corruption on the Union Government. +The Prime Minister spoke of the role of technology in reducing corruption. +Elaborating on the benefits of Direct Benefit Transfer, he said this has helped in better targeting of subsidy and eliminated leakage to a large degree. +The Prime Minister complimented families which have given up their LPG subsidy. +The Prime Minister said that through technology-driven governance, a modern India is being created. +He said that when appropriate policies and governance are in place, the aspirations of the people of India can be achieved. +The Prime Minister spoke about terrorism, and said the world has now understood the threat it poses. +In this context, the Prime Minister spoke of the surgical strikes carried out by India recently. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Russia on Joint Activities under Human Spaceflight Programme. +The MoU was signed on 15th October 2015 at New Delhi. +Signing of the MoU will strengthen the cooperation between India and Russia and would provide impetus to develop the technologies and advanced systems required for the human space flight programme like radiation shielding, life support systems, crew module, rendezvous and docking systems, space suit, training for astronauts etc. +The MoU would lead to develop a joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. +It will lead to setting up of a Joint Working Group, which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementing the provisions of this Agreement. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed happiness over the tremendous response among the people, generated by recently launched Social Security Schemes. +Officials told me that over 50 lakh people have enrolled for the schemes in the last 2 days. +Congrats to the people and officials. +In Guj’s Punsari village, Panchayat has decided to pay the premium for the Social Security schemes launched. +A great gesture”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Shri Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. +“Deepest condolences on demise of veteran politician and former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and interacted with business leaders in Mumbai. +41 business leaders representing a wide spectrum of the Indian economy were present at the interaction. +The policy reforms and initiatives taken by the Union Government over the last four years came up for elaborate discussion in the course of over two hours. +Industry’s contribution to economic growth and development was also discussed. +Several representatives from Industry appreciated the improvement in the business environment in the country, and said this would lead to realization of India’s growth potential. +They endorsed the Prime Minister’s vision of New India. +The Prime Minister spoke of his recent discussions with startups and entrepreneurs. +He said a positive mindset, and a “can do” spirit is now pervading the country. +He urged the corporate sector to invest in a big way, especially in the agriculture sector. +He spoke of policy initiatives, holistic approaches to development, spirit of innovation, and technology. +S Aishwarya and S Saundarya, great grand-daughters of Bharat Ratna M.S. Subbulakshmi, today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with their parents, V Shrinivasan and Geetha Shrinivasan. +Ms. Aishwarya and Ms. Saundarya briefly performed the “Maithreem Bhajatha.” +This is a benediction which was also rendered by M.S. Subbulakshmi herself in October 1966, at the United Nations. +The benediction was composed in Sanskrit by Acharya Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati of Kanchi. +It is an anthem for universal friendship and world peace, which was sung by M.S. Subbulakshmi, in most of her subsequent concerts, after the UN concert. +It ends with the words “Srey o bhooyat sakala jananam” – Let grace and happiness abound for all mankind. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for interest waiver for the two months of November and December, 2016 for farmers accessing short term crop loans from Cooperative Banks. +The decision also provides for interest subvention to National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) on additional refinance by NABARD to Cooperative Banks. +Farmers in the whole of India availing short term crop loans, from Cooperative Banks will be benefitted. +The decision intends to ensure availability of resources with Cooperative Banks help farmers in easily accessing crop loans from Cooperative Banks to overcome the difficulties in view of the reduction in availability of cash for carrying out Rabi operations. +Additional resources are to be provided to Cooperative Banks through NABARD for refinance to the Cooperative Banks on account of interest waiver of two months for November and December, 2016. +This will be extended by Cooperative Banks to the farmers in the current financial year 2016-17. +An additional financial liability of Rs. 1060.50 crore will be required for this purpose. +A sum of Rs. 15, 000 crore allocated during 2016-17 to implement the Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS) has already been utilised. +Background:- +Thus, farmers have to effectively pay only 4% as interest for the said crop loan. +b) Due to the cancellation of legal tender character of old Rs. 500 and Rs.1000 notes and the resulting difficulty faced by the farmers in en-cashing the cheques received against sale proceeds of their Kharif produce in the mandis; and also their constraints with adequacy of cash in carrying out Rabi operations and servicing the interest of the short term crop loans, especially in view of the restrictions imposed on Cooperative Banks, an interest waiver is being provided for a period of 2 months i.e. November & December 2016 to farmers who were disbursed crop loan from Cooperative Banks between 01.04.2016 and 30.09.2016. +Speaking at the farewell function in Parliament for Shri Hamid Ansari, the Prime Minister said that the long public life of Shri Ansari has been without any controversy. +The Prime Minister said that Shri Ansari’s family has been in public life for generations. +He particularly recalled Brigadier Usman, who had embraced martyrdom defending the nation in 1948. +The Prime Minister suggested that Shri Ansari, with his long experience of running the Rajya Sabha, should pen down his thoughts on how the functioning of the Upper House can be made more effective. +Government accepts recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission. +Record increase in devolution of resources to states. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s letter:- +“You are aware that ever since our Government came into office, I have been working to strengthen our federal polity and promote cooperative federalism. +The people of the country have high expectations from their governments and do not want to wait. +Therefore, since the very beginning, we have been committed to a rapid and inclusive process of growth. +Looking to the diversity of the country, we understand that real and functional Federal Governance is the only vehicle to achieve this objective quickly and holistically. +I sincerely believe that strong states are the foundation of a strong India. +Even as Chief Minister, I had been saying that the progress of the country depends on the progress of states. +This Government is, therefore, committed to the idea of empowering states in all possible ways. +We also believe that states should be allowed to chalk out their programmes and schemes with greater financial strength and autonomy, while observing financial prudence and discipline. +We are clear that without this, local development needs cannot be met and marginalised communities and backward regions cannot be brought into the mainstream. +Such a vision and the concrete steps that all of us take will help in realising the development aspirations of our people. +It is in this context that we have wholeheartedly accepted the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, although it puts a tremendous strain on the Centre’s finances. +The 14th FC has recommended a record increase of 10% in the devolution of the divisible pool of resources to states. +This compares with the marginal increases made by previous Finance Commissions. +The total devolution to states in 2015-16 will be significantly higher than in 2014-15. +This naturally leaves far less money with the Central Government. +However, we have taken the recommendations of the 14th FC in a positive spirit as they strengthen your hand in designing and implementing schemes as per your priorities and needs. +In making its recommendations, the 14th FC has made a fundamental shift in the pattern of financing revenue expenditures. +Para 7.43 of its report explains this. +The dominant view of states too has been that a majority of the resources should flow as tax devolution and the number of CSS should be reduced as the 14th FC states in Paras 8.6 & 8.7. +Therefore, there is a shift from scheme and grant based support from the Central Government to a devolution based support. +Hence, the devolution of 42% of divisible resources. +Therefore, as per the 14th FC, all State Plan Revenue expenditure has to be met from the resources being devolved to states. +In spite of this large devolution, we have decided to continue with some support to topmost areas of national priority such as poverty elimination, MNREGA, education, health, rural development, agriculture and a few other areas. +You will appreciate that, following the acceptance of the 14th FC recommendations, we are moving away from rigid centralised planning, forcing a ‘One size fits all’ approach on states. +States have always been voicing their opposition to this philosophy for years. +Accepting these long standing concerns and long-felt lacunae in the country’s planning process, our Government has decided to devolve maximum money to states and allow them the required freedom to plan the course of states’ development. +The additional 10% of resources being devolved will give you this freedom. +In this overall context when you are flush with resources, I would like you to have a fresh look at some of the erstwhile schemes and programmes supported by the centre. +States are free to continue or change these schemes and programmes as per their discretion and requirement. +In all these, the Union Government, particularly the NITI Aayog, will support states in developing a strategy and in its execution through ideas, knowledge and technology. +This is all towards the fulfilment of my promise of co-operative federalism. +As you have already seen, we have decided to involve states in discussing and planning national priorities. +This is being done so as to maximise the outcome from every rupee spent either at the centre or the state. +It was with this spirit of Team India that all Chief Ministers have been made equal partners in the Governing Council of NITI Aayog. +This is our strategy to take the country to a faster and yet inclusive growth trajectory through co-operative federalism which is real and true federalism. +We are happy with our decision and that resources are going to the right place. +Resources are going to states to ensure that poverty is eliminated, jobs are created; houses, drinking water, roads, schools, hospitals and electricity are provided. +This has never happened in this country before. +In addition, we have recently revised the rates of royalty on minerals which benefits many states. +The ongoing transparent auction of coal and other minerals will result in flow of over Rs 1 lakh crore of additional funds to mineral and coal bearing states. +Resources, thus, are not and will not be a problem. +The issue is the direction and intent of our policies and our capacity to implement. +You will agree that money, either at the central or the state level, should be spent to address the key challenges before the Nation. +The focus should be the poor, farmers and common men and women, the youth and children. +The challenge is to address the factors which inhibit the realisation of their full potential. +This is a golden opportunity in our Nation’s economic development process. +My recent visits across the world have shown that there is a lot of optimism about India and interest in investing here. +Everyone wants to partner with India in its growth story. +This is not an opportunity for the central government, but an opportunity for India as a whole. +Let us aim at a quantum leap in the process of our Nation’s development. +I am writing this to you in order to seek your co-operation and involvement in defining key challenges facing your state and the country and to devote the time, energy and resources to address these. +I expect that every state will come up with a plan for its key priorities and deploy resources for this purpose. +We should also adopt a rigorous system of evaluation of schemes and projects. +I will work with you in this effort. +Together, we have to establish benchmarks in terms of quality of works and their speedy execution. +Let us work together in this direction. +I will be available for any consultation in this regard at any time.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will embark on a visit to two states: Gujarat and Tamil Nadu; and two Union Territories: Daman & Diu and Puducherry, over the next two days. +The Prime Minister will arrive in Daman on Saturday. +He will launch various development projects, and hand over certificates to beneficiaries of various official schemes. +He will address a public meeting. +The Prime Minister will then travel to Tamil Nadu. +At Chennai, he will attend the event to mark the inauguration of the Amma Two Wheeler Scheme – a welfare scheme of the State Government. +On Sunday, the Prime Minister will visit Puducherry. +At Aurobindo Ashram, he will offer floral tributes to Shri Aurobindo, and interact with students of Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education. +Shri Narendra Modi will also visit Auroville. +He will release a commemorative postage stamp on the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Auroville. +He will deliver an address on the occasion. +The Prime Minister will also address a public meeting in Puducherry. +On Sunday evening, the Prime Minister will be in Surat, Gujarat, for the flagging off of the “Run for New India Marathon.” +The Government of India attaches the highest priority to job creation. +Some data is collected and published by certain agencies including the Labour Bureau, but the coverage is very small. +The net result has been that both policy making and analysis are conducted in a data vacuum. +In view of the importance of timely and reliable data on employment, the Prime Minister has directed the Prime Minister’s Office and concerned Ministries to come up with a solution to fill this long standing gap in the country’s statistical architecture. +The Task Force will recommend solutions which can be implemented in a time bound manner. +The Prime Minister has directed that this task be expedited so that policies on employment can be formulated with a proper appreciation of impacts, based on credible data. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has saluted the efforts of the doctor community on Doctor’s day. +“On Doctor’s Day I salute the efforts of the doctor community & wish them the very best in their efforts to create a healthy India.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the concluding session of the Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhavan. +The Prime Minister appreciated the various discussions and inputs shared during the Conference. +He emphasized the need to build new ways to promote harmony and integration among various States of India. +The Prime Minister urged Governors, in their capacity as Chancellors, to call upon Universities to promote excellence in various spheres of academics. +He said that Indian Universities must aspire to be among the world’s best, and Governors can play a crucial role in catalysing their transformation. +In this context, he mentioned the Union Government’s initiatives to promote autonomy in IIMs, and among top 10 public and top 10 private Universities. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government is working towards promoting “ease of living” for the common man. +He said that Governors, through their vast experience in public life, can motivate civic agencies and government departments to work with commitment towards this cause. +The Prime Minister also spoke of the Union Government’s ambitious health assurance scheme Ayushman Bharat. +Shri Narendra Modi said that occasions such as the seventy-fifth anniversary of freedom in 2022, and the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019, can serve as inspirational milestones for achieving development goals and targets. +He said the upcoming KumbhMela could also serve as an important occasion for promoting nationally relevant causes. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remembered sacrifices and valour of our Armed Forces, who courageously fought in 1971 war, on the occasion of Vijay Diwas. +“On Vijay Diwas, we remember sacrifices and valour of our Armed Forces who fought courageously in 1971. +We are extremely proud of them”, the Prime Minister said. +Mr. Dmitry Rogozin, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +He conveyed President Putin’s greetings to Prime Minister and briefed him on the progress in ongoing projects between India and Russia. +Prime Minister described Russia as a time-tested and reliable friend and reaffirmed the shared commitment with President Putin to expand, strengthen and deepen bilateral engagement across all domains. +He recalled his recent meeting with President Putin in Tashkent in June and via video-link for dedication of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 at the beginning of this month. +Prime Minister conveyed that India is eagerly awaiting President Putin’s visit to India. +01.01.1997 adopted by them consequent upon the orders of Ministry of Power dated 04.04.2006 and 01.09.2006. +Implementation strategy: +After the approval, the pay scales adopted by Hydro CPSEs consequent upon the order of the Ministry of Power dated 04.04.2006 and 01.09.2006 shall be regularized. +About 5,254 Executives of Hydro CPSEs enrolled before 01.01.2007 will be benefitted by this approval. +It will motivate and boost the morale the Executives of Hydro CPSEs, +The total expenditure to the tune of Rs. 323 crore will be incurred for the regularisation of pay scales. +The pay scales of workmen and Supervisors were higher than the pay scale of Executives in the E-1 grade. +The proposal was earlier considered by the Committee of Secretaries (CoS) and the Cabinet on several occasion. +The Cabinet in December, 2013 decided as below: +However, no recovery shall be made for the excess pay drawn from 01.01,1997onwards considering the difficulties in effecting recovery and also considering thatsuch a recovery may de-motivate the staff. +The High Court of Uttarakhand&Meghalaya quashed the above decision. +SLP was filed in Supreme Court on-12.04.2017 against the judgment of High Court of Uttarakhand which was dismissed on 08.05.2017. +A Contempt petition has been filed in the High Courts of Meghalaya and Uttarakhand. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal – +to provide land on lease to Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL); +to provide the Concession Agreements & Land Lease Agreements for the revival of Gorakhpur & Sindri units of Fertilizer Corporation of India Limited (FCIL) and Barauni unit of Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Limited (HFCL) by HURL; and +to authorize Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to approve Substitution Agreements and approve other agreements, if any to be signed between FCIL/HFCL and HURL for the three projects at Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni. +The revival of Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni units of FCIL/HFCL will ensure substantial investment in the fertilizer sector. +These units will act as anchor customer to Jagdishpur-Haldia Pipeline (JHPL) gas pipeline being laid for development of critical infrastructure in Eastern India. +This will create job opportunities in the region and also boost the economy of the eastern region/state. +The revival of fertilizer unit will also augment indigenous production of urea thereby enhancing self-reliance in urea. +HURL, a Joint Venture company of NTPC, IOCL, CIL and FCIL/ HFCL was incorporated in June 2016 to implement the fertilizer revival projects at Gorakhpur, Sindri, and Barauni. +In order to facilitate HURL to set up the fertilizer projects at the three locations, Lease Deeds are to be signed with HURL by FCIL/HFCL. +The lease of land is for a period of 55 years. +The Lessee (HURL) would pay a nominal Lease Rent of Rs.1 lakh per annum to the Lessor (FCIL/HFCL). +Concession Agreements for the three projects at Sindri & Gorakhpur Units of FCIL and Barauni Unit of HFCL are to be entered between FCIL/HFCL and HURL (Concessionaire) for the purpose of giving a right to HURL to carry out complete design, engineering, construction, procurement, testing, commissioning, operate and maintaining fertilizer plants and market its products. +Substitution Agreement which is a tri-patriate Agreement amongst HURL, Lenders’ representative for the specific project and FCIL/HFCL for the purpose of assignment of the land to enable HURL to obtain finances may be required to be signed after Lenders’ syndication is completed for each of the projects. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to amend regulation for foreign investment in the Non- Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs). +Foreign investment in “Other Financial Services”, which are not regulated by any regulators / Government Agency, can be made on approval route. +Further, minimum capitalisation norms as mandated under FDI policy have been eliminated as most of the regulators have already fixed minimum capitalisation norms. +This will induce FDI and spurt economic activities. +It will cover whole India and is not limited to any State/Districts. +In the Budget 2016-17 Speech, the Hon’ble Finance Minister had announced that “FDI will be allowed beyond the 18 specified NBFC activities in the automatic route in other activities which are regulated by financial sector regulators”. +The present regulations on “Non-Banking Finance Companies” stipulates that FDI would be allowed on automatic route for only 18 specified NBFC activities after fulfilling prescribed minimum capitalisation norms mentioned therein. +The setting up of IISs shall augment the global competitiveness of key sectors of Indian economy by providing high quality skill training, applied research education and a direct and meaningful connection with industry. +It will provide opportunity to aspiring youth across the country to have access to highly skilled training, and enhance the scope of accountability through its linkage with industry and global competitiveness across sectors. +By leveraging advantages of private sector enterprise and public capital in terms of Government land, it would create new institutes of expertise, knowledge and competitiveness. +1. At the invitation of Prime Minister Theresa May, the Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi visited the United Kingdom (UK) as a Guest of Government on 18 April 2018. +2. The UK and India have a natural ambition to reinforce our Strategic Partnership, based on shared values, common law and institutions, as the world’s oldest and largest democracies. +We are committed members of the Commonwealth. +We share a global outlook and commitment to a rules-based international system that strongly opposes unilateral actions that seek to undermine that system through force or coercion. +We share the Living Bridge of countless personal and professional ties between our nations. +3. The UK and India will work closely together and with other Commonwealth member-states, the Commonwealth Secretariat and other partner organisations to address shared and global challenges. +We are committed to reinvigorating the Commonwealth, especially ensuring its relevance tosmall and vulnerable states and to our youth, who make up 60% of the Commonwealth’s population. +To promote coordinated global action to tackle plastic pollution including through the Commonwealth and India’s role as host of World Environment Day 2018. +Technology Partnership +A UK-India Technology Partnership is central to our joint vision and to our prosperity, today and for our next generations. +Our nations are at the forefront of a technology revolution. +We will share knowledge, collaborate on research, innovate and create partnerships between our world-class innovation clusters. +We will deploy our complementary technological strengths to create high value jobs, enhance productivity, promote trade and investment and tackle shared challenges. +Both sides will scale up collaboration on Future Tech to tackle our global challenges; realising the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI); the digital economy; health technologies; cyber security; and promoting clean growth, smart urbanisation and future mobility – while developing the future skills and capabilities of our youth. +The Government of India welcomes the UK initiative of establishing a UK-India Tech Hub in India as part of our growing bilateral Technology Partnership. +The Tech Hub will bring together hi-tech companies to create investment and export opportunities and provide a new platform to share the very best technologies and advance policy collaboration including on Future Mobility, Advanced Manufacturing and Healthcare AI under India’s Aspirational districts’ Programme. +Both sides are deploying the best of British and Indian talent in science, research and technology to address priority global challenges. +The UK is India’s second largest international research and innovation partner. +The UK-India Newton-Bhabhaprogramme will have lifted joint research and innovation awards to over £400 million by 2021, since 2008. +We will also deepen our joint working relationship on health to make the UK and India safer and healthier places to live, including through scaling up and rolling out AI and digital health technologies. +Trade, Investment and Finance +The leaders agreed to forge a dynamic new India-UKTrade Partnership, to develop new trading arrangements as the UK assumes responsibility for its independent trade policy, facilitate investment in both directions and intensify collaboration on shared or complementary strengths. +Building on the recommendations of the recently-completed UK-India Joint Trade Review, we will work together on a sector-based roadmap, to reduce barriers to trade, make it easier to do business in both countries and enable a stronger bilateral trade relationship after the UK exits the EU. +We will also ensure continued application to the UK of EU-India Agreements during the Implementation Period following the UK’s departure from the EU, and put in place arrangements to replicate relevant EU-India agreements beyond this period. +The leaders reaffirmed the crucial role of the rules-based multilateral trading system, and the importance of enhancing free, fair, and open trade for achieving sustainable growth and development. +They reaffirmed their commitment to work together with all members of the WTO and to take forward a dialogue under the Joint Working Group on Trade which will support a shared commitment to the global rules-based system and to the WTO’s role in underpinning it. +The UK has been the largest G20 investor in India over the last ten years and India has the fourth largest number of investment projects in the UK. +We will begin a new dialogue on investment to improve our mutual understanding of priorities and reviewfuture opportunities for cooperation. +India welcomed the decision by the UK to provide additional support to Indian businesses by establishing a reciprocal Fast Track Mechanism for Indian investments into the UK. +A programme of technical cooperation will help in improving the regulatory environment. +The two sides will support initiatives of the business stakeholders, including those proposed by the UK-India CEO Forum which met today, to achieve shared prosperity for India and the UK. +GGEF will help accelerate achieving India’s target of 175GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022 and also invest in other related sectors such as clean transportation, water and waste management. +We also welcomed the establishment of a FinTech dialogue between our two countries – including the proposed new regulatory cooperation agreement. +Our financial services collaboration will be enhanced by a programme of technical cooperation to help develop markets in insolvency, pensions and insurance. +Further collaboration in these areas will be set out by Finance Ministers when they meet for the tenth round of the Economic and Financial Dialogue later this year. +India and the UK acknowledged the importance of connectivity in today’s globalised world. +Responsible Global Leadership +The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to lead the fight against climate change. +As thriving democracies, we share a desire to work closely together and with all who share our objective to support a rules-based international order that upholds agreed international norms, global peace and stability. +Together the UK and India are a force for good in an uncertain world. +We will strengthen our partnership on global development, to accelerate progress to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030. +We will ensure that the benefits of increased finance, new markets, trade, investment, connectivity and economic integration are shared by as many countries as possible – and by the poorest and most marginalised – to build a more prosperous and safer future. +Defence and Cyber Security +In 2015, we pledged a new Defence and International Security Partnership (DISP) to make security and defence a cornerstone of our relationship. +A secure, free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific is in the interests of India, the UK and the international community. +The UK and India will also work together to tackle threats such as piracy, protect freedom of navigation and open access, and improve maritime domain awareness in the region. +We have agreed to further enhance our cooperation to promote international security and stability in cyberspace through a framework that recognises the applicability of international law to State behaviour in a free, open, peaceful and secure cyberspace. +The two leaders reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms including terrorism and terror-related incidents in both India and the UK. +They emphasise the need for urgent investigations and underline that the conduct of all investigations of any use of chemical weapons must be strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Convention. +Education and People-to-People +We welcome the best and brightest to study and work in the UK, especially in subjects and sectors that develop the skills and capabilities that will boost the prosperity of both our countries. +The two leaders lauded the successful completion of the India-UK Year of Culture in 2017. +We are committed to making this a strategic partnership, that spans the globe and the century, seeing our special relationship evolve and improve in the coming years. +We encourage our business, cultural and intellectual leaders to exploit the millions of interactions that already link India and the UK, from family to finance, business to Bollywood, sport to science – so that millions more British and Indians exchange and learn, travel, trade and thrive together. +Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Theresa May and the Government of the United Kingdom for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation and looked forward to welcoming her in India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Belarus for cooperation in the field of Vocational Education and Training (VET). +The MoU was signed on 12th September, 2017 during the State visit of H.E. Mr. Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus to India. +This is for the first time MoU for cooperation in area of vocational education, training and skill development has been signed with Eurasian country. +The transfer of knowledge of their skilling methodology will immensely help in our initiatives like “Make in India” and “Skill India”. +This MoU would pave the way for systematic transfer of their expertise and knowhow in skilling the manpower specially in manufacturing sector. +The areas of cooperation are as under: +The Belarusian side shall provide comprehensive transfer of know-how of emerging technologies, training and evaluation methodologies, content development for regular / distance learning / e-learning/training of master trainers, competency building of the assessors in area of their competency and network building & industry linkage; +1. Vocational education services for Indian citizens for skill development in the field of construction, electric-power production and distribution, manufacturing industry, trade, auto service and household goods repair and maintenance, transport, communication, hotels and restaurants as well as other fields being in high demand in India; +2. Retraining, up-skilling, internship for Vocational Education and Training managers, teachers and trainers of India by the Belarusian Side; +3. Advisory services in order to enhance planning, management and delivery of Vocational Education and Training and Skill Development. +• The MoU would bring in Belarus experience and expertise for overall improvement in skill eco system of the country. +• Implementation of proposal includes innovation and improvement in the existing vocational education and skill development through Research and Development in the field. +The financial arrangement for the co-operative activities undertaken within the framework of this MoU shall be mutually agreed upon by the Parties on a case-by-case basis, subject to the availability of funds. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives in the GAIL pipeline fire in Andhra Pradesh today. +This is in addition to the relief assistance given by the Petroleum Ministry and GAIL. +An ex-gratia relief of Rs. 50,000 has also been sanctioned for those who were seriously injured in the incident. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Economic Times Global Business Summit. +He said from the days of 2013-14, when India was beset with problems such as runaway inflation, high fiscal deficit and policy paralysis, change is clearly visible today. +Hesitations have been replaced by hope, and obstacles have been replaced by optimism, he said. +The Prime Minister said that since 2014,India has made significant improvements in almost all international rankings and indices. +He said rankings are mostly lagging indicators, which change only after things have changed on the ground. +In this context, he gave the example of Ease of Doing Business, where several parameters have visibly improved. +He said that as India’s rank in Global Innovation Index has gone up from seventy six in 2014 to fifty seven in 2018, the surge in innovation is clearly visible. +The Prime Minister drew a contrast between different forms of competition between now and prior to 2014. +He said that the competition now is on development, and achieving aspirational targets such as total sanitation, or total electrification, or higher investment. +By contrast, he said that earlier, the apparent competition seemed to be on delays and corruption. +The Prime Minister strongly criticized what he described as a “narrative” that certain things are just impossible in India. +The impossible is now possible, he declared, as he spoke of the progress made in making India clean and corruption free; in the poorleveraging the power of technology, and in removing discretion and arbitrariness in policy making. +He said that a perception had been made that governments cannot be pro-growth and pro-poor at the same time,but people of India are making it possible. +He said that during 2014 to 2019, the country would register average growth of 7.4 percent and the average inflation would be less than four and a half percent. +Post liberalization of the Indian economy, this will be the highest rate of average growth and lowest rate of average inflation witnessed during the period of any government, he added. +In the last four years, the amount of Foreign Direct Investment received in the country was almost equal to what was received in seven years before 2014, the Prime Minister said. +He added that to achieve this, India needed reforms to transform. +Through the Bankruptcy Code, GST, Real Estate Act to name a few, a solid foundation for decades of higher growth has been laid, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that India is a country of 130 crore aspirations and there can never be a singular vision for development and progress. +“Our vision of new India caters to all sections of the society, irrespective of their economic profile, their caste, creed, language and religion,” he added. +Shri Narendra Modi said “our vision of New India includes addressing the challenges of the future while also solving problems of the past.” +In this context, he gave the following examples: +While India has made its fastest train, it has also eliminated all un-manned railway crossings. +While India is buildingIITs & AIIMS at a rapid pace, it has also built toilets in all schools across the country. +While India is building a 100 smart cities across the country, it is also ensuring rapid progress in over 100 aspirational districts. +While India has become a net exporter of electricity, it has also ensured that crores of households which were in darkness since independence have got electricity. +Speaking of positive interventions in the social sector, the Prime Minister said that the Government is reaching out to twelve crore small and marginal farmers by providing them a comfort of rupees six thousand every year. +This will transfer 7.5 lakh crore rupees or about one hundred billion dollars to our farmers over the next ten years, he added. +The outcomes of our focus on Digital India, Start-up India, Make In India and Innovate India are converging and reaping rich dividends, the Prime Minister said. +44 percent of the startups registered in India are from tier 2 and tier3 cities, he added. +Technology is bridging the gap between the haves and have-nots in our country, he said. +The Prime Minister said that the Government looks forward to making India a ten trillion dollar economy, lead the global drive towards renewable sources of energy, and make India a world leader in electric vehicles and energy storage devices. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the trade Agreement between India and Ethiopia for strengthening and promoting trade and economic co-operation. +The trade Agreement was signed on 5th October, 2017 during the State visit of the President of India to Ethiopia from 4th to 6th October, 2017. +The trade Agreement will replace the existing trade Agreement signed in 1982. +The trade Agreement will provide for all necessary measures to encourage trade, economic cooperation, investment and technical co-operation. +“Wishing our most beloved & widely respected Atal Ji a happy birthday. +I pray that he is blessed with good health and a long life. +Atal ji’s exemplary service & leadership has had a very positive impact on India’s growth trajectory. +His great personality is endearing”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the terror attack in Pathankot and has said that enemies of humanity who cannot see the nation succeed, had attempted to cause harm to the Indian Armed Forces. +He saluted the Armed Forces for successfully defeating the designs of the terrorists, and paid homage to the jawans who were martyred during the operation. +The Prime Minister said this while speaking at a public meeting for the inauguration of the Centenary Celebrations of His Holiness Jagadguru Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji of Sri Suttur Math at Maharaja College ground in Mysore. +Following is the excerpt from the PM’s speech:- +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval forentering into an Agreement between India and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income. +The Agreement will stimulate flow of investment, technology and personnel from India to HKSAR & vice versa, prevent double taxation and provide for exchange of information between the two Contracting Parties. +It will improve transparency in tax matters and will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance. +In so far as India is concerned, the Central Government is authorized under Section 90 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 to enter into an Agreement with a foreign country or specified territory for avoidance of double taxation of income, for exchange of information for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of income-tax chargeable under the Income-tax Act, 1961. +This Agreement is on similar lines as entered into by India with other countries. +A delegation from the maritime sector, led by Minister for Shipping, Shri Nitin Gadkari, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today, on the occasion of National Maritime Day. +Shri Gadkari pinned a flag on the lapel of the Prime Minister, to mark the occasion. +He urged all stakeholders to work together to establish a world-class maritime museum, to showcase this glorious aspect of India’s history. +Shri Gadkari briefed the Prime Minister on plans for skill development in the shipping sector. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi would be visiting Vietnam from 2nd September 2016 to 3rd September 2016. +Prime Minister will also be attending Annual G-20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, China from 3rd September 2016 to 5th September 2016. +Vietnam is a friendly nation with whom we cherish our relationship. +My Government attaches a high priority to our bilateral relations with Vietnam. +The India-Vietnam partnership will benefit Asia and the rest of the world. +During the visit, I will hold extensive discussions with Prime Minister Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc. +We will review complete spectrum of our bilateral relationship. +I will also meet the President of Vietnam, Mr. Tran Dai Quang, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong; and the Chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. +We wish to forge a strong economic relationship with Vietnam that can mutually benefit our citizens. +Strengthening the people-to-people ties will also be an my endeavour during the Vietnam visit. +In Vietnam, I will have the opportunity to pay homage to Ho Chi Minh, one of 20th century’s tallest leaders. +I will lay a wreath at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs as well as visit the Quan Su Pagoda. +I will visit Hangzhou, China from 3-5 September 2016 for the Annual G-20 Leaders Summit. +We will discuss putting the global economy on the track of sustainable steady growth and responding to emerging and entrenched social, security and economic challenges. +I look forward to a productive and outcome oriented Summit.” +President of the New Development Bank +Members of the BRICS Business Council +I am pleased to participate in this meeting with the BRICS Business Council. +The work you do in the Business Council plays a vital role in giving practical shape to the vision of BRICS partnership. +The partnerships you have forged and the networks you have created are energizing the economic growth stories in each BRICS country. +At this meeting last year in Goa, there was a suggestion on closer cooperation between the NDB and BRICS Business Council. +I am happy to note that you are entering into an MOU with the NDB. +Excellencies and Friends, +India is changing fast into one of the most open economies in the world today. +Foreign Direct Investment inflows are at an all-time high, rising by 40 per cent. +India has moved up in the World Bank Index of Ease of Doing Business. +Similarly, we have moved up 32 spots in last two years in the Global Competitiveness Index. +The Goods and Services Tax that was introduced in July is India’s biggest economic reform measure ever. +In one stroke, a unified market of 1.3 billion people has been created. +Programmes like Digital India, Start Up India and Make in India are changing the economic landscape of the country. +They are assisting India turn into a knowledge based, skill supported and technology driven society. +I am happy to note that the BRICS Business Council also has matching priorities of trade & investment facilitation, promoting skills development, infrastructure development, SME Development, e-commerce and digital economy. +Many productive recommendations have come out of your deliberations. +Your work towards establishment of a BRICS Rating Agency, energy cooperation, green finance, and digital economy is particularly noteworthy. +Let me conclude by saying that as Governments, we will offer full support to your endeavours. +And we also count on the BRICS Business Council to take us closer to our common objective of improving business and investment cooperation. +Greetings to everyone. +Swami Nirvinananda ji and all the devotees of Sri Sri Thakur Ramakrishna Paramhansa assembled here today, greetings. +I am privileged to be present among you at the beginning of the 7 day session of Sri Ramakrishna Vachanamrita Satram. +When I think of the words of a great mind from Bengal, translated into Malayalam, being read and debated in Kerala, I am humbled by how ideas are shared and adapted across our country. +What could be a better example of Ek Bharat…Shreshtha Bharat? +This practice that you have started builds on a long tradition of making the teachings of the scriptures, the words of great gurus available to the common people. +This is part of the long oral tradition of India that has evolved constantly to adapt to changing times and circumstances, keeping the eternal values intact. +This tradition evolved from the Shrutis to the Smritis. +The shrutis, the four Vedas and Upanishads are the source of Dharma: they are sacred knowledge transmitted by great Indian sages from generation to generation. +Shrutis are believed to be revealed divine knowledge, transmitted orally. +Smriti is a class of texts that are based on memory and interpretation. +The Prime Minister said that the International Day of Yoga is a day linked to good health, and it has become a mass movement. +He said that Yoga is not about what one will get, but it is about what one can give up. +He said that with zero budget, Yoga provides health assurance, and does not discriminate between rich and poor. +The Prime Minister called for focus in the next one year, on how to mitigate diabetes through Yoga. +He said that to honour those who are working to popularize Yoga, two awards will be instituted, one at the national level, and the other at the international level. +The Prime Minister walked amidst, joined, and mingled with the participants of the mass Yoga demonstration. +· Compassionate approach will ensure that “Shram Yogi” becomes “Rashtra Yogi” and “Rashtra Nirmaata.” +· We must see labour issues through the perspective of labourers. +· Shramev Jayate initiatives will boost confidence and build skills of youth, while providing ease of doing business. +· Government must trust its citizens – allowing self-certification is a step in this direction. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today made a strong pitch for understanding and appreciating labour issues through the perspective of the labourers, so that they could be understood and resolved with compassion. +In his remarks after launching five new initiatives at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakram in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said that such a compassionate approach would result in the “Shram Yogi” (labourer) becoming a “Rashtra Yogi,” and hence, a “Rashtra Nirmaata” (Nation-builder). +The Prime Minister said that in the Nation’s development, the phrase “Shramev Jayate” had as much significance as “Satyamev Jayate.” +Shri Narendra Modi said the Government must trust its citizens, and a big step had been taken in this direction by allowing self-certification of documents. +He said the various initiatives being launched today as part of the Shramev Jayate Karyakram were also a step in this direction. +The Prime Minister lauded the efforts of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in launching a series of schemes simultaneously, which took into account the interests of workers, as well as the employers. +He said the Shram Suvidha Portal has simplified compliance of 16 labour laws, through a single online form. +He said the transparent Labour Inspection Scheme for random selection of units for inspection, would end undue harassment of the “Inspector Raj,” while ensuring better compliance. +The Prime Minister expressed his concern that as much as Rs. 27,000 crore was lying unclaimed with the Employees Provident Fund Organization. +The Prime Minister said the initiative of appointing National Brand Ambassadors of Vocational Training would instill pride and confidence in ITI students. +The Prime Minister also honoured selected brand ambassadors. +The Apprentice Protsahan Yojana and the Effective Implementation of revamped Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) for labour in the unorganized sector were also launched today. +The Prime Minister said the “Shramev Jayate” initiatives were an essential element of the “Make in India” vision, as they would pave the way for skill development of youth in a big way, and even create an opportunity for India to meet the global requirement of skilled labour workforce in the years ahead. +The programme was attended by Union Ministers Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Shri Kalraj Mishra, Shri Anant Geete, and Dr. Harshvardhan, and the Union MoS Labour Shri Vishnudeo Sai. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given the approval for the signing of Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) in respect of tax matters between India and the Revenue administrations of BRICS countries namely, Brazil, Russian Federation, China and South Africa +The MoC aims to further promote cooperation amongst the BRICS Revenue administrations in international forum on common areas of interest in tax matters and in the area of capacity building and knowledge sharing. +It envisages regular interaction amongst the heads of Revenue administration of BRICS countries to continue discussion on common areas of interest and strive towards convergence of views and meeting of the Experts on tax matters to discuss the contemporary issues in areas of international tax. +In addition, the MoC accords confidentiality and protection to information exchanged under this MoC. +The MoC will stimulate effective cooperation in tax matters. +The collective stand of BRICS countries can prove to be beneficial not only to these countries but also to other developing countries in the long run in tax matters being steered by the G20. +The Heads of Revenue of the BRICS countries have been meeting regularly to discuss the potential areas of cooperation in tax matters and to exchange opinions and views based on the existing commitment to openness, solidarity, equality, mutual understanding, inclusiveness and mutually beneficial cooperation, as stated in the Goa Declaration issued on October 16, 2016. +The BRICS countries have identified four areas of mutual interest on which understanding and cooperation can be further strengthened. +The heads of Revenue of BRICS countries in their meeting held on the sidelines of FTA plenary at Beijing, China in May, 2016 decided to sign a MoC outlining these areas of cooperation. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the passing away of First Lady, Mrs. Suvra Mukherjee. +“Pained to know about the passing away of Mrs. Suvra Mukherjee. +My condolences to Rashtrapati ji and his family in this hour of grief. +Mrs. Suvra Mukherjee will be remembered as a lover of art, culture and music. +Her warm nature endeared her to everyone she met,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Tabla maestro Pandit Lacchu Maharaj. +“Pt Lacchu Maharaj’s demise is a big loss to the world of Indian classical music. +He was a widely admired musical maestro. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, dedicated the Bansagar Canal Project to the Nation in Mirzapur today. +This project will provide a big boost to irrigation in the region, and will be greatly beneficial for the farmers of Mirzapur and Allahabad districts of Uttar Pradesh. +Shri Narendra Modi laid the Foundation Stone of the Mirzapur Medical College. +He inaugurated 100 Jan AushadhiKendras in the State. +He also dedicated a bridge over the River Ganga at Balughat, Chunar, which will facilitate connectivity between Mirzapur and Varanasi. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the area of Mirzapur holds immense potential. +He recalled his last visit to Mirzapur, with French President Macron, for the inauguration of the solar plant. +The Prime Minister mentioned the various development projects and works that he has either inaugurated, or laid the Foundation Stone for, over the last two days. +He said the Bansagar project had been first conceptualized about four decades ago, and the Foundation Stone was laid in 1978, but the project was unduly delayed. +He said that after 2014, this project was made a part of the Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchaiYojana, and all efforts were made to complete it. +Talking about measures taken for the welfare of farmers by the Union Government, the Prime Minister also mentioned the recent increase in MSP for Kharif crops. +He spoke of the measures taken to provide affordable healthcare to the poor, including Jan AushadhiKendras. +He said the Swachh Bharat Mission is also proving effective in controlling disease. +He said the health assurance scheme – Ayushman Bharat would be rolled out soon. +He also spoke of other social welfare schemes of the Union Government. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today laid the Foundation Stone of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute at Gogamukh in Assam. +Addressing a large public meeting on the occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated the State Government in Assam and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, for the work done by them in the State. +He said the foundation stone of IARI laid today, had the potential to impact the entire region in a positive way in the future. +He said agriculture needs to be developed in line with the requirements of the 21st century. +He added that farmers must benefit from the changing technology. +He stressed on the need of modern agriculture and technological interventions, keeping in mind the specific needs of the region. +The Prime Minister spoke of his vision of doubling farmers’ incomes by 2022, the 75th anniversary of independence. +The Prime Minister said the Union Government had taken a number of steps for farmers’ welfare in the last three years. +In this context he mentioned the soil health cards, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. +He said his Government is working towards boosting prosperity and welfare of the people in the North-East through this “panch-tatva.” +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to Prime Minister of Nepal, Shri Sushil Koirala, on the situation arising due to yesterday’s tremors. +“PM Sushil Koirala and I had a telephonic conversation. +We reviewed the situation arising due to yesterday’s tremors. +I assured PM Koirala of all possible co-operation from our side in the wake of the earthquake”, the Prime Minister said. +He also interacted with young students. +He was given a presentation of a special robot called “AgBot” which has agricultural applications. +Writing on the AgBot, the Prime Minister said research is the mother of development, and is intrinsically linked to the development journey of mankind. +He said agriculture would benefit from the use of science and technology. +He congratulated the scientists at QUT and wished them well. +The Prime Minister was also given a presentation on the Integrated Biofuels Project, under which cutting-edge, collaborative research is being carried out as part of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund Grand Challenge Initiative. +He visited the glasshouse at the University, where iron-fortified bananas are being developed, which could prove very useful in developing countries where iron-deficiency affects a large number of people. +Interacting with students at the venue, the Prime Minister said he is fortunate to be meeting them on the 125th birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted people on Ambedkar Jayanti. +“Greetings on Ambedkar Jayanti. +PujyaBabasaheb gave hope to lakhs of people belonging to the poorest and marginalised sections of society. +Mr. Li Yuanchao, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China met Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister warmly recalled the visit of President Xi Jinping to India last year, and his own visit to China in May this year. +The Prime Minister said that there is tremendous potential for India and China to grow their economic and developmental partnership. +He highlighted opportunities in Railways, Smart Cities, Infrastructure and Urban Transport for cooperation between India and China. +The Prime Minister welcomed the increased level of investments from China to India and expressed hope that the growth in the number of Chinese tourists visiting India will continue. +He said that the ancient cultural ties between India and China are a catalyst for growth of stronger people to people relations. +The Prime Minister and Mr. Li Yuanchao agreed that peaceful, cooperative and stable relations between India and China are vital for regional and global peace and prosperity. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved creation of additional posts of three Judicial Members and three Technical Members in the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). +The posts will be created in Level 17 (Rs.2,25,000/- fixed) plus allowances as admissible. +The total financial implication will be Rs.2,27,82,096 (Rupees two crore twenty seven lakh eighty two thousand ninety six only) per annum. +This will ensure to meet the mandate provided to NCLAT by the Finance Act, 2017, the Companies Act, the IBC, 2016 and the time frame provided for disposal of cases. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed happiness over the news of 27% increase in population of Asiatic lions. +“News that made me very happy- 27% increase in Asiatic lions. +Kudos to locals, officials and wildlife lovers whose efforts led to this”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for adjudication of dispute on Mahanadi River Waters. +The Tribunal shall determine water sharing among basin States on the basis of the overall availability of water in the complete Mahanadi basin, contribution of each State, the present utilization of water resources in each State and the potential for future development. +As per provisions of the Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956, the Tribunal shall consist of a Chairman and two other Members nominated by the Chief Justice of India from amongst the Judges of the Supreme Court or High Court. +Further, services of two Assessors who are water resources experts having experience in handling sensitive water-related issues will be provided to advise the Tribunal in its proceedings. +As per provisions of the ISRWD Act, 1956 the Tribunal is required to submit its report and decision within a period of 3 years which can be extended to a further period not exceeding 2 years due to unavoidable reasons. +It is expected that with adjudication of dispute by the Tribunal, the long-pending dispute between States of Odisha and Chhattisgarh on Mahanadi river will come to a final settlement. +India values her multi-faceted partnership with the EU, and we attach high importance to our strategic partnership. +India was amongst the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community in 1962. +The European Union has been our largest trade partner for a long time. +It is also one of our largest sources of Foreign Direct Investment. +As the world’s largest democracies, we are natural partners. +Our close relations are founded on the shared values of democracy, rule of law, respect for fundamental freedoms and multiculturalism. +We also share the vision of a multi-polar, rules-based international order. +I am heartily thankful to President Tusk and President Juncker for the productive discussions that we have had today on our wide-ranging agenda. +Today, we have reviewed the progress in implementation of the decisions taken at our last Summit, and the Agenda 2020 announced last year. +We have agreed to strengthen our security cooperation and work together against terrorism. +We will not only further strengthen our bilateral cooperation on this issue, but will also increase our cooperation and coordination in multilateral fora. +On Clean Energy and Climate Change, we are both committed to the 2015 Paris Agreement. +Addressing climate change and promoting secure, affordable and sustainable supplies of energy are our shared priorities. +We also reaffirmed our commitment to undertake mutual cooperation for reducing the cost of deployment of renewable energy. +We will strengthen our cooperation with European Union in developing Smart Cities and upgrading urban infrastructure. +I am pleased that the India-EU Horizontal Civil Aviation Agreement has now been operationalized. +I am confident that this will enhance air connectivity between us and help to foster people-to-people contact. +An important aspect of our relationship is our cooperation in Science and Technology, and in Research and Innovation. +In this context, I welcome the Agreement concluded today on mobility of young scientists and researchers. +The signing of loan agreements for development projects in India with the European Investment Bank is also a welcome step. +I also appreciate the decision of the European Investment Bank to fund solar-related projects in member countries of the International Solar Alliance. +We are also committed to working with the EU to further deepen our cooperation in strengthening our trade and investment flows. +I thank you for your leadership and your contribution to the strengthening of the India EU strategic Partnership. +It is my hope and expectation that your next visit to India would not be such a brief one! +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing the Joint Interpretative Declaration (JID) between India and Colombia regarding the existing Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments between India and Colombia signed on November 10, 2009. +Joint Interpretative Declarations/Statements in general play an important supplementary role in strengthening the investment treaty regime. +With increasing Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) disputes, issuance of such statements is likely to have strong persuasive value before arbitration tribunals. +Such pro-active approach by partners can foster a more predictable and coherent reading of treaty terms by arbitration tribunals. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has sent an email to all bankers, congratulating them on the success of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. +“It gives me great pleasure to have seen the exceptional work done by you all in ensuring the success of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. +The target set for opening bank accounts for all households has been surpassed well ahead of the target date of 26 January, 2015. +By opening 11.5 crore new accounts in a very short span, we have achieved a coverage of 99.74% of all households in the country. +However, you have proved skeptics wrong and achieved what appeared impossible. +This feat alone should motivate you, as well as others to work to make our dreams a reality,” the Prime Minister added. +Laying out a roadmap for the future, the Prime Minister said: “Well begun is half done. +The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana provides a platform for changing the economic condition of our people. +We need to build on this success and leverage these accounts to provide our citizens a wide range of credit, insurance and pension services. +We also need to maintain high standards of customer service. +This is the next phase of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. +We need to redouble efforts on financial literacy. +Aadhaar seeding needs to improve further. +Bank Mitras need to be enabled to carry out RuPay card and Aadhaar enabled transactions in villages itself. +I want you to work to ensure that each account holder enrols for Aadhaar and seeds it in the bank account. +This needs to be done for all accounts. +I am sure you will do this seeding with the same zeal you showed in driving bank account opening. +I believe that most development activities were hindered by the single disability of not having bank accounts. +We have now overcome this disability. +Benefits have already started flowing to people through some of the Direct Benefit Transfer schemes. +This not only ensures that benefits reach people directly, but also utilizes your accounts well. +This is your great contribution to nation-building. +We will ensure that many more schemes utilize the DBT platform. +I once again thank you for being part of this huge national mission through which we shall be able to help every citizen of India achieve a better quality of life.” +My dear countrymen, Namaskar. +We human beings have a natural inclination to be enchanted by the delights of the rainy season. +Animals, birds, flora – nature in its entirety, is filled with the joys of the season. +But sometimes, when the rain unleashes full force of its fury, we come to realise the extent of the destructive might of water. +Mother Nature gives us life and nurtures us, but at times natural catastrophes such as floods and earthquakes wreak havoc on a massive scale. +Climate change, altered weather cycles, and transformations in the environment, are also having a big negative impact. +Recently, in certain parts of India, particularly, Assam, North-East, Gujarat, Rajasthan and some areas of Bengal, have had to bear the brunt of natural disasters, caused by excessive rains. +Flood affected areas are being closely monitored. +Relief efforts have been undertaken on an extensive cale. +Wherever possible, my colleagues in the Council of Ministers are also personally visiting affected areas. +The state governments too are making maximum possible efforts on their part to provide relief to the flood affected people. +Social organisations, cultural organizations and common citizens charged with the spirit of service are also making their utmost efforts to help the affected people in this situation. +The Government of India, Army personnel, Air Force personnel, NDRF personnel, Paramilitary forces – everybody does his or her best in providing succour to the disaster stricken people. +Life goes completely topsy-turvy as a result of the floods. +Crops, livestock, infrastructure, roads, electricity, communication links – everything gets affected. +A 24×7 control room helpline number 1078 is functioning continuously to deal with the flood situation. +People are also voicing their difficulties. +Before the monsoons, the entire government machinery was brought into a state of preparedness through mock drills undertaken at most of the places. +NDRF teams were deployed. +Aapada Mitra, or Friends during Disaster were identified at various places and these were then trained in the Do’s and Don’ts; volunteers were enlisted, and a people’s organisation set up to work in this situation. +Weather forecasts are available these days and the concerned technology has become so advanced these days, and space science also plays a very big role, that these weather forecasts turn out to be mostly accurate now. +We should also gradually make it our nature to set our work patterns according to the weather predictions, which could safeguard us against losses. +Whenever I prepare myself for ‘Mann Ki Baat’, I find that the citizens of our country prepare themselves even more. +I would like you to hear one such phone call: – +“Namaskar, Pradhan Mantri ji, this is Neetu Garg from Gurgaon. +I heard your speech on the Chartered Accountants Day and was deeply impressed. +In the same manner, Goods and Services Tax, GST, was launched on this very day last month. +Could you please elaborate whether its results after one month are matching the expectations of the Government? +It has been one month since GST was implemented and its benefits can be seen already. +I feel very happy and satisfied when a poor person writes to say how because of GST prices of various items essential for him have come down, and commodities have become cheaper. +When a person from the North-East, someone living in the remote areas, in the hills or forests, writes a letter to communicate that in the beginning, he used to be apprehensive about GST wondering what it was all about, but now that he has begun to understand it, he feels that things have become much easier than before. +Doing business has become so much easier. +And most important of all, the trust of customers for the traders is increasing. +Pollution levels have come down with the increased speeds of the trucks. +Goods are also being transported much faster. +This indeed is a convenience, but at the same time it is also bolstering the economic progress. +Earlier, because of the multiple tax structures, maximum resources of the transport and logistics sector were expended in maintaining paperwork and that also led to the need for construction of new warehouses in each state. +The speed at which the smooth transition has taken place, along with rapid migration and new registrations, has instilled a new sense of confidence in the entire country. +And some day, the Pundits of Economics, Pundits of Management and Pundits of Technology, will certainly undertake researches and write about India’s GST experiment as a model for the world. +It will become a case study for universities across the world. +The implementation and furtherance of such a phenomenal change on such a monumental scale, with the involvement of so many tens of millions of people in such a vast country, is in itself a pinnacle of success. +The world will definitely make a study of it. +And this implementation has had all the states participating in it and sharing the responsibility. +All decisions have been taken unanimously by the states and the Centre together. +And as a result, one overriding priority for every government has been to ensure that there is no burden on the plate of the poor on account of GST. +And using the GST App all information is available on your mobile phone as to how much the price of an item was earlier and how much will it be now in the new situation. +The lofty dream of One Nation – One Tax has finally been fulfilled. +I extend my heartiest felicitations to each and every ministry, every department and all employees of the Central and State governments involved with this process. +GST is a fine example of the collective strength of the people of India. +This is a historic achievement. +And this is not just a tax reform; it is a new economic order that will strengthen a new culture of honesty. +In a way, it is also a campaign for social reformation. +I would like to once again express my deep gratitude to the millions of my countrymen who have contributed to the successful achievement of this great feat with such felicity. +My dear countrymen, the month of August is the month of Revolution. +In a way, there are many events in the month of August that are closely associated with the history of our freedom movement. +This year, we are going to observe the 75th Anniversary of the Quit India Movement. +But very few people know the fact that the slogan, ‘Quit India’ was coined by Dr. Yusuf Meher Ali. +Our young generation must know what had happened on the 9th of August 1942. +From 1857 to 1942, the people of India, with their ardent desire for freedom, came together, fought together, and suffered hardships; these pages of history are an inspiration to us for building a glorious India. +The heroes of our freedom struggle with their single-minded devotion did a ‘Tapasya’, endured hardships, made great sacrifices and even laid down their lives; what greater inspiration could there be! +The ‘Quit India Movement’ was an important milestone in the Indian Freedom Movement. +It was this movement that had made the entire nation determined to attain freedom from the British Rule. +This was the time when the people of India, in every part of the country – be it a village or city, the educated or illiterate, the rich or poor, everyone came together shoulder to shoulder and became a part of the ‘Quit India Movement.’ +People’s anger was at its peak. +Millions of Indians responded to Mahatma Gandhi’s clarion call and the mantra of ‘Do or Die’; they flung themselves into the struggle. +Millions of the youth of the country renounced their studies, gave up their books. +They set out on the march to the sound of the bugle for freedom. +Mahatma Gandhi gave a call for the ‘Quit India Movement’ on 9th August, but each and every prominent leader had been imprisoned by the British Government, and it was during this time that the second generation of leadership comprising great men like Dr. Lohia, Jaiprakash Narain played a leading and pivotal role. +In the ‘Non-Cooperation Movement’ of 1920 and the ‘Quit India Movement’ of 1942, two different personas of Mahatma Gandhi can be seen. +The whole scenario of the ‘Quit India Movement’ was different and in 1942 things rose to such a point, there was such a heightened sense of intensity, that a Mahapurush like Mahatma Gandhi gave the mantra of “Do or Die.” +The reason for this entire success was the people’s support, people’s resolve, and people’s struggle. +The entire country had come together as one to fight for the cause. +And I sometimes think that if we link the pages of history, it is seen that the First War of Independence took place in 1857. +The freedom struggle which began in 1857, continued to be manifested in one or the other corner of the country till 1942. +This long time period ignited the intense longing for freedom in the hearts of the people. +Each one became committed to do something. +The determination did not diminish with each passing generation. +New people kept coming forward each time in place of those who departed and the country kept on every moment endeavouring tirelessly to uproot the British Rule. +This perseverance, this struggle from 1857 to 1942 created a situation which reached its climax in 1942; the clarion call of ‘Quit India’ was such that within five years, in 1947 the British were compelled to leave India. +1857 to 1942 – the yearning for freedom had reached the grassroots, had reached everybody. +And 1942 to 1947 – these decisive five years became integral for the masses to successfully attain through resolve, freedom for the country. +These five years were indeed decisive. +I would now like to connect you with its mathematical manifestation. +We became free in 1947. +It has been almost 70 years. +Governments have come and gone. +Everyone has tried to rid the country of its problems in one’s own way. +There have been efforts towards increasing employment, poverty alleviation, and development. +These efforts were also driven with hard work in their different ways. +There have been successes. +Expectations have also risen. +The way, the years from 1942 to 1947 were the decisive years for attainment through resolve. +I can see that 2017 to 2022 presents itself as a new time segment of five years for attainment through resolve. +We should celebrate 15th August 2017 as the Sankalp Parva or the Day of Resolve, and in 2022 marking 75 years of Freedom, we will certainly transform that resolve into ‘Siddhi’ or attainment. +Just as the five years from 1942 to 1947 were decisive for the country’s Independence, these five years from 2017 to 2022 can and must play a decisive role for the future of India. +Five years from now, we will celebrate 75 years of India’s Independence. +Therefore, we must take a firm resolve today. +We must make 2017 our Year of Resolve. +The need for today is not ‘Do or Die’, instead it is to resolve, to come together, persevere, and work relentlessly with our utmost strength towards the making of a new India. +Let us live by and strive for this resolve. +Come let’s launch a mega campaign Sankalp se Siddhi – Attainment through Resolve, from the 9th of this August. +Every Indian, social organisations, Local Self-Government Institutions, schools, colleges, various organizations – all should take one resolve or the other for a New India. +A resolve that we will positively fulfil in the next five years. +What can be my contribution for this as an individual? +Let us come together and make this a Festival of Resolve. +Transform this campaign into a peoples’ movement. +A Quit India Quiz is also being launched for my young friends on NarendraModiApp. +This quiz is an attempt to familiarise the youth with India’s glorious history and the heroes of the freedom movement. +It is my belief that you will surely publicise and spread awareness about this quiz. +My dear countrymen, on August 15, as the nation’s ‘Pradhan Sewak’, I get an opportunity to communicate with the country from the ramparts of the Red Fort. +I am merely an instrument. +I read these myself and shall try to express them in whatever time I have with me on 15th August. +For the previous three 15th August speeches, one consistent complaint has been that my speeches tend to be a little lengthy. +I have tried to draw these rules for myself, but I don’t know whether I’ll be able to stick to them. +But I do intend to try this time to shorten my speech. +Let’s see whether I succeed or not. +My countrymen, I would like to say one more thing to you. +India’s economy has in itself an element of social economics. +And we should never underestimate its value. +Our festivals, our celebrations are not merely occasions of joy and merriment. +Our festivals are in themselves campaigns of social reform too. +And each of our festivals are directly linked with the financial conditions of the poorest of the poor. +Rakshabandhan, Janmashtami, Ganesh Utsav, Chauth Chandra, Anant Chaturdashi, Durga Pooja, Diwali – these will be observed one after the other. +And this is also the time when the poor get an opportunity to earn an income and of course this adds a spontaneous joy to the festivities. +Festivals lend a sweetness to our relationships, bring a warmth of togetherness in the family and foster brotherhood in society. +They connect the individual with society. +It is a natural journey from the self to the collective. +And the ‘I’ gets an opportunity to transform into a ‘We’. +As far as the economy is concerned, hundreds of families start making Rakhis in small household units, many months before the festival of Rakhi. +Rakhi makers and their sellers, sweets shops vendors – the professions of hundreds, thousands flourish on the occasion of a festival. +The households of our poor brethren and their families are dependent in a way on these activities. +Today as I speak about festivals and how they are linked to the economy of the poor, I want to touch upon the subject of environment as well. +I have observed and sometimes think that the citizens of our country are more aware and active than me. +For the last one month, environmentally conscious citizens have constantly written letters to me. +And they have requested that I talk about eco-friendly Ganesha idols, well in time for people to plan for clay Ganesha idols during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. +Firstly, I am most grateful to such conscientious citizens. +They have urged me to speak on this subject well before the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. +This time around, there is a special significance to the observance of community Ganesh festival as a public celebration. +And we must think anew ways to steer Community Ganesh Festivals in consonance with the sentiments of Tilak ji. +My dear countrymen, we are continually seeing that our daughters are bringing laurels to the country in all the fields – be it education, economic activities, social spheres or in sports – they are scaling new heights. +We as a nation take great pride in our daughters. +Recently our daughters performed brilliantly in the Women’s Cricket World Cup. +This week I had the opportunity to meet our daughters, the members of our Women’s Cricket team. +I felt happy talking to them, but I had a feeling that they felt burdened by the fact that they could not win the World Cup. +This stress, this tension was evident on their faces also. +So while speaking to these daughters, I put forth a different viewpoint before them. +We have seen during many such events where if the Indian players fail, the anger of the country is vented towards the players. +Some people cross all limits of decency and say and write things that inflict pain and hurt. +But it happened for the first time that when our daughters did not succeed in winning the World Cup, the hundred and twenty-five million people took this defeat on their own shoulders, never letting the burden weigh down these daughters of ours. +Not only this, they lauded them and showered them with high praise for their brilliant performance. +You may not have won the final match but you have won the hearts of 1.25 billion Indians. +Truly our young generation, especially the daughters of our country are doing so much to bring glory to the nation. +Every countryman should make a resolve, every countryman should prepare a 5-year roadmap to realise that resolve. +Come, let’s march together as we do our bit. +The destiny, the future of the country shall be brighter, let us move ahead with this belief. +Lots and lots of good wishes to you all. +At the outset, I express my condolences and sympathies to the families of all those, who have lost their loved ones, or faced immense hardship in the recent incidents of heavy rain and floods in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu. +I have assured the State Government of all possible support. +I also compliment the management and staff of the Thanthi group for this success. +24 hour news channels are now available to millions of Indians. +Yet, for many, the day still begins with a cup of tea or coffee in one hand, and a newspaper in the other. +I am told that the Dina Thanthi offers this option today, through seventeen editions, not only in Tamil Nadu but also in Bengaluru, Mumbai and even in Dubai. +Newsprint was a rare commodity in those days. +But he began the newspaper by printing on paper made by hand, from straw. +The font size, simple language and easy to understand narrative made Dina Thanthi popular among the people. +In those times, it brought them political awareness and information. +I came to know that Thanthi means telegram. +Dina Thanthi means “daily telegram”. +Over the last seventy five years, the traditional telegram, delivered by the postal department, has become obsolete, and gone out of existence. +But this telegram, continues to grow every day. +Such is the power of a noble idea, backed by hard work and commitment. +I am happy to learn that the Thanthi group has instituted awards for promoting Tamil Literature in the name of its founder Thiru Adithanar. +I am sure, this recognition will be a motivating factor for those who have taken to writing as a noble profession. +Mankind’s quest for knowledge is as old as our history itself. +Journalism helps quench this thirst. +Today, newspapers do not just give news. +They can also mould our thinking and open a window to the world. +In a broader context, media is a means of transforming society. +That is why, we refer to the media, as the fourth pillar of democracy. +During the dark days of colonialism, publications such as the Sambad Kaumudi of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, the Kesari of Lokmanya Tilak, and the Navjeevan of Mahatma Gandhi, lit a beacon, and inspired the freedom struggle. +Across the country, there were pioneers in journalism, who often gave up a life of comfort. +They helped create a mass consciousness and awakening, through their newspapers. +Perhaps it is because of the high ideals of those founding pioneers, that so many newspapers established in the days of the British Raj, continue to flourish today. +We must never forget that successive generations performed the duties required of them, towards society, and the nation. +That is how we achieved freedom. +After independence, the rights of citizens gained importance in public discourse. +Unfortunately, over time we seem to have neglected our individual and collective sense of duty. +This has in some way contributed to several ills that plague our society today. +This should happen, of course, through our education system, and the conduct of our political leaders. +But the media too, has a key role to play here. +Ladies and Gentlemen. +Many of the newspapers that shaped the discourse for freedom, were vernacular newspapers. +In fact, the then British Government was fearful of the Indian Vernacular Press. +It was to muzzle vernacular newspapers, that the Vernacular Press Act was enacted in 1878. +In our diverse nation, the role of vernacular newspapers – newspapers published in regional languages – remains as important today, as it was then. +They carry content in a language that is easily understood by people. +Very often, they cater to vulnerable and socially disadvantaged groups. +Their strength, their impact, and thus, their responsibility, can never be under-estimated. +They are the messengers of the intent and policies of the Government, in far-flung areas. +Equally, they are the torch-bearers of the thoughts, feelings and emotions of our people. +In this context, it is indeed heartening to note that today, among our vibrant print media, some of the largest selling newspapers, are published in the regional languages. +The Dina Thanthi, is of course, one among them. +I have often heard people wonder, as to how the amount of news that happens in the world every day always just exactly fits the newspaper. +On a serious note, we are all aware, that there is just too much that happens in the world everyday. +It is the editors who select and decide what is important. +They decide what should be given space on the first page, what should be given more space and what should be ignored. +This, of course, casts upon them, a great responsibility. +As Mahatma Gandhi himself told us: “The press is called the Fourth Estate. +It is definitely a power, but, to misuse that power is criminal.” +Even though media may be owned by private individuals, it serves a public purpose. +As scholars say, it is an instrument to produce reform through peace, rather than by force. +To recall the words of the great saint Thiruvalluvar, “There is nothing in this world except ethics, which would bring both reputation and wealth together”. +Technology has brought about great change in the media. +There was a time, when the headlines of the day, written on a village blackboard, carried immense credibility. +Today, our media spans the entire range, from that village blackboard, to online bulletin boards. +Just as education now focuses a lot more on learning outcomes, our attitude towards consumption of content has changed. +Today, every citizen analyses, discusses, and attempts to cross-check and verify the news that comes to him, through multiple sources. +Media, therefore, must make an extra effort, to maintain credibility. +Healthy competition among credible media platforms is also good for the health of our democracy. +Renewed emphasis on credibility, brings us to the subject of introspection. +I firmly believe that reform in the media, whenever required, can only come from within, through introspection. +Indeed, we have seen this process of introspection happen on some occasions, such as the analysis of the reportage of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. +Perhaps, it should happen more often. +I observe, that a lot of the media discourse today revolves around politics. +It is only fair that politics be discussed at length, in a democracy. +However, India is more than just us politicians. +It is the 125 crore Indians, which make India what it is. +I would be happy to see media focus a lot more, on their stories, and their achievements. +In this endeavour, every citizen with a mobile phone is your ally. +Citizen reporting can be an important tool in the sharing and dissemination of success stories of individuals. +It can also be of immense help in directing relief and rescue efforts in times of crisis, or natural disasters. +Let me also add, that during times of natural disasters, media usually does its best to cover various aspects of the incident. +Natural calamities seem to be occurring with increasing frequency and intensity across the world. +Climate change is a challenge for each one of us. +Can media take a lead in the battle against it? +Can media devote just a little space, or a fixed time daily, to report, discuss, or increase awareness about what we can do to combat climate change? +They have also pointed out the work that remains to be done, before we can claim to have achieved our goal. +Ladies and Gentlemen. +There is another key area, where media can play an important role. +This is the initiative of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. +Let me explain this with one example. +Can a newspaper, devote just a few column inches of space, each day for one year, to this cause? +Every day, they can write one simple sentence in their language of publication, along with its translation, and trans-literation, in all major Indian languages. +At the end of the year, the readers of the newspaper will have been exposed to 365 such simple sentences, in all major Indian languages. +Imagine the positive impact this simple step can create. +Further, schools can be encouraged to discuss this in their classrooms daily for a few minutes, so that children too, are exposed to the strength and richness of our diversity. +Hence, this step will not only serve a noble cause, but will also increase the strength of the publication itself. +Ladies and Gentlemen. +About three months ago, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement. +In a way, the journey of the Dina Thanthi, has mirrored the rise of India as a young, vibrant nation. +Speaking in Parliament on that day, I gave a call for creating a New India by 2022. +An India that is free from the evils of corruption, casteism, communalism, poverty, illiteracy, and disease. +The next five years must be about Sankalp se Siddhi – accomplishment through resolve. +Only then can we create the India of the dreams of our freedom fighters. +As a newspaper that was born when the nation embraced the Quit India Movement, may I suggest that the Dina Thanthi has a special responsibility in this regard. +I hope that you will use this opportunity, to reflect upon what you can do for your readers, or for the people of India, over the next five years. +Even beyond the immediate target of five years, perhaps on the occasion of its platinum jubilee, the Thanthi must think of what the next seventy five years will be like. +What is the best way to continue to remain relevant, and serve the people and the nation in the age of instant news at the fingertips. +And in doing so, continue to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and objectivity. +In conclusion, I once again appreciate the efforts of the publishers of Dina Thanthi in the service of the people of Tamil Nadu. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Hungary on cooperation in the field of water management. +The MoU will be signed between Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India and the Ministry of Interior, Government of Hungary. +It will enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of water management, on the basis of equality and mutual benefits. +This will encourage the development of bilateral relations between public and private organizations concerning water resources of both the countries. +Both the countries will get benefited by joint activities and mutual exchange of scientific delegations and experts in the field of water resources development and management. +The cooperation, particularly on river basin management/ integrated water resources management, efficiency in water supply and irrigation technology innovation and flood & drought management will help improve the socio-economic conditions of the people of both the countries. +Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation is entering into a MoU with Hungary with wide-ranging areas on water sector for the first time. +India is a democratic country and the people evaluate governments regularly. +The media also evaluates. +And these days, professional survey agencies also do this. +And I think this is a good thing and that’s why I leave it to the people to evaluate how my government has performed. +But I will definitely want that whenever my government is evaluated, the situation of the government before we came to power must be kept in mind, what the state of the country was, what the media was discussing. +If a patient, however good the doctor, is despondent, medicines will not cure him. +But if the patient is hopeful, then even an average doctor can cure him. +The reason for that is the patient’s inner belief. +There was a time when we were being seen as a sinking ship. +In the BRICS, the ‘I’ (representing India) was seen as wobbly. +Today it is said that if there is a bright spot, it is India. +I think this in itself is a good way to evaluate. +All this will end. +Today, there are incidents of mistrust between states. +There was a paralysis in government. +On the one hand it was this situation. +Third, there was a slowdown in the global economy. +So there were a series of challenges. +It wasn’t only after we took charge. +Even after that there were challenges. +The result of this was that positivity spread very quickly. +Today, we have the highest amount of foreign direct investment after Independence. +The entire world says that at 7% growth, we are the fastest growing economy. +So those policies which are helping growth have been emphasised. +All this has resulted in speeding up the economy. +This has raised hopes that the coming days will be much better. +Usually it is one or two things that are talked about, but today growth has being talked about in all sectors. +From all this it looks like we have moved ahead to better days. +PM Modi: First of all, in our country, only what is talked about is seen as reform. +If it isn’t talked about, it isn’t seen as reform. +It shows our ignorance. +Actually I am of the view reform to transform. +I say in my government — Reform, Perform and Transform. +And since I am sitting for an interview, I would say Reform, Perform, Transform and Inform. +This is not possible without reform. +Our systems, processes, forms were so complicated. +These have been reformed, so our rankings are going up. +A UN agency has said that from 10 in the next two years, we could be at number three. +These small things need to be improved. +Even today there exists licence raj in some areas. +That needs to go. +Question:While there has been economic growth, private investment in the economy is still tepid. +Some sectors like real estate are still in trouble. +Venture capital funding of startups has slowed. +What message would you like to give to private industry and foreign investors at this juncture? +This thought had struck me then. +I had two paths then. +Politics told me that I should put out all the details. +But the nation’s interest told me that this information would increase the sense of hopelessness, markets would be badly hit, it would be big blow to the economy and the world’s view of India would get worse. +It would have been very difficult to get the economy out of that… I chose to stay silent in the national interest at the risk of political damage. +At that time the situation in public sector banks was coming out… I didn’t put these details out in public. +I have never been accused of this either. +You saying that we haven’t spared any dynasty isn’t correct. +“We have made requisite legal changes so that the black money circulating inside the country can also be curbed. +There’s a scheme which is running till the 30th of September. +For all those who are still willing to come in the mainstream. +I have said this in public that 30th of September is your last date. +This is my commitment. +I am working with full force and will continue the effort. +Dalits and members of backward classes have in fact started saying that the BJP and the RSS are anti Dalit. +How will you assure the people that your agenda is development and development alone? +But we must not forget that law and order is a state subject. +If you look at dalit MPs and dalit MLAs, tribal MPs and tribal MLAs, the BJP has a sizable presence. +I spoke from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the incidents of rape…I said that parents must ask their sons also – where they are going, what they are doing? +We ask our daughters these questions. +What will be your strategy on both these counts? +A lot of politics has happened on poverty. +And a lot of programmes for poverty alleviation have also been started keeping elections in mind. +I do not want to get in a controversy on whether it was good or bad. +But my path is a little different. +We have to empower the poor to end poverty. +If the poor are empowered, then they have enough power to alleviate poverty. +All the initiatives that we have taken over the past few years, like the Mudra Scheme – at least 3.5 crore people have taken the benefits of the Mudra Scheme and they got about 1.25 lakh crore rupees through this scheme. +Many of them are those who have got money from the bank for the first time. +It is possible that they might employ a few. +They will move forward. +One of the things that we have done is called Stand Up India. +I have told banks that every branch must give financial aid to a Dalit, a tribal and a woman. +They must make them an entrepreneur. +The country has 1.25 Lakh branches of banks. +They will be an economic strength. +We have said that these small traders who have small enterprises, they are free to be open 365 days, 24/7..so that they can go about doing their business and also employ a few. +And these are the people who drive the economy in our country. +This is where we are working to empower. +We have laid a lot of stress on skill development. +Skill development is the need of the hour. +PM Modi: Everything should not be measured on a scale of profit and loss. +In any part of the world, anyone who is Indian, at whatever post he may be, has a feeling in his heart that my country must progress. +And if they get unfavourable press about their country, they are the most upset. +Because they are away, it pricks them even more. +We have acknowledged the power of the diaspora in Niti Aayog. +This is such a global strength. +QuestionPM Modi: Firstly, it’s unfortunate that in our country everything we do is immediately linked to elections. +UP elections are still away, still all our decisions are being linked to that. +Super political pundits can’t get politics out of their minds. +Their minds buzzing with politics run faster in AC rooms. +Again, in our country there are frequent elections. +Elections here, elections there…elections, elections, elections. +Every decision is weighed using the election balance. +There will only be adverse impact for our country till we continue to keep linking issues and decisions to elections. +It’s high time we delinked the two. +Parties will come up with their manifestos after polls are announced. +Why link them now? +All parties will have to unitedly do this. +Government alone can’t do this. +Election commission has the led this effort and all parties have to agree on this. +I can have my own ideas, but I can’t do anything about it. +This has to be done democratically. +But I do hope some day there will be comprehensive discussion and debate. +There will be elections in five states in coming days and Uttar Pradesh is one of them. +As far as the BJP is concerned, we will fight on development issues only. +Our focus will be welfare of farmers, villages, jobs for the youth, and we will stay committed to the cause of social justice. +Our focus will be to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood in our country. +We will take steps in these regards and move forward. +QuestionPM Modi: The poisons of casteism and communal vote banks have caused enough damage in our country. +QuestionPM Modi: Whenever we talk about Jammu & Kashmir, we should take the entire picture of Jammu, the Kashmir Valley and the Ladakh region into account. +The seeds of the problem was sown ever since independence and division of our country. +Question: It’s widely believed that high level corruption has come down drastically under your rule, but low level corruption is still rampant. +How can you fix this? +You may have noticed that we have taken many steps which have neutralised chances of any corruption. +The other day Haryana’s chief minister was telling me he is going to make eight districts kerosene free by this November. +You must have noticed there is no news of urea shortfall these days. +No queuing up of farmers anywhere, no lathicharge anywhere and black marketing has stopped. +Chemical factories used to process this as raw material and brought out finished products. +They used to get urea cheap. +Question: Mr Prime Minister, it’s being said that Lutyens Delhi did not like you, but have you started liking Delhi? +These custodians who are dedicated to a select few will never accept anyone who is linked to the roots of this country. +So I too do not want to waste my time addressing this group. +The welfare of the billion people is my biggest task and I will not lose anything if I do not associate myself with Lutyens Delhi. +Media is doing its job and it should. +I believe the media must strongly criticise the government’s work. +Otherwise democracy won’t work. +Why should I suppress or hide what’s inside me? +If I have to take strong decisions for the country’s sake, then I will have to make those decisions. +If I have to work hard for that then I will have to. +If I have to bend I’ll bend. +If I have to walk fast then I’ll walk fast. +But these are nor facets of my character, these are part of my responsibilities. +So how do you relax? +Everyone has the same capacity needed for the volume of the work. +You keep accepting new challenges and your inner self will always back you. +Question: Where does Narendra Modi like to find himself in Indian history? +Modiji thank you so much for giving me your time. +This is my first TV interview and I feel privileged and honoured to done with no less a person than the Prime Minister. +PM Modi: Your are from the financial world and yet you did a political interview. +I congratulate you and keep doing the good work. +You please keep giving us interviews… +PM Modi: Why interview politicians only, there are so many others from other walks of life to interview. +During election time, reporters start shooting from your bedroom and start asking about breakfast etc. +But not many know the sacrifices of our sportsmen. +That way we can change the way we see our sportsmen. +Also, I feel there are so many personalities to interview beyond politics. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Rajasthan on the occasion of Rajasthan Diwas. +The Prime Minister’s message to the people of Rajasthan further said: +Rajasthan is a land known for its splendid culture and glorious history. +The people of Rajasthan have always been remembered for their bravery and valour. +The people of Rajasthan are known for their industrious nature. +I salute the people of Rajasthan and convey my best wishes for the development journey of the State.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between India and the United States of America on Homeland Security. +My dear citizens +I hope you ended the festive season of Diwali with joy and new hope. +Today, I will be speaking to you about some critical issues and important decisions. +Today I want to make a special request to all of you. +the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana for small enterprises, +the Stand-up India programme for Dalits, Adivasis and Women, +the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme for gas connections in the homes of the poor, +the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana to protect the income of farmers, +the Soil Health Card Scheme to ensure the best possible yield from farmers’ fields, +and the e-NAM National Market Place scheme to ensure farmers get the right price for their produce +—these are all reflections of this approach. +On the one hand, we are now No. 1 in the rate of economic growth. +But on the other hand, we were ranked close to one hundred in the global corruption perceptions ranking two years back. +In spite of many steps taken, we have only been able to reach a ranking of seventy-six now. +The evil of corruption has been spread by certain sections of society for their selfish interest. +They have ignored the poor and cornered benefits. +Some people have misused their office for personal gain. +On the other hand, honest people have fought against this evil. +Crores of common men and women have lived lives of integrity. +Terrorism is a frightening threat. +So many have lost their lives because of it. +But have you ever thought about how these terrorists get their money? +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Palestine on Cooperation in the field of Information Technology and Electronics (IT&E) +The MoU intends to promote closer co-operation in the areas of e-Governance, m-Governance, e-Public Services Delivery, cyber security, software technology parks, start-ups ecosystem etc. +The MoU shall come into effect from date of signature of the parties and shall remain in force for a period of 5 years. +The MoU shall be implemented by establishing a Working Group on IT&E composed of representatives of the two Parties. +Bilateral Cooperation in ICT domain both B2B and G2G will be enhanced. +It envisages improving B2B collaboration leading to employment opportunities. +Background:- +India has strong political support to the Palestinian cause at international and bilateral levels. +India has been contributing material and technical assistance to the Palestinian people. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and exchanged new year greetings with PMO officials and SPG personnel, at Lok Kalyan Marg. +Over 1000 people were present at the interaction. +The Prime Minister appreciated the good work being done by them, and encouraged them to keep up their efforts in future as well. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief on loss of lives in tragic bus accident in Himachal Pradesh. +“My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones in the tragic bus accident in Himachal Pradesh. +May those injured recover quickly”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for withdrawal of Nalanda University (Amendment) Bill, 2013 pending in the Rajya Sabha. +Subsequently, the Nalanda University Act, 2010 was passed by the Parliament and came into effect from 25thNovember 2010. +The Governing Board of Nalanda University has since been constituted as per section 7 of Nalanda University Act, 2010 with effect from 21.11.2016 with, the approval of Hon’ble President of India. +The Amendment Bill will need to be discussed with the current Governing Board of Nalanda University before a final decision could be taken on going ahead with the proposed amendments. +Further, the current Governing Board may also look into the entire Nalanda University Act, 2010 afresh and suggest amendments/additions wherever necessary. +Teaching in the University was inaugurated by Smt.SushmaSwaraj, External Affairs Minister in September 2014. +At present, the University has 116 students in three schools of studies namely School of Historical Studies, School of Ecology and Environment Studies and School of Buddhist Studies. +This includes 35 international students from 21 foreign countries. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the construction of 69 Bridges including Approach Roads on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa (TKK) road section of the Trilateral Highway in Myanmar at a cost of Rs.371.58 crore. +It will improve connectivity between India and Myanmar and facilitate movement of goods and traffic. +Background:- +During the visit of Prime Minister to Myanmar in May 2012, it was agreed, at the request of Government of Myanmar, to undertake construction of 71 bridges in the Tamu – Kyigone – Kalewa (TKK) road section of the Trilateral Highway. +The Government of Myanmar has started work on constructing two bridges, on its own, as these bridges needed urgent attention. +As a result, construction of the balance 69 bridges will be undertaken under Government of India’s assistance. +The project will be implemented in Engineering Procuring and Construction (EPC) mode through Project Management Consultant (PMC). +It will be closely monitored by the Indian Embassy in Yangon, PMC and the Ministry of External Affairs. +The project is envisaged to be completed by mid-2019. +Under the policy, a provision has been made for Market development assistance of Rs. 1500 per tonne of city compost for scaling up production and consumption of the product. +Market development assistance would lower MRP of city compost for farmers. +Compost from city garbage would not only provide carbon and primary/secondary nutrients to soil but also help in keeping the city clean. +Eco-Mark standard for City Compost would ensure that environment friendly quality product reaches the farmers. +Composting can reduce the volume of waste to landfill/dumpsite by converting the waste into useful by-products. +This also prevents production of harmful greenhouse gases (especially methane) and toxic material that pollutes groundwater apart from polluting the environment. +City Waste composting would also generate employment in urban areas. +Fertilizer companies and marketing entities will also co-market City Compost with chemical fertilizers through their dealers’ network. +The companies will also adopt villages for promoting the use of compost. +Government Departments and Public Sector undertakings will also use City Compost for their horticulture and related uses. +Concerned Ministry/Department will carry out IEC campaigns to educate farmers on the benefits of city compost and will take steps to increase setting up of compost plants across all States. +The Agricultural Extension Machineries including KVKs of ICAR will also make special efforts in this regard. +Agriculture Universities and KVKs will also take up field demonstration activities using City compost for which D/o Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare will assign targets to them. +Comparing the President to the Head of a family, the Prime Minister added that he too had personally been guided by the President after assuming office. +The Prime Minister congratulated the authors of the two books saying their efforts were not mere compilations, but creations borne out of personal experiences (anubhooti). +On the book – Indradhanush – which is on the cultural events organized in Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Prime Minister said the art and culture of India has the potential to attract the world. +Marvelling at the richness of Indian culture, he remarked that we had a separate `raaga` for different times of the day. +He said India`s art touched the soul of a human being. +Art should not be dependent (rajya-aashrit) on the state, but promoted (rajya-puruskrit) by the state, he added. +Referring to the other book – `The Winged Wonders of Rashtrapati Bhawan` – the Prime Minister spoke of the important place that birds have enjoyed in India`s history, culture and mythology. +Illustrating this with several examples, he said the Garuda Purana spoke of human values that could be gained by taking inspiration from birds. +He added that the episode of Jataayu in the Ramayana inspires us to fight against terrorism. +Speaking of birds, he said that birds give us inspiration to live in harmony with nature. +Borders are irrelevant for birds, wind and water. +He said nests built by birds were wonderful examples of architecture, which incidentally, are made largely out of waste. +The Prime Minister also referred to the Rashtrapati Bhawan Museum, which was dedicated to the nation by the President this morning, in his presence. +He said that only a society which is conscious of history, has the potential to create history. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi had exhorted people to pledge for leading healthier lifestyle to overcome diabetes, on the World Diabetes Day. +“Today, on World Diabetes Day, let us pledge to lead healthier lives so that we can overcome diabetes. +Spoke about the rising occurrence of diabetes among youth during Mann Ki Baat last month”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs. 2 lakhs from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express accident near Chhapra in Bihar. +This is in addition to the relief assistance given by the Railways. +An ex-gratia relief of Rs. 50,000 has also been sanctioned for those who were seriously injured in the accident. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the loss of lives in the forest fire in Portugal. +“Sad to learn of tragic loss of lives in the forest fire in Portugal. +Deepest condolences to the Portugese people on this tragedy”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved closure of Kota Unit of Instrumentation Ltd. and transfer of Palakkad Unit of Instrumentation Ltd. to Government of Kerala. +Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for the financial year 2017-18 for all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees About 11.91 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees are likely to benefit from the decision Payment of 78 days’ PLB to railway employees has been estimated to be Rs. 2044.31 crore +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for the financial year 2017-18 for all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel). +The financial implication of payment of 78 days’ PLB to railway employees has been estimated to be Rs.2044.31 crore. +The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB to the eligible non-gazetted railway employees is Rs.7000/- p.m. +The maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee is Rs.17,951 for 78 days. +About 11.91 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees are likely to benefit from the decision. +The Productivity Linked Bonus on Railway covers all non-gazetted railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) who are spread over the entire country. +Payment of PLB to eligible railway employees is made each year before the Dusshera/ Puja holidays. +The decision of the Cabinet shall be implemented before the holidays for this year as well. +For the year 2017-18 PLB equivalent to 78 days’ wages will be paid which is expected to motivate the employees for working towards improving the performance of the Railways. +Railways were the first departmental undertaking of the Government of India wherein the concept of PLB was introduced in the year 1979-80. +The main consideration at that time was the important role of the Railways as an infrastructural support in the performance of the economy as a whole. +In the overall context of Railway working, it was considered desirable to introduce the concept of PLB as against the concept of Bonus on the lines of ‘The Payment of Bonus Act – 1965’. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the campus of the Institute of Technical Education in Singapore. +He was received by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. +The leaders were greeted enthusiastically by the students. +They visited the Maritime Training Centre, Aerospace Hub and Precision Engineering section. +Both leaders signed the bookends. +Shri Narendra Modi paid homage at the Indian National Army Memorial Marker in Singapore. +Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had laid the foundation stone for a memorial dedicated to the “Unknown Warrior” of the Indian National Army (INA) in July 1945. +The marker sits on the site of the original memorial. +The Prime Minister interacted extensively with children and people present at the location. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed the India-France Business Summit in Chandigarh today. +The Prime Minister appreciated France for the manner in which it coordinated the CoP-21 negotiations. +He recalled that President Hollande had spoken to him over phone and had shared the outline of the proposed agreement, shortly before it was announced. +The Prime Minister recalled the deadly terror attack in Paris a few days before the CoP-21 meeting, and said France has shown the way to combat terrorism without deviating from its core principles. +He said India will stand shoulder to shoulder with France in the fight against terrorism. +The Prime Minister spoke at length about the complementarities between India and France, and said both countries are in fact made for each other. +Speaking about the security and defence sector, the Prime Minister said Indian talent and French manufacturing capability can together make the world a more secure place. +In this context, he mentioned cyber-security as well. +The Prime Minister said French companies are well invested in India. +He asserted that retrospective tax was a thing of the past, and a closed chapter. +He mentioned the initiatives of Mission Innovation, involving India, US and France, and the International Solar Alliance. +16 MoUs and Agreements were exchanged at the Summit. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for closure of India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians (IDF-OI) to enhance synergies in channelizing Diaspora’s contributions to Government of India’s flagship programmes such as National Mission for clean Ganga and Swachh Bharat Mission. +1. IDF-OI was set up by Government of India with the approval of Cabinet in 2008 as an autonomous not-for-profit Trust, to facilitate Overseas Indian philanthropy into social and development projects in India. +2. As the Foundation received only Rs. 36.80 Lakhs between December 2008 and March 2015 as donation from overseas Indian community, a comprehensive review of IDF-OI was undertaken in 2015. +Promotion of Government of India’s Flagship programmes – National Mission for Clean Ganga and Swachh Bharat Mission; and Social and Development projects identified by State Governments – was added to the mandate of IDF-OI. +3. Although, between April 2015 and March 2018, the Trust received Rs.10.16 crore, most of the contribution received were for either projects related to National Mission for Clean Ganga or Swachh Bharat Mission, which are separately administered by their respective Administrative Agencies. +In order to enhance synergies, improve efficiencies and avoid duplication of work, it was decided by the 9th Meeting of Board of Trustees of the IDF-OI that the Trust would be closed down by March 31, 2018. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of renowned scientist, Professor U. R. Rao. +“Saddened by demise of renowned scientist, Professor UR Rao. +His remarkable contribution to India’s space programme will never be forgotten.” the Prime Minister said. +Following is the text of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s message on Earth Day: +“Today on Earth Day, we bow in reverence to Mother Earth. +For years, this great planet has been home to phenomenal diversity. +Today we also reiterate our commitment to work towards the well-being of our planet, focus on sustainable development and mitigating climate change.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the brave Indian soldiers who laid down their lives to liberate Haifa in 1918. +“On Haifa Day I salute the brave Indian soldiers who laid down their lives to liberate Haifa in 1918. +Was pleased to visit Haifa and pay homage there in person in July”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, on their Statehood Day. +“On Arunachal Pradesh’s Statehood Day, my greetings to people of the state. +I pray for the state’s overall development in the coming years. +My best wishes to the new Government of Arunachal Pradesh in fulfilling the expectations and aspirations of the people. +Best wishes to the wonderful people of Mizoram on their Statehood Day. +May Mizoram scale new heights of progress in the years to come”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has thanked the United States President, Mr Barack Obama, for writing an article on him in TIME magazine. +My dear countrymen, this is my first Mann Ki Baat of 2016. +Mann Ki Baat has bonded me with you all in such a way that any idea that comes to me, I feel like sharing with you. +Yesterday, I went to pay homage to respected Bapu at Rajghat. +Every year we pay tributes to the martyrs on this day. +Observing 2 minutes silence at sharp 11 A.M. is an occasion to express our gratitude to great and brave men, sages and saints who have laid down their lives for the country. +However if we see, there would be many among us who won’t have maintained this 2 minutes silence. +Don’t you think that it should become a habit and we should take it up as a national responsibility? +I know that this will not happen with just one Mann Ki Baat. +However, I thought of sharing what I felt yesterday. +And these are the thoughts that inspire us to live for the country. +Imagine 125 crore Indians, observing silence for 2 minutes at 11 A.M. on January 30. +You can imagine the kind of power this event may have. +This is the true strength of a nation and the inspiration comes fom such events. +With regards to khadi, Sardar Patel said, “the freedom of India lies in khadi, India’s culture also remains in khadi; non-violence, the ultimate religion that we believe in India, is also in khadi; and the farmers of India for whom you show so much of emotion, their welfare too lies in khadi”. +Sardarji used simple language to put across his message in a clear way and he explained the importance of khadi in a proper way. +Yesterday on 30th January during the occasion of death anniversary of respectful Bapu, I made an attempt to reach out to as many people associated with khadi and rural industries by writing letters to them. +Well, as you knowBapu was a supporter of science, so I also used technology as a medium to reach these lakhs of brothers and sisters. +Khadi has now become a symbol, it has a different identity. +Market has its own importance in the economy. +In addition to the emotional value, it is important that khadi makes a mark in the market itself. +When I told people that you have so many different types of garments, then you should have khadi as well. +And now people are understanding that if they can’t become a person using khadi only, they can however have atleast one khadi in addition to the several garments in their closet. +The Government organizations are witnessing a positive trend for khadi. +You may recall, many years ago, khadi was used extensively in the government organizations. +However, it slowly began fading out of the scene in the name of modernization and those associated with the Khadi industry were losing jobs. +Khadi has the potential to provide employment to millions. +Running charkha with solar and linking solar energy with Charkha have become a successful experiment. +It has made it more efficient, production is higher and there is an enhancement in quality of the yarn. +I have received many letters especially on the solar charkha. +Geeta Devi and Komal Devi from Dausa in Rajasthan, and Sadhna Devi from Nawada district in Bihar have written to me saying that slar charkhas has made remarkable changes in their lives. +“Our income has doubled and there has been a rise in demand for our yarn”. +All these things adds to enthusiasm. +And on January 30, when we rememeber Respected Bapu, I repeat – atleast make it necessary to keep one khadi among many of your garments, and become an supporter for the same. +Fellow Citizens, we all celebrated the 26th January with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm. +Braving the terror threats, citizens of our country showed courage and celebrated the Republic Day with pride and dignity. +The two states selected the most educated girls from every village to do the flag hosting in government run schools in the states. +Beti Bachao Beti Padhao – they made an effort and sent a good message. +I congratulate the imagination of these two states and also congratulate all those girls who got the opportunity to host the flag. +This was a huge moment of pride in itself and I am happy for the fact that I started ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ from Haryana where as the sex-ratio worsened. +The number of girl child went down in proportion to thousand males. +It was a huge concern as social balance was in danger. +And when I picked Haryana, many of our officers told me to do away with that, saying there was a huge negative atmosphere in the state. +But I persisted and today I greet Haryana from the bottom of my heart for accepting this proposal and now the birth of girls is growing at a very rapid pace there. +I truly welcome the change brought in the social life there. +In the last edition of Mann Ki Baat I talked about two things. +And the second thing that I told was, when there is a Republic Day, how can we then put emphasis on duties and discuss it? +It has been a good start, and this is not only a Swachta Abhiyan, it also is Samman Abhiyan. +Well, I don’t want to embroil into this controversy. +However, the biggest crisis of farmers is the sheer waste of their efforts in the natural disaster. +His year goes waste. +There is only one solution that is to provide security to farmers and that is Fasal Beema Yojana. +Government of India has given a very big gift to the farmers in 2016 – ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana’. +But this is not meant to praise the scheme and the Prime Minister. +Even though discussions have been happening on crop insurance for so many years, not more than 20-25 per cent of the farmers across the country have become its beneficiary and get connected with the same. +Can we pledge to reach out to at least 50 percent of the country’s farmers with the crop insurance over the next 1-2 years. +I need your help in this exercise. +If a farmer gets linked to the crop insurance scheme, he gets a big help in the times of crisis. +Let me tell you, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana has got a lot of public acceptance as it is very comprehensive, simple and with technological inputs. +And not only this, even if something happens within 15 days of crop harvesting, even then assurances for support is provided. +Focus has been on using the technology to fast track it and ensure there is no delay in receiving the insurance claims. +On the top of it, the insurance premium rate has been slashed to its lowest level which no one would have ever thought of. +In the new insurance scheme for the farmers, the maximum limit of premium would be 2 percent for kharif and 1.5 percent for the rabi crops. +And tell me, if any of my farmer brothers is deprived of the scheme, then will it be damaging for him or not? +You may not be a farmer, but must be listening to Mann ki Baat. +Will you make my voice reach the farmers? +And therefore I want that you promote it the most. +And for this, I have also brought a new scheme. +I want that my talks regarding Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana reaches the masses. +But what if you have to listen to it later? +All you have to do is just give a missed call from your mobile phone. +Just give a missed call and you will be able to listen to Maan Ki Baat whenever you want to. +I will arrange for this as well. +My dear youngsters, you have done a commendable job. +I experienced new energy, new consciousness, new zeal and new vigour during the start-up program, which was held on January 16. +Lakhs of people had registered to attend this event. +However due to space constraint, the program was eventually held in Vigyan Bhawan. +Many of you couldn’t make it, but we ensured that you are able to participate in the event for the entire day online. +It is rare to find that a program keeps lakhs of young people engaged for so many hours, but it happened. +And I was a witness to the kind of excitement start-ups has. +There is a misconception among the people that start-up means IT related talks, very sophisticated business. +The start-up event cleared this misconception Let me tell you- Start-up around IT is a small part. +I visited Sikkim few days ago. +Sikkim has now become an organic state and I had invited the country’s agriculture ministers and secretaries there. +They have ventured towards start-up and met me in Sikkim. +They work in agriculture field in North East and do the global marketing of herbal and organic produce. +That’s a great job. +Last time, I told people associated with start-up to narrate their experiences and send it to me on ‘Narendra Modi App’. +Many have sent, but I will be delighted if many more people come forward. +Let me tell you, the narratives which I have received so far, are truly inspiring. +Manoj Gilda, Nikhilji have started agri-storage start-up. +They are developing the bulk storage system for agricultural products with scientific fruits storage system. +Means lots of suggestions have come. +And you send more, I will feel good and if I have to talk about start-up repeatedly in my ‘Mann Ki Baat’ like I do every time for cleanliness, will do so for startups as well, as your power is our inspiration. +My dear countrymen, cleanliness is also getting associated with beauty. +But now, people have marched one step ahead in the initiative. +They have added beauty with cleanliness. +In a way, this is doubly beneficial, and it is especially seen at the railway stations. +I see that many local people, local artists, students are engaged in decorating the railway stations of their cities. +Keeping the local art at the centre, painting the walls, making artistic sign boards with content to keep people aware, and so many other things being undertaken by the people. +Someone told me that the tribal women have decrorated the Hazaribagh station with the local Sohrai and Kohbar Art design. +Over 300 volunteers of Thane district decorated the King Circle, Matunga, Borivali, Khar stations. +Many news are coming from Rajasthan; Sawai Madhopur, Kota. +It seems that our railway stations in themselves will become the identity of our tradition. +This was neither the initiative of the Railways nor Narendra Modi. +This was the people’s initiative. +See when people do, and how well they do. +I see that I have got some pictures, but I want to see many more pictures. +Can you, who have take some effort of cleaning along with decoration on railway station or other places, send me the pictures? +I will definitely see, people will also see and others will also get inspiration. +And whatever can happen on the railway station, can happen on the bus station, hospitals, schools, near temples, churchs, mosques, gardens etc. +Whoever brought this thought, started and promoted it, deserves a compliment. +But yes, do send me the photos, I also want to see what you have done. +My dear countrymen, it is a matter of pride that India is hosting a major event from 4th to 8th of February. +The entire world is coming and our navy is making a whole hearted effort to become a good host. +Warships, naval ships of many countries are gathering at the coastal region of Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. +International Fleet Review is happening on the coastal region of India. +This is an effort to ensure rapport between us and world’s military power. +This is very important for a country like India, which has a golden coastal history. +They say sea as Udhi or Sagar in Sanskrit. +This means endless sufficency. +Borders and land may be separating us, but water connects us, sea connects us. +We can connect ourselves with sea, we can connect with anyone by sea. +And our ancestors made the introduction of this power by roaming around the world, doing global trade. +Be it Chatrapati Shivaji, Chola Dynasty which made a new identity with Naval power. +Even today, there are many states where several cultures associated with sea exists and are celebrated with zest. +I will also get the fortune to be present on this global event. +In the similar way, South Asian Federation games involving SAARC nations is going to be held in Guwahati. +Thousands of SAARC countries’ players are coming to the land of Guwahati. +There is an atmosphere and excitement of sports. +A grand celebration from the new generation of SAARC countries is happening on the land of Guwahati in Assam. +This also is a good opportunity to make relations with the SAARC countries. +My dear countrymen, I had even said earlier that whatever comes to mind, I want to express it with you openly. +Final Examinations for grade 10th and 12th will be conducted in the coming days. +Last time I had shared my views with the students regarding the examinations. +It is my wish that the students who have got the success share their experiences, how they have spent the tension-free days of examination, they can write to me regarding the atmosphere in family, roles played by teachers and elders, efforts made by them, any tips or suggestions and role played by the seniors. +You must have had good experiences. +This time you can send your experiences on Narendra Modi App. +And I will request the media to promote the good things through their medium so that the students all over the country can read, watch on TV and appear in the exams in a tension-free atmosphere. +I believe that media friends will definitely cooperate in this regard. +Yes, but they will do only when you write to me. +Many many thanks, friends. +We will meet again for the next Mann Ki Baat next month. +Many thanks. +The Cooperation Agreement was signedon 14th December, 2017. +The Cooperation Agreement will enable technical cooperation in the following areas:- +a. Training and staff development; +b. Expert missions, exchange of experience and personnel; and +c. Mutual technical assistance, including exchanging of experts. +Ministry of Railways have signed MOUs for technical cooperation in the Rail sector with various foreign Governments and National Railways. +The identified areas of cooperation include high-speed corridors, speed raising of existing routes, development of world class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure, etc. +The cooperation is achieved through exchange of information on developments in areas of railways technology & operations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training & seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest. +The MoUs provide a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector. +The MoUs facilitate exchange of technical experts, reports and technical documents, training and seminars/workshops focusing on specific technology areas and other interactions for knowledge sharing. +The objective of the MoU is to promote cooperation between the Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of the two countries. +It aims to enhance enterprise to enterprise cooperation and help initiate sustainable business alliances in terms of technology transfers, joint ventures and business partnerships in MSME sector between the two countries. +Cooperation in the field of capacity building, rapid incubation for entrepreneurship development, exposure to each other’s market by encouraging participation in exhibitions are also envisaged in this MoU. +NSIC, under the Ministry of MSME has a considerable experience in carrying out such cooperation and is, therefore, appropriate organization to implement the activities of this MoU. +This unit was lying defunct and was not in operation since 2002. +Therefore, the unit and other associated facilities were lying unutilized. +It is important to mention here that there is no functional urea unit in the Eastern part of the country except two small units at Namrup (Assam). +The annual consumption of urea in the country is approx. +310 LMT, out of which 230 LMT is produced indigenously and rest is imported. +To enhance the production of urea indigenously, Govt. has earlier approved the revival of Talcher (Odisha) & Ramagundam (Telangana) units of FCIL by PSUs through ‘nomination route’ and Barauni unit of Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Limited (HFCL) & Gorakhpur unit of FCIL through ‘Bidding route’. +Now Sindri unit is approved for revival through ‘Bidding route’. +It will also ease the pressure on railway and road infrastructure due to long distance transportation of urea from Western and Central Regions and thereby saving in govt. subsidy on freight. +It will also accelerate the economic development of the region. +Apart from growth of regional economy, this unit will create opportunities for 500 direct and 3000 indirect employments. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, spoke to Dr. Raman Singh, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh this morning, and assured him of all necessary assistance for rescue and relief operations, and treatment for those affected by the gas leak incident at the Bhilai Steel Plant. +The Prime Minister offered his condolences to the family members of those who lost their lives in the accident. +Shri Narendra Modi also spoke to the Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and directed that the Union Government coordinate with the State Government’s relief operations at Bhilai Steel Plant, and to ensure that all possible assistance is offered to those affected by the incident. +The Prime Minister referred to remarks made by Dr. Manmohan Singh on April 30th, 2014 regarding the Planning Commission. +He said that Dr. Manmohan Singh, who had been associated for a long time with the Planning Commission, had noted that the body has no futuristic vision in the post-reform period. +He had also noted that the Planning Commission would have to reinvent itself to remain more effective and relevant in the present situation. +The Prime Minister also recalled his own speech on Independence Day, and said that the Planning Commission should be replaced by an organization which can think creatively, strengthen the federal structure, and energize states. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat on taking oath as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. +“Congratulations to Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat & the entire team sworn in today. +Am sure they will work hard & fulfil people’s aspirations. +The new Uttarakhand government will return the tremendous affection shown by the people of the state with record development,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the Navy personnel, on Navy Day. +“India is proud of a strong and valiant Navy, that has always risen to the occasion to protect our Nation. +Navy Day greetings to Navy personnel”, the Prime Minister said. +PM announces immediate assistance worth Rs.1000 crores +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the State of Odisha to review the situation arising out of Cyclone Fani that hit the State on 3rd May, 2019. +He undertook an aerial survey of Pipili, Puri, Konark, Nimapada and Bhubaneswar. +The Governor, Professor Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister, Shri Naveen Patnaik and Union Cabinet Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan also accompanied the Prime Minister in the aerial survey. +Thereafter, Prime Minister took a meeting of the senior officers of the State and Central Government to take stock of the damage caused by the cyclone and the relief & rehabilitation measures being undertaken. +The Prime Minister assured all possible assistance to the State. +He announced immediate assistance worth Rs.1000 crores. +This is apart from Rs. 341 crores already released to the State Government on 29th April, 2019. +He promised further assistance after the assessment by an inter-ministerial Central team. +The Prime Minister expressed his full solidarity with the people of Odisha. +He said that the Central Government is fully committed not only for providing immediate relief, but also to ensure rebuilding of the state. +He appreciated the role played by technology including satellite imagery and advanced weather forecasting techniques in minimising loss of life. +He appreciated the resilience of the people and the fishermen living in the coastal areas. +He also expressed satisfaction at the excellent coordination between the Union and the State Government which helped to minimise causalities. +The Prime Minister said that he knows the extent of damage and destruction such a cyclone brings, as he too has been a Chief Minister of a coastal state. +The Prime Minister assured that a Central team will visit the State soon to assess the extent of damage to infrastructure, housing, fishermen and farms and relief to be provided to the State. +He directed the State and Central Government officers of Power, Telecom, Railways to ensure restoration of services at the earliest. +He also directed the Road and Surface Transport Ministry to take effective steps for repair of roads damaged and also provide all assistance to the State in this regard. +He directed that insurance companies must dispatch their observers immediately to the flood hit areas to assess the farmer’s claim related to crop insurance and provide them relief at the earliest. +The Prime Minister announced ex-gratia of Rupees two lakhs to next of the kin of the deceased and Rupees fifty thousand to seriously injured in the cyclone. +The Prime Minister assured the people of the State that the Union Government stands shoulder to shoulder with them at this difficult time. +1. MoU with the Ministry of Transport of the Russian federation for the development of cooperation in transport education for the development of cooperation in transport education. +2. MoC with the Joint Stock Company “Russian Railways” (RZD) on technical cooperation in the field of railways. +The MoUs/ MoCs provide a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector. +The MoUs/ MoCs facilitate exchange of technical experts, reports and technical documents, training and seminars/ workshops focusing on specific technology areas and other interactions for knowledge sharing. +The MoU will envisage cooperation in the priority areas for the development of transport education. +This would enable preparation of specific proposals in this area including their implementation within the framework of the Intergovernmental Russian-Indian Commission on Trade-Economic, Scientific-Technical and Cultural cooperation. +The MoC will enable technical cooperation in the following areas:- +2. Implementation of a Single Traffic Control Center to manage mixed traffic at the regional level, divisional railway and/ or at the upper network level uniting all the IR’s zonal railways; +3. Customization, organization of joint manufacture and implementation of a competitive signaling and interlocking system; +4. Supply and localization of turnout switches for Semi High Speed and above; +5. Training and advanced qualification improvement of Indian railway employees with the involvement of Russian railway-related higher education establishments; +6. Best practices in Freight Cargo operations; and +7. Joint development of multi modal terminals in India. +Ministry of Railways have signed MoUs/ MoCs for technical cooperation in the rail sector with various foreign Governments and National Railways. +The identified areas of cooperation include high speed rail, speed raising of existing routes, development of world class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure etc. +The cooperation is achieved through exchange of information on developments in areas of railway technology & operations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training & seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest. +The leaders of the 5 BRICS countries held an informal meeting on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. +This was in run up to the forthcoming 9th BRICS Summit in September in Xiamen, China. +President Xi of China said he looked forward to welcoming the BRICS leaders. +In their interventions, the leaders discussed preparations and priorities for the forthcoming Xiamen BRICS Summit. +Prime Minister mentioned that BRICS has been a strong voice and needs to show leadership on terrorism and global economy. +He stressed that G20 should collectively oppose terrorism financing, franchises, safe havens, support and sponsors. +Referring to reforms in India, including the recent introduction of GST, PM stated that it was necessary to work together for sustained global economic recovery. +He advocated collective voice against the practices of protectionism, especially in the spheres of trade and movement of knowledge and professionals. +He reiterated India’s commitment to implementing Paris Agreement in letter and spirit and described its implementation globally as essential to fighting climate change. +He called for expeditious action to establish BRICS rating agency and stated that cooperation on development of Africa should be a priority. +He also called for greater people-to-people exchanges. +The Prime Minister appreciated momentum in BRICS under the Chairmanship of President Xi and extended full cooperation and best wishes for the BRICS Xiamen Summit. +Concluding the meeting immediately after PM’s remarks, President Xi appreciated India’s strong resolve against terrorism and the momentum in BRICS introduced under India’s Chairmanship and through the outcomes of the Goa Summit in 2016. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted teaching community on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. +Prime Minister has also paid tributes to former President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his Jayanti. +We bow to our former President and a distinguished teacher himself, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his Jayanti”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the fire in Kollam. +The PM also announced a solatium of Rs. 50, 000 to those who are injured in the fire. +The Prime Minister is constantly monitoring the situation and is in touch with officials. +PM will be travelling to Kerala soon and has directed that no protocol formalities be observed on his arrival in Kerala and focus remains on relief and rescue operations. +A team of doctors including burn specialists will accompany PM to Kerala. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the establishment of a new AIIMS at Bhatinda in Punjab under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). +The institution shall have a hospital with capacity of 750 beds which will include Emergency/Trauma Beds, AYUSH Beds, Private Beds and ICU Speciality & Super Speciality beds. +In addition, there will be an Administration Block, AYUSH Block, Auditorium, Night Shelter, Hostels and residential facilities. +The cost of the project for establishment of the new AIIMS in Bhatinda shall be Rs. 925 crore. +The above cost estimate does not include recurring costs (wages & salaries and operation & maintenance expenses). +The recurring expenditure will be met by the respective new AIIMS from their annual budgets through Grant-in-Aid to them from Plan Budget Head of PMSSY of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. +The institute will also conduct research on prevalent regional diseases and other health issues and provide for better control and cure of such diseases. +The project will be completed in a period of 48 months from the date of the approval by the Government of India. +It consists of a pre-construction phase of 15 months, a construction phase of 30 months and stabilization /commissioning phase of 3 months. +The population in Punjab and adjoining regions will be benefited by this AIIMS. +Under this scheme AIIMS have been established in Bhubaneshwar, Jodhpur, Raipur, Rishikesh, Bhopal and Patna while work of AIIMS Rae Bareli is in progress. +Also, three AIIMS in Nagpur (Maharashtra), Kalyani (West Bengal) and Mangalagiri in Guntur (A.P) have been sanctioned in 2015. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the signing of the (i) Interbank Local Currency Credit Line Agreement and (ii) Cooperation Memorandum Relating to Credit Ratings by Exim Bank with participating member banks under BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism. +As both the Agreement and the MoU are umbrella pacts, and are non-binding in nature, the Board of Directors of Exim Bank has been authorized to negotiate and conclude any individual contracts and commitments within their framework. +The Agreements will promote multilateral interaction within the area of mutual interest which will deepen political and economic relations with BRICS nations. +Signing of the Agreement will position Exim Bank in the international platform along with large development finance institutions, like CDS, VEB and BNDES. +At an appropriate time, Exim Bank, leveraging this umbrella agreement, could enter into bilateral agreement with any of these member institutions to raise resources for its business. +As and when an opportunity arises for co-financing in commercial terms, by any two member institutions (say India and South Africa), lending in single currency by both the institutions would also be possible. +Exim Bank finances, facilitates and promotes India’s international trade. +It provides competitive finance at various stages of the business cycle covering import of technology, export product development, export production and export credit at pre-shipment and post-shipment stages and investments overseas. +Interbank Local Currency Credit Line Agreement +The initial Master Agreement on Extending Credit Facility in Local Currency under the BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism had a validity of five years, which has expired in March 2017. +It is understood that some of the member banks (like CDB and VEB; CDB and BNDES) have entered into bilateral agreements for local currency financing under the Master Agreement signed in 2012. +Although the current conditions are not conducive to usage, it was useful to keep the same alive as an enabling feature in case a suitable opportunity materializes in future. +Exim Bank raises resources in the off-shore market in diverse currencies and swaps to mitigate the risk. +The umbrella Agreement would serve as an enabler to enter into bilateral agreements with member banks subject to national laws, regulations and internal policies of the signatories. +Cooperation Memorandum Relating to Credit Ratings +It would enable sharing of credit ratings amongst the BRICS member banks, based on the request received from another bank. +This would be an ideal mechanism to mitigate the credit risks associated with cross-border financing. +In future, such a mechanism could also serve as pre-cursor to the proposal of having an alternate rating agency by BRICS nations. +The Agreement and the MoU have also been highlighted in the BRICS Leaders Xiamen Declaration made in Xiamen, China on 4th September 2017. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has tweeted in Japanese for the first time, to talk to the people of Japan directly in Japanese. +A team of Japanese volunteers helped with the translation. +Following is the English translation of the tweets:- +“On 30th August I will begin my visit to Japan. +Have very warm memories of visiting Japan as a CM. +The hospitality and the immense scope for cooperation left a deep impression in my mind. +The scale of innovation and level of precision among the people of Japan is admirable. +Both our Nations can learn a lot from each other. +Am particularly excited to meet PM Abe. +I deeply respect his leadership & enjoy a warm relationship with him from previous meetings. +Japan’s friendship with India is time tested. +We are two vibrant democracies committed to advancing peace and prosperity in the world.” +Swachh Shakti 2019: Rural women Champions for Swachh Bharat +Women Sarpanches from all over the country to be felicitated +PM will visit the Swachh Sundar Shauchalay exhibition at Kurukshetra and address a public gathering. +PM will also inaugurate/ lay foundation stone for various development projects in Haryana. +Swachh Shakti-2019 is a national event which aims to bring in to focus the leadership role played by rural women in Swachh Bharat Mission. +Women Sarpanches and Panches from all over the country will be attending the event. +Around 15,000 women are expected to participate in this year’s Swachh Shakti event aimed at empowering the women. +The event will showcase the achievements of Swachh Bharat and the recently conducted Swachh Sunder Shauchalay, (neat and clean toilet) – a unique and first of its kind in the world campaign. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Shakti program first in 2017 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. +6000 women sarpanches from across the country had assembled in Gujarat on the occasion of International Women’s Day under the banner of Swachh Shakti 2017. +PM addressed and honoured them. +The second Swachh Shakti event, Swachh Shakti-2018 was held at Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. +Now the third edition is being inaugurated from Kurukshetra. +Swachh Shakti is an example of how at the grass root level, rural women champions are acting as a change agent to mobilize the community and lead from the front women taking initiatives for a Swachh Bharat. +Mr. C Y Leung, Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister welcomed Mr. C Y Leung on his first official visit to India and expressed hope that his visit will lead to increased trade, investment and tourism links between India and Hong Kong. +Mr. C Y Leung briefed the Prime Minister about the strong interest among Hong Kong-based companies in India. +The Prime Minister and Mr. C Y Leung agreed to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, especially in the financial services sector, as well as cooperation in the field of education. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated various projects in Junagadh district. +These included the Government Civil Hospital, a milk processing plant and some buildings of the Junagadh Agriculture University. +Addressing a public meeting on the occasion, he said that there are nine initiatives, worth over Rs 500 crore, which are either being dedicated today, or their foundation stones are being laid. +He said that there is a new energy and vibrancy in India’s development journey. +He said that in Gujarat, there is a constant effort to ensure that adequate water reaches every part of the state. +We are also working towards water conservation, he added. +The Prime Minister said that medical colleges and hospitals are coming up across Gujarat. +He said that these are not only helping patients, but also those who want to study medicine. +He mentioned the Jan Aushadhi Yojana, under which Jan Aushadhi stores are being opened, which is reducing the prices of medicines. +It is important that the poor and the middle class gets access to affordable medicines, he added. +The Prime Minister said that the Government’s emphasis on cleanliness is being universally appreciated. +The emphasis on cleanliness is important because a Clean India ensures people do not suffer from diseases, he added. +The Prime Minister said that the health sector requires good doctors, and paramedical staff. +The Prime Minister asserted that the coming of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana- Ayushman Bharat will transform the health sector and ensure that the poor get top class healthcare at affordable prices. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Mizoram and Meghalaya tomorrow where he will inaugurate various development projects. +“The enchanting and effervescent Northeast calls! +Looking forward to visiting Mizoram and Meghalaya tomorrow, where various development projects will be inaugurated. +These projects will add impetus to the development journey of the Northeast. +It is my privilege to be dedicating the Tuirial Hydropower Project to the nation at tomorrow’s programme in Aizawl. +The completion of this project is a boon for the people of Mizoram. +Giving wings to our Yuva Shakti, DoNER has set up a Rs. 100 crore Northeast Venture Capital Fund. +Tomorrow I will be distributing cheques to entrepreneurs from this fund. +A spirit of enterprise among the Northeast’s youth augurs well for the empowerment of the region. +In Shillong I will inaugurate the Shillong-Nongstoin-Rongjeng-Tura Road. +This project will improve connectivity and further economic growth. +I will also address a public meeting. +We see immense potential in the Northeast and are committed to doing everything for the region’s overall progress”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the progress of preparations towards the launch of the Health Assurance programme under Ayushman Bharat. +The scheme will provide health assurance cover of upto Rs. 5 lakh per family. +It will be targeted to cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families. +Top officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NITI Aayog and PMO, briefed the Prime Minister on various aspects, including the preparations in States, and development of the technological infrastructure associated with the scheme. +In April, on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti, the Prime Minister had inaugurated the first ‘Health and Wellness Centre’ under Ayushman Bharat, in the aspirational district of Bijapur in Chhattisgarh. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the young cricketers of team India on winning the Under-19 World Cup. +“Absolutely thrilled by the stupendous achievement of our young cricketers. +Congratulations to them on winning the Under-19 World Cup. +This triumph makes every Indian extremely proud”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi,today, inaugurated the Kundli-Manesar Section of the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Western Peripheral Expressway, at Sultanpur, Gurugram, Haryana. +He also inaugurated the Ballabgarh-Mujesar Metro Link and laid the foundation stone of Shri Vishwakarma Skill University. +Addressing a huge gathering, Prime Minister said that the Expressway and metro connectivity will usher in a transportation revolution in Haryana. +He said that the youth of the region would benefit immensely from the Shri Vishwakarma Skill University. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government had ensured that KMP Expressway project was finished on priority. +He said that the Expressway would play a major role in reducing the pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas. +He added that it will bring in ‘Ease of Living’, along with environment friendly travelling. +Stressing on the importance of transport connectivity, Prime Minister said that it is a medium for prosperity, empowerment and accessibility. +He added that the ecosystem of highways, metros and waterways that are being built, will create employment opportunities, especially inmanufacturing, construction and service sectors. +He expressed hope that ShriVishwakarma Skill University will play a major role in skilling the youth to take up new opportunities. +The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of State Government of Haryana in successfully implementing the vision of the Union Government. +He also applauded the contributions of the youth of Haryana to the nation, especially in the field of sports. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the promulgation of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu & Kashmir) Ordinance, 2017 and replacement of the Ordinance by the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2017. +The Ordinance has extended the provisions of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 referred to as (IGST Act) to the State of Jammu & Kashmir. +The Ordinance has been promulgated on 8th July, 2017 and the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2017 will be tabled in the current session of the Parliament. +It is truly a great honour and privilege to host you in India for the second Summit of Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation – FIPIC, as it is called now. +I am deeply grateful to you for coming to India. +I was pleased to join our President in greeting you in Delhi yesterday. +I hope you have enjoyed Delhi, Agra and Jaipur and that our team let you shop a bit. +I hope you liked your visit to Taj Mahal. +It is this diversity that makes our planet so special! +I especially welcome you in this historic city of Jaipur. +The Pink City is known for the pink sandstones of its famous palaces. +It is a city of heroism and valour, of art and heritage, and, above all, a strong tradition of hospitality. +I thank Chief Minister Smt Vasudhara Raje for her generous support. +This is the first regional summit that I am hosting in India. +This one will always remain very special for me. +It is also special because India and Pacific Island Countries are setting an example of partnerships for this century. +It is a partnership forged by shared aspirations and challenges. +It is shaped by the belief that all Nations, small and large, have equal stakes in this world. +We also recognise that a globalised world has deepened inter-dependence and changed our perception of geography. +In particular, the centre of gravity of global opportunities and challenges are shifting to the Pacific and Indian Ocean Region. +The fortunes of Nations in and around the two oceans are inter-linked. +For this reason, the tides that bear hopes and bring challenges to the shores in India and the Pacific Islands are the same. +That is why some call the region the Indo-Pacific Region. +But that is not all that brings us together. +We have and will stand with you in international forums. +We also supported the interests of SIDS on capacity building in the latest outcome document on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. +India stands shoulder to shoulder with you for a dedicated seat for SIDS in an expanded and reformed United Nations Security Council in both categories. +India will support the realisation of your vision of Pacific Regionalism. +It is a shining example of cooperative regionalism that should inspire others around the world. +Excellencies, the world may see you as Small Islands with modest populations. +I see you as Large Ocean States with vast potential. +Some of you have Exclusive Economic Zones that are larger than the landmass and Exclusive Economic Zone of India taken together. +We are at the cusp of a new era, where oceans, like Space, will become important drivers of our economies. +Their sustainable use can bring prosperity; and, give us clean energy, new medicines and food security beyond just fisheries. +I see huge potential for our cooperation in this area. +India was pleased to stand with you in ensuring that sustainable use of oceans and marine resources constitute a distinct element in the Sustainable Development Goals in the United Nations that were finalised recently. +Our global challenges are similar. +Climate change is an existential threat to the Pacific Islands. +It is also taking a toll on the teaming millions on India’s shoreline of 7500 kilometres and its nearly 1300 islands. +We both seek a concrete and effective outcome on climate change at COP 21 in Paris later this year. +We worked together for a separate goal on climate change in the Sustainable Development Goals, and in a manner that addresses the interests of developing countries. +We must also build closer partnership in pursuit of our shared aims in the WTO-for example on fisheries. +The United Nations is at a historic milestone of its 70th anniversary. +I have written to all member states on charting the course for the United Nations for the years ahead. +Seven decades after the United Nations was created, the world is a different place. +We have four times as many Nations. +We have new challenges like climate change. +We have new frontiers like Space and Ocean. +We live in a globalised world with a transformed economy in a digital age. +The United Nations must keep pace with the changing world. +We must press for reform in the United Nations Security Council to ensure its relevance and effectiveness in the 21st century. +We seek your support for the text of the President of the General Assembly as a basis for reforming the Security Council. +During the last Summit, India announced a number of new initiatives with the Pacific Islands countries. +I am pleased that we have been able to deliver on many of our commitments. +These include increasing India’s grant-in-aid to Pacific Island countries from 125,000 to 200,000 U.S. dollars, e-tourist visas, deputation of Indian experts in the area of coir industry and a special training programme for diplomats of the Pacific Island countries. +Trade, more than aid, is the enabler for development. +I am pleased to announce the establishment of the FIPIC Trade Office in the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi. +This is just the first step towards promoting trade and investment opportunities between India and Pacific Island countries. +Excellencies, people of Indian origin in many of your countries provide a special human link between us. +Excellencies, I eagerly look forward to hearing your views. +I will also share my thoughts on our future initiatives to take this wonderful partnership forward. +I want to say a special word of thanks for your support for the record-breaking adoption of International Day of Yoga by the United Nations, and for making the first International Day of Yoga a grand success in your countries. +We will work together to sustain and nurture some of Nature’s most precious gifts and some of this world’s most wonderful people. +The Finance Minister, in his Budget Speech on 10.7.2014 announced that six new DRTs would be set up. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has called the attack on CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh as cowardly and deplorable. +The Prime Minister praised the valour of the CRPF personnel and said that the sacrifice of the martyrs will not go in vain. +“Attack on CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh is cowardly and deplorable. +We are monitoring the situation closely. +We are proud of the valour of our CRPF personnel. +The sacrifice of the martyrs will not go in vain. +Condolences to their families. +May those injured in today’s attack in Chhattisgarh recover at the earliest”, the Prime Minister said. +• PM’s arrival was greeted with slogans and cheers. +‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ resounded everywhere. +• PM led the chant of ‘Sardar Patel amar rahe’ before addressing the gathering. +• PM dwelled at length on the unbreakable bond between Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel in his speech. +• Run for Unity was flagged off by the PM. +The enthusiastic crowd competed with each other to participate. +PM came down from the stage to be among the people. +PM also ran some distance to encourage the participants. +People kept on pouring in the run long after he left. +• Youth and children formed the most enthusiastic contingent among the runners. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Tuesday reviewed progress of key infrastructure sectors of power, renewable energy, petroleum and natural gas, coal, and mining. +The review meeting, which lasted for over two hours, was attended by top officials from infrastructure-related Ministries, NITI Aayog, and PMO. +In course of the presentation made by CEO NITI Aayog, Shri Amitabh Kant, it was noted that the installed power generation capacity in India has risen to 344 GigaWatts. +India’s energy deficit, which stood at over 4 per cent in 2014, has shrunk to less than 1 per cent in 2018. +Significant capacity additions have been made in transmission lines, transformer capacity, and inter-regional transmission. +India now ranks 26th in the World Bank’s “Ease of Getting Electricity” Index, up from 99th in 2014. +Progress in household electrification under the SAUBHAGYA initiative, was reviewed. +Discussions also focused on last mile connectivity and distribution, in both urban and rural areas. +In the new and renewable energy sector, cumulative installed capacity has nearly doubled, from 35.5 GigaWatts in 2013-14, to about 70 GigaWatts in 2017-18. +In solar energy, installed capacity has increased from 2.6 GigaWatts to 22 GigaWatts in the same period. +Officials expressed confidence that India is on track to comfortably achieve the Prime Minister’s target of 175 GigaWatts renewable energy capacity by 2022. +The Prime Minister urged the officials to work towards ensuring that the benefits from increase in solar energy capacity, reach the farmers, through appropriate interventions such as solar pumps, and user-friendly solar cooking solutions. +In the petroleum and natural gas sector, it was noted that targets set under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana will be comfortably achieved in the current financial year. +In the coal sector, discussions focused on further augmentation of production capacity. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Justice Leila Seth. +“Saddened by the passing away of Justice Leila Seth. +Her remarkable contribution to the legal field will be remembered. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today granted ex-post facto approval to the Amendment to The Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 for incorporation of six new IITs at Tirupati (AP), Palakkad (Kerala), Dharwar (Karnataka), Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), Goa, Jammu (J&K) and conversion of ISM, Dhanbad to an IIT under the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 +The approval will bring six new Indian Institutes of Technology within the ambit of The Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 and declaring them as the institutions of national importance. +The above Amendment is also for conversion of ISM, Dhanbad into an IIT by bringing it into the ambit of the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 and also declaring it as an institute of national importance. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, arrived in Jodhpur today to attend the Combined Commanders Conference. +He inspected a tri-services guard of honour on arrival at the Air Force Station in Jodhpur. +He paid homage to martyrs at Konark War Memorial. +In the visitors book, the Prime Minister wrote that the country is proud of the Armed Forces who are dedicated and committed to protecting the Motherland. +He also recalled and paid homage to the braves who have made the supreme sacrifice, and are symbols of inspiration, for generations. +At Konark Stadium, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Parakram Parv. +He witnessed an exhibition set up on this occasion. +Dedicates Armoured Systems Complex in Hazira to the nation +Lays Foundation stone of a Cancer hospital at Navsari +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated L& T Armoured Systems Complex in Hazira to the nation today. +He also visited the Complex and showed keen interest in the innovative spirit behind the project. +Prime Minister also laid foundation stone of Nirali Cancer Hospital at Navsari. +It will benefit people of the region in accessing preventive and curative aspects of cancer treatment. +With this, PM has concluded his visit to Gujarat with Silvassa and Mumbai being the next destinations of the three day visit. +Day 1 of PM visit to Gujarat was marked by the inauguration of the flagship Global Trade Show at the Exhibition centre in the run up to Vibrant Gujarat Summit. +PM unveiled the state of art, super-speciality public hospital – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Ahmedabad. +Addressing on the occasion, he said that in keeping up with its commitment towards equal opportunity for all and for the development – Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas is the way forward for New India. +Inauguration of Ahmedabad Shopping Festival-2019 at the Sabarmati Riverfront by the PM was yet another attraction. +Speaking on the occasion, he said, the Government is constantly working to create a conducive environment for business in the country. +Day-2 of PM visit to Gujarat marked the beginning of three day long Vibrant Gujarat Summit-2019. +PM Modi inaugurated the 9th edition of the Summit at Mahatma Mandir Exhibition cum Convention Centre in Gandhinagar. +Addressing the Gathering on this occasion, he said doing business with India is a great opportunity. +During this period, bilateral interactions of PM with the visiting President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Prime Minister of Czech Republic Mr. Andrej Babis, Prime Minister of Malta Dr. Joseph Muscat and Prime Minister of Denmark Mr Lars Løkke Rasmussen was in the limelight on 18 January 2019. +It was followed by 3D laser projection show at Dandi Kutir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. +Captains of industry announced a series of investment projects to mark the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval today for amending the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) signed between India and Turkmenistan in 1997 for the avoidance of double taxation and for the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital, through a Protocol. +The Protocol provides for internationally accepted standards for effective exchange of information on tax matters including bank information and information without domestic tax interest. +The provisions of this Article enable use of the provisions of domestic law and measures concerning tax avoidance or evasion in the event of misuse of the Convention. +His Excellency President Nursultan Nazarbayev, +İ am delighted to visit this beautiful country. +It has been a short but a memorable and rewarding visit. +I would like to express my deep gratitude to President Nazarbayev and the people of Kazakhstan for the exceptional welcome and hospitality. +Excellency, I congratulate you once again on your 75th birthday. +I wish you great health and a long life of service for your country and humanity. +Mr. President, your leadership is deeply admired. +You have put Kazakhstan on the path of rapid progress. +You have also played a stellar role in regional and global affairs. +I congratulate the people of Kazakhstan on the ocassion of 550th anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate and 20th anniversary of the Constitution of Kazakhstan. +I also learnt that this beautiful new capital is still celebrating Astana Day. +So, this is really a good time to visit Kazakhstan. +Last evening I spoke about my vision for India’s relations with Central Asia. +Kazakhstan will play a critical role in advancing this vision. +We greatly value our relationship with Kazakhstan. +We have enormous synergies of markets, resources and skills for a strong bilateral relationship. +We discovered remarkable convergence in our economic policies, approaches and strategies in a number of areas. +We have shared perspectives on many international issues, including regional peace, connectivity and integration; reforms in the United Nations; and, combating terrorism. +We will work together to take economic ties to a new level. +Kazaksthan was one of the first countries with which we launched civil nuclear cooperation through a uranium purchase contract. +We are pleased to have a much larger second contract now. +We intend to expand cooperation in other minerals, as well. +Hydrocarbons is another area of high priority for us. +Last evening, we launched the drilling operations for exploration in the first oil field with Indian investments in Kazakhstan. +I am pleased that President Nazarbayev responded positively to my request to consider additional mature blocks for Indian investments. +We will also give priority to investment in both directions in manufacturing and infrastructure. +I was very encouraged by the interaction at the business roundtable yesterday that I chaired with Prime Minister Massimov. +We expect a new roadmap for cooperation from the joint business council of our chambers of commerce and industry. +Kazakhstan’s Green Bridge Vision is similar to India’s ambitious plan of adding 175 GW of renewable energy in the next seven years. +This is another priority area of cooperation, including in the manufacture of equipment. +In adddition, India will participate on a large scale in the Expo 2017 in Astana. +We will also enhance cooperation in Space and Information Technology, including their application for governance and development. +We both agree that connectivity is an important issue, but one that we will address. +The International North South Transport Corridor, the Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan rail link, India’s interest in joining the Ashkabat Agreement on trade and transit and India’s investment in Chahbahar Port in Iran will strengthen connectivity. +The joint study group on India’s proposal for a Free Trade Agreement with Eurasian Economic Union is a step towards our closer economic integration. +Development of human resources is a priority for both countries. +Yesterday, I inaugurated the India-Kazakhstan Centre of Excellence in Information & Communication Technologies at the Eurasian National University. +We are pleased to have contributed a super computer from India. +Consistent with our focus on youth, we have launched a new youth exchange programme with six Kazakh universities for the next five years. +Our defence and security cooperation is an important dimension of our strategic partnership. +We both want to make it stronger, including in defence manufacturing. +We welcome the new Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation. +President and I agreed on the pressing need for reforms of the United Nations and its Security Council. +I reiterated India’s support for Kazakhstan’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC for 2017-18. +I am also grateful to him and the people of Kzakhstan for the support in making the International Day of Yoga on June 21st a huge global success. +Mr. President, thank you for a very productive and pleasant visit. +I feel that this visit has opened the door to a much broader and deeper relationship, including many new areas of productive cooperation. +I have extended an invitation to President Nazarbayev and look forward to receiving him in India. +PM appeals to fellow countrymen to stand in solidarity with distressed flood affected people in Jammu and Kashmir. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a fervent appeal to all the citizens to donate generously to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund today. +“My Fellow Citizens, You are all aware that unprecedented floods have caused havoc in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. +A large number of persons have died or have been temporarily displaced. +Property and infrastructure worth crores of rupees have been damaged. +Our fellow countrymen in Jammu and Kashmir need our help at this critical hour to tide over the calamity and to rebuild their lives. +I request all fellow countrymen to stand shoulder to shoulder with our distressed brothers and sisters in Jammu and Kashmir and be part of the national effort to support them in this hour of crisis. +I appeal to all citizens to donate generously to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.” +As per directions on the subject the nationalized banks will not charge any commission on preparation of drafts favouring the PMNRF. +Online Contributions can be made through the website of Prime Minister’s Office i.e. https://pmnrf.gov.in/payform.php +Contributions can also be sent through Money Orders with no commission chargeable. +Contributions to the PMNRF have been notified for 100% deduction from taxable income under Section 80(G) of the Income Tax Act. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his Punya Tithi. +He remembered Sardar Patel for his tireless efforts to unite the Nation. +“On his Punya Tithi, I pay my respects to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. +India will forever be indebted to Sardar Patel for his tireless efforts to unite the Nation”, the Prime Minister said. +Bill for merger of PIO and OCI schemes on the anvil. +Visa-on-Arrival and Electronic Travel Authorization to be launched in respect of 43 countries. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has made a number of announcements for PIOs and OCIs recently. +The Government has already announced fulfilment of the following announcements made by the Prime Minister: +We remember & celebrate the life & teachings of Jesus Christ. +His message of peace, unity & compassion inspires us all”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has hailed the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court on Triple Talaq. +Calling the judgement historic, the Prime Minister said that it grants equality to Muslim women and is a powerful measure for women empowerment. +“Judgment of the Hon’ble SC on Triple Talaq is historic. +It grants equality to Muslim women and is a powerful measure for women empowerment”, the Prime Minister said. +“On Armed Forces Flag Day, I appeal to all of you to generously donate towards welfare of our Armed Forces, who serve our Nation day and night. +Our Armed Forces have always risen to the occasion and performed every duty with a patriotic spirit. +Their selfless dedication is outstanding,” said the Prime Minister. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Tajikistan on their Independence Day. +“On their Independence Day, my greetings to the people of Tajikistan. +India shares deep historical and cultural links with Tajikistan. +India and Tajikistan are actively working to further strengthen their ties in agriculture, connectivity, trade and defence,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condemned the terror attack in Pakistan near the Wagah border. +“Terror attack in Pakistan near Wagah Border is shocking. +I strongly condemn such a dastardly act of terrorism. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of former Union Minister, Shri Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi. +“Shri Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi was a popular leader with rich political and administrative experience. +He did notable work to popularise football in India. +Saddened by his demise. +My thoughts are with Deepa Dasmunsi ji and family as well as his supporters”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to former President Shri R Venkataraman on his birth anniversary. +“Tributes to former President Shri R Venkataraman on his birth anniversary. +He served India tirelessly through his long years in public life”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke on telephone to Prime Minister of Nepal, Shri Sushil Koirala today. +Prime Minister Modi expressed sorrow at the loss of lives in the violence in Nepal and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and the people of Nepal. +Prime Minister Modi expressed concern that political and social instability would seriously compound the tragedy caused by the recent earthquake in Nepal. +Prime Minister Modi called for exercise of restraint and restoration of peace and order. +He appealed to the government, all political parties and the people of Nepal to eschew violence and maintain social harmony. +He lauded the historic progress that Nepal had made in the peace process and drafting its Constitution. +Prime Minister Modi also conveyed that, as a neighbour, India would do all it can for security in Nepal. +Prime Minister Modi assured Prime Minister Koirala that India’s one and only desire was to see the emergence of a peaceful, secure, stable, democratic and prosperous Nepal, which draws strength from its rich social diversity, enormous resources and extraordinary talent. +India, he reiterated, will continue to provide all support to Nepal, in accordance with the wishes and priorities of the people of Nepal, to achieve that goal. +The Rt. Hon. David Cameron, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, met Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister Modi recalled his successful visit to the UK in November 2015, and thanked Mr. Cameron for his personal support and contribution to strengthening India-UK ties during his tenure as Prime Minister of the UK. +The two leaders discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and France in the field of Renewable Energy on 10th March, 2018 in New Delhi. +Collaboration may occur through several means, including joint research projects, joint R&D, joint workshops, Research and Technology exchange including exchange of domain experts. +The MoU also aims for exchange of expertise and networking of information. +The MoU will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted all engineers on the occasion of Engineers’ Day and exhorted them to continue to apply their skills to serve our Nation and make our engineering world-class. +“Greetings to my engineer friends on Engineers’ Day. +Tributes to Bharat Ratna M Visvesvaraya on his birth anniversary. +Through innovation, hard work and cutting edge research, our engineers have played an anchoring role in the making of our Nation. +I wish our engineers the very best and call upon them to continue to apply their skills to serve our Nation and make our engineering world class,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for expansion of India – Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between India and Chile. +India’s export basket with Chile is diversified and keeping in view the wide variety of tariff lines offered by Chile, the expanded PTA would immensely benefit India. +Under the proposed expanded PTA, 86% of India’s exports to Chile will get covered with concessions, which is likely to result in doubling of our exports in the near future. +A Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between India and Chile was signed in March, 2006. +The said PTA came into force with effect from August, 2007. +During 2006-07, Chile was ranked 51st export destination for India. +Bilateral Trade during the year 2006-07 was US$ 2.3 billion. +Trade dynamics changed after the PTA came into force from September 2007. +Bilateral trade registered a growth of 58.49% from 2006-07 to 2014-15. +Bilateral trade during 2014-15 stood at US $ 3.65 billion with exports at US $ 0.57 billion and imports at US$ 3.08 billion respectively. +India has friendly relations with Chile. +The expansion would be an important landmark in India-Chile relations and consolidate the traditional fraternal relations that have existed between India and LAC countries. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of former Lok Sabha Speaker Shri PA Sangma. +“Shri PA Sangma was a self-made leader whose contribution towards the development of the Northeast is monumental. +Saddened by his demise. +Shri PA Sangma’s tenure as Lok Sabha Speaker is unforgettable. +His down to earth personality and affable nature endeared him to many. +Sangma ji was deeply influenced by Netaji Bose. +Here’s a programme both of us attended in 2012 on Azad Hind Fauj. http://nm-4.com/t2 “, the Prime Minister said. +I am Happy to be here at Kochi the Queen of the Arabian Sea. +The blue sea, the back-waters, the Great Periyar River the greenery all around and its dynamic people make Kochi indeed a Queen among the cities. +It was from here, that the great Indian Sage Adi Shankar embarked on his epic journeys across India to protect the Indian civilization and unify the country. +Today is a historic day when the largest industrial unit of Kerala is entering its next phase of development. +It is indeed a proud moment not just for God’s Own Country but also for the entire Nation. +Bharat Petroleum’s Kochi Refinery has played a critical role in popularizing the clean fuel, LPG among masses in Kerala and neighbouring States for more than 50 years. +I recall, my childhood and youth, when I had seen many mothers struggling with the fire-wood stove in the kitchen. +Ever since, I had always thought of improving their situation and providing healthy kitchens to the mothers and sisters of India. +The Ujjwala scheme of the Government of India is a way to realize this dream. +I am happy that since May 2016, nearly six crore LPG connections have been provided to the poorest of the poor in our country under Ujjawala yojana . +More than twenty three crore LPG consumers have joined the Pahal Scheme. +Pahal has helped in identifying ghost accounts, multiple accounts and inactive accounts. +Pahal has entered into the Guinness book of World records, as the largest Direct Benefit Transfer scheme in the world. +Over one crore customers have given up LPG subsidy under ‘Give it up’ initiative. +By doubling the LPG production with the help of the recent expansion, Kochi Refinery is making a great contribution towards Ujjwala. +To over-come environment pollution, the Government of India is promoting the use of environment friendly transport fuel, that is CNG by expanding the coverage of City Gas Distribution network in the country. +After the successful completion of tenth CGD Bidding Round more than four hundred districts of the country will be connected for providing piped gas supply. +The National Gas Grid or Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga has also been created to have a gas based economy and enhance the share of gas in the energy basket. +The Government has thought of developing additional fifteen thousand Kilo-Miters of gas pipeline network. +To cut down on import of Crude oil, government has taken decisive steps towards reducing imports by ten percent and saving precious foreign exchange. +To this end, the 2nd Generation ethanol through lignocellulose Route has been adopted by Oil PSUs for establishing twelve 2G ethanol plants in 11 States. +Six MoUs have already been signed in this direction. +The Indian refinery industry has done well in establishing itself as a major player globally. +The country’s refinery capacity is currently more than two fourty seven MMTPA. +I take this opportunity to congratulate all for the timely completion of IREP. +Last but not the least I recognize the work of all those labourers who worked day and night during construction. +I am told that at the peak of the project, over twenty thousand labourers were working at the site. +In many ways, they are the ‘Real Heroes’ of the Project. +The Integrated Refinery Expansion Project was also a strategic move of Bharat Petroleum to diversify into non-fuel sector. +My friends, +However, most of these chemicals are imported from other countries. +It is our endeavor to see that these petro-chemicals are manufactured in India itself. +These niche petro-chemicals will find use in paints, inks, coating, detergent, and in many other articles. +I am sure by all these, many ancillary industries would come to Kochi. +I hope the Petro-chemical Park planned by State Government would become operational soon and leverage the business opportunities provided by the Petro-chemical venture of BPCL. +I am happy to note that BPCL along with other PSUs has set up a Skill Development Institute for skilling and developing employable youth. +I am delighted to lay the foundation stone of the second campus of the institute at Ettumanoor near the holy Mahadeva Temple. +I am also glad to note that Indian Oil Corporation has put out the Mounded Storage Facility at its Cochin Bottling Plant, around 12 kilo-metres from here at a cost of Rupees fifty crores. +I understand that many employees stayed in the refinery to ensure continuous production of petrol, diesel and LPG. +This helped the rescue vehicles and heli-copters to continue relief and rescue operation smoothly. +I urge BPCL Kochi Refinery to keep up this spirit of hard work, social commitment and innovation as it moves towards its next phase of development. +We are proud of Kochi Refinery’s contributions towards Nation Building. +But now we have greater expectations. +PM to launch Gold-related schemes. +PM to lay Foundation Stone of NHAI Projects and address a public meeting in Sonepat. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will attend the Visitors’ Conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the IMPRINT India brochure and hand over the first copy to the President of India. +‘IMPRINT India’ is a Pan-IIT and IISc joint initiative to develop a roadmap for research to solve major engineering and technology challenges in ten technology domains relevant to India. +The Prime Minister will launch three gold related schemes – Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS), Gold Sovereign Bond Scheme and the Gold Coin and Bullion Scheme – at a function at 7 Race Course Road. +The Prime Minister will lay the Foundation Stone of three National Highway Projects at a function in Sonepat, Haryana. +He will address a public meeting. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Shri Pankaj Advani on winning his 18th world title in the recently concluded IBSF World Snooker Championship. +“Congratulations Pankaj Advani for winning your 18th world title in the recently concluded IBSF World Snooker Championship. +Your accomplishments make us very proud.”, the Prime Minister said. +In a major policy drive to give a boost to petroleum and hydrocarbon sector, the Government has unveiled a series of initiatives. +Another feature of the current system is that exploration is confined to blocks which have been put on tender by the Government. +· An Open Acreage Licensing Policy will be implemented whereby a bidder may apply to the Government seeking exploration of any block not already covered by exploration. +The Government will examine the Expression of Interest and justification. +If it is suitable for award, Govt. will call for competitive bids after obtaining necessary environmental and other clearances. +This will enable a faster coverage of the available geographical area. +· A concessional royalty regime will be implemented for deep water and ultra-deep water areas. +The new policy regime marks a generational shift and modernization of the oil and gas exploration policy. +As an illustration, ONGC has estimated that in the development of discoveries in the block KG-DWN-98/2, there would be deployment of 3850 direct skilled workers. +Policy for grant of extension to the Production Sharing Contracts for small, medium sized and discovered fields +The following process and guidelines for extension of contracts for small and medium sized discovered fields is being put in place: +(i) The contractor should submit the application for extension of Contract at least 2 years in advance of the expiry date, but not more than 6 years in advance. +The Government will take a decision on the request for extension within 3 months of receipt of the proposal from DGH. +The policy for PSC extension will lead to production of hydrocarbons beyond the present term of PSC. +The reserves which are likely to get monetized during the extended period are of the order of 15.7 MMT of oil and 20.6 MMT of Oil Equivalent of gas. +The reserves associated with this field would lead to monetization of reserves worth USD 8.25 Billion (around 53000 Crore). +The monetization of these reserves would require an additional investment of USD 3 to 4 Billion. +Employment Generation Potential: +This will enable this long pending and proven oil reserve to come into production, and create new employment. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today said that the “industry of red tape” thrives on doubt, while the “road with red carpet” is built on trust. +In his remarks at the India release of the book “Red Tape to Red Carpet…and then some,” in New Delhi, the Prime Minister highlighted the people-friendly reforms initiated by the Union Government, to ease the regulatory environment in India. +He said the most important reform for him has been to allow self-certification in various activities. +“For misdeeds of a small number, we can’t punish all the stakeholders. +So, trusting the citizens, including the corporate citizens, is the essence of our reforms,” the Prime Minister said. +The book has been written by Mrs. Gina Rinehart, the Chairperson of the Australian mining company Hancock Prospecting Group. +The Australian Minister for trade and investment, Mr. Andrew Robb, and former Australian Prime Minister Mr. Paul Keating were present on the occasion. +Following are some excerpts from the Prime Minister’s speech:- +“Since last year, I and Prime Minister Abbot are actively engaged to harness the potentials for both sides. +We have had extensive discussions during our two meetings since last year. +The current visit of Mr. Andrew Robb is a further step in that direction.” +“The analysis of Government policies by economists is different from that by those who are real stakeholders. +I put the effort made by Mrs. Rinehart in the latter category.” +“I believe that a human being is inherently good and he or she has to be given full freedom to make choices. +This is the foundation of our steps which we have taken towards easing the regulatory environment in India. +The most important reform for me so far is to allow self-certification in various activities. +From students to entrepreneurs, we have allowed self-certification of documents and processes.” +“For misdeeds of a small number, we can’t punish all the stakeholders. +So, trusting the citizens including the corporate citizens is the essence of our reforms. +This is the basis of our efforts towards transition from ‘Red Tape’ to ‘Red Carpet’.” +I am thankful to Mrs. Rinehart for highlighting the direction of our journey. ” +“This book reminds me one of my old statements. +“Our LPG subsidy transfer process is the biggest online transfer in the world. +The good news is that it is working very efficiently.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Mr. Dileep Padgaonkar. +“Mr. Dileep Padgaonkar was a leading public thinker whose contribution to journalism will always be remembered. +Pained by his demise. +Rest in peace,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Varanasi, Azamgarh and Mirzapur districts of Uttar Pradesh on July 14th and 15th, 2018. +At Azamgarh, on July 14th, the Prime Minister will lay the Foundation Stone of the 340 km long Poorvanchal Expressway. +This road will connect several important and historical towns of eastern Uttar Pradesh, including Barabanki, Amethi, Sultanpur, Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur – with the State Capital – Lucknow. +Once this Expressway is complete, Delhi will be connected via Expressway, to several major towns and cities of the State of Uttar Pradesh, from Noida in the west, to Ghazipur in the east. +In Varanasi, the Prime Minister will dedicate, or lay the foundation stone of important projects, cumulatively worth over Rs. 900 crore. +Among the projects to be dedicated are the Varanasi City Gas Distribution Project, and the Varanasi-Ballia EMU train. +The foundation stone will be laid for the Panchkoshi Parikrama Marg, and several projects under the Smart City Mission and Namaami Gange. +The Prime Minister will also lay the Foundation Stone for an International Convention Centre in Varanasi. +At a separate event, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath, will release a book titled “Meri Kashi,” in the presence of the Prime Minister. +On July 15th, the Prime Minister will visit Mirzapur, where he will dedicate the Bansagar Canal Project to the Nation. +This project will provide a big boost to irrigation in the region, and will be greatly beneficial for the farmers of Mirzapur and Allahabad districts of Uttar Pradesh. +At the same event, Shri Narendra Modi will lay the Foundation Stone of the Mirzapur Medical College. +He will inaugurate 108 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the State. +He will also dedicate a bridge over the River Ganga at Balughat, Chunar, which will facilitate connectivity between Mirzapur and Varanasi. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Odisha and Chhattisgarh on September 22, 2018. +At Talcher in Odisha, he will unveil a plaque to mark the commencement of work for the revival of Talcher Fertilizer Plant. +This is the first plant in India which will have a coal gasification based fertilizer unit. +In addition to fertilizer, this plant will produce natural gas, thereby contributing to the country’s energy requirements. +The Prime Minister will then travel to Jharsuguda, where he will inaugurate the Jharsuguda airport. +This airport shall bring western Odisha on the aviation map of India, and facilitate regional air connectivity through the UDAN scheme. +The Prime Minister will dedicate the Garjanbahal coal mines, and the Jharsuguda-Barapali-Sardega rail link to the nation. +He shall also unveil a plaque to mark the commencement of coal production and transportation from Dulanga coal mines. +The Prime Minister shall then arrive in JanjgirChampa, in Chhattisgarh. +He will visit an exhibition on traditional handloom and agriculture. +He will lay the foundation stone for national highway projects, and the Pendra-Anuppur 3rd railway line. +He will address the gathering. +1. At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri NarendraModi, the President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron paid a State Visit to India from 10 to 12 March 2018. +The two leaders co-hosted the Founding Summit of the International Solar Alliance in New Delhi on 11 March 2018. +The leaders held wide ranging and constructive discussions and underlined the growing convergence between the two countries on regional and international issues. +2. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the strategic partnership between India and France, the first to be established by India, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to furthering it and decided to take it to a new level by agreeing to hold biennialsummits between the Prime Minister of India and the President of the French Republic. +Both leaders agreed to deepen and strengthen the bilateral ties based on shared principles and values of democracy, freedom, rule of law and respect for human rights. +3. Recalling the valiant sacrifices made by Indian and French soldiers during the First World War, Prime Minister Modi expressed his willingness for India to participate in the closing of the First World War Centenary celebrations, which will take place on 11 November 2018 in Paris. +He also welcomed the organization of the Paris Peace Forum on this occasion. +President Macron thanked Prime Minister Modi for India’s support to this initiative. +I. Strategic Partnership +4. The leaders welcomed the signing of the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of France regarding the Exchange and Reciprocal Protection of Classified or Protected Information” between India and France, reflecting the high level of strategic trust between the two countries. +Both sides also agreed to create an annual defence dialogue at the ministerial level. +5. The leaders appreciated the deepening interactions in the maritime domain for enhanced cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. +In that context, they welcomed the “Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region”, as a guiding beacon for such partnership. +The leaders reiterated that this cooperation will be crucial in order to maintain the safety of international sea lanes for unimpeded commerce and communications in accordance with the international law, for countering maritime terrorism and piracy, for building maritime domain awareness, for capacity building and for greater coordination in regional/international fora in the region. +6. The two leaders welcomed the signing of the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of France for the provision of reciprocal logistics support between their Armed Forces”, which seeks to extend logistical support on reciprocal access to respective facilities for Indian and French armed forces. +The agreement is symbolic of the strategic depth and maturity reached in India-France defence ties. +7. The leaders emphasized the importance of the regular joint military exercises. +They welcomed the successful conduct of the Varuna naval exercise held in France in April 2017, and the Shakti army exercise held in France in January 2018. +Both sideslooked forward to the next Varuna naval in India in the coming weeks and to the next Garuda air force exercise in France in 2019. +Both sides affirmed their intention to enhance the level of joint military exercises and maintain the operational quality-level of these exercises in the future. +8. The two leaders noted with satisfaction the on-schedule progress in the implementation of acquisition related agreements, including the Rafale aircraft agreement signed in 2016. +They also noted the commissioning of INS Kalvari, the first Scorpene submarine made in India by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., in collaboration with Naval Group, the French shipbuilder. +9. They looked forward to continue their discussions to expand and deepen the ongoing defence manufacturing partnerships. +They acknowledged that the Make-in-India initiative offers a valuable opportunity for Indian and French defence enterprises to enter into arrangements for co-development and co-production of defence equipment in India, including through transfer of know-how and technologies to the mutual benefit of all parties. +In this context, the leaders welcomed various joint ventures between Indian and French companies and reaffirmed their commitment to facilitate the establishment of new ones. +10. The leaders noted ongoing discussions between DRDO and SAFRAN on combat aircraft engine and encouraged necessary measures and forward looking approaches to facilitate early conclusion. +11. The two leaders reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terrorism and terror-related incidents in France and India. +Both leaders also affirmed that terrorism cannot be justified on any grounds whatsoever it may be and it should not be associated with any religion, creed, nationality and ethnicity. +Recalling the joint statement on terrorism adopted by the two countries in January 2016, the two leaders reaffirmed their strong determination to eliminate terrorism everywhere it is to be found. +They agreed that more must be done by the international community to stem terrorism financing and welcomed the organization of an International Conference on Fighting Terrorism Financing in Paris in April 2018 by the French government. +12. They also called upon all countries to work towards rooting out terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, disrupting terrorist networks and their financing channels, and halting cross-border movement of terrorists like Al Qaeda, Daesh/ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammed, HizbulMujahideen, Lashkar-e-Tayabba, and their affiliates as well as terrorist groups threatening peace and security in South Asia and the Sahel region. +13. The two leaders in addition to pursuing the excellent cooperation between the intervention forces (NSG-GIGN) and the investigation agencies of the two countries, agreed to enhance operational cooperation between the Indian and French counter-terrorism agencies and launch a new cooperation effort to prevent and fight radicalization, in particular online. +The two leaders agreed to strengthen counter-terrorism in Multilateral Fora such as UN, GCTF, FATF and G20 etc. +They called upon all UN member countries to implement the UNSC Resolution 1267 and other relevant resolutions designating terrorist entities. +The leaders also agreed to work together on early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in the UN. +14. They welcomed the conclusion of an Agreement on Prevention of the Illicit Consumption of and Reduction of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Chemical Precursors between the two countries aimed at effective institutional interaction and curbing transnational narcotics trafficking including disruption of terrorist financing. +15. In pursuance of the 2008 Agreement on the Development of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy between India and France as well as the January 2016 roadmap of cooperation, the two leaders noted with satisfaction the conclusion of the Industrial Way Forward Agreement between NPCIL and EDF for the Implementation of six nuclear power reactor units at Jaitapur, Maharashtra, India. +16. The two leaders reiterated the goal of commencing works at the Jaitapur site around the end of 2018, and encouraged NPCIL and EDF to accelerate the contractual discussions in that respect. +Once installed, the Jaitapur project will be the largest nuclear power plant in the world, with a total capacity of 9.6 GW. +It will contribute, in addition to renewable energy, to achieving India’s goal of 40% non-fossil energy by 2030. +In this context, they emphasized the need for the project to generate cost-effective electricity; economical and competitive financing package from the French side; reliable, uninterrupted and continued access to guaranteed fuel supply for the lifetime of the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plants; and collaboration on transfer of technology and cost-effective localization efforts of manufacturing in India. +The latter includes transfer of rights on technology to be mutually agreed. +18. The leaders welcomed the regular engagement between their atomic energy organizations and their growing collaboration in mutually beneficial scientific and training activities related to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and particularly the cooperation between CEA/INSTN and DAE/GCNEP. +They also appreciated the long-standing relations and continuing interactions between their nuclear regulatory authorities – India’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and France’s Autorité de sûretéNucléaire (ASN) – which have facilitated sharing of valuable experiences, best practices and developments related to nuclear safety and regulatory issues. +19. Building on the historical and formidable linkages in the arena of civilian space, the leaders welcomed the “India-France Joint Vision for Space Cooperation” which spells out the concrete areas of future cooperation in this field. +They acknowledged, in particular, the ongoing cooperation between their space agencies to realize the third joint satellite mission – TRISHNA, meant for eco-system stress and water use monitoring and also accommodation of French instrument on India’s OCEANSAT-3 satellite. +Economic, Educational, Science & Technology, Cultural & People to People Cooperation +20. Prime Minister Modi and President Macron noted with satisfaction the depth of the ties between the two countries, particularly in the economic, educational, scientific, cultural and tourism sectors. +21. They welcomed the signing of a bilateral partnership agreement on migration and mobility, which will facilitate student and professional mobility between France and India by simplifying the conditions for entry and long term stay in the two countries. +22. Prime Minister Modi and President Macron appreciated the role of continuing people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and underscored the necessity of greater youth exchange programmes for promotion of understanding of each other’s cultures. +They welcomed in this regard the launch of the “France-India Programme for the Future”, a French initiative aimed at fostering youth exchanges,which are vital for future growth of India-France ties. +Economic Exchanges +23. The leaders noted with satisfaction the involvement of French companies in several new and ongoing manufacturing partnership projects in India. +They were pleased with the robust expansion of research and development conducted by these companies in India. +They equally highlighted the attractiveness of France for Indian investors. +24. Both sides noted with satisfaction the growth in bilateral trade during the recent period, and expressed their desire that this momentum be sustained with the aim of raising trade in goods to 15 billion euros by 2022. +They encouraged SMEs and mid-cap companies to play a growing role in the economic and commercial exchanges between the two countries. +25. The two leaders stressed the importance of holding annually a Dialogue at the ministerial level to deepen cooperation in the economic and financial sectors. +Educational and S&T Cooperation +26 .The leaders recognized with satisfaction a vibrant educational cooperation within the Governmental framework and amongst Universities and academic institutes and encouraged them to increase the number and quality of student exchanges, with the aim of reaching 10,000 students by 2020. +They welcomed in this regard the signing of an agreement for the mutual recognition of degrees, which will facilitate the pursuit of higher education by Indian students in France and French students in India and enhance their employability. +They welcomed the holding of the Knowledge Summit, the first Indo-French conference on research and higher education, in New Delhi on 10th and 11th March 2018. +27. Recognizing that skill development is a key priority for the two countries, both leaders welcomed the important role played by French companies in India in training and skilling of the Indian workforce and encouraged them to engage even more actively in the sector. +Both sides looked forward to further tie ups and formal arrangements between skill development institutions and agencies of the two countries. +28. The leaders recognized with satisfaction, the role played by the Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advance Research (CEFIPRA) and congratulated it on its 30th anniversary, which was celebrated in 2017. +They encouraged CEFIPRA to expand its role through interactive continuum between research, market and societal needs by linking the discoveries from fundamental research and their technological applications. +In order to expand the scope and content of the bilateral cooperation in science, technology and innovation, the leaders emphasized the need to convene the Joint Committee on S&T in 2018. +Cultural Exchanges +29. The two leaders lauded the success of ‘Namasté France’ festival organized in 2016, which featured 83 events in 41 cities of France, in highlighting Indian cultural heritage in France and the success of the third edition of ‘Bonjour India’, which featured 300 projects in 33 cities of India. +The leaders greeted the year long ‘India@70’ celebrations being organized by India in France. +30. Noting the importance of literature in the promotion of friendly relations between the two countries, the leaders welcomed the participation of India as a Guest of Honour in the 42nd edition of ‘Salon du Livre de Paris’ (French Book Fair) in the year 2020. +Reciprocally, France will participate as a Guest of Honour in New Delhi World Book Fair in 2022. +31. Prime Minister Modi and President Macron noted with satisfaction the strong upsurge in tourist exchanges between the two countries (+69% growth of Indian tourists to France since 2014). +The two countries set the target of one million Indian tourists in France and 335,000 French tourists in India by 2020. +Partnership for the planet +32. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to lead the fight against climate change, based on the principles of climate justice, fostering climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development. +They committed to fully implement the Paris Agreement at the COP24 and further on, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as a part of an irreversible global process at combating climate change for the benefit of all humanity. +They stressed the positive contribution of the One Plant Summit in Paris on 12 December 2017 to this objective. +33. The French President thanked the Indian Prime Minister for India’s support to the initiative to work on a Global Pact for the Environment. +International Solar Alliance +34. The two leaders welcomed the entry into force of the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and looked forward to co-hosting the ISA Founding Conference on 11th March 2018 in New Delhi. +The leaders underlined their commitment to furthering and deepening concrete projects and programmes under the aegis of ISA to mobilize affordable financing for massive solar energy deployment. +Renewable energy +35. The two leaders reaffirmed that the strengthening of the India-French technological cooperation on renewable energy was a common priority for encouraging the emergence and dissemination of innovation in all the sectors. +They stressed the importance of mobilizing public and private funds to support the development of solar energy. +In this regard, they welcomed the establishment, within the International Solar Alliance, of an international committee of chambers of industry, and the willingness of MEDEF, SER, FICCI and CII among others to join it. +Sustainable mobility +In this regard, they welcomed the signing of a Statement of Intent between the French Ministry for Ecological and Inclusive Transition and NITI Aayog, which will be supported by French technical assistance provided by French Development Agency (AFD). +37. The leaders reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to strengthening their railway cooperation and noted with satisfaction the completion of feasibility study for semi-high speed upgrade of the Delhi-Chandigarh section and station development study of Ambala and Ludhiana stations. +Both sides agreed that future technical discussions on upgradation of speed of the Delhi-Chandigarh sector will necessarily take into account the passenger and freight traffic load on the section and the complexities it entails. +The leaders also welcomed the establishment of a permanent Indo-French Railway Forum, bringing together the French Ministry of Ecological and Inclusive Transition, and SNCF (French Railways) on the one hand, and the Indian Ministry of Railways on the other, to pave the way for industrial cooperation between the two countries. +38. Prime Minister Modi and President Macron noted with satisfaction the excellent Indo-French cooperation on sustainable cities and Smart Cities, marked by numerous cases of innovation sharing and fruitful collaborations between French and Indian stakeholders, They welcomed the exemplary cooperation programme in the three Smart Cities of Chandigarh, Nagpur, and Puducherry, and the extension of AFD’s technical assistance programme under the framework of this Mission. +They welcomed the signing of the loan agreement between the AFD and the Government of India for 100 million euros in support of the Smart Cities Mission. +Expanding Global Strategic Convergences +39. As Strategic Partners, the two countries share converging views on key regional and global issues and continue to consult and coordinate closely with each other on matters of common interest. +40. France reaffirmed its support for India’s candidature for a permanent membership of the UN Security Council. +France and India share common concerns and objectives in the field of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. +41. France welcomes India’s accession to the MTCR in June 2016, to the Wassenaar Arrangement in December 2017 and to the Australia Group in January 2018. +Prime Minister Modi thanked President Macron for France’s leadership that led to India’s membership of the Wassenaar Arrangement. +He also thanked France for supporting India’s membership of the Australia Group. +In order to further strengthen global non-proliferation France reaffirmed its strong and active support to building consensus among regimes’ members on the issue of India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, recognizing that India’s accession will add value to the aims and objectives of these regimes. +42. The leaders agreed that DPRK’s continued pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and its proliferation links poses a grave threat to international peace and security, and called for the complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, which has been endorsed by DPRK. +Both sides stressed the need to hold accountable those who support or have supported DPRK’s nuclear and missile programmes. +They also stressed the importance of unity of the international community in addressing this challenge, ensuring that all UNSC sanctions are fully implemented by the entire international community, so as to maximize pressure towards achieving a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue. +43. India and France reaffirmed their support for the continued full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and the E3+3. +They recognised the confirmation by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran is complying with its nuclear-related JCPOA commitments. +The two countries called for the full and effective implementation of the deal, which has been endorsed by the UN Security Council and is a crucial contribution to the non-proliferation framework and international peace, stability and security. +They called on all parties to implement fully UN Security Council resolution 2231. +44. Both leaders reaffirmed the primacy of the UN-led Geneva process for acomprehensive and peaceful resolution of the Syrian conflict through all-inclusive Syrian-led political process taking into account the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria. +Protection of civilians and access to humanitarian aid are fundamental and all parties to the conflict and their supporters are expected to live up to their commitments. +Both leaders affirmed that they can be no military solution to the conflict and that the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria should be protected. +They also emphasized the importance of the OPCW and stressed that under no circumstances should there be any use of chemical weapons. +45. The leaders reaffirmed their support for the strategic partnership between the European Union and India, based on shared principles and values, as well as a commitment to a rules-based international order. +They agreed that India and the EU should deepen their cooperation on multilateral and security issues, as well as on economic, trade and climate change issues and welcomed the outcome of the 14th EU-India summit held in New Delhi on 6 October 2017. +They expressed support to the efforts of both sides to re-engage actively towards timely relaunching of negotiations for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial EU-India Broad Based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA). +47. India and France are committed to implement the G20 decisions and to work together with other G20 members to achieve strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth. +48. The leaders reaffirmed the crucial role of the rules-based multilateral trading system, and the importance of enhancing free, fair, and open trade for achieving sustainable growth and development. +They reaffirmed their commitment to work together with all members of the WTO, which would reaffirm the centrality of the rules-based multilateral trading system and its importance for open and inclusive global trade. +49. India and France are willing to work together to improve the global economic and financial governance architecture, reduce excessive global imbalances, promote inclusive and interconnected development and tackle common global challenges, including terrorism, poverty, hunger, job creation, climate change, energy security, and inequality including gender inequality, as a basis for sustainable development. +50. Indian and France share a common interest to cooperate and collaborate for the stability and prosperity of Africa, including through development oriented initiatives such as capacity building programs and joint projects. +Building on their first dialogue on Africa in June 2017 in Paris, both leaders reiterated their willingness to implement common projects on the ground. +The leaders also welcomed the establishment of the G5 Sahel Joint Force, which demonstrates the willingness of African nations to take charge of their own security to address the threat of terrorism, as well as the serious challenges posed by transnational organized crime in the region. +52. With the aim of broadening the canvas of such like-minded convergences, it was agreed to initiate regular expert level official dialogues on East Asia, as well as on the Middle East. +An annual Policy and Planning Dialogue was also instituted between the two Foreign Ministries. +53. President Macron thanked Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation and looked forward to welcoming him in France. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved Amendment of the bilateral Social Security Agreement (SSA) between India and the Netherlands by incorporating the “Country of Residence” Principle into the said SSA. +The amended SSA between India and the Netherlands, when operational from the third month from the date of notifying the said Amendment to the Netherlands by India, will strengthen the ties between the two countries, and continue to favourably impact the profitability and competitive position of Indian and Dutch companies with foreign operations in either country by reducing their cost of doing business abroad. +The SSA will also help promote more investment flows between the two countries. +The SSA has been in successful operation since June 2010 and has benefitted Indian expatriates who have been working in the Netherlands. +After the adoption of the new social security legislation, the Netherlands side requested that India agree to revise the bilateral SSA since such a revision would be necessary as per the national legislation of the Netherlands. +The existing SSA now stands amended to the extent of the above change. +• A bilateral Social Security Agreement, (SSA) was signed between India and the Netherlands on 22nd October 2009 and came into force on 15th June 2010. +• The SSA allows exemption from double contribution to the social security system in both jurisdictions, exportability of accumulated social security benefits across jurisdictions (applicable even to the self-employed), and totalization of serving periods. +• Beginning 1st January 2013, a new social security legislation came into force in the Netherlands, consequent to which the Netherlands began to apply the “country of residence” principle on certain social security benefits exported to other countries. +• The principle sought, is to bring in equity in exportability of social benefits to the class of Dutch citizens who reside outside the Netherlands. +• As on date, India has signed and operationalized SSAs with 18 countries – Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and South Korea. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, flagged off the Nagpur Metro, through video conference from New Delhi. +The 13.5 km long, Khapri- Sitabuldi section of the Nagpur Metro was inaugurated through the digital unveiling of plaque. +Addressing the gathering through video conference, Prime Minister congratulated the people of Nagpur for the second metro service in Maharashtra. +He said that is a special moment for him as he had laid the foundation stone for the Nagpur Metro in 2014. +The Metro will provide a better, cost friendly and environment friendly means of transportation for the people in Nagpur, PM added. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government and State Government are working continuously for the development of Nagpur, keeping its future requirements in mind. +He added that Nagpur metro will create employment opportunities for the youth and will also help in the further growth of the city. +Highlighting the initiatives of the Union Government in building modern transport system throughout the country, Prime Minister said that 400 km of operational network of metro have been built in the past four and half years. +He added that work is progressing on 800 km of metro network throughout the country. +The Prime Minister mentioned about the benefits of the recently launched common mobility card, the One Nation-One Card. +Only very few countries in the world have such a common mobility card for transportation, PM added. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government has an integrated approach towards finding solutions. +He reiterated the government’s commitment towards ensuring Ease of Living for all the citizens of the country. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated Centers of Excellence at Deen Dayal Hastkala Sankul in Varanasi. +He walked through the various galleries of the Textiles Museum, before arriving at the Amphitheatre at Deendayal Hastkala Sankul. +Here, he released two books titled: (a) Kashi: The Universe of Crafts and Textiles (b) Indian Textiles: History, Splendour, Grandeur. +He also unveiled a plaque to mark the inauguration of an Integrated Textile Office Complex, at Chowkaghat in Varanasi. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Third Line of Credit (LoC) of US $ 4.5 billion to Bangladesh for implementation of developmental projects. +The MoU was signed during the visit of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to India in April 2017. +The MoU provides for deepening the strategic partnership, development of infrastructure in Bangladesh, improving connectivity between India and Bangladesh, thus enhancing accessibility to our North Eastern Region, as well as creating new business opportunities for Indian companies in Bangladesh. +The concessional financing system to Bangladesh would strengthen bilateral relations and development cooperation between India and Bangladesh. +The MoU specifies a list of projects which will be undertaken under the concessional financing system. +This provides an opportunity to ensure that projects of India’s interest are undertaken under this LoC. +Some of the projects will ensure better and faster connectivity to the North Eastern region of India with the mainland as well as to the outside world. +They will also ensure India’s security and will open up business for Indian companies. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Gujarati folk singer Diwaliben Bhil. +“Sad to know of passing away of well known Gujarati folk singer Diwaliben Bhil. +Her contribution to the cultural sphere is monumental. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has saluted the bravery of CISF personnel on the 46th Raising Day of the Central Industrial Security Force. +“On the 46th Raising Day of CISF, I salute the CISF personnel for their bravery and sense of duty with which they have served our Nation for years. +Providing security cover to several key units and establishments across India, CISF’s contribution to our Nation’s progress is vital,” the Prime Minister said. +The estimated cumulative cost of the project is Rs. 179.54 crore in first three years. +This includes non-recurring expenditure of Rs. 128.54 crore and recurring expenditure of Rs. 51 crore. +The Union Cabinet has also approved the proposal to create three Joint Secretary level posts, which include one post of Director of the Institute and two posts of Professors. +The main objectives of the NIMHR are to provide rehabilitation services to the persons with mental illness, capacity development in the area of mental health rehabilitation, policy framing and advanced research in mental health rehabilitation. +Within a span of 5 years, the student intake of the institute in various courses is expected to be over 400. +Government of Madhya Pradesh has allocated 5 acres of land in Bhopal for setting up of this Institute. +The Institute will be established in three years in two phases. +Within two years, the civil and electrical work of the institute will be completed. +Simultaneously, during the construction of building, the Institute will run in a suitable rented building in Bhopal to conduct certificate/diploma courses and also OPD services. +Subsequently, the Institute will provide complete set of rehabilitation services for persons with mental illness and conduct courses upto Master’s degree and M.Phil. +NIMHR will be the first of its kind in the country in the area of mental health rehabilitation. +It will serve as an institution of excellence to develop capacity building in the area of mental health rehabilitation and also help the Government to develop models for effective rehabilitation of persons with mental illness. +The Agreement was signed in March, 2019 in New Delhi. +The objective of the Cooperation Agreement is to promote cooperation between the twocountries in the field of renewable energy with special focus on Off-shore wind. +The areas of cooperation would include technical capacity building for management of off­shore wind projects, measures to develop and sustain a highly efficient wind industry, onshore as well as offshore; measures to ‘ensure high quality of wind turbines, components, and certification requirements; forecasting and scheduling of off-shore wind +The signing of the documents will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Jaipur, Rajasthan on July 7, 2018. +At a large public meeting, the Prime Minister will witness an audio-visual presentation of experience sharing by 12 beneficiaries of schemes of the Government of India and Government of Rajasthan. +These schemes include: +Prominent among these projects are: +Prime Minister recalled his positive telephonic conversations with President Trump that reaffirmed the importance attached by both sides to the strategic partnership and to stepping up India-U.S. engagement across the board. +During the conversation, they exchanged views on how both countries can work together to effectively address the challenge of terrorism and to advance regional peace, security and stability. +“The passing of Lee Kuan Yew, is not the passing of an individual, but indeed, of an era. +He was a torchbearer of hope, not just for Singapore, but for all of Asia. +Today, the flame is no more, but this was a torch that lit the lamp of hope in many new nations. +As long as these lamps flicker, he will continue to inspire, eternally. +His personal life was an inspiration for many like me. +I bow to this committed Karma Yogi, this great man. +On behalf of all Indians, I pay homage to him.” +It will serve as an institution of excellence for capacity building in human resource and research in the area of mental health rehabilitation, and also recommending body suggesting models/protocols for effective rehabilitation of persons with mental illness. +The Chairman and CEO, Bank of America, Mr. Brian Moynihan, called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +The bank has completed 50 years of service in India. +In course of the interaction, Mr. Moynihan said that he expected the Indian economy to grow at a fast pace, and that the world had changed its perception about India. +Mr. Moynihan said the Bank of America will expand its banking activities in India, and would expand its presence in capital markets, particularly in infrastructure and energy sector investment. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched various development projects at Patna. +He launched the Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana; inaugurated the Daniawan-Bihar Sharif new railway line; flagged off the Rajgir-Bihar Sharif-Daniawan-Fatuha passenger train and Patna-Mumbai AC Suvidha Express; dedicated to the nation the permanent IIT Campus at Patna; launched and laid the foundation stone for Incubation Centre for Medical Electronics, Patna; and inaugurated the construction of the first phase of the Jagdishpur-Haldia pipeline project. +The Prime Minister said development is the panacea for all problems related to poverty and unemployment. +He expressed satisfaction that there is now a general agreement on this aspect, and states are even becoming competitive with regard to development. +He said India will progress only through the development of the States, and for this the Centre and States have to work together. +Emphasizing the importance of infrastructure, the Prime Minister said the gas pipeline and rail projects which were launched today would provide development and improve the quality of life of the people in the State. +He said that if India has to progress, then the development of Eastern India is essential. +He also mentioned several road projects that have been approved for Bihar, by the Union Government. +The Prime Minister said that IIT Patna, whose new campus was inaugurated today, should also cater to the State’s development needs. +He expressed hope that the Incubation Centre for medical devices launched at the IIT, would help manufacture medical devices in India to make them easily accessible for all. +The Governor of Bihar Shri Keshri Nath Tripathi, the Chief Minister of Bihar Shri Nitish Kumar, Union Ministers Shri Suresh Prabhu, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Shri Piyush Goyal, Shri Upendra Kushwaha and Shri Ram Kripal Yadav were present on the occasion. +India is a 2 trillion dollar economy today. +Can we not dream of an India with a 20 trillion dollar economy? +You will see India as a country of opportunities, unmatched across the world. +India can be a role model of growth and cohesiveness for the rest of the world. +The government must nurture an eco-system where the economy is primed for growth; and growth promotes all-round development. +Where development is employment-generating ; and employment is enabled by skills. +Where skills are synced with production; and production is benchmarked to quality. +Where quality meets global standards; and meeting global standards drives prosperity. +Most importantly, this prosperity is for the welfare of all. +That is my concept of economic good governance and all round development. +Development has to result in jobs. +What we need is not just more production, but mass production and production by masses. +Development seems to have become the agenda only of government. +It is seen as a scheme. +That should not be the case. +Development should be everyone’s agenda. +It should be a people’s movement. +Economic development cannot take a nation forward on its own. +We need a society and economy which complement each other. +We need to take care of the poor, deprived and left behind sections of society. +The ultimate objective of subsidies should be to empower the poor, to break the cycle of poverty, and become foot-soldiers in our war on poverty. +We need to cut subsidy leakages, not subsidies themselves. +We need to change this. +Our systems need to be made sharp, effective, fast and flexible. +This requires simplification of processes and having trust in citizens. +This needs a Policy Driven State. +What is Maximum Governance, Minimum Government? +It means government has no business to be in business. +First, we need to focus government on the things that are required of the State. +Second, we need to achieve competence in government so that the State delivers on the things it sets out to do. +Reforms are not an end in itself. +Reforms must have a concrete objective. +Small acts can drive reforms. +What appears minor can actually be vital and fundamental. +Generating 20,000 MW of power attracts a lot of attention. +That is important. +At the same time, 20,000 MW of power can be saved through a people’s movement for energy efficiency. +The second is more difficult but is as important as the first. +Small indeed, is beautiful. +A major institutional reform is the move away from merely planning, to transforming India. +The setting up of NITI Aayog, is a step in this direction. +Laws are the DNA of government. +They must evolve with time. +We are committed to achieving the fiscal deficit target announced in the budget. +We are today a nearly 100% banked country. +Financial unity – bringing everyone into the financial system – is one cause which both capitalists and socialists agree on. +What, my friends, can be a bigger reform? +The consensus we arrived with States for amending the Constitution to implement GST is a major breakthrough. +This alone has the potential to make India competitive and attractive for investment. +Today, India’s cooking gas subsidy is the world’s largest Cash Transfer Programme. +I recently assured Public Sector Banks they will have total autonomy in taking business decisions. +The mantra of independence was Satyagraha. +And the warriors were Satyagrahis. +The mantra of New Age India must be Swachhagrah. +And the warriors will be Swachhagrahis. +The Gangetic plains account for 40% of our population. +They have over one hundred towns, and thousands of villages. +I intend to launch a massive National Program for PDS Computerisation. +We will give the world the Taste of India. +During the official visit of the Prime Minister of India to the Republic of Indonesia on 29-30 May 2018, President of Indonesia, H.E Mr. Joko Widodo, and H.E. Shri Narendra Modi discussed the Shared Vision of the two countries on Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. +Recalling the Joint Statement by the two countries on Maritime Cooperation on 12 December 2016 during the State visit of President Jokowi to India; +Noting that both India and Indonesia are maritime neighbours and sea faring nations, whose relations are rooted in civilizational contacts developed through the seas and who share similar perceptions of the evolving maritime environment in the region and world at large; +Desirous of strengthening their maritime cooperation for promotion of peace, stability and bringing in robust economic growth and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific region; +The two oceans represent a combined maritime region which is important for global maritime trade and commerce; +Adhering to the rights and obligations under the international law including the Charter of the United Nations, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC); +Taking necessary steps to enhance connectivity (institutional, physical, digital and people-to people) between Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India and Provinces in Sumatera Island of Indonesia to promote trade, tourism and people to people contacts; facilitate B to B linkages between the Chamber of Commerce of Andaman and the ones of the Provinces in Sumatera, including Aceh. +Working towards human resource development on the basis of bilateral collaboration, with a view to strengthening cooperation in capacity building for maritime safety, promotion of fishing industry, marine living resources management through technical cooperation, including, through exchange of experts, provision of equipment and financial assistance. +Development maritime infrastructure and promoting maritime industries, especially in fisheries and ship-building. +b. Promoting sustainable development of marine resources: +Enhancing science-based management and conservation of marine living resources. +Combating climate change and ensuring protection of environment and natural resources. +Combating, preventing, detering and eradicating illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing and recognizing crimes related to fisheries crime as one of the emerging crimes, which has become an ever-growing threat to the world causing marine environmental degradation. +Promoting Blue Economy as a key source of inclusive economic growth and job creation. +Combating marine plastic debris through bilateral and regional cooperation. +c. Expanding cooperation in disaster risk management: +Strengthening disaster preparedness and disaster risk management in the region, especially aid to victims of disasters. +Improving geodetic data-sharing, methods and infrastructure and further developing early warning systems in the region for forecasting and communicating disaster-related risks and hazards. +Revitalizing bilateral cooperation in disaster management including regular joint exercises between the relevant agencies and training cooperation to augment capacities to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian requirements. +d. Fostering tourism and cultural exchanges: +Increasing people to people contacts to promote regional economic growth. +Encouraging sustainable development of community-based tourism and eco-tourism. +Working towards creation of Andaman Sea tourism by improving connectivity between Sabang Island and Port Blair as well as Havelock Island in Andaman for promotion of sail tourism, cruise ships, marine adventure sports, diving and wellness tourism. +Creating institutional linkages between Al-Muslim University of Bireuen, University of Malikussaleh of Lhokseumawe (Aceh), Jawaharlal University, New Delhi and appropriate institution in Port Blair for creation of a Centre of India-Indonesia studies at Al-Muslim University. +e. Promoting Maritime Safety and Security: +Strengthening the existing security architecture in the Indo-Pacific which is anchored in ASEAN-led mechanisms +Establishing an open, inclusive and transparent cooperation, with the aim of delivering peace, security and prosperity to all associated with the region. +Strengthening the existing naval cooperation including the bilateral Coordinated Patrols initiated in 2002 between the Navies of the two countries and commencement of regular bilateral naval exercises. +Enhancing information sharing related to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. +Concurring to build on the existing maritime boundary agreements and reaffirming support to the Technical Meetings for expeditious negotiations for a mutually acceptable solution on the delimitation of maritime boundaries between the two countries based on the principles of international law, including UNCLOS. +Assigning expert level of both countries to continue explore ways in enhancing strategic technical cooperation on maritime security including in creating better and expanded maritime awareness. +Pursuing bilateral cooperation in the areas of hydrography and marine cartography. +Promoting cooperation in capacity building for maritime safety, including search and rescue and pollution control, through technical cooperation including the exchange of experts, provision of equipment and financial assistance. +Promoting cooperation between coast guards through capacity building activities, establishing hotline(s) and single point of contact and regular consultation meeting/coordinated patrol and joint exercise. +Further intensify cooperation for a safe and secure Indian Ocean within the framework of the Indian Rim Association Organisation (IORA). +f. Strengthening academic, science and technology cooperation: +Promoting cooperation between Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and National Institute of Aeronautics and Space of the Republic of Indonesia (LAPAN) in monitoring earth’s environment from outer space and remote sensing of the earth. +Developing research capacity and transferring marine technology among research and development institutions and academics. +He said biofuels can provide fresh momentum to India in the 21st century. +He added that it is fuel produced from crops, which can change lives of people in both villages and cities. +He said that the plan to produce ethanol from biofuel was initiated when Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. +After 2014, a roadmap was prepared for the Ethanol Blending Programme. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government is investing significantly in the effort to transform biomass to biofuel. +There is a plan to set up 12 modern refineries. +A large number of employment opportunities will be created in the process. +The Prime Minister said that schemes such as Jandhan, Vandhan and Gobardhan are helping to transform the lives of the poor, the tribal population, and the farmers. +He said that the transformative potential of biofuels can be realized only through the participation of students, teachers, scientists, entrepreneurs and the people. +He urged everyone present to help take the benefits of biofuel to the rural areas. +The Prime Minister also released a booklet on “National Policy on Biofuels 2018.” +He also launched the “Proactive and Responsive Facilitation, by Interactive and Virtuous Environmental Single-window Hub” (PARIVESH). +It is a great service to society. +Today we reaffirm our pledge to raise greater awareness about the importance of blood donation. +My young friends should take a lead in this. +Prime Minister calls upon Overseas Indians to join hands for building a New India +Government has plugged the loopholes in the system to make it transparent and corruption free- PM +One World, One Sun, One Grid is the mantra- PM +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the plenary session of the 15th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas at Deendayal Hastkala Sankul in Varanasi today. +Chief Guest of PBD 2019, Prime Minister of Mauritius, PravindJugnauth, ,Governor of Uttar Pradesh Ram Naik, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj along with UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister of UttarakhandTrivendra Singh Rawat, Union Minister of State for Overseas Indian Affairs Retd.General V K Singh and several other dignitaries graced the occasion. +In his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it is the love and affection of the diaspora for the land of their forefathers which has brought them to India. +He called upon the NRI community to join hands for building a new India. +PM lauded the role of Indian diaspora in keeping alive the tradition of VasudhaivaKutumbakam. +He said the NRIs are not only the Brand Ambassadors of India but also represent its strength, capabilities and characteristics. +He urged the diaspora to participate in building a New India specially in research and innovation. +PM said that with its rapid progress, India is being seen on a high pedestal across the world and is in a position to lead the global community. +International Solar Alliance is one such example. +Mr. Modi added that local solution and global application is our mantra. +He termed International Solar Alliance as a step in the direction of One World, One Sun, One Grid. +Prime Minister said that India is on course to become a global economic powerhouse. +It has one of the largest start-up ecosystems and world’s largest healthcare scheme to its credit. +We have moved on with great strides in Make in India. +A bumper harvest production has been our major achievement. +PM lamented that due to lack of will power and proper policies of the previous Government, a large chunk of funds earmarked for them was not available for the Beneficiaries. +However today, he said we have plugged the loopholes in the system with the help of technology. +The loot of public money has been stopped and 85 percent of the lost money has been made available and transferred directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. +Speaking about the welfare of Indians overseas, Mr. Modi said passport and visa rules have been simplified and e visa had made it much easier for them to travel. +All PravasiBharatiya are now being linked to Passport Sewa and efforts are in to issue chip based E passport. +PM said that a Pravasi Teerth DarshanYojana is being taken up. +He urged overseas Indian to invite 5 non Indian families to visit India. +PM also requested them to spread the values of Gandhi ji and Guru Nanak Dev ji and become a part of their anniversary celebrations. +He said that we feel proud that global community joined us in compilation of Bapu’s favourite bhajan, Vaishnava jan. +PM complimented the role of the residents of Kashi in making PBD successful with their warmth and hospitality. +PM said that ahead of upcoming School Board examinations, he will interact with the parents and students through NAMO App in ParikshapeCharcha – at 11am on 29th January, 2019. +Chief Guest of PBD -2019, Mauritius PM, PravindJugnauth invoked the memories of Indian diaspora and their connect with the land of their forefathers. +Speaking in Hindi and English, he said such gatherings reinforce the identity of overseas Indians as the members of one family with shared history and culture. +He said, if India is unique, Indianness is universal. +The Mauritian PM told that an educated and self reliant diaspora can play a major role in nation building and the Diaspora connect can help multilateralism. +He enthralled the crowd with his Bhojpuri dialect and announced that Mauritius will organise the first International Bhojpuri festival. +In her welcome address, External Affairs Minister said India today feels proud under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi. +She thanked Indian diaspora for their linkages with the motherland. +Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath said PBD and Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh are a reflection of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. +Prime Minister Modi felicitated the winners of Bharat koJaniye quiz competition. +This is a quiz competition on India meant for the young Indian diaspora. +Closing ceremony of PBD will be held tomorrow on January 23, 2019 where President RamnathKovind will confer PravasiBharatiyaSamman to select overseas Indians for their contributions. +After the Convention, on 24th January, the visiting diaspora delegates will visit Prayagraj for KumbhMela. +They will then proceed to Delhi on 25th January and witness the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath, New Delhi. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in an air crash in Moscow. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today described cyber-related risks as a global threat of “bloodless war,” and called upon the Nation’s IT community to serve the entire world by building credible cyber-security systems. +He was speaking at the launch of the Digital India week in New Delhi today. +The Prime Minister also exhorted the captains of India’s IT industry to boost production of electronic devices and goods in the country, as part of the “Make in India” initiative, to reduce dependence on imports. +Shri Narendra Modi noted that today, it was not enough for India to say that it is an ancient civilization, and a country of 125 crore with favourable demography. +He said modern technology needs to be blended with these strengths. +The Prime Minister reiterated his Government’s resolve to not allow the Digital Divide to become a barrier between people. +“I dream of a digital India where High-speed Digital Highways unite the Nation; 1.2 billion connected Indians drive innovation; technology ensures the citizen-government interface is incorruptible,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that earlier, India was criticized for launching satellites, but now it was recognized that these satellites help the common man, for instance, farmers through accurate weather forecasting. +Similarly, the Prime Minister said, the Digital India initiative was aimed at improving the lives of the common man. +He said that India may have missed the Industrial Revolution, but will not miss the IT revolution. +The Prime Minister assured full support to young entrepreneurs who wished to launch Start-ups. +He called upon the youth to innovate and said “Design in India” is as important as “Make in India.” +The Prime Minister unveiled the “Digital India” logo and released policy documents related to Digital India. +He also felicitated two women CSC village level entrepreneurs. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Shri Babu Jagjivan Ram on his birth anniversary. +“Remembering Babu Jagjivan Ram on his birth anniversary. +His service to India & struggles for the rights of the marginalised always inspire.”, the Prime Minister said. +Work hard and take people along to bring fundamental change +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today held an interactive session with young IAS officers of 2013 batch today. +These officers have completed a three-month stint with the Government of India, as Assistant Secretaries. +This is the first ever batch of IAS Officers to commence their career with a stint in the Central Government. +The Prime Minister said that very often, their new ideas and vision may meet resistance from the older generation, but the way to move forward is by working hard, and taking people along. +The key is to integrate people, he added. +The officers gave presentations to the Prime Minister on six key themes, including MUDRA, Improving Government Communication, Citizen Centric Service Monitoring, Ek Bharat – Shreshtha Bharat, Soil Health Card scheme and National Mineral Exploration Policy. +As a follow-up to Prime Minister’s exhortation to Secretaries to come up with ideas for transformative change in various areas of governance, on Thursday (21st January, 2016), two Groups of Secretaries presented their ideas and suggestions on (a) Accelerated Growth with Inclusion and Equity (b) Employment Generation Strategies, to the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +The Prime Minister, in his concluding remarks, appreciated the efforts of all eight Groups of Secretaries and said that the whole process was an exercise towards team building and for generating ideas for the benefit of the nation. +The Prime Ministers lauded the officers for collectively giving around 10,000 working hours for the entire process. +During and after the presentation, several members of the audience, including the Prime Minister and Union Ministers asked questions related to the theme of the presentation, and gave their suggestions. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in February, 2016 between Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Central Bank of United Arab Emirates (UAE) on co-operation concerning currency swap agreement. +The MoU commits that RBI and Central Bank of UAE will consider signing a bilateral Currency Swap Agreement on mutually agreed terms and conditions, after undertaking technical deliberations, subject to the concurrence of respective Governments. +The MoU will further strengthen the close economic relationship and cooperation between India and United Arab Emirates. +The swap agreement is also expected to facilitate invoicing of bilateral trade in local currencies +The Cabinet has also approved relaxation in the existing criteria for the allocation of funds to NE States other than Assam to cover all vulnerable rural households by 2023-24. +These include:- +(A). Changes in the implementation framework of NRLM. +The criteria for identification of districts is as follows:- +(b) The remaining districts will be allocated to the States on a pro-rata basis in proportion to the total number of districts in the State/UT. +The States will identify the eligible districts from among the IAP districts of NRLM. +(c) The States have been granted flexibility to have only a single allocation under NRLM, based on poverty ratio. +(a) The existing ceiling for Professional Management cost (administrative expenses) to be enhanced to 6% of NRLM allocation. +(b) Skill development and placement as under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameem Kaushal Yojana to be allowed administrative expenses as part of NRLM. +(c) The human resource component under NRLM as per the terms of the project implementation plan and financing agreement with World Bank to be kept outside the purview of the ceiling. +(B). Need based financial allocation of Himayat programme of Jammu and Kashmir. +(C). Relaxation in the existing criteria in the allocation of funds for the NE states, other than Assam, to cover all vulnerable rural household by 2023-24. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Udaipur, Rajasthan tomorrow. +Among the projects being inaugurated are: 6-Lane Cable Stayed Bridge across river Chambal at Kota; 4 Laning of Gomati Chauraha – Udaipur section of NH-8; and 4-Laning of Rajsamand-Bhilwara section of NH-758. +Among the important projects for which the Foundation Stone will be laid, is the Jaipur Ring Road. +The Prime Minister will also address the gathering. +The Prime Minister will later visit the Pratap Gaurav Kendra in Udaipur. +The Kendra provides information through various exhibits, about the life, valour and achievements of Maharana Pratap, the famous King of the erstwhile kingdom of Mewar. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has said the following, on his upcoming visit to Japan:- +“On 30th August I will begin my visit to Japan. +Have very warm memories of visiting Japan as a Chief Minister. +The hospitality and the immense scope for cooperation left a deep impression on my mind. +Am particularly excited to meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. +I deeply respect his leadership and enjoy a warm relationship with him from previous meetings. +We are 2 vibrant democracies committed to advancing peace and prosperity in the world.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Transfer of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)’s land measuring 5.99 acres at Tawang to the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh for construction of a Mega-Festival-Cum-Multipurpose Ground. +Arunachal Pradesh Government had identified a suitable portion of land measuring 5.99 acres within the campus of SSB at Tawang for construction of Mega Festival-cum-multipurpose ground with parking facilities (4,73 acres) and construction of ring road (1.26 acres). +Accordingly, they requested to transfer of the 5.99 acres land to them. +Government of India, (Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region) has already sanctioned the project titled “Construction of Mega-Festival-Cum-Multipurpose Ground with parking facilities and approach road at Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh” in March, 2016. +The multipurpose ground will be used for holding various tourism festivals etc. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, conferred the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar prizes for 2016, 2017 and 2018, at an event in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. +Congratulating the award winners, the Prime Minister said that science, technology and innovation should be connected with the aspirations and requirements of the society. +He said that our scientific institutions should align with future requirements and try to find solutions for local problems. +He asked the scientific community to take advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and develop technologies that will make India a global hub for manufacturing, knowledge and technology based industries. +The Prime Minister hailed the world class achievements of the scientific community while working with limited resources. +In this context, he mentioned about India’s hugely successful space programs of ISRO, exceptional growth of Indian pharmaceutical sector and various CSIR initiatives. +Talking about the need to think beyond silos, Prime Minister said that scientists and researchers should have an inter-disciplinary approach. +Such an approach will help in finding faster and better solutions for the various scientific questions, PM said. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government policies aim at takingadvantage of demography, democracy and demand in the country. +He also mentioned about the various Government initiatives to foster innovation and strengthen the Science and Technology space in India. +The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, named after the founder Director of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Dr Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, is given annually to recognize outstanding Indian work in various disciplines of Science and Technology. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Spiritual leader, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, on being conferred with Colombia’s highest civilian award. +“Congratulations to Sri Sri ji on being conferred ‘Orden de la Democracia Simon Bolivar en el grado de cruz Caballero’ by Colombia. +We are very proud of the excellent work Sri Sri ji is doing across the world. +His noble efforts have always created a major impact globally”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the inaugural session of the “END TB” summit in New Delhi. +He expressed confidence that the Delhi End TB Summit would be a landmark event towards the complete elimination of TB. +The Prime Minister announced that India has set a target for complete elimination of TB by 2025, as against the global target date of 2030. +He said the Government is working comprehensively towards this goal. +He said State Governments have a key role to play in this regard, and he has personally written to all Chief Ministers to join in this campaign. +The Prime Minister said frontline TB physicians and workers are a crucial part of the drive to eliminate TB. +He said those patients who overcome this disease also inspire others. +The Prime Minister gave examples of Mission Indradhanush and Swachh Bharat, to show how the Union Government is speeding up progress towards desired targets. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan. +The purpose of MoC is to establish a framework for bilateral cooperation in the field of Industrial Property (IP), with emphasis on capacity building, human resource development and awareness generation. +The Offices will implement a biennial Action Plan comprising cooperation projects and activities principally, but not exclusively in the following areas: +• Information sharing on IP Protection Systems and Practices. +• Cooperation in the area of examination, including utilization of the examiner-exchange program. +• Cooperation in the scheme of the Patent Cooperation Treaty. +• Assistance in developing IP infrastructure. +• Capacity building in the use of IT infrastructure. +• Information provision and awareness building for the general public. +PM inaugurates new railway line from Hazaribag to Koderma. +PM: Government working towards modernization and improved service delivery in the Indian Railways. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said the Government was working towards modernization and improved service delivery in the Indian Railways. +He was speaking on the occasion of the dedication to the nation of Koderma-Hazaribag Railway Line, and the flagging off of DEMU train service between Hazaribag and Koderma. +The Prime Minister thanked the farmers who had given land for this project, and said they had made a huge contribution for future generations. +He said the railways were not just a means of transport, but could become the backbone of the Indian economy. +The Prime Minister said Jharkhand should focus on rail and road connectivity for its mineral wealth, in order to boost its prosperity. +He urged the people of Jharkhand to provide full support to the construction of railways and roads in the state. +The Prime Minister referred to the Supreme Court’s decision in September 2014 cancelling allocation of 204 coal blocks. +He also referred to the CAG’s observations in this regard. +He said 40 of these blocks are in Jharkhand. +The Prime Minister said within four months of the Supreme Court’s decision, auction of coal blocks had begun. +He said the auction of 15 coal blocks so far had yielded Rs. 75,000 crore. +The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment that he would not tolerate corruption. +He said the poor need to be provided with opportunities to defeat poverty. +The Governor of Jharkhand Shri Syed Ahmed, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Raghubar Das, the Union Minister for Railways Shri Suresh Prabhu, the Union MoS for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha, the Union MoS for Rural Development Shri Sudarshan Bhagat and the Union MoS for Finance Shri Jayant Sinha were present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the introduction of Amendment to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill 2014. +The Fleet Review and flypast today, in the presence of the President of India, highlighted the prowess of the Indian Navy, besides bringing together Navies from around the world. +The Prime Minister visited the Maritime Exhibition, which showcases the indigenous technological capabilities of the Indian Navy. +He also visited an arts and crafts exhibition at the venue of the exhibition, where craftsmen from across India have displayed their products. +The Prime Minister attended the Presidential Band Concert performed by the Indian Navy Symphonic Orchestra. +The Prime Minister is scheduled to witness an operational demonstration, and deliver an address, as part of the International Fleet Review, at Visakhapatnam tomorrow. +The Union Government has radically liberalized the FDI regime today, with the objective of providing major impetus to employment and job creation in India. +The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +This is the second major reform after the last radical changes announced in November 2015. +Now most of the sectors would be under automatic approval route, except a small negative list. +Measures undertaken by the Government have resulted in increased FDI inflows at US$ 55.46 billion in financial year 2015-16, as against US$ 36.04 billion during the financial year 2013-14. +This is the highest ever FDI inflow for a particular financial year. +However, it is felt that the country has potential to attract far more foreign investment which can be achieved by further liberalizing and simplifying the FDI regime. +India today has been rated as Number 1 FDI Investment Destination by several International Agencies. +Accordingly the Government has decided to introduce a number of amendments in the FDI Policy. +Changes introduced in the policy include increase in sectoral caps, bringing more activities under automatic route and easing of conditionalities for foreign investment. +These amendments seek to further simplify the regulations governing FDI in the country and make India an attractive destination for foreign investors. +Details of these changes are given in the following paragraphs: +1. Radical Changes for promoting Food Products manufactured/produced in India +It has now been decided to permit 100% FDI under government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce, in respect of food products manufactured or produced in India. +2. Foreign Investment in Defence Sector up to 100% +Present FDI regime permits 49% FDI participation in the equity of a company under automatic route. +In this regard, the following changes have inter-alia been brought in the FDI policy on this sector: +i. Foreign investment beyond 49% has now been permitted through government approval route, in cases resulting in access to modern technology in the country or for other reasons to be recorded. +The condition of access to ‘state-of-art’ technology in the country has been done away with. +ii. FDI limit for defence sector has also been made applicable to Manufacturing of Small Arms and Ammunitions covered under Arms Act 1959. +3. Review of Entry Routes in Broadcasting Carriage Services +New Cap and Route +(1)Teleports(setting up of up-linking HUBs/Teleports); +(2)Direct to Home (DTH); +(3)Cable Networks (Multi System operators (MSOs) operating at National or State or District level and undertaking upgradation of networks towards digitalization and addressability); +(5)Headend-in-the Sky Broadcasting Service(HITS) +5.2.7.1.2 Cable Networks (Other MSOs not undertaking upgradation of networks towards digitalization and addressability and Local Cable Operators (LCOs)) +Infusion of fresh foreign investment, beyond 49% in a company not seeking license/permission from sectoral Ministry, resulting in change in the ownership pattern or transfer of stake by existing investor to new foreign investor, will require FIPB approval +The extant FDI policy on pharmaceutical sector provides for 100% FDI under automatic route in greenfield pharma and FDI up to 100% under government approval in brownfield pharma. +With the objective of promoting the development of this sector, it has been decided to permit up to 74% FDI under automatic route in brownfield pharmaceuticals and government approval route beyond 74% will continue. +5. Civil Aviation Sector +(i) The extant FDI policy on Airports permits 100% FDI under automatic route in Greenfield Projects and 74% FDI in Brownfield Projects under automatic route. +FDI beyond 74% for Brownfield Projects is under government route. +(ii) With a view to aid in modernization of the existing airports to establish a high standard and help ease the pressure on the existing airports, it has been decided to permit 100% FDI under automatic route in Brownfield Airport projects. +(iii) As per the present FDI policy, foreign investment up to 49% is allowed under automatic route in Scheduled Air Transport Service/ Domestic Scheduled Passenger Airline and regional Air Transport Service. +For NRIs, 100% FDI will continue to be allowed under automatic route. +However, foreign airlines would continue to be allowed to invest in capital of Indian companies operating scheduled and non-scheduled air-transport services up to the limit of 49% of their paid up capital and subject to the laid down conditions in the existing policy. +6. Private Security Agencies +The extant policy permits 49% FDI under government approval route in Private Security Agencies. +7. Establishment of branch office, liaison office or project office +For establishment of branch office, liaison office or project office or any other place of business in India if the principal business of the applicant is Defence, Telecom, Private Security or Information and Broadcasting, it has been decided that approval of Reserve Bank of India or separate security clearance would not be required in cases where FIPB approval or license/permission by the concerned Ministry/Regulator has already been granted. +As per FDI Policy 2016, FDI in Animal Husbandry (including breeding of dogs), Pisciculture, Aquaculture and Apiculture is allowed 100% under Automatic Route under controlled conditions. +It has been decided to do away with this requirement of ‘controlled conditions’ for FDI in these activities. +It has now been decided to relax local sourcing norms up to three years and a relaxed sourcing regime for another five years for entities undertaking Single Brand Retail Trading of products having ‘state-of-art’ and ‘cutting edge’ technology. +“Happy Teachers Day! +India salutes the dedication and commitment of all teachers, whose role in nation building is paramount. +Tributes to Dr. S Radhakrishnan, a scholar, statesman and a respected teacher who shaped many minds and served India. +How has your teacher influenced you? +Share your anecdote and read what many others have written about their teachers”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said the success of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and the Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG subsidy, had shown the potential of the enormous role that the banking sector can play in ensuring financial inclusion. +The Prime Minister called for making financial inclusion a “habit.” +He asked banks to take inspiration from the success of women self-help groups. +He asked banks to keep in mind the requirement of youth who needed either knowledge or skills. +He also gave the example of the soon-to-be-launched MUDRA initiative in this regard. +He urged banks to come up with creative financial inclusion instruments to help prevent farmer suicides. +The Prime Minister said that along with economic and social parameters, there is need to think of a geographical parameter as well for financial inclusion. +He said eastern India had immense economic potential, and the banking sector should recognize and plan for this. +As part of the Make in India initiative, the Prime Minister urged RBI to take the lead in ensuring that India starts to manufacture the paper and ink that are used to print currency notes. +The Governor of Maharashtra Shri Vidyasagar Rao, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis, the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, and the Governor of the RBI Dr. Raghuram Rajan were present on the occasion. +A Group of Secretaries to the Government of India, today presented ideas on “agriculture and allied sectors,” to the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +Union Ministers, and officials from the NITI Aayog were also present on the occasion. +This was the fifth presentation in the current series, out of the total of nine scheduled to be made. +PM addresses Plenary Session of National Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Sikkim Organic Festival 2016, and addressed the Plenary Session of the National Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, at Gangtok in Sikkim. +Five presentations on reports of different groups of State Agriculture Ministers, Agriculture Production Commissioners and Agriculture Secretaries were made to the Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister digitally launched the logo of “Sikkim Organic.” +He launched three new Orchid species developed in Sikkim. +The Prime Minister handed over to the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Chamling, two commendations for its journey towards total organic farming. +He also handed over commendations for two districts of Sikkim for achieving 100 percent coverage of soil health cards. +In his address, the Prime Minister paid homage to former Governor of Sikkim, Shri Rama Rao. +He praised Sikkim Chief Minister Shri Pawan Chamling for his vision of welfare for farmers and tribes. +He credited this vision for the development that the State is witnessing. +He said the welfare and development issues raised by the Chief Minister would be looked into by the Union Government. +The Prime Minister said he is in Sikkim as the guest of the farmers of the State. +He said the deliberations during the Conference had set the tone for a new holistic vision for the country’s agriculture. +The Prime Minister described Sikkim as an example of resolve despite difficulties and struggle, towards organic agriculture. +He sad today the whole world had recognised this effort of the farmers of Sikkim. +He said the winds of this organic effort would now spread across the country. +The Prime Minister recalled the recent CoP-21 meeting in Paris, where the idea of “back to basics” had been raised forcefully. +The Prime Minister complimented Sikkim for Gangtok being rated as the 10th cleanest city in a survey conducted by the Government of India. +The Prime Minister exhorted States to identify a district, or even a block, to convert to a 100 percent organic area. +This he said, would catalyse the process in other parts of the State. +The Prime Minister said farmers have to be motivated for schemes such as soil health card. +He said a network of soil laboratories should come up across the country, and even school labs could be used during summer holiday months for this purpose. +The Prime Minister said there was need for special products such as Kisan Mobile Phone, which catered to the special needs and requirements of farmers. +He said perhaps Start-ups could take a lead in this direction. +He reiterated his suggestion for a small amount of fruit juice to be mixed with aerated drinks. +He said organic exports would receive a huge boost with the building of an airport in Sikkim. +He said the vision behind rural roads was also to connect agricultural produce with markets. +He said tree plantation and animal husbandry should also become an integral part of farming activities. +The Prime Minister suggested that a digital online platform of progressive farmers should be developed in each State. +In addition, both the Government agreed to further establish two Border Haats in Tripura and four Border Haats in Meghalaya on the Bangladesh border. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved: +(i) the Establishment of Food Legumes Research Platform (FLRP) at Amlaha, Sehore, Madhya Pradesh with Satellite Hubs in West Bengal (for pulses) and Rajasthan (for Natural Resource Management) by ICARDA in the second phase; by International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA); +(iii) ‘In principle’ approval of the Cabinet for conferring on the Food Legume Research Platform of ICARDA an international status as contemplated in Clause 3 of the United Nations (Privileges and Immunities) Act, 1947. +(iv) Authorizing the Department of Agricultural Research (DARE) on behalf of Government of India in all matters regarding establishment of the Platform. +(v) Authorizing the Ministry of Agriculture to carry out technical modifications in the Supplementary Agreement signed between ICAR and ICARDA relating to establishment of FLRP, if required. +The establishment of FLRP in India will enable India to harness the best of international science in meeting the emerging food security challenges. +India would be able to rapidly and effectively absorb the research output achieved in the country by FLRP. +A major international R&D institution will make India an even bigger center for agricultural research in the world and this in turn, will attract further research & development investment in the country. +This is a research set up by an international organization. +ICARDA has a good track record of innovation, as in climate resilient technologies including suitable food legume varieties for dry-land production systems. +ICARDA will carry out research through a multi-disciplinary team of scientists for enhancing productivity of crops range-land and livestock. +This platform will contribute significantly towards reducing poverty, improving food security, improving nutrition and health, and sustaining the natural resource base. +The research output would benefit farmers of all regions, whether big, small or marginal; and as technologies developed would be eligible for use by all farmers, the project is equitable and inclusive. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the extension of Delhi Metro corridor from Dilshad Garden to New Bus Adda Ghaziabad. +The total distance of the extended line will be 9.41 km. +The implementation of the project would provide the much needed additional public transport infrastructure to NCR. +The project is being implemented by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. +(DMRC), the existing Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the Government of India and Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). +PM calls the incident, an act of inhumanity which is deeply unfortunate. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep concerns over Sydney cafe siege incident. +Prime Minister has called the incident, an act of inhumanity which is deeply unfortunate. +“The incident in Sydney is disturbing. +Such acts are inhuman and deeply unfortunate. +I pray for everyone’s safety”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Indonesia on their Independence Day. +“On their Independence Day, I extend my greetings and wishes to the people of Indonesia. +History brings us together and both Nations cherish the democratic framework,” the Prime Minister said. +Recalling his meeting with the President of Indonesia, the Prime Minster said, “I warmly recall my meeting with President Joko Widodo. +I am hopeful that economic ties between our Nations will flourish in the coming years.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval to reimburse amount of value cut on wheat procurement price to States. +The reimbursement of this amount will be made to the State Governments through the FCI. +State Governments have decided to bear the amount of value cut imposed on the wheat being procured from farmers by the FCI and State agencies under relaxed specifications in the current Rabi marketing season, +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted people of Karnataka on Sankranti festival. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has saluted coast guard personnel on the 38th Raising Day of Indian Coast Guard. +“I salute the determination and bravery of our coast guard personnel on the 38th Raising Day of the Indian Coast Guard. +Indian Coast Guard has left no stone unturned in tirelessly protecting our coasts. +We will always remain grateful to them for their valour”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Shri Pranab Mukherjee, on the completion of his 3 years as the President of India. +“My congratulations to Rashtrapati ji as he completes 3 years in office. +India has greatly benefited from his rich experience and wisdom”, the Prime Minister said. +Congratulations ISRO on the remarkable feat”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated the candidates who have successfully cleared the Civil Services Examination. +(i). Exchange special information on animal health in general and particularly information on status of animal diseases of common concern, standards and procedures for animal quarantine and inspection status and progress of surveillance and monitoring programmes in place for animal diseases and food borne pathogens; +(ii). Exchange of special information on meat processing, meat products and slaughter houses/abattoirs; +(iii). Set up Mutual Recognition Agreement on Veterinary hygiene, health certificate between competent authorities of the two Parties. +(iv). Cooperate in the training and upgrading human resources in the field of animal health. +The MoU shall remain in force for a period of 10 years unless either of the Parties give prior written notice of at least six months to the other Party of its intention to terminate the MoU. +The fuel supply arrangements with Australia will bolster energy security by supporting the expansion of nuclear power in India. +Under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership the year 2015 has seen measure achievements in the field of civil nuclear cooperation. +The reaching of agreement on a bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Japan during Prime Minister Abe’s visit to India on December 12, 2015 brought to a close five years of negotiation on this issue. +This path breaking development was made possible by strong engagement at the level of leaders. +The implementation of the civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the U.S. was put back on course when Prime Minister hosted President Obama in New Delhi on January 25-27, 2015. +Since then, the Administrative Arrangement for implementing the agreement has been signed and the India Nuclear Insurance Pool set up to implement the understanding on civil nuclear liability, which has addressed international and domestic concerns on India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010. +Commercial negotiations between NPCIL and Westinghouse for construction of 6 units of the AP-1000 reactor at Mithi Virdi, Gujarat are on course for finalization in 2016. +Civil nuclear cooperation with Russia and France has also been taken forward during the year. +During Prime Minister’s visit to France in April 2015, a MoU between M/s Larsen and Toubro and M/s Areva aimed at cost reduction by increasing localization for the Jaitapur project in Maharashtra was signed. +On December 22, 2015, during Prime Minister’s visit to Russia, a Joint Programme of Action for Localization of Manufacturing in India for Russian-designed Nuclear Power Plants was signed. +A minimum of 12 reactor units will be built with Russian collaboration. +Following the signing of a contract for long-term supply of uranium during Prime Minister’s visit to Canada in April 2015, the first consignment of uranium reached India in December 2015. +Likewise, a long term contract for purchase of uranium was signed during Prime Minister’s visit to Kazakhstan in July 2015. +In combination with initiatives taken at home, in particular the passage through the Parliament of the amendment to the Atomic Energy Act for enabling NPCIL to enter into joint ventures with other PSUs, these agreements have laid a solid foundation for the expansion of nuclear energy in India. +A promising area has at last been energized for implementation. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) to change its status from Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to Inter-Governmental Organization (IGO). +The move will facilitate “to foster the safe, economic and efficient movement of vessels”. +It will bring IALA at par with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO). +The IALA, having headquarters at St. Germainen Laye (France) was established in 1957 under French law. +It is governed by a General Assembly having 83 National members, with its Council as the executive body. +The IALA council consists of 24 National Members and India is one of the council members represented through the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), Ministry of Shipping. +DGLL establishes and maintains Aids to Navigation in general waters along coast of India including A&N and Lakshadweep group of islands, as per Lighthouse Act 1927. +In its Xll session held in La Coruna, Spain in May 2014, International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) General Assembly adopted a resolution stating its firm belief that the status of IALA from NGO to IGO will best facilitate lALA’s aims in the 21st century. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, spoke to Mr. Malcolm Turnbull today and congratulated him on his appointment as the Prime Minister of Australia. +“Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and I spoke a short while ago. +I congratulated him and conveyed best wishes. +I also thanked him for his birthday greetings. +I spoke to Mr. Tony Abbott and appreciated his efforts in improving ties between India and Australia,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, on the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day. +Asserting that India is today brimming with self-confidence, the Prime Minister mentioned developments such as the success of Navika Sagar Parikrama by six young women naval officers, and the achievements of young Indian sportspersons from humble backgrounds. +He mentioned the blooming of Neelakurinji flowers in the Nilgiri hills, a phenomenon that occurs once every 12 years. +He said that the recently concluded session of Parliament, was one dedicated to the cause of social justice. +He noted that India is now the world’s sixth largest economy. +The Prime Minister paid homage to the freedom fighters and martyrs. +He saluted the jawans of the security forces and police forces. +He recalled in particular, the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which happened on Baisakhi day in 1919. +He offered condolences to people affected by floods in some parts of the country. +He quoted poet Subramaniam Bharti to say that India will show the world the path to freedom from all kinds of shackles. +He said that Indians are now coming together to build the nation. +He gave examples of the pace of development in various fields such as toilet construction, electricity reaching villages, LPG gas connections, house construction etc. +He said that the Union Government had taken decisions which had been pending for long, including higher MSP for farmers, GST, and One Rank – One Pension. +He said this has become possible because the Union Government has kept national interest supreme. +The Prime Minister mentioned how international organizations and agencies were looking at India very differently today, as compared to 2013. +He said that from a time of “policy paralysis”, India had moved to “Reform, Perform, Transform.” +He said India is now a member of several important multilateral organizations, and is leading the International Solar Alliance. +The Prime Minister said that the North-East is today in the news for achievements in sports, for connecting the last unconnected villages with electricity, and for becoming a hub of organic farming. +The Prime Minister mentioned 13 crore loans being disbursed under the Mudra Yojana, and four crore loans out of this number, being disbursed to first time beneficiaries of such loans. +The Prime Minister said that India is proud of its scientists. +He announced “Gagan-Yaan” a manned space mission, to be undertaken by India by 2022, using its own capabilities. +He said India would become the fourth nation in the world to do so. +Reiterating the vision to double farmers’ incomes by 2022, the Prime Minister asserted that the aim is to accomplish tasks which seem extremely difficult. +He said initiatives such as Ujjwala Yojana and Saubhagya Yojana are providing dignity to the people. +He said organizations such as the WHO have appreciated the progress made in the Swachh Bharat Mission. +Shri Narendra Modi announced the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan on 25th September this year – the anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. +It is high time we ensure that the poor of India get access to good quality and affordable healthcare, he asserted. +He said this scheme would positively impact 50 crore people. +The Prime Minister explained how better targeting of government benefits has been achieved by weeding out about 6 crore fake beneficiaries. +He said that Delhi’s streets are now free from power brokers, and the voice of the poor is heard. +The Prime Minister announced that women officers of Short Service Commission in the Indian Armed Forces would now be eligible for permanent commission through a transparent selection process. +Noting that the practice of Triple Talaq has caused great injustice among Muslim women the Prime Minister assured Muslim women that he will will work to ensure that justice is done to them. +The Prime Minister spoke of the decline in Left Wing Extremism in the country. +He reiterated former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision of “Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat, Kashmiriyat,” for the State of Jammu and Kashmir. +He emphasized on the vision of Housing for All, Power for All, Clean Cooking for All, Water for All, Sanitation for All, Skill for All, Health for All, Insurance for All, and Connectivity for All. +He said that he is impatient, anxious and keen to see India progress, eliminate malnutrition, and to see Indians get a better quality of life. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi had paid tributes to first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on his birth anniversary. +“Remembering our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary. +We recall his contribution to our freedom struggle and during his tenure as Prime Minister”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Tanzania for bilateral cooperation in water resources management and development. +The Government shall encourage the exchange of experts, organization of training programs, study tours and other such activities including demonstrative pilot studies, in order to build capacities in the areas mentioned above. +A Joint Working Group shall be formed to monitor the activities under the MoU. +Background: +The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (WR,RD&GR) has been envisaging bilateral cooperation with other countries in water resources development and management. +These are mainly through sharing of policy and technical expertise, conducting of training courses, workshops, scientific and technical symposia, exchange of experts and study tours. +The enhanced cooperation comes in the wake of the visit of Minister of Water Resources, RD and GR, Government of Tanzania to New Delhi on 16th July, 2014. +The two sides discussed the issue of water harvesting and management practices and decided to have a MoU after mutual consultations. +The next of kin of those who lost their lives in various parts of the country due to the earthquake yesterday, shall receive an enhanced compensation of Rs. 4 lakh from the National Disaster Relief Fund. +This follows the Union Government’s decision to revise the guidelines for the National Disaster Relief Fund, and raise this compensation amount from Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh, in the event of death due to natural calamity. +The above amount is in addition to the compensation of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those killed. +A compensation of Rs. 50,000 has also been announced for the seriously injured. +A delegation of Japan-India Parliamentarians’ Friendship League (JIPFL) called on PM today. +The JIPFL delegation conveyed their condolences for the victims of the cross-border terror attack in Uri, J&K on 18 September 2016. +The JIPFL delegation welcomed PM’s call for greater international cooperation against the global menace of terrorism, and for coordinated efforts to isolate the State sponsors of terrorism. +The Prime Minister recalled his successful visit to Japan in 2014, during which he had interacted with JIPFL in Tokyo. +The Prime Minister said that India and Japan have laid the foundations for strong cooperation in many areas for decades to come. +A Swedish Business Delegation called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +This delegation comprised some of the CEOs who are in New Delhi for the India Sweden Business Leaders Round Table. +The Prime Minister welcomed the Delegation members. +Long term business opportunities for Swedish manufacturers, including in defence manufacturing and solar energy, came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will launch the Stand Up India initiative at Noida tomorrow. +The initiative will promote entrepreneurship among the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Women, by facilitating loans in the range of Rs. 10 Lakhs to Rs. 100 Lakhs. +Each branch of a scheduled commercial bank shall facilitate at least two such loans. +A web portal will also be launched for the initiative, to enable online registration and support services. +The Prime Minister will flag-off 5100 e-rickshaws on the occasion. +He will interact with the beneficiaries, besides inaugurating a Kaushal Vikas Kendra (Skilling Centre). +The Minister for Mines, Steel, Labour and Employment, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, today handed over cheques worth Rs. 15 crore for the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. +This amount has been donated by Public Sector Undertakings from the Steel and Mining sectors. +The Minister for State for Mines, Steel, Labour and Employment, Shri Vishnudeo Sai, and senior officials were also present on the occasion. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid homage to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary. +“I bow to Gurudev Tagore on his birth anniversary. +He was a versatile personality whose profound thoughts and writings continue to inspire”, the Prime Minister said. +A delegation of 51 artists and writers led by Shri Anupam Kher, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +They had submitted a memorandum to the President earlier in the day. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima. +“Buddha Purnima greetings to everyone. +Gautama Buddha’s noble teachings have impacted millions of people over centuries. +He is the epitome of knowledge, peace and compassion. +May his teachings continue to inspire us to create a peaceful and just society,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the TCS Japan Technology and Culture Academy and flagged off the first batch of students who will be going to India for training with TCS (Tata Consultancy Services). +The Academy is a Joint Venture of Tata Consultancy Services and Mitsubishi Corporation. +In his remarks to the students, the Prime Minister said the 21st century would be a ‘knowledge century.’ +He also referred to India’s ‘knowledge’ heritage and leadership of the world in the past, through institutions such as Taxila and Nalanda. +He hoped the students would come back with fond memories and become Ambassadors of India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Mahatma Gandhi Museum in Rajkot. +The Museum has been set up at the Alfred High School, which was an important part of the formative years of Mahatma Gandhi. +It will help spread awareness about Gandhian culture, values and philosophy. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said there is so much to learn from Mahatma Gandhi. +Gujarat is blessed that this is the land that is so closely associated with Bapu, he added. +Noting that Bapu was concerned about the environment, the Prime Minister said that inspired by Gandhi Ji, we have to work for a cleaner and greener tomorrow. +The Prime Minister recalled that Bapu always taught us to think of the last person in the queue, the poorest person, and serve the underprivileged. +Inspired by this ideal we are serving the poor, the Prime Minister added. +Through our initiatives we want to transform their lives; we want to build homes for the poor, the Prime Minister said. +In the last four years we have covered significant ground in the Swachh Bharat Mission but we must continue to do more, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister later visited the Mahatma Gandhi Museum. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will offer floral tributes at Sardar Patel statue on Parliament Street in New Delhi at 7.30am. +The Prime Minister will then address the people assembling at Rajpath for the “Run For Unity”. +He will administer the pledge of unity to the assembled gathering. +The Prime Minister will flag off the “Run For Unity” on the occasion of Sardar Patel Jayanti from the lawns of Vijay Chowk around 8.15am. +The participation is voluntary and a large number of people including school-children and sportspersons are expected to join the Run for Unity. +Ahead of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, the pledge of National Unity was administered at many offices of Government of India in New Delhi today. +The celebrations are also being held in states and abroad. +Union Ministers are also attending these celebrations at different places. +The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for Rabi Crops of 2015-16 Season to be Marketed in 2016-17. +The decision is based on recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) for the Price Policy for Rabi Crops for the Marketing Season 2016-17. +CACP, which is an expert body, takes into account the cost of production, overall demand-supply, domestic and international prices, inter-crop price parity, terms of trade between agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, the likely effect of the Price Policy on the rest of economy, besides ensuring rational utilization of production resources like land and water, while recommending MSPs. +The CACP being the expert body, its recommendations are generally accepted as such. +However, in view of the gap in the demand and domestic supply of pulses, the Cabinet has decided to give a bonus of Rs.75/- per quintal for rabi pulses over and above the recommendations of the CACP. +This is expected to give a strong price signal to farmers to increase acreage and invest for increase in productivity of pulses. +The Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all Rabi Crops of 2015-16 season to be marketed in 2016-17 have been increased and are given in table below:- +Commodity +MSP for 2014-15 season +MSP for 2015-16 season +Increase in MSP over 2014-15 +Note * Bonus on Rabi pulses is payable over and above the MSP. +The prices would be effective from the Rabi marketing season 2016-17. +The higher MSPs would increase investment and production through assured remunerative prices to farmers. +The Cabinet also directed that in order to strengthen the procurement mechanism for pulses and oilseeds, Food Corporation of India (FCI) will be the Central Nodal Agency for procurement of pulses and oilseeds. +To supplement the efforts of FCI, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED), National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and Small Farmers Agri – Business Consortium (SFAC) may also undertake procurement of oilseeds and pulses as per their capacity. +Besides increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) of Rabi crops, Government has taken several other farmer friendly initiatives over the last one year. +These, inter-alia, include the following:- +· In the Kharif the Government of India had declared a bonus of Rs. 200 per quintal over and above the MSPs of Kharif pulses for 2015-16 season. +· A Scheme to issue Soil Health Card to every farmer has been introduced. +Soil health management in the country is being promoted through setting up of soil & fertilizer testing laboratories and implementation of organic farming. +· Government has also framed guidelines under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY) to promote organic farming and develop potential market for organic products. +· The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, has been launched with the objective of creating sources of assured irrigation. +· An initiative is being taken to set up a National Agriculture Market (NAM). +This would enable farmers to overcome the impediments in marketing of agricultural produce and get better price discovery. +A common e-market platform is being created and would be provided free of cost to the States/UTs. +· Government has taken steps to introduce electronic trading which will facilitate single license for trading in the whole States/country as well as single point levy of market fee. +· Government is also encouraging formation of Farmer Producer Organisations. +· To stabilize prices of pulses and onions, Government has imported pulses and onions under the Price Stabilisation Fund. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the loss of lives due to the bomb explosion in Ankara. +“Saddened by the loss of lives due to the bomb explosion in Ankara. +Condolences to families of deceased and prayers with injured”, the Prime Minister said. +1. The President of the Republic of Maldives, H.E. Mr Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, is on a State Visit to India from 16-18 December 2018 at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, H.E. Mr Narendra Modi. +2. This is President Solih’s first visit abroad after assuming the office of President of the Republic of Maldives on 17 November 2018. +The President of Maldives is accompanied by his wife First Lady Fazna Ahmed and a high level delegation comprising of Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of National Planning and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Aishath Nahula, Minister of Economic Development Uz Fayyaz Ismail, senior government officials, and a business delegation. +3. In an important gesture, President Solih is staying in the Rashtrapati Bhawan as a special guest of Rashtrapatiji. +This demonstrates the close ties between India and the Maldives, and the warmth and mutual respect between the two governments. +4. The President of India met the President of Maldives on 17 December 2018, and hosted a banquet in honour of President Solih later the same evening. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi also hosted an official lunch for President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the accompanying delegation. +6. The two sides signed the following Agreements/MoUs/Joint Declaration of Intent during the visit: +• Agreement on the Facilitation of Visa Arrangements +• Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation +• Memorandum of Understanding for Establishing Mutual Cooperation to Improve the Ecosystem for Agribusiness; +• Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the field of Information & Communications Technology and Electronics. +They agreed to work together to create institutional linkages and to establish a framework of cooperation in the following areas: +• Health cooperation issues particularly cancer treatment +• Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters +7. Prime Minister Modi warmly recalled his recent visit to the Maldives to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Solih as his special guest. +He reiterated the highest importance that India attaches to its relationship with the Maldives. +They also reiterated an abiding faith in, and commitment to democracy, development and peaceful co-existence. +9. The Prime Minister of India congratulated the people of Maldives for their successful and peaceful transition to democracy. +He applauded the President of Maldives on his vision for inclusive, decentralised, people-centric governance, and development that is sustainable. +Recalling his government’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood-First’, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s assurance of all possible support to Maldives in realising its aspirations for socio-economic development, and strengthening of democratic and independent institutions. +10. In this regard, the Prime Minister announced provision of financial assistance up to US$ 1.4 billion in the form of budgetary support, currency swap and concessional lines of credit to fulfil the socio-economic development programmes of the Maldives. +11. President Solih reaffirmed his government’s “India-First Policy”, and commitment to working together closely with India. +He appreciated the generous assistance provided by the Government of India to Maldives, and identified various areas for developmental cooperation, including private sector involvement in development of housing and infrastructure, water and sewerage systems in the outlying islands, healthcare, education and tourism. +12. Both leaders emphasized the need to improve connectivity between the two countries through the establishment of enabling infrastructure that would promote the exchange of goods and services, information, ideas, culture and people. +13. The Prime Minister informed the decision by the Government of India to provide 1000 additional slots over next 5 years for training and capacity building in diverse fields including judicial, policing and law-enforcement, audit and financial management, local governance, community development, IT, e-governance, sports, media, youth and women empowerment, leadership, innovation & entrepreneurship, art & culture. +14. Recognizing the importance of facilitating people-to-people exchanges and travel, the leaders welcomed the new Agreement on Visa Facilitation signed today. +The Prime Minister noted that the new Agreement will address the common concerns and ensure that people-to-people contacts are enhanced. +The Maldives is one of the very few countries with which India has a visa free arrangement. +15. President Solih expressed his happiness at the signing of the Agreement, as this will facilitate many Maldivians who send their children to school in India, to be able to accompany them. +The Agreement will also facilitate easier visa arrangements for Maldivian citizens and their families, to come to India for medical treatment. +Both leaders emphasised the need to ensure seamless movement of people between both countries. +16. Both leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean Region. +In furtherance of the shared recognition that the security interests of both the countries are interlinked in the region, they reiterated their assurance of being mindful of each other’s concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region and not allowing their respective territories to be used for any activity inimical to the other. +The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation to enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region through coordinated patrolling and aerial surveillance, exchange of information and capacity building. +17. The two leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment and support for increased cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations both within the region and elsewhere. +Both sides agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation on issues of common concern, including piracy, terrorism, organised crime, drugs and human trafficking. +It was also agreed to intensify cooperation in the areas of training and capacity building of Maldives Police Service and Maldives National Defence Force. +18. Both leaders reviewed efforts to promote bilateral trade and investment ties between the two countries. +The Prime Minister of India welcomed the expanding opportunities for Indian companies to invest in the Maldives in different sectors for the mutual benefit of both countries. +The Prime Minister noted that the vision of the government of Maldives, of a transparent, accountable, and rule-based administration sends a welcome message to regain the confidence of Indian business persons. +Both leaders agreed to promote closer economic cooperation in sectors such as fisheries development, tourism, transportation, connectivity, health, education, information technology, new and renewable energy and communications. +19. Both leaders reiterated the importance of an effective multilateral system as a key factor in tackling global challenges. +In this context, they also recognized the need to pursue reform of the main UN bodies, including the revitalization of the UN General Assembly and expansion of the UN Security Council. +20. The President of Maldives reiterated his country’s support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of an expanded and reformed UN Security Council. +Maldives also reiterated support for India’s candidature for non-permanent seat for the year 2020-21. +21. The Prime Minister of India welcomed Maldives’ decision to re-join the Commonwealth. +The Prime Minister also welcomed Maldives as the newest member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association. +22. Both leaders agreed on the importance of combatting the impacts of climate change, especially detrimental to developing countries, and Small Island Developing States, and the need to work towards strengthening the global response to climate change, through the UNFCCC, and the Paris Agreement. +23. The two leaders underscored the need for strengthening and reform of multilateral financial institutions and enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries in international economic decision-making. +24. The President of Maldives thanked the Prime Minister of India for the warmth, cordiality and gracious hospitality extended to him and members of his delegation during their visit. +25. The President of Maldives invited the President of India to make a State Visit to the Maldives. +PM says Indian youth has successfully resisted radicalization +A delegation comprising Muslim Ulemas, intellectuals, academicians and other eminent people called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +The delegation congratulated the Prime Minister on the steps taken by the Union Government for inclusive growth, socio-economic and educational empowerment of all sections of the society including Minorities. +The delegation was appreciative of the Saudi Government’s decision to increase the number of Haj pilgrims from India, and thanked the Prime Minister for having successfully pursued the same. +The delegation, in one voice, supported wholeheartedly the campaign launched by the Prime Minister against corruption and black money. +The delegation agreed that the fight against corruption will benefit the poor people including the Minorities the most. +The delegation congratulated the Prime Minister for his efforts to strengthen relations with the countries across the world and said that today every Indian in every corner of the world is instilled with a sense of pride. +Members of the delegation also praised the Prime Minister for his efforts towards Swachh Bharat. +The Prime Minister said that youth in India has successfully resisted radicalization, which has affected several parts of the world today. +The Prime Minister said that the culture, traditions and social fabric of India will never allow the nefarious designs of the terrorists, or their sponsors, to succeed. +The Prime Minister stressed on the importance of education and skill development, which is the key to gainful employment, and upliftment from poverty. +Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) & Parliamentary Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shri M.J. Akbar were also present on the occasion. +(ii) Specialist Medical Officers of Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles of the Ministry of Home Affairs from 60 to 65 years. +It would help in retention of officers in Specialist and General Duty Medical Cadre and thereby help in better patient care, proper academic activities in Medical colleges as also in effective implementation of National Health Programmes for delivery of health care services. +This was earlier called the Directorate General of Employment & Training, Ministry of Labour Employment. +The new service will be called the Indian Skill Development Service (ISDS). +The following changes were also approved in the cadre restructure:- +(1). Increase of one post at SAG level; +(2). Increase of four posts at JAG level; +(3). Increase of seven posts at STS level; and +(4). Reduction of 12 posts at JTS level. +The Cabinet also gave its approval for introduction of NFSG to the extent of 15 percent of SDPs at the STS level as applicable in Group ‘A’ Engineering Service. +This decision will enhance the capacity and efficiency of the organisation. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for allowing flexibility in utilisation of domestic coal for reducing the cost of power generation. +The objective of the proposal is to allow flexibility in optimal use of domestic coal in efficient Generating Stations resulting in reduction in the cost of electricity generation and reduce the power purchase cost of State Distribution companies. +Such flexibility will be able to leverage coal to electricity conversion, efficiency of equipments as well as transportation cost optimization. +This would create new thrust in promoting efficiency, optimum utilization of natural resources as well as overall economic benefit in the power sector in the country. +This will also be a more environment friendly arrangement as less coal will be used to produce more power and also the distance for transportation of coal would be optimized. +This proposal is also in line with the UDAY scheme of Government of India which also envisages liberally allowing of coal swaps from inefficient plants to efficient plants and from plants situated away from coal mines to pit head to minimize cost of coal transportation thus leading to reduction in cost of power. +The proposal envisages that all the long term coal linkages of individual State Generating Stations shall be clubbed and assigned to respective states / state nominated agency. +Similarly coal linkages of individual Central Generating Stations (CGS) shall be clubbed and assigned to the company owning the CGS, to enable the efficient coal utilization amongst end use generating stations. +There shall be flexibility in use of such coal amongst the generating stations of state owned utilities, plants of other state power utilities, company owning the Central Generating stations and IPPs, amongst each other. +In case of use of coal in State/ Central Generating Plants, the deciding criteria shall be plant efficiency, coal transportation cost, transmission charges and overall cost of power. +In case of use of coal assigned to the State in Private Generating Stations, power through substituted coal shall be procured on bidding basis from amongst the competing private sector plants, where the source of coal, quantity of coal, quantum of power, and delivery point for the receipt of power shall be indicated upfront. +The Central Electricity Authority shall in consultation with all the Stakeholders, issue the methodology for implementation of use of coal assigned to the State(s) in their own Generating stations, other State Generating Stations, CGS and IPPs. +Similarly methodologies for use of coal by company owning CGS for use of coal in their own plants or any other efficient plants shall also be issued by Central Electricity Authority. +There are broadly two categories of coal based Thermal power plants: (i) Pit Head based plants, which are situated near coal Mines and (ii) Load centre based plants situated near load centres. +Power Plants are having different efficiency levels for conversion of coal to electricity depending upon their technology, unit capacity etc. +At present, there are situations where efficient power plants have shortage of coal while some other Power Stations have adequate coal available with them because of less capacity utilization. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami. +May Lord Krishna bless our lives with peace, prosperity and happiness,” the Prime Minister said. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that he feels the love and affection of the people of Kathmandu, each time he comes here. +He said this sense of belongingness is evident for India, in Nepal. +He recalled his earlier visits to Pashupatinath, and other temples in Nepal. +He said the spiritual ties between India and Nepal have transcended both time and distance. +In that context, he added, he feels delighted to be inaugurating this Dharmashala. +The Prime Minister said that the temples of Pashupatinath, Muktinath and Jankidham showcase Nepal’s unity in diversity, besides strengthening its bonds with India. +He spoke of the rich traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism, that resonate in the city of Kathmandu. +He also mentioned how Buddhism is an important link between India and Nepal. +He said both countries are proud of their glorious heritage. +The Prime Minister stressed on the need for development, especially the need for progress of the weaker and marginalized sections of society. +He said India is scaling new heights in economic development, and added that the vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” also includes the people of Nepal. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Shri Cho Ramaswamy. +Cho Ramaswamy was a multidimensional personality, towering intellectual, great nationalist and fearless voice who was respected and admired. +Above all, Cho Ramaswamy was a dear friend. +I have been to his annual readers meeting which were an unprecedented editor reader interface. +Cho Ramaswamy was insightful, frank brilliant. +Pained by his demise. +Condolences to his family and countless readers of Thuglak”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condemned the attack in Manchester, United Kingdom. +“Pained by the attack in Manchester. +We strongly condemn it. +Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with the injured.”, the Prime Minister said. +On World Health Day, I pray that all of you remain in the best of health and at the same time inspire others to lead a healthy life. +Theme of this year’s World Health Day, Food Safety is an essential pre-condition for good health and we all must focus on it. +Govt is working tirelessly to realise the dream of a Healthy India where every citizen has access to proper and affordable healthcare. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, or Saubhagya, at New Delhi. +The aim of this scheme is to provide power to all homes. +On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, the Prime Minister also dedicated a new ONGC building – the Deendayal Urja Bhawan. +The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation, the Booster Compressor Facility in Bassein Gas Field. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister gave examples of the success of Jan Dhan Yojana, insurance schemes, Mudra Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, and Udan, to highlight how the Union Government is implementing schemes which benefit the poorest of the poor. +In this context he mentioned the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, which would provide power connections to all the estimated four crore households which currently did not have a power connection. +The outlay for this scheme would be over Rs. 16000 crore. +These connections would be provided free of cost to the poor, the Prime Minister said. +Speaking to the accompaniment of a presentation, the Prime Minister recounted how he had set a target of electrifying over 18000 unelectrified villages within 1000 days. +He said less than 3000 villages are now left to be electrified. +He explained how coal shortages have become a thing of the past, and capacity addition in power generation has exceeded targets. +The Prime Minister also spoke of an increase in renewable power installed capacity, towards the target of 175 GW by 2022. +He mentioned how the power tariff in the case of renewable energy has been reduced significantly. +A considerable increase has also been made in transmission lines. +The Prime Minister mentioned how the UDAY scheme has brought down losses of power distribution companies, describing it as an example of cooperative, competitive federalism. +Explaining the impact of economies of scale in the UJALA scheme, the Prime Minister said that the cost of LED bulbs has come down significantly. +The Prime Minister said that New India will require an energy framework that works on the principle of equity, efficiency and sustainability. +He said the change in work culture in the Union Government is strengthening the energy sector. +This in turn, will positively impact the work culture of the entire country, he added. +I am grateful, to Your Excellencies, for sparing your valuable time, to meet us today. +South America, has tremendous potential. +It is blessed, with vast resources and talent. +In a globalised and inter-connected world, our destinies are inter-linked. +We are all bound, by shared aspirations and common challenges. +We all have a stake in each other`s success. +Distance is not a barrier to opportunities. +It also does not, insulate us from challenges in other parts of the world. +Thus, we must all unite: +To seek faster growth and newer avenues of generating prosperity. +To find solutions to the challenge of poverty. +To preserve our environment, and use our resources well. +Our discussions today should throw up new ideas for partnership between BRICS and South America. +BRICS nations have already started a new chapter in this with the BRICS New Development Bank. +This will open up newer opportunities of cooperation. +Excellencies, India and South America share a deep bond. +Authors and poets, like Octavio Paz, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Pablo Neruda are popular in India. +Similarly, our national poet, Rabindranath Tagore, is widely loved here. +South America is also home to a large number of Indians, many of whom came centuries ago. +Generations later, they remain a strong bridge of friendship, between our nations. +My own home state of Gujarat has many links with South America: +Ages ago, the Gir cow made its way from Gujarat, all the way to Brazil. +Today Gujarat accounts for more than half of India`s trade, with this wonderful continent. +Excellencies, as Chief Minister of Gujarat, I also had the privilege, to interact with your Ambassadors in Delhi. +I was struck by their warmth, and their keen desire to forge closer relations, between India and South America. +I assure you that India will work more closely with South America than ever before. +At the bilateral level, as a BRICS member, in the G-77, as well as other international forums. +Excellencies, India`s trade with South America, has shown strong growth in recent years. +We also attach importance, to the South American and Caribbean Business Conclave held every year in India. +A similar Investment Conclave, is being organized in October 2014, in India. +I ask your Excellencies, to encourage your business leaders, to take full advantage of this opportunity. +We must share with each other, our experiences, best practices and innovative solutions. +India stands committed to the same. +I am pleased, that India has deputed experts, to countries in the South American region in the fields of Agriculture, Horticulture, Disaster Management, Communications and Law. +We are also working together in Renewable Energy. +Almost 250 students from South America, have been taking courses in India every year under our International Technical and Economic Cooperation program. +I however believe, that this is not enough. +We intend to substantially increase the same. +To share India`s expertise in Information Technology, we will establish Centres of Excellence in Information Technology, in South American countries. +India also offers to expand cooperation, in areas like Tele-medicine, Tele-education and e-Governance. +We extend our Space capabilities, for weather forecasting, resource mapping and disaster management. +I also look forward, to a much more intensive level of engagement, between India and South America, in the coming years, across all domains of cooperation +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Venezuela on Venezuela’s Independence Day. +“On Venezuela’s Independence Day, my greetings & best wishes to the people of Venezuela. +Strong ties between India & Venezuela will be advantageous to both our Nations. +Looking forward to deeper cooperation with Venezuela,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Denmark for cooperation in the fields of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. +The MoU was signed on 16.4.2018. +The MoU aims to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of Animal Husbandly and Dairying for the purpose of broadening the existing knowledge base on dairy development and institutional strengthening. +A Joint Working Group (JWC) consisting of representatives of each party shall be created to formulate joint programmes, facilitate cooperation and consultation and subsequent evaluation. +Danish partnership is expected to facilitate exchange ofknowledge & expertise in the areas of animal breeding, animal health and dairying, fodder management etc. aiming at enhancing production and productivity of Indian livestock including livestock trade matter of mutual interest. +Madam Prime Minister, I am aware that India has always been close to your heart and you have been a great friend of India. +Recently you celebrated Diwali at your home with members of the Indian community! +4. Your presence here today reaffirms your commitment to the bilateral relationship. +It is an honour for us that you chose to visit India as your first bilateral trip outside your immediate neighborhood and we extend a warm welcome to you. +5. Today, the world is at an inflection point where technology advancement is transformational. +But I am confident that together we can leverage our scientific strengths and technological prowess to create new opportunities. +7. India is now the fastest growing large economy with the most open investment climate. +Our innovative entrepreneurs, talented work force and R&D capabilities combined with large markets, demographic dividend and increasing economic competitiveness offer new growth sources for the world economy. +8. Likewise, the UK too has experienced resilient growth in the recent past. +It excels in academic quest and technological innovation. +9. Even though the quantum of bilateral trade has remained at the same level for the past five years our investments in both directions have been robust. +India is the 3rd largest investor in UK, and UK is the largest G20 investor in India. +Both countries support large numbers of jobs in each other’s economies. +10. The present India-UK cooperation in science and technology is driven by ‘high quality’ and ‘high impact’ research partnerships. +12. We have agreed to establish India-UK Clean Energy R&D Centre on solar energy with joint investment of 10 million pounds. +A new Anti-Microbial Resistance initiative with joint investment of 15 million pounds is also being launched. +This can help address some of the modern life style diseases that we face. +15. These sectors open new potential for Indian and UK businesses to convert the scientific knowledge into technology based enterprises. +16. I firmly believe that Science, Technology and Innovation are immense growth forces and will play a very significant role in our relationship. +The Tech Summit aims at strengthening our strategic partnership for mutual gains based on our shared technological prowess and scientific knowledge. +17. I have always said that Science is Universal but Technology has to be local. +It is in this context that such summits throw an opportunity to understand each other’s requirements and forge our future relationship on that understanding. +19. There is an opportunity for India and UK to collaborate in the ‘Digital India’ Program and expand information convergence and people centric e-governance. +We have 350 million internet users. +We are bringing in last mile connectivity to nearly 100,000 villages across the country. +Such rapid growth offers new digital highways and new markets for UK and Indian companies to address. +21. A natural collaboration emerges in India’s rapidly developing financial services sector. +This financial inclusion scheme is being melded with mobile technology and the unique identification card to form the largest social security program in the world. +22. With UK’s leadership in financial technology and international finance, promising opportunities can be harnessed by our enterprises in this mission. +23. We also expect ‘Make in India’ to be a key sector of bilateral engagement. +Advanced manufacturing is a special endeavor under this program. +UK as a leading player can benefit from our liberal FDI policies in defense manufacturing, aerospace and electronics engineering. +24. The ‘Smart City’ mission aims to integrate digital technology into our rapidly urbanizing environment. +I am glad that there is already a high level of interest from the UK in projects in Pune, Amaravati and Indore. +Today, India and UK have emerged amongst the top three largest startup hubs in the world with an exciting ecosystem of investors and innovators. +26. Together, we can create a vibrant and thriving environment for new commercial applications with breakthrough technologies. +28. I believe that India and the UK must continue to nurture and support an ecosystem of high quality fundamental research to pave the way for joint technology development that can address global challenges. +29. I am happy to note that the India-UK Tech Summit focuses on higher education. +Education is vital for our students and will define our engagement in a shared future. +We must therefore encourage greater mobility and participation of young people in educational and research opportunities. +30. I congratulate the Department of Science and Technology and the Confederation of Indian Industry for organizing this signature event with United Kingdom as the partner country. +I am confident that the Tech Summit will lay the foundation for the next phase of India-UK relationship. +It will take us together into a journey based on shared scientific knowledge and technological prowess. +31. I thank all the participants from UK and India whose contribution and presence is crucial to the success of this meet. +I once again would like to thank Prime Minister Theresa May for gracing this occasion and sharing her perspectives and vision in building a new India-UK partnership. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for allowing the Ministry of Railways to form Joint Venture Companies with the State Governments to mobilize resources for undertaking various rail infrastructure projects in States. +The Joint Venture Companies would be formed with equity participation of Ministry of Railways and concerned State Governments. +Each Joint Venture (JV) would have an initial paid up capital of Rs. 100 crores based on the quantum of projects to be undertaken. +The Ministry of Railways’ initial paid-up capital will be limited to Rs. 50 crore for each State. +Further infusion of fund/equity for the purpose of the projects shall be done after approval of the project and its funding at the level of appropriate competent authority. +The JV can also form project-specific SPVs with equity holding by other shareholders like Banks, ports, public sector undertakings, mining companies etc. +The Joint Venture exercise would ensure greater participation of State Governments in implementation of Railway Projects both in terms of financial participation as well as decision making process. +This will also facilitate in faster statutory approvals and land acquisition. +Besides travelling people, various cement, steel, power plants etc. would get the necessary rail link for transportation of their raw material and finished products. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Maldives which was signed in October, 2015 in the field of sports and youth affairs. +The bilateral exchange programmes will help in expanding knowledge and expertise in the areas of sports science, sports medicine, coaching techniques, participation in youth festivals and camps which would result in improvement in performance of India’s sports persons in international tournaments and strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Jagran Forum on the occasion of the 75th anniversary celebrations of Dainik Jagran newspaper, in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister said that the Dainik Jagran has played a key role in generating awareness, and in the re-building of the nation. +He said, that based on his own experience, Dainik Jagran has strengthened the movement towards change in the country and society. +In this context, he mentioned initiatives such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao; and Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. +The Prime Minister asserted that with the digital revolution, media would play a key role in strengthening the country. +The Prime Minister said that “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance”and “सबका साथ, सबका विकास” form the basis for New India. +He said that today, the youth feel that they are stakeholders in the development process. +He raised the question: why is our country backward even so many decades after independence. +Why could the problems of our people not be resolved, he asked. +The Prime Minister said that all other things remaining the same, how has this change come about? +He said that once the poor and the underprivileged get basic facilities, they will themselves overcome poverty. +He said the beneficiaries of such schemes are the labourers, the workers, the farmers etc. +He said this movement towards empowerment of the poor will be taken even further. +He said the world is taking note of India’s progress. +The Prime Minister said that India has made some proposals before the international community to ensure that economic offenders do not find sanctuary anywhere. +PM: Had we followed Swami Ji’s message, history would never have witnessed such dastardly acts as the 9/11 terror attack. +“Through his address, Swami Vivekananda drew the entire world’s attention to our Nation’s rich history and strong cultural roots,” the Prime Minister said. +“”Sisters and brothers of America”…with these words of Swami Vivekananda, India’s message of universal brotherhood reverberated across the world,” Shri Narendra Modi said. +“There are 2 images of 11th September – one of the trail of destruction in 2001 and the other – the message of Swami Vivekananda in 1893. +Had we followed Swami Ji’s message, history would never have witnessed such dastardly acts as we saw on 11th September 2001 in USA,” the Prime Minister said. +“Let us remember the words of Swami Vivekananda and dedicate ourselves to furthering the cause of unity, brotherhood and world peace,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister also shared the link to Swami Vivekananda’s speech:- +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will pay visit to Kumbh at Prayagraj tomorrow. +At Kumbh, he will participate in the Swachh Kumbh Swachh Aabhaar event, organized by Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation. +PM will later address the gathering. +Prime Minister will take a snaan at Triveni Sangam. +He will also interact with Safai Karmacharis at Prayagraj. +Cleanliness and Swacch Bharat initiatives were given unprecedented focus in Kumbh organized at Prayagraj this year. +The Prime Minister by presenting the Swachh Kumbh Swachh Aabhar awards will honour those who have played a vital role in ensuring a Swachh Kumbh. +The main objectives of the MoU are: +a) To create favourable conditions for long-term co-operation in the field of tourism for the mutual benefits. +b) To exchange expertise, publications, information/data and statistics related to tourism. +c) To encourage cooperation through the exchange of programmes, propaganda and advertising materials, publications, films, promotion and marketing of their tourism products via media etc. +d) To exchange visits of Tour Operators / Media /Opinion Makers for promotion of two way tourism. +e) To encourage co-operation between tourism sectors, tour operators, travel agents and other tourism private sector’s firms and bureaus in the two countries. +f) To encourage public and the private sectors to invest in tourism. +Qatar is a potential market for India in terms of Medical tourism and provides vast opportunity for India in this field. +The signing of MoU with Qatar will be instrumental in increasing arrival from this emerging source market. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his greetings on World Consumer Rights Day. +PM said, “Greetings on World Consumer Rights Day. +The consumer plays an important role in the economy. +Government of India is not only focussing on consumer protection but also consumer prosperity.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of V.S. Naipaul. +“Sir VS Naipaul will be remembered for his extensive works, which covered diverse subjects ranging from history, culture, colonialism, politics and more. +His passing away is a major loss to the world of literature. +Condolences to his family and well wishers in this sad hour” , the Prime Minister said. +He was speaking at a public meeting after paying homage to martyrs at the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, near Ferozepur in Punjab. +He called upon the farmers of Punjab, who, he said, had eliminated hunger from India, to now take the lead in adopting modern water conservation practices and judicious use of chemical fertilizers. +The Prime Minister criticized those who were misleading farmers, and said the Union Government is working on far-reaching policies to promote the welfare of farmers. +In this regard, the Prime Minister emphasized initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana and Soil Health Cards. +Shri Narendra Modi said his Government would provide relief to farmers affected by the recent unseasonal rains. +The Prime Minister said he had come to salute martyrs such as Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. +He reiterated his commitment to build an India of their dreams where youth have employment, and the poorest of the poor are also benefited. +He outlined his vision of “Housing for All,” by 2022, and “Swachh Bharat by 2019”. +The Prime Minister announced the setting up of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh P G Institute for Horticulture Research and Education at Amritsar. +The Prime Minister also explained how the Union Government is working towards empowering states with more resources. +He spoke about the benefit that Punjab would get as a result of the acceptance of the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission. +The Prime Minister spoke about the various ways in which the Union Government had curbed corruption, including through successful coal block auctions. +This is one more initiative to fight the menace of black money inside the country. +The Department of Revenue in consultation with the Legislative Department has amended the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988. +Sr. Gen. U Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Defence Services called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Sr. Gen. U Min Aung Hlaing appreciated India’s role as a reliable development partner for Myanmar. +Sr. Gen. U Min Aung Hlaing expressed his commitment to deepen defence and security engagement with India, including in the maritime security domain. +He added that Myanmar will remain an important platform in support of India’s Act East Policy. +Sr. Gen. U Min Aung Hlaing conveyed the invitation of President U Thein Sein to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to visit Myanmar. +The Prime Minister said that he looked forward to visiting Myanmar at an early date. +The Prime Minister also invited President U Thein Sein to visit India at the earliest. +Sr. Gen. U Min Aung Hlaing expressed condolences on behalf of the people and the Government of Union of Myanmar on the passing away of former President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam. +The Prime Minister reiterated India’s commitment to strengthen the bilateral relationship with Myanmar in all areas, including defence and security. +The Prime Minister said that a strong and prosperous Myanmar was in India’s interest, and expressed India’s support to Myanmar in its endeavours for national development. +The Prime Minister said that Myanmar is “India’s gateway to ASEAN”, and called for greater connectivity between the two countries and beyond. +(i). Leasing of land measuring 6200 Sqm. which includes 4800 Sqm. of land for 2 Hangars with apron and 1400 Sqm. of land for Link Taxi Track to the Hangar to ICG at Juhu Airport. +(ii). Leasing of 5 acres of AAI land to Indian Coast Guard at Vizag Airport. +(iii). Leasing of 0.9 acres of AAI land to Indian Coast Guard to facilitate them to construct taxi track at Tuticorin Airport. +(iv). Leasing of triangular piece of AAI land measuring 7326 Sqm. to Indian Coast Guard at Porbandar Airport. +(v). Leasing of 4.62 acres of AAI land to Indian Navy at Porbandar Airport. +Owing to the illegal/terrorist activities via/along the Indian Coast Line, the ICG is developing/establishing various facilities along the coastal line to keep a watch with a view to stop such activities. +A five-member delegation led by the Vice-Chairman, Aga Khan Foundation, Mr. Gulam Rahimtoola, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +The delegation members briefed the Prime Minister on various development activities being undertaken by the Foundation in India. +They appreciated the economic reform initiatives of the Prime Minister, and also expressed their intention to increase investments in India. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his third interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +Initiating today’s interaction, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that PRAGATI was speeding up decision-making processes in vital projects and important areas of governance. +He also said that the spirit of problem-solving and swift implementation, which is being generated through the PRAGATI interactions, is gradually spreading to all areas of governance. +In the course of his review today, the Prime Minister reviewed the implementation of key issues pertaining to ex-servicemen. +Expressing serious concern at the perceived “atmosphere of indifference” with regard to issues pertaining to ex-servicemen such as delay in pension and retirement benefits, the Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to pay more attention to their resolution at the earliest. +Reviewing the quality of service under CGHS (Central Government Health Service), the Prime Minister gave clear directions to the concerned departments to resolve pending issues and grievances at the earliest. +Projects were reviewed in the sectors of road and rail connectivity, bridges, power transmission lines, coal, atomic energy, and industrial infrastructure. +In the course of these reviews, the Prime Minister repeatedly stressed how improved coordination between the Centre and States could help avoid delays and cost overruns in projects. +Shri Narendra Modi also reviewed the implementation of the Prime Minister’s special scholarship scheme for students of Jammu and Kashmir. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Rising India Summit, organized by Network 18. +He said that when we speak of a rise, in terms of a nation, it has a very broad context. +He said that beyond the rise of the economy, he feels that Rising India implies the rise of self-respect among the people of India. +He said that with the collective willpower of the people, even the impossible can be accomplished. +He said, today, this collective willpower, is working to accomplish the resolve of New India. +The Prime Minister said that contrary to the common perception in many nations, that Governments lead development and change, while citizens follow; in India the trend has been reversed in the last four years. +Now citizens lead, and the government follows, he added. +He said the Swachh Bharat Mission has become a mass movement in a short time. +Citizens are using digital payments as a weapon against corruption and black money, he added. +He said the citizens of the country have inspired the Government to take big decisions and implement them. +He said the transformational shift in India, is due to the resolve of its people. +He said that as a vision, the Government is working to reduce the sense of imbalance at the national level. +Through the help of a video, he explained how the UjjwalaYojana is transforming not just kitchens, but entire families. +This, he explained, addresses a big imbalance in our social structures. +He said that he has returned after spending the day in Manipur, where he inaugurated the Science Congress, laid the Foundation Stone for the Sports University, and initiated several other important projects for the North-East. +He said the emotional integration and demographic dividend of Eastern India must be kept in mind. +He said 12 new airports are being constructed in eastern India. +The Prime Minister said that out of the 18,000 villages that had been left unelectrified, about 13,000 were in eastern India, and 5000 in the North-East. +He said soon, the target of electrifying these villages will be accomplished. +He said the Saubhagya Yojana would provide an electricity connection to each home. +He said this march of Eastern India, from isolation, to integration, would give strength to “Rising India.” +Turning to the health sector, the Prime Minister said the Government is focusing on four pillars in this sector: +He said sanitation coverage has risen from about 38 percent, to about 80 percent. +He said Yoga has become a mass movement. +He mentioned the Wellness Centres announced in the recent Union Budget. +He also spoke about immunization. +The Prime Minister said more than 3000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been established across the country, where more than 800 medicines are available at low rates. +He said the prices of stents and knee implants have also been regulated. +He said the Ayushman Bharat scheme would offer health assurance to nearly 10 crore families. +The Prime Minister said that to address the shortage of doctors, the number of seats in medical colleges is being substantially enhanced. +He mentioned the National Nutrition Mission, launched on International Women’s Day. +The Prime Minister explained how the Union Government is working on a Unique Development Model for each sector. +On the power sector, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of breaking silos, and finding solutions. +He said the Power Ministry, Renewable EnergyMinistry andCoal Ministryare now working as one unit. +He said that India is moving from Power Shortage toPower Surplus, and from Network Failure toNet Exporter. +The Prime Minister said that today people believe that India can leave its weaknesses behind, and march forward. +He said this belief is the foundation of Rising India. +He said that today, the whole world is acknowledging India’s rise. +He said India is giving a new direction, not just to its own development, but also to development of the whole world. +He said India is leading the solar revolution today, as demonstrated by the recently held Conference of the International Solar Alliance. +He said that at international platforms, such as G-20 and United Nations, India has raised issues which affect the entire world, such as terrorism, black money and corruption. +The Prime Minister said that on the economic front, in the last three to four years, India has lent strength to global economic growth as well. +He said the country is performing well on all macro-economic parameters. +He said rating agencies are revising India’s ratings upwards. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is working with a holistic approach keeping in mind the aspirations of the poor, lower-middle and middle classes. +He said that the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana has become an effective means to empower youth and women. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved amendments in the Model Concession Agreement (MCA) to make the Port Projects more investor-friendly and make investment climate in the Port Sector more attractive. +The other salient features of the revised MCA include the following:- +Providing exit route to developers by way of divesting their equity upto 100% after completion of 2 years from the Commercial Operation Date(COD). +This is now similar to the MCA provisions of Highway Sector. +Concessionaire would pay Royalty on “per MT of cargo/TEU handled” basis which would be indexed to the variations in the WPI annually. +“Actual Project Cost” would be replaced by “Total Project Cost”. +Provision for commencement of operations before COD. +This will lead to better utilization of assets provided by the Port in many projects before the formal completion certificate. +Introduction of Complaint Portal for the use of port users. +The amendments in the MCA have been finalized after extensive consultation with the stakeholders. +PM: India must establish global benchmarks in governance +PM: My priorities are growth and jobs; I believe in a fair, predictable and consistent tax system +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said his priority was for India to establish global benchmarks in areas such as governance, transparency and taxation. +Interacting over dinner with participants of the BlackRock India Investor Summit, he said the priority of his Government is “growth and jobs.” +The Prime Minister said there is rising interest in India, and “we have to accept that responsibility.” +The Prime Minister said infrastructure development is one of the best routes to create jobs for the youth. +He said India requires both expansion and upgradation of its infrastructure. +He said the Railways could become a growth engine for the economy. +The Prime Minister said the goal of Affordable Housing for all by 2022, would in itself, provide a huge boost for the economy. +He said the Government was focusing on skill development that would fulfil not just the Indian requirement, but also the global requirement. +In terms of the education system, he said the best in the world should be there in India as well. +Twenty one major global investors participated in the India Investor Summit earlier in the day. +The list of institutional investors includes asset managers, insurers, pension funds, and official institutions. +The Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Laurence Fink, Chairman and CEO BlackRock, and the Finance Ministry for organizing the India Investor Summit. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has lauded India’s Open Water Swimmer Bhakti Sharma for her accomplishment of setting a world record, by swimming 1.4 miles in 52 minutes across the waters of Antarctic Ocean, at a temperature of one degree Celsius. +Bhakti Sharma is now the world’s youngest and Asia’s first girl to achieve this feat. +Bhakti has now conquered all the five oceans of the world. +“We are all very very proud of Bhakti Sharma for her accomplishments! +My best wishes to her”, the Prime Minister said. +Under the proposal, a Centre of Excellence in Rice Value Addition (CERVA) will be set up in Varanasi. +This will include a modern and sophisticated laboratory with capacity to determine quality and status of heavy metals in grain and straw. +The Centre will also undertake capacity building exercises for stakeholders across the rice value chain. +This Center will be the first international Center in the eastern India and it will play a major role in harnessing and sustaining rice production in the region. +It is expected to be a boon for food production and skill development in the eastern India and similar ecologies in other South Asian and African countries. +India’s food and nutritional security issues will also be addressed. +The Centre will support in adopting value chain based production system in the country. +This will reduce wastage, add value and generate higher income for the farmers. +Management of ISARC +ISARC will operate under the governance of the IRRI Board of Trustees who will appoint an appropriate IRRI staff member as Director. +The other members of Coordination Committee are Deputy Director General (Crop Sciences), ICAR; Director, NSRTC; IRRI representative in India, representative of Government of UP and representatives of Governments of Nepal & Bangladesh and Private Sector. +For setting up of the Centre, A Memorandum of Agreement, will be signed between DAC&FW and IRRI, Philippines. +The Department of DAC&FW will provide physical space for laboratories, offices, training classes, etc. with associated infrastructure and land at NSRTC, Varanasi. +The Centre will be commissioned within six months. +Your Excellency President Xi Jinping, my esteemed BRICS Colleagues, Distinguished Leaders +I am delighted to be here with you all today. +Your countries are close and valued partners of India. +And I am pleased to exchange perspectives with you on the shared priority of achieving comprehensive sustainable development. +I thank President Xi Jinping for bringing us together for this dialogue. +Two years since the adoption of UN’s 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the imperative of collaborative action to achieve the goals is even stronger. +Recently in July, India completed its first voluntary national review of SDGs. +The bedrock of our development agenda lies in the notion of “SabkaSaath,SabkaVikaas” – that is: Collective Effort, Inclusive Growth. +We have mapped each of the SDGs to our own development programmes and scheme, both at the federal and state level. +Our Parliament too has taken the initiative to organize Parliamentary debates on SDGs. +Our programmes are geared to accomplish these priority goals in a time-bound manner. +To cite just one example, our three-pronged approach of providing a bank account to the unbanked, providing a biometric identity to all, and using innovative mobile governance solutions, has enabled Direct Benefit Transfers to almost 360 million people for the first time. +We would like to see such domestic efforts buttressed by strong international partnerships. +And, for this, we stand ready to do our part. +India has a long tradition of partnerships with fellow developing countries, while pursuing our own aspirations for growth. +At every step, we have shared our experience and resources across a range of sectors: from strengthening democratic institutions to deploying high-tech solutions for public good. +Earlier this year, we launched the South Asia Satellite to benefit willing regional partners in meeting their developmental goals in education, healthcare, communication, and disaster management. +For over half a century, India’s flagship initiative – Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation, ITEC – has offered training and skill development to 161 partner countries from Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Caribbean and Pacific Island states. +From Africa alone, over the last decade, over 25,000 students have trained in India on ITEC scholarships. +At the Third India-Africa Forum Summit in 2015, with participation of all 54 African countries, we decided to double the number of ITEC scholarships to 50,000 over a period of only 5 years. +The “Solar Mamas” of Africa, trained in India, are lighting up thousands of homes across the African continent. +Our growing engagement with Africa has led to the African Development Bank holding its Annual Meeting outside Africa for the first time, in India earlier this year. +Our development partnerships projects are providing water, electricity, roads, healthcare, tele-medicine, and basic infrastructure to people in dozens of countries across the world. +And, in all of this, our “no strings attached” model of cooperation is driven purely by the requirements and priorities of our partner countries. +The countries present here together represent almost half of the humanity. +Whatever we do, will impact the world substantially. +So, it is our solemn duty to make a better world – brick by brick, or, through BRICS. +Yesterday, I had spoken about the BRICS driving the global transformation in the next ten years for it to be a Golden Decade. +I suggest that this can be brought about with our proactive approach, policies, and action, on the following ten Noble Commitments: +1. Creating a Safer World: by organized and coordinated action on at least three issues: Counter Terrorism, Cyber Security and Disaster Management; 2. +Creating a Greener World: by taking concerted action on countering Climate Change, through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance; 3. +Creating an Enabled World: by sharing and deploying suitable technologies to enhance efficiency, economy and effectiveness; 4. +Creating an Inclusive World: by economic mainstreaming of our people including in the banking and financial system; 5. +Creating a Digital World: by bridging the digital divide within and outside our economies; 6. +Creating a Skilled World: by giving future-ready skills to millions of our youth; 7. +Creating a Healthier World: by cooperating in research and development to eradicate diseases, and enabling affordable healthcare for all; 8. +Creating an Equitable World: by providing equality of opportunity to all, particularly through gender equality; 9. +Through these agenda points, and action on them, we will be contributing directly to the welfare of the Global Community in addition to welfare of our own people. +I commend President Xi for ably steering the BRICS Chairmanship for the year 2017, and for his warm welcome and hospitality in this beautiful city of Xiamen. +I also welcome President Zuma and commit India’s full support for Johannesburg Summit next year. +I am very fortunate that once again I have got the opportunity to meet you. +In 2017, he was the Chief Guest of our extremely important Republic Day function. +Today, our relation with the gulf countries is not just confined to a buyer-seller relationship but it has become a partnership. +India takes pride in that more than 3 million Indians living in the gulf countries have become partners in the developmental journey of this region. +I express my heartfelt gratitude to the gulf countries, I salute them. +They have provided this kind of good environment to more than 30 lakh Indians as if it is their second home outside India. +Indian community also sowed the seeds of their dreams along with the dreams of local people and also with the same commitment by considering this place as their own home. +And, in a way, we have been able to experience a very good partnership among the human groups in the gulf countries. +In UAE, people were surprised when his highness crown prince took the initiative of constructing a temple in Abu Dhabi when I came here last time. +I would like to express my gratitude to his highness crown prince on behalf of all the 1.25 billion Indians. +It will be a compelling responsibility for all those related with the construction of the temple, for all the future devotees that there should not be anything that might hurt the high ideals and principles of humanity even a bit. +I have this expectation from all of you. +Today, the country is scaling new heights of development. +It’s a matter of pride for India that today the country has been given a place of particular respect in a global level summit. +I have been invited to address the summit. +Here, it’s not difficult for you to gather information about India. +You have such knowledge about India that if I talk about one thing then you will talk about ten things. +And in a way a mini India resides here. +There is not even a single corner in this country where India is not represented. +Friends, let’s pack your belongings and go somewhere else. +We have been through those periods of despair, apprehension and confusion. +There was a time when the common man of this country used to ask, if it was possible ? +Whether it will happen? +Whether it can be done in our country? +There is no complaint rather there is confidence that if it is to happen it will happen now. +In 2014, we were at the 142nd position in the ease of doing business ranking at global level. +It means it was bit easier to count if you start counting from the last number. +Globalisation is that thing in which all the people of this world fulfill their responsibilities by connecting with everyone and by learning from everyone and by taking everyone along, we have to attain those heights that will be useful for the welfare of the last man or the last country in the world and only then can we show that the whole world is one family in the real sense of the word by living the life as per that mantra “ Basudhaiba Kutumbakam”. +Then it’s not like that it will happen automatically; it’s not like that we will continue to keep our hands like this and it will happen automatically. +We will have to work hard in order to make the 21st century a century of Asia even if there are no immediate gains. +We will have to work hard keeping in view our long term interests. +Mahatma Gandhi used to talk about Shreya (what must be done) and Priya (what is liked by us). +It should be our effort that we should move ahead by taking steps in the direction of those objectives that must be fulfilled. +We may or may not like them now but these things will be in our long term interests. +There are some people who can immediately understand the step that we take. +For others it is a problem and they take time to understand. +However, the one who spent sleepless nights continues to weep even after two years. +However, when we wake up the next morning we go the left side habitually believing that the bathroom was there and we hit the wall. +We later realise that it’s a new house and the bathroom is on the right side in this house. +Whether everybody has experienced this thing or not? +If there are going to be so many problems in one person’s life due to the changes then it’s natural to face hick ups when the system is changed after 70 years and in a country which has a population of 1.25 billion and which has internalised these habits and where two-three generations have spent their lifetime with those habits. +Then there will be difficulties when things have to be changed. +However, it’s worthwhile to do so. +The country is changing. +I was in Abu Dhabi yesterday and have signed several agreements. +I’m extremely grateful to all of you. +I am finishing this visit in Jet speed. +I’m going to return after visiting five countries within 70-80 hours. +Jordan, Palestine, Abu Dhabi and now I’m in Dubai and from here I will go to Oman. +Today evening I am going to have the good luck of meeting the Indian community in very large numbers over there as well. +I need to share some of my thoughts with them as well. +Once again, I express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you. +“Happy Easter! +I hope this special day strengthens the bonds of unity, peace and brotherhood. +May the noble thoughts and ideals of Lord Christ motivate people to serve and bring a positive difference to society”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa on his birth anniversary. +” I bow to Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa on his Jayanti. +He embodied the spirit of harmony and brotherhood. +He dreamt of a society that is just and free from divisions,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister also shared a speech he had given last year in which he had paid tributes to Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Odisha today. +At Talcher, he unveiled a plaque to mark the commencement of work for the revival of Talcher Fertilizer Plant. +Speaking on the occasion, he expressed happiness that the important step of beginning work on the fertiliser plant had been taken. +We are fulfilling dreams that should have been fulfilled long ago, the Prime Minister said. +He said the aim of the Government is to take India to new heights of growth. +Projects like the fertiliser plant here are central to India’s growth story, the Prime Minister said, adding that this plant will use latest technology as well. +In Jharsuguda, the Prime Minister inaugurated Jharsuguda airport, and flagged off the first flight from Jharsuguda to Raipur. +He also dedicated the Garjanbahal coal mines, and the Jharsuguda-Barapali-Sardega rail link to the nation. +He unveiled a plaque to mark the commencement of coal production and transportation from Dulanga coal mines. +Speaking on the occasion, he said he is happy to be in Jharsuguda to inaugurate an airport and other development projects. +These development works will greatly benefit the people of Odisha, he added. +The Prime Minister said India’s aviation sector is being transformed rapidly, and this augurs well for 125 crore Indians. +This airport in Jharsuguda is well located to serve the needs of the people of Odisha, the Prime Minister said. +He said that connectivity is at the core of all round development. +The Union Government has devoted significant efforts to enhance connectivity all over the nation, the Prime Minister added. +Governors from four States today called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at South Block. +The President of France, Mr. François Hollande spoke to the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +He apprised the Prime Minister of the latest status at CoP-21 climate talks. +The talks are being held in Paris and the summit has entered into the final stage. +The Prime Minister appreciated this gesture of French President. +The amalgamation will help create a strong globally competitive bank with economies of scale and enable realisation of wide-ranging synergies. +Leveraging of networks, low-cost deposits and subsidiaries of the three banks has the potential of yielding significant synergies for positioning the consolidated entity for substantial rise in customer base, market reach, operational efficiency, wider bouquet of products and services, and improved access for customers. +Key points of the Scheme of amalgamation: +(a) Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank are transferor banks and BoB is transferee bank. +(b) The scheme shall come into force on 1.4.2019. +(c) Upon commencement of the scheme, the undertakings of the transferor banks as a going concern shall be transferred to and shall vest in the transferee bank, including, inter alia, all business, assets, rights, titles, claims, licenses, approvals and other privileges and all property, all bor­rowings, liabilities and obligations. +(e) The Board of the transferee bank shall ensure that the interests of all transferring employees and officers of the transferor bank are protected. +(f) The transferee bank shall issue shares to the shareholders of transferor banks as per share exchange ratio. +Shareholders of the transferee bank and transferor banks shall be entitled to raise their grievances, if any, in relation to the share exchange ratio, through an expert committee. +Some of the strengths of the envisaged amalgamated entity are- +The amalgamated bank will be better equipped in the changing environment to meet the credit needs of a growing economy, absorb shocks and capacity to raise resources. +Economies of scale and wider scope would position it for improved profitability, wider product offerings, and adoption of technology and best practices across amalgamating entities for cost efficiency and improved risk management, and financial inclusion through wider reach. +It would also enable creation of a bank with scale comparable to global banks and capable of competing effectively in India and globally. +Strengths of individual banks – such as Dena Bank’s relatively higher access to low-cost CASA deposits, Vijaya Bank’s profitability and availability of capital for growth, and the extensive and global network and offerings of BoB will translate into advantages in terms of market reach, operational efficiencies and the ability to support a wider offering of product and services. +The amalgamated banks will have access to a wider talent pool, and a large database that may be leveraged through analytics for competitive advantage in a rapidly digitalising banking context. +Public at large shall benefit in terms of enhanced access to banking services through a stronger network, the ability to support a wider offering of product and services, and easy access to credit. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval to establish a Credit Guarantee Fund for Factoring for MSME units. +The corpus of the Fund is Rs.500 crore. +Assuming a leverage of 5 times of the corpus, gross factoring transactions would cover Rs.20,000 crore per annum at the end of fifth year. +The corpus is estimated to be Rs.492 crore at the end of fifth year. +In third year of operations, a mid-term review of the Fund may be undertaken and propose modifications if any. +The goal is to promote “factoring without recourse”. +The mechanism would be: +i. Governing structure – DoFS will be “the Settlor” and shall establish a Fund for guaranteeing factored debts. +The Fund shall be under “National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC). +It will have a Management Committee consisting of Secretary, DFS as the ex-officio Chairman. +The convenor of the Management Committee will be nominated by the Settlor. +The Management Committee shall be responsible for all policy aspects of the Fund. +ii. Coverage – Credit guarantee cover for a maximum of 50 percent of factored debt will be provided under the Fund. +To start with, only transactions covered under the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011 are to be included. +iii. Guarantee Fee – The guarantee fee chargeable from the MLIs shall not exceed 0.75 percent per quarter of the guaranteed factored debts for the amount of guarantee cover. +iv. Filing of claims by factors – Claims shall be filed by MLIs with the proposed Fund, as per guidelines prescribed by the Management Committee. +v. Interest rate – The actual interest rate to be charged from the MSMEs will be left to Factors. +vi. Modifications to the parameters under the scheme – The key elements of the structure have been proposed based on very preliminary data in the sector. +These may require to be revisited and will be done with the approval of FM. +Factoring is a financing arrangement for suppliers by making pre¬payments against invoices. +This provides liquidity to MSMEs and facilitates collection of receivables. +India`s factoring volume is below Rs.20,000 crore. +The Factoring Regulation Act, 2012 provides the legal framework for factoring. +RBI has issued guidelines. +However, there is no insurance for factoring. +Mr. Matt Bevin, Governor of Kentucky called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in Gandhi nagar today. +The Prime Minister noted the growing convergence between India and US, including in the areas of business and investment, and the strengthening of the strategic partnership between India and the US. +He welcomed greater US investment in the manufacturing sector in India, and invited US companies to explore opportunities for Make-in-India. +The Governor briefed the Prime Minister on the increasing trade and investment between Kentucky and India. +He welcomed the contribution of Indian professionals in the US, including in the State of Kentucky. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi today vacated the Vadodara Parliamentary seat, retaining the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat. +Shri Narendra Modi sent in his resignation as a Member of Parliament from Vadodara to Speaker of Lok Sabha today. +Shri Narendra Modi was elected from both the Varanasi and Vadodara parliamentary constituencies in the recent Lok Sabha elections. +We are happy to host the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in partnership with the Government of the United States of America. +The Summit is being held in South Asia for the first time. +It brings together leading investors, entrepreneurs, academicians, think-tanks and other stakeholders to propel the global entrepreneurship ecosystem. +This event not only connects the Silicon Valley with Hyderabad but also show-cases the close ties between the United States of America and India. +It underlines our shared commitment towards encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation. +The topics picked for this year’s summit include healthcare and life sciences; digital economy and financial technology; energy and infrastructure; and media and entertainment. +These are all important issues, relevant to the well-being and prosperity of mankind. +The theme “Women First, Prosperity for All” makes this edition of GES stand out. +In Indian mythology, woman is an incarnation of Shakti – the Goddess of power. +We believe women empowerment is vital to our development. +Our history has references to women of remarkable talent and determination. +Gargi, an ancient philosopher, around the seventh century BC, challenged a male sage to a philosophical discourse – something unheard of in those times. +Our warrior queens like Rani Ahilyabai Holkar and Rani Lakshmibai fought bravely to defend their kingdoms. +Our freedom struggle too is replete with such inspirational instances. +Indian women continue to lead in different walks of life. +Our space programmes, including the Mars Orbiter Mission, have had immense contribution from our women scientists. +Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams, both of Indian origin, have been part of US space missions. +Three out of four oldest High Courts in India are now headed by women judges. +Our sportswomen have done the country proud. +This very city of Hyderabad is home to Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, and Sania Mirza, who have brought laurels to India. +In India, we have provided for not less than one third of women representation in rural and urban local bodies, ensuring women’s participation in grass-root level decision-making. +More than sixty percent of workers in our agriculture and allied sectors are women. +Our milk co-operatives in Gujarat and the Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad, are examples of highly successful and globally acclaimed women-led co-operative movements. +Here at the GES, more than 50 percent of the delegates are women. +Over the next two days, you will meet many women who have dared to be different, in their own walks of life. +They now inspire a new generation of women entrepreneurs. +I hope the deliberations in the summit would focus on how women entrepreneurship can be further supported. +Ladies and Gentlemen. +India has been an incubator for innovations and entrepreneurship over the ages. +The ancient Indian treatise, Charaka Samhita, introduced the world to Ayurveda. +Yoga is another ancient Indian innovation. +The entire world now comes together, to celebrate Yoga Day on 21st June every year. +Many entrepreneurs are involved in promoting Yoga, spirituality, and traditional Ayurvedic products. +The digital world we live in today is based on the binary system. +The invention of zero, foundation of this binary system happened with Aryabhatta’s work in India. +Similarly, many nuances of modern day economic policy, taxation system, and public finance policies are outlined in our ancient treatise Arthashastra by Kautilya. +Ancient India’s expertise in metallurgy is also well known. +Our many ports and harbours and the world’s oldest dockyard at Lothal bear evidence to vibrant trade linkages. +The tales of Indian voyagers travelling to foreign lands reflect the entrepreneurial character and spirit of our forefathers. +What are the core qualities that distinguish an entrepreneur? +An entrepreneur uses knowledge and skills to fulfil a motive. +Entrepreneurs see opportunity in adversity. +They try to meet felt needs by making processes more convenient and comfortable for the end user. +They are patient and determined. +Swami Vivekananda had said Each work has to pass through three stages – ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance. +Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood. +Most entrepreneurs would be familiar with this. +The power to think differently and ahead of the times for the betterment of mankind is what sets entrepreneurs apart. +I see that power in India’s young generation today. +I see 800 million potential entrepreneurs who can work towards making the world a better place. +The number of smartphone users in India is projected to grow to over 500 million by 2018. +This offers immense potential for the growth of any venture, in terms of outreach and job creation. +Our Start-Up India programme is a comprehensive action plan to foster entrepreneurship and promote innovation. +It aims to minimize the regulatory burden and provide support to startups. +Over 1200 redundant laws have been scrapped, 87 rules for FDI have been eased in 21 sectors, and several government processes have been taken online. +Our government has taken several steps to improve the business environment. +The jump in India’s ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report, from 142 to 100, in three years, is a result of this. +We have improved on indicators like dealing with construction permits, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency. +The process is not yet complete. +This is an area where we are not satisfied with 100th rank. +We would strive towards 50th rank. +We have launched the MUDRA scheme to provide easy finance of upto one million rupees to entrepreneurs. +Since its launch in 2015, over 90 million loans worth 4.28 trillion rupees have been sanctioned. +Of these, more than 70 million loans have been sanctioned to women entrepreneurs. +My government has launched the “Atal Innovation Mission”. +We are opening Tinkering Labs in more than 900 schools to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among children. +Our “Mentor India” initiative engages leaders to guide and mentor students through these tinkering labs. +In addition, 19 incubation centers have been created in various universities and research institutions. +These will nurture innovative start-up businesses to become scalable and sustainable. +We have created Aadhaar – the world’s largest biometric based digital database. +This currently covers over 1.15 billion people and digitally authenticates over 40 million transactions daily. +We now digitally provide monetary benefits of various government schemes to the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer using Aadhaar. +Almost 300 million bank accounts with deposits of over 685 billion rupees, or over 10 billion dollars, have been opened through the Jan Dhan Yojana. +These bring previously un-banked sections of society into the formal financial system. +Of these, 53 per cent accounts are of women. +We are steadily working towards a less cash economy and have launched a Unified Payment Interface App called BHIM. +In less than a year, this platform is processing almost 280 thousand transactions daily. +Having almost completed our programme to connect all villages with electricity, we have launched the Saubhagya scheme. +This will provide electricity connections to all families by December 2018. +We have launched a programme to provide high-speed broad-band internet to all rural areas by March 2019. +Under our clean energy programme, in just 3 years, we have doubled the renewables capacity from 30 thousand Megawatts to about 60 thousand Megawatts. +Solar energy generation has increased over 80 percent in the last year. +We are working on developing a national gas grid. +A comprehensive national energy policy is also in the pipeline. +Our Swachh Bharat Mission to improve sanitation and cleanliness, and the rural and urban housing missions underline our commitment towards dignity of life. +Our infrastructure and connectivity programmes like Sagarmala and Bharatmala offer entrepreneurs many business opportunities for investment. +Our recent World Food India initiative helped us engage with entrepreneurs in the food processing industry and agricultural waste sectors. +My government understands that an environment of transparent policies and a rule of law providing a level-playing field are necessary for entrepreneurship to flourish. +A historic overhaul of the taxation system has been recently undertaken, bringing in the Goods and Services Tax across the country. +Our Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code introduced in 2016 is a step towards ensuring timely resolution for stressed ventures. +We have recently improved this further, preventing wilful defaulters from bidding for stressed assets. +Tough measures have been adopted to tackle the parallel economy, check tax evasion and control black money. +Our efforts have been recognized by Moody’s recent upgrade of India’s government bond ratings. +This upgrade comes after a gap of almost 14 years. +India has improved its rank from 54 in 2014 to 35 in 2016 on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index. +This signifies the relative ease and efficiency with which products can be moved into and from a country. +An investment-friendly environment needs to be stable from the macro-economic perspective. +We have succeeded in containing the fiscal and current account deficits, and curbing inflation. +Our foreign exchange reserves have crossed 400 billion dollars, and we continue to attract large foreign capital flows. +To my young entrepreneur friends from India, I would like to say: each of you has something valuable to contribute towards creating a New India by 2022. +You are vehicles of change and instruments of India’s transformation. +To my entrepreneur friends from across the globe, I would like to say: Come, Make in India, Invest in India – for India, and for the world. +I invite each one of you to become a partner in India’s growth story. +And once again assure you of our whole-hearted support. +I am informed that President Trump has declared November 2017 as National Entrepreneurship Month. +America has also observed National Entrepreneurs’ Day on November 21st. +This summit will certainly resonate with those themes. +Let me conclude by wishing you fruitful, engaging and rewarding deliberations at this summit. +आप अपने सुझाव मुझे http://www.mygov.in पर भी भेज सकते हैं:- https://mygov.in/group-issue/pm%E2%80%99s-mann-ki-baat-farmers-22nd-march-2015,” the Prime Minister tweeted. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, on his Punya Tithi. +On 3rd October 2014 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will share his thoughts with the people of India through the radio. +The Prime Minister’s radio programme will be held at 11:00 AM on 3rd October, which is also Vijaya Dashmi. +The Prime Minister is expected to share his thoughts on a variety of issues. +A separate Open Forum has been created on MyGov for citizens to share their comments for the forthcoming radio programme: http://mygov.nic.in/groupissue/pm-on-radio-on-3rd-october-2014-at-1100-am/show +Citizens should share ideas and best practices on development, good governance and other issues. +The Prime Minister would refer to the Open Forum before the programme and may even refer to some of the points made on the Forum. +Earlier, on 6th September 2014 the Prime Minister talked about connecting with people through radio and sought ideas. +The Radio programme is seen as one more instance of the Prime Minister innovatively communicating with the people. +Just recently, on 17th September, after two busy and eventful days in Gujarat the Prime Minister spent over an hour personally replying to people who greeted him on his birthday on Twitter. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today laid the foundation stone for India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC) at Dwarka, New Delhi. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that this Centre would reflect India’s economic progress, rich cultural heritage, and our consciousness towards environment protection. +He also said it is a part of the Government’s vision which gives importance to world class infrastructure, and ease of doing business. +The Prime Minister recounted how the Union Government has begun a series of unprecedented projects for the nation’s development. +In this context, he mentioned the longest tunnel, the longest gas pipeline, the largest mobile manufacturing unit, and electricity to every household among many others. +He said these are illustrations of the skill, scale and speed of New India. +The Prime Minister said that several countries across the world have developed elaborate capacities to hold conferences. +He said this had not been thought of in India for a quite a while. +Now this is changing, he added. +In this context, the Prime Minister mentioned the recent decision on merger of Public Sector Banks. +He said this had been thought about for nearly two and a half decades, but not implemented. +He said that all round progress has happened in the last four years only because national interest has been kept supreme. +He asserted that this process of taking tough decisions in the best interest of the people, will continue. +He said that despite challenges, the economy is on a firm footing. +Mentioning “ease of doing business”, he said the Government is now working towards taking this effort to the district level as well. +The Prime Minister exhorted the IAS probationers to recall Mahatma Gandhi’s talisman of keeping in mind the welfare of the poorest of the poor, while taking decisions. +Stressing the importance of progress and connectivity in the North-East, the Prime Minister said that if the North-East developed, the entire country would march forward. +In response to a question, Shri Narendra Modi said that his extensive travels across India for over four decades, and his experience as Chief Minister of a State, had helped him in his work as Prime Minister. +The 116th meeting of the trustees of Shri Somnath Trust was held at Somnath today. +The meeting was attended by trustees: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Lal Krishna Advani, Shri Amit Shah, Shri Keshubhai Patel, Shri P.K. Laheri, Shri J.D. Parmar and Shri Harsh Neotia. +In the meeting, Shri Narendra Modi suggested that the entire campus of Shree Somnath temple be upgraded with water, greenery and facilities. +He recommended that the Trust should actively participate in the effort to make Veraval and Prabhas Patan cashless. +He also said that the Trust should organise special Mahotsavas in all major cities. +It was decided that Shri Keshubhai Patel would continue as Chairman of the Trust for the year 2017. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remembered Sardar Patel on his Punya Tithi. +“We remember the great Sardar Patel on his Punya Tithi. +Every Indian is indebted to Sardar Patel for his monumental service to our nation”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that it would have been wonderful if Shri Vajpayee had been present to receive this honour himself. +He expressed hope that Shri Vajpayee would soon become well, and guide everyone once again. +The Prime Minister said that though he had entered politics quite late, he had been one of the many youth activists who had come to Delhi in response to Shri Vajpayee’s call for Satyagraha for the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. +He described himself as one of the crores who wanted this vision to be realized. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condemned the attacks in London and has said that the attacks are shocking and anguishing. +“Attacks in London are shocking and anguishing. +We condemn them. +My thoughts are with families of the deceased and prayers with the injured.” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for formation of 100% owned C Corporation of Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd. +(TCIL) in USA as per the details given below: +C Corporation will be earning precious foreign exchange for the country and increasing profitability of TCIL which is a Government PSU. +C Corporation is formed in the state of Texas, USA in connection with the execution of Projects in USA. +Formation of C Corporation in USA shall help TCIL to expand its business/ turnover/profits and ultimately result in increased dividend to the Government being a State PSU. +Total investment of USD 5 Million will be made by TCIL in the form of Equity from its internal resources. +TCIL may also be required to provide Counter Guarantees of around USD 5 Million for getting finances in US for expansion of business and also Bid Bonds/ Advance Payment Guarantees/ Performance Bank Guarantees to Govt. authorities/ Final client on behalf of C Corporation. +As such there will be no financial implication on the part of the Government. +TCIL is a leading ISO – 9001: 2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certified, Schedule-A, Mini Ratna Category-l, 100% owned Govt. of India Undertaking. +It has executed projects in more than 70 countries in the domain of Telecommunications and Information Technology. +It provides consultancy and turnkey project execution service from concept to completion, in the field of telecommunications, IT and civil infrastructure. +The consolidated net worth of the company as on 31.03.2017 was Rs.2433.66 crore. +The standalone net worth of the company was Rs. 588.92 crore. +Company has paid/declared cumulative dividend of Rs. 192.99crore to Government of India till 31.03.2017. +‘Google Fiber’ is Google’s ‘fiber-to-the-Premises Project’ in the United States for providing high capacity Broadband Internet and cable television to all the cities. +M/s Google have selected few international Companies as their technical partner like M/s. +M/s Teletech is one of the companies who have signed Master service agreement with M/s Mastec and M/s Ericsson for execution of network roll out works in Austin (Texas) and San Jose (California). +M/s Teletech Team approached TCIL for providing full techno commercial and logistic support for three projects. +M/s Teletech Team have signed a MoU with TCIL on 13.04.2016 followed by a Joint Co-operation Agreement on 27.05.2016. +TCIL being a foreign entity needs to form a C Corporation which is recognized as a separate tax paying entity. +This would also enable TCIL to have L-1 Visas for its manpower resources. +Your Excellency, Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Distinguished delegates, Members of the media, Friends, Good Evening, to you all. +We are deeply honoured that you have accepted our invitation to be the Chief Guest at our Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the Indian Diaspora Day celebrations, in Bengaluru. +Tomorrow, we will have the privilege to celebrate your outstanding accomplishments as a distinguished leader who has family roots in India. +I also wish to congratulate you for the several successes that Portugal has had under your Prime Ministership. +Under your leadership, the Portuguese economy is on a steady course and right direction. +In my extensive discussions with Prime Minister Costa today, we reviewed the full range of India–Portugal ties across various sectors. +We agreed that the two countries must focus on action oriented approach to realize the full potential of economic opportunities in our partnership. +The agreements signed today are just one indication of our shared resolve to do exactly that. +Expansion and deepening of trade, investment, and business partnerships between our two countries is our shared priority. +We are aware, Excellency, that you are an avid soccer fan. +Portugal’s strength in football and the rapid development of this sport in India could well form the nucleus of an emerging partnership in sporting disciplines. +India and Portugal share common views on many international issues. +I thanked Prime Minister Costa for Portugal’s consistent support for India’s permanent membership of the UN Security Council. +We are also grateful for the support extended by Portugal to India’s membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime, and for its continued support for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. +We also discussed the need for the global community to take strong and urgent action against the rapidly growing and widely spreading threats of violence and terror. +Today, we have released a commemorative stamp celebrating two dance forms. +These two art forms, one Portuguese and the other Indian, are wonderful examples of our cultural affinities. +Thank You very much. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval for de-notification of 03 marla of land overlapping with NHAI for setting up of bus bay near Indian Defence University Land in Gurugram, Haryana. +Indian Defence University is being setup at Binola and Bilaspur, in district Gurugram, Haryana. +The University will be located approximately 11 Kms from HQ National Security Guard, on Delhi – Jaipur highway towards Jaipur. +A total of 03 marla of land was overlapping with NHAI, with dual ownership of MoD and NHAI. +In the interest of community at large, Indian Defence University proposed construction of Bus Bay along NH-8 for decongestion of heavy traffic on Delhi-Jaipur highway. +The final ridership of Indian Defence University is likely to be approx 12000-15000 including students, teaching/ non-teaching staff and their family members apart from local inhabitants. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today joined the members of the Rajya Sabha, in bidding farewell to the retiring members of the House. +Speaking on the occasion, he said the country has benefited from the knowledge and experience shared by the members who are retiring today. +He said that the Rajya Sabha helps broaden the outlook and horizons of the members. +The experience enriches them, and this wealth is for the nation and the society, he added. +He expressed the hope that the experience and knowledge of the retiring members would continue to be beneficial for the nation. +He said that the members who are retiring today, have been a part of many important decisions. +He added that it would have been even better if two more decisions, which could have benefited the States immensely, had been taken in the presence of these members. +One of these, he said, is the GST Bill, and the other is the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, which would have enabled a large amount of funds to be disbursed to States for afforestation. +The Prime Minister wished the retiring members well, and on behalf of the Government, thanked them for their cooperation. +(a) Creation of the GST Council as per Article 279A of the amended Constitution; +(b) Creation of the GST Council Secretariat, with its office at New Delhi; +(c) Appointment of the Secretary (Revenue) as the Ex-officio Secretary to the GST Council; +(d) Inclusion of the Chairperson, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), as a permanent invitee (non-voting) to all proceedings of the GST Council; +The GST Council Secretariat shall be manned by officers taken on deputation from both the Central and State Governments. +The steps required in the direction of implementation of GST are being taken ahead of the schedule so far. +The Finance Minister has also decided to call the first meeting of the GST Council on 22nd and 23rd September 2016 in New Delhi. +a) Union Finance Minister – Chairperson b) The Union Minister of State, in-charge of Revenue of finance – Member c) The Minister In-charge of finance or taxation or any other Minister nominated by each State Government – Members +As per Article 279A (4), the Council will make recommendations to the Union and the States on important issues related to GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected or exempted from GST, model GST Laws, principles that govern Place of Supply, threshold limits, GST rates including the floor rates with bands, special rates for raising additional resources during natural calamities/disasters, special provisions for certain States, etc. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that a fresh trend is now noticed where cities are moving forward to compete on the path of development. +He said there is a positive atmosphere of competing on development works through the spirit of Jan Bhaagidaari. +He emphasized that people in the cities must decide about the development of their urban spaces, adding that these decisions cannot be taken in Delhi. +He said that the spirit of participative governance is vital. +The Prime Minister said that the days when urbanization was seen as a problem are now over; it is now seen as an opportunity. +Shri Narendra Modi said that cities are growth centres which have the capacity to mitigate the problems faced by the people. +The Prime Minister also stressed on the need for cities to focus on solid waste management. +The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Smart Net Portal, and Smart City Projects of Pune. +He launched the “Make Your City SMART” Contest. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remembered the dedication, determination and untiring efforts of our scientists on National Science Day. +“National Science Day is an occasion to remember the dedication, determination and untiring efforts of our scientists. +They are India’s pride. +The Government is fully committed to encouraging research, innovation and excellence in science, particularly among our young minds. +On National Science Day we salute the brilliance and long-lasting contribution of Sir C. V. Raman to the field of science. +Sharing my speech at the 102nd Indian Science Congress where I spoke about various aspects relating to science. http://nm4.in/1xEePJ7“, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the protocol amending the agreement between India and Tajikistan for avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. +The protocol, after it enters into force, will enable sharing of information exchanged under Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, DTAA with other law enforcement agencies for non tax purposes. +The Cabinet has also directed that while implementing viable National Waterways projects, all such components that can be done on PPP basis, should be explored accordingly and government funding may be used only if private investment is not forthcoming for any component +The Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2017 would be moved by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in the ensuing Monsoon Session, 2017 of the Parliament. +An allocation of 2.5 per cent of CRF proceeds would provide approximately Rs.2000 crore per annum for the development and maintenance of NWs at existing rates of duties funding the CRF. +The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has estimated that approximately Rs. 25,000 crores would be required for development of identified projects on NWs till 2022-23. +In this regard, works for construction of multi modal terminals, new navigation lock, River Information System, development of fairway etc., have already commenced under the Jal Marg Vikas Project being implemented on NW-1 (River Ganga). +IWAI also has planned to undertake work on the development of 24 NWs during the next three years. +It is estimated that 1.8 lakh persons would be provided employment in the Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) sector in the next five years. +New employment opportunities are expected to be generated for operation and management of fairway, terminals, aids to navigation, barges, training, etc. +Further, development of additional 106 NWs will create additional job opportunities. +The Government has been emphasizing the importance of developing Inland Water Transport Sector for the national economy. +The National Waterways Act, 2016 for developing and maintaining the existing five NWs and new 106 NWs has been passed by Parliament and is now enforced. +The arrangement approved by the Cabinet; would make available adequate and sustainable source of funding for NWs through institutional means of CRF. +It is estimated that a standard 2000 DWT vessel has the potential to transport 125 Truck Loads and almost one complete train rake (40 rail wagons) load on existing road and rail infrastructure. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated men and women Kabaddi teams for winning Kabaddi World Cups. +“Great news! +Our men and women Kabaddi teams win Kabaddi World Cups. +My congratulations to the sportspersons. +We are very proud. +This is the fifth consecutive win for the men’s team and fourth consecutive win for the women’s team. +Truly phenomenal performance” said the Prime Minister. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today gave its approval for creation of a supernumerary post in the rank of Air Marshal in Indian Air Force for a period of seventeen months from 01 December, 2014 to 30 April, 2016 for abiding by the Orders of Hon’ble Armed Forces Tribunal (Principal Bench), New Delhi. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Department of Space / Indian Space Research Organization (DOS/ISRO) and Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR) on cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. +The MoU will enable pursuing potential interest areas in both cooperative and commercial mode, namely: (1) Use of data from Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites by KISR for initiating a few research and application projects; (2) Training; and (3) Building and launching of remote sensing and communication satellites on commercial terms. +The MoU will lead to setting up of a Joint Working Group, drawing members from ISRO and KISR, which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementing this MoU. +Cooperation with KISR through this MoU will lead to developing a joint activity in the field of application of space technology for the benefit of humanity. +Thus all sections and regions of the country will get benefited, +The MoU will provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication; satellite navigation; space science and exploration of outer space. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that the time has come for us to realize the potential of soft power as an important strategy for external affairs and foreign relations. +He said that India should leverage its great traditions and culture in forging ties with countries around the world in a way that is deeper, more personal, and therefore, far more powerful. +The Prime Minister said that all countries that have Gautam Buddha, Ram, and Ramayana as part of their own culture have a bond with India that transcends diplomatic ties. +In the domain of soft power, he said, India has a lot to offer to the world. +Giving the example of Jatayu in Ramayana as a character who strove to protect a woman’s honour with “अभय” and “निर्भय” (fearlessness), he said that the story of Ramayana has a message at its core that remains relevant today, in this case, that of respect for women. +The Prime Minister said that the concept of “Ram Rajya” was a vision that is relevant to this day: +All are fulfilling their dharma, their responsibility. +All men and women are in service of others. +Agreement on Defence Cooperation +To deepen cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan in matters relating to defence, security, military education and training, conduct of joint military exercises, exchange of experience and information, exchange of military instructors and observers etc. +Mr. Navtej Sarna, Secretary (West), MEA +Memorandum of Mutual Understanding and Cooperation in the field of Elections +To deepen cooperation in matters relating to legislation on elections and referendums, modern systems and technologies, rights of elections process stakeholders as well as other issues of election administration. +Signing of this MoU would build technical assistance and capacity support for the election commissions in electoral management and administration leading to a further strengthening of bilateral ties between India and Kyrgyzstan. +Mr V. Zutshi, Deputy Election Commissioner +MoU between Ministry of Economy of Kyrgyzstan and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on cooperation in the sphere of Standards. +The purpose of this MoU is to strengthen and enhance technical cooperation in the fields of standardization, conformity assessment and sharing of expertise on mutual trade with the aim of exchanging necessary information and expertise between the two parties, which would be mutually beneficial and also lead to a strengthening of bilateral ties between India and Kyrgyz Republic. +Mr. Jayant Khobragade, India’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan +Agreement on Cooperation in Culture +To deepen cultural cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan in areas such as preservation of cultural heritage, organisation of folk arts, theatre, youth festivals and cooperation in of publishing and translation of literature, sports and physical culture, exchange of archival materials, history, geography etc. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, on his Jayanti. +“Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Rajendra Prasad became an active part of India’s freedom struggle. +He participated in grass root level movements such as the non-cooperation movement and provided great leadership to the Constituent Assembly as its President. +As the first President of India, his leadership and guidance was extremely valuable for our nation during the formative years. +Generations of Indians are inspired by Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s distinguished service”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said, in Indian culture, the worker is traditionally regarded as “Vishwakarma.” +The country cannot be happy, if the worker is unhappy, the Prime Minister added. +Emphasizing that laws alone would not bring about the desired objective, the Prime Minister said it was the combined effort of the labour unions, the industrialists and the Government, which would lead to results which were in the interest of the nation’s economy. +The Prime Minister said successful examples of this kind are worth emulation. +He said every effort would be made to modify laws through consensus. +As part of the concept of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance,” the Prime Minister said obsolete and unnecessary laws were being weeded out. +The Prime Minister called for giving importance to innovation among the workers. +He asked how many industrialists had encouraged innovative workers to become entrepreneurs. +In this context he recalled the recognition that had been given to innovators in the Indian Army, on the previous Army Day. +He said Labour Unions too should join in the effort to nurture innovation. +The Prime Minister said there is a thin line that separates the good of the industry and the good of the industrialist. +Similarly, he added, there is a thin line that separates the good of the worker and the good of the labour union; the good of the nation and the good of the government. +The Prime Minister said 4.67 crore workers now have a portable Provident Fund Account, through a Universal Account Number, which connects them to an online network. +He also mentioned other welfare initiatives of the Government, such as raising minimum pension to Rs. 1000. +The function also marked the launch of the National Career Service Portal, and ESIC 2.0: reform initiatives of the ESIC. +Union Ministers Shri Arun Jaitley and Shri Bandaru Dattatreya were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Shri Kundan Shah. +“Anguished by the passing away of Shri Kundan Shah. +He will be remembered for his wonderful usage of humour and satire to showcase the life and struggles of common citizens. +My thoughts are with his family and admirers. +May his soul rest in peace”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his twenty-ninth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress in resolution of grievances related to the telecommunications sector. +He was briefed on the progress made in this regard, including the technology interventions made recently. +The Prime Minister said that resolution of issues related to the telecom sector should be based on latest technological solutions. +He emphasized that service providers must provide a high level of consumer satisfaction. +The 28 PRAGATI meetings so far have seen a cumulative review of projects with a total investment of over Rs. 11.75 lakh crore. +Resolution of Public Grievances has also been reviewed across a range of sectors. +Today, in the twenty-ninth meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress of eight important infrastructure projects in the railway, urban development, road, power, and coal sectors. +These projects are spread over several states including Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress made in the working of the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana, especially in the working of the District Mineral Foundations. +Noting that significant resources are now available to several mineral bearing districts, he urged officials, both at the Centre and State level, to ensure that the funds are utilized to bring about a qualitative improvement in the quality of life, and “ease of living” of people in these districts. +He also added that this is an opportunity to bring the aspirational districts among these districts, out of their chronic development deficit. +This will benefit about 50 lakh Government employees and 56 lakh pensioners. +The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission (CPC). +Let us follow the path of compassion, truth and peace as shown by him. +Today is also a day to pledge to embrace the path of service & work towards a just and equal society, free from any kind of social evils,” the Prime Minister said in a tweet. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condemned the attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama, Kashmir. +“Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. +I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. +The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain. +The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. +May the injured recover quickly”, the PM said. +“Greetings to people around the world on 1st International Day of Yoga! +Lets pledge to make Yoga an integral part of our daily lives +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, attended the 50th Raising Day celebrations of Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF), at Indirapuram in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. +The Prime Minister reviewed the parade of the CISF personnel. +He presented the service medals for distinguished and meritorious services. +He laid wreath at the Martyr’s Memorial and signed the visitor’s book. +Addressing the CISF personnel, the Prime Minister congratulated the forces for its Golden Jubilee. +He praised the role of CISF in safeguarding and protecting the vital institutions of the country. +He added that the responsibility of safeguarding the modern infrastructure built for New India is in the safe hands of CISF. +The Prime Minister urged the citizens to cooperate with the security personnel. +To create awareness amongst the general public regarding the role and functions of CISF, Prime Minister suggested the idea of starting digital museums at airports and metros, showcasing the work of CISF. +Hailing the role of CISF in securing the critical infrastructure of the country, Prime Minister said that the force is also involved in disaster response, ensuring safety of women and many other activities. +In this context, Prime Minister spoke about the disaster relief operations of CISF during Kerala floods and also during Nepal and Haiti earthquake +The Prime Minister said that his government is committed towards ensuring the safety of its security forces. +In this context he mentioned about the initiatives of the Government to modernize the forces and the actions taken for their welfare. +Stating that duty is the festival for the armed forces, Prime Minister said that the role of CISF has increased, due to the challenges posted by terrorism. +He added that his government is committed towards eliminating terrorism. +The Prime Minister said that the National Police Memorial is a dedication to the valour and sacrifices made by the police and paramilitary forces. +He said the monuments like National War Memorial and National Police Memorial will create awareness amongst the citizens regarding the contributions of security forces. +He hailed the efforts of CISF in inducting many women soldiers into its force +As India grows, the roles and responsibilities of CISF will also grow commensurately, PM said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the inaugural event of the Ramayana Darshanam Exhibition at Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, via video conferencing. +He said that 12th January is no ordinary day, and Swami Vivekananda’s powerful thoughts continue to shape several minds. +He said India today is a young country, and it should develop both spiritually and materially. +He said that the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda will always inspire the youth towards nation building. +The Prime Minister also paid homage to Saint Thiruvalluvar and Shri Eknath Ranade. +He called upon the youth to ensure that the process of learning never stops. +The selections for participation in exchange programmes shall be done in an objective and transparent manner and the outcomes of the programmes under the MoU shall be open for public scrutiny. +Exchange programmes will help in developing international perspective among the Youth and expanding their knowledge and expertise in the areas of Youth Affairs. +He won total 80 KD (Kuwait Dinars), equal to his donation, as prize money from ACER. +The Prime Minister also learnt that the boy has several innovative projects to his credit. +Prime Minister also congratulated her for the commitment showing in spreading innovative learning projects. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has wished the people of Nagaland on their Statehood Day. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, was in Gujarat today. +Early this morning, he visited his Mother, Hira Ba, at Gandhinagar, to take her blessings. +The President, the Vice President, and Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh were among the large number of leaders who greeted the Prime Minister on telephone. +The Prime Minister has been receiving greetings from a cross-section of society, through social media, and the Narendra Modi App. +The Prime Minister addressed a large gathering at Limkheda in Dahod district, after unveiling a number of schemes for tribal welfare. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that water supply was a major challenge for the State of Gujarat, but that challenge has been successfully overcome. +Recalling his pledge that his Government would be a Government committed to the welfare of the poor and the marginalized, the Prime Minister said that the mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” is now resonating all over. +The Prime Minister attended a function for the distribution of aids and assistive devices to Divyang at Navsari. +Mentioning the records that have been established today, through the sheer scale of this event, the Prime Minister congratulated Navsari for this feat. +The Prime Minister said that Navsari had earlier made a mark for interest in reading, and today it has distinguished itself by the care shown towards Divyangs. +He said that the Accessible India Campaign is aimed at focusing attention on areas where we may not have devoted much attention before. +The length of the Ring Line is 31.55 km. +2. The Ring Line will be from Bengali Square – Vijay Nagar -Bhawarsala – Airport – Palasia – Bengali Square. +3. Numbers of Stations on the Ring Line are 30. +The residential areas along this Metro Rail corridor shall be immensely benefited by this project, as the people of these areas will be able to travel on trains from their own neighborhoods to reach different areas of the city conveniently. +The Ring line will connect densely populated areas of the city with the new developing areas along with Railway Station, Airport and ABD under Smart City project. +M/s DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH in consortium with M/s Louis Berger SAS and M/s Geodata Engineering S.p.A has been appointed as General Consultant (GC) for Indore Metro Rail Project. +The tenders for first civil work package have been invited and work will start soon. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Tuesday (20th September) chaired a high-level meeting to review the steps towards holistic development of islands. +The Prime Minister was given a presentation on the vision for holistic development, which involved inputs from the NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and other senior officials. +India has a total of 1382 offshore islands, out of which officials have initially proposed 26, which could be considered for holistic development. +These 26 islands are located along different parts of India’s coastline, including some in the Andamans and Lakshadweep. +Officials informed the Prime Minister that developmental activities shall be centred around basic infrastructure, tourism, agriculture (including organic agriculture and fisheries), and carbon-neutral energy generation. +Emphasizing the strategic importance of India’s island wealth, the Prime Minister stressed the potential for tourism in these areas. +Urging the officials to speedily firm up plans for island development, the Prime Minister said solar energy should be used extensively in this exercise. +Foundation Stone of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor to be laid in Varanasi Lucknow Metro Rail Project to be inaugurated, Panki Power Plant to be unveiled & Foundation Stone of Agra Metro Rail Project to be laid by PM in Kanpur Hindon Airport Civil Terminal to be inaugurated & Foundation stone of Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut RRTS to be laid by PM in Ghaziabad +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi, Kanpur and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh on 8th March 2019. +He will unveil multiple development projects for the state. +The Prime Minister will visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Varanasi. +He will lay the foundation stone of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple approach Road, Beautification & Strengthening Project. +Later PM will inspect the project site. +PM will attend National Women Livelihood Meet – 2019 at Deendayal Hastkala Sankul in Varanasi. +He will distribute appreciation letters to five Women Self Help Groups. +Members of the Women Self Help Groups will also share their experiences with Prime Minister. +PM will distribute Electric Chaak, Solar Charkha and Honey Warp and Cheque to beneficiaries. +Women SHGs aided by Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – NRLM, Uttar Pradesh will hand over a cheque to the Prime Minister for contribution in ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ Fund. +PM will also address a public gathering +At Kanpur +PM will inaugurate Lucknow Metro Rail Project. +PM will lay foundation stone for Agra Metro Rail Project. +PM will distribute keys to beneficiaries of PMAY. +Later, PM will also address a gathering on this occasion. +At Ghaziabad +PM will inaugurate Dilshad Garden – Shaheed Sthal (New Bus Adda) Section of Metro. +He will flag-off the Metro Rail from Shaheed Sthal Metro Station. +This elevated metro corridor section will have 8 stations. +It will provide convenient mode of transport for people in Ghaziabad and New Delhi and will ease the traffic congestion. +PM will inaugurate the Hindon Airport Civil Terminal at Hindon Airport Civil Terminal, Ghaziabad. +Passengers from Western Uttar Pradesh and NCR region will be benefit from the operation of domestic flights from this new civil airport terminal at Hindon. +PM will lay foundation stone of Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut RRTS. +This is one of the first, high speed and high frequency rail based Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project. +It will greatly improve the regional transport facility and create many employment opportunities. +The Prime Minister will also unveil various development Projects for education, housing, drinking water, sanitation and sewerage management in Ghaziabad. +He will distribute certificates to beneficiaries of various schemes. +Later, he will address a public gathering. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Tunisia to promote cooperation in the field of youth matters. +The MoU was signed on 30.10.2017 in New Delhi. +The objective of the MoU is to create international perspective among the Indian Youth, to promote exchange of ideas, values and culture and to involve them in promoting peace and understanding. +The MoU shall be valid for a period of five years. +The areas of cooperation under the MoU shall include: +1. organization of youth exchange programmes; +2. exchange of invitations to international conferences and seminars; +3. exchange of printed materials, films, experiences, research and other information; +4. participation in youth camps, youth festivals and other cooperative youth events, study visits and small workshops and seminars on youth related issues, etc. +Mrs. Florence Parly, the French Minister for the Armed Forces, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Mrs. Parly briefed the Prime Minister about developments in bilateral defence cooperation. +The two leaders also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest. +The Prime Minister said that he looks forward to receiving President Macron in India at his earliest convenience. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released a unique, illustrated version of Shri-Durga-Saptashati – an illustrated book of the glory of the Goddess. +The book has been compiled by Dr. Sandeep Joshi, a research scholar from Rajasthan. +The Prime Minister complimented Dr. Sandeep Joshi for this work, which he said was an effort towards documentation of India’s heritage. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation team for the successful launch of PSLV-C28. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today blessed two young mountaineers, who recently made India proud by scaling Mt. +She is a student of the Social Welfare Residential School in Nizamabad, Telangana. +His father works as a mechanic in a cycle shop. +Mr. Jin Liqun, President Designate of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. +Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Liqun on his selection at the first President of the AIIB by consensus. +Prime Minister expressed confidence that AIIB along with the BRICS New Development Bank would play an instrumental role in development of infrastructure in the Asia region. +Prime Minister assured that as the Founding Member of the AIIB and the second largest shareholder in the Bank, India would extend full support for the success of the Bank. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has written a blog on the completion of his Government’s first month in office. +He said “The support and affection of the people has been overwhelming and inspires us to work even harder.” +“Every decision we took has been guided solely by national interest,” he added. +The Prime Minister wrote: “26th of June is an important date for me. +It marks the completion of one month of our journey to fulfil the aspirations of the people. +26th June was the day when the Emergency started, having been imposed an evening earlier.” +Following is the full text of the Prime Minister’s blog: +A few thoughts as we complete a month in office +Dear Friends, +Today our Government completes a month in office. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its ex-post facto approval on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Republic of Korea on Startup Cooperation. +The MoU was signed in February, 2019. +The MoU would facilitate and promote bilateral cooperation between the startups of both countries, subject to their national laws and regulations and any applicable international treaties, conventions and agreements to which the two countries are party. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ‘in principle’ approval to the LIGO-India mega science proposal for research on gravitational waves. +The proposal, known as LIGO-India project (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory in India) is piloted by Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Science and Technology (DST). +The approval coincides with the historic detection of gravitational waves a few days ago that opened up of a new window on the universe to unravel some of its greatest mysteries. +The LIGO-India project will establish a state-of-the-art gravitational wave observatory in India in collaboration with the LIGO Laboratory in the U.S. run by Caltech and MIT. +The project will bring unprecedented opportunities for scientists and engineers to dig deeper into the realm of gravitational wave and take global leadership in this new astronomical frontier. +LIGO-India will also bring considerable opportunities in cutting edge technology for the Indian industry which will be engaged in the construction of eight kilometre long beam tube at ultra-high vacuum on a levelled terrain. +The project will motivate Indian students and young scientists to explore newer frontiers of knowledge, and will add further impetus to scientific research in the country. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the permanent transfer of land measuring 1899 sq.m. by Airports Authority of India (AAI) to Lucknow Metro Rail Corportion (LMRC) at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow. +PM: Governors are “agents of change;” their catalysing influence can contribute significantly to states. +Through NITI Aayog, Union Government has begun a process of cooperative, competitive federalism that respects diversity and federal structure of India. +As Chancellors of Universities, motivate youth and their families to work for “Swachh Bharat”. +Governors should pay special attention towards central schemes such as rural electrification. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today described Governors as inspirational “Agents of Change”, and said their catalysing influence can contribute significantly to the development of states. +He was addressing the concluding session of the Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. +The Prime Minister described the distinguished gathering of Governors as one which included a former Chief Justice of India, former Chief Ministers, a former Cabinet Minister, former Speakers of Legislative Assemblies, a former Army officer, and former senior bureaucrats. +Shri Narendra Modi outlined the broad thrust of the Union Government`s policies, which he described as oriented towards all-round economic growth. +He said the Government has moved away from the model of “one-size-fits-all” schemes, and is working towards cooperative, competitive federalism, through the NITI Aayog. +Referring to the security scenario, the Prime Minister said that the expanding footprint of extremist and terrorist organizations in Pakistan, and their link with terror activities in India, is a major security challenge. +He said ceasefire violations along the Line of Control were continuing. +He added that the Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to counter infiltration from across the border. +He urged states facing the problem of Left Wing Extremism to adopt a coordinated approach to tackle the problem. +The Prime Minister stressed the need for ending the infrastructure deficit in the North-East, to realize the immense potential of the region, and to help it march forward shoulder-to-shoulder as part of “Team India”. +He stressed on the need for providing stable employment to tribals, eliminating infrastructure gaps, and improving education, human development, and lifestyle changes among the tribal communities. +The Director General, Sashastra Seema Bal, Shri B. D. Sharma, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and handed over a demand draft of Rs 2.12 crore towards the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, for flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir. +The Founder Chancellor, SRM University, Chennai, Dr. T.R. Pachamuthu, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and handed over a demand draft for Rs. 1 crore for the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. +The employees of ITC have also contributed a day’s salary to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. +The Prime Minister had recently appealed to the people to donate generously to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, for the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that the postal network can become a driving force for the Indian Economy, just like the Indian Railways. +His remarks came during the presentation of a report by the task force on leveraging the post office network. +The Prime Minister, after an initial discussion on various aspects of the report, has directed that the recommendations of the task force be studied in detail within a short period of time, so that necessary follow-up action can be initiated. +The Prime Minister said the postman, along with the teacher, is the most respected Government employee in rural areas. +He said post offices in rural areas can be used to deliver services and important government information to individual households. +The Minister for Communication and IT, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, was present on the occasion. +The presentation on behalf of the task force was given by its Chairman, Shri T. S. R. Subramanian. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2016 for introducing it in the Parliament. +The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2016 is a revamped version of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. +The Bill provides for repealing of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 as well as for the repealing of the Coasting Vessels Act, 1838. +The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 had become a bulky piece of legislation over the years as a result of various amendments carried out in the Act from time to time. +It was amended 17 times between 1966 and 2014 resulting in an increase in the number of sections to more than 560 sections. +These provisions have been meticulously shortened to 280 sections in the Bill. +The provisions of the Bill will simplify the law governing the merchant shipping in India. +Further, certain redundant provisions will be dispensed with and remaining provisions will stand consolidated and simplified so as to promote case of doing business, transparency and effective delivery of services. +The significant reforms that will usher in, upon enactment of the Bill, are: +A. Augmentation of Indian tonnage promotion/development of coastal shipping in India by:- +a) allowing substantially-owned vessels and vessels on Bare Boat-cum-Demise (BBCD); charter by Indians to be registered as Indian flag vessels; +b) recognising Indian controlled tonnage as a separate category; +c) dispensing with the requirement for issuing of licences to Indian flag vessels for coastal operation and for port clearance by the Customs authorities; and +d) making separate rules for coastal vessels to develop & promote coastal shipping. +B. Introduction of welfare measures for seafarers, such as:- +a) seafarers held in hostage captivity of pirates will receive wages till they are released and reach home back safely; +b) owners of vessels to compulsorily take insurance of crew engaged on vessels including fishing, sailing without mechanical means of propulsion and whose net tonnage is less than 15; and +c) the requirement of signing of articles of agreement by the crew before the Shipping Master will no longer be necessary. +C. Registration of certain residuary category of vessels not covered under any statute and lo make provisions for security-related aspects. +D. Incorporation of all International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Conventions/Protocols in the Indian laws up-to-date (an essential pre-requisite for compliance with the IMO Member-State Audit Scheme that is mandatory since 1/1/2016) by inserting provisions relating to seven different conventions, namely, +a) the Intervention Convention 1969, +b) the Search and Rescue Convention 1979 +c) the Protocol for Prevention of Pollution from Ships Annex VI to Marine Pollution Convention, +d) the Convention for Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004, +e) the Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention, 2007, +f) the Salvage Convention 1989 and +g) the International Convention for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001. +Besides, the provisions for survey, inspection and certification of vessels which were scattered in various Parts of the existing Act are placed together to provide for a simplified regime for convenience of Indian shipping industry. +The Coasting Vessels Act, 1838, which is an archaic legislation of the British era providing for registration of non-mechanically propelled vessels to a limited jurisdiction of Saurashtra and Kutch, is proposed to be repealed since in the Merchant Shipping Bill 2016 provisions have been introduced for registration of all vessels for the whole of India. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated weightlifter Vikas Thakur on winning the Bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games. +The Prime Minister said, “More glory thanks to our weightlifters. +Congratulations Vikas Thakur for the Bronze in the men’s 94kg event. +You have brought smiles on the faces of all Indians”. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Official amendment to the Rajendra Central Agricultural University Bill, 2015 for change of name from “Rajendra Central Agricultural University” to “Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University”. +Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa is to fulfill the desired goal and achieve excellence in teaching and produce the much-needed manpower educated in agriculture and allied sciences. +This would help in getting over the shortage of technical manpower and infrastructural facilities and would contribute to the development of agriculture, including animal husbandry, horticulture and fisheries in the region. +The existing colleges will help familiarise the farmers with new techniques, thereby contributing to the production and productivity of agriculture in the region. +I am happy to be here today on the occasion of the golden jubilee week of Auroville. +Sri Aurobindo’s vision of India’s spiritual leadership continues to inspire us, even today. +It is important today to remember the vast extent of action and thought of Shri Aurobindo. +In the words of RabindraNath Tagore: +Rabindranath, O Aurobindo, bows to thee! +O friend, my country’s friend, O voice incarnate , free, +As The Mother had observed, Auroville was to be a universal town. +The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity. +The large gathering here today, is a reflection of that idea. +For ages, India has been a spiritual destination for the world. +The great universities of Nalanda and Taxila hosted students from all over the world. +Many of the world’s great religions were born here. +They motivate people from all walks of life,) to take to a spiritual path in their day to day dealings. +Recently, the United Nations has declared June 21 as International Day of Yoga, recognizing a great Indian tradition. +Auroville has brought together men and women, young and old, cutting across boundaries and identities. +I understand that Auroville’s Charter was hand-written in French by the Divine Mother herself. +According to the Charter, the Mother set five high principles for Auroville. +The first high principle of Auroville is that it belongs to all humanity. +This is a reflection of our ancient credo of VasudhaivaKutumbakam — the world is one family. +I am told, that the inauguration ceremony of Auroville in 1968 was attended by delegates of 124 nations. +I learn that today, it has over two thousand, four hundred residents from forty-nine countries. +This leads us to the second high principle of Auroville. +Anyone who is willingly in service of the Divine Consciousness is entitled to live in Auroville. +The third founding principle of Auroville is that it will emerge as the bridge between the past and the future. +If one looks at where the world and India were in 1968 when Auroville was founded, the world was living in compartments and in a state of cold war. +The idea of Auroville saw the world getting integrated by trade, travel and communication. +Auroville was conceived with the vision of enveloping the whole of humanity in one small area. +This would show that the future would see an integrated world. +The fourth founding principle of Auroville is that it will connect the spiritual and material approaches of the contemporary world. +As the world progresses materially through science and technology, it will increasingly long for and need spiritual orientation for social order and stability. +At Auroville, the material and the spiritual, co-exist in harmony. +The fifth basic principle of Auroville is that it will be a place of un-ending learning and constant progress, so that it never stagnates. +The progress of humanity calls for continuous thinking and re-thinking, so that the human mind does not become frozen into one idea. +The very fact that Auroville has brought together such huge diversity of people and ideas makes dialogue and debate natural. +Indian society is fundamentally diverse. +It has fostered dialogue and a philosophic tradition. +Auroville show-cases this ancient Indian tradition to the world by bringing together global diversity. +India has always allowed mutual respect and co-existence of different religions and cultures. +India is home to the age old tradition of Gurukul, where learning is not confined to classrooms; where life is a living laboratory. +Auroville too has developed as a place of un-ending and life-long education. +In ancient times, our sages and ‘Rishis’ would perform ‘yagya’ to begin great endeavours. +Occasionally, those yagyas would shape the course of history. +One such ‘Yagna’ for unity was performed here exactly 50 years ago. +The world has received positive vibrations from Auroville, in many forms, over the years. +Be it un-ending education, environment regeneration, renewable energy, organic agriculture, appropriate building technologies, water management, or waste management. +Auroville has been a pioneer. +You have done a lot to promote quality education in the country. +On the occasion of 50 years of Auroville, I hope you can enhance your efforts in this direction. +Serving young minds through education will be a big tribute to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. +Many of you may not be aware, but I too, have been a follower of your efforts on education. +Shri Kireet Bhai Joshi, an ardent disciple of Sri Aurobindo, and the Mother, was an eminent educationist. +He was also my Education Advisor, when I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. +May Auroville continue to come up with ideas to empower the ordinary citizens of this country. +May people from far and wide bring with them new ideas. +May Auroville become the centre where these ideas are synthesized. +May Auroville serve as a beacon to the world. +May it be the guardian which calls for breaking down narrow walls of the mind. +May it continue to invite everyone to celebrate the possibilities of humanity’s one-ness. +May the spirit of Maharishi Aurobindo and the Divine Mother, continue to guide Auroville to the eventual fulfilment of its lofty founding vision. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the attack on Amarnath Yatris in Jammu and Kashmir. +Prime Minister has also spoken to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Shri NN Vohra and Chief Minister Ms Mehbooba Mufti and assured all possible assistance required. +“India will never get bogged down by such cowardly attacks and the evil designs of hate. +I have spoken to the Governor and Chief Minister of J&K and assured all possible assistance required”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of revised Air Services Agreement between India and New Zealand. +His ideals have left a deep impact on society,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, on his birth anniversary. +“His bravery, courage and patriotic zeal inspire us. +On his birth anniversary, I bow to the proud son of India, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. +Subhas Babu’s organisation and leadership skills were exceptional. +He was a phenomenal personality, for whom good of the Nation was paramount. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has extended his New Year greetings to the Nation. +“As the year 2016 begins, my greetings and good wishes to everyone. +May 2016 bring joy, peace, prosperity and good health in everyone’s lives,” the Prime Minister said. +1. We, the leaders of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa, met in Fortaleza, Brazil, on 15 July 2014 at the Sixth BRICS Summit. +To inaugurate the second cycle of BRICS Summits, the theme chosen for our discussions was “Inclusive Growth: Sustainable Solutions”, in keeping with the inclusive macroeconomic and social policies carried out by our governments and the imperative to address challenges to humankind posed by the need to simultaneously achieve growth, inclusiveness, protection and preservation. +2. In the aftermath of the first cycle of five Summits, hosted by every BRICS member, our coordination is well established in various multilateral and plurilateral initiatives and intra-BRICS cooperation is expanding to encompass new areas. +To that effect, we will hold a joint session with the leaders of the South American nations, under the theme of the Sixth BRICS Summit, with a view to furthering cooperation between BRICS and South America. +We reaffirm our support for the South American integration processes, and recognize in particular the importance of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) in promoting peace and democracy in the region, and in achieving sustainable development and poverty eradication. +We believe that strengthened dialogue among BRICS and South American countries can play an active role in enhancing multilateralism and international cooperation, for the promotion of peace, security, economic and social progress and sustainable development in an interdependent and increasingly complex, globalizing world. +4. Since its inception the BRICS have been guided by the overarching objectives of peace, security, development and cooperation. +In this new cycle, while remaining committed to those objectives, we pledge to deepen our partnership with a renewed vision, based on openness, inclusiveness and mutually beneficial cooperation. +In this sense, we are ready to explore new areas towards a comprehensive cooperation and a closer economic partnership to facilitate market inter-linkages, financial integration, infrastructure connectivity as well as people-to-people contacts. +At the same time, we are confronted with persistent political instability and conflict in various global hotspots and non-conventional emerging threats. +We believe the BRICS are an important force for incremental change and reform of current institutions towards more representative and equitable governance, capable of generating more inclusive global growth and fostering a stable, peaceful and prosperous world. +6. During the first cycle of BRICS Summits, collectively our economies have consolidated their position as the main engines for sustaining the pace of the international economy as it recovers from the recent economic and financial global crisis. +The BRICS continue to contribute significantly to global growth and to the reduction of poverty in our own and other countries. +Our economic growth and social inclusion policies have helped to stabilize global economy, to foster the creation of jobs, to reduce poverty, and to combat inequality, thus contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. +In this new cycle, besides its contribution in fostering strong, sustainable and balanced growth, BRICS will continue to play a significant role in promoting social development and in contributing to define the international agenda in this area, building on its experience in addressing the challenges of poverty and inequality. +7. To better reflect the advancement of the social policies of the BRICS and the positive impacts of its economic growth, we instruct our National Institutes of Statistics and the Ministries of Health and Education to work on the development of joint methodologies for social indicators to be incorporated in the BRICS Joint Statistical Publication. +We also encourage the BRICS Think Tanks Council to provide technical support in this task. +We further request the BRICS National Institutes of Statistics to discuss the viability and feasibility of a platform for the development of such methodologies and to report thereon. +8. The world economy has strengthened, with signs of improvement in some advanced economies. +Significant downside risks to this recovery remain, however. +Unemployment and debt levels are worryingly high and growth remains weak in many advanced economies. +Emerging market economies and developing countries (EMDCs) continue to contribute significantly to global growth and will do so in the years to come. +9. Strong macroeconomic frameworks, well regulated financial markets and robust levels of reserves have allowed EMDCs in general, and the BRICS in particular, to better deal with the risks and spillovers presented by the challenging economic conditions in the last few years. +Nevertheless, further macroeconomic coordination amongst all major economies, in particular in the G20, remains a critical factor for strengthening the prospects for a vigorous and sustainable recovery worldwide. +In this context, we reaffirm our strong commitment to continue working among ourselves and with the global community to foster financial stability, support sustainable, stronger and inclusive growth and promote quality jobs. +The BRICS stand ready to contribute to the G20 goal of lifting our collective GDP by more than 2 percent above the trajectory implied by current policies over the coming 5 years. +10. We commend Russia for the successful work during its presidency of the G20 in 2013. +The institution of the BRICS Summits largely coincided with the beginning of the global crisis, the first G20 Summits and the consolidation of that Group as the premier forum for economic coordination among its members. +As a new round of BRICS Summits begins, we remain committed to deliver constructive responses to global economic and financial challenges and to serve as a strong voice for the promotion of sustainable development, inclusive growth, financial stability and of more representative international economic governance. +We will continue to pursue our fruitful coordination and to promote our development goals within the international economic system and financial architecture. +11. BRICS, as well as other EMDCs, continue to face significant financing constraints to address infrastructure gaps and sustainable development needs. +We appreciate the work undertaken by our Finance Ministers. +Based on sound banking principles, the NDB will strengthen the cooperation among our countries and will supplement the efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global development, thus contributing to our collective commitments for achieving the goal of strong, sustainable and balanced growth. +12. The Bank shall have an initial authorized capital of US$ 100 billion. +The first President of the Bank shall be from India. +The headquarters of the Bank shall be located in Shanghai. +The New Development Bank Africa Regional Center shall be established in South Africa concurrently with the headquarters. +We direct our Finance Ministers to work out the modalities for its operationalization. +This arrangement will have a positive precautionary effect, help countries forestall short-term liquidity pressures, promote further BRICS cooperation, strengthen the global financial safety net and complement existing international arrangements. +We appreciate the work undertaken by our Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. +Given the importance of adopting innovation initiatives, we welcome the conclusion of the Cooperation Agreement on Innovation within the BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism. +16. We recognize that there is potential for BRICS insurance and reinsurance markets to pool capacities. +We direct our relevant authorities to explore avenues of cooperation in this regard. +17. We believe that sustainable development and economic growth will be facilitated by taxation of revenue generated in jurisdictions where economic activity takes place. +We express our concern over the harmful impact of tax evasion, transnational fraud and aggressive tax planning on the world economy. +We are aware of the challenges brought by aggressive tax avoidance and non-compliance practices. +We, therefore, affirm our commitment to continue a cooperative approach on issues related to tax administrations and to enhance cooperation in the international forums targeting tax base erosion and information exchange for tax purposes. +We direct our relevant authorities to explore ways of enhancing cooperation in this area. +We also direct our relevant authorities to strengthen cooperation in the field of customs. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today invited all officials and staff of the Prime Minister’s Office, for high tea, on the occasion of completion of one year in office. +The Prime Minister said that the entire PMO family shares the credit for the success that has been achieved in serving people over the past year. +Shri Narendra Modi said that a sensitive and humane approach was needed in fulfilling the responsibilities of the Prime Minister’s Office. +The Prime Minister met various officials, and posed for group photographs with them. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will visit Guwahati tomorrow. +He will chair a series of high level meetings to review the flood situation, and the relief operations in the North Eastern States, particularly in the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur. +Chief Ministers and senior officials from these States are expected to be present at the meetings. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the proposal of Ministry of Shipping to enact Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill 2016 and to repeal five archaic admiralty statutes. +Salient Features of Admirability Bill, 2016 +This legislative proposal will fulfil a long-standing demand of the maritime legal fraternity. +The salient features are as follows:- +Background: +India is a leading maritime nation and maritime transportation caters to about ninety-five percent of its merchandise trade volume. +However, under the present statutory framework, the admiralty jurisdiction of Indian courts flow from laws enacted in the British era. +Admiralty jurisdiction relates to powers of the High Courts in respect of claims associated with transport by sea and navigable waterways. +The repealing of five admiralty statutes is in line with the Government’s commitment to do away with archaic laws which are hindering efficient governance. +PM: Just as this hospital has undergone kayakalp (renewal), India too can undergo kayakalp. (renewal) +He was speaking at the inauguration of the Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai. +He said, just as this 90 year old hospital has undergone kayakalp (renewal), India too, can undergo a kayakalp. +The Prime Minister expressed concern over India’s health indicators such as infant mortality and maternal mortality. +He said even if one child fell in a borewell, the entire country was worried, but we need to generate more awareness about the hundreds of children who are unable to survive due to lack of primary healthcare facilities. +He said society and Government should together give priority to the poorest of poor and make whatever efforts we can to provide affordable health services. +He said the Reliance Foundation Hospital was a step in that direction. +Referring to the Digital India programme of the Union Government, he said one of the primary aims of this programme was to ensure advanced healthcare in remote areas through tele-medicine, and access to the best education for poor. +The Prime Minister called for a renewed thrust on preventive healthcare, saying that treatment is expensive, while prevention is economical. +He said clean drinking water for all would be the biggest source of preventive healthcare. +He congratulated the Government of Madhya Pradesh for its initiative of washing hands. +He said India had a heritage where people desired the good of everyone. +The youth, in the age-group of 15 to 24, are mostly from militancy-affected families, orphanages, and weaker sections of society. +The youth interacted with the Prime Minister for over half-an-hour on the lawns of Panchvati at 7, Race Course Road. +In response to their questions, the Prime Minister spoke at length about his vision for the development of India and especially the State of Jammu and Kashmir. +He said the State had immense potential for tourism, which in turn would bring prosperity to people. +He said that the Union Government was working to ensure good physical and digital connectivity across the State. +The youth responded enthusiastically to the Prime Minister’s statements and questions. +They repeatedly expressed their wish for the State of Jammu and Kashmir to progress and be developed with modern infrastructure, as they have seen in Delhi. +After the interaction, the Prime Minister invited the youth for high-tea on the Panchvati lawns. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed among India and various BRICs countries for establishment of the BRICS Agriculture Research Platform (BRICS-ARP). +During the 7th BRICS Summit held on 9thJuly 2015 at Ufa in Russia, Prime Minister Shri Modi proposed to establish BRICS Agriculture Research Centre which will be a gift to the entire world. +The Centre will promote sustainable agricultural development and poverty alleviation through strategic cooperation in agriculture to provide food security in the BRICS member countries. +In order to further intensify cooperation among BRICS countries in agricultural research policy, science and technology, innovation and capacity building, including technologies for small¬holder farming in the BRICS countries, an MoU on establishment of the Agricultural Research Platform was signed by the foreign Ministers of BRICS countries in the 8th BRICS Summit held on 16th October, 2016 at Goa. +BRICS-ARP will be the natural global platform for science-led agriculture-based sustainable development for addressing the issues of world hunger, under-nutrition, poverty and inequality, particularly between farmers’ and non-farmers’ income, and enhancing agricultural trade, bio-security and climate resilient agriculture. +I will visit Japan on 10-12 November 2016 for the Annual Summit. +This will be my second visit to Japan as Prime Minister. +Our partnership with Japan is characterized as a Special Strategic and Global Partnership. +India and Japan see each other through a prism of shared Buddhist heritage, democratic values, and commitment to an open, inclusive and rules-based global order. +Today, Japan is one of the top investors in India. +But many Japanese companies, which are household names in India, have been committed to the potential of Indian economy for several decades. +In Tokyo, I will have a detailed interaction with top business leaders from India and Japan, to look for ways to further strengthen our trade and investment ties. +During the visit, I will have also the opportunity to pay a call on His Majesty the Emperor. +And, I am looking forward to reviewing the entire spectrum of our bilateral cooperation when I meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on 11 November. +On 12 November, Prime Minister Abe and I will travel to Kobe on the famed Shinkansen – the technology that will be deployed for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Railway. +Both of us will also visit the Kawasaki Heavy Industries facility in Kobe, where high speed railway is manufactured. +The High Speed Railway cooperation between India and Japan is a shining example of the strength of our cooperation. +It will not only boost our trade and investment ties, but will also create skilled jobs in India, improve our infrastructure and give a boost to our ‘Make in India’ mission. +On the eve of the birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial at 26, Alipur Road in Delhi on April 13th. +This is the place where Dr. Ambedkar attained Mahaparinirvana on 6th December 1956. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the memorial on March 21, 2016. +The memorial of Babasaheb Ambedkar, the creator of the Constitution of India has been given the shape of a book. +The museum at the memorial intends to create an immersive experience into the life of Dr. Ambedkar, and his contribution to India, through extensive use of static media, dynamic media, audio-visual content, and multimedia technologies. +A meditation hall has also been created. +Toran Dwars, a Bodhi Tree, a musical fountain, and facade lighting are other important elements of the memorial. +Excellency, President Park Geun-hye, +It is a great pleasure to visit Republic of Korea. +I sincerely thank President Park for the warm welcome and hospitality. +I had excellent discussions with President Park today. +Her own visit to India in January 2014 had a big impact on our relations. +I am pleased to visit Republic of Korea in the first year of my Government. +I have visited here before as Chief Minister. +Korea’s economic rise had left me deeply impressed. +In the short time since then, Korea’s global leadership in manufacturing and technology has become more visible. +Korea is also a strong pillar of democracy in Asia. +Korea’s rapid progress has made the vision of an Asian century stronger. +It will be based not only on the strength of Korea’s economy, but also its contribution to peace and stability in the region. +We consider Korea a crucial partner in India’s economic modernization. +I am here at a time of renewed momentum in the Indian economy. +We are pursuing a comprehensive programme of economic modernization that covers all sectors of our economy and all aspects of policies and procedures. +We have a special focus on infrastructure and developing a world class manufacturing sector. +Korea can be a leading partner in this enterprise. +Our relationship started with a strong economic emphasis. +But, it has also now become strategic in content. +The need for closer engagement between countries with shared values and vision has never been stronger. +For all these reasons, this is a very important visit for me. +I am pleased that we have agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to ‘Special Strategic Partnership’. +The decisions today reflect how seriously we take the new framework of our relationship. +Republic of Korea is the second country with which India will have a diplomatic and security dialogue in 2+2 format. +I welcome the decision to have regular cooperation between our national security councils. +We have also agreed to expand cooperation between our armed forces. +We intend to deepen our cooperation in defence technology and manufacture of defence equipment in India. +This sector offers huge opportunities in India. +I have requested President Park to support the participation of Korean companies in the defence sector in India. +Her response has been positive. +We had extensive discussions on our economic relations. +Many Korean brands are household names in India. +President Park and I see vast opportunities for Korean companies to participate in our ‘Make in India’ Mission. +I will meet Korea’s business leaders tomorrow. +Korean companies have the edge to succeed in India. +We will also establish a channel – Korea Plus – to facilitate their investment and operations in India. +I sought President Park’s support for participation of Korean companies in new areas. +Besides defence equipment, I invited Korean investments in areas like ship building, including LNG tankers. +Our decision to establish a Joint Working Group on shipbuilding reflects our seriousness to cooperate in this area. +Korean companies will be participating in India’s plans to acquire and manufacture LNG tankers. +Tomorrow, I will visit a shipyard in Ulsan. +President Park and I shared the view that our modest trade is well below its potential. +We agreed to review the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and other market access related issues. +I conveyed our desire to see a balanced and broad-based growth in bilateral trade. +We also had productive discussions on international issues. +I welcomed Korea’s diplomatic efforts to maintain peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. +I also shared her concerns that proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction will not be in the interest of countries of the region. +I offered India’s support to Korean people for peaceful re-unification of Korean Peninsula. +We discussed our engagement in the East Asia Summit and with ASEAN. +We have a shared interest in an open, balanced and inclusive regional architecture. +We have common views on maritime security in this region. +The visit to Korea has just begun, but it is already very productive. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted people across the country, celebrating various festivals on the advent of New Year. +“Greetings to people across India celebrating the advent of the New Year. +May this new year bring joy and prosperity. +Wishing all my Sindhi friends on the auspicious occasion of Cheti Chand. +We bow to Lord Jhulelal and seek his divine blessings. +Gudi Padwa wishes to all friends in Maharashtra. +Praying for a phenomenal year, full of happiness and success. +On the special day of Ugadi, my greetings to everyone. +I hope the new year brings peace and prosperity in our society. +Navreh greetings to my fellow citizens. +I pray that the coming year enhances the spirit of happiness and harmony in our lives. +Sajibu Cheiraoba greetings to the wonderful people of Manipur. +May the new year fulfil all your wishes”, the Prime Minister said. +This will encourage ease of doing business, make the norms of classification growth oriented and align them to the new tax regime revolving around GST (Goods & Services Tax). +Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006 will accordingly be amended to define units producing goods and rendering services in terms of annual turnover as follows: +• A micro enterprise will be defined as a unit where the annual turnover does not exceed five crore rupees; +• A small enterprise will be defined as a unit where the annual turnover is more than five crore rupees but does not exceed Rs 75 crore; +• A medium enterprise will be defined as a unit where the annual turnover is more than seventy five crore rupees but does not exceed Rs 250 crore. +• Additionally, the Central Government may, by notification, vary turnover limits, which shall not exceed thrice the limits specified in Section 7 of the MSMED Act. +At present the MSMED Act (Section 7) classifies the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on the basis of investment in plant and machinery for manufacturing units, and investment in equipment for service enterprises. +The criterion of investment in plant and machinery stipulates self declaration which in turn entails verification if deemed necessary and leads to transaction costs. +The change in the norms of classification will enhance the ease of doing business. +The consequent growth and will pave the way for increased direct and indirect employment in the MSME sector of the country. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for the continuation, strengthening and establishment of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) with an outlay of Rs.5739.56 crore. +This decision will have benefits such as assessment and demonstration of technologies and capacity development of farmers and extension personnel. +KVKs will work as knowledge and resource centres of agricultural technology in the districts and produce critical quality technology products such as seed, planting material livestock strains, fingerlings and bio-products for availability to farmers. +The scheme includes initiation of new components that is ICT in agriculture, Farmer FIRST programme, creation of Farm Innovation Fund, Disaster Management Fund, Technology Information Units, mini seed processing facilities, micro nutrient analysis facilities, solar panels, vKVK and KVK net, specialized KVKs and e-farmers; and extending existing components like Integrated Farming System, rain water harvesting structures, soil and water testing laboratories, minimal processing facilities, carp hatcheries to new KVKs. +The establishment of 16 new Agriculture Technology Information Centres (ATICs), Network Project on Expert System and New Extension Methodologies and Approaches by ZPDs are some other components. +The scheme provides support to the Directorate of Extension (DEE) of State and Central Agricultural Universities. +The scheme also proposes to enhance the number of Zonal Project Directorates to 11 from the existing eight and creation of one Post of Zonal Project Director and one post of Principal Scientist in each of three new Zonal Project Directorates. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding between India and Tajikistan on Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy. +The MoU was signed on 8th October, 2018. +The MoU will enable establishment of a basis for a cooperative institutional relationship between India and Tajikistan to encourage and promote bilateral technical cooperation in the field of new and renewable energy on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity. +It will focus on development and deployment of new and renewable energy, and storage technologies. +In a unique initiative aimed at recognizing and awarding innovation among youth, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today presented Certificates of Excellence to eight young innovative officers of the Indian Army. +The certificates were presented to the officers for unique innovations done by these officers, in areas such as reconnaissance, monitoring and greater facilitation for soldiers in combat conditions. +The certificates were presented by the Prime Minister, to these innovators during the “at-home function” at the residence of the Chief of Army Staff, on the occasion of Army Day. +The Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar was also present. +The innovators also explained their work to the Prime Minister, through working models and exhibits, in the presence of the Chief of Army Staff. +This is the first time that such efforts on the part of Army officers have been recognized at this highest level. +While presenting the DRDO awards in August 2014, the Prime Minister had called for involving youth in defence research related activities in a big way, to ensure that India remained abreast of global technological advancements in the field. +The Prime Minister had also encouraged DRDO to connect with the ultimate end-user of its products – the soldier. +He had said the soldier can suggest many practical innovations in defence technology. +Prime Minister has also observed that occasions like the Annual Day of the three Services (Air Force Day, Army Day and Navy Day) should be occasions not merely to celebrate the service of our Armed Forces in the defence and security of our nation, but also to organize events to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Armed Forces. +Such events could include recognition of members of the Services who have made innovative contributions in areas like defence management, estate management, environment, finance and expenditure, design of defence equipment, papers on defence strategies etc. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the status of GST, which is to be implemented from July 1. +The meeting, which lasted for over two and a half hours, was attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and top-most officials from the Ministry of Finance, PMO and the Cabinet Secretary. +The Prime Minister was informed that GST systems such as IT infrastructure, training of officials, integration with banks, and enrolment of existing taxpayers will be in readiness well in time for the July 1 implementation date. +Information security systems were discussed in detail. +A Twitter handle – @askGst_GOI has been started for real time answering of queries. +The Prime Minister asserted that the implementation of GST from July 1st, is the culmination of the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, including political parties, trade and industry bodies. +He described GST as a turning point for the economy, unprecedented in history. +He directed officials that the creation of One Nation; One Market; One Tax would greatly benefit the common man. +The Prime Minister also directed that maximum attention be paid to cyber-security in IT systems concerned with GST. +Dr. Mohamed Asim, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Special Envoy of the President of Maldives called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today afternoon. +They discussed the ties between India and Maldives as close neighbours bound by shared history, culture and maritime interests in the Indian Ocean. +Special Envoy Asim reiterated the commitment of Maldives to maintain close relations with India under Maldives’ “India First” policy. +Prime Minister affirmed that India would always be a reliable and close neighbour of Maldives supporting it in its progress and security. +Special Envoy Asim also reiterated President Yameen’s invitation to Prime Minister to visit Maldives. +Prime Minister conveyed his gratitude for the invitation and agreed to the visit at a suitable time. +Approval of this proposal will provide a temporary relief to Sri Lanka till alternative arrangement is in place. +The Union Cabinet also gave its approval for providing a special swap of USD 700 million to Sri Lanka for a period of 3 months or till the time Sri Lanka avails the IMF facility whichever is earlier. +This will further foster India’s bilateral relations and economic ties with Sri Lanka, which is India’s important partner in SAARC and South Asia. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh today. +The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), at Bilaspur. +This 750 bed hospital will be built at a cost of approximately Rs. 1350 crore. +In addition to healthcare, it will also provide medical education at the under-graduate and post-graduate level, besides nursing. +The Prime Minister also unveiled a plaque to mark the launch of Digital Nerve Centres for primary healthcare. +The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), at Una. +Shri Narendra Modi also inaugurated a Steel Processing Unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), at Kandrori, Kangra. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today met the US Secretary of Defence Mr Ashton Carter. +Prime Minister mentioned that the two Summit meetings between him and the US President Barack Obama over the past year have provided new energy and momentum to the bilateral relations. +He expressed satisfaction at the implementation of the decisions taken during these Summit meetings. +He expressed hope that the US companies, including those in the defence manufacturing sector, would actively participate in the ‘Make in India’ initiative and set up manufacturing units in India with transfer of technology and link to the global supply chain. +Mr Carter conveyed that India was an important strategic partner for the US. +The US policy of rebalance in Asia Pacific complimented India’s Act East Policy. +The US authorities were committed to the expeditious implementation of the decisions reached between the leaders of the two countries. +In this context, the US was encouraging the US companies to set up manufacturing units in India with transfer of technology. +Both sides also exchanged views on regional issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, and the recent developments in the Indian Ocean and the Asia Pacific region. +Reviews extent of damage, relief and rescue operations in the city and other cyclone affected parts of Andhra Pradesh. +Travels extensively through Visakhapatnam city by road. +Does an aerial survey of cyclone affected Koraput and Malkangiri districts of Odisha. +Announces interim assistance of Rs. 1000 crore for Andhra Pradesh. +Appreciates role played by use of technology, and excellent coordination between Centre and State, in minimizing loss of life. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Visakhapatnam today, to personally review the relief and rescue operations in the aftermath of Cyclone Hudhud. +He travelled extensively by road through the city of Visakhapatnam, which bore the brunt of the cyclone. +He was accompanied by the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Shri ESL Narasimhan, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Chandrababu Naidu, and Union Minister Shri Venkaiah Naidu. +The Prime Minister reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting in the Collectorate at Visakhapatnam. +He appreciated the role played by technology, including satellite imagery and advanced weather forecasting techniques, in minimizing loss to life and property. +He also expressed satisfaction at the excellent coordination between the Union and State Governments, which helped minimize casualties. +In a statement to media after the meeting, the Prime Minister announced an interim assistance of Rs. 1000 crore to the state of Andhra Pradesh. +He also announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 2 lakhs for the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the cyclone, and Rs. 50,000 to the seriously injured. +Earlier, the Prime Minister also carried out an aerial survey of cyclone affected Koraput and Malkangiri districts of Odisha, as well as the city of Visakhapatnam. +The special jet of the Indian Air Force swooped low over the affected areas, as the Prime Minister was briefed about the situation. +The Prime Minister has repeatedly emphasized the need for long-term planning for disaster management, taking into account the lessons learnt from Cyclone Hudhud. +During the meeting, he also offered Andhra Pradesh full support from the Centre, towards this task. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on National Sports Day, has congratulated all sports lovers across India and has expressed hope that sports and sportsmanship will always shine in our society. +“On National Sports Day I congratulate all sports lovers across India and hope sports and sportsmanship will always shine in our society” , the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today urged the Gems and Jewellery sector in India to look beyond the domestic market and establish a global presence. +Speaking at a felicitation function organized for the Prime Minister, by the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation, Shri Narendra Modi called for innovation and skill development to achieve this objective. +He noted that there is an increasing global demand for handmade jewellery. +The Prime Minister called upon all those with undisclosed income, to declare it before the September 30th deadline. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Afghanistan on Afghanistan`s Independence Day. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Baripada, in Odisha today. +He unveiled a digital plaque to mark the commencement of work for conservation and development of Rasika Ray Temple, and Excavated Structure at Ancient Fort Haripurgarh. +He laid the Foundation Stone for three National Highway projects. +He dedicated to the nation, the Balasore-Haldia-Durgapur section of the Paradip-Haldia-Durgapur LPG pipeline of IOCL. +He also inaugurated the Multi Modal Logistic Park at Balasore, and six Passport Sewa Kendras. +He also flagged off the second passenger train from Tatanagar to Badampahar. +Addressing the gathering, he said the total worth of projects inaugurated, or for which the Foundation Stone was laid today, is over Rs. 4000 crore. +He said the Union Government is focusing on infrastructure development, which will make a fundamental difference in the lives of the common man. +He said that emphasis is on road, rail and air connectivity, even in Odisha. +He said enhanced rail connectivity will facilitate movement of people and make mineral resources more accessible to industry. +The Prime Minister said that the maximum benefit of enhanced infrastructure will be for the middle class, and the medium enterprises of the country. +He said modern roads, clean trains and economical air travel, all contribute to ease of living for the middle class. +The Prime Minister said that in the last four and a half years, the Union Government has attempted to reduce the difficulty faced by people in obtaining passports. +He said that the six Passport Sewa Kendras being inaugurated today, are a step in this direction. +He described this as another effort towards “ease of living.” +The Prime Minister said that the Government has also been making efforts at conserving the rich cultural heritage of the country. +He said sites related to faith, spirituality and history; along with the knowledge of Yoga and Ayurveda, are being actively publicized and promoted. +In this context he mentioned the commencement of work today, for the Rasika Ray Temple, and the Excavated Structure at Ancient Fort Haripurgarh. +He said such efforts by the Government are helping boost tourism. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the renaming of Kandla Port as Deendayal Port. +Ports in India are generally named after the city or town in which these are situated. +However, the Government, in special cases, after due consideration, have renamed the Ports after great leaders in the past. +By renaming Kandla Port as “Deendayal Port, Kandla”, a grateful nation would be remembering the invaluable contributions made by one of the greatest sons of India, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. +This will inspire the People of Gujarat, particularly the Youth, who may not be fully aware of the contributions made by the great leader. +There have been public demands from various quarters in Gujarat, especially from Kachhh district, to rename ‘Kandla Port’ as ‘Deendayal Port, Kandla’. +Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay (25.9.1916 – 1.2.1968) was a prominent leader, who pledged his life to the service of the nation. +He devoted his entire life serving the nation and worked among the masses and dedicated and sacrificed his life for the upliftment of the Poor & Working Class at the same time. +Upholding the values of democracy founded on tolerance, discipline, selflessness and respect for the law of the land, all his actions were based on the principles of ‘Integral Humanism’. +Throughout his life, he worked tirelessly for Indianisation of democracy, honouring the public opinion, selflessness and respect for law of the land. +Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay dedicated his entire life for public service and was the epitome of simplicity, honesty and selfless service for the poor and down-trodden. +Since the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay was to be celebrated on 25th September, 2017, it was felt that it would be most appropriate if the decision to rename the Kandla Port as Deendayal Port was made as a part of the birth anniversary celebration of this great national leader. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated All India Radio (Akashvani), on the launch of Akashvani Maitree. +“Congratulations to Akashvani (AIR) on launch of Akashvani Maitree, inaugurated by President of India. +This can be heard in India and Bangladesh. +Akashvani Maitree will serve as one more bridge of friendship between people of India and Bangladesh”, the Prime Minister said. +Calling GST as the best example of cooperative federalism, the Prime Minister in a series of tweets said that this reform will promote Make in India, help exports and thus boost boost employment while providing enhanced revenue. +“On this truly historic occasion of the passage of the GST Bill in the Rajya Sabha, I thank the leaders and members of all parties. +Our MPs must be congratulated for their path breaking decision to give India an indirect tax system for the 21st century. +We continue to work with all parties and states to introduce a system that benefits all Indians and promotes a vibrant and unified national market. +This reform will promote Make in India, help exports and thus boost employment while providing enhanced revenue. +I would like to add that GST will also be the best example of cooperative federalism. +Together we will take India to new heights of progress”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +Your Excellency Mr. David Cameron! +Ladies and Gentlemen! +It is a great pleasure for me to be with you this evening. +I must confess that there has been a delay in my coming to this great country. +But, the good news is that myself and His Excellency Cameron have been in constant touch. +We have been meeting frequently at various places and exchanging views. +I remember our last meeting in New York where he rightly said that India and UK should work closely on the economic front. +UK and India have known each other very well since several centuries. +Our system of Governance is also based largely on the Westminster model. +That is the reason that UK is among India’s major trading partners. +UK is also the third largest foreign investor in India. +And I must add- this is not one sided. +India has emerged as the third largest source of FDI for UK. +However, there is significant potential for India and UK to further strengthen their economic ties. +We have to effectively leverage the mutual understanding which is there for each other. +We are particularly keen to develop the sectors where UK is strong. +We are working hard to create conducive conditions for this engagement. +A strong Indian community here keeps pushing us for better and better integration with UK. +Since my Government took over, we have been working relentlessly to put the economy on track. +Particularly, we have worked very aggressively to make India an easy and simple place to do business. +We believe that this is necessary for improving the lives of ordinary citizens in India. +The results of our hard work are now visible. +IMF Chief has recently said that India is among few bright spots in global economy today. +Our growth rate in the last year was 7.3%. +The World Bank has very recently projected our growth rate at 7.5% for this fiscal and even better in the coming years. +Thus, we are fortunate to be sailing in the right direction. +In the World Bank Report of 2016 on ease of doing business, India has moved up by 12 ranks at one go. +No other country has made such a big improvement. +We are also committed to take these corrections at the State, district and city level. +States are moving hand-in-hand with the federal government in this task in the spirit of cooperative and competitive federalism. +Recently, we did a ranking of our state governments on ease of doing business with the help of the World Bank Group. +This has prompted the state governments into a healthy competition among themselves to ensure a business friendly eco-system. +This was for the first time that the World Bank involved itself in a sub-national exercise on ease of doing business. +One of the biggest challenges in India today is to productively employ the youth. +For meeting this challenge, we need to provide a huge push to manufacturing which has stagnated at around 16% of the GDP for several decades. +This share must reach around 25% in the short and medium term. +With this in view, we have launched the “Make in India” initiative. +We are working on all fronts to make India a global manufacturing hub. +To achieve this objective, apart from vigorous exercise for ease of doing business, we have fast tracked approvals and clearances for industry and infrastructure. +The hall mark of our strategy now is Policy driven Governance. +Measures like transparent auction and allocation of key natural resources like coal, spectrum, iron ore have created a level playing field for investors. +To enhance the flow of foreign investments, we have liberalized the FDI regime allowing 100% FDI in railways. +We enhanced the FDI limits to 49% in Defence and Insurance. +We are also conscious of the last mile operational issues in such policies. +In that spirit, early this week, we have carried out substantial changes in the FDI regime across 15 sectors. +To give an example: now there are just no restrictions in the FDI Policy for construction sector. +Similarly, very radical liberalization has been done in sectors like plantation, e-commerce and single brand retail. +Moreover, we have now brought most of the FDI proposals under the automatic route. +With this round of reforms, I can say that India is among the most open countries for Foreign Investments. +Infrastructure is another big challenge for India. +We are keen to build futuristic physical and social infrastructure. +Through self-imposed discipline in financial management, we have been able to allocate more resources for infrastructure sectors. +In addition, we are setting up an India Investment and Infrastructure Fund. +We have targeted an annual contribution of 3.5 billion US Dollars into this fund from our own resources. +We are putting in place a professional team for asset management. +We have also come up with the mechanism of Tax Free Infrastructure Bonds for projects in rail, road and other sectors. +We will work together with the British Government, Industry and the financial markets to deepen our relationship and harness their interest in India’s infrastructure. +Very soon, these bonds will become strong instruments for engagement between our financial markets. +There were a number of regulatory and taxation issues which were adversely impacting on the sentiments of foreign investors. +We have taken very decisive steps to remove a number of long pending concerns. +To give you some examples:- +• We have taken almost 60% of the defence items out of the licensing process and liberalised a number of restrictions like end-use certificate for the exports. +• We have notified the regulations for the Alternative Investment Funds; +• We have rationalized the capital gains tax regime for Real Estate Investment Trusts. +• We have modified the Permanent Establishment norms; +• We have also decided to defer the implementation of the General Anti-Avoidance Rules for two years; +• We have introduced the GST Bill in parliament; we are hopeful to roll it out in 2016; +• We are working on a new bankruptcy code; the Company Law Tribunal is soon going to be formed. +We want to make sure that our tax regime is transparent and predictable. +We are also keen to see that genuine investors and honest tax payers get quick and fair decisions on tax matters. +As a result of our initiatives, +• the sentiments for private investment and inflow of foreign investment have turned positive. +• FDI inflows have gone up by 40% compared with previous year’s corresponding period. +• India has been recently ranked as the most attractive investment destinations by Ernst & Young. +• In a ranking of the top greenfield investment destinations in the first half of 2015, India is at number one. +• Foreign Policy magazine of USA has ranked India as number one FDI destination. +• In a study of 100 countries on Growth, Innovation and Leadership, India has been ranked No.1 by Frost & Sullivan. +• India has improved its UNCTAD ranking of investment attractiveness from 15th to 9th. +• India has also jumped 16 places on the World Economic Forum’s global competitive index. +• MOODY’s have upgraded the rating of India as positive. +Thus, just in eighteen months, we have successfully restored the credibility of India in the eyes of global players. +Through PPP, we are encouraging private investments in areas where earlier only government used to invest. +We are also divesting our stake in the public sector enterprises, to instill market discipline. +We are keen to learn from your experience in structuring and implementing PPP projects. +I am personally convinced and want to assure you that India is committed to protect Intellectual Property Rights of all innovators and entrepreneurs. +We have taken several initiatives for transparency and online processing in IP administration. +A comprehensive National IPR policy is being finalized. +We want your active involvement in translating our dreams into reality. +Our commitment and aggressiveness to achieve the goal in a faster and effective manner offers immense opportunities to British Companies. +These opportunities range from building 50 million houses to setting up 100 smart cities; modernization of railway network and re-development of stations to new railway corridors; generation of 175 GW of renewable energy to transmission and distribution networks, from National Highways and bridges, to Metro rail networks. +Such a huge potential for creation of infrastructure and production of goods will not be available in any other country. +More importantly, no one place on the earth can offer the potential for usage and consumption on such a massive scale. +We are trying to harness this potential through our policies and people. +The campaigns like Digital India and Skill India are designed to prepare the people to take part in this process. +To tap their energy fully, we have also launched the Start up India Campaign. +We have witnessed massive growth in the number of start-ups in the recent past. +Some of these have already begun to challenge established global players. +India is on the threshold of a big IT revolution. +We are encouraging it to fast-track the services to our 1.25 billion people. +New Technology and renewable energy is our new Mantra. +Whatever we do, we will do in a cleaner and greener way. +Energy efficiency, water recycling, waste to energy, clean India and river cleaning are among those initiatives. +These initiatives provide additional avenues for investment in modern technology and human resources. +Ours is a country of the vibrant youth and a rising middle class. +There is a huge domestic market in India. +I have been saying that the three Ds of Democracy, Demography and Demand is our basic strength. +Moreover, talented young minds in India have now begun taking risks. +They are preferring to become Entrepreneurs. +Necessary conditions for take-off of the Indian economy have been created. +Never before, India was so well prepared to absorb talent, technology and investment from outside. +I can assure you that it will get better and better in the coming days. +We will be open to welcome your ideas, innovations and enterprises. +We are open to carry out necessary corrections in our policies and procedures. +Given the visionary and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Cameron and his interest in India, I am personally eager to work with the British Government and companies. +With these words, I welcome you to India. +I assure you of my personal care in making your dreams a reality. +Many of you belong to India; Many of you are in India already. +But for those who are not there, I must say that: +About 100 Probationers of the 2017 batch of the Indian Police Service, today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. +Interacting with the Probationers, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of working with dedication, to perform with distinction, the various roles and responsibilities that they would be looking after. +The Prime Minister recalled the sacrifices of over 33,000 police personnel, who have laid down their lives, while performing their duty. +Subjects such as good governance, discipline and conduct, women empowerment, and forensic science, also came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Aanchal Thakur on winning India’s first international medal in skiing at FIS International Skiing Competition in Turkey. +“Well done Aanchal Thakur for winning an international medal in skiing! +The entire nation is ecstatic on your historic accomplishment at the FIS International Skiing Competition in Turkey. +Wishing you the very best for your future endeavours”, the Prime Minister said. +The new Steel Policy enshrines the long term vision of the Government to give impetus to the steel sector. +It seeks to enhance domestic steel consumption and ensure high quality steel production and create a technologically advanced and globally competitive steel industry. +Key features of the NSP 2017: +The policy projects crude steel capacity of 300 million tonnes (MT), production of 255 MT and a robust finished steel per capita consumption of 158 Kgs by 2030 – 31, as against the current consumption of 61 Kgs. +The policy also envisages to domestically meet the entire demand of high grade automotive steel, electrical steel, special steels and alloys for strategic applications and increase domestic availability of washed coking coal so as to reduce import dependence on coking coal from about 85% to around 65% by 2030-31. +Some highlights of New Steel Policy +• The Indian steel sector has grown rapidly over the past few years and presently it is the third largest steel producer globally, contributing to about 2% of the country’s GDP. +India has also crossed 100 MT mark for production for sale in 2016-17. +• The New Steel Policy, 2017 aspires to achieve 300MT of steel-making capacity by 2030. +This would translate into additional investment of Rs. 10 lakh Crore by 2030-31. +• The Policy seeks to increase consumption of steel and major segments are infrastructure, automobiles and housing. +New Steel Policy seeks to increase per capita steel consumption to the level of 160 Kgs by 2030 from existing level of around 60 Kg. +• Potential of MSME steel sector has been recognised. +Policy stipulates that adoption of energy efficient technologies in the MSME steel sector will be encouraged to improve the overall productivity & reduce energy intensity. +• Steel Ministry will facilitate R&D in the sector through the establishment of Steel Research and Technology Mission of India (SRTMI). +The initiative is aimed to spearhead R&D of national importance in iron & steel sector utilizing tripartite synergy amongst industry, national R&D laboratories and academic institutes. +• Ministry through policy measures will ensure availability of raw materials like Iron ore, Coking coal and non-coking coal, Natural gas etc. at competitive rates. +• With the roll out of the National Steel Policy-2017, it is envisaged that the industry will be steered in creating an environment for promoting domestic steel and thereby ensuring a scenario where production meets the anticipated pace of growth in consumption, through a technologically advanced and globally competitive steel industry. +This will be facilitated by Ministry of Steel, in coordination with relevant Ministries, as may be required. +Steel is one of the most important products in the modern world and forms the backbone to any industrial economy. +Untapped potential with a strong policy support becomes the ideal platform for growth. +Owing to the strategic importance of the sector along with the need to have a robust and restructured policy in present scenario, the new NSP, 2017 became imminent. +Though, National Steel Policy 2005 (NSP 2005) sought to indicate ways and means of consolidating the gains flowing out of the then economic order and charted out a road map for sustained and efficient growth of the Indian steel industry, it required adaptation in view of the recent developments unfolding in India and also worldwide, both on the demand and supply sides of the steel market. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended a Samajik Adhikarita Shivir for distribution of aids and assistive devices in Varanasi. +The distributed material included sewing machines, Braille kits, hearing aids, smart canes, and other smart devices. +The beneficiaries included differently abled persons and widows. +He said the Union Government has taken a series of steps in this direction. +He said this camp in Varanasi is just one of about 1800 such camps that have been held across the country since his Government came to power. +This number, he asserted, was far greater than the comparable number in the case of previous governments. +He said these camps had eliminated middlemen from the activity of distribution of aids and assistive devices. +The Prime Minister said that he has been the target of personal attacks, because middlemen are being eliminated and governance is being tightened. +He said these personal attacks will not deter him from his path, which is the service of the poor and weaker sections of society. +The Prime Minister spoke at length about replacing the word “viklang” with “divyang” in everyday usage, to describe differently-abled people. +He said the focus should not be on disabilities, but on the extra-ordinary abilities that differently abled people are blessed with. +The Prime Minister spoke of his Government’s Sugamya Bharat campaign to provide easy accessibility to differently-abled people. +He complimented the Railways for the launch of the Mahamana Express with modern passenger amenities, which he flagged-off on the occasion. +The Prime Minister spoke about the bus accident involving some people who were coming to attend this event. +He said Ministers and officers had rushed to the hospital, and the injured would be well taken care of. +He also met some of the people with minor injuries, who had made it to the function nevertheless. +These discoveries could not be monetized for many years due to various reasons such as isolated locations, small size of reserves, high development costs, technological constraints, fiscal regime etc. +Under this policy, exploration companies will be able to submit bids for exploiting these oil fields. +These oil fields have not been developed earlier as they were considered as marginal fields, and hence were of lower priority. +With appropriate changes in policy, it is expected that these fields can be brought into production. +In keeping with the principle of `Minimum Government Maximum Governance’, significant changes have been made in the design of the proposed contracts. +The earlier contracts were based on the concept of profit sharing. +Under the profit sharing methodology, it became necessary for the Government to scrutinize cost details of private participants and this led to many delays and disputes. +Under the new regime, the Government will not be concerned with the cost incurred and will receive a share of the gross revenue from the sale of oil, gas etc. +The second change is that the licence granted to the successful bidder will cover all hydrocarbons found in the field. +Earlier, the licence was restricted to one item only (e.g. oil) and separate licence was required if any other hydrocarbon, for example, gas was discovered and exploited. +The new policy for these marginal fields also allows the successful bidder to sell at the prevailing market price of gas, rather than at administered price. +This decision is expected to stimulate investment as well as higher domestic oil and gas production. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will be visiting Israel on 4-6 July, 2017. +Prime Minister will also be visiting Hamburg in Germany on 6-8 July, 2017 to attend 12th G-20 Summit. +In a series of Facebook posts from his account, the Prime Minister said: +“I will be visiting Israel on 4-6 July, 2017 upon invitation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. +This year, India and Israel are marking 25 years of our diplomatic relations. +I will have in-depth talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu on the full spectrum of our partnership and strengthening it in diverse fields for mutual benefit. +We will also have the chance to discuss major common challenges like terrorism. +My programme during the visit gives me an opportunity to engage with a cross-section of Israeli society. +I am particularly looking forward to interacting with the large vibrant Indian diaspora in Israel that represents an enduring link between our two peoples. +On the economic side, I will join with leading Indian and Israeli CEOs and start-ups to discuss our shared priority of expanding business and investment collaboration on the ground. +In addition, I hope to get insights into Israel’s accomplishments in technology and innovation through on-site visits. +Later, I will also pay my respects to the courageous Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during the liberation of Haifa in 1918. +Over two days on 7th and 8th July, I look forward to engaging leaders from other G-20 countries on the vital issues affecting our world today that have a bearing on economic growth, sustainable development, and peace and stability. +We will review progress on decisions since the Hangzhou Summit last year and deliberate on issues of terrorism, climate, sustainable development, growth and trade, digitalisation, health, employment, migration, women’s empowerment, and partnership with Africa. +The theme chosen for this year is “Shaping an Inter-connected World”. +As in the past, I look forward to the opportunity to meet leaders on the side lines of the Summit to exchange views on bilateral matters of mutual interest.” +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for:- +(i). Formally requesting the Council of Europe for India’s accession to the Council of Europe Convention on the transfer of Sentenced Persons through a letter; and +(ii). upon receiving the formal invitation from the Council of Europe to become a party to the Convention, to accede to the Convention on Transfer of Sentenced Persons. +A bi-partisan delegation of twenty-six members of the United States Congress jointly called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister welcomed the Congressional Representatives to India. +He said it augurs a good start to bilateral exchanges following the new U.S. Administration and Congress. +The Prime Minister recalled his positive conversation with President Donald Trump and the shared commitment to further strengthen ties that have grown deeper in the last two and a half years. +In this regard, he recognized Congress’ strong bipartisan support for the India-US partnership. +In this context, Prime Minister referred to the role of skilled Indian talent in enriching the American economy and society. +He urged developing a reflective, balanced and farsighted perspective on movement of skilled professionals. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the creation of two posts equivalent to Joint Secretary level in the Interpreters’ cadre of the Ministry of External Affairs. +The decision will help in augmenting expertise of the Interpreters’ cadre and help meet the specialized requirements for training of the Interpreters. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid homage to former South African President Nelson Mandela, on `Mandela Day`. +The Prime Minister said Mandela Day is not only a day to remember the Great Man himself but also to reaffirm our commitment to work towards world peace. +“The beloved Madiba`s work, ideals & principles continue to inspire us. +He demonstrated the triumph of peace, equality and service,” the Prime Minister added. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted people across nation on the various festivals. +Over the coming days, people across India are marking various festivals. +Greetings to everyone on these occasions. +May there be happiness and prosperity in everyone’s lives.” +We salute our hardworking farmers who feed our nation”. +Wishing the vibrant Odia community a Happy New Year! +“A New Year and new aspirations and new hope! +This MahaVishuba Sankranti may all your wishes come true. +Praying for everyone’s well-being and happiness”. +May the coming year fulfil all your aspirations. +May everyone be happy and healthy”, the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets. +At the invitation of His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi undertook a State Visit to Uganda from 24-25 July 2018. +He was accompanied by a high-level delegation of senior officials of the Government of India and a large business delegation. +This was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 21 years. +Prime Minister Modi was accorded a high level ceremonial welcome on arrival. +During the visit, he held bilateral discussions with President Museveni at State House, Entebbe on Wednesday 24th July 2018. +President Museveni hosted a state banquet in the honour of the visiting Prime Minister. +Prime Minister Modi’s program included an address to the Ugandan Parliament, which was telecast live in India and many African countries. +This was the first time that an Indian Prime Minister had addressed the Ugandan Parliament. +A business event jointly organised by the Private Sector Foundation of Uganda (PSFU) and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) was addressed by both the Principals. +Prime Minister Modi also addressed a large gathering of Indian Community in Uganda at a special event organized for this purpose. +During the discussions, Prime Minister Modi and President Museveni underlined the traditionally warm and close ties between Uganda and India. +President Museveni praised the contribution of the 30,000-strong Indian Diaspora towards Uganda’s national development and economic growth. +India appreciated the significant role played by Uganda for economic integration and maintenance of peace and stability in the Region. +The two leaders noted the current level of bilateral trade and expressed the desire to enhance and diversify the trade basket including addressing the trade imbalance and to facilitate trade between the two countries. +They stressed that there could be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever. +The leaders asserted that strong measures should be taken against terrorists, terror organizations, their networks and all those who encourage, support and finance terrorism, or provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups. +The leaders agreed on the need to closely engage with regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern. +The two leaders reaffirmed the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council, including its expansion, to make it more representative, accountable, effective and responsive to the geo-political realities of the 21st century. +They reiterated their commitment to intensify their cooperation in the United Nations and other multilateral organizations in order to address current global challenges such as climate change and to foster international and regional peace and security, as well as sustainable development. +The leaders emphasized the need for regular convening of bilateral mechanisms, including at Foreign/External Affairs Ministers level, to review the overall state of bilateral relations, and for the expeditious implementation of the economic and development cooperation projects. +The announcements by Prime Minister Modi were welcomed by H.E President Yoweri Museveni, who affirmed that they would go a long way in further cementing and deepening the excellent bilateral relations. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi thanked President Mr. Yoweri Museveni for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation during their stay in Uganda and extended an invitation to visit India. +President Museveni gladly accepted the invitation. +The dates will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels. +On Thiruvalluvar Day, the Prime Minister also paid homage to the great poet and philosopher. +“I bow to the great Thiruvalluvar. +Simple and vast in scope, his thoughts & writings have been a strong influence on humanity for centuries,” the Prime Minister said. +The ideas expressed in Thirukkural are so universal that even after almost two millennia they are still relevant and revered. +Thirukkural does not refer to any nation, leader, society, language, religion or caste in the entire book, which is why it has been called the ‘Universal Veda.’ +The Central Institute of Classical Tamil, an institute under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, has taken up the mission of bringing out the Thirukkural in all Indian Languages in which it has not been translated so far. +The institute also proposes to launch an e-version of the book shortly. +The extension of tenure will enable the Commission to submit a comprehensive report on the issue of sub-categorization of OBCs, after consultation with various stakeholders. +Keeping in view the voluminous data involved and the time required for its analysis to prepare a comprehensive report, the Commission had sought extension of its term by twelve weeks. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today emphasized that India must remember the glorious heritage of the freedom struggle, and ensure that the legacy of the struggles and achievements of our freedom fighters is passed on to succeeding generations. +Speaking after the launch of a commemorative coin to mark the inauguration of the birth centenary celebrations of Rani Gaidinliu, the Prime Minister said it is our misfortune that people such as Rani Gaidinliu have either not been remembered adequately, or have been deliberately forgotten. +The Prime Minister recalled Rani Gaidinliu’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle. +Referring to her as “Rani-Maa,” he said that she believed that her struggle for the Naga people against the British, was also a struggle for India’s unity and integrity. +The Prime Minister also credited Rani Gaidinliu with spreading the message of Mahatma Gandhi in the North-East. +He regretted that she could not enter her village for many years after independence. +He said India has not been made by kings or rulers, but by its people. +The Prime Minister said Rani-Maa’s thoughts on living in harmony with nature could provide an answer to the problem of climate change being faced by the world today. +The Prime Minister spoke of his Government’s initiatives for the development of the North-East. +He reiterated that the progress of the north-east will provide a big boost to the development of the entire nation. +He said the Land Boundary Agreement signed recently with Bangladesh would help improve connectivity of the region with the rest of the country. +Referring to the recently signed Naga Peace Accord, the Prime Minister said it was due to the efforts of successive governments, that such an agreement could be reached. +The Governor of Nagaland Shri P. B. Acharya, the Chief Minister of Nagaland Shri T. R. Zeliang, the Chief Minister of Manipur Shri O. Ibobi Singh, and Union Ministers Shri Rajnath Singh, Shri Arun Jaitley, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, and Dr. Jitendra Singh were present. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for modification of existing guidelines of the Policy on bilateral Official Development Assistance for Development Corporation with bilateral partners. +The details of the proposed modification in the guidelines are as follows:- +Under the revised guidelines, the Finance Minister has been authorised to relax or waive any of the above conditions. +It is expected that by accepting offers of special loan for projects in Infrastructure sector and in sectors of strategic importance on mutually agreed basis, the extensive capital requirement in these sectors will be fulfilled. +The decision is also expected to lead to capital augmentation for funding of projects in the Infrastructure sector and in sectors of strategic importance. +Economic activity generated will boost employment and development of infrastructure. +The scheme will promote “Make in India” and wherever possible, transfer of technology making further innovations possible. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called for a holistic approach towards meeting the target of “Housing for All.” +Chairing a high-level meeting to assess the work done so far, both in the rural and the urban areas, the Prime Minister stressed on the need for all concerned official agencies to adopt a flexible approach, which takes into account local conditions such as building material, habits and lifestyles. +“A tribal may prefer a house made from traditional local materials rather than bricks and mortar; and therefore, should be facilitated accordingly,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that in rural areas, the goal should be achieved “village-by-village,” so that the progress is tangible, and can be monitored effectively. +He said all common facilities, and required connectivity should also be conceived and delivered, along with housing – so that we move towards the concept of “samasya-mukt gram,” (problem-free village). +For urban areas, Shri Narendra Modi suggested that urban solid waste can be used to make bricks, which would be useful as building material. +He said all newly-constructed houses should take into account the required norms in disaster-prone areas. +Minister for Urban Development Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Minister for Rural Development Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh, and senior officers from the Ministries of HUPA, Rural Development, NITI Aayog and PMO were present. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow. +The Prime Minister will address a public meeting at the Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium in Srinagar. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Colombia in the field of agriculture and fisheries. +The MoU provides for cooperation in the following fields of agriculture and Fisheries: +1. Innovative agricultural practices/approaches, 2. +New agricultural mechanizations, +•Successful models of agricultural marketing, +1. To develop projects in association with agricultural companies for production of seed, 2. +Innovative production models and value generation processes in horticulture(vegetables, fruits and flowers), 3. +Exchange of information/exchange visits of SPS experts, +1. Marine Industrial Fishing, Aqua-culture and Research & Training in the field of Fisheries, 2. +Small and large ruminants (cattle, sheep, goat) and pigs productivity, diseases and diagnostics and 3. +Pork processing and value addition. +Under the MoU, a Joint-Working Group (JWG) will be constituted to prepare/finalize Work Plan for the next two years while specifying task/ activities to be undertaken during that period. +The MoU will be initially valid for a period of five years and shall be automatically extended for a subsequent periods of five years unless either party expresses its desire/intention to terminate it. +Good morning. +Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honour for me to be here amongst the friendly Nagas to celebrate the world famous Hornbill Festival. +I greet you on this joyous festive season. +I also congratulate the people on the occasion of 51st anniversary of Nagaland’s statehood. +On this auspicious day, I urge the Nagas that after 50 years of statehood, Look back! +And take stock of the ground you have covered so far and what remains to be achieved. +I have seen the strength of your society today. +A very rich cultural heritage. +This must be promoted. +Your culture must not only be interpreted as your colourful dances and songs, but the Naga culture of sturdiness, honesty, simplicity, reflected in all your deliberations and actions. +The Naga way of life means pride in your inherent strong character and your hard working attitude. +I also know that you have a rich biodiversity. +Your region is located in one of the 25 hot bio-diversity areas of the world. +This must be protected at all costs, even as your embark on sustainable development of your resources. +People will come to your state for investment or tourism and they will do so because of your amazing bio-diversity and salubrious climate. +Nagaland is blessed in having a young population well-versed in the English language and in tune with what is happening around the world. +This is an advantage which must be tapped. +You must capture the IT outsourcing business of the world in this part of the country. +I also greatly admire the equal position of Naga women in the Naga society. +I feel that these activities must be promoted in a systematic way to realize the potential of the people of the region, given the right direction. +I know that it has been over a decade since Prime Minister Vajpayee visited Nagaland. +I think, nowadays, if I want to come to Nagaland from Delhi, or if anyone from here wants to go to Delhi, it hardly takes 10-15 hours. +But Prime Ministers took more than 10 years to reach here. +I will be happy to come often to meet the people of Nagaland. +I will come back to see to it that everything that I have mentioned becomes a reality. +Come, let us together build a new, resurgent, stronger and more prosperous India, as well as our Nagaland. +Friends, for the last 2-3 days, I have been in this part of our country. +I think it is the first time that an Indian Prime Minister has stayed in the North-East for 3 days. +In India, the word “SEZ” is very popular. +But after being here for the last three days, I must say that it is not only SEZ, it is NEZ. +When I say NEZ, I mean Natural Economic Zone. +It is my priority to nourish this NEZ for NE, North-East. +NE is meant for NEZs. +NEZs are meant for NE. +I took charge as the Prime Minister six months back. +And I would like to mention some of the initiatives we have taken for the North-East in the last 6 months. +I am sure that this is the right time to mention these initiatives as we are celebrating the Hornbill Festival and preparing for Christmas. +The scheme called “Ishaan Uday” is a special scholarship for students from the North-East, under which 10,000 students will benefit. +The scheme called “Ishaan Vikas” will provide opportunities for internships and visit at IITs, NITs, NIFTs in other parts of India during vacation for the students of North-East. +Every year 2,000 students and 500 teachers will benefit from this scheme. +We have decided to establish one modern apparel garment manufacturing centre in every state of North-East. +We know that we have a rich heritage in the field of textiles. +We have a mastery in weaving. +Our women carry this art in their fingers, and we have to utilize this capability for the development of this area. +And for that, we have decided to begin with Nagaland, Assam and Sikkim. +The Central Government will spend 20 crore rupees for this new programme. +During the tenure of the Vajpayee government, a unique decision was taken by Atalji. +It was decided at that time that 10% of the Annual Plan Budget will be spent on the North-East states. +My government has made a provision of Rs 53,000 crore in the Union Budget for development of the North-East. +Rs 28,000 crore will be provided for construction of 14 new railway lines. +Energy is lifeline. +We cannot do anything without energy or power. +We have decided to establish a National Sports University in Manipur, and the people of Nagaland will be among primary beneficiaries of this sports university. +We have decided to set up 6 new Agriculture Colleges in North-East. +Friends, it is a great opportunity for me to be a part of this Hornbill festival. +And when the people of Nagaland become prosperous, the whole country will be the beneficiary. +I am thankful that the Chief Minister invited me to attend this festival. +I am sure that in the next 10 days of this festival, lakhs of people will come here to be a part of this festival. +Thank you very much. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the incident of bus accident in Panna, Madhya Pradesh. +“News of bus accident in Panna, MP is extremely saddening. +Condolences to families of the deceased. +I wish the injured a speedy recovery”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Uzbekistan for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism. +The MoU will be signed during the VIP visit from Uzbekistan to India on 1st October 2018. +Signing of the MoU in the field of Tourism will help the two countries in creating an institutional mechanism for enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector. +It will also help in increasing foreign tourist arrivals from Uzbekistan to the country. +This in turn will result in economic development and employment generation. +The MoU shall create favourable conditions for long-term tourism cooperation for the mutual benefits of all stakeholders within the broader framework and areas of cooperation. +In addition, the MoU shall explore to incorporate the best practices in order to implement the measures that will realizes the objectives set out in it. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Australia on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime. +The proposed MoU would strengthen the relationship between India and Australia for building peace and stability in the region through exchange of information, expertise, experience and capacity building. +The MoU is an effective framework to deal with all issues requiring interaction and cooperation in the areas identified. +The mutual cooperation would facilitate the institutional interactions between the two countries. +The MoU, once in force, would help in curbing combating International Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the media persons on National Press Day. +“My greetings to all friends in the media on National Press Day. +The role of the media in giving voice to the voiceless is commendable. +Over the last three years, the media has added great strength to ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ and effectively furthered the message of cleanliness. +In this day and age we are seeing the rise of social media and news being consumed through mobile phones. +I am sure these advancements will further the reach of the media and make the media space even more democratic and participative. +A free press is the cornerstone of a vibrant democracy. +We are fully committed to upholding freedom of press and expression in all forms. +May our media space be used more and more to showcase the skills, strengths and creativity of 125 crore Indians”, the Prime Minister said. +1. The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Two Sides’) recognize that climate change and its adverse effects are the common concern of mankind and one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century, which needs to be addressed through international cooperation in the context of sustainable development. +2. The Two Sides recall the Agreement on Cooperation on Addressing Climate Change between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the People’s Republic of China signed in 2009 and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Cooperation on Green Technologies signed in 2010. +They decide to further promote bilateral partnership on climate change and enhance the role of this partnership in their overall strategic cooperation partnership through the implementation of this Joint Statement and the MoU as well as the Agreement. +3. The Two Sides emphasize that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol are the most appropriate framework for international cooperation for addressing climate change. +They reaffirm the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and call for the leadership of developed countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing finance, technology and capacity building support to developing countries. +4. The Two Sides will work together, and with other Parties, to advance the multilateral negotiations to achieve a comprehensive, balanced, equitable and effective agreement under the UNFCCC in 2015, with a view to ensuring the full, effective and sustained implementation of the UNFCCC. +In this context, the Two Sides express their full support for the success of the UN Climate Conference to be held in Paris, France (Paris Conference) this year. +5. The Two Sides reaffirm that the 2015 agreement shall be in full accordance with the principles, provisions and structure of the UNFCCC, in particular the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, reflecting different historical responsibilities, development stages and national circumstances between developed and developing countries. +The 2015 agreement shall address mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity building and transparency of action and support in a comprehensive and balanced manner. +6. The Two Sides stress the equal importance and urgency of implementing the outcomes of the Bali Road Map in order to increase the pre-2020 ambition and build mutual trust amongst countries. +The Two Sides urged the developed countries to raise their pre-2020 emission reduction targets and honour their commitment to provide 100bn US dollars per year by 2020 to developing countries. +7. As the two biggest developing countries, China and India are undertaking ambitious actions domestically on combating climate change through plans, policies and measures on mitigation and adaptation despite the enormous scale of their challenges in terms of social and economic development and poverty eradication.,. +8. China and India are fully engaged in their domestic preparations for their respective intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) in the context of the 2015 agreement and will communicate their INDCs as early as possible and well before the Paris Conference. +9. The Two Sides believe that their bilateral partnership on climate change is mutually beneficial and contributes to the global efforts to address Climate Change. +In this regard, the Two Sides decide to enhance high-level bilateral dialogue on domestic climate policies and multilateral negotiations and to further strengthen practical bilateral cooperation, including in areas of clean energy technologies, energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transportation including electronic vehicles, low-carbon urbanization and adaptation. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Jordan for mining and beneficiation of Rock Phosphate & MOP and setting up production facility in Jordan for Phosphoric Acid/DAP/NPK Fertilizerswith a long term agreement for 100% off-take to India. +The MoU would ensure consistent supply of raw material, intermediaries and finish P&K fertilizers to cater to the needs of the country at a reasonable price. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has extended his wishes on National maritime Day. +On National Maritime Day, we affirm our commitment to harness our maritime strengths for the nation’s prosperity. +Our efforts for a vibrant maritime sector are inspired by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. +It was Babasaheb who gave topmost importance to Jal Shakti, waterways, irrigation, canal networks and ports. +His work in this sector augured extremely well for the people of India.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today replied to the motion of thanks on the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha. +There is no room for corruption. +So many members spoke in the debate in the Parliament. +I thank them all. +I congratulate all those who will be voting for the first time in the 2019 Parliamentary polls. +It is trust and optimism that will take our nation forward. +We are not those who run away from challenges. +We face the challenges and work to fulfil people’s aspirations. +Our friends in the Congress see things in two time periods. +India is seeing remarkable progress in the last four years. +In all spheres, investment, steel sector, start ups, milk and agriculture, aviation, India’s progress is outstanding. +In hating Modi, the Opposition has begun to hate the nation. +That is why their leaders go to London and do press conferences to show India in bad light. +You know what is my crime for them? +That a person born to a poor family is challenging their Sultunate. +In their 55 years, sanitation coverage was around 38% and in our 55 months it is nearly 98%. +Gas connections in their 55 years was 12 crore, it is 13 crore in 55 months. +We have worked at greater speed in our five years. +Think about it, Congress imposed Emergency, but Modi is destroying institutions. +Congress leaders create stories that Indian Army is doing a coup…but Modi is destroying institutions. +Congress questions the EC and EVM but Modi is destroying institutions. +Congress bullies the judiciary but Modi is destroying institutions. +Congress calls Planning Commission a bunch of jokers…but Modi is destroying institutions. +Congress misuses Article 356 several times…but Modi is destroying institutions. +The people of India have seen the work a Government with a full majority can do. +They have seen the work of NDA. +They do not want a महामिलावट Government of those who assembled in Kolkata. +During the CWG 2010, our players were playing hard to win medals for India. +But, for Congress, Commonwealth Games were an opportunity to boost personal wealth of a few in the Party. +The phone banking of the UPA did wonders for the friends of their leaders. +Due to such favouritism, our banking system witnessed many problems. +I want to say it on the floor of the Parliament that the Indian National Congress does not want our armed forces to be strong. +They do not want our security apparatus to be strong. +Which companies are they bidding for that they are acting so shamefully? +Dr.BabasahebAmbedkar was always ahead of his time. +He had said that joining Congress is like committing suicide. +Thousands of organisations were getting funds from overseas. +We sought transparency in the process but these organisations shut down. +Price rise and Congress are a team. +When Congress comes, so does rising prices. +The NDA Government has worked to keep prices under check. +What was the reason LED bulbs were so costly during the UPA era. +Our Government has worked towards the good health and wellbeing of the people of India. +Prices of stents, knee surgeries and medicines are coming down. +Our foreign policy has led to India’s voice becoming stronger at the world stage. +We will always fulfil the aspirations of the people of India. +Arrogance got them down to 44 from 400. +Commitment to the nation and our hardwork got us from 2 to 282. +I assure you, those who have looted the nation will continue to be scared of Narendra Modi. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today visited Pathankot Airbase in Punjab, which was attacked by terrorists recently. +He also made an aerial survey of the border area. +National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Doval, the Chiefs of Army and Air Force, NSG and BSF were present during the visit. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and the President of the Republic of South Korea, Mr. Moon Jae-in, today jointly inaugurated a large mobile manufacturing facility of Samsung India Electronics Pvt. Ltd, at Noida. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described the occasion as a special one, in the journey to make India a global manufacturing hub. +He said the investment of about Rs. 5000 crore, would not only strengthen Samsung’s business links with India, but is also significant in the context of the relationship between India and Korea. +The Prime Minister noted that digital technology is playing a key role in making the lives of the common man simpler, including through faster and more transparent service delivery. +He spoke of the expansion of smartphones, broadband and data connectivity, which he described as signs of a digital revolution in India. +In this context, he also spoke of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), growth of digital transactions, BHIM App, and RuPay cards. +He said the ‘Make in India’ initiative is not just an economic policy measure, but also a resolve of better ties with friendly nations such as South Korea. +He said that there is an open invitation for businesses across the world, who want to take advantage of the transparent business culture of New India. +He said India’s growing economy, and rising neo middle class, create immense investment possibilities. +He said this has created lakhs of employment opportunities. +The Prime Minister asserted that through this new mobile manufacturing facility, the combination of Korean technology, and Indian manufacturing and software support would provide excellent products for the world. +He described this as the strength, and the shared vision of both countries. +I have had similar privilege in other Parliaments. +This is, however, special. +This honour has come to a Prime Minister of India for the first time. +It is a great honour for the 1.25 billion people of India. +I carry their greetings and warm wishes of friendship with me to this House and for all the people of Uganda. +I also see a large number of young Members of Parliament here. +This is good news for democracy. +Every time I come to Uganda, I am enchanted by this “Pearl of Africa”. +It is a land of immense beauty, great wealth of resources and rich heritage. +Its rivers and lakes have nurtured civilisations across this large region. +I am conscious of the history that brings us to this point, when the Prime Minister of the largest democracy is speaking to elected Members of the Parliament of another sovereign nation. +Our ancient maritime links, the dark ages of colonial rule, the shared struggle for freedom, the uncertain paths as independent countries in a divided world, the dawn of the new opportunities and the unity of aspirations of our young population. +All of these connect us. +Our people are among the many threads that connect Uganda and India together. +Over a century ago, the heroic labour connected Uganda to the shores of the Indian Ocean through railway. +Your gracious presence today speaks of the precious bonds of friendship and solidarity between our people. +You have brought peace and stability to your nation and to the region. +You have put it on the path of growth and progress amidst many challenges. +You have empowered women and made your nation more inclusive. +In opening the State House to the celebration of Deepawali, you have lit up the many strands of ties that connect India and Uganda. +In his life and beyond, he is one with Africa and Africans. +The story of India’s own freedom struggle is closely linked to Africa. +It is not just the 21 years that Gandhiji spent in Africa, or the First Non- Cooperation Movement he led. +For India, the moral principles of independence movement, or the peaceful means to pursue it, were not just confined to the boundaries of India or to the future of Indians. +It was a universal quest for liberty, dignity, equality and opportunity for every human being. +Nowhere did it apply more than in Africa. +Twenty years before our independence, the leaders of our National Movement had linked India’s freedom struggle to the fight against colonial rule around the world, especially Africa. +Even as India stood on the threshold of independence, the fate of Africa was not far from our minds. +Mahatma Gandhi firmly believed that India’s freedom will remain incomplete so long as Africa remains in bondage. +Free India did not forget his words. +India pursued Afro-Asian solidarity in Bandung. +We stood firm in opposition to apartheid in South Africa. +We took leading and bold positions in former Rhodesia – which is now known as Zimbabwe, in Guinea Bassau, Angola and Namibia. +Gandhiji’s peaceful resistance inspired leaders like Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Albert Luthuli, Julius Nyrere and Kwame Nkrumah. +History is witness to the success of the ancient wisdom of India and Africa and the enduring strength of peaceful resistance. +Some of the most profound changes in Africa came through Gandhian methods. +India’s principled support to Africa’s liberation movements often came at a cost to our nation’s trade. +But, nothing mattered in comparison to Africa’s freedom. +Our economic and international partnerships over the past seven decades have been prompted as much by economic impulse as by the moral principles and emotional bonds. +We sought a fair and equitable access to markets and resources. +We fought together to make development the foundation of global trade. +And, we worked to diversify economic partnership between countries of the South. +As President Museveni said at the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit in Delhi in 2015 and I quote – “We fought against colonial rule together. +Uganda is an example of Africa on the move. +It is witnessing increasing gender parity, rising educational and health standards, and expanding infrastructure and connectivity. +It is a region with growing trade and investment. +We are seeing a surge of innovation. +We in India rejoice in every African success, because of our deep bonds of friendships. +India is proud to be Africa’s partner. +And, Uganda is central to our commitment to the continent. +Yesterday, I announced two Lines of Credit for Uganda. +The first, of 141 million US dollars for electricity lines. +And the second, of 64 million US dollars for agriculture and dairy production. +As in the past, we will continue to support the aspirations of the people of Uganda – in agriculture and healthcare, education and training, infrastructure and energy, capacity building in government and training in defence. +I compliment President Museveni and this House on the decision to join the International Solar Alliance. +As with Uganda, we have deepened our partnership and engagement across the vast expanse of Africa. +In the past four years, our President, Vice President and I have collectively visited no less than 25 countries in Africa. +Our Ministers have covered virtually all African nations. +We were honoured to host all 54 countries – over 40 at Heads of State and Government level – at the third Africa-India Forum Summit in October 2015. +We were also privileged to host many African leaders for the inaugural summit of the International Solar Alliance. +Other than all these, 32 Heads of State or Government from Africa have visited India in the last four years. +Our development partnership currently includes implementation of 180 Lines of Credit worth about USD 11 billion in over 40 African countries. +At the last India Africa Forum Summit, we had committed a concessional Line of Credit of 10 billion U.S. dollars and 600 million dollars in grant assistance. +Every year, over 8000 African youth are trained in a diverse set of programmes. +As always, our efforts will be driven by your priorities. +Indian companies have invested over US$ 54 billion in Africa. +Our trade with Africa is now over US$ 62 billion. +This is over 21 per cent more than in the previous year. +It can become the new backbone for digital innovation in Africa. +They also continue to make healthcare affordable and accessible to many. +As we work together for prosperity, we have stood together for peace. +Indian soldiers have served in blue helmets so that Africa’s children can look to a future of peace. +We are proud of the work of Indian peacekeepers in over a dozen UN peacekeeping missions in Africa, since our first mission in Congo in 1960. +In all the UN peacekeeping Missions in the world, 163 Indians have made the supreme sacrifice. +This is among the highest number for any country. +Almost 70 per cent of these embraced martyrdom just in Africa. +Today, over 6,000 Indians serve in five peacekeeping operations in Africa. +Indian women established a landmark with the first all-female Police Unit of the United Nations in Liberia. +Two, our development partnership will be guided by your priorities. +It will be on terms that will be comfortable for you, that will liberate your potential and not constrain your future. +We will rely on African talent and skills. +We will build as much local capacity and create as many local opportunities as possible. +Three, we will keep our markets open and make it easier and more attractive to trade with India. +We will support our industry to invest in Africa. +Four, we will harness India’s experience with digital revolution to support Africa’s development; improve delivery of public services; extend education and health; spread digital literacy; expand financial inclusion; and mainstream the marginalised. +This will not just be our partnership to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, but also to equip the youth of Africa for their place in the digital age. +Six, our partnership will address the challenges of climate change. +We will work with Africa to ensure a just international climate order; to preserve our biodiversity; and, adopt clean and efficient energy sources. +Seven, we will strengthen our cooperation and mutual capabilities in combating terrorism and extremism; keeping our cyberspace safe and secure; and, supporting the UN in advancing and keeping peace;. +Eight, we will work with African nations to keep the oceans open and free for the benefit of all nations. +The world needs cooperation and not competition in the eastern shores of Africa and the eastern Indian Ocean. +Ten, Just as India and Africa fought colonial rule together, we will work together for a just, representative and democratic global order that has a voice and a role for one-third of humanity that lives in Africa and India. +India’s own quest for reforms in the global institutions is incomplete without an equal place for Africa. +That will be a key purpose of our foreign policy. +If this is to be a century of nations, rising together in freedom and equality; if this is to be an age when the light of opportunity dawns on all humans; if this is a time when our planet has a more hopeful future; then all of this magnificent continent of Africa must walk in step with the rest of the world. +India will work with you and for you. +Our partnership will build instruments of empowerment in Africa. +Mr. Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO, Soft Bank Corporation, Shri Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, and Mr. Tadashi Maeda, Senior MD of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +They expressed keenness to invest in the renewable energy sector in India as part of the “Make in India” initiative. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Madhya Pradesh on 23rd June, 2018. +The Prime Minister will attend the Madhya Pradesh Shehari Vikas Mahotsav in Indore. +The Prime Minister will remotely inaugurate various urban development projects worth over 4000 crore rupees, at various locations across the State. +These include houses under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana, urban drinking water supply schemes, urban solid waste management, urban sanitation, urban transportation and urban landscape projects. +He will also distribute the Swachh Survekshan-2018 Awards, and launch the Swachh Survekshan-2018 results dashboard. +Cleanest cities, and best performing States will receive awards from the Prime Minister. +One Swachh Innovation, one Swachh Best Practice, and one Swachh Entrepreneur will also receive awards from the Prime Minister. +Earlier, at Rajgarh, the Prime Minister will dedicate the Mohanpura Project to the nation. +This project will facilitate irrigation of agricultural land in Rajgarh district. +It will also provide drinking water to villages in the area. +The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of various drinking water schemes. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Scheme to Rebate State and Central Embedded Taxes to Support the Textile Sector. +This will enable the Government to take various measures for making exports of apparel and made-ups zero rated. +At present, apparel and made-ups segments are supported under the Scheme for Rebate of State Levies (RoSL). +However, certain State as well as Central Taxes continued to be present in the cost of exports. +Rebate of taxes/levies has been permitted through an IT-driven scrip system at notified rates. +The proposed measures are expected to make the textile sector competitive. +The objective of raising four additional battalions is to reduce the response time keeping in view the vast geographic area of the country. +These four battalions will initially be raised as two battalions in Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and one battalion each in Border Security Force (BSF) and Assam Rifles (ARs). +Later these four battalions will be converted into NDRF battalions. +Based on the vulnerability profile, these four battalions will be placed in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi National Capital Region. +At present there are 12 battalions in NDRF which are deployed strategically across the country to provide immediate response. +The Chief Minister of Nagaland, Mr. T. R. Zeliang, today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +He was accompanied by an 18 member delegation of MLAs, comprising the entire political spectrum of the State. +The delegation assured the Prime Minister of their firm commitment to the Naga Peace Process. +They mentioned that the people of Nagaland, including various civil society groups, were committed to peace. +The delegation sought an early settlement to the Naga Political Issue. +The Prime Minister assured the delegation of his Government’s unflinching commitment to development of the entire North-East region. +The Prime Minister said his Government is working sincerely towards a solution to the decades-old Naga Political Issue. +The National Security Advisor, Shri Ajit Doval, was present at the meeting. +The Cabinet also approved that Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of DoNER would serve as Vice Chairman of the Council. +NEC implements various projects through the State and Central agencies. +NEC can now also perform the tasks undertaken by the various Zonal Councils to discuss such inter-State issues as drug trafficking, smuggling of arms and ammunition, boundary disputes etc. +This repositioning of NEC will help it to become a more effective body for the North Eastern Region. +The Council shall, from time to time, review the implementation of the projects/schemes included in the project; recommend effective measures for coordination among the state Governments for these projects etc. +The Council shall have such powers as may be delegated to it by the Central Government. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will inaugurate the new Headquarters building of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), at Tilak Marg in New Delhi on July 12, 2018. +The new Headquarters building has been equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including energy efficient lighting and rainwater harvesting. +It shall include a Central Archaeological Library with a collection of about 1.5 lakh books and journals. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the National Conference on the theme “Agriculture-2022: Doubling Farmers’ Incomes” organised at NASC Complex, Pusa, Delhi. +Seven thematic groups made presentations on the following subjects: +• Policy and Governance Reforms +• Agriculture Trade Policy and Export Promotion; Market Structure and Marketing Efficiency +• Value Chain and Supply Chain Management +• Science and Technology and Start-ups in Agriculture +• Sustainable and Equitable Development and Efficient Delivery of Services +• Capital Investment and Institutional Credit for farmers +• Promotion of Livestock, Dairy, Poultry and Fisheries as Engines of Growth +The Prime Minister appreciated the presentations. +He also complimented the farmers of India, especially for the big jump in production of pulses. +He said the Government is taking a series of coordinated steps to improve the income of farmers. +In this regard, he mentioned four aspects: reducing input costs; ensuring a fair price for the produce; reducing wastage; and creating alternate sources of income. +The Prime Minister said that 100 per cent neem coating of urea has led to an increased efficiency of the urea itself, while also increasing productivity. +He said that a study indicates that the use of soil health cards has led to a reduction in the use of chemical fertilisers, while increasing production. +Shri Narendra Modi said that the Union Government is working towards completing 99 incomplete irrigation projects. +He added that 50 of these are likely to be completed this year. +With each completed irrigation project, he added, the input cost of farmers would come down. +He said 20 lakh hectares of farmland has so far been brought under micro irrigation, through the Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchaiYojana. +The Prime Minister said that ‘Operation Greens’ announced in the budget this year, would benefit farmers growing Tomato, Onion and Potato. +He said 22,000 GrameenHaats would be upgraded with appropriate infrastructure, and integrated with the e-NAM platform. +The farmers will have a facility within 5 to 15 kilometres of his land, to connect him with markets. +The Prime Minister said that the amount sanctioned for agriculture credit has been enhanced, to ensure easy availability of credit to farmers. +He said several initiatives are being undertaken to convert agriculture waste to wealth. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for extension for the next three years, that is upto 2016-17 of the scheme of recapitalisation of weak Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). +These banks are unable to maintain their minimum Capital to Risk weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of 9 percent. +This decision will help them improve this ratio. +A strong capital structure and minimum required level of CRAR will ensure financial stability of RRBs which will enable them to play a greater role in financial inclusion and meeting the credit requirements of rural areas. +Presently there is a Budget provision of Rs. 15 crore for recapitalization of RRBs. +After this approval for extension of the Scheme, further funds as required will be requested in Supplementary Demands. +The RRBs were established under Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976 to create an alternative channel to the ‘cooperative credit structure’ and to ensure sufficient institutional credit for the rural and agriculture sector. +With a view to bring the CRAR of RRBs to at least 9 percent, the Dr. K. C. Chakrabarty Committee recommended recapitalisation support to the extent of Rs. 2,200 crore to 40 RRBs in 21 States. +The recapitalisation process started in 2010-11. +The share of Central Government in respect of some RRBs could not be released in the absence of the release of the share of State Governments. +Therefore, the scheme of recapitalisation was extended upto 31st March, 2014. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief on the loss of lives caused by the boat tragedy in Bihar. +He extended condolences to the bereaved families. +The Prime Minister also approved ex-gratia from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of those deceased, and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured. +It is truly a great privilege for me to be here at the Inauguration of the world’s largest industrial fair. +It is a special honour to do so in the company of Chancellor Merkel, a great leader and friend of India. +First, I want to thank the city of Hannover and Hannover Messe. +They have been most generous in allowing us to unleash our lions in this city. +The lions are a symbol of a new India. +They roar; but with a message of friendship and promise of partnership, from .25 billion people of India. +This is also the message of 15 states, 20 CEOs and 350 companies from India participating in this Fair. +Your choice of India as a Partner Country reflects the new confidence in India. +Our decision to be here in the first year of my Government reflects our priority: +We want to accelerate economic growth and create jobs for our youth. +We want to build world class industry and infrastructure. +We want to transform our cities and villages; clean up our environment; and improve the quality of life. +Our presence as a partner country says something else also. +We will naturally pursue our goals on the strength of our own resources, skills and enterprise. +But, we know that we will be more successful when we do this in partnership with the world. +For people in India, Germany is a valued partner; and, an enduring symbol of technology and innovation, quality and productivity. +Even more, India and Germany share a close and warm relationship. +It goes back centuries, in the intellectual journey of German scholars. +It has grown in depth and diversity from our birth as modern Republics at the same time, Through the passage of history, Indians and Germans have formed a relationship of mutual fascination and goodwill. +It also includes a vibrant economic partnership that extends beyond the last century. +Today, you can easily think of companies like Siemens as Indian! +Nearly a hundred years ago, India’s great poet and philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore said, that Germany has done more than any other country to open India to the Western World. +And, we must equip our youth with the skills to meet the needs of our nation, and the demands of the globalised world. +Whatever we choose to do, from reaching the cutting edge of industry to meeting the most critical social need, we require investment and technology, industry and enterprise. +That is why for me, Make in India is not a brand. +Nor is it simply a slogan on a smart lion! +To this informed audience, I hardly need to state the obvious: Our scale of transformation is vast; therefore, the opportunities we offer are huge. +You are also familiar with our demography and our demand. +The question that you ask is whether we can turn this potential into a reality; and, our vision into action. +What you seek is not just an attractive destination; but, also the assurance that it is open; and, it is easy to reach and work in. +You want the confidence that the environment is stable; the rules won’t change frequently; and there would be no surprises. +So, we have moved with speed, resolve and boldness to fulfill our pledge. +We are creating a stable economic environment that inspires confidence at home and abroad. +We are pursuing strong fiscal discipline to do that. +I know how much Chancellor Merkel will appreciate that point! +We have taken sweeping steps to reform our policies and open up more to foreign direct investments in key areas like insurance, construction, defence and railways. +Railways is the thread that binds India. +It will now be a fast track to India’s transformation. +And, what was a department of the government is now open to 100% Foreign Direct Investments. +We are removing unnecessary regulations and simplifying our procedures. +We are using digital technology to eliminate multiple approvals and endless wait. +We will guide you and walk with you in your projects. +We have set up Invest India and country desks in it that will be networked to the states. +We will nurture innovation and protect your intellectual property. +We are reforming institutions in ways that has not happened in decades. +We are building a tax regime that is predictable, stable and competitive. +We will now address the remaining uncertainties. +The Goods and Services Tax is a long needed revolution that is becoming a reality. +For us, the highest priority is creating world class infrastructure. +We have made a sharp increase in public investments. +We have established a National Infrastructure and Investment Fund and a new institution for integrated development of this sector. +We are launching attractive new financial instruments for long term funds. +We seek to fuel our growth with the cleanest and most efficient use of energy. +We have set a target of 75 Giga Watts of new capacity for renewable and clean energy in the next seven years. +It is a challenging goal- yes; but, important to pursue. +Good Governance is essential not just for our citizens, but also for business. +With transparency and speed, we have resumed long stalled projectsand allocation of resources. +This is adding new momentum to our economy. +We are instituting a rational framework for acquisition of land without causing distress to farmers and other landowners. +We are creating a predictable and transparent environment approval process that will protect our natural heritage. +Above all, we know, as you do, that the investment journey may begin in Delhi, but its success depends on state capitals and districts. +So, for the first time, we are working as Team India – a new partnership between the Centre and the States. +We speak of cooperative federalism, but also of competitive federalism, where states would excel by competing with each other for investments and jobs. +We are also giving them more resources, so that they can build the infrastructure that you need. +I also see them as partners in our international engagement. +But, I am also aware that it is easier to change policies and write new laws than it is to change attitudes, culture and systems. +The wind of change is there. and, it is gathering speed. +So, our industry is here to showcase their skills. +India is a nation that is blessed with so much goodwill in the world. +Everywhere, I see a strong desire for India to succeed. +The progress of one sixth of humanity will be of great consequence for the world and our beautiful planet. +The humanity needs the solidarity and strength of international partnerships more than ever before. +India will do its part – as an anchor of economic stability; an engine for growth; and, as a force of peace and stability in the world. +So, let me invite you to do business and make in India – for India and the world. +Let me invite you to be our partner in making a new India. +I also welcome you to enjoy our timeless traditions, the ceaseless celebration of diversity;and, the warm embrace of friendship. +I wish the Fair all success. +When its shutters come down, I hope that many new doors would have opened. +Thank you once again. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Shri CS Shivalli. +“My condolences to the family and supporters of Karnataka Minister Shri CS Shivalli. +Shri Shivalli will be remembered for his service to Karnataka. +May his soul rest in peace”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will inaugurate the 2018 edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS 2018) at VigyanBhawan in the capital tomorrow on Friday, 16thFebruary. +WSDS is the flagship forum of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and seeks to bring together on a common platform, global leaders and thinkers in the fields of sustainable development, energy and environment sectors. +The Summit will host several eminent personalities, including Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minster for Industries and Commerce, Shri Suresh Prabhu, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri HardeepPuri, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Shri Jayant Sinha, along with key political and corporate leaders. +The ‘Greenovation Exhibition’ at WSDS 2018 will showcase the latest technological advancements to meet Sustainable Development Goals. +Over 2000 delegates are expected to participate in the summit, including policy makers, researchers, think tanks, diplomats and corporates from around the world. +Your Excellency, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, +It is truly a pleasure to be here in Ireland. +Short this visit may be, it is historic. +It has taken 59 years for an Indian Prime Minister to visit Ireland. +Thank you for your very warm reception and gracious hospitality. +Thank you for your kind words of friendship for India. +India and Ireland share much in common. +We can compare notes on our shared colonial history. +Our Constitutions have something sacred in common. +The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution are inspired by the Irish Constitution. +Irish experts gave us institutions like the Geological Survey of India and the first Linguistic Survey of India. +Today, sports manufacturers in India keep Ireland’s passion for rugby going. +From the friendship between Rabindranath Tagore and W.B. Yeats to the spiritual contribution of Sister Nivedita in India, the Irish and Indian people have formed strong bonds of affinity. +Today, 26,000 Indians constitute a vibrant part of the Irish community. +And, the victims of the bombing of the Air India Kanishka aircraft find a resting place here. +In the 30th anniversary year of that tragedy, we thank you once again for the memorial that honors them. +In the pain of their unfading memory, we are also reminded of all that binds us today – our values and our aspirations and the challenges that we all face today. +India and Ireland must seek closer partnership and cooperation. +India and Ireland are among the fastest growing economies of Asia and Europe. +We are pleased that our bilateral trade and investment ties are growing, despite global and regional uncertainties. +Our economic partnership can have a strong technology focus – information technology, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, agriculture and clean energy. +Greater sensitivity of the European Union to India’s commercial interests and challenges will help us resume discussions on India-EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement. +India and Ireland are ideally placed to form productive partnerships to take advantage of the opportunities in the digital age. +I hope that our Joint Working Group on Information Technology will meet soon to chart out the roadmap for collaboration. +I also hope that Ireland’s visa policy will be sensitive to the requirements of India’s Information Technology firms. +I also conveyed our interest in concluding a social security agreement, which will be of great help to professionals from both countries. +I am glad that we will soon have direct air services by airlines of both countries. +This will not only promote our business links, but also give a strong boost to our tourism ties that are already growing at 14% per year. +Ireland’s Science Centre in Karnataka is one example of that cooperation. +I was pleased to exchange views on a broad range of international challenges, including terrorism, radicalization and the situation in Europe and Asia. +Our discussions underlined the importance of closer cooperation between countries like India and Ireland, which share democratic values and are consistent advocates of international peace and stability. +In this context, we discussed the role of the United Nations and its Security Council in meeting these challenges in the 21st century. +India and Ireland have been partners in peacekeeping operations. +I thank Ireland for its leadership in sustainable development goals. +I sought Ireland’s support for the reforms of the UN Security Council within a fixed time frame – in particular, for successful conclusion of inter-governmental negotiations in the 70th year of the United Nations. +I also sought his support for India’s permanent membership of the reformed Security Council. +India and Ireland are peace-loving countries. +We have both been at the forefront on non-proliferation. +We respect Ireland’s strong and principled position on this issue. +India has also been a leading voice on universal nuclear disarmament since Independence. +We remain strongly committed to that goal. +Our credentials and record on non-proliferation are second to none. +Ireland’s support was crucial for India-specific exemption from the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 2008. +With rapid growth in India’s enormous energy demand, it has opened a big option to pursue a sustainable development path. +I have now sought Ireland’s support for India’s membership of the NSG and other international export control regimes. +India’s membership will deepen our bilateral cooperation and strengthen international non-proliferation efforts. +Mr. Prime Minister, I leave convinced that India and Ireland must invest more to realize the vast potential of this relationship. +India was the first country with which you established diplomatic relations in Asia. +We can now be your anchor in Asia. +Similarly, for India, I see Ireland as a vital gateway to Europe and a bridge across the Atlantic. +Thank you once again for your hospitality. +It has been a couple of decades since you last visited India. +Prime Minister Renzi congratulated Prime Minister Modi on his victory in the elections. +Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Renzi for his felicitations and wished him success in leading Italy on the path of economic recovery and prosperity. +He also reiterated India’s commitment to further strengthen its bilateral relations with Italy. +In this context, he emphasized the need for strengthening economic cooperation through enhanced trade and investment. +Prime Minister Renzi requested for early resolution of the Italian Marine issue. +Prime Minister Modi emphasized that a fair and early resolution was in mutual interest. +In this context, he emphasized that Indian judiciary is free, fair and independent and we are convinced that it will take all aspects into consideration in adjudicating the case. +The two Prime Ministers agreed to maintain close dialogue at all levels. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved laying down of institutional framework for monetization of identified non-core assets of the CPSEs under Strategic Disinvestment and assets relating to immovable enemy property under the custody of Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI), MHA as per Section IV of Section 8-A of the Enemy Property Act, 1968. +The institutional framework for monetization of the assets is also available for use to monetize other CPSEs, PSUs, other Government organizations and loss making/sick CPSEs. +The multi-layer institutional mechanism envisages constituting of Alternative Mechanism, Core Group of Secretaries on Asset Monetization and Inter-Ministerial Group as main decision bodies. +The exact model for monetization of any particular asset and model contact documents shall be approved by the competent authority based on the recommendations of the technical consultants, respective Administrative Ministry, CPSEs, NITI Ayog etc. +The independent External Monitor set up for Strategic Disinvestment shall oversee the process of asset monetization as well. +The approved framework shall be reviewed after a period of two years for instituting any change including delegations on financial limits, if required. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the beginning of holy month of Ramzan. +“Ramzan greetings to everyone. +We recall the pious thoughts of Paighambar Mohammad Sahab, who highlighted the importance of harmony, kindness and charity. +These are also the virtues the Holy Month of Ramzan stands for”, the Prime Minister said. +As part of their Valedictory Session as Assistant Secretaries, IAS officers of the 2014 batch today made presentations before the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +8 selected presentations on various themes of governance were made by the officers, on themes such as DBT, Swachh Bharat, e-Courts, Tourism, Health and Satellite Applications in Governance. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister complimented the young officers, for their in-depth presentations. +He said the attachment of IAS officers as Assistant Secretaries with the Union Government, had been envisaged as a mechanism that would bring the best out of the blend of youth and experience. +He said that the results as presented today, gave him satisfaction that this vision was well on the road to realization. +The Prime Minister urged the officers to inculcate team spirit, and work towards breaking silos, in whatever capacity they serve. +Stating that politics should never override policy, the Prime Minister urged the officers to use two touchstones to help them in their decision-making: (a) that the decisions should never be counter to national interest, and (b) that the decisions should not harm the poorest of the poor. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today unveiled important projects related to housing and urban transportation during his visit to Maharashtra. +The two corridors, once completed, will greatly facilitate public transport in the area. +Also in Kalyan, he launched the 90,000 units’ EWS and LIG Housing scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. +The total worth of projects for which the Foundation Stone was laid in Kalyan today is about Rs. 33,000 crore. +He reiterated the Union Government’s vision of “Housing For All” by 2022. +Addressing the gathering in Pune, he said the government is placing great emphasis on connectivity infrastructure. +He said the focus is on providing next generation infrastructure, and integration of the transport sector. +He said that through Startup India, and Atal Innovation Mission, India is emerging as a centre for technology. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has expressed sadness at the chopper crash in Nepal and has expressed India’s readiness to provide all possible assistance. +“The chopper crash in Nepal is unfortunate and saddening. +India is ready to provide all possible assistance,” the Prime Minister said. +PM: Delink Religion from Terrorism. +Japan, UK, EU welcome India-US agreement on Food Security issues with regard to the WTO. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi had three bilateral meetings today in Brisbane, ahead of the G20 summit beginning tomorrow. +In all three meetings the Prime Minister laid stress on delinking religion from terrorism. +The EU, UK and Japanese sides all agreed on the importance of this. +The agreement between India and the US on food security issues with regard to the WTO was welcomed by the EU, UK and Japan, and all three expressed support for it. +It was described as a win-win situation. +In all three meetings, the Prime Minister said that modernization of the Railways was a priority for him. +The European Union also supported the proposal for an International Yoga Day. +the Japanese side thanked India for the Japan-plus initiative for Japanese investment proposals. +Several development projects on the anvil +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will visit Silvassa the capital of Dadra & Nagar Haveli tomorrow on 19 January 2019. +During the visit, he will lay the foundation stone of Medical College in Sayli, Dadra & Nagar Haveli. +Prime Minister will also unveil plaque to inaugurate various development projects in Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. +He will also launch the m-Arogya app and door to door waste collection, segregation and processing of Solid Waste in Dadra & Nagar Haveli digitally. +The Prime Minister will also release the IT policy of the Union Territory. +He will also distribute Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana certificates and Forest Rights certificates to few beneficiaries. +The Setting up of Medical College in Sayli in Silvassa will improve tertiary care facilities in both Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and adjoining areas. +It will benefit the students, especially those of tribal and rural areas of the two UTs. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC), Bhutan. +The MoU will strengthen the existing relationship between RCSC and UPSC. +It will facilitate sharing of experience and expertise of both the parties in the area of recruitment. +The areas of cooperation include the following: +b) Sharing of expertise on use of Information Technology (IT) in examination processes, Computer Based Recruitment Tests and Examinations, sharing of experience in Single Window System for expeditious scrutiny and speedy disposal of cases, building merit based staffing system, etc. +c) Sharing of experience on the modalities adopted on audit of processes and procedures followed by various Government agencies in recruitment for posts under the delegated powers. +d) Digitization of records, storage and display of historical records. +In the past, UPSC had signed MOU with Public Service Commission of Canada and Bhutan. +Mr. Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister of Australia, made a telephone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister Turnbull thanked the Prime Minister for the success of his recent visit to India. +Prime Minister Modi expressed concern about the possible impact of the recent changes in Australian regulations for the skilled professionals’ visa programme. +The two Prime Ministers agreed that officials from both sides will remain in close touch on the issue. +The two Prime Ministers also discussed the follow-up action taken after the visit of Mr. Turnbull to India last month, and the steps required to further strengthen the bilateral relationship. +“Apart from providing a wonderful opportunity for sportspersons to shine, events like CWG bring a spirit of unity and brotherhood among nations. +We will certainly witness a celebration of both sports and sportsmanship in the coming days during the Commonwealth Games 2014,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has urged people to take the pledge to save every drop of water, on World Water Day. +“On World Water Day lets pledge to save every drop of water. +When Jan Shakti has made up their mind, we can successfully preserve Jal Shakti. +This year, UN has chosen a valid theme- wastewater. +It will help further awareness on water recycling and why it is essential for our planet”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress in resolution of grievances related to income tax. +Finance Ministry officials briefed him on the progress made in this regard. +The Prime Minister reiterated that all systems should be made technology-driven, and human interface should be reduced to the minimum. +Noting the progress made in bringing corrupt officials to book, the Prime Minister said that the various initiatives and measures taken by the Income Tax Department to facilitate the people, should be communicated to all taxpayers suitably. +The 27 PRAGATI meetings so far have seen a cumulative review of projects with a total investment of over Rs. 11.5 lakh crore. +Resolution of Public Grievances has also been reviewed across a range of sectors. +Today, in the twenty-eighth meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress of nine important infrastructure projects in the railway, road, and petroleum sectors. +These projects are spread over several states including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Karnataka, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress made towards rollout of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, under Ayushman Bharat. +He also reviewed the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana. +PM to talk about the menace of drugs. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will share his thoughts in radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ on All India Radio on sunday at 11 AM. +The Prime Minister will talk about the menace of drugs, this time. +“On Sunday at 11 AM I look forward to sharing my thoughts during the #MannKiBaat radio programme. http://www.narendramodi.in/mannkibaat/. +As I said during the last programme, this time I would talk about the menace of drugs. http://nm4.in/1sjHeVN #MannKiBaat. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Power for amendments in the Tariff Policy. +For the first time a holistic view of the power sector has been taken and comprehensive amendments have been made in the Tariff policy 2006. +The amendments are also aimed at achieving the objectives of Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) with the focus on 4 Es: Electricity for all, Efficiency to ensure affordable tariffs, Environment for a sustainable future, Ease of doing business to attract investments and ensure financial viability. +Highlights of Amendments are:- +Ease of Doing Business:- +• Generate employment in coal rich Eastern states like Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh etc. by encouraging investments. +Central Regulator to determine tariff for composite schemes where more than 10% power sold outside State. +These amendments will benefit power consumers in multiple ways. +While reducing the cost of power through efficiency, they will spur renewable power for a cleaner environment and protect India’s energy security. +They would also aid the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission as well as Namami Gange Mission through conversion of waste to energy, usage of sewage water for generation and in turn ensure that clean water is available for drinking and irrigation. +These amendments will ensure availability of electricity to consumers at reasonable and competitive rates, improve ease of doing business to ensure financial viability of the sector and attract investments, promote transparency, consistency and predictability in regulatory approaches across jurisdictions. +It will further facilitate competition, efficiency in operations and improvement in quality of supply of electricity. +These holistic amendments to Power Tariff Policy which complement schemes like UDAY will ensure the realization of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of 24X7 affordable power for all. +Setting up of the new Railway Zone will bring optimality with regard to size and scale of railway operations and also to meet the persistent demand and aspirations of the people of the area. +Share your ideas for the speech on 15th August, on the specially created open forum on the NM App. http://nm4.in/dnldapp”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS), 2017 with financial outlay of Rs.3000 crores upto March, 2020. +Government will provide necessary allocations for remaining period of scheme after assessment before March 2020. +NEIDS is a combination of the incentives covered under the earlier two schemes with a much larger outlay. +In order to promote employment in the North East States, Government is incentivizing primarily the MSME Sector through this scheme. +Government is also providing specific incentive through the scheme to generate employment. +All eligible industrial units, which are getting benefits of one or more components of other schemes of the Government of India, will also be considered for benefits of other components of this scheme. +I have great pleasure to be amidst all of you at Coimbatore, the textile capital of South India and the commercial hub of Tamil Nadu, to inaugurate the newly constructed building for the Medical College and the Hospital. +On this occasion, the Central Government has also handed over the existing hospital, the medical college, and related buildings to the Government of Tamil Nadu. +It reinforces my government’s commitment to co-operative federalism. +I hope that the Government of Tamil Nadu will act quickly to start the College. +This project worth 580 crore rupees will be a boon to ESIC beneficiaries and their family members in and around Coimbatore. +Of the 100 MBBS seats proposed here, 20 seats will be reserved for the children of persons insured under the ESI scheme. +We should strive to make this medical college and hospital a model for high quality medical education and treatment to workers of the State. +My government is committed to the development of a generous and comprehensive social safety net for all workers. +For the over 45 crores unorganized sector workers, we have, in addition to the RSBY health insurance program, started the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, and the Atal Pension Yojana to provide life and accident insurance. +This commitment to the builders of modern India comes from the firm belief that a ‘Swasth and Samridh Shramik will make a Samridh Rashtra’. +We have initiated major reforms of the EPFO and ESIC for the benefit of organized sector employees. +A Universal Account Number has so far been allotted to over 6 crore sector workers, enabling portability of their EPF accounts. +Further, we propose to expand coverage and offer additional facilities and services through the ESIC. +The ESI Scheme is based on the Gandhian principle of “contributions as per the ability and benefits as per the requirement” . +This principle entitles an insured person or their family members to uniform benefits though only paying a contribution proportionate to his or her wage. +Apart from Medical Benefit, ESIC also provides sickness, disablement, dependants, maternity, and unemployment allowance benefits to the insured persons. +It covers over 7 lakh factories and establishments across the country and benefits 2 crore workers and about 8 crore beneficiaries. +It is available in 31 districts of Tamil Nadu. +There are ten ESI hospitals in Tamil Nadu. +After handing over this hospital, there will be eight ESI Hospitals in the state run by the State Government. +The ESIC Hospital Tirunelveli is proposed for upgradation from 50 to 100 beds. +There is a large network of 210 ESI dispensaries in the State for out-patient treatment for the insured persons and their family members. +Coimbatore itself has 50 dispensaries. +My Government is dedicated to the welfare of our brothers and sisters who are our Rashtra Nirmatas. +Sensing the need for expansion of ESIC, I had launched a Second Generation Reform Agenda named ESIC 2.0 in July last year during the Indian Labour Conference held in New Delhi. +The coverage of ESI scheme has been extended to the remaining North-East States Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Andaman & Nicobar Island. +It is proposed to expand the coverage from only the industrial and commercial clusters within a district to the entire district by 31st March this year. +Since 1st August last year, the scheme has been extended to construction workers. +I strongly believe in the improvement of public service delivery standards. +In keeping with this, several initiatives have been started to improve the quality of service delivery in ESI hospitals. +They include online availability of electronic health record of ESI beneficiaries, establishment of an emergency medical helpline, and creation of special outpatient services for senior citizens and differently-abled persons in ESIC hospitals. +To improve cleanliness, the Abhiyan Indradhanush changes bedsheets according to the rainbow pattern each day of the week. +And cleanliness is an important aspect of preventive healthcare. +Studies show that it can lead to savings of almost 7000 rupees per year for a poor family. +Among other initiatives, the ESIC has resolved to adopt two model hospitals in each State, apart from a mother and child care hospital. +I am happy that ESIC proposes to expand coverage by complementing its own services with Public Private Partnerships. +Apart from cancer detection, cardiology treatment, and dialysis, the Corporation also proposes to offer in a phased manner pathological and X-ray facilities in all its dispensaries through PPPs. +Besides allopathic treatment, ESIC hospitals will also provide AYUSH treatment in a phased manner. +Friends, my Government has taken a number of path-breaking steps for the welfare of workforce of our country. +From September 2014, we have revised the Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) pension to a minimum of 1000 rupees per month. +The wage ceiling for EPF benefits has been raised from 6500 to 15000 rupees. +An EPFO Mobile App has been launched for easier access to its services for both workers and employers. +The Bonus Act has been amended to increase the ceilings for eligibility and bonus payable to 21,000 and 7000 rupees per month respectively. +Keeping in mind our commitment to “minimum government, maximum governance”, the Ministry is simplifying central labour laws by consolidating the existing 44 laws into four labour codes. +Namely, on wages, industrial relations, safety and security, and health. +A Shram Suvidha Portal has been created for online services related to 16 labor laws, including administering a process of transparent and random inspections of businesses. +The services offered by ESIC and EPFO have been integrated with the e-Biz portal of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion to promote ease of business and limit transaction costs. +Further, it is proposed to promulgate new EPFO and ESIC Acts providing more choice, increased coverage among workers and employers, and better and expanded range of services for organized sector workers. +We have also approved a scheme for up-gradation of existing State and Central Government medical colleges to increase MBBS seats. +Through this, we hope to increase 10,000 MBBS seats and support the colleges with funds for equipment and infrastructure. +With similar objective, we are also promoting the establishment of AIIMS like institutions across the country. +I am therefore happy to inform that Ministry of Labour & Employment organized a conference in Delhi last month to commemorate the 125th Birth Anniversary Year of Dr Ambedkar. +I urge each one of you to read the booklet “Dr B R Ambedkar – Labour Welfare & Empowerment: Initiatives to make his vision a reality” which was released on that occasion. +We are committed to resolve to work collectively and collaboratively to realize the vision of Dr. Ambedkar for labour welfare. +Friends, industrial peace and harmony can be achieved only when the goals of employment and employability are in tune with the goals of industrial development and growth. +It is our shared vision to have an environment which is conducive for inclusive growth and development of the country. +I assure the state government all the cooperation from the central government in all its efforts in this direction. +I am encouraged to work more for the welfare of the workforce of India and strive towards “Making India a Better Work Place for All”. +Let us all come together in making our country the best place to work and live in. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that Yoga has become one of the most powerful ‘Unifying Forces’ in the world. +He was addressing a huge gathering on the 4th International Yoga Day held at the Forest Research Institute campus in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. +Prime Minister performed Yogasan, Pranayama and Dhyan with about 50,000 yoga enthusiasts and volunteers at the Forest Research Institute campus. +“It’s a proud moment for everyone that today, all over the world; people are welcoming the brightness and warmth of the sun with Yoga. +From Dehradun to Dublin, from Shanghai to Chicago, and from Jakarta to Johannesburg, yoga is now spread everywhere”, Prime Minister said +Giving a clear-cut message to the Yoga enthusiasts all over the world, Prime Minister said that the entire world has embraced Yoga and the glimpses of this can be seen in the way International Day of Yoga is celebrated every year. +He further added that Yoga Day has become one of the biggest mass movements in the quest for good health and well-being. +Prime Minister said that we should not hesitate to honour our own legacy and heritage if we want the rest of the world to respect us. +He said that Yoga is beautiful because it is ancient and yet modern, it is constant and yet evolving; it has the best of our past and present and provides a ray of hope for our future. +Talking about the potential of Yoga, Prime Minister said that Yoga has a solution to most of the problems faced by people, as individuals as well as a society. +He said that Yoga could lead to a calm, creative and content life, removing tensions and needless anxiety. +“Instead of dividing, Yoga unites. +Instead of further animosity, Yoga assimilates. +Instead of increasing suffering, Yoga heals”, he added. +He shall also take an aerial view of the affected parts of Odisha. +The Prime Minister was briefed on the extent of destruction, including the damage to infrastructure such as roads, railway lines, buildings, power and telecommunication lines. +He was also given an overview of the status of relief operations and steps taken to ensure supply of essential commodities including food, drinking water and fuel. +He was informed that the extent of damage to standing crops shall be assessed over the next few days. +The Prime Minister, instructed top officials of the Union Government to continue to work closely with the affected states to ensure that there are no bottlenecks in relief and rescue work. +He also emphasized the need to document learnings from this cyclone, and to put in place more precise drills and disaster management plans involving all stakeholders, especially in areas which are prone to such disasters. +Boost to pro-people and pro-poor initiatives +In a major boost to pro-people and pro-poor initiatives, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in its meeting held on 5.9.2018 has approved the continuation of National Mission for Financial Inclusion – Pradhan Mantri JanDhan Yojana (PMJDY) with the following changes:- +• The National Mission for Financial Inclusion (PMJDY) to continue beyond 14.8.2018 +• Existing Over Draft (OD) limit of Rs 5,000 to be raised to Rs 10,000. +• There will not be any conditions attached for OD upto Rs 2,000. +• Age limit for availing OD facility to be revised from 18-60 years to 18-65 years. +• Under the expanded coverage from “every household to every adult”, accidental insurance cover for new RuPay card holders to be raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh to new PMJDY accounts opened after 28.8.18. +The continuation of the Mission would enable all adults/households of the country to have atleast a basic bank account with access to other financial services, social security schemes and overdraft upto Rs. 10,000. +It will, thus, bring them into the mainstream of financial services and will facilitate transfer of benefits of various subsidy schemes of the Government more efficiently. +• 53% women Jan Dhan account holders and 59% Jan Dhan accounts are in rural and semi urban areas. +• More than 7.5 crore JanDhan accounts receiving DBTs. +• Banking Correspondents (BCs) have been deployed in 1.26 lakh Sub Service Areas (rural areas), each catering to 1000-1500 households. +Nearly 13.16 crore Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) transactions have taken place through BCs during the month of July, 2018. +• 13.98 crore subscribers under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) with 19,436 claims, involving an amount of Rs, 388.72 crore settled so far. +• Similarly, 5.47 crore subscribers under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) with 1.10 lakh claims, involving an amount of Rs. 2206.28 crore settled so far. +• 1.11 crore persons have subscribed for Atal Pension Yojana (APY). +A pipeline has been created for the implementation of PMJDY through which JanDhan accounts and mobile banking have been linked to Aadhaar (JAM). +This pipeline is not only facilitating savings, disbursal of credit, social security, etc. but more importantly channelizing direct benefits of various government schemes to poor people of the country through DBT. +It has been decided to continue the flagship financial inclusion program (PMJDY), with focus on opening accounts from “every household to every adult”. +The pipeline of JanDhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) will continue to provide the necessary backbone for coverage of these activities and thereby accelerating the pace of digitized, financially included & insured society. +With a view to increase banking penetration, promote financial inclusion and to provide at least one bank account per household across the country, a National Mission on Financial Inclusion known as Pradhan Mantri JanDhan Yojana (PMJDY) was announced by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his Independence Day Speech on 15thAugust, 2014. +The scheme was formally launched on 28th August, 2014 at National level by the Prime Minister. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting. +The Final BEPS Project identified 15 actions to address BEPS in a comprehensive manner. +Implementation of the Final BEPS Package requires changes to more than 3000 bilateral tax treaties which will be burdensome and time consuming. +In view of the same, the Convention was conceived as a Multilateral instrument which would swiftly modify all covered bilateral tax treaties (Covered Tax Agreements / CTA) to implement BEPS measures. +For this purpose, formation of an Ad-hoc Group for the development of such multilateral instrument was endorsed by the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in February 2015. +The text of the Convention and the accompanying Explanatory Statement was adopted by the Ad hoc Group on 24 November 2016. +The Convention implements two minimum standards relating to prevention of treaty abuse and dispute resolution through Mutual Agreement Procedure. +The Convention will not function in the same way as an Amending Protocol to a single existing treaty, which would directly amend the text of the Covered Tax Agreements. +Instead, it will be applied alongside existing tax treaties, modifying their application in order to implement the BEPS measures. +The Convention ensures consistency and certainty in the implementation of the BEPS Project in a multilateral context. +The Convention also provides flexibility to exclude a specific tax treaty and to opt out of provisions or parts of provisions through making of reservations. +The Convention has been opened for signature as on 31st December 2016 and a first joint signing ceremony is scheduled to be held in Paris on 7th June, 2017. +Signature is the first step in the process of expressing consent to be bound by the Convention, which will become binding only upon ratification. +A list of Covered Tax Agreements as well as a list of reservations and options chosen by a country are required to be made at the time of signature or when depositing the instrument of ratification. +Cabinet approval has been sought for the signing of the Convention by India. +It is also proposed to make a provisional list of Covered Tax Agreements and a provisional list of reservations at the time of signature in June, 2017. +Final lists for both will be submitted by India at the time of submission of instrument of ratification. +Signing of the Multilateral Convention will enable the application of BEPS outcomes through modification of existing tax treaties of India in a swift manner. +It is also in India’s interest to ensure that all its treaty partners adopt the BEPS anti-abuse outcomes. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding between India and the USA to access tipline reports on Missing and Exploited Children. +The MoU has been signed between the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), India and the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), USA. +The MoU will provide access to more than one lakh tipline reports available with NCMEC, USA and enable law enforcement agencies in India. +It will pave the way for setting up of an innovative mechanism for sharing information about child pornography and child sexual abuse material and taking legal action against offenders. +It will further enable the law enforcement agencies to remove child pornography and child sexual abuse material from cyber space, thereby enhance human dignity. +PM chairs meeting of National Ganga River Basin Authority +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called for an “uncompromising mission-mode approach” to stop further pollution of the River Ganga. +He said the task at hand could not be accomplished without “Jan-Bhaagidaari” (people`s participation). +The themes mentioned by them included silt management, and single-window clearances for proposals from the states. +Union Ministers Shri Arun Jaitley, Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Ms. Uma Bharati, Shri Birender Singh, Shri Prakash Javadekar, Shri Piyush Goyal, Shri Sanwarlal Jat, and Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Shri Arvind Panagariya were also present at the meeting. +The meeting was coordinated by Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley. +Union Minister for Water Resources Ms. Uma Bharati introduced the issues at hand, and delivered the vote of thanks. +Rajasthan has significant reserves of oil and gas. +The Rajasthan Refinery will be the State’s first. +It is envisaged as a 9 MMTPA Refinery cum Petrochemical Complex. +The product output from the refinery will conform to the advanced BS-VI emission norms. +The Governor and Chief Minister of Rajasthan, and several Union Ministers are expected to attend the event. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the unparalleled accomplishments of the girl child, on National Girl Child Day. +“On National Girl Child Day, I salute the unparalleled accomplishments of the girl child. +Their role in nation building is paramount. +Let us affirm to end discrimination against the girl child and ensure our daughters get equal opportunities to shine”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today delivered the inaugural address at the Uttar Pradesh Investors’ Summit – 2018. +He said that when change happens, it becomes apparent for all to see. +He added that the organization of such a big investors’ summit in Uttar Pradesh, with the participation of so many investors, is itself indicative of change. +He congratulated the State for establishing itself on the path of development and prosperity in such a short timeframe. +He said the State is blessed with an abundance of resources and capabilities. +He noted its strengths in agriculture. +He complimented the Government of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, for changing the negative atmosphere in the State, to one of positivity and hope. +He said the State is making appropriate policies for various sectors. +He said the State Government is serious about fulfilling the promises made to farmers, women and youth. +He said the State is working on a “One District, One Product” scheme. +He said the Union Government’s schemes such as Skill India Mission, Stand Up India, Start Up India and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, will prove useful in implementing the “One District, One Product” scheme. +He said the Union Government’s Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Scheme would help reduce wastage in the agriculture sector. +He said the State had immense potential in ethanol production, due to large sugarcane cultivation. +The Prime Minister said a defence industrial corridor would be established in Uttar Pradesh, and would help in development of the Bundelkhand region. +The Prime Minister said that the Kumbh Mela to be organized next year at Prayag, would be the largest such event of its kind in the world. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today received Mr Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, former President of Maldives and the Leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives, who is visiting India to attend the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2015. +The Prime Minister conveyed that India attached high importance to its relations with Maldives. +He emphasised that the two countries not only shared history, but also shared destinies; and had commonalities of interest in ensuring peace and security in the region. +He reiterated India’s willingness to continue to assist the Government and people of Maldives in their endeavours of building a stable, peaceful and prosperous country. +Mr Gayoom thanked the Prime Minister for India`s consistent support to Maldives in its all-round development. +He conveyed that, for Maldives, its relations with India were of utmost priority not only in the region, but also in the world. +Both exchanged views on the challenges facing developing countries, especially small island States, from climate change. +The Prime Minister said that he looked forward to an early visit to Maldives that would provide an opportunity to further enhance the close and multifaceted relations between India and the Maldives, including in areas of trade, tourism, youth and people-to-people exchanges. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the MoU between India and United Kingdom (UK) to support Ease of Doing Business in India. +The MoU was signed earlier this month. +The MoU shall enable exchange of officials from both the Governments to facilitate sharing of best practises, offering technical assistance and enhanced implementation of reforms. +The collaboration shall also cover State Governments in its ambit. +The UK government has shown interest to offer expertise in the following areas: +The UK Government has achieved phenomenal improvement in Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) rankings in recent years. +The beneficiaries include the officials from Central Government Ministries / Departments and State Governments through sharing of best practises, capacity building etc. +Each side shall bear the cost of travel and logistics for its officials as well as for co-hosting trainings/ seminar/conferences. +The MoU shall facilitate various agencies of the UK government to offer professional courses on better regulation drafting for officials, capacity-building of frontline inspectors, sharing of best practises, etc. +The collaboration is expected to expedite adoption of innovative practises by the Government of India, State Governments and their agencies leading to easing of regulatory environment in the country and fostering of conducive business climate in India. +PM expresses joy over celebrating his birthday as ‘Good Governance Day.’ +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, on his birthday. +The Prime Minister has expressed joy over celebrating his birthday as `Good Governance Day`. +There is no bigger tribute to Atal ji than celebrating his birthday as `Good Governance Day` and pledging to devote ourselves to this cause. +Development and good governance are the only ways ahead. +Together, let us make a positive impact in people`s lives and create a developed India”, the Prime Minister said. +Name of Agreement/ MoUs +Exchanged on Indian side by +Exchanged on Saudi Arabia side by +H.E. Khalid Al Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources +Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Tourism between the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of India and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia +H.E. Mr. Adel Al-Jubeir, MOS for Foreign Affairs +Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Saudi Arabia for Cooperation in the Field of Housing +Shri Ahmad Javed, Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia +H.E. Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, Minister of Commerce & Investment +Framework Cooperation Program between Invest India of the Republic of India and Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Enhancing Bilateral Investment Relations +H.E. Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, Minister of Commerce & Investment +MoU for Cooperation on Broadcasting between Prasar Bharati, New Delhi, India and Saudi Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Saudi Arabia for Exchange of Audio Visual Programme. +H.E. Dr. Turki Abdullah Al-Shabanah, Minister of Media +Note: In addition to the above, the Saudi side has signed the Framework Agreement on the International Solar Alliance (ISA) +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high level meeting on the drought and water scarcity situation in parts of Karnataka. +The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah, was present in the meeting. +Senior officials from the Government of India, and the State of Karnataka, were also present. +Initiating the discussion, the Prime Minister said he is holding separate meetings with Chief Ministers of 11 drought-affected States, to see what can be done to mitigate the problems posed by drought, and also to focus attention on medium to long term measures. +The Chief Minister of Karnataka thanked the Government of India for the assistance of Rs. 1540.20 crore against the Kharif memorandum, and said that this has been fully utilized to assist the farmers. +He said that this amount was transferred to farmers through Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS). +He further said that Rs. 723.23 crore had recently been approved for the Rabi memorandum, which should be released expeditiously. +It was informed that this was in addition to the Rs. 207 crore released as central share of SDRF for 2015-16. +Further, Rs. 108.75 crore has already been released as first instalment of SDRF for 2016-17. +It was further informed that Rs 603 crore would be made available with Karnataka during 2016-17 for water conservation and drought proofing under various schemes of Government of India. +Similarly, Rs 830 crore would be available under various agriculture schemes. +The Chief Minister described the problems being faced by people owing to the severe drought. +He said that major rivers and reservoirs in the State are facing acute water shortage. +He explained the various measures undertaken by the State Government, including desilting, construction of farm ponds, steps towards drip irrigation, and ensuring adequate drinking water supply. +The Prime Minister discussed various measures for desilting, water conservation and recharging of ground water, with the Chief Minister. +He urged the State Government to give maximum attention to desilting, farm tanks and check dams over the next 30 to 40 days, before the onset of the monsoon. +The Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister about the steps taken by Karnataka, for waste water management. +Appreciating these efforts, the Prime Minister emphasized that this should be taken up in a big way in the towns and cities. +Shri Siddaramaiah apprised the Prime Minister about the preparatory steps taken towards implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. +The State Government also made some suggestions regarding crop insurance. +The Chief Minister presented a memorandum to the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister assured him of all possible support. +The Prime Minister said that the time has come when there should be healthy competition among States to speak of efforts in water conservation and management, the way efforts to increase GSDP and investment are spoken about. +The Prime Minister also asked NITI Aayog to develop an index to measure water conservation and management. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of former Member of Parliament and Speaker of the Lok Sabha Shri Somnath Chatterjee. +“Former MP and Speaker Shri Somnath Chatterjee was a stalwart of Indian politics. +He made our Parliamentary democracy richer and was a strong voice for the well-being of the poor and vulnerable. +Anguished by his demise. +My thoughts are with his family and supporters’’, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal to amend Section 4(1) and Section 5(1) of the National Trust for the Welfare of Person with Autism, Cerebral Plasy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 to fix the term of the Chairperson and Members of the Board of National Trust for three years. +In case of resignation of the Chairperson, section 5(1) of the Act provides for him to continue in office until his successor is duly appointed by the Government. +The wording of the above provisions of the Act in its present form has resulted in continuation of a Chairman for an indefinite period as no suitable successor could be found eligible for appointment. +The proposed amendments in these provisions of the Act seek to avoid such a situation and will thus eliminate any chance of prolonged continuation in the same post by any incumbent. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a emergency high-level meeting to review preparedness for Cyclone Hudhud. +The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the PM, the Additional Principal Secretary to the PM, the Home Secretary, the Defence Secretary, and other senior officials from the IMD and PMO. +The Prime Minister was briefed on evacuation and other ongoing precautionary and preparatory measures being undertaken for the cyclone. +These include deployment of teams from the Armed Forces and NDRF, depletion of reservoirs to accommodate cyclonic rainwater, positioning of boats, swimmers and relief camps, and standby systems to restore power and telecom services. +After reviewing the emerging situation, the Prime Minister asked the Home Minister to remain in touch with Chief Ministers of the states likely to be affected by the cyclone. +He instructed senior officers of the Union Government to maintain close contact and coordination with officers of the affected states, to ensure that relief and rescue operations proceed smoothly. +He said suitable arrangements should be made to inform people about the cyclone on a real-time basis. +The Prime Minister was given a presentation on the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, (PMGSY) and the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY), by the NITI Aayog. +6500 habitations have been connected in this Financial Year, as a result. +The Prime Minister was informed of the use of innovative best practices in PMGSY, to further speed up the rural road construction progress. +These include the use of GIS and Space Imagery for planning and monitoring; efficient fund flow by minimizing the number of layers; and citizen grievance redressal through the app – “Meri Sadak.” +The Prime Minister directed concerned officials to put in place an effective mechanism for stringent quality monitoring of the roads being built under the scheme. +He said quality checks should be made at the material procurement stage, the construction stage, as well as the maintenance stage. +The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana targets poverty alleviation through sustainable livelihoods. +The Prime Minister was informed that 3 crore households have so far been linked to Self Help Groups (SHGs). +The Prime Minister asked for due monitoring of the loans being given to SHGs, using Aadhaar. +He emphasized that loans must reach the intended beneficiaries, for this scheme to be successful. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed Company Secretaries at the inauguration of the Golden Jubilee Year of ICSI – the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. +On this occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated all those associated with ICSI. +He said he is happy to be among those who are responsible for ensuring that companies follow the law, and maintain their accounts properly. +He said their work helps establish the country’s corporate culture. +Their advice has a bearing on the country’s corporate governance, he added. +The Prime Minister said that there are a few people in our country who attempt to weaken the honesty of our social structures, and lower the nation’s dignity. +He said that the Government is working towards cleansing the system of such elements. +The Prime Minister said that as a result of the efforts of the Government, the economy is functioning with less cash. +The cash to GDP ratio has come down to 9 per cent, from 12 per cent before demonetization. +The Prime Minister cautioned against people who only wish to spread a feeling of pessimism. +The Prime Minister said that there was a time when India was considered to be part of the Fragile Five economies, which were dragging back global recovery. +Acknowledging the decline in growth in the previous quarter, the Prime Minister said that the Government is committed to reversing this trend. +He said that a premium would be placed on honesty, and the interests of the honest would be protected. +He presented figures to show the quantum jump in investment. +The Prime Minister said that in the policy and planning of the Government, care is being taken to ensure that savings accrue to the poor and the middle class, even as their lives change for the better. +• Inaugurates Rooftop Solar Plant for District Court at Khunti +• Launches mega credit camp for Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana; distributes Mudra cards and loan documents to select beneficiaries at Dumka +• Hands over new LPG connections to select BPL families +• Launches conservation and development of historic Maluti temple complex +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated a 180 KW capacity rooftop solar power plant for the District Court in Khunti, Jharkhand. +Addressing a large gathering, which included large numbers of tribal women, the Prime Minister said that it was quite appropriate that a solar energy project was being inaugurated on Gandhi Jayanti. +He said Mahatma Gandhi had always showed how to live in harmony with nature through his thoughts and deeds. +The Prime Minister spoke of his recent visit to the United Nations, and said all leaders present there had expressed concern over global warming and the threat it posed to mankind. +He said India was not responsible for this, as our ancestors never taught us to harm nature. +However, the Prime Minister added that in order to save humanity from this crisis, India would make its contribution. +He said solar energy use was one way of doing so. +The Prime Minister mentioned that it was significant that this initiative of a district court functioning through solar power had been undertaken in Jharkhand, a state rich in coal reserves. +The Prime Minister said that there were instances where the dispensation of justice in courts had suffered due to the non-availability of electricity. +He said that this initiative of a solar powered court complex had shown a way to ensure that such a situation did not arise. +The Prime Minister exhorted the people to use LED lamps to conserve energy and lower their electricity bills. +He also recalled his recent visit to Tashkent, where he had unveiled a statue of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri. +The Prime Minister inaugurated a mega credit camp for Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana at Dumka, and handed over loan documents and Mudra cards to 5 beneficiaries. +He expressed happiness at the large gathering of people both in Khunti and in Dumka, and said this shows how keen the people of Jharkhand are for development. +The Prime Minister complimented the State Government and people of Jharkhand, for the remarkable progress made by the State in “ease of doing business,” as reflected by the World Bank in a recent report. +The Prime Minister announced that 42 lakh people have been given loans under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana so far, and a total of Rs. 26,000 crore have been disbursed. +He said this will help small entrepreneurs expand their businesses, and escape the clutches of moneylenders. +He said there were 20 lakh women among the beneficiaries. +The Prime Minister said 31 lakh people had surrendered their LPG subsidy so far, under the “Give it Up” campaign. +Handing over new LPG connections to 3 BPL families, the Prime Minister thanked all those who had given up LPG subsidy, so that it could be given to the poor who needed it the most. +The Prime Minister also launched online, a project for the conservation and development of historic Maluti temple complex in Dumka district. +The Governor of Jharkhand Smt Draupadi Murmu, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Raghubar Das were present at both functions at Khunti and Dumka. +The Minister of State for Petroleum (Independent Charge) Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and the Minister of State for Finance Shri Jayant Sinha were present at the function in Dumka. +The earlier contract is expiring on 24th March 2017. +Further, it would provide strategic importance for India in terms of enhanced presence in Indian Ocean where other international: players are also active. +Polymetallic nodules (also known as manganese nodules) are potato-shaped, largely porous nodules found in abundance carpeting the sea floor of world oceans in deep sea. +Besides manganese and iron, they contain nickel, copper, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, cadmium, vanadium, titanium, of which nickel, cobalt and copper are considered to be of economic and strategic importance. +India signed a 15 year contract for exploration of Polymetallic Nodules (PMN) in Central Indian Ocean Basin with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) (an Institution set up under the Convention on Law of the Sea to which India is a Party) on 25th March, 2002 with the approval of Cabinet. +India is presently having an area of 75,000 sq.km., located about 2000 km away from her southern tip for exploration of PMN. +Ministry of Earth Sciences is carrying out Survey & Exploration, Environmental Impact Assessment, Technology Development (Mining and Extractive Metallurgy) under polymetallic nodules program through various national institutes viz. +National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), National Centre for Antarctica and Ocean Research (NCAOR), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) etc., in accordance with the Contract provisions. +India is fulfilling all the obligations of the contract. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Mongolia for cooperation in Border Guarding, Policing and Surveillance. +The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of Border Management as both the countries’ borders are porous and have difficult terrain. +The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will also increase effectiveness in border security co-operation and best practices sharing. +This would help in providing necessary peaceful ambience which is a prerequisite for the development of society as a whole. +The High Level Committee for Restructuring of Food Corporation of India, today submitted its report to the Prime Minister. +The Committee was chaired by Shri Shanta Kumar. +The Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, was present on the occasion. +Shri Ashok Gulati, Member of the Committee, made a presentation on the various recommendations of the report. +The Prime Minister has asked the Department of Food and Public Distribution to expeditiously give their comments on the report, so that it can then be implemented in a time-bound manner. +The MoU will provide a platform to Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector to promote safety, efficiency and sustainability. +The MoU will also facilitate exchange of information, experts meetings, seminars, technical visits and implementation of jointly agreed cooperation, projects. +The objective of this MoU is to develop technical cooperation activities in the railway sector to promote safety, efficiency and sustainability, to their mutual benefit. +It will enable technical cooperation in the following areas:- +a. Safety audit of Indian Railways and measures required for enhancing safety in train operation; +b. Assessment and certification of advanced technology based safety products and systems to Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL4); +c. Training and competency development with focus on safety including in areas of advanced signaling and train control systems; +d. Modern trends in Maintenance and diagnostic; +e. Any other area jointly identified by the participants. +The FS group is fully owned by Government and is under Ministry of Treasury, Italy. +Ministry of Railways have signed MQUs for technical cooperation with the Rail sector with various foreign Governments and National Railways. +The identified areas of cooperation include high speed corridors, speed raising of existing routes, development of world class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure, etc. +The cooperation is achieved through exchange of Information on developments in areas of railways, technology & operations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training & seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest. +The MoUs provide a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector. +The MoUs facilitate exchange of technical experts, reports and technical documents, training and seminars/workshops focusing on specific technology areas and other interactions for knowledge sharing. +“I have great appreciation for our ties with the Pacific Region, which is why India recently hosted the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation in Suva, Fiji. +We are planning to host the next edition of the Forum in India later this year, which I hope you will be able to attend,” the Prime Minister added. +“I wish to convey my good wishes for your personal health and well-being, and for the progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Tonga,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has wished Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birthday. +“Birthday greetings to our beloved Atal Ji. +His phenomenal as well as visionary leadership made India more developed and further raised our prestige at the world stage. +I pray for his good health”, the Prime Minister said. +Just a few days ago, a historic Cricket match took place in Bengaluru. +Of course you must have realized that I am referring to the test match between India and Afghanistan. +It was Afghanistan’s first international match and it’s a matter of honour for us that this historic match for Afghanistan was played with India. +This match will remain etched in our memories for a long time. +Anyway, being the first match, it is naturally memorable, but I will cherish it for a special reason. +Sports is an excellent route to unite society and to showcase the talents & skills of our youth. +I felicitate both the teams of India & Afghanistan. +I sincerely hope, that in future too, we’ll play with each other with the best sportsman spirit & shine together. +The whole world appeared as one entity. +Saudi Arabia witnessed its first, historic yoga programme and I am told many aasans were demonstrated by women. +On the snow capped mountain peaks of Ladakh, Indian and Chinese soldiers performed yoga in unison. +Yoga breaks all barriers of borders and unites people. +Zealous citizens of hundreds of lands overlooked divisions of caste, religion, region, colour and gender to transform this occasion into a massive festival. +If people from the entire world ardently participated in programmes on Yoga Day, why should India not feel elated many times over? +It is a matter of great pride for a hundred & twenty five crore people to witness members of our armed forces perform yoga on land, sea & sky. +A section of our brave soldiers did yoga in submarines; some of them chose the snow clad mountainous terrain of Siachen for the same. +Our air warriors astounded everyone by performing yogasans in mid sky, some 15 thousand feet above the earth. +Spectacular was the fact that they achieved this feat not inside an airplane but while floating mid air. +Schools, colleges, offices, parks, skyscrapers, playgrounds came alive- as yoga venues. +Heartwarming was an instance in Ahmedabad. +Our Rishis, sages and saints have laid emphasis on certain tenets; yoga has proved them in a concrete manner. +I believe that the concept of wellness today is bringing about a revolution. +I hope the campaign of wellness through yoga will gain further momentum. +More and more people will come forward to make it a part of their lives. +The role of a doctor is not limited to mere treatment of ailments. +Often a doctor plays the role of a family friend, a lifestyle guide. +Today, doctors possess not just medical expertise; they have a vast experience on the co- relation between general lifestyle trends and their effect on our health. +Through Mann Ki Baat I extend my warmest felicitations on behalf of the countrymen to all our doctors, ahead of Doctor’s Day on the 1st of July. +Every place in India is replete with signposts of heritage. +Do you know why Kabir Das ji chose to go to Maghar? +In those days it was believed that death in Maghar was a roadblock in one’s pathway to heaven. +On the contrary, breathing one’s last in Kaashi was a guarantee for entry into heaven. +Maghar was considered unholy but Sant Kabirdas never subscribed to that view. +These were his ideals. +Kabir Das ji laid great emphasis on social cohesion. +He was a thinker way ahead of his times. +Guru Nanak Devji said that the service to the poor and the needy is service to God. +Wherever he went, he took many initiatives for the welfare of the society. +The 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev Ji will be celebrated in 2019. +I want all of us to join this great festival with enthusiasm and fervour. +To celebrate this festival in the entire Indian society and around the world I also urge you to suggest new ideas, new concepts, and innovations on which we can ponder and make preparations and thus we can also celebrate the Prakash parv as Prerna Parv with great pride . +My dear countrymen! +The history of India’s struggle for independence is very long, very vast and is filled with countless sacrifices. +There is another chapter of history associated with Punjab. +In the year 2019, 100 years of the horrific incident of Jallianwala Bagh will come to a full circle, it was an incident that embarrassed the entire humanity. +Who can forget that dark day of April 13, 1919, when abusing all limits of power, crossing all the boundaries of cruelty; theguiltless, unarmed and innocent people were fired upon. +It is peace and non-violence, renunciation and martyrdom that are triumphant in the end! +Mr. Raman Kumar of Rohini, Delhi, has written on ‘Narendra Modi Mobile App’ that oncoming July 6 happens to be Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s birthday and he wants me to talk about Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in this episode of Mann Ki Baat. +Thank you very much, Raman ji. +It feels great to see your interest in India’s history. +You know, yesterdayjune 23, was the death anniversary of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. +Very few people would also be knowing that in 1937, on the invitation of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore addressed the convocation in Kolkata University in Bangla. +This was the first time under British rule that the convocation in Kolkata University had been addressed to in Bangla. +From 1947 to 1950, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was the first Industries minister of India and, in a sense, helaid a strong foundation for India’s industrial development, he had prepared a solid base, it was he who had prepared a stout platform. +The first industrial policy of Independent India, which came in 1948, was stamped with his ideas and vision. +Dr. Mukherjee’s dream was for India to be industrially self-reliant, competent and prosperous in every sphere. +He had wanted India to develop heavy industries and also pay full attention to MSME, handloom, textiles and cottage industry. +For the proper development of cottage and small industries with finance availability and organizational setup- All India Handicrafts Board, All India Handloom Board and Khadi & Village Industries Board were established between 1948 and 1950. +He was very passionate about the development of West Bengal. +It was the result of his understanding, prudence and activism that a part of Bengal could be saved and it is still a part of India. +For Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the most important thing was the integrity and unity of India – and for this, at the young age of 52, he also sacrificed his life. +Let us forever remember Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s message of unity imbued with the spirit of goodwill and brotherhood and remain proactive with all our might for the progress of India. +People spoke about their determination, their happiness and their achievements. +In far-distant villages, daughters are providing services ranging from pension to issuance of passport to senior citizens through the aegis of common service centers. +Asister from Chhattisgarh collects custard apple and does business by making its ice cream. +Like Anjan Prakash in Jharkhand, many lakhs of young besides running the Yuva – Jan Aushidhi kendras in the country are providing affordable medicines in the nearby villages. +At the same time a young man from West Bengal desperately seeking a job two to three years ago is now a successful entrepreneur ; And not only this he is providing employment to ten to fifteen people. +In such an environment, when the common man comes to you talking about emerging hope, new zeal and events that have taken place in his life, it is not to the government’s credit. +An incident regarding a small girl from a remote village too can inspire the hundred and twenty five crore people. +With the help of technology, through the video bridge even a single moment spentwith the beneficiaries was very enjoyable, very motivational and provided satisfaction to work more. +There is a renewed joy in dedicating your life for the upliftment, and you’re left with renewed fervour and inspiration. +I am very grateful to the countrymen. +40-50 lakh people participated in this video bridge program and imparted me with a new strength. +I again want to express my gratitude to you all. +I always feel that if we look around us, somewhere or something good always happens. +Many good people out there are involved in beneficial work. +We can also smell the fragrance of righteousness. +In the past, one thing came to my attention and it happens to be a very unique combination. +On one hand, where we have professionals and engineers, on the other hand, there exist farmers tilling the fields, our brethren-sisters associated with agriculture. +Now you must be wondering that these are two completely different occupations – what is the relation between these professions? +This trust remained associated with farmers, drew plans and made successful efforts to increase the income of farmers. +Farmers producing grains have also become associated with this trust. +On one hand, farmers have a major role in the entire chain from cultivation till the marketing of crops, whereas on the other hand, to make certain the farmers’ participation in reaping profits is an attempt to guarantee their right. +If I’ve to give credit to anyone for successful implementation of ‘One Nation One Tax reform’, then I credit the states of our nation. +GST is a great example of Cooperative federalism, where all the states decided to take a unanimous decision in the interest of the nation, and then such a huge tax reform could be implemented in the country. +Before the onset of GST scheme, there were 17 different types of taxes prevailing in the country, but now only one tax is applicable in the entire country. +GST is not only the victory of integrity but it is also a celebration of honesty. +Earlier, in the case of taxation and allied affairs in the country, there were rampant complaints of Inspector Raj. +The check post has become extinct after the arrival of the GST scheme and the movement of goods has become faster, which not only saves time but is also accruing benefits in the areaof logistics. +GST is probably be the biggest tax reform in the world. +The successful implementation of such a huge tax reform in India was successful only because the people of the country adopted it and through the power of the masses, fuelled the success of the GST scheme. +This is a huge success in itself which 125 crore Indians have earned for themselves. +Once again, while concluding this episode, I wait most eagerly for the next chapter of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, of meeting you and talking to you. +I wish you many felicitations. +Thank you very much. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for leasing out 1.61 acres of land bearing khasara No.91/15 located at Alipur Delhi, owned by Delhi Milk Scheme to Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) for setting up of KisanMandi. +The lease rent will be payable in advance for whole year in the beginning of the calendar year latest by 31st January. +Highlights of the KisanMandi:- +Only registered FPOs/Grower Associations (GAs) will be allowed to offer fresh produce for sale on this platform. +The KisanMandi will also have provision for online sales and. direct marketing through call centre etc. +Background:- +Its mandate is to link farmers to investment, technology and markets. +Inauguration of IREP Kochi is not just proud moment for Kerala, but for the entire country: PM +Foundation stone for Petrochemical complex at BPCL Kochi Refinery laid by PM +Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kochi , Kerala today and dedicated to the nation and also laid foundation stone for various projects in the state. +Among the projects dedicated to the nation include Integrated Refinery Expansion Project Complex (IREP) at Kochi. +IREP will be a modern expansion complex and transform Kochi refinery into the largest PSU Refinery in India with world class standards. +It will be equipped for production of cleaner Fuels for India. +It will double the production of LPG & diesel and commence production of feedstock for petrochemical projects in this plant. +Inaugurating IREP Complex PM said, “Today is a historic day when the largest industrial unit of Kerala is entering its next phase of development. +It is indeed a proud moment not just for God’s Own Country, but also for the entire nation”. +He also praised Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) Kochi for playing a critical role in popularizing clean fuels among masses in Kerala and neighbouring states over the past 50 years. +Talking about the strides made by the Government, PM said Ujjwala has brought cheers to many and nearly six crore LPG connections have reached to the households of the poorest of the poor since May 2016. +More than 23 crore LPG consumers have joined the Pahal scheme. +The transparency in the scheme has helped in identifying ghost accounts, multiple accounts and inactive accounts. +Over 1 crore customers have given up LPG subsidies under Give it up initiative. +PM lauded the role of Kochi refinery and said it is making a great contribution towards Ujjwala Yojana, by doubling the LPG production with the help of the recent expansion”. +PM said that use of CNG a clean fuel is being promoted by expanding the coverage of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in the country. +After the successful completion of 10 CGD bidding rounds more than 400 districts of the country will be connected for providing piped gas supply. +The National Gas Grid or Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga has also been created to have a gas based economy and enhance the share of gas in the energy basket.” +He revealed that the Government has thought of developing additional 15000 km of gas pipeline network. +Besides , the Government has reduced oil import by 10% and saved precious Foreign Exchange. +He said that at the peak of the project over 20000 labours were working at the site and they are the real heroes of the project. +He praised the strategic move of BPCL to diversify into non fuel sector through this project. +He said, “Friends, petrochemicals are a grade of chemicals which we don’t speak much about. +It is our endeavour to see that these petrochemicals are manufactured in India itself.” +He expressed happiness that Kochi refinery will now be able to produce propylene after execution of IREP. +Besides the other niche petrochemicals will find use in different products such as paints, inks, coating, detergent and many other articles. +He expressed hope that all these many ancillary industries will come to Kochi and business opportunities will be expanded. +PM said that the nation is proud of the works by Kochi refinery. +He recalled ,when Kerala was passing through worst floods in a 100 years last August, BPCL came running against all odds to ensure continuous production of Petrol, Diesel and LPG. +PM wished that Kochi refinery leads a petrochemical revolution in southern India and support the of growing needs of New India. +Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of second campus of the Skill development institute set up by BPCL at Ettumanoor. +He said, it will help skill development and create employment opportunities for the youth. +This will enhance LPG storage capacity and also reduce road movement of LPG tankers. +A group of 10 distinguished Indian Americans called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Saturday. +The Prime Minister urged them to share their views on the development of India. +The Indian-Americans mentioned clarity of decision-making, ease of doing business, skill development and strong university-industry links as some of the important areas that needed to be focused on. +They praised initiatives such as Digital India and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. +In the course of conversation, the Prime Minister referred to his Government’s recent initiatives. +He mentioned the “Make in India” initiative, and said it would lay emphasis on ease of doing business. +He said that investors need a sense of security and confidence in the economy. +He referred to the raising of FDI limits in defence and railways, and said that investors must realize that FDI also stands for “First Develop India.” +The Prime Minister also referred to the Digital India and Skill India initiatives. +The group said they would like to interact with the Prime Minister in future as well. +The Prime Minister urged them to share their ideas on the MyGov platform – MyGov.in +The Prime Minister expressed his condolences for the loss of life in Fiji due to the Category 5 Cyclone Winston, which struck Fiji on 20 February 2016. +The Prime Minister said that India stood ready to provide all possible assistance to Fiji in the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. +Prime Minister Bainimarama thanked the Prime Minister for the US$ 1 million assistance and 45 tonnes of relief material provided by India in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone. +The two leaders also discussed avenues for strengthening bilateral cooperation in solar and renewable energy, agriculture, education and health. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Manipur Governor Shri Syed Ahmed. +Saddened by his demise. +Rest in Peace”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj on his Jayanti. +“I join the lakhs of devotees from across the world and bow to HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj on his Jayanti. +He was a remarkable soul whose exemplary service and humanitarian efforts positively impacted countless lives. +HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s rich thoughts continue to guide people, transcending all barriers. +We are always motivated by his vision to transform lives of the needy, poor and marginalised. +My relation with HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj was a special one. +The time I spent with him was memorable. +I am fortunate to have been blessed by him. +Here is what I had spoken about him in Sarangpur last year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azaYIrMsx5g “, the Prime Minister said. +More than 14 lakh consumers and 77,000 merchants rewarded with Rs. 226 crore for embracing Digital Payments +Mega draw on 14th April +The winners have been from various walks of life cutting across the barriers of age, sex and economic status. +27 year old Devinder is a mechanic from Azamgarh village in Bihar who won Rs. 1 lakh under Lucky Grahak Yojana. +Earlier he was using his brother’s bank account for his funds, but will soon open his own account. +22 years old Sunil Vishwas Chauhan is a young farmer from Pachwad village in Maharashtra. +He earns his living by selling milk and farm harvest in the local market. +“I am glad that digital payments have reached me. +Earlier all the money was embezzled by the middleman but now all funds go directly into my account and I receive alerts too,” says a relieved Sunil. +40 years old Nahid opened her store just a few months back and installed all provisions for paying digitally at her shop. +She says, “80% of my transactions are through digital modes. +As part of the Government initiative in popularizing Digital Payments, DigiDhan Melas are being organized in 100 cities over a period of 100 days. +As on 30th March (90th day) the Melas have been held in 26 States and 7 Union Territories. +Over 5000 financial institutions have reached 15 lakh citizens through the Melas and at least 16,000 government and private institutions have been declared cashless. +The 100 days of the DigiDhan Melas will end with the Mega Draw on April 14th. +Melas are planned for Gangtok, Imphal, Haridwar, Nellore among others for the remaining 10 days. +Since demonetization, there has been a phenomenal 584 per cent increase (0.3 to 4.5 million) in transactions made through the UPI. +In this same period, payments using Adhaar have also seen an unprecedented jump of 1352 per cent (0.7 to 2.7 million). +Also, the BHIM App, the UPI payment App launched by the Prime Minister on 30th December 2016, has been downloaded a record 18 million times since its launch. +Besides there has been an increase of nearly 13 percent in the number of PoS machines sold since October 2016 indicating that more number of merchants across the country are willingly accepting digital payments. +Today around 8 billion transactions take place annually through digital payment methods. +The Government is planning to increase this to 25 billion transactions in the current year to bring an end to the shadow economy by reducing black money flowing into the system. +NITI Aayog launched two schemes on December 25, 2016 – Lucky Grahak Yojana (LGY) for consumers and Digi-DhanVyaparYojana (DVY) for merchants to incentivize them and promote digital payments. +The two schemes shall remain open till April 14, 2017. +There are 15,000 daily winners qualifying for total prize money of Rs. 1.5 crore every day. +In addition to this there are over 14,000 weekly winners qualifying for total prize money of over Rs. 8.3 crore every week. +Customers and merchants using RuPay Card, BHIM / UPI (Bharat Interface for Money / Unified Payments Interface), USSD based *99# service and Aadhaar Enabled Payment Service (AePS) are eligible for wining daily and weekly lucky draw prizes. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released the book “Moving On, Moving Forward – A Year in Office” to mark one year in office of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. +He also presented the first copy of the book to the Vice President of India. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that he had the opportunity to work with Shri Venkaiah Naidu for several years. +He said that Shri Naidu laid emphasis on responsibility (Karyabhaar), above all else. +The Prime Minister said that Shri Venkaiah Naidu always performed whatever duty he had, with utmost diligence, and adapted into that role with ease. +He has been in public life for 50 years- 10 years in student politics and 40 years in state as well as national politics, the Prime Minister added. +He gets the best experts to ensure justice is done to the work assigned, the Prime Minister added. +The Prime Minister recalled that when former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee wanted to include Shri Venkaiah Naidu in his Cabinet, then Venkaiahji had requested for the Rural Development portfolio. +Venkaiah Ji is a farmer at heart, and is passionate about the welfare of farmers and agriculture. +The Prime Minister said that the Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana came into being due to the efforts of Shri Venkaiah Naidu. +In a time when political discourse was centredaround train stoppages only, Naidu ji ensured that leaders began to think more about roads and other forms of connectivity, the Prime Minister added. +The Prime Minister praised the Vice President for his oratory and his way with words, be it English or Telugu. +He said that it is commendable that the Vice President has presented a report card of sorts about his first year in office, containing the rich work he has done both inside and outside Parliament. +A Zen Buddhist saying in Japanese says – “Ichigo Ichie” , which means that our every meeting is unique and we must treasure every moment. +I have visited Japan many times, and this is my second visit as Prime Minister. +And, every visit has been unique, special, educative and deeply rewarding. +I have met Excellency Abe on many occasions in Japan, India and around the world. +I have also had the privilege of receiving several high level Japanese political and business leaders in India in the last couple of years. +The frequency of our interaction demonstrates the drive, dynamism and depth of our ties. +It is clear to both of us that our cooperation has progressed on multiple fronts. +Deeper economic engagement, growth of trade, manufacturing and investment ties, focus on clean energy, partnership to secure our citizens, and cooperation on infrastructure and skill development are among our key priorities. +Today’s signing of the Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy marks a historic step in our engagement to build a clean energy partnership. +Our cooperation in this field will help us combat the challenge of Climate Change. +I also acknowledge the special significance that such an agreement has for Japan. +I thank Prime Minister Abe the Japanese government and the Parliament for their support to this agreement. +India and its economy are pursuing many transformations. +Our aim is to become a major centre for manufacturing, investments and for the twenty first century knowledge industries. +And, in this journey, we see Japan as a natural partner. +We believe there is vast scope to combine our relative advantages, whether of capital, technology or human resources, to work for mutual benefit. +In terms of specific projects, we remain focused on making strong progress on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project. +Our engagement and agreement on cooperation in the financial sector will help us in accessing greater resources for infrastructure development. +Our dialogue in regard to training and skills development has broken new ground, and is an important component of our economic partnership. +We are also shaping new partnerships in areas such as space science, marine and earth since, textiles, sports, agriculture and postal banking. +As countries with an inclusive outlook, we have agreed to cooperate closely to promote connectivity, infrastructure and capacity-building in the regions that occupy the inter-linked waters of the Indo-Pacific. +The successful Malabar naval exercise has underscored the convergence in our strategic interests in the broad expanse of the waters of the Indo-Pacific. +As democracies, we support openness, transparency and the rule of law. +We are also united in our resolve to combat the menace of terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism. +The relations between our two countries are blessed by deep cultural and people to people ties. +During Prime Minister Abe’s visit to India in December last year, I had committed to take steps to create basis for their further expansion. +And, as a result, since March 2016 we extended ‘Visa-On Arrival’ facility to all Japanese nationals. +We have also gone a step further in extending a long-term 10-year visa facility to eligible Japanese business persons. +v India and Japan also consult and cooperate closely in regional and international fora. +We will continue to work together for reforms of the United Nations and strive together for our rightful place in the UN Security Council. +I wish to thank Prime Minister Abe for the support extended for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. +We both recognize that the future of our partnership is rich and robust. +There is no limit to the scope and scale of what we can do together, for ourselves and for the region. +And, a key reason for this is your strong and dynamic leadership. +It is indeed a privilege to be your partner and friend. +I wish to thank you for the most valuable outcomes of this Summit, and for your generous welcome and hospitality. +(Thank you for your kind hospitality!) +Thank you, Thank you very much. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today addressed the Indian community in Manila, Philippines. +The Prime Minister said that the ASEAN region is very important for India. +He spoke of the long shared heritage and emotional bonding that India has with the ASEAN region. +In particular, he mentioned the Buddha and the Ramayana. +He said the Indian diaspora in the region has a key role to play in nurturing this heritage. +The Prime Minister said India has never harmed another country. +He spoke of the sacrifice of one and a half lakh Indian soldiers, who laid down their lives in distant lands during World Wars 1 and 2. +He said that India’s present too, must be equally bright, and radiant. +He said we should do everything possible to ensure that the 21st century, which is termed “Asia’s century” becomes “India’s century.” +The Prime Minister spoke of initiatives such as Jandhan Yojana and Ujjwala Yojana, taken by the Government for empowering the poor. +He also mentioned the gains made through Aadhaar linking of subsidy. +PM Narendra Modi shared his vision for the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana on it’s launch. +‘One of the biggest problems for us has been that our development model has been supply-driven. +A scheme has been prepared in Lucknow, Gandhi Nagar, or Delhi. +The same is attempted to be injected. +We want to shift this model from supply-driven to demand driven through Adarsh Gram. +There should be an urge developed in the village itself. +All we need is to change our mind set. +It will be like family. +Decisions will be taken sitting with the people of the villages. +It will re-energise and unite the village.’ +Under SAGY, each Member of Parliament adopts a Gram Panchayat and guides its holistic progress giving importance for social development at par with infrastructure. +The ‘Adarsh Grams’ are to become schools of local development and governance, inspiring other Gram Panchayats. +By involving villagers and leveraging scientific tools, a Village Development Plan is prepared under the leadership of Member of Parliament. +Thereafter detailed project reports are prepared and submitted by departments to the state government. +State Level Empowered Committee (SLEC) reviews, suggest changes and give priority allocation of resources. +As of now, 21 Schemes have been amended by various Ministries /Departments of Government of India to give priority to SAGY Gram Panchayat projects. +At district level, monthly review meetings are conducted for each Gram Panchayat under the chairpersonship of Member of Parliament. +Each projects are reviewed in the presence of representatives of the participating line departments and the progress is updated to the state government. +It is expected that ach Member of Parliament will spearhead development of one Gram Panchayat as a model one by 2016, then two more by 2019 and thereafter five more by 2024. +696 GPs have been adopted by MPs across the country so far. +Each District Collector has nominated a Charge Officer of sufficient seniority to coordinate the implementation at the local level who will be fully responsible and accountable for the implementation. +Ministry of Rural Development organised training programmes for 653 Charge Officers at 9 regional locations across India. +A National Workshop was organised on 23rd-24th September, 2015 at Bhopal by Ministry of Rural Development, where MPs, State Governments, District Collectors, Gram Pradhans from across all States were invited. +The selected Good Practices by National Level Committee of the Ministry of Rural Development were presented through a detailed exhibition so that similar good practices could be adopted in SAGY Gram Panchayats. +The Ministry has also developed 35 indicators as ‘Panchayat Darpan’ to monitor the progress of the SAGY Gram Panchayats. +Some Success Stories: +In Laderwan village, Block Trehgam, District Kupwara, Jammu & Kashmir, the major activity of the people is agriculture. +To promote scientific agriculture, the mobile numbers of 379 farmers were linked with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK). +The KVK disseminates sms messages on weather forecasts and messages on the recommended package of practices for specific crops at critical stages of crop growth. +This has been undertaken under the guidance of the Member of Parliament, Shri Muzaffar Hussain Baig. +As a result, farmers now get regular agro-advisories on their mobiles. +These include critical messages on scientific sowing practices, soil testing, crop protection, agronomic practices, post-harvest technologies and market information. +This enables people to take informed decisions relating to crop production and marketing their agricultural produce. +Maravamangalam, situated in Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu was chosen as the Adarsh Gram by the Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) , Dr. E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan. +The Member of Parliament identified the potential areas for improvement and to promote rural livelihoods. +Coir, leather and coconut trainings for the communities were envisaged and promoted. +The MP organised several awareness programmes with the support of the District Administration and Alagappa University. +120 women for coir training, 112 people for leather training and 27 men for coconut Training were enrolled in the training programmes. +After the trainings are completed, all efforts will be made by the district administration and the training partners to provide financial assistance to the successful trainees for starting their own social enterprise and support their livelihoods. +The Member of Parliament Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato in his adopted Gram Panchayat of Bangurda realised that very minimal efforts were being taken with regard to health and hygiene of adolescent girls in remote and inaccessible villages in East Singhbhum, Jharkhand. +There is high prevalence of Anaemia and other ailments, especially among women and adolescent girls. +In order to address this, he initiated a series of health camps specifically targeted towards the adolescent girls. +The health camps were organised in the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, where more than 188 adolescent girls were screened. +As a result, many of the girls were found to be suffering from various gynaecological diseases, urinary tract infection and skin diseases, which hitherto, were suppressed by them owing to socio-cultural taboos. +It was also found that most of these ailments were related to unhygienic lifestyle and filthy surroundings. +Interventions are underway to create awareness on personal hygiene among the adolescent girls and women. +This will be a sustained intervention to be carried out regularly in the villages. +A 29 member delegation of the Sikh community based in the US and Canada, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Saturday. +The members congratulated the Prime Minister on the formation of the new Government, and the initiatives taken by the new Government. +The Prime Minister recalled the sacrifices made by the Sikh community for India. +He also spoke about the “Make in India” initiative. +Some members of the delegation expressed concern over the spread of drug abuse among youth in Punjab. +The Prime Minister shared their concern and said the Government would study the issue carefully and attempt to work out a solution. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved proposal of Airports Authority of India (AAI) for surrendering encroached AAI’s land measuring 106.76 acres situated at Gandhi Nagar, Bhopal to the State Government of Madhya Pradesh (M.P). +In lieu of AAI’s 106.76 acres encroached land, the Government of M.P. has agreed to provide land measuring 96.56 acres approx. which is contiguous to the existing land of Bhopal Airport and can be utilized by AAI for aviation purposes. +This will help in freeing up AAI’s land measuring 106.76 acres which is already being utilized by the State Government of M.P. for various purposes i.e. establishment of Government Offices, public amenities services, and for rehabilitation of migrated Sindhi families. +In lieu of this land, as of now, the State Government has agreed to provide 96.56 acres of land, contiguous to Bhopal Airport, to AAI, for aviation purposes. +Further, the land offered by State Government in lieu of this land can be judicially utilized by the AAI for aviation-related activities. +Hence, the approval will benefit people at large. +Prime Minister of Malta, H.E. Dr. Joseph Muscat is on his maiden visit to India from 17-19 January 2019 for attending the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2019. +He is accompanied by Dr. Christian Cardona, Minister of Economy, Investment and Small Businesses, senior officials of his Ministry and a large business delegation. +On his arrival, the Maltese PM and his delegation were received by Shri OP Kohli, Governor of Gujarat. +PM Muscat had a bilateral meeting with PM Modi on the sidelines of the Summit. +He fondly recalled the visit of Vice President of India to Malta in September last year and appreciated growing exchanges of visits and strengthening of bilateral relationship. +The two Prime Ministers discussed the possibilities of enhancing trade and commercial ties. +Malta has brought in a formal legislation on Block-chain technology and sees role of Indian IT companies as system monitors. +PM Modi invited greater academic cooperation from Malta including the possibility of offering training courses for Maltese professionals at the Forensics University in Gujarat. +Realising the importance of renewable energy for sustainable and low carbon-imprint growth, the two leaders hailed the initiative of International Solar Alliance and committed full cooperation to upscale solar technologies and harness the full potential of solar energy. +During the visit, Prime Minister Muscat participated in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2019 and also had a meeting with Chief Minister of Gujarat. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi attended Dussehra Celebrations at 15 August Park at Lal Qila Maidan in New Delhi, today. +The Prime Minister watched the Ramleela organized by the Lav-Kush Ramleela committee. +Hea lso witnessed the burning of giant effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakarn and Meghnad signifying the triumph of good over evil, during the event +The event was attended by the Hon’ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has welcomed all the leaders and delegates, arriving India for the FIPIC Summit. +“I welcome all the leaders and delegates who are coming to India for the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation. +I am very optimistic about FIPIC Summit. +Am sure it will strengthen India’s bond with the Pacific island Nations”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh. +In a series of tweets from his twitter handle the Prime Minister said that the Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh’s determined focus on capacity building in the IAF added great strength to our defence capabilities. +Calling him a distinguished air warrior and a fine human the Prime Minister extended his thoughts to his family and those mourning his unfortunate demise. +“India mourns the unfortunate demise of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh. +We remember his outstanding service to the nation. +Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh’s determined focus on capacity building in the IAF added great strength to our defence capabilities. +India will never forget the excellent leadership of Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh in 1965, when the IAF saw substantial action. +Sometime back I met him, who despite his ill health tried to get up to salute even though I said no. +Such was his soldier discipline. +My thoughts are with his family and those mourning the demise of a distinguished air warrior and fine human, Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for building of the GSAT-18. +This is a communication satellite, weighing about 3425 Kg, for providing replacement capacity. +The GSAT-18 spacecraft project will require a total budget of Rs. 1022 crore including launch services. +All heritage proven bus system will be used to build the satellite in 30 months period. +The satellite structure will be similar to the GSAT-10 satellite. +NCVET will regulate the functioning of entities engaged in vocational education and training, both long-term and short-term and establish minimum standards for the functioning of such entities. +The primary functions of NCVET will include – +Since NCVET is proposed to be set up through merger of two existing bodies, the existing infrastructure and resources will be utilized for the most part. +In addition, a few more posts will be created for its smooth functioning. +The regulator will follow the best practices of regulatory processes, which will help ensure that it performs its functions professionally and as per the applicable laws. +Being a regulator of India’s skill ecosystem, NCVET will have a positive impact on each individual who is a part of vocational education and training in the country. +The idea of skill-based education will be seen in a more inspirational manner which would further encourage students to apply for skill-based educational courses. +This is also expected to facilitate the ease of doing business by providing a steady supply of skilled workforce to the industry and services. +In an effort to realize India’s demographic dividend, its workforce needs to be equipped with employable skills and knowledge so that they can contribute to economic growth in a substantive manner. +In the past, most of the country’s skill training needs were met through courses offered by the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and under the Modular Employable Scheme (MES), regulated by NCVT. +Since this infrastructure was not enough to meet the increasing skill requirements of the country as well as the skilling needs of the growing workforce, the Government took a number of initiatives to scale up the skilling efforts. +These efforts resulted in a large expansion of training infrastructure much of which is in the private sector. +At present, there are 20 Ministries/ Departments implementing skill development programs mostly using private sector training providers. +The primary role of NSDA has been to anchor and operationalize the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) to ensure that quality and standards meet sector specific requirements. +However, a need was felt for an overarching regulatory authority which could tend to all aspects of short-term and long-term skill-based training. +In view of this, NCVET is envisaged as an institution which will perform the regulatory functions so far vested in NCVT and NSDA. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for the Revised Cost Estimate (RCE) of Rs.2904.04 crores for the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar. +Being a key connectivity project, it will promote economic, commercial and strategic links between India and Myanmar. +The Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project was jointly identified by the India and Myanmar to create a multi-modal mode of transport for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as to the North-Eastern part of India through Myanmar. +It also provides a strategic link to the North-East, thereby reducing pressure on the Siliguri Corridor. +Since the project is of political and strategic significance, it was decided to execute it through India’s grant assistance to Myanmar. +Following preparation of the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for the waterways component comprising Port and Inland Waterways Terminal (IWT) in April 2003 and the road component in March 2005, M/s RITES Limited, a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, suggested a waterway route from Sittwe Port to Kaletwa (225 kms) along the Kaladan River and thereafter a roadway from Kaletwa to the India-Myanmar border (62 kms). +The Cabinet approved the project at a cost of Rs. 535.91 crores in its meeting held in March 2008. +In course of his review today, the Prime Minister reviewed grievances related to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. +He directed that awareness campaigns be launched, especially through the medium of mobile phones, to educate people about the benefits available to them through the Jan Dhan Accounts. +The Prime Minister reviewed grievances relating to Railways, especially sanitation related issues, and was briefed on steps being taken to ensure cleanliness, both in Railway Stations, and on trains. +Shri Narendra Modi reviewed the progress of fencing on the India-Bangladesh border. +Asserting that there can be no compromise on an issue of national security, he asked the Chief Secretaries of all five States who share borders with Bangladesh, to work towards early completion of this project. +The Prime Minister sought updates on the progress of infrastructure projects in the highway, railway, power, coal and airport sectors spread over several States including Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Goa. +He was briefed on the progress of three hydropower projects in Bhutan. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of Aadhar card enrolment. +He asked all Chief Secretaries to work towards providing benefits through the mechanisms of Jan Dhan Accounts and Aadhaar cards, to the extent possible, so that leakages are reduced, and people are benefited. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his greetings to the Nation on Christmas. +“Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. +We remember the noble teachings of Lord Christ. +May this festive season enhance the spirit of happiness and harmony in our society”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of new Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). +It will provide enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the carriers of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security. +Under the agreement, the designated airlines of the two countries shall have fair and equal opportunity to operate the agreed services on specified routes. +The routes and frequencies shall be decided subsequently. +ASA is the basic legal framework for any air operation between the two countries. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Australia for Cooperation in the Disability Sector. +The MoU was signed at Sydney, Australia on 22ndNovember 2018. +The MoU will encourage cooperation between India and Australia, through joint initiatives in the disability sector. +It will strengthen bilateral ties between India and Australia. +Further, the MoU will facilitate in improving rehabilitation of persons with disabilities especially for persons with intellectual disability and mental illness in both the countries. +Both the countries will take up specific proposals in disability sector as mutually agreed upon, for implementation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will visit Hazira in Surat tomorrow on 19 January 2019. +At Hazira, He will visit L& T Armoured Systems Complex and will unveil a plaque to dedicate it to the nation. +He will also lay the foundation stone of Nirali Cancer hospital at Navsari. +The ultra-modern Nirali Cancer Hospital will be the first comprehensive cancer hospital of Navsari. +It will benefit cancer patients of South Gujarat and neighbouring states. +On the first day of his visit on Thursday, he inaugurated Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show in Gandhinagar. +He also inaugurated Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Ahmedabad and the Ahmedabad Shopping Festival. +It was followed by the inauguration of the 9thVibrant Gujarat Summit 2019 at Mahatma Mandir Exhibition cum Convention Centre in Gandhinagar today. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of Memorandum of Co-operation (MoC) between Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) for the cooperation in Information and Communication Technology enabled Real Time Monitoring (ICT-RTM) of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and other related technical matters. +The MoC would help in: +a. Implementation of ICT-RTM of ICDS which will enable the authorities for timely intervention for ensuring proper service delivery. +b. Putting up in place a shared national communication campaign, communications strategy and guidelines, customizing communications, products and material to local contexts alongwith developing plans for large scale dissemination. +c. Technical support through high quality technical teams of nutrition experts. +The phase-I of ISSNIP will roll out ICT-RTM through one Lakh Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) in 162 high burden districts of eight participating States. +Children of 0-6 years age, pregnant women and Lactating Mothers being the ultimate beneficiaries. +The Foundation would provide: +i. Technical support at the national and state level for strengthening their capacities to deliver nutrition especially during pre-conception, pregnancy and first two years of life, +ii. Funding to applicable organisation that meet eligibility criteria as will be mutually agreed upon by the Foundation and MWCD from time to time to provide support and technical assistance for designing, development of Common Application Software (CAS) to drive the Information and Communication Technology enabled Real Time Monitoring (ICT-RTM) of ICDS Systems Strengthening and Nutrition Improvement Project (ISSNIP) and Support System and +iii. Support to MWCD in developing a shared national communication campaign for maternal and child nutrition for roll out among target population. +The MoC will facilitate the development of CAS for ICT-RTM, training of trainers and other technical matters. +ICT-RTM and other components will be rolled out in phased manner. +This also includes provisions of software support (L-3 level) for a period of five years and support for the roll-out of the CAS driver ICT-RTM of ICDS in priority districts within ISSNIP States through provision of trainers who will train MWCD trainers. +The MWCD trainers will in turn be responsible for training the Angan Wadi Workers (AWWs) and local Supervisors in using and adopting the ICT solution. +There is no financial implication on the part of Ministry of Women & Child Development on entering into MoC with BMGF. +The Common Application Software (CAS) will be developed by the BMGF with support of their partners and would be made available to the Ministry free of cost along with its ‘Source Code’ for hosting by MWCD with NIC. +Similarly, there would be no financial implications on the part of MWCD for L-3 support, training of Master Trainers and for developing national level communications strategy and guidelines as well as communications and media products, which will be developed by the Foundation. +MWCD is implementing International Development Association (IDA) assisted ISSNIP in 162 high burden districts of eight States in the country. +Phase-I of the ISSNIP which was scheduled to be concluded on 31.12.2015, has since been restructured with modification in activities and extension of time-frame by two years, i.e. up to 30.12.2017. +The Amended and Restated Financing Agreement has been signed between Department of Economic Affairs and IDA in September, 2015. +Necessary approval on the restructured ISSNIP has also been obtained from Department of Expenditure. +Considering the importance of ICT as an effective tool in improving the service quality of ICDS, the restructured ISSNIP includes Information and Communication Technology enabled Real Time Monitoring (ICT-RTM) as a core activity. +Your Excellency Mr. Ismail Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Leaders of the Members States of Shanghai Cooperation Organization; Invited Leaders Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen +Almost a year ago, I started my journey of Central Asian countries from Tashkent. +I still remember the warmth and generous welcome of Excellency Karimov and Uzbek people. +Let me join others in thanking you Excellency Karimov for you hospitality and excellent arrangements for this meeting. +At the Ufa Summit last year, conducted so ably by President Putin, the SCO leaders had accepted India as its full member. +It was a landmark in India’s engagement with SCO. +Later today, we will sign the Memorandum of Obligations. +With this we would formalize the process of India’s membership of the SCO. +And, as a logical extension India’s age old ties with the region, one-sixth of humanity will join the family of SCO. +We are indeed grateful to the SCO Member States and its leaders for their overwhelming support for India’s membership of the SCO. +I also welcome Pakistan as the new member of the SCO and Belarus as a first time Observer to this body. +India is not new to the region. +Our historic linkages with you are centuries old. +And, its just not geography that connects us. +Our societies have been enriched by links of culture, cusine and commerce. +We would represent forty percent of humanity and over a billion youth. +To this group, India brings principles that are in tune with the philosophies of the SCO. +India has always enjoyed good relations with the Eurasian land mass. +We also share global goals of stability, security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific. +In turn, India’s strong economy and its vast market could drive economic growth in the SCO region. +India’s capacities in trade, investments, information and communication technology, Space, S&T, agriculture, health care, small and medium scale industry can bring wide spread economic benefit to the SCO countries. +We can partner to develop human resources and institutional capacities in the region. +The interdependent world of twenty-first century is full of economic opportunities. +It also faces geo-political complexities and security challenges. +And, connectivity among the countries of the region is crucial to our economic prosperity. +And, not just physical connectivity. +What we need is seamless flow of goods, services, capital and people among ourselves. +But, that alone is not enough. +Our region also needs to nurture strong rail, road and air links with the rest of the world. +Within SCO, India will be a productive partner in building strong trade, transport, energy, digital and people to people links. +Our decision to join the international North South Transport Corridor, the Chabahar Agreement, and Ashgabat Agreement reflects this desire and intent. +India’s membership of SCO would contribute to region’s prosperity. +It would also strengthen its security. +Our partnership will protect our societies from the threats of radical ideologies of hate, violence and terror. +India will unite with SCO countries to work towards this goal. +And, we will adopt zero tolerance and a comprehensive approach in fighting terrorism at all levels. +With the same goal in sight, a stable, independent and peaceful Afghanistan is not just a sincere desire of each Afghan. +It is also necessary for greater security and stability in the SCO region. +In conclusion Mr. Chairman, +I am confident that India’s engagement with all SCO members will help us build a region: +Which is an engine of economic growth for the world;Is more stable and secure internally; and Strongly connected with other geographies. +Next year, we look forward to attending SCO meeting in Astana, as equal partners. +I wish all success to Kazhakstan in their Chairmanship of SCO in 2017. +My dear countrymen, Namaskar. +It was a historic war against injustice, which was fought under the leadership of “Banga-Bandhu” and led to the unprecedented victory of the people of Bangladesh. +I extend my heartfelt greetings to the brothers and sisters of Bangladesh, on this significant day. +It is a matter of great pride for all of us that Rabindranath Tagore and his memories are a shared heritage. +The National Anthem of Bangladesh too, has been composed by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. +There is a very interesting fact about Gurudev that in 1913 he was not only the first Asian to receive the Nobel Prize, but Knighthood was also conferred upon him by the British. +The inhuman massacre at Jallianwalla Bagh, provided a new inspiration and mission in life to that young teenager, who until then had spent his days playing merrily in his fields. +These three heroes inspire us to this day. +It would be impossible to express in words the story of the supreme sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. +And the entire British Empire feared these three young men. +They were in jail, certain to be hanged, but still the British remained anxious about how to deal with them. +And later, their remains were brought to present day Punjab, and were secretly cremated. +Many years ago, when I first got the chance to go there, I could feel a certain vibration in that place. +And I would certainly urge the youth of our country to go to Punjab, whenever they get the chance, and visit the ‘samadhi’ of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Bhagat Singh’s mother and Batukeshwar Dutt. +That was the period when the desire for freedom, its intensity, and spread were on the rise. +On the one hand, brave hearts like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, were inspiring the youth towards an armed revolution. +And on the other hand, exactly one hundred years ago on the 10th of April, 1917, Mahatma Gandhi had launched the Champaran Satyagraha. +This year marks the centenary of the Champaran Satyagraha. +In India’s struggle for freedom, Gandhian thought and Gandhian practice became manifest for the first time in Champaran. +This was a turning point in the entire journey of India’s freedom struggle, especially in the context of the methodology of the struggle. +This was the period when, in the Champaran Satyagraha, Kheda Satyagraha, and the mill-workers’ strike in Ahmedabad, the deep impact of Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts and practices was amply and clearly visible. +Gandhi returned to India in 1915, and in 1917, he went to a small village in Bihar and gave the country a new inspiration. +We cannot evaluate the Champaran Satyagraha on the basis of the image of Mahatma Gandhi that we cherish in our hearts today. +We can only imagine the hardships that he must have endured, how hard he must have had to toil. +And it was the Champaran Satyagraha that brought to the fore, Mahatma Gandhi’s organisational skills, and his strong ability to gauge the pulse of Indian society. +Mahatma Gandhi, through his demeanour and deeds, could inspire the poorest of the poor, the most illiterate, to unite and come together out into the open for the struggle against the British Rule; this was a manifestation of an incredible inner strength, through which we can experience the vastness of Mahatma Gandhi’s great persona. +But if we reflect upon the Gandhi of a hundred years ago, the Gandhi of the Champaran Satyagraha, that would be a subject of deep study for anyone about to enter public life. +We can all learn from Gandhi Ji what it means to begin a life of public service, how hard one has to work, as Gandhi did. +And that was the period when all the stalwarts, that we hear about today: Rajendra Babu, Acharya Kripalani Ji, and others were all sent to the villages by Gandhi Ji. +Ways and means to connect with the people and lending hues of freedom to their day to day work were taught. +In a way, Gandhi created two sides of the same coin; one being struggle and the other, creativity. +To get themselves arrested voluntarily to fill jails, on the one hand, and on the other to immerse themselves in creative work. +Gandhi’s style of working had an incredible balance. +What the word, ‘Satyagraha’ means, what disagreement can mean, what Non-Cooperation in the face of such a vast Empire could be –Gandhi Ji established a completely new vision of resistance, not through mere words, but through a successful experiment. +Today, as the nation observes the centenary of the Champaran Satyagraha, the immense power of the common man, so visible in the struggle for freedom, manifests again in the journey from Swaraj to Suraaj, the resolve, the perseverance of the 125 crore countrymen, following the tenet of ‘Sarvyajan Hitaay, Sarvajan Sukhaay’ i.e. for the benefit of all, for the happiness of all, and the ceaseless enterprise to achieve something for the country, the society, would bring about the realisation of the dreams of the great souls who laid down their lives for the sake of Freedom. +Today, as we live in the 21st century, which Indian wouldn’t want to see India change, which Indian wouldn’t want to be a partner in the transformation of the country! +This desire of 125 crore countrymen for change, the effort to change, is what will lay a strong foundation of a ‘New India’. +‘New India’ is neither a government programme, nor is it the manifesto of a political party, nor is it a project. +‘New India’ is the clarion call of 125 crore countrymen. +It is the essence of the emotions of the 125 crore Indians wanting to come together and create a magnificent India. +125 crore Indians nurture a hope, a zeal, a resolve, a desire. +My dear countrymen, if we, for a moment, pause to look with empathy at the happenings in society around us, and if we try to understand these, we would be amazed to see that there are lakhs of people, who besides their own personal responsibilities are working selflessly, for society – the exploited, victimised, deprived; for the poor and the oppressed. +That too silently, and with devotion, as if they are performing ‘tapasya’ or ‘sadhana’. +Our country is a many splendoured land. +The belief that Service to humanity is service to God, is innate to us. +If we look at it in its collectiveness, in an organised manner, it comes across as a major force. +When there is a talk of ‘New India’, its criticism, its analysis, it counter views, are but natural, and that is a fundamental of democracy. +But it is true that if 125 crore countrymen resolve, and decide to walk step by step on a path to realise that resolve, the dream of ‘New India’ can be fulfilled in our lifetime. +And all these things are not necessarily achieved through the Budget, government projects, or government money. +If every citizen resolves to obey traffic rules, if every citizen resolves that he will discharge his duties honestly, if every citizen resolves that he will not use petrol or diesel one day in a week – – these are not very big things. +But these will contribute to the realisation of the dream of this country, this ‘New India’, that is being nurtured by 125 crore countrymen, and this realisation will be achieved before their eyes. +In essence, every citizen must discharge his civic duties and responsibilities. +This in itself would be a good beginning to the New India. +Come, I invite you. +My dear countrymen, today I want to express my gratitude to all of you. +There has been a surge in various modes of digital payment after demonetisation. +The BHIM-App was launched just about two to two and a half months ago, but approximately one and half crore people have downloaded it. +My dear countrymen, we must take our fight against black money and corruption to the next level. +Can 125 crore countrymen resolve to undertake 2500 crores digital transactions during this year? +We have made an announcement in the Budget. +Our 125 crore countrymen, if they wish to do so, they need not wait for a year; they can do it in six months. +2500 crore digital transactions – – – if we pay school fees, we shall do so not by cash but digitally, if we travel by train, travel by air, we shall pay digitally, if buy medicines, we shall pay digitally, if we run fair price shops, we will use the digital mode. +We can do this in our day to day lives. +You can’t imagine how you can serve the country in this way and become a brave soldier in the fight against black money and corruption. +There was also a reward scheme. +And as was decided much earlier, the Digimela will be brought to a culmination on the 14th of April, the birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Ambedkar. +We should contribute towards ensuring reducing the use of cash, of currency notes. +My dear countrymen, I am glad that every time, I request people for suggestions in Mann Ki Baat, numerous suggestions pour in. +But I have seen that there is always an emphasis on the topic of cleanliness. +Gayatri, a young girl from Dehradun, who is a student of class 11, has phoned in with a message: – +“Esteemed Principal, Prime Minister Sir, my respectful greetings to you. +To begin with, heartiest congratulations on your victory in the elections, with a huge margin. +I wish to share the issue close to my heart with you. +I want to say that people will have to be made aware about the importance of cleanliness. +Every day I pass by a river, in which people dump a lot of garbage and pollute rivers. +The river flows under the Rispana Bridge before passing by my home. +For the sake of this river we went to settlements on its banks, spoke to people and took out rallies too, but to no avail. +Brothers and sisters, look at the agony of this young daughter, the 11th class student. +How enraged she is by seeing the river strewn with trash. +I consider this to be a good omen. +This is exactly what I want – – that 125 crore countrymen be angered by filth. +Once there is anger, dissatisfaction, rage, we will be compelled to act against this scourge. +The good thing is that Gayatri is expressing her own anger, and giving suggestions to me, but she also goes on to say, that she has made several efforts but could not succeed. +There has been an awareness ever since the launch of the Cleanliness Movement. +Each person has become associated with it in a positive manner. +When there is awareness and active participation in the movement, it has its own significance. +But cleanliness is more about a habit than a movement. +It is a difficult task, but we have to do it. +My dear Countrymen, right from the beginning since I have started the programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, I have been receiving a lot of suggestions on one issue, and in most of those, people have expressed concern about food wastage. +We know that at home and at feasts and social gatherings, we tend to serve ourselves more food than we need. +We put each and everything on offer, on our plates, but we fail to finish what we have taken. +We can’t even finish half of what is on our plates and then leave it uneaten. +This is not something that needs to be taught. +As it is, in our families, mothers always tell their children to take only as much food they can eat. +On the other hand, if we are able to avoid wastage, the family too benefits economically. +So while it is good to care about society, this is beneficial to the family as well. +I am not urging too much on this issue, but I would like this awareness to spread. +We should take only as much as we can eat. +See, these are the pathways leading towards change. +And those who are health conscious always say that, there should always be some space left both in the stomach and on the plate. +Now that we are talking about health, 7th April is World Health Day. +United Nations has resolved to provide universal health coverage for all by 2030. +According to one estimate, more than 35 crore people in the world suffer from depression. +The problem is that we are unable to fully comprehend it even amongst those around us, and perhaps we also hesitate to talk about it openly, with our family and friends. +The person suffering from depression too doesn’t speak out himself as he feels a sense of shame about it. +I want to tell my countrymen, that depression is not incurable. +There is a need to create a psychologically conducive environment to begin with. +Sometimes one is overcome by a sense of loneliness – – – students living in hostels are particularly vulnerable to it. +Have you ever wondered why he does so? +He should be given an opportunity to be amongst people with whom he speaks openly. +Depression can be the root cause of many mental and physical ailments. +Just as diabetes can be the root cause of all sorts of diseases, depression too, destroys all our abilities to sustain, to fight, to display courage and to take a decision. +Your friends, your family, your surroundings, and environment, all these can prevent you from going into depression and if you unfortunately has gone into it, they can also pull you out of it. +By connecting with others, serving them and serving them selflessly, you will easily be able to shed the weight oppressing your own heart and mind. +Yoga too is a good means for mental wellbeing. +Yoga helps in relieving tension and stress, and leads one towards a happy state of mind. +If you have any ideas for the Third International Yoga Day, please do send me your suggestions and guidance through my mobile Application. +You could compose as many songs and poems on Yoga, as possible, as these can be easily understood by the masses. +Today I would like to say something especially to mothers and sisters also, since health and wellbeing have been a major part of our conversation today. +Recently, the Government of India has taken a very important decision. +The Government of India has taken a very important decision. +These working women will now be given maternity leave of 26 weeks, instead of the earlier 12 weeks, for their pregnancy and delivery. +There are now only two or three countries in the world that are ahead of us in this matter. +India has taken a very important decision for these working women sisters of ours. +And that is why, this is such a landmark decision, and this will benefit 18 lakh women working in the formal sector. +After Vasant Ritu or the season of Spring, it is now the time for the ripening of the crops, and the time for the farmers to reap the benefits of their hard work. +The new year is celebrated in different ways in different parts of our country. +New year is Gudi Padva in Maharashtra, Ugadi in Andhra and Karnataka, for the Sindhi it is Cheti Chand, Navreh in Kashmir, Samvatsar Pooja in the Awadh Region, Jud-Sheetal in the Mithila region of Bihar and the festival of Satuvani in the Magadh region. +India is a country blessed with rich diversity. +My heartiest greetings and best wishes to you all on this New Year. +Many thanks. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and South Africa to establish cooperation in Grassroots Innovation. +The MoU was signed on July 07, 2016 at Pretoria in pursuance to the Inter-Government Agreement between two countries for cooperation in Science & Technology. +The MoU will provide a mechanism and help in creating an ecosystem that will promote inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship at the grassroot level in both countries with particular focus on Indigenous knowledge systems and Agriculture Biotechnology. +Introduction of a new CLSS for Middle Income Group +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the proposals for +(i) Extension of tenure of loans under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) vertical of Pradhan MantriAwasYojana (Urban) Mission from 15 to 20 years (to be renamed as CLSS for EWS/LIG. +(ii) Introduction of a new Credit-Linked Subsidy Scheme for MIG” for targeting the MIG category; +(vi) Issue of the operational guidelines for CLSS for MIG with approval of the Minister-in-charge. +Increase the off-take in EWS and LIG segments under existing Pradhan MantriAwasYojana (Urban) – Housing for All Mission; +c. Make procedures easy for the Primary Lending Institutions (PLIs); +d. Provide an incentive to PLIs for increased participation in the housing and urban development sector; +e. Make available funds through necessary funds through Budgetary provisions and +f. Clearly define the procedure /implementation of programmes. +The interest subsidy to be disbursed to the beneficiaries will be credited to their home loan accounts after the PLIs have satisfied the eligibility criteria through their due diligence processes. +The proposed interest subsidy scheme for the MIG is an innovative approach to address the needs of housing of this category. +Keeping in view the specialized nature of this model and to scale it up in future on sustainable basis, the Government is establishing a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to plan, structure, procure concessionaires, monitor implementation of such PPP projects and develop market for treated waste water through appropriate policy advocacy under overall guidance of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). +The SPV will be established under Indian Companies Act 2013 for providing required governance framework and enabling functional autonomy. +The SPV would enter into a Tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with participating State Governments and concerned Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for taking up individual projects. +These MoAs will aim at introducing reforms and regulatory measures for recovery of user charges on Polluters Pay principle, restrictions on usage of ground & fresh water for non-potable purposes through stricter monitoring and guidelines that promote re¬use of treated wastewater. +The Ministry in a first of its kind has already entered into an MoU with Ministries of Railways, for purchase of treated water from STPs wherever feasible to facilitate faster market development for treated wastewater. +Similar MoUs are also being worked out with other Ministries of Power, Petroleum, Industries etc. +This is a futuristic step taken by the Government where the market development for treated waste water and structural reforms are complementing the projects. +This will help taking up more number of projects with the same allocation as made available under Namami Gange programme with reduced financial liability in the initial years. +Spreading the stakes of the private participant over the entire period of concession would ensure continued operations over long-term. +Linking of performance standards with the annuities will ensure desired objective of treated water of appropriate standard. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to martyrs on Kargil Vijay Diwas. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the L&T workers’ residential complex in Riyadh. +L&T is part of a consortium that is building a section of the Riyadh Metro. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister appreciated the efforts made by the workers for the project, and said “your hard work has brought me here.” +He said that the work being done by Indian workers abroad, not only earns money, but also raises the stature of India. +He said Indian workers were fondly remembered in various parts of the world where they had completed many prestigious projects. +He said that in future, the Riyadh Metro too would similarly evoke memories about Indian workers who had contributed to its construction. +The Prime Minister said he often gets to know about Indians working abroad through letters he receives from their relatives. +He added that he shares both their joys and their sorrows, through these letters. +“I feel I am a part of your family,” he said. +The Prime Minister mentioned the “e-migrate” initiative of the Union Government, which would facilitate people who wished to work abroad. +He said more “worker resource centres” would be opened, and the MADAD portal was a way to immediately reach the Union Government. +The Prime Minister said that India has the capacity to give the world the manpower it requires. +The gathering of over a thousand workers, cheered enthusiastically on many occasions as the Prime Minister spoke. +The Prime Minister later mingled with the assembled workers, and shared snacks with them. +Dedicates new building of Guru Gobind Singh Hospital to Nation +Flags off Bandra- Jamnagar Humsafar Express +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today,flagged off the Bandra- Jamnagar Humsafar Express, at Jamnagar in Gujarat. +He dedicated the new 750 bed annexe of Guru GobindSingh Hospital to the nation and unveiled various SAUNI projects. +He also launchedother development projects at Jamnagar including the 51 km pipeline from Aaji-3 to Khijadia. +Addressing the huge gathering, the Prime Minister talked about the resolve and hard work of the Gujarat Government in the past couple of decades to deal with the water shortage problem. +In this context, he mentioned about his determination to not allow ‘Tanker Raj’ in Gujarat and how Sardar Sarovar Dam has brought relief to the people of the Gujarat. +He appealed to the citizens to conserve each and every drop of water for the benefit of present and future generation. +Hailing the health sector revolution in Gujarat, Prime Minister said that the hospitals that have come up in the past few years in Gujarat will greatly benefit the poor. +He said that Ayushman Bharat scheme rolled out by the Union Government will ensure affordable and quality healthcare for the poor. +The Prime Minister said that structural and long terms measures are required to overcome the challenges faced by the country, instead of poorly thought out short term ones. +In this context, he mentioned about the long term visionary schemes introduced by the Union Government. +He saidthat PM –KISAN scheme is a long term and comprehensive plan for the welfare of the farmers. +Talking about the Union Government’s efforts in boosting the MSME sector, Prime Minister said that the easy availability of credit and people-friendly GST will greatly benefit the youngsters. +He said that the initiatives taken by the Government has ensured improved Ease of Business rankings. +Praising the efforts of armed forces, PM said that the entire nation is proud of our soldiers. +He said that the menace of terrorism has to be eliminated. +She was a phenomenal personality who did exceptional work towards educating tribal girls. +Poornimaben led a long life, leaving us at the grand age of 103. +Recall my interactions with her whenever I visited Saputara. +Spoke to late Poornimaben’s daughter, Sonal Mansingh and expressed my deepest condolences”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on telephone today. +Prime Minister said that the result reflected the strong confidence that the people of Japan had in Prime Minister Abe’s leadership and economic policies. +Prime Minister expressed his confidence that Prime Minister Abe’s strong mandate will impart new momentum into the Japanese economy; and, that his new term will also be good for India, the region and the world. +The two leaders briefly reviewed progress in bilateral relations since their September Summit in Japan and resolved to continue expanding cooperation in every area of the broad-based relations between their countries. +Prime Minister Abe looked forward to visiting India next year for the Annual Summit. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his Jayanti. +“I bow to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his Jayanti. +India is proud that a valorous and great soul like him was born on our land. +Shivaji Maharaj placed wellbeing of his people above everything. +He was an ideal ruler blessed with exceptional administrative skills. +We are working tirelessly to fulfil the ideals of Shivaji Maharaj and create an India that he would be proud of. +Just recently, I had the honour to join the programme for Shivaji Maharaj’s statue off the Arabian Sea. +I will always cherish that day”, the Prime Minister said. +Promotion Benefits for Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes in services in J&K 10% Reservation for economically weaker sections in educational institutions & public employment in J&K +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approvedthe proposal of Jammu &Kashmir Government regarding amendment to the Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) 0rder, 1954 by way of the Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2019. +Once notified, this will pave the way for giving benefit of promotion in service tothe Scheduled Castes, the Schedule Tribes and also extend the reservation ofup to 10% for “economically weaker sections” in educational institutions and public employment in addition to the existing reservation in Jammu and Kashmir. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Opening Ceremony of the International Vesak Day Celebrations at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo. +The Prime Minister was greeted on arrival at the venue by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe. +The function began with the recital of the 5 Buddhist precepts. +The welcome speech was delivered by Mr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, Sri Lankan Minister for Buddha Sasana and Justice. +“For us in Sri Lanka, you are one of us, he said, addressing Shri Narendra Modi. +Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said it is a matter of great fortune, that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is present here today. +He brings a message of friendship and peace, the President added. +Prime Minister Modi, in his address, described Vesak as the most sacred of days, when humanity reveres the birth, enlightenment and Parinirvana of Lord Buddha. +He added that it is a day to reflect on the supreme truth and timeless relevance of Dhamma, and the four noble truths. +The Prime Minister said he was grateful to President Maithripala Sirisena Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, and the people of Sri Lanka, for inviting him as the Chief Guest at the International Vesak Day festivities in Colombo. +“On this auspicious occasion, I also bring with me the greetings of 1.25 billion people from the land of the Samyak-sambuddha, the perfectly self awakened one,” the Prime Minister said. +Placed below are some key excerpts from the Prime Minister’s speech: +Bodh Gaya in India, where Prince Siddhartha became the Buddha, is the sacred nucleus of the Buddhist universe. +Our key national symbols have taken inspiration from Buddhism. +Buddhism and its various strands are deep seated in our governance, culture and philosophy. +The divine fragrance of Buddhism spread from India to all corners of the globe. +Mahindra and Sanghamitra, the worthy children of King Ashoka made their journey from India to Sri Lanka as Dhamma-Doot to spread the biggest gift of Dhamma. +Today, Sri Lanka takes pride in being among the most important centres of Buddhist teachings and learning. +In some way, you took us back to our own roots. +The world also owes a debt of gratitude to Sri Lanka for preserving some of the most important elements of the Buddhist heritage. +Vesak is an occasion for us to celebrate this unbroken shared heritage of Buddhism. +A heritage that connects our societies across generations and through centuries. +The friendship between India and Sri Lanka was etched in time by the “Great Master”. +Buddhism imparts an ever present radiance to our relationship. +As close neighbours, our relationship spreads across many layers. +It draws its strength as much through our interconnected values of Buddhism as it does from the limitless possibilities of our shared future. +Ours is a friendship that lives in the hearts of our people and in the fabric of our societies. +To honour and deepen our links of Buddhist heritage, I have the great pleasure to announce that from August this year, Air India will operate direct flights between Colombo and Varanasi. +This will ease travel to the land of Buddha for my brothers and sisters from Sri Lanka, and help you directly visit Sravasti, Kusinagar, Sankasa, Kaushambi and Sarnath. +My Tamil brothers and sisters will also be able to visit Varanasi, the land of Kashi Viswanath. +I believe we are at a moment of great opportunity in our ties with Sri Lanka. +An opportunity to achieve a quantum jump in our partnership across different fields. +And, for us, the most relevant benchmark for the success of our friendship is your progress and success. +We are committed to the economic prosperity of our Sri Lankan brothers and sisters. +We will continue to invest in driving positive change and economic growth to deepen our development cooperation. +Our strength lies in sharing our knowledge, capacity and prosperity. +In trade and investment, we are already significant partners. +We believe that free flow of trade, investments, technology, and ideas across our borders will be to our mutual benefit. +India’s rapid growth can bring dividends for the entire region, especially in Sri Lanka. +In infrastructure and connectivity, transport and energy, we are poised to scale up our cooperation. +Our development partnership stretches across nearly every sector of human activity such as agriculture, education, health, resettlement, transport, power, culture, water, shelter, sports, and human resources. +Today, India’s development cooperation with Sri Lanka amounts to US Dollars 2.6 billion. +And, its only aim is to support Sri Lanka in realizing a peaceful, prosperous and secure future for its people. +Because, the economic and social well being of the people of Sri Lanka is linked with that of 1.25 billion Indians. +Because, whether it is on land or in the waters of the Indian Ocean, the security of our societies is indivisible. +My conversations with President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickramasinghe have only reinforced our will to join hands in achieving our common goals. +As you make important choices for the harmony and progress of your society, you will find in India a friend and partner that will support your nation-building endeavours. +Lord Buddha’s message is as relevant in the twenty first century as it was two and a half millennia ago. +The Middle Path shown by Buddha, speaks to all of us. +Its universality and evergreen nature are striking. +It has been a unifying force among nations. +The countries of South, Central, South East and East Asia are proud of their Buddhist links traced to the land of Buddha. +The themes of Social Justice and Sustainable World Peace, chosen for the Vesak day, resonate deeply with Buddha’s teachings. +The themes may appear independent. +But, they are both deeply interdependent and interconnected. +The issue of Social justice is linked to conflict within and among communities. +This arises principally because of Tanhaa, or Trishna in Sanskrit, the thirst, which in turn stems from greed. +Greed has driven the mankind to dominate and degrade our natural habitat. +Our desire to achieve all our wants has created income inequalities in communities and disturbed social harmony. +Similarly, the biggest challenge to Sustainable World Peace today is not necessarily from conflict between the nation states. +It is from the mindsets, thought streams, entities and instruments rooted in the idea of hate and violence. +The menace of terrorism in our region is a concrete manifestation of this destructive emotion. +Sadly, these ideologies of hate and their proponents in our region are not open to dialogue and hence only open to causing death and destruction. +I firmly believe that Buddhism’s message of peace is the answer to growing arc of violence all over the world. +And, not just a notion of peace defined by the absence of conflict. +But, an active peace where we all work to promote dialogue, harmony and justice, based on Karuna (compassion) and Pragya (wisdom). +As Buddha said, “there is no higher bliss than peace”. +On Vesak, my hope is that India and Sri Lanka will work together to uphold the ideals of Lord Buddha and promote values of peace, accommodation, inclusiveness, and compassion in the policies and conduct of our governments. +This is the true path to free individuals, families, societies, nations and the world at large from the three poisons of greed, hatred and ignorance. +On the blessed day of Vesak, let us light the lamps of knowledge to move out of darkness; let us look more within; and let us uphold nothing else but the truth. +And, dedicate our efforts to follow the path of Buddha whose light shines all over the world. +As the verse 387 of Dhammapada says: +Thank you once again for the honour to be with you. +May the Triple Gem of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha bless us all. +Mr. Tadashi Yanai, the Chairman of UNIQLO, a leading Japanese garment company, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +The company aims to source garments from India. +Shri Modi welcomed Mr. Yanai’s interest in developing UNIQLO’s business in India, and highlighted the advantages that India enjoys in the garments sector, including availability of cotton, skilled manpower, robust infrastructure, a big domestic market and good ports for exports. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Mary Kom for winning a Gold in Women’s World Boxing Championships. +“A proud moment for Indian sports. +Congratulations to Mary Kom for winning a Gold in the Women’s World Boxing Championships. +The diligence with which she’s pursued sports and excelled at the world stage is extremely inspiring. +Her win is truly special”, the Prime Minister said. +The German Defence Minister Dr. Ursula von der Leyen called on Prime Minister today. +She conveyed Germany’s keen interest in collaborating with India in defence technology and equipment, including defence manufacturing in India, cyber security and maritime cooperation. +She conveyed that Chancellor Merkel was looking forward to her visit in October 2015 for the Inter-Governmental Commission meeting as an opportunity to deepen cooperation across all areas of bilateral relations. +She mentioned that India’s participation in the Hannover Trade Fair as Partner Country and Prime Minister’s presence at the inauguration had made a visible impact in Germany, and there was a strong interest now in the Make in India mission. +Prime Minister recalled his visit to Germany and his excellent discussions with Chancellor Merkel and German business leaders. +He reiterated that India considered Germany as a vital economic partner, including in areas like skill development and manufacturing. +He invited German companies to take advantage of enormous opportunities of defence manufacturing and defence research and development in India. +He looked forward to the visit of Chancellor Merkel later in the year. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved important proposals relating to modifications in the 7th CPC (Central Pay Commission) recommendations on pay and pensionary benefits in the course of their implementation. +Earlier, in June, 2016, the Cabinet had approved implementation of the recommendations with an additional financial outgo of Rs 84,933 crore for 2016-17 (including arrears for 2 months of 2015-16). +The benefit of the proposed modifications will be available with effect from 1st January, 2016, i.e., the date of implementation of 7th CPC recommendations. +With the increase approved by the Cabinet, the annual pension bill alone of the Central Government is likely to be Rs.1,76,071 crore. +Some of the important decisions of the Cabinet are mentioned below: +1. Revision of pension of pre – 2016 pensioners and family pensioners +The Cabinet approved modifications in the recommendations of the 7th CPC relating to the method of revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners and family pensioners based on suggestions made by the Committee chaired by Secretary (Pensions) constituted with the approval of the Cabinet. +The modified formulation of pension revision approved by the Cabinet will entail an additional benefit to the pensioners and an additional expenditure of approximately Rs.5031 crore for 2016-17 over and above the expenditure already incurred in revision of pension as per the second formulation based on fitment factor. +It will benefit over 55 lakh pre-2016 civil and defence pensioners and family pensioners. +While approving the implementation of the 7th CPC recommendations on 29th June, 2016, the Cabinet had approved the changed method of pension revision recommended by the 7th CPC for pre-2016 pensioners, comprising of two alternative formulations, subject to the feasibility of the first formulation which was to be examined by the Committee. +In terms of the Cabinet decision, pensions of pre-2016 pensioners were revised as per the second formulation multiplying existing pension by a fitment factor of 2.57, though the pensioners were to be given the option of choosing the more beneficial of the two formulations as per the 7th CPC recommendations. +The revised procedure of fixation of notional pay is more scientific, rational and implementable in all the cases. +The Committee reached its findings based on an analysis of hundreds of live pension cases. +The modified formulation will be beneficial to more pensioners than the first formulation recommended by the 7th CPC, which was not found to be feasible to implement on account of non-availability of records in a large number of cases and was also found to be prone to several anomalies. +2. Disability Pension for Defence Pensioners +The Cabinet also approved the retention of percentage-based regime of disability pension implemented post 6th CPC, which the 7th CPC had recommended to be replaced by a slab-based system. +The issue of disability pension was referred to the National Anomaly Committee by the Ministry of Defence on account of the representation received from the Defence Forces to retain the slab-based system, as it would have resulted in reduction in the amount of disability pension for existing pensioners and a reduction in the amount of disability pension for future retirees when compared to percentage-based disability pension. +The decision which will benefit existing and future Defence pensioners would entail an additional expenditure of approximately Rs. 130 crore per annum. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the start of holy month of Ramzan. +“Greetings on the start of Ramzan. +May this holy month enhance the spirit of togetherness, peace and harmony across the world”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Shirdi, in Maharashtra, today. +At a public meeting, he unveiled the plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of various development works of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust. +He also released a silver coin to commemorate the Centenary year of Shri Saibaba Samadhi. +Shri Narendra Modi handed over keys to mark the Grihapravesh of Prime Minister Awas Yojana- Grameen (PMAY-G) beneficiaries in Maharashtra. +He also interacted with beneficiaries from various districts in Maharashtra like Satara, Latur, Nandurbar, Amaravati, Thane, Solapur, Nagpur through video conference. +The beneficiaries, mostly women, thanked the Prime Minister for their new good quality houses, easy availability of credit and corruption free processes associated with PMAY-G scheme. +Prime Minister later addressed the gathering. +Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister extended Dussehra greetings to all Indians. +He said that being amongst people during the auspicious occasion of Dussehra gives him energy and renewed vigour to work for the betterment of the country. +Recalling the contributions of Shri Saibaba to the society, Prime Minister said that his teachings give us the mantra to build a strong unified society and to serve humanity with love. +He added that Shirdi is always considered as an epitome of public service. +He expressed happiness that Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust is following the path laid down by Saibaba. +He also complimented the contributions of the trust in empowering the society through education and in transforming thoughts through spiritual teachings. +Expressing happiness in handing over new houses to over 2 lakh beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Grameen (PMAY-G) on occasion of Dussehra, Prime Minister said that it is a big step towards the fight against poverty. +Underlining the efforts of Government in ensuring ‘Housing for All’ by 2022, Prime Minister said that in the last four years, Government has built over 1.25 crore houses. +He said that the Government is also ensuring that the every house built is not only of good quality but also has a toilet, gas connection and electricity. +Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister congratulated the people of Maharashtra for making the state Open Defecation Free. +He also commended the efforts of the Maharashtra Government towards Swacchh Bharat activities. +In this context, Prime Minister spoke about Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) and said that around one lakh people have benefited from the scheme so far. +He added that under PMJAY, modern medical infrastructure is getting readied. +Prime Minister also underlined the efforts taken by the Government to deal with drought faced by Maharashtra. +In this context, he mentioned Krishi Sinchai Yojana and Fazal Bima Yojana and appreciated the Jalyukt Shivir Abhiyan of Maharashtra Government. +He also commended the people’s participation in the de-siltation of irrigation canals undertaken by the Maharashtra Government. +Remembering the teachings of B R Ambedkar, Jyotirao Phule and Chattrapati Shivaji, Prime Minister asked the countrymen to follow their noble ideals and teachings and work towards creating a strong undivided society. +He urged the people to work towards attaining Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Ek Bharat Shresht Bharat. +Earlier in the day, Prime Minister visited the Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple Complex and offered prayers. +He also attended the valedictory function of centenary celebration of Shri Saibaba. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Chhattisgarh on the State’s Foundation Day. +“Blessed with natural beauty & home to wonderful people, Chhattisgarh’s progress has been noteworthy. +Greetings on the state’s Foundation Day,” the Prime Minister said. +Swapping of the land with MCGM will enable M/s MIAL to complete the development work of CSIA, Mumbai. +Further, shifting of the cemetery to new location will result in its operationalization. +PM: Textile workers weave not just cloth, but also the fabric of a cohesive, harmonious society. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today made a strong pitch for re-establishing Varanasi on the global map through revitalization of its traditional textile industry. +Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the Trade Facilitation Centre and Crafts Museum, and inaugurating the Powerloom Service Centre in this historic city, the Prime Minister said the Union Government is working towards revitalizing the textile sector through a scientific approach, coupled with infusion of appropriate technology. +He said this Centre that was envisioned in Varanasi, was the beginning of a comprehensive vision for this sector. +He said this Centre would encapsulate the heritage of Varanasi at one place. +The Prime Minister said there is need to understand the changing demands and needs of the customer, and create new products which satisfy his need, to retain the customer. +The Prime Minister is on a two-day visit to Varanasi. +The Prime Minister said ladies in every family in India had heard of the term “Banarasi Saree.” +Every mother wanted to gift a Banarasi saree to her daughter for her wedding. +He asserted that this represents an assured market of crores of sarees for Varanasi. +The requirement now is to meet this demand and satisfy the customer with modern design, products and service. +Observing that after agriculture, textiles was the sector which generated maximum employment, the Prime Minister said that textile workers weave not just cloth; but through the harmonious nature of their workplace, they also weave the fabric of a cohesive, harmonious society. +He said this “Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb” was Varanasi’s heritage, and indeed the heritage of India. +The Prime Minister narrated an anecdote of how he had seen a “Banaras street” in Boston, USA. +He exhorted the people of the city to now use e-commerce and strategically tap the global market. +He called upon people to work towards creating a modern, active, vibrant, forward-looking Banaras. +The Prime Minister said he had not come to Varanasi to make tall promises and his actions would speak for themselves. +He announced the Union Government’s decision for a Rs. 2375 crore revival package for district cooperative banks. +16 of these banks are in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. +This would ensure easy availability of credit to the lower and middle class, and help revive the handloom and powerloom sector. +The Prime Minister also visited an exhibition showcasing the traditional arts and crafts of Banaras. +The Governor of Uttar Pradesh Shri Ram Naik, and the Union MoS (IC) for Textiles Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar were present. +The Prime Minister specifically thanked Shri Ahmad Hasan, Minister in the Uttar Pradesh Government, for being present on the occasion. +Rajnath ji will travel to Assam and take stock of the situation,” the Prime Minister said. +I am delighted to welcome you on your first ever visit to India. +Just last month, we witnessed a thrilling conclusion to the Border-Gavaskar trophy. +In my speech at the Australian Parliament in 2014 I had spoken of legendary Bradman and Tendulkar. +Today, Virat Kohli in India and Steven Smith in Australia are shaping the young brigades of cricket. +I hope your visit to India is as productive as it has been for Steven Smith’s batting, the other Australian Captain. +I vividly recall our meetings on the sidelines of G-20. +They have always reflected a strong sense of convergence and purpose. +I particularly appreciate your active interest in advancing the substance of our engagement. +The journey of our cooperation is firmly on course. +Under your leadership, our relationship has touched new milestones. +And, your visit gives us an opportunity to shape new priorities in our strategic partnership. +The waters of the Indian Ocean remind us of our linked histories. +They are also a pointer to our connected destinies. +The values and principles of democracy and rule of law are common to both our nations. +Today, the vast scope of opportunities in our ties is defined by a strong desire for economic prosperity by 1.25 billion people of India, and Australia’s capacities and strengths. +In our discussions today, Prime Minister and I reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations. +In a lighter vein I am, of course, glad that our decisions are not subject to the D.R.S. review system. +Both India and Australia recognize the central value of education and innovation in the prosperity of our societies. +It is no surprise, therefore, that cooperation in the field of education and research is one of the most important aspects of our engagement. +Prime Minister and I have just inaugurated the TERI-DEAKIN Research Centre on Nano and Bio Technology, which is a classic example of the kind of cutting-edge science and technology cooperation that is happening between our two countries. +Our joint development of bananas fortified with Vitamin A has entered the phase of field trials. +Our scientists are also collaborating on developing more nutritious and hardy varieties of pulses. +I also extend a warm welcome to the large delegation of Vice Chancellors and Heads of Vocational Training Institutions that is accompanying Prime Minister. +A number of institution-to-institution tie-ups have been concluded during this visit. +Student exchanges are an important element of bilateral education cooperation. +Australia is home to more than 60,000 Indian students. +Increasing number of Australian students are coming to study in India. +Responding to the aspirations of India’s youth, building world class institutions in India is one of the objectives of my government. +Prime Minister Turnbull and I discussed ways by which Australian Universities could connect and contribute to this goal. +Prime Minister and I share a conviction that our economic growth and prosperity must be gentle on the environment. +We are happy that our dialogue and cooperation in other forms of energy including renewable energy is on the up-swing. +I would also like to thank Prime Minister for Australia’s decision to join the International Solar Alliance. +And, With the passing of legislation in the Australian Parliament with bi-partisan support, Australia is now ready to export Uranium to India. +Prime Minister and I recognize that our future is deeply tied to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. +We, therefore, agree on the need for a secure and rule based Indo-Pacific. +We are also aware that in this globalized world, challenges like terrorism and cyber security, extend beyond the boundaries of our region. +And, therefore, require global strategy and solutions. +Indeed, Prime Minister’s understanding and insight into regional and global issues brings a new dimension to our cooperation on matters that concern us both. +Our cooperation in the area of defence and security has reached new heights. +Our maritime exercises and exchanges have been productive. +Our bilateral mechanisms on counter-terrorism and trans-national crimes are functioning well. +I am particularly pleased that we have been able to conclude an MOU on Security Cooperation during this visit. +We also agree that strong regional institutions are necessary for peace, prosperity and a sense of balance in our region. +We would, therefore, actively work to cooperate more closely with members of the East Asia Summit and the Indian Ocean Rim countries to pursue our common interests. +A major pillar of strength in our partnership is the connect between our societies. +Australia is also home to nearly half-a-million people of Indian origin. +Their prosperity and vibrant culture enrich our partnership. +A very successful Festival of India called “Confluence” was held in many cities of Australia last year. +I thank Prime Minister for all the help and support accorded to the Festival by the Australian Government. +India and Australia have made major strides in our bilateral relations in recent years. +In months and years ahead, we only see promise and opportunities for our two nations. +Our strong and vibrant strategic partnership is of course important for the security and well-being of our societies. +But, it is also a major factor for peace, stability and security in our region. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will address the nation in the next series of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on 26th April. +In a tweet he said, “Looking forward to ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on the 26th of this month.” +This is the seventh edition of the radio program in which PM shares his thoughts with the citizens. +The Prime Minister has already interacted directly with the people in the earlier six editions of ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +He has dwelt upon several issues close to the hearts of the people such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, promotion of khadi, skill development, scholarship for disabled children, infrastructure for educational institutions, menace of drugs and the issues related to farmers. +In the last edition broadcast on 22nd March, he shared the concerns of farmers and said that the government will take proper and prompt steps to resolve their problems and do its level best to help them tide over difficult situation. +In another earlier edition, the Prime Minister had urged the students to shed their examination stress and worry and develop a positive attitude. +He also shared the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ forum with the US President Barack Obama during his visit to India in January when the two leaders interacted with the people on a host of issues. +The Prime Minister has from time to time invited citizens to share their ideas and thoughts on the subject in the Open Forum of MyGov.in. +The program has generated an encouraging response from citizens across the country. +It is simultaneously broadcast live on all channels of All India Radio and Doordarshan. +The program would also be live-streamed on the Prime Minister’s official website. +My dear countrymen, Namaskar. +On the 3rd of October, 2014, the pious occasion of Vijayadashmi, we embarked upon a journey together through the medium of ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +This journey has reached its 50th episode today. +Thus, this Golden Jubilee Episode is indeed gilt-edged in every sense of the term. +They are of the view that broadly speaking, their Prime Minister being associated with the latest in technology, Social Media and Mobile Apps; WHY did he choose radio as a medium to connect with his countrymen? +Your curiosity is but natural; in this age when Radio was fading into oblivion, why did Modi opt for the airwaves? +He was not even adequately clad; it was a standalone kiosk on the edge of the road. +And he replied, “India has exploded the bomb today!” +I exclaimed, “India has exploded the bomb! +Said he “Sir, just listen to the radio”. +Indeed, that exactly was the topic of discussion on the radio. +Hence when I became the Prime Minister, it was natural for me to turn towards a strong, effective medium. +And in 2014, when I took charge as the Pradhan Sevak, Principal Servant, it was my wish to reach out to the masses with the glorious saga of our country’s unity, her grand history, her valour, India’s diversity, our cultural diversity, virtues embedded in our society such as Purusharth, Tapasya, Passion & sacrifice; in a nutshell, the great story of India. +From remote villages to Metro cities, from farmers to young professionals … the array just prompted me to embark upon this journey of ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +Recently, All India Radio got a survey done on ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +I came across some feedback that is very interesting. +Out of the designated sample in the survey, 70% of respondents on an average happen to be listeners who regularly tune in to ‘’Mann Ki Baat’. +Most people believe that the greatest contribution of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has been the enhancement of a feeling of positivity in our society. +The medium of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has promoted many a mass revolution. #indiapositive has been the subject of quite an extensive discussion. +This is an exemplary glimpse of the feeling of positivity, innate to our countrymen. +People have shared their experiences, conveying the rise of selfless volunteerism as a consequence of ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +It is a change where people are increasingly willing to contribute for the sake of service to society. +I express my gratitude to the entire family of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ for being a part of it & trusting it wholeheartedly. +As a run up to each episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the expectations & aspirations of listeners through their letters, online comments & phone calls are crystal clear. +Modi may come and go, but this country will never let go of its UNITY & permanence, our culture will always be immortal. +These minute stories encompassing a 130 crore countrymen will always stay alive. +This new inspiration & zest will keep taking her to greater heights. +At times, when I look back, I am taken aback. +Sometimes people who write in from different corners of the country say, “We should not haggle beyond limits with marginal shopkeepers, auto drivers, vegetable sellers et al”. +I read a letter & then try to weave it with the essence of a similar letter. +I would like to share a couple of personal experiences with you … who knows how soon these will reach our families; who knows when social media will circulate them to usher in a revolution!. +The stories that you’ve sent across in the context of cleanliness, myriad examples of common folk… you never know where a tiny brand ambassador of cleanliness comes into being in various homes; someone who reprimands elders at home; or even admonishingly orders the Prime Minister through a phone call! +Who would have imagined that a small campaign “selfie with daughter”starting from a small village in Haryana would spread not only throughout the country but also across other countries as well. +Every section of the society including celebrities joined in to ignite a process of transformation in a new modern language of change that the present generation understands and follows. +At times Mann Ki Baat is also sneered at but 130 crore countrymen ever occupy a special pleace in my heart. +Their heartsand my heart beat to the same rhythm. +Mann Ki Baat is not about the Government it is about the society. +Mann Ki Baat addresses an aspirational India, an ambitious India. +Politics or Political Power are not intrinsic to the Indian ethos; on the contrary social values and society are. +In fact, Politics is one of the numerous other aspects of social life. +Making politics an all pervasive, powerful factor is not an effective way for a healthy society. +At times, political developments and political people assume such overriding prominence that other talents and courageous deeds get overshadowed. +My effort is that I read the maximum number of these letters and comments myself before Mann Ki Baat. +I listen to many phone calls too. +Andas the episode of Mann Ki Baat draws closer, I read ideas and inputs sent by you very minutely while travelling. +My countrymen stay in my heart every moment and that is how the writer’s situation and ideas expressed in the letter become part of my thought process. +That letter does not remain a mere a piece of paper for me.As it is I have spent close to 40 to 45 years as a travelling mendicant and have been to most of the districts in our country including the remotest once where I spent a lot of time.That is why I am able to relate myself to the place and context of the letter. +Then, I note down facts like the name of the village and of the person. +There are lakhs of persons whose names I have not been able to include in Mann Ki Baat but without any disappointment,they continue to sendin their letters and comments. +I firmly believe that your ideas and your views will continue reaching me in even greater numbers and will help make Mann Ki Baat more interesting, effective and useful. +I congratulate and thank those persons for their talent and skills. +I would request all of you also to kindly listen to this programme in your regional language as well. +I sincerely thank from the core of my heart my friends in the media who regularly telecast Mann Ki Baat on their channels. +No political person is ever happy with the media, he feels that he is getting a very little coverage or the coverage given to him is negative.But many issues raised in Mann Ki Baat have been adopted by the media. +TV channels made it the most watched radio programme – I sincerely thank and congratulate the media. +To tell you the truth, I have no such secret. +What I am doing must be happening in families as well. +In simple words, I may say that I try to cast myself into the mould of that young man, and put myself under his conditions and try to adjust and match the wave length accordingly. +There are old baggage’s of our own lives and when they do not come in the way, it becomes easier to understand others. +Sometimes our inhibitions or prejudices become a big hurdle in communication. +I prefer to understand the other man’s point of view rather than going through the process of acceptance, rejection and reaction. +None of the two even realizes that how and when one other’s has abandoned its idea and accepted and owned the idea of the other side. +Today’s youths have this special quality that they won’t do anything which they do not believe themselves and whenever they believe in something, they follow that leaving everything else. +People generally talk of a communication gap between the elders and teenagers in the family. +In fact, the scope of discussion with teenagers is quite limited in most of the families. +Communication will be more effective if we “accept” instead of “expect” and “discuss” instead of “dismiss”. +My effort is to have a continuous dialogue with the youth in various programmes or through social media. +I try to learn from whatever they are doing or whatever they are thinking. +They are storehouse of ideas. +They are extremely energetic, innovative and focused. +I try to share the efforts and achievements of the youth as much as possible through “Mann Ki Baat”. +There is a general complaint that the younger generation asks too many questions. +I say it is good that the youth ask questions. +It is good as it shows that they want to analyse everything from its very root. +I say what is wrong in it. +They do so because they are adept in multitasking. +If we just look around, we find that it is the youth who are bringing in transformation of society in a big way, may it be social entrepreneurship, start-ups, sports or any other field. +Those youth who have dared to ask questions and have had the courage to dream big. +She says that this day is special because we are going to enter into the 70th year of our Constitution adoption. +Thank you very much for your suggestion Vineeta ji. +Yes, tomorrow is the Constitution Day. +A day to remember those great personalities who drafted our Constitution. +Our Constitution was adopted on 26th November, 1949. +The Constituent Assembly took 2 years 11 months and 17 days to accomplish this stupendous task of drafting the Constitution. +This also inspires us to accomplish our responsibilities within a record time. +The Constituent Assembly was an amalgamation of the great talents of the country, each one of them was committed to provide a Constitution to the country which empowers the people of India and enriches even the poorest of the poor. +The unique point in our Constitution is that the rights and duties have been very comprehensively detailed. +A balance between these two in the lives of our citizens will take our nation forward. +If we respect the rights of others, our rights will automatically get protected and similarly if we fulfill our duties, then also our rights will get automatically protected. +I still remember that in 2010 when 60 years of the adoption of the Constitution were being celebrated, we had taken out a procession by placing our Constitution atop an elephant. +This has been a memorable incident to increase awareness about our Constitution among the youth and to connect them to the various aspects of the Constitution. +In the year 2020, we shall complete 70 years as a Republic and in 2022, we shall enter 75th year of our Independence. +Let us all take forward the values enshrined in our Constitution and ensure Peace, Progress and Prosperity in our country. +My dear countrymen, while talking about the Constituent Assembly, the contribution of that great man cannot be forgotten who played a pivotal role in the Constituent Assembly. +This great man was none other than our revered Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar. +His death anniversary or mahaparirvan divas falls on 6th December. +I, on behalf of all countrymen, pay my homage to Baba Saheb who gave the right to live with dignity to crores of Indians. +Democracy was embedded deep in Baba Saheb’s nature and he used to say that India’s democratic values have not been imported from outside. +What is a republic and what is a parliamentary system- are nothing new to India. +He had made a very moving appeal in the Constituent Assembly that we have to safeguard our hard fought democracy till the last drop of our blood. +Once again my humble tribute to revered Baba Saheb. +My dear countrymen, two days back on 23rd November, we all celebrated Shri Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti and next year in 2019 we shall be celebrating his 550th Prakash Parv. +Guru Nanak Dev Ji always envisaged the welfare of entire humanity. +He always showed the path of truth, work, service, kindness and amity to the society. +All states and Union Territories have been requested to celebrate the occasion in a grand manner. +Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 550th Prakash Parv will be celebrated in a similar manner in all the countries of the world as well. +Besides, a train will be run on a route joining all the holy places connected with Guru Nanak Dev ji. +The Government of India has taken a significant decision of building Kartarpur corridor so that our countrymen could easily visit Kartarpur in Pakistan to pay homage to Guru Nanak Dev Ji at that holy sight. +The more you connect with us, our journey will gain greater depth, providing, satisfaction to one and all. +At times a question arises in the minds of people’s as to what I achieved through Mann Ki Baat. +Come on, let us take this journey further. +Many many thanks. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to capsizing of a boat in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district. +“Anguished by the capsizing of a boat in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district. +Condolences to the bereaved families. +I pray for the safety of those missing “, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and France on technical bilateral cooperation in the field of new and renewable energy. +The MoU was signed on 3rd October, 2018. +India and France aim to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable issues on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity. +The technical cooperation will cover joint research working groups, pilot projects, capacity building programs, study tour, case studies and the sharing of experience/expertise. +The MoU will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between India and France. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has called upon everyone to become a part of ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’. +The Prime Minister said, “On 2nd October we mark the start of Gandhi Ji’s 150th birth anniversary. +I salute all those working towards a Swachh Bharat! +The ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’ commences on 15th September. +This is a great way to pay tributes to Bapu. +Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Laxmikant Parsekar today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and presented him a cheque worth approximately Rs. 1.9 crore towards Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). +Defence Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar was also present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of Foundation Stone of Bhadbhut Barrage over the River Narmada. +At a public meeting in Bharuch, the Prime Minister also flagged off the Antyodaya Express between Udhna (Surat, Gujarat) and Jaynagar (Bihar). +He also unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of Foundation Stone, and Inauguration of various plants of Gujarat Narmada Fertilizer Corporation Ltd. +Addressing the public meeting, the Prime Minister said that the Antyodaya Express is a commendable initiative, which connects people and particularly helps those who are from Uttar Pradesh or Bihar, and work far from their home. +He said the train will make it easier for people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to go home for Chhath Puja. +Neem coating of urea helped farmers and stopped corruption as well as theft, the Prime Minister said. +Shri Narendra Modi said that Gujarat’s strides in animal husbandry have helped farmers. +He said that he had asked the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, to send a team to Gujarat and study the Pashu Arogya Melas. +He added that a similar Mela had been organised recently in Varanasi, which the Prime Minister had an opportunity to visit. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Mahatma Phule on his birth anniversary. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited BHU in Varanasi today. +He inaugurated Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Hospital and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, Lahartara. +These Hospitals will provide comprehensive treatment to the patients from UP, and nearby states of MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar. +Governor of UP Shri Ram Naik, CM of UP Shri Yogi Adityanath, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. +He unveiled statue of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya along with Murals of Varanasi Ghats. +He offered floral tributes at statue of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. +PM also dedicated first New Bhabhatron with precision technology, to the nation. +He visited Day Care Unit & OPD and interacted with the patients. +PM also interacted with the beneficiaries of PMJAY- Ayushman Bharat. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Mr. Anerood Jugnauth on the victory of his alliance in the Mauritius elections. +“Just spoke to Mr. Anerood Jugnauth and congratulated him on the victory of his alliance in the Mauritius elections”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for provision of a direct communication link through a dedicated submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) between Mainland (Chennai) and Port Blair & five other islands viz. +Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Havelock, Kamorta and Great Nicobar. +The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 1102.38 crore including operational expenses for 5 years. +The project is likely to be completed by December 2018. +The approval would equip Andaman & Nicobar Islands (ANI) with appropriate bandwidth and telecom connectivity for implementation of e-Governance initiatives; establishment of enterprises & e-commerce facilities. +The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are of immense strategic significance for India. +The geographical configuration and the location of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands chain in the Bay of Bengal safeguard India’s eastern seaboard. +Currently the only medium of providing telecom connectivity between Mainland and Andaman & Nicobar Islands is though satellites, but the bandwidth available is limited to 1 Gbps. +Then, there is an issue of redundancy, that is, no alternate media is available in case of any emergency. +Lack of bandwidth and telecom connectivity is also hampering socio-economic development of the islands. +The Prime Minister has also urged everyone to share their good wishes and words of encouragement for the team of Navika Sagar Parikrama, on the Narendra Modi App. +“Today is a special day! +6 women officers of the Navy begin their journey of circumnavigating the globe on board INSV Tarini. +The entire nation comes together in wishing the all-women team of Navika Sagar Parikrama the very best in their remarkable endeavour. +Share your good wishes and words of encouragement for the team of Navika Sagar Parikrama, on the NM App”, the Prime Minister said. +This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. +They will begin their voyage today from Goa, and expect to return to Goa in March 2018, after completing the circumnavigation. +The expedition has been titled Navika Sagar Parikrama. +The Parikrama will be covered in five legs, with stop-overs at 4 ports: Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands), and Cape Town (South Africa). +Shri Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, former Prime Minister of Nepal and Co-Chairman, Nepal Communist Party, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The two leaders discussed the progress in India-Nepal relations, as well as other issues of mutual interest. +The Prime Minister fondly recalled their previous interactions, and thanked Shri Dahal for his valuable contributions in strengthening India-Nepal relations. +Recalling his two visits to Nepal this year, the Prime Minister said that India-Nepal relations have received a boost in momentum with frequent high-level interactions. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between India and Brunei Darussalam in the field of Youth and Sports Affairs. +The MoU between the two countries was signed on 2-02-2016 at Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. +Areas of cooperation between the two countries include exchange programmes in the fields of youth and sports, exchange programmes for the training of officers and trainers, promotion of sports between the participants with respect to sports facilities, sports equipment, sports training and physical preparation, sports fitness and physical education. +In addition, it includes areas like coaching, sports talent identification, sports management and administration, information system relating to youth and sports, science and technology development in sports, development and enhancement of information in sports etc. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Ranchi in Jharkhand on 17 February, 2019. +He interacted with select beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Yojana. +Governor of Jharkhand Ms Draupadi Murmu and CM of Jharkhand Shri Raghuvar Das was also present on the occasion. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana-Ayushman Bharat from Ranchi on September 23, 2018 and termed it a “game-changer initiative to serve the poor“. +Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (PM-JAY) aims to reduce the financial burden on poor and vulnerable groups arising out of catastrophic hospital episodes and ensure their access to quality health services. +The scheme envisions health assurance of 5 lakh rupees per family per year, to benefit over 50 crore people, and is the world’s biggest health assurance scheme. +The number of beneficiaries of this scheme is roughly equal to the population of the European Union, or the population of America, Canada and Mexico, taken together. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Bihar on Bihar Diwas. +“Greetings to my sisters and brothers of Bihar on Bihar Diwas. +Right from historical times, Bihar’s contribution towards the nation’s progress is exemplary and invaluable”, the Prime Minister said. +The MoU will develop a mutually beneficial relationship in the best interest of ICAI members, students and their organizations. +The MoU will provide an opportunity to the ICAI members to expand their professional horizons. +The MoU will foster strong working relations between the ICAI & NBAA, Tanzania. +There is a huge potential for ICAI and its members to help develop the Accountancy and Auditing profession in Africa. +ICAI’s association with NBAA, Tanzania will help in indirect employment generation for Indian CAs through recognition and acceptability amongst Tanzania based employers. +It is also likely to build a positive image for Indian Chartered Accountants currently working in African market and those intending to move to the African & Tanzania market. +The ICAI is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India. +The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 regulates the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Uttar Pradesh, on December 16, 2018. +At Rae Bareli, the Prime Minister will inspect the Modern Coach Factory. +At a public meeting, he will flag-off the 900th coach, and a Humsafar Rake of this Factory. +He will dedicate to the nation, inaugurate, or lay the Foundation Stone of various development projects. +The Prime Minister will also address the gathering. +The Prime Minister will then proceed to Prayagraj. +He will inaugurate a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre for the Kumbh Mela. +He will perform Ganga Pujan, and visit the Swachh Kumbh exhibition. +Shri Narendra Modi will also visit the “Akshayvat” in Prayagraj. +The Prime Minister will then proceed to Andawa, where he will dedicate to the nation, inaugurate, or lay the Foundation Stone of various development projects. +The Prime Minister will then arrive at Bamrauli Airport, Prayagraj. +He will inaugurate the new terminal building of the Airport, before returning to Delhi. +Nearly 10 lakh citizens get reward money over Rs.153.5 crore for embracing Digital Payments +It has been 58 days since the launch of NITI Aayog’s two incentive schemes – Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana to promote digital payments and the public response has been quite encouraging. +The initiative to make Digital Payments a mass movement in India through the two schemes has made a headway across the country with more and more people adopting digital transactions. +According to the latest figures released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which has been executing the schemes, nearly 10 lakh consumers and merchants have been disbursed over Rs.153.5 crore as reward money till 20th February, 2017. +• Among the 9.8 lakh winners are more than 9.2 lakh consumers and 56,000 merchants. +• 120 consumers have won prize money worth Rs. 1 lakh each +• 4,000 merchants have won Rs. 50,000 prize money each +• Active participation was seen among females and males across regions +• The diversity in age of winners is from 15 to 66 years, challenging the notion that the old find it difficult to embrace technology to adopt digital payments. +The winners have their own stories to tell it all as to how the switch over to digital payments has been le and how it has made the life easier for them. +Sabir, a 22-year-old cab driver from Delhi won Rs. 1,00,000 under Lucky GrahakYojana for consumers. +Digital payments are a blessing in disguise for him because he has to take care of his mother and differently-abled sister after the demise of his father and doesn’t have time to stand in lines at the bank. +Bhim Singh, a 29-year-old wheat farmer from Hissar in Haryana and winner under this initiative, now uses digital payments for buying supplies from wholesalers. +Jayanthi SF, from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, a 29-year-old engineering student and mother to a six-year-old, is a proud winner of Rs. 1,00,000 under the scheme. +Among the merchants, Damodar Prasad Khandelwal, a 42-year-old grocery store owner from Alwar in Rajasthan, won Rs. 50,000 in the weekly prize under Digi-DhanVyaparYojana for merchants. +Manju R Gowda, a 32-year-old fast-food restaurant owner in Mumbai is another winner of Rs. 50,000 under this scheme. +An analysis of the reward data also reveals winners as belonging to a wide geographical cross-section, including rural and urban areas spread across every State. +Till date, 59 DigiDhanMelas have been organized to take the digital payments movement to the masses across the country. +Background: +In additional to this there are over 14,000 weekly winners qualifying for total prize money of over Rs. 8.3 crore every week. +Customers and merchants using RuPay Card, BHIM / UPI (Bharat Interface for Money / Unified Payments Interface), USSD based *99# service and Aadhaar Enabled Payment Service (AePS) are eligible for wining daily and weekly lucky draw prizes. +Mr. Salahuddin Rabbani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today afternoon. +The Prime Minister affirmed that India attaches the highest priority to its ties with Afghanistan. +The Prime Minister reiterated India’s strong support to Afghanistan in fighting terrorism imposed on that country and its people. +He also reiterated India’s full support to the Government and people of Afghanistan, including through humanitarian and development assistance, in their efforts to build a peaceful, united, democratic and prosperous nation. +Foreign Minister Rabbani briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Afghanistan. +Both agreed that the Afghan peace process has to be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. +Foreign Minister Rabbani is in India for the 2nd meeting of the India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council that he co-chairs with External Affairs Minister of India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of Agreement between India and Algeria on Cooperation in the field of Space Sciences, Technologies and Applications. +The Agreement was signed at Bengaluru on 19th September 2018. +This Agreement shall enable pursuing the following potential interest areas of cooperation such as, space science, technology and applications including remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication and satellite based navigation; Space science and planetary exploration; gse of spacecraft and space systems and ground system; and application of space technology. +Signing of the Agreement will strengthen the cooperation between India and Algeria, and provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth, satellite navigation, space science and exploration of outer space. +The Agreement would lead to development of joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. +Thus all sections and regions of the country will get benefited. +Algeria expressed interest to pursue space cooperation with Indta through diplomatic channels. +In December 2014, MEA requested tSRO / DOS to consider Algeria’s proposal for entering into an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for space cooperation and forwarded the draft agreement, provided by Algeria. +The draft IGA has been reviewed by ISRO and Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) and comments were exchanged through email. +After a few iterations, both sides have arrived at a workable version of the agency-level space cooperation Agreement. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Agreement between India and Denmark on Cooperation in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation. +A historic milestone in the Indo-Danish Science and Technology relationship was reached on 22nd May 2018 through signing of an Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation between India and Denmark. +This will open a new chapter in bilateral relations as both sides will now leverage complementary strengths spurred by a significant convergence of mutual interests in Science, Technology and Innovation. +The objective of the Agreement is to encourage, develop and facilitate co­operation between India and Denmark in fields of common interest within Science, Technology and Innovation. +The stake-holders will include researchers from scientific organizations, academia, R&D laboratories and companies from India and Denmark. +Renewable energy, water, material science, affordable healthcare, synthetic biology, functional food, and blue economy were identified as potential areas for immediate collaboration. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today felicitated the medal winners of the 17th Asian Games, recently concluded at Incheon. +Congratulating those who had brought laurels for the country at the Asian Games, he said he has great enthusiasm (umang) to see India excel in sports. +He expressed hope that the combination of his enthusiasm and the spirit (hausla) of the sportspersons would bring good results for the Nation. +The Prime Minister said no country can go forward without self-respect and pride. +Similarly, a sportsperson’s achievements bring respect and pride for all Indians. +The Prime Minister urged the assembled sportspersons to feel free to give their suggestions to him, and to call on him personally if they have anything specific to talk about. +He said they should consider him their “friend.” +He appreciated the efforts made for the “Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan” by Marykom and Sachin Tendulkar, and said these had much greater visibility than a Prime Minister wielding the broom. +He said sportspersons do as much for the country as political leaders. +Shri Narendra Modi said India has a long history of sports, and a sports stadium has been discovered in the archaeological site of Dholavira near Kutch. +Ancient texts like the Ramayana and Mahabharata also show focus on physical activities as part of education. +But we have not geared ourselves up to compete globally, so far, he said, adding that this situation is slowly changing now, as states focus on specific sports, and setting up Sports Universities. +He said India is tying up with other countries for development of sports. +The Prime Minister said that corporate world is now coming forward to promote specific sports, and this augurs well for the future. +The Prime Minister said award-winning sportspersons who can speak well, should deliver talks in Universities, as this will prove inspirational for youth. +A mistake by one sportsperson can bring bad name to the country, the Prime Minister said, urging sportspersons to be cautious about their conduct. +The gathering was also addressed by the Minister for Sports, Shri Sarbanand Sonowal. +The vote of thanks was proposed by star boxer Marykom. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has written to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, H.E. Dato Sri Mohammad Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, expressing his condolences on the loss of lives on board MH17. +The Prime Minister said there is “justifiable outrage across the world and India fully supports efforts for an investigation that can help establish the exact circumstances” in which the incident took place. +The Prime Minister also referred to the tragedy that befell Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 some months ago, mentioning that there is “still no closure” on that incident. +Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi will interact through Video Conference with beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP) & affordable Cardiac Stents and Knee Implants on 7th June at 0930 hrs. +The purpose of the ‘Samvad’ is to get to know as to how these initiatives have brought changes in the lives of patients, especially the poor and to elicit first hand feedback from them. +The entire ‘Samvad’ will be on different social media platforms like NAMO App, Youtube, Facebook, etc. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the Indian women’s Table Tennis team on winning the Gold Medal at the Commonwealth Games. +“A well deserved and historic Gold for the Indian women’s Table Tennis team! +Congratulations to the team. +Delighted at this accomplishment”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has taken stock of the situation and rescue operations following the collapse of an under construction flyover in Kolkata. +The Prime Minister has expressed shock and sadness over the incident. +“Shocked and saddened by collapse of under construction flyover in Kolkata. +Took stock of the situation and rescue operations. +My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in Kolkata. +May the injured recover at the earliest”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed progress on various urban development programmes. +These include addressing of gaps in core physical infrastructure across 500 cities, and steps of operationalization of the Smart Cities initiative. +Noting that towns and cities are emerging as key drivers of economic growth, the Prime Minister emphasized that the economic growth model of a city should form an essential part of its smart city vision. +The Prime Minister suggested that the next few years till 2019 could be observed as “urban theme years,” with a different theme or aspect of urban development being addressed each year. +He emphasized the need for capacity building in urban administration, and urban planning. +He called for initiating discussions in towns and cities, especially among youth, to generate best ideas for smart cities. +He called for special attention to creating “children friendly cities.” +Shri Narendra Modi said concepts and themes such as green cities, zero waste, optical fibre networks, gas grids, and mobile governance should form part of the smart city concept. +He also said a City Museum should be an integral part of every smart city. +Minister for Urban Development Shri Venkaiah Naidu, and senior officers from the PMO and Ministries of Finance and Urban Development were present on the occasion. +PM shares informative slides on Gujarat’s Buddhist heritage. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has said Buddhism is a very strong bond between China and India. +He said he looks forward to welcoming President Xi Jinping in Ahmedabad on 17th (of September), and he is sure the Chinese President’s visit will strengthen India-China ties. +The Prime Minister said Gujarat too has a very rich Buddhist heritage. +He also shared some informative slides on this, including Vadnagar excavations, on social media. +The necessary infrastructure for crew training, realization of flight systems and ground infrastructure will be established to support the Gaganyaan Programme. +ISRO will collaborate extensively with National agencies, laboratories, academia and industry to accomplish the Gaganyaan Programme objectives. +The total fund requirement for the Gaganyaan Programme is within Rs.10,000 crore and includes cost of technology development, flight hardware realization and essential infrastructure elements. +Two unmanned flights and one manned flight will be undertaken as part of Gaganyaan Programme. +Gaganyaan Programme will establish a broader framework for collaboration between ISRO, academia, industry, national agencies and other scientific organizations. +It This will allow pooling in of diverse technological and industrial capabilities and enable broader participation in research opportunities and technology development benefitting large number of students and researchers. +The flight system realization will be through Industry. +It is expected to generate employment and train human resources in advanced technologies. +It will inspire large number of young students to take up science and technology careers for national development. +Gaganyaan Programme is a national effort and will involve the participation of the Industry, Academia and National Agencies spread across the length and breadth of the country. +lmplementation Strategy and Targets: +Gaganyaan Programme will be a national effort in collaboration with Industry, Academia and other scientific agencies and laboratories as stake holders along with ISRO. +ISRO will be responsible for realizing the flight hardware through Industry. +National agencies, laboratories and Academia will participate in crew training, human life science technology development initiatives as well as design reviews. +First human space flight demonstration is targeted to be completed within 40 months from the date of sanction. +Prior to this, two unmanned flights in full complement will be carried out to gain confidence on the technology and mission management aspects. +The programme is expected to spur research and development within the country in niche science and technology domains. +Huge potential for technology spinoffs in areas such as medicine, agriculture, industrial safety, pollution, waste management, water and food resource management etc. +Human spaceflight programme will provide a unique micro-gravity platform in space for conducting experiments and test bed for future technologies. +The programme is expected to give impetus to economic activities within the country in terms of employment generation, human resource development and enhanced industrial capabilities. +Human Spaceflight capability will enable India to participate as a collaborating partner in future Global space exploration initiatives with long term national benefits. +ISRO has also tested the crew escape system which is an essential technology for human space flight. +The aerodynamic characterization of crew module has b3een completed as part of GSLV Mk-lll X mission flight. +Elements of life support system and Space suit also have been realized and tested. +In addition, the orbital & re-entry mission and recovery operations have been flight demonstrated in Space Capsule Re-entry experiment (SRE) mission. +ISRO has developed and demonstrated most of the baseline technologies essential for undertaking human spaceflight mission. +Globally also, there is a renewed interest in undertaking manned exploration initiatives. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed condolences on the passing away of Shri Ladu Kishore Swain. +The Prime Minister said, “Anguished by the passing away of Lok Sabha MP from Aska, Odisha, Shri Ladu Kishore Swain Ji. +He will be remembered for his rich service to society. +His work towards rural development was noteworthy. +Spoke to his son Nachiketa and expressed condolences.” +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has spoken to Mr. David Cameron, the Prime Minister of United Kingdom (UK), today. +“I spoke to PM David Cameron and congratulated him on his victory and conveyed my good wishes to him and his entire team. +I told Mr. David Cameron that such an impressive win while being the incumbent PM makes his victory even more special. +We both look forward to working together to further enhance co-operation between India and UK on a wide range of issues”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the convocation ceremony of the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University. +He described the University and its students as pioneers. +He said that these traits of self-belief and determination will help the students in times to come. +The Prime Minister said that a strong forensic science setup, helps in ensuring civic safety, and curbing crime, much the same way as an efficient police force and an effective judiciary. +The Prime Minister said that it is important for a person to fear the possibility that he is very likely to be caught, if he commits a crime. +This is where forensic science becomes important, the Prime Minister said. +He complimented GFSU for creating an international human resource pool in the fields of criminal investigation and justice delivery. +He said the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University is playing a decisive role in global security, through its training and education. +The Prime Minister spoke at length about the challenge of cyber crime, and the importance of strengthening forensics and cyber forensic labs in this context. +He also mentioned the importance of forensic science in the insurance industry. +He wished all the graduating students a bright and vibrant future. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing and ratifying the Extradition Agreement between India and Morocco. +The Agreement will be signed during the proposed VIP visit from Morocco from 11-18 November 2018. +The Agreement will provide a strong legal base for the extradition of fugitive offenders who are accused of economic offences, terrorism and other serious offences in one Contracting State and found in another Contracting State. +This Treaty will also strengthen bilateral relations to deal with criminal elements acting against the national interest of both India and Morocco. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for establishment of Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog for Conservation protection and development of cows and their progeny. +The setting up of RashtriyaKamdhenuAayogwill lead to conservation, protection and development of cattle population in the country including development and conservation of indigenous breeds. +It will result in increased growth of livestock sector which is more inclusive, benefitting women, and small and marginal farmers. +It is in pursuance of the announcement of setting up of the Aayog in the Union Budget 2019-20. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing and ratification of the agreement between India and Seychelles for exchange of information with respect to taxes. +The Agreement will stimulate the flow of exchange of information between India and Seychelles for tax purposes, which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance. +The salient features of the agreement are as follows:- +Information may be disclosed to any other person or entity or authority or jurisdiction with the prior written consent of the country sending the information. +(iii). The agreement also provides for a Mutual Agreement Procedure for resolving any difference or for agreeing on procedures under the agreement. +(iv). The agreement will enter into force on the date of notification of completion of procedures required by the respective laws of the two countries, for entry into force of the agreement. +As such, the agreement does not have any financial implications. +Only in the event of extraordinary costs exceeding US Dollar 500, the Government of India will bear the same, as per Article 9 of the agreement. +India has similar provisions in other such tax information exchange agreements. +Background:- +The Central Government is authorized under section 90 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 to enter into an agreement with a foreign country or specified territory for exchange of information for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of income-tax chargeable under the Income-tax Act, 1961. +Negotiations for entering into an agreement for the exchange of information with respect to taxes were conducted at Seychelles from 8th to 9th June, 2015. +May Almighty bless him with a long and healthy life devoted to the service of our nation . +Since his tenure began Rashtrapati ji has endeared himself to the people of India through his simple & compassionate nature. +I have always found Rashtrapati ji to be sensitive towards the aspirations of 125 crore Indians, especially the poor and marginalised”, the Prime Minister said. +After Assam agitation of 1979-1985, Assam Accord was signed on 15th August, 1985. +Clause 6 of the Assam Accord envisaged that appropriate constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. +However, it has been felt that Clause 6 of the Assam Accord has not been fully implemented even almost 35 years after the Accord was signed. +The Cabinet, therefore, approved the setting up of a High Level Committee to suggest constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards as envisaged in Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. +The Committee shall examine the effectiveness of actions since 1985 to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. +The Committee will hold discussions with all stakeholders and assess the required quantum of reservation of seats in Assam Legislative Assembly and local bodies for Assamese people. +The Committee will also assess the requirement of measures to be taken to protect Assamese and other indigenous languages of Assam, quantum of reservation in employment under Government of Assam and other measures to protect, preserve and promote cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of Assamese people. +The Composition and Terms of Reference of the Committee will be issued separately by the Ministry of Home Affairs. +It is expected that the setting up of the Committee will pave the way for the implementation of the Assam Accord in letter and spirit and will help fulfil longstanding expectations of the Assamese people. +The Cabinet also approved a number of measures to fulfil the outstanding issues related to the Bodo community. +However, there have been representations from different organizations of Bodos to fulfil various outstanding demands. +The Cabinet today approved the establishment of a Bodo Musuem-cum-language and cultural study center, modernization of existing All India Radio Station and Doordarshan Kendra at Kokrajhar and naming a Superfast Train passing through BTAD as ARONAI Express. +Relevant Ministries will take the required actions to implement these decisions. +The State Government will also take necessary measures related to appropriate land policy and land laws, besides setting up of Institutions for Research and Documentation of Customs, Traditions and Languages of indigenous communities. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi spoke to UK Prime Minister Ms. Theresa May today and expressed solidarity with UK after the terror attack in Manchester. +“Called @Number10gov @theresa_may to express our solidarity with UK after the terror attack in Manchester. +We stand together against terror.”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +Hon’ble Prime Minister Sir Aneerood Jugnauth, distinguished guests, +To our naval personnel from India, our guardian of the seas, who are here today – my special greetings to you. +It is a great honour to commission the Barracuda today in the service of the National Coast Guard of Mauritius. +Thank you for giving me this privilege. +Thank you for choosing India as your partner. +This ship has made a long journey – from Kolkata across the great arc of Indian Ocean to this beautiful shore. +Generations ago, people from India charted that course to a new destination and a new life. +Today, Barracuda brings with her the goodwill and greetings of the people of India. +She represents our unique trust and confidence. +Barracuda is a beautiful ship. +She is also very capable; and built to specifications of Mauritius. +Now, she sails proudly with the flag of Mauritius. +She will protect your islands and your waters. +She will be there to help in times of distress and emergencies. +But, she will do more than that. +She will also help make our Indian Ocean safer and more secure. +In doing so, Mauritius will fulfill an important international responsibility because, the Indian Ocean is critical to the future of the world. +This Ocean bears two-thirds of the world`s oil shipments, one-third of its bulk cargo; and half of its container traffic. +Over three-fourths of its traffic goes to other regions of the world. +The vast Indian Ocean Region hosts over 40 states and nearly 40% of the world`s population. +It touches Australia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and the eastern seaboard of Africa. +It sparkles with the gems of island states. +Think of the civilisational links, yet great diversity in this vast region! +Consider the vast opportunities that it holds! +This is why Indian Ocean is at the centre of global attention more than ever before. +We also see growing global stakes and presence in the Ocean. +To ensure this will be our greatest collective responsibility. +But, we will also have to rise to other challenges that are not uncommon in our region. +We have seen the tragedy of tsumanis and cyclones. +Terror has visited us from sea. +Piracy has taken toll of lives and trade on a scale that seemed beyond belief in modern era. +Illegal fishing and oil spills hurt our economies. +We all feel the rising impact of climate change on our coasts and islands. +We have also seen that instability and turmoil in coastal and island states can have profound impact on security on the seas. +India is at the crossroads of Indian Ocean. +Since Lothal in Gujarat became one of the earliest seaports in the world, India has had a long maritime tradition. +Our cultural footprints stretch across Asia and Africa. +We see this in our strong Diaspora across oceans. +The seas forged links of commerce, culture, and religion with our extended neighbourhood across several millenniums. +Our more recent history has focused our attention on our continental neighborhood. +But, India has been shaped in more ways by the seas around us. +Today, 90% of our trade by volume and 90% of our oil imports take place through sea. +We have coastline of 7500 km, 1200 islands and 2.4 million square kilometers of Exclusive Economic Zone. +India is becoming more integrated globally. +We will be more dependent than before on the ocean and the surrounding regions. +We must also assume our responsibility to shape its future. +So, Indian Ocean Region is at the top of our policy priorities. +Our vision for Indian Ocean Region is rooted in advancing cooperation in our region; and, to use our capabilities for the benefit of all in our common maritime home. +It means many things. +One, we will do everything to safeguard our mainland and islands and defend our interests. +We will also continue to build their maritime security capacities and their economic strength. +Three, collective action and cooperation will best advance peace and security in our maritime region. +It will also prepare us better to respond to emergencies. +That is why, in 2008, India promoted the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium. +Today, it brings together 35 navies of the region. +Our goal is to deepen our mutual understanding on maritime challenges; and, strengthen our collective ability to address them. +We also support efforts to strengthen our regional mechanisms for maritime cooperation – from dealing with piracy terrorism and other crimes; to marine safety and natural disasters. +India has also started maritime security cooperation with Maldives and Sri Lanka and we hope that Mauritius, Seychelles and other nations in the region will also join this initiative. +Four, we also seek a more integrated and cooperative future in the region that enhances the prospects for sustainable development for all. +We must promote greater collaboration in trade, tourism and investment; infrastructure development; marine science and technology; sustainable fisheries; protection of marine environment; and, overall development of Ocean or Blue Economy. +To me the blue chakra or wheel in India`s national flag represents the potential of Blue Revolution or the Ocean Economy. +That is how central the Ocean Economy is to us. +For those who live by the ocean, climate change is not an issue of debate but a serious threat to existence. +We must assume leadership in our region and call for a more concerted and fair global action to address the challenge of climate change. +Our Indian Ocean Rim Association can be an important instrument for pursuing our vision for a sustainable and prosperous future in the region. +We often define regional groupings around landmass. +The time has come for a strong grouping around the Indian Ocean. +We will pursue this with new vigour in the years ahead. +There can be no better place to host the Secretariat for IORA than Mauritius. +I am pleased that the Secretary General is from India. +Five, those who live in this region have the primary responsibility for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean. +But, we recognize that there are other nations around the world, with strong interests and stakes in the region. +India is deeply engaged with them. +We do this through dialogue, visits, exercises, capacity building and economic partnership. +Our goal is to seek a climate of trust and transparency; respect for international maritime rules and norms by all countries; sensitivity to each other`s interests; peaceful resolution of maritime issues; and increase in maritime cooperation. +We seek a future for Indian Ocean that lives up to the name of SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the Region. +We should be inspired by Monsoon, which nurtures and connects us all in region. +We will strive to unite our region in partnership, as we were once in geography. +An Ocean that connects our world should become the pathway of peace and prosperity for all. +It is no coincidence that I speak of our hopes for the Indian Ocean Region in Mauritius. +Our partnership with Mauritius is among our strongest maritime relationships in this world. +Our partnership will grow. +We will together build our capabilities. +We will also train and patrol the seas together. +But, the foundation of this partnership is larger. +It is our shared values and a common vision. +It is our willingness to look beyond our own domain to assume our responsibility for the region. +Mauritius is a key leader for a secure and sustainable future for the Indian Ocean. +We in India are proud to be your partner. +Thank you very much, and wish you all the best. +The President of Asian Development Bank, Mr. Takehiko Nakao, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +The Prime Minister urged Mr. Nakao that the Asian Development Bank should take up the Railways sector in India as a priority, and complete one transformational project which will create a visible impact. +He suggested that the ADB could take up one railway station and make it world class. +The Railways can then follow this up with other similar projects. +The Prime Minister said ADB should foster more regional connectivity projects. +The Prime Minister also mentioned the various initiatives that have been taken by the Government, since his last meeting with Mr. Nakao in August 2014. +These include the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, cash transfers in LPG subsidy, and the launch of initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India, and Swachh Bharat. +The President of the ADB complimented the Prime Minister on these initiatives. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the progress of works across various infrastructure sectors. +The Prime Minister was informed that good progress is being made in 62 crucial infrastructure projects that have been reviewed so far over 7 meetings of PRAGATI. +The Prime Minister was apprised of the progress towards meeting the Union Government’s commitment of providing electricity to all unconnected villages in the country within 1000 days. +In telecommunication, the Prime Minister was briefed about the progress towards connecting all villages through broadband by 2022. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress in sectors such as renewable energy, piped natural gas, irrigation, roads and railways. +He was also informed about the skill development initiatives taken by various infrastructure Ministries including Railways, Skill Development, Coal, New and Renewable Energy, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Shipping. +The Prime Minister was informed that all infrastructure targets for the current financial year, across various sectors, are broadly on track to be achieved. +Shri Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairman NITI Aayog, was present at the meeting. +Senior officials from PMO, NITI Aayog, and concerned Ministries were also present. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Subhas Chandra Bose museum at Red Fort, New Delhi on 23 January 2019. +He will unveil the plaque to inaugurate the Museum on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Indian National Army. +PM will also visit the museum. +The Prime Minister will visit the Yaad-e-Jallian Museum, (museum on Jallianwala Bagh and World War I). +He will also visit the Museum on 1857- India’s first war of Independence and Drishyakala- Museum on Indian Art at Red Fort, New Delhi. +The Museum on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Indian National Army provides a detailed account of Subhas Chandra Bose and the history of Indian National Army. +The tradition of inaugurating landmark structures for which foundation stone is laid by the PM Modi holds good here as well. +PM laid the Foundation stone of the museum on October 21, 2018. +It marked the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Azad Hind Government, formed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. +Holding aloft the values of freedom, Prime Minister hoisted the National Flag at Red Fort, to commemorate the occasion. +The values and ideals of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and INA were once again brought to the fore by PM in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, on 30 December 2018. +He released a commemorative postal stamp, coin, and First Day Cover, to mark the 75th anniversary of the hoisting of Tricolour on Indian soil by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. +He recalled how on Netaji’s call, many youths from the Andaman had dedicated themselves to the freedom of India. +The flag on the 150 feet high mast, is an attempt to preserve the memory of the day in 1943, when Netaji unfurled the tricolour. +As a mark of respect to Netaji, Ross Island had been named as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep. +Earlier in October 2015, family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had met PM and requested for declassification of the files relating to Netaji, available with the Government of India. +Digital copies of 100 Netaji Files were released by the PM in January 2018 in public domain at National Archives of India. +The Yaad-e-Jallian Museum provides an authentic account of Jallianwala Bagh massacre that happened on April 13, 1919. +The museum will also showcase the heroism, valour and sacrifices made by Indian soldiers during World War-1. +The Museum on 1857- India’s first war of Independence portrays the historical narrative of 1857 war of independence, showcasing the valour and sacrifices made by Indians during the period. +The Drishyakala- Exhibition on Indian Art showcases Indian art works from 16th century till India’s independence. +Ahead of the Republic Day, PM visit to these museums is a tribute to the memory of brave freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the nation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated all sportspersons and sports enthusiasts on the National Sports Day. +Prime Minister also paid tributes to legendary Indian Hockey player Major Dhyan Chand. +”On National Sports Day, I congratulate all sportspersons and sports enthusiasts who pursue sports with great vigour and passion. +I pay tributes to the exemplary Major Dhyan Chand, whose legendary sporting skills did wonders for Indian hockey. +Sports is about physical fitness, mental alertness and personality enhancement. +India is blessed with immense sporting talent. +To harness this potential, a portal was launched by India Sports. +The National Sports Talent Search Portal gives essential direction & support to youngsters to pursue their sporting aspirations and shine”, the Prime Minister said. +His Excellency Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak ji, +Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, for your warm sentiments and generous hospitality. +I deeply appreciate your gesture of hosting me in the midst of ASEAN and East Asia Summits. +I congratulate you on the outstanding summits, and for the establishment of the ASEAN Community. +Your review of the EAS on its tenth anniversary set an excellent course for this region’s most important forum. +The two back-to-back airline tragedies could sap the morale of any nation. +I commend your leadership and the resolve and resilience of the Malaysian people. +There are many dimensions to our connected histories. +We have very old links of culture and religion. +The Malaysian-Indian community forms a very special and strong bond between us. +I had the opportunity to speak to them last evening. +We are defined by diversity and democracy. +We have built a vibrant economic partnership. +We are located on the same maritime route. +We are closely aligned in our vision and approach to the region, and work closely in regional forums. +So, with a relationship as rich as this, I am pleased that we have agreed to make our Summits, ministerial dialogues and official meetings more regular. +I assure you that we will work with renewed vigour to raise the level to momentum of our partnership. +I am particularly grateful to you for our security cooperation. +It underlines our shared commitment to deal with our security challenges. +We will continue to deepen our cooperation in this area. +The recent spate of attacks in different countries, not to mention the ceaseless terrorist attempts against India and Afghanistan, are a reminder of the global nature of this threat. +Mr. Prime Minister, you have provided leadership in combating extremism and radicalization, rejecting any link between terrorism and religion, and in highlighting the real values of Islam. +This is a great contribution to an important aspect of our global efforts against this challenge. +We will also make our defence cooperation stronger, including for advancing maritime security and strengthening disaster response in our region. +I am pleased that we have agreed to upgrade our joint exercises and set up the SU-30 Forum. +We will do more in terms of level and complexity of exercises and collaboration in training and defence equipment. +Our agreement to cooperate in cyber security is very important. +As our lives get more networked, this is emerging as one of the most serious concerns of our age. +I share Prime Minister’s belief that our trade and investment relations can be scaled up significantly. +We intend to exploit the full potential of our bilateral agreements and the India-ASEAN Agreements. +We look forward to an early conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. +Malaysian competence in infrastructure is well known. +Malaysia has completed several important projects, including in the road sector, in India. +I expressed our desire to see enhanced Malaysian participation in areas such as expansion and upgrading of infrastructure, Make in India, and Smart Cities projects. +Indian companies have a strong presence in Malaysia. +IRCON is contributing to development of rail infrastructure here. +We want to raise the level of Indian presence in the Malaysian economy. +Prime Minister and I are determined to explore steps to show concrete and early results. +I am also meeting Malaysian CEOs later today. +I am happy that we are strengthening our excellent cooperation in Public Administration and Governance. +I have personally interacted with PEMANDU, and am pleased that our Niti Ayog will work with them. +We will place special emphasis on cultural and people-to-people ties. +As you know, Prime Minister Najib and I will inaugurate the Torana Gate at the entrance of Little India in Bricks field. +This is a gift of India, but a labour of love for Prime Minister Najib. +And, it will be a symbol of our timeless ties and the friendship between our people. +We invite Malaysian students to study in India and urge early conclusion of an agreement on Mutual Recognition of Degrees. +I am very pleased with our excellent and growing cooperation in Traditional Medicine, including Ayurveda and Siddha. +Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for a very productive discussion. +I am confident that our strategic partnership will go to new level. +I look forward to your visit to India soon. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Indian Community in Uganda. +The event in Kampala was also attended by President Museveni of Uganda. +In his address, the Prime Minister said he felt a sense of belonging with the Indian Community in Uganda. +The Prime Minister said that the relationship between India and Uganda is centuries old. +He recalled the historical links between the two countries, including the struggle against colonialism, and the railway construction work in Uganda. +He said several Indians have played a key role in Uganda’s politics as well. +He complimented the Indian Community for retaining its sense of Indian-ness, as reflected in the cultural performances on this occasion. +The Prime Minister asserted that all countries of Africa, including Uganda, are important for India. +He said that a shared history of struggle against colonialism, a large Indian diaspora, and common development challenges, are all reasons for this. +He said today India is among the fastest growing economies in the world. +He said India is now exporting cars and smartphones. +He said digital technology is becoming a means of empowerment for the people of India; and the country is emerging as an important centre for Startups. +The Prime Minister spoke of the importance of Africa in India’s foreign policy. +In this context, he mentioned the India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi in 2015. +He also mentioned other high level bilateral engagements between India and other African nations. +The Prime Minister mentioned other initiatives taken, such as projects with lines of credit worth more than 3 billion dollars; scholarships; and e-visa arrangements. +He said about half of all member nations of the International Solar Alliance are from Africa. +The Prime Minister said nations from Asia and Africa are playing a stronger role in the new world order. +On the occasion of Diwali, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kedarnath today. +He offered prayers at the historic Kedarnath Temple. +He extensively walked around the entire temple complex, where significant reconstruction works are in progress. +He was briefed by senior officials about the progress of the works. +He interacted briefly with various people present at the temple complex. +The Kedarnath Temple complex is currently the focus of a major development and reconstruction effort, following the severe flood and landslide that affected the region in 2013. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has given its approval for 7 posts of Principal Director and 36 posts of Director on regular basis in the Armed Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) Civil Service, Ministry of Defence as part of restructuring . +Creation of regular posts in the AFHQ Civil Service will alleviate stagnation the cadre. +It will be in the interest of better cadre management and bring improvement in the efficiency of the service. +This would be an innovative measure entailing no additional cost but would bring benefits from the perspective of cadre management and enable its better utilisation. +Creation of regular posts in the place of “in situ” promotions will ensure more transparency in cadre management. +Assigning of higher responsibilities on regular posts will result in greater productivity and accountability with respect to AFHQ CS officers. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Cadre review of Group ‘A’ Executive Cadre of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). +It provides for creation of 25 posts of various ranks from Assistant Commandant to Additional Director General ranks to enhance the supervisory staff in Senior Duty posts of CISF. +After creation of these Group ‘A’ posts in CISF, the supervisory efficiency and capacity building of the Force would be enhanced. +Timely creation of proposed posts in the Cadre Review of Group ‘A’ posts in the Force will enhance its supervisory as well as administrative capabilities. +The original charter of CISF was to provide protection and security to the property of Public Sector Undertakings. +The CISF came into existence in 1969 with a sanctioned strength of only three Battalions. +The CISF does not have a Battalion pattern like other CAPFs, except 12 Reserve Battalions and HQRs. +Currently, the Force is providing security cover to 336 Industrial Undertaking (including 59 Airports) spread all over the country. +The Force, which had made a beginning with a sanctioned strength of 3192 in 1969, has grown to a strength of 1,49,088 as on 30.06.2017. +The CISF has its Headquarters at Delhi. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, was apprised about an MoU signed in February, 2019 on youth matters between India and Morocco. +The objective of the MoU is to strengthen and encourage cooperation between the two countries on youth matters through participation in events and activities, information and knowledge sharing and youth exchanges. +The areas of cooperation on Youth matters include: +The MoU also mentions that from the year 2019, both countries will annually exchange 20-member Youth delegations for a period not exceeding ten days. +The Prime Minister interacted with the team of three As- the ASHA worker, Anganwadi worker and ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) from across the country through video conferencing. +He appreciated their effort to work together, to use innovative means and technology, to improve the delivery of health and nutrition services and achieve the goal of POSHAN Abhiyan- reduction of malnutrition in the country. +Prime Minister recognised the contribution of grass-root health workers and thanked them for their efforts in building strong and healthy nation. +The interaction was organised as part “poshan Maah”, being observed this month. +The programme is aimed towards taking the message of nutrition to every household. +Highlighting the National Nutrition Mission, PM said that ‘Poshan Abhiyaan’ launched from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, targets reduction in incidence of stunting, anaemia, malnutrition and low birth weight. +He added that it is essential to involve maximum women and children with this movement. +PM said that the Government has focussed on aspects relating to nutrition and quality healthcare. +Vaccination efforts are progressing at a quick pace, helping women and children in particular. +The health workers and beneficiaries across the country shared their experiences with PM. +Prime Minister appreciated the efforts and dedication of the team three ‘A’ – ASHA, ANM and Anganwadi workers for effective implementation of the Mission Indradhanush and for providing vaccination cover to more than 3 lakh pregnant women and 85 crore children. +During the interaction, Prime Minister urged to spread further information about Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan. +PM highlighted the link between the health and the growth of the nation; he said if the children of the country are weak then its growth would also slow down. +For any infant first thousand days of life is very crucial. +Nutritious food, dietary habits during this time, decide how its body will become, how it will be in reading and writing and how strong it will be mentally. +If a citizen of the country is healthy, no one can stop the development of the country. +So, in the initial thousand days, efforts are being made for developing a strong mechanism to secure the future of the country. +It is also noteworthy that according to WHO report, use of toilets under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has potential to save 3 lakh innocent life. +PM once again congratulated the fellow citizen for their dedication towards cleanliness. +Prime Minister also mentioned about the first beneficiary of Ayushman Bharat, baby Karishma also famous as Ayushman baby. +He added that she has become the symbol of hope for more than 10 crore families who are going to benefit by launch of Ayushman Bharat from Ranchi on 23rd of this month. +The Prime Minister announced the doubling of routine incentives given by the Union Government to ASHA workers. +In addition, all ASHA workers and their helpers would be provided free insurance cover under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Prime Minister Suraksha Bima Yojana. +Prime Minister also announced significant increase in the honorarium given to Anganwadi workers. +Those receiving Rs. 3000 so far, would now receive Rs. 4500. +Similarly those receiving Rs. 2200, would now get Rs. 3500. +The honorarium for Anganwadi helpers has also been increased from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2250. +Girl students from the New Horizon Educational Institution, Karnataka, today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +These students had recently won the first prize in the Techno-Challenge 2015 competition in the United States. +Inspired by the Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat” initiative, these students have developed a mobile app, which connects buyers and sellers of “waste.” +The Prime Minister wished the students well for their future endeavours. +Union Minister Shri Ananth Kumar, and MP Shri Prahlad Joshi were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief on the demise of veteran hindi poet Kedarnath Singh. +PM said, ” Deeply sad on demise of great poet- writer Kedarnath Singh. +He gave space to emotions of public life in his poetry. +He will always be an inspiration for literature world and general people.” +Greeting the Teachers’ community, and paying tribute to Dr. S. Radhakrishnan on Teachers’ Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that teachers inspire as well as inform, educate and enlighten. +In an email sent to lakhs of teachers, the Prime Minister mentioned their tremendous influence on the lives of children, and added that the values inculcated by teachers stay with the students for a lifetime. +Shri Narendra Modi said that the 21st century will be shaped by societies that accord topmost importance to education, research, and innovation. +“Needless to say, this makes the role of our teachers extremely vital,” he added. +“I am sure you are keeping up-to-date with the latest advances in technology and further connecting your students with the technological trends,” the Prime Minister wrote in his letter to teachers. +He also mentioned some of the efforts that the Government of India is undertaking to bring about a paradigm shift in the education sector. +“Thanks to the monumental efforts of teachers like you, the focus has successfully shifted from outlays to outcomes, from teaching to learning. +The emphasis on skill development has received a significant push due to the Atal Tinkering Labs. +Numerous universities are being set up across India so that no youngster is denied the joys of quality education,” the Prime Minister said. +Noting that on 2nd October, we mark the start of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, the Prime Minister exhorted the teaching community to take the lead in furthering the thoughts and noble ideals of Bapu in an innovative manner, among the students. +He appreciated the “stupendous role of the teaching community in strengthening the Swachh Bharat Mission.” +Reiterating his vision of a New India by 2022, when we mark 75 years of freedom, the Prime Minister urged the teaching community to devote the coming four years towards fulfilling the dreams and vision of those who gave their lives for our freedom. +“I urge you to focus on any issue close to your heart, mobilise local communities and make a positive difference in the lives of those around you. +This would be a fitting tribute to our freedom fighters and further the resolve to build a New India,” the Prime Minister said. +We have just concluded the eighth (8th) BRICS Summit. +It has been an honour and privilege to welcome President Xi, President Zuma President Temer, and President Putin to the beautiful state of Goa. +Our discussions, that spread over three sessions today, were detailed, substantive and productive. +In the morning, we exchanged views on important global issues, including terrorism, global economic scenario, and the need to reform the global governance architecture. +We also utilized the opportunity to review on-going BRICS cooperation. +During the Plenary Session, we focused on ideas and possibilities for BRICS future expansion in years ahead. +The conversation was useful and forward looking. +And, as we mark a decade of BRICS, it is particularly timely. +We have just ended a session with the BRICS Business Council. +We also heard from the President of the New Development Bank on the meaningful work that NDB has undertaken in its first year. +I am happy to share that we have adopted the Goa Declaration that lays down a comprehensive vision for our cooperation and coordination, within BRICS and on international issues. +Ladies and gentlemen, +Let me now turn to the issues that received high attention from the BRICS Leaders during the Summit. +We were also one in agreeing that BRICS need to work together and act decisively to combat this threat. +We underscored the need for close coordination on tracking sources of terrorist financing; and targeting the hardware of terrorism, including weapons’ supplies, ammunition, equipment, and training. +We also agreed that those who nurture, shelter, support and sponsor such forces of violence and terror are as much a threat to us as the terrorists themselves. +India is happy to note the unity of thought and purpose on this serious global challenge. +Putting the global economy back on track was another focus point of our deliberations. +We recognized the positive contribution of BRICS countries’ to global economic growth after the 2008 financial crisis. +We feel that it is necessary for economies to make public investments in long term infrastructure projects, coordinate macro-economic policy, drive growth, and promote world trade and manufacturing with renewed vigour. +We emphasized the central role for the WTO as the cornerstone of the multilateral trade architecture. +We acknowledged the need to strike a balance between economic development and environmental protection. +We welcome the early entry into force of the Paris Climate Agreement. +India was proud to ratify the Agreement on 2nd October this year, the birth anniversary of the foremost environmentalist in history, Mahatma Gandhi. +As BRICS Leaders, we agreed to focus on institution building within the BRICS as an effective way to pursue our development agenda. +We commended the New Development Bank on completion of its first year. +We agreed that the NDB should continue to focus on infrastructure, technology and renewable energy sectors. +We were united in our view to establish the BRICS Agriculture Research Platform, BRICS Railway Research Network, BRICS Sports Council, and various youth-centric fora. +We spoke in one voice of our resolve to promote the reform of the global financial and economic architecture, and expand the role of emerging and developing economies in the International Monetary Fund. +In order to further bridge the gap in the global financial architecture, we agreed to fast track the setting up of a BRICS Rating Agency. +We also agreed to enhance our coordination within the G20. +The vitality of people-to-people contacts amongst the BRICS countries has been a point of emphasis for us. +To this end, we are organizing over 100 activities throughout the year and taking BRICS to diverse geographies and demographies across our countries. +We have agreed to nurture people-to-people pillar of our cooperation as a continuing effort. +The BRICS is also committed to strengthen our consultations and cooperation on peace and security matters. +Ladies and Gentlemen, +A highlight of the Goa Summit will be the outreach to the BIMSTEC countries. +The Heads of State, Heads of Government and Leaders from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, that together with India, collectively constitute the BIMSTEC, are in Goa as the special guests to 8th BRICS Summit. +The first BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit will be held later today. +This will be a unique opportunity for BRICS and BIMSTEC leaders to hold a conversation on prospects for closer partnership and coordination. +As home to nearly two third of humanity, BRICS and BIMSTEC together can potentially unlock immense synergies with huge benefits for all our people. +In conclusion, I would like to thank my fellow leaders from the BRICS countries for their unqualified support in ensuring a successful 8th BRICS Summit. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the final extension of the term of the Other Backward Classes in the Central List currently mandated upto 20th June 2018, till 31st July, 2018. +The Commission held extensive meetings with the stake holders including the State Governments, the State Backward Classes Commissions, various community associations and general public belonging to various Backward Classes and Communities. +The Commission also obtained records, caste-wise of OBCs admitted in higher educational institution as well as similar caste-wise data of recruits in Central Departments, Central Public Sector Undertakings, Public Sector Banks & Financial Institutions. +To have a detailed look at the data collected, the Commission has sought extension of its term 31st July, 2018. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Centenary Celebrations of Bharat Sevashram Sangha through video conference. +The event is being organized at Shillong. +Welcoming the Prime Minister on the occasion, the General Secretary of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Sreemat Swami Biswatmananda ji Maharaj, spoke of the glorious spiritual and service traditions of India. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister recalled the time that he had worked with the Bharat Sevashram Sangha in Gujarat. +He conveyed his best wishes on the occasion to the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, which he said, combined the virtues of service (seva) and labour (shram). +He said the work of the organization in the North-East, and during the time of disasters, has been especially praiseworthy. +The Prime Minister explained the significance of serving the poor and the needy, as described in the scriptures. +He said Swami Pranavananda, the founder of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, had spoken of social justice a century ago, and established the Sangh for this purpose. +The Prime Minister said a myth has been sought to be created in recent times that “service” and “spirituality” are two different things. +He said the Bharat Sevashram Sangha has been able to dispel this myth, through its work. +The Prime Minister said that societal development through ‘Bhakti’, ‘Shakti’ and ‘Jan Shakti’ was achieved by Swami Pranavananda. +The Prime Minister urged the Bharat Sevashram Sangha to work towards “Swachhagrah” – or cleanliness, especially in North-Eastern India. +He spoke of the Government’s resolve to develop the North-East, and added that focus on connectivity and infrastructure could help develop the North-East to become a gateway to South-East Asia. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted sports enthusiasts on National Sports Day. +“Greetings to all sports enthusiasts on National Sports Day. +Tributes to the phenomenal hockey player, Major Dhyan Chand Ji on his birth anniversary. +I urge people to give priority to sports and fitness related activities, which will contribute towards a healthier India. +I salute all those who have represented India in various sporting events. +Their hardwork and resolve has led to several milestones. +This year has been great for our sporting fraternity, with the Indian athletes excelling in various tournaments including Asian Games 2018 and Commonwealth Games”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will be visiting Ireland and United States of America (USA) from September 23, 2015 to September 29, 2015. +In a series of Facebook posts the Prime Minister said:- +“On 23rd September 2015 I will visit Ireland. +It is after almost 60 years that an Indian Prime Minister will visit Ireland. +In Ireland I will hold talks with Mr. Enda Kenny, the Taoiseach of Ireland. +We hope to further develop strong people-to-people and economic ties with Ireland in the years to come. +In Ireland I will also interact with the Indian community. +On 24th September 2015, I will commence my visit to USA. +This visit seeks to build on the substantial ground covered during my last visit to USA and President Obama’s visit to India early this year. +I am going to USA at a historic moment when the United Nations is celebrating its 70th anniversary. +India attaches great importance to the United Nations. +In July, I had written a letter to heads of governments of 193 nations outlining India’s vision for UN agenda and reforms. +I am glad that leaders of several nations wrote back appreciating our vision. +In New York City, I will address the UN Sustainable Development Summit for formal adoption of post-2015 new sustainable development agenda. +Coming from a culture that regards harmony as central to its ethos, I am glad to have an opportunity to address this forum. +The new goals are closely aligned with India’s vision for sustainable development and our flagship programs for the same. +I will also participate in a summit hosted by President Obama on peacekeeping. +India has historically been one of the largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping forces. +Over 180,000 Indian troops have participated in UN peacekeeping missions – more than from any other country. +We are proud of our peacekeeping forces spread across the world, ensuring peace in difficult circumstances. +I will pay homage to all those brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for peace. +And I look forward to sharing my thoughts on how to make peacekeeping more effective. +The 70th anniversary of the UN is an apposite moment for reform discussions to be accelerated. +Recently, the UN General Assembly finally adopted a document after over 20 years that would form the basis of formal discussions on this matter. +I will be meeting several world leaders during the visit. +Also, I will have interactions with leading investors and financial sector firms. +There will be a working dinner where major Fortune-500 companies will be present to deliberate on investment opportunities in India. +We have been interacting with several American business leaders over the last year and the outcomes have been encouraging. +During my USA visit I will be visiting the West Coast on 26th and 27th September, where I will join several programmes. +I will be part of a Townhall Q&A at the Facebook HQ along with Mr. Mark Zuckerberg. +We will discuss some global issues and issues relating to India, particularly on the economy and society. +This is a Townhall you shouldn’t miss. +I have already invited you all to share your questions through Facebook or the ‘Narendra Modi Mobile App.’ +I will also see some recent technological innovations at the Google (Alphabet) campus and Tesla Motors. +I will address a Renewable Energy Roundtable with USDOC and Stanford University. +An event that I am enthusiastic about is the ‘India-US Start-up Konnect.’ +India is emerging as a hub of start-ups in a wide range of areas and we aspire to take this further. +We want the world to see our innovation capabilities in the start-up sector. +At this event, a group of Indian start-ups will showcase their innovations and forge partnerships with the vibrant American start-up industry. +In San Jose, I will interact with the Indian community on the 27th September. +The Indian diaspora has left no stone unturned in strengthening India-USA ties. +We are very proud of the accomplishments of our diaspora that has made immense contributions to both our societies. +I am sure my US visit will be fruitful and further deepen the bond between the world’s oldest and largest democracies.” +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, stayed at the Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), during his two-day visit to Varanasi. +Writing in the visitors’ book as he concluded his visit, he remarked that the stay in DLW brought back memories of his childhood, when he had been closely associated with trains and railway stations. +The Prime Minister described how he recalled the passengers and railway carriages, and how this was such an emotional experience for him. +The Prime Minister thanked the hard-working (karmyogi) people at DLW and said he would now keep visiting. +Looking ahead, the Prime Minister said that the memories of childhood would lead to new resolve and new possibilities. +May Mother Ganga’s love and blessings keep our country, and our thoughts, clean, the Prime Minister said. +Following is the original hindi text of the Prime Minister’s inscription:- +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), at Los Banos, in Philippines. +IRRI is a premier research organisation dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice growing environment for future generations. +The Prime Minister undertook a symbolic ground breaking for a new plot for submergence tolerant rice varieties. +He unveiled a plaque to mark the inauguration of the Shri Narendra Modi Resilient Rice Field Laboratory. +He presented two Indian rice seed varieties to the IRRI gene bank. +During the course of the visit, the Prime Minister interacted with several Indian scientists working at IRRI. +The Prime Minister also visited the Mahaveer Phillipine Foundation in Manila. +The Foundation, in association with Mahaveer Viklang Sahayta Samiti, has been instrumental in the fitment of Jaipur Foot to needy amputees. +The Prime Minister interacted with people who have benefited from the Jaipur Foot. +The second half of the budget session of the parliament gets underway today. +“Saddened by the loss of lives at a mine in Jharkhand. +My prayers are with those trapped inside. +Spoke to CM Raghubar Das on the situation. +Jharkhand Government & Minister @PiyushGoyal are working to restore normalcy. @NDRFHQ has been engaged for rescue & relief operations”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a preliminary meeting with PMO officials today. +PMO officials made a detailed presentation on the structure and functions of the PMO. +During the course of the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed upon the need to resolve the people’s grievances on fast track basis. +He emphasized to leverage modern technology and develop systems and processes for effective monitoring and resolution of issues which are particularly brought to his office. +He also stated that over the past several decades, PMO has evolved as an important institution and its best practices should be carried forward. +Prime Minister also indicated that he would like his office to consider issues, especially those raised by the States on priority and with sensitivity. +He added that this is important because India’s progress lies in the progress of States and this would strengthen our federal structure. +He also underscored the importance of addressing concerns raised by people’s representatives personally or through Parliamentary procedures. +He emphasized on team work to bring in good governance and encouraged officials to freely interact with him with their ideas. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today congratulated India’s scientists on the launch of IRNSS-1D satellite. +“Launch of satellite IRNSS-1D is yet another manifestation of the exemplary efforts and utmost brilliance of our scientists. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Palestine, United Arab Emirates and Oman. +“I will be undertaking bilateral visits to Palestine, United Arab Emirates and Oman from 9-12 February. +I am happy to visit the Gulf and West Asian region for the fifth time since 2015. +This region is a key priority in our external engagement. +We enjoy vibrant multi-dimensional ties with the countries here. +The visit will begin from Palestine, on 10 February after transiting through Jordan. +I am grateful to His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan for facilitating the transit. +I look forward to meeting him in Amman on 9th February. +This will be the first ever Prime Ministerial visit to Palestine from India. +I am looking forward to my discussions with President Mahmoud Abbas and reaffirming our support for the Palestinian people and the development of Palestine. +I will visit UAE on 10-11 February, where I am returning after my visit in August 2015. +I will be discussing our progress in these areas and more in my meetings with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. +At the invitation of the leadership of the UAE, I will be addressing the 6th edition of the World Government Summit in Dubai, where India is the Guest Country of Honour. +On the same day, I will also engage leading UAE and Arab CEOs in Dubai on the vast economic opportunities in India and what more can be done together to bolster business collaboration. +Oman is a close maritime neighbour with whom we enjoy excellent relations. +I will hold talks with His Majesty the Sultan of Oman and other key leaders. +I shall also interact with leading businesspersons of Oman on developing stronger economic and business links with India. +Oman is a close maritime neighbor with whom we enjoy excellent relations. +I am delighted to undertake my first visit there as Prime Minister on 11-12 February. +India and Oman have thriving links rooted in centuries old people-to-people exchanges. +On the evening of 11th February, I will be meeting His Majesty the Sultan of Oman. +I will also meet Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers HH Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said and Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs HH Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said. +We will review bilateral cooperation and steps to further enhance our traditionally strong links. +On 12th February, I will interact with leading businesspersons of Oman on developing stronger economic and business links with India. +In both Oman and the UAE, I will have the opportunity to meet the large Indian diasporas that have made those countries their home. +More than 9 million Indians work and live in the Gulf region, of which about one third live in the UAE alone. +In Oman, they constitute the largest expatriate community. +The Indian diaspora is a bridge of friendship between India and the Gulf states. +They are also active participants in the prosperity and progress of their host countries. +I look forward to strengthening India’s growing and important ties with West Asia and the Gulf region through the visit”. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi was very pleased and honoured to meet today His Excellency Md. +Abdul Hamid, President of Bangladesh. +Prime Minister lauded President Hamid’s contribution to Bangladesh’s War of Liberation and said it was a privilege to welcome a “Mukti jodha” in the week when Bangladesh celebrates the success of its liberation campaign. +They discussed the importance of economic cooperation and improved connectivity between India and Bangladesh for advancing prosperity in the two countries and for development and progress in the border region. +They agreed that India and Bangladesh should take the lead in fostering closer cooperation in the region. +Prime Minister thanked President Hamid for the invitation to visit Bangladesh and said he eagerly looked forward to an early visit. +Nation gears up for Independence Day Celebrations +A proud nation celebrates its 70th Independence Day tomorrow. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15th August around 7.30 am on this occasion. +Several events have been organized in the run up to the Independence Day while activities have been lined up for the day and subsequently to generate the patriotic fervor among the people. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Tiranga Yatra on 9th August from the birth place of the freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad in Madhya Pradesh. +The Yatra is aimed at invoking the patriotic fervor among the people from all walks of life holding aloft the Tricolour. +The Tiranga Yatras will be held till 23rd August in which 75 ministers will visit 150 places associated with the freedom struggle. +Seven women Ministers will visit the country’s borders to tie rakhis on soldiers. +A week long Bharat Parv has been organized at the Rajpath Lawns in New Delhi by the Ministry of Culture. +Its aim is to generate a patriotic mood, promote the rich cultural diversity of the country and to ensure wider participation of the masses. +Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar inaugurated the Bharat Parv at the Rajpath Lawns on 12th August evening, in the presence of I&B Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Culture & Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma. +The event is open to the public and entry is free. +The highlights of the event include performances by the Armed Forces Bands, a multi-cuisine food court with 50 stalls, handicrafts mela, 17-themed pavilions and cultural performances from various States, Regional Associations/Sangathans/Cultural & Social Organizations etc. +The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has put on display a photo exhibition titled “Azadi 70 Saal- Yaad Karo Kurbani”. +Several unique initiatives have been undertaken across the country to make the Independence Day Celebrations as the People’s festival. +A week long “Independence Day Film Festival” is going on at Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi since 12th August. +The Festival of Independence theme song “TirangaYatra” has been launched on the same day. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2011 and Renewal of MoU between the Institute of Chartered Accountants, of India (ICAI) and Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), United Arab Emirates. +The renewal of the MoU with the HCT, UAE is on the following terms:- +1. ICAI will provide technical assistance to HCT by reviewing the current curriculum of HCT related to accounting and finance; +2. ICAI will recommend introduction of new/revised courses and modules that will facilitate HCT students to write ICAI’s Technical professional Examination with aim to acquire membership of ICAI; +3. ICAI will provide technical assistance in holding ICAI’s professional examination for qualified HCT students; +4. ICAI will collaborate to provide seminars and workshops for HCT students and faculty; +5. ICAI will provide specialized relevant Adjunct faculty on mutually agreeable basis; +6. ICAI will provide certification courses for HCT students; +7. HCT will provide facilities to hold ICAI’s professional and technical exams; 8. +HCT and ICAI will encourage faculty and student exchange programmes; +9. HCT and ICAI will collaborate to hold professional development and technical events, seminars and conferences at various HCT’s colleges in UAE. +HCT will provide venue for such events and will encourage its students and faculty member to attend these events; +10. HCT and ICAI will collaborate to offer short professional courses in the domain of accounting, finance and audit in UAE via HCT’s Centre of Excellence for applied Research and Training (CERT). +The proposal seeks to advance the goals on equity, public accountability and innovation. +The ICAI is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India namely The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. +HCT UAE is a community of more than 23,000 students and 2,000 staff based on 17 modern, technology-enhanced campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Fujairah, Madinat Zayed, Ras Al Khaimah, Ruwais and Sharjah, making it the largest higher education institution in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). +HCT is dedicated to the delivery of technical and professional programs of the highest quality to the students within context of sincere respect for all beliefs and values and has the vision to be an internationally recognized and accredited provider of technical and professional tertiary education. +The mission of HCT is to be a key education fundamental pillar on which a modern nation is built. +The ICAI has considered renewal of the MoU between ICAI and HCT, UAE to work together in strengthening the Accounting, Financial and Audit knowledge base within UAE through this MoU. +The MoU with HCT was signed on 4th January, 2011 for a period of 5 years. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation today with Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak at the request of Malaysian side. +Prime Minister congratulated Prime Minister Najib for Malaysia’s victory in the elections for the membership of 2015-16 term of the UN Security Council. +He also conveyed the sympathy and solidarity of the Government and people of India in connection with the tragic incidents involving Malaysian Airlines flights MH-17 and MH-370. +Prime Minister Najib expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by Government of India in connection with these incidents. +Prime Minister Najib congratulated the Prime Minister on his emphatic victory in the Parliamentary elections followed by State Assembly elections. +These results, he said, were reflective of the trust and confidence that the people of India had in the leadership of Prime Minister Modi to take India forward on the path of growth and prosperity. +Prime Minister Najib said that a strong and prosperous India was important for Malaysia and ASEAN. +Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s commitment to work for strengthening and expanding relations with Malaysia. +Prime Minister Najib invited the Prime Minister to pay a bilateral visit to Malaysia next year. +Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation and also invited PM Najib to visit India as per his convenience. +Both Prime Ministers also agreed to meet on the margins of the forthcoming East Asia Summit in Myanmar. +Addressing IAS Officers of the 2014 batch at the Inaugural Session of Assistant Secretaries, the Prime Minister said that they had a great opportunity to enhance their skills and learning, far beyond what they had imbibed during their training so far. +He urged them to use the next three months, to add value their own skill-sets, and also attempt to add value to the working of the Departments they had been attached with. +He particularly mentioned the use of technology in governance, and asked the young officers to work towards technology upgradation in the working of Government. +The Prime Minister urged the officers not to be overawed by hierarchy, and to be frank and fearless in their interaction with senior officers during the next three months of their attachment as Assistant Secretaries to the Union Government. +He mentioned that this is a new feature of IAS training begun with the 2013 batch, and it ensures that IAS officers have a stint at the Centre right at the beginning of their career – an opportunity that their seniors may not have had. +The Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh and senior Government Officers were present on the occasion. +The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Manohar Lal, and the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Harish Rawat, today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and submitted the final report of the sub-group of Chief Ministers on Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. +The Prime Minister complimented the Chief Ministers for their efforts. +He said that the task of accomplishing Swachh Bharat, though difficult, is not impossible to achieve. +The Sub-Group consisted of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and West Bengal as Members with Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh as the Convener of the Sub-Group. +To bring about this transformation, a professionally driven behaviour change communication strategy and increasing the funding for the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) component of the Mission, has been suggested. +Given the scale and importance of the programme, it has been suggested that the sharing pattern of funds for this programme between Centre and States may be in the ratio of 75:25, while for hilly States it may be kept at 90:10. +To raise resources for the programme, Swachh Bharat bonds may be issued and a Swachh Bharat cess may be levied by the Central Government on petrol, diesel, telecom services and also on accumulated waste produced by plants generating mineral waste like coal, aluminum, and iron ore. +To provide guidance, support and monitoring of the programme, the report recommends setting up of a dedicated Mission for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, both at National and State Level. +A National Technical Board has been recommended to handhold the States and Local Bodies in identification, evaluation, selection and procurement of technologies. +It has been recommended to reduce the subsidy on chemical fertilizer and increase the subsidy on compost to encourage its use. +In order to improve the viability of waste management activities, the report proposes provision of tax exemptions by the Centre and the State Government to the private sector. +The report recommends certain measures to attract private sector participation and Public Private Partnership (PPP). +It has been recommended that waste to energy plants may be set up on PPP mode in bigger municipalities and cluster of municipalities, whereas, composting method may be adopted for smaller towns and villages. +Measures for operation and maintenance of community and public toilets have been proposed, including different measures for rural and urban areas. +To resolve inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues, a common platform may be provided by NITI Aayog. +It is proposed that NITI Aayog may develop an objective assessment framework for assessing Open Defecation Free (ODF) and ODF plus. +Incentive measures have been proposed such as Swachh Bharat Grading/Rating for all Gram Panchayats, Municipalities, Blocks, Districts and States, each year to promote competition among them. +Further, it has been recommended that one day in each month and one week each year (culminating with 2nd October) may be assigned for the activities of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and to reward best performing Gram Panchayat, Block, ULB, District and State as per the ratings. +The report proposes to enhance the assistance for construction of one unit of individual household toilet in both urban and rural areas to Rs. 15,000/-. +The report recommends integration of rag pickers into the waste management system so that their livelihood is not adversely affected. +Further, both Centre and States should make efforts towards eradication of manual scavenging activity through strict enforcement of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. +All laws and rules on waste management need to be reviewed for ensuring their strict enforcement. +PM in Srinagar: dedicates Kishanganga Hydropower Station to the nation +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated the Kishanganga Hydropower Station to the nation at a function in Srinagar. +He also laid the foundation stone of the Srinagar Ring Road. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister recalled the various occasions in the past four years when he had visited the State of Jammu and Kashmir. +He said that the month of Ramzan is the time to recall the teachings and message of Prophet Muhammad. +The Prime Minister said that the 330 MW Kishanganga Hydropower project would go a long way in fulfilling the electricity requirements of the State. +He emphasized the need for balanced development of all three regions of the State – Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh. +The new website contains updated information on the work of the Government and other relevant news on the PM. +The fresh look comes at the time when the NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi completes one year in office. +Shri Modi shared the new look website on Twitter and Facebook. +The new website offers several features. +It is a repository of news and information on the Prime Minister, his programmes and his speeches. +It offers updated information on the initiatives taken by the Government. +The website enables people to get in touch with the Prime Minister. +People can write to the Prime Minister and share their thoughts and inputs. +Similarly, the website directs people to the MyGov platform: https://mygov.in/ for suggestions and inputs on governance. +The new look website is a reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on integrating technology in governance. +The Government is working towards “Digital India,” that will benefit the lives of people. +It has also approved acquisition of controlling stake by Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) as promoter in the bank through preferential allotment / open offer of equity, and relinquishment of management control by the Government in the bank. +The acquisition has wide-ranging synergy benefits for customers, LIC and the bank. +Benefits to the two entities emanate from economies of scale, reduction in the costs of distribution and customer acquisition, greater efficiency and flexibility in operations, and greater opportunity for cross-selling of products and services. +These would help financially strengthen both LIC and the bank, as well as their subsidiaries which offer financial products such as housing finance and mutual funds. +Further, the bank would get an opportunity to tap 11 lakh LIC agents for doorstep banking services, positioning it to improve customer services and deepen financial inclusion. +The bank would also be positioned to benefit in terms of lower cost of funds through acquisition of low-cost deposits, and fee income from payment services. +Further, LIC would gain in terms of furthering the realisation of its vision of becoming a financial conglomerate. +Customers too would benefit through wider offerings of financial services under one roof, and LIC being better positioned to expand life insurance coverage. +In 2016, the Finance Minister, in his Budget Speech announced that the process of transformation of IDBI Bank has started and that Government will take it forward and also consider the option of reducing its stake below 50%. +Taking note of this announcement, with the approval of its Board, LIC sought permission of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) for acquiring controlling stake in IDBI Bank. +After receipt of IRDAI’s permission and carrying out diligence, LIC expressed its interest in acquiring 51% controlling stake to IDBI Bank. +The bank in turn, after consideration of this offer by its Board, sought Government’s decision in the context of Government’s stake coming down below 51% as a result of the proposed acquisition. +The Memorandum of Understanding will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today offered prayers at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. +He donated 2500 kg of sandalwood to the temple. +Temple authorities presented the Prime Minister with a small scale model of the temple. +In the visitor`s book, he wrote that Pashupatinath Temple and Kashi Vishwanath Temple (in Varanasi) appear similar. +The Prime Minister later greeted thousands of people who had assembled in and around the temple premises. +The GSLV Programme – Phase 4 will enable the launch of 2 tonne class of satellites for Geo-imaging, Navigation, Data Relay Communication and Space Sciences. +The GSLV Continuation Programme – Phase 4 will meet the launch requirement of satellites for providing critical Satellite Navigation Services, Data Relay Communication for supporting the Indian Human spaceflight programme and the next interplanetary mission to Mars. +This will also ensure the continuity of production in Indian industry. +Implementation Strategy and targets: +The GSLV Continuation Programme – Phase 4 will meet the demand for the launch of satellites at a frequency up to two launches per year, with maximal participation by the Indian industry. +All the operational flights would be completed during the period 2021-24. +The operationalization of GSLV has made the country self-reliant in the launching capability of 2 tonne class of satellites for communication & meteorological satellites. +GSLV has enabled independent access to space for 2 tonne class of satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). +One of the very significant outcomes of the GSLV Continuation Programme is the mastering of the highly complex cryogenic propulsion technology, which is an essential technological capability to launch communication satellites to GTO. +This has also paved the way for the development of a high thrust Cryogenic engine & stage for the next generation launch vehicle i.e. GSLV Mk-lll. +With the recent successful launch of GSLV-F11 on 19th December 2018, GSLV has successfully orbited 10 national satellites. +GSLV with the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage has established itself as a reliable launch vehicle for communication, navigation and meteorological satellites and also to undertake future interplanetary missions. +It is a true pleasure to welcome Her Excellency Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India. +Your visit to India comes at an auspicious time, just before the advent of पोयला बोइशाख. +The extraordinary transformation in our relationship and achievements of our partnership are a clear recognition of your strong and decisive leadership. +Your decision to honour Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in the Liberation War of 1971 has deeply touched the people of India. +Every Indian takes pride in the knowledge that Indian soldiers and बीर मुक्तिजोधा fought together to liberate Bangladesh from the reign of terror. +Today, Excellency Sheikh Hasina and I held productive and comprehnsive discussions on the full range of our partnership. +We agreed that the agenda of our cooperation has to remain focused on purposeful action. +We specifically looked at charting new avenues and tapping fresh opportunities in advancing our relationship. +We want to build cooperation in new areas, especially some high-technology areas, that have a deeper connect with the youth in both our societies. +These would include working in the fields of Electronics, Information Technology, Cyber Security, Space exploration, Civil Nuclear Energy, and others areas. +India has always stood for the prosperity of Bangladesh and its people. +We are a long-standing and trusted development partner of Bangladesh. +India and Bangladesh are also determined that the fruits of our cooperation must benefit our people. +In this context, I am happy to announce a new concessional Line of Credit of 4.5 billion dollars for the implemntation of projects in priority sectors for Bangladesh. +This brings our resource allocation for Bangladesh to more than 8 billion dollars over the past six years. +Energy Security is an important dimension of our development partnership. +And, our energy partnerhship continues to grow. +Today, we added an additional 60 Mega Watt of power to the 600 Mega Watt of power already flowing from India to Bangladesh. +The supply of another 500 Mega Watt has already been committed from the existing inter-connection. +We have also agreed to finance the diesel oil pipeline from Numaligarh to Parbatipur. +Our companies are entering into a long-term agreement for the supply of high speed diesel to Bangladesh. +We have also agreed on a time table for regular supply till the pipeline is constructed. +We are encouraging private sectors in both our countries to enter this space. +Several agreements for investments in the energy sector in Bangladesh are expected to be signed by the Indian companies in the coming days. +India will continue to be a willing partner in meeting the energy needs of Bangladesh, and its goal of achieving ‘Power for all by 2021’. +Connectivity is crucial for the success of bilateral development partnership, sub-regional economic projects and for the larger regional economic prosperity. +Today, together with the Honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal , we have added several new links to our growing connectivity. +Bus and train links between Kolkata and Khulna, and राधिकापुर-बीरोल have been restored today. +In-land water-ways routes are being optimized. +And, steps are being taken to put into operation the Coastal Shipping Agreement. +We are also happy to see the progress being made in two-way trans-shipment of goods. +This would usher in a new era of sub-regional integration. +Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and I recognize the need to diversify our commercial engagement. +In this, a major part of the effort has to be from the business and industry of the two countries. +We are happy to receive the high powered business delegation accompanying the Prime Minister. +Our agreement to open new Border Haats will empower border communities through trade and contribute to their livelihoods. +Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and I have noted the success of our capacity building and training initiatives. +The training of 1500 Bangladesh civil servants in India has almost concluded. +We would undertake training along similar lines for 1500 Judicial Officers of Bangladesh in our judicial academies. +While our partnership brings prosperity to our people, it also works to protect them from forces of radicaliztion and extremism. +Their spread poses a grave threat, not just to India and Bangladesh but to the entire region. +We have the greatest admiration for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s firm resolve in dealing with terrorism. +Her Government’s ‘zero-tolerance’ policy towards terrorism is an inspiration for all of us. +We agreed that peace, security and development for our people and for the region will remain central to our engagement. +Today, we have also taken a long overdue step by signing an agreement on close cooperation between our armed forces. +I am also happy to announce a Line of Credit of US dollars 500 million to support Bangladesh’s defence related procurement. +In implementing this line of credit, we will be guided by Bangladesh’s needs and priorities. +Our two countries share one of the longest land boundaries. +During my visit to Dhaka in June 2015, we had concluded the Land Boundary Agreement. +Its implemntation is now underway. +Along with our shared land boundaries are our shared rivers. +They sustain our peoples and their livelihoods. +And, the one that has attracted the greatest attention is the Teesta. +This is important for India, for Bangladesh and for India-Bangladesh relationship. +I am very happy that the Chief Minister of West Bengal is my honoured guest today . +I know that her feelings for Bangladesh are as warm as my own. +I assure you and the people of Bangladesh of our commitment and continuing efforts. +I firmly believe that it is only my government and Excellency Sheikh Hasina,your government, that can and will find an early solution to Teesta Water Sharing. +Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a dear friend of India and a towering leader. +As a mark of our respect and deep admiration for the father of Bangladesh, a prominent road in our capital city has been named after him. +We have also agreed to jointly produce a film on the life and works of Bangabandhuwhich will be released on his birth centenary year in 2020. +Along with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ji, I am also honoured to release the Hindi translation of Bangbandhu’s ‘Unfinished Memoirs’. +His life, struggle and contribution to the creation of Bangladesh will continue to inspire future generations. +To mark the Golden Jubilee Year of Bangladesh’s independence in 2021, we have agreed to jointly produce a documentary film on the Liberation War of Bangladesh. +We in India rejoice in our ties with Bangladesh. +Ties that have been forged in blood and generations of kin-ship. +Ties that seek a better and secure future for our people. +With these words, Excellency, I once again welcome you and your delegation to India. +Shri Avinash Rai Khanna, MP, Rajya Sabha and Shri Vijay Kumar Chopra, Editor-in-Chief, Punjab Kesari Group called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today and presented drafts worth over Rs 2.40 crore towards Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), on behalf of the Punjab Kesari Group. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved renaming of Jharsuguda Airport, Odisha as “Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda” +Veer Surendra Sai is a well-known freedom fighter of Odisha. +Renaming of the Jharsuguda airport in his name will fulfill long-pending demand of the Odisha Government, which reflects the sentiments of the local public of the respective area. +It will also be a befitting tribute to the contribution of the revered personality associated with the State. +The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the renewal of Long Term Agreements (LTAs) for supply of iron ore (lumps and fines) of grade +64% Fe content to Japanese Steel Mills (JSMs) and POSCO, South Korea for another five years (i.e. 1.4.2018 upto 31.3.2023) through MMTC Limited. +1. The present LTAs are valid until 31.3.2018. +The renewed LTAs with steel mills of Japan and POSCO, South Korea shall be for a period of five years from 1.4.2018 to 31.3.2023. +3. The quantities of iron ore proposed for supply to JSMs and POSCO, South Korea through MMTC Limited under these LTAs will be of grade +64% Fe content. +The break up is as follows:- +3.00 ~ 4.30 million tons per annum +POSCO, South Korea +0.80 ~1 .20 million tons per annum +4. The existing policy of single agency operation and exports through MMTC, with trading margin of 2.8% of FOB price, shall be continued. +Export of iron ore under the LTAs would help to strengthen India’s bilateral ties with long-standing partner countries, Japan and South Korea secure an export market and result in inflow of foreign exchange. +The agreement will enable India to secure international market for its ores and ensure stable economic ecosystem which provides direct and indirect employment in mining, logistics and related sectors. +The history of India’s iron ore exports to Japan is almost six decades old and is a consistent component of India’s bilateral relations with Japan. +MMTC has been supplying iron ore to JSMs since 1963 and to South Korea since 1973. +The current LTAs with Japanese Steel Mills (JSMs) and POSCO, South Korea, for supply of iron ore for a period of three years will expire on 31st March, 2018. +The Cabinet, in its meeting held on 24.06.2015 had authorized MMTC Limited to engage in Long Term Agreements(LTAs) with Japanese Steel Mills (JSMs) and POSCO, South Korea, for supply of iron ore for a period of three years (i.e. 2015 to 2018). +1) MoU between Govt of Chhattisgarh, NMDC, IRCON and SAIL for 140km rail line between Rowghat and Jagdalpur. +Estimated project cost: Rs. 2000 crore. +2) MoU between Ministry of Steel, Govt of Chhattisgarh, SAIL and NMDC for 3 million ton Ultra Mega Steel Plant with an investment of approximately Rs. 18,000 crore. +3) MoU between Govt of Chhattisgarh and NMDC for Slurry Pipeline and 2MTPA Pellet Plant at Nagarnar in Bastar District with an investment of Rs. 4000 crore. +4) MoU between Govt of Chhattisgarh and SAIL for setting up 1MTPA Pellet Plant at Dalli-Rajhara, Balod District with an investment of Rs. 826 crore. +In the elegant setting of the Imperial Guest House in Kyoto, Prime Minister Modi sat down with his host, Prime Minister Abe, at a traditional dining table for over one and half hours for an exceptionally warm and friendly conversation over a traditional Japanese meal this evening. +Their discussion was marked by a great deal of mutual respect and admiration and convergence of views. +The two Prime Ministers spoke about the ancient cultural and religious links between the countries, which were not known widely. +They felt that the commencement of Prime Minister Modi’s visit in Kyoto, the old capital city and an important centre of Buddhism, highlighted this important spiritual foundations of India-Japan relations. +They both keenly looked forward to visiting the ancient Toji Temple, which was a symbol of this link, the following morning. +Prime Minister Abe spoke with great enthusiasm and strong conviction about India and the importance of India-Japan relations for Japan and the region. +The discussions covered economic issues, and the opportunities that both countries had to seize the opportunities presented by their respective strong political mandates to inject new momentum and energy in their economies. +They spoke with great optimism about a strong and robust future for India-Japan economic partnership. +Prime Minister Abe expressed confidence that under Prime Minister Modi India’s economic transformation would gather strong momentum. +An economically resurgent India would, he said, be of great strategic importance to the region and the world, and an inspiration for democratic forces around the world. +Prime Minister Modi said that a strong India-Japan partnership was important not just for the economic benefits to the two countries, but even more as a force of good for the region and the world. +Prime Minister Modi was deeply touched by Prime Minister Abe’s gesture of hosting him in Kyoto. +They looked forward to continuing their conversation in Tokyo. +• Distributes, e-rickshaws, pedal rickshaws. +• Beneficiaries to get Jan Dhan Accounts and RuPay cards. +• PM interacts with beneficiaries, shares their dreams with people. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched a significant financial inclusion initiative in Varanasi. +A total of 101 e-rickshaws, 501 pedal rickshaws, and push-carts are being given as part of this initiative. +The beneficiaries will also get bank accounts and RuPay cards under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. +The e-rickshaws are equipped with digital gadgets including GPRS and cameras. +The initiative has been synergized through various financial institutions including SIDBI, IDBI Bank, UCO Bank and the American India Foundation. +Senior officials of these organizations were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister declared that this event marked the beginning of an initiative that would bring about a change in the fortunes of the people of Varanasi. +He said a lot has been said about removal of poverty, but those efforts have not brought adequate results for several decades. +He said that there is a need to increase the pace and the scale of the outcomes of the initiatives to remove poverty. +He said the poor are willing to work hard to improve the lives of the future generations. +In this connection, the Prime Minister said that the Union Government was putting emphasis on skill development, to help make the poor self-reliant. +The Prime Minister had earlier interacted with some of the beneficiaries who received rickshaws and push-carts. +He shared their dreams with the gathering, which ranged from a better education for their children, to a boost in income that would result from enhanced sales with the aid of a push-cart. +The Prime Minister referred to the large number of Rakhis from Varanasi that he had received during the recent festival of Raksha Bandhan, and thanked the mothers and sisters of Varanasi for their blessings and good wishes. +PM’s 14th interaction through PRAGATI +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his fourteenth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to school education and literacy. +He said that there is now an expectation among the people, that the Government will be able to resolve these grievances. +The Prime Minister specifically asked concerned officials to systematize the measures being taken by them to address grievances of students. +He instructed them to use all available technological tools to ensure that school-children do not face inconvenience. +As an illustration, he recalled his earlier instructions to all Ministries for extensive use of space technology. +He said this could help in proper location of examination centres, to minimize difficulties in access for the students. +Reviewing the progress of the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, the Prime Minister was apprised of progress made in improving accessibility in schools, public buildings and railway stations etc. +He appreciated the sensitivity that has been shown in this regard by various departments of the Central and State Governments. +During an appraisal of the progress of Aadhaar enrolment, it was noted that overall enrolment is now close to 105 crore, and special attention is being given to the North-Eastern States which are lacking in this regard. +The Prime Minister urged States to accelerate enrolment among children in the 5 to 18 age-group so that scholarships and other educational benefits become more accessible to them. +The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the road, railway and power sectors, spread over several states including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Maharashtra. +Lays foundation stone for ESIC Multi speciality Hospital at Tiruppur +All 45 km of Phase I of Chennai Metro becomes operational +PM unveils various development projects +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu and unveiled several development projects in the State. +PM unveiled several development projects from Perumanallur village in Tiruppur. +He laid the foundation Stone of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation’s (ESIC) multi speciality Hospital at Tiruppur. +This State-of-the-art, 100- bedded Hospital will cater to the medical needs of over one-lakh workers and their family members in Tiruppur and nearby areas covered under ESI Act. +He dedicated to the nation, ESIC Hospital Chennai. +This 470-bedded hospital with state of art facilities will provide quality treatment on all disciplines of medicine. +PM also laid foundation stone for a new integrated building at Trichy Airport and for the modernization of Chennai airport. +With the new integrated Terminal building in Trichy, the airport can handle 3.63 million passengers per annum on full capacity and 2,900 passengers at peak hour with provision for expansion. +Chennai airport will be modernized with provision of e gates, biometric based passenger screening systems, various other features and will decongest the existing international departure terminal. +Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL’s) Ennore Coastal Terminal was dedicated to the nation on this occasion. +It will be a bigger and better alternative to its Tondiarpet facility. +Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated new Crude Oil Pipeline from Chennai Port to Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (CPCL) Manali Refinery. +The pipeline, built with enhanced safety features, will ensure safe and reliable supply of crude oil, and will cater to the needs of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states. +Passenger Service for a section of Chennai Metro from AG-DMS Metro station to Washermenpet Metro Station was inaugurated by PM. +This 10 km section is a part of Phase-1 of Chennai Metro. +With this stretch all 45 km of the Phase I project becomes operational. +PM then proceeded to Hubli for the last leg of his journey today. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has given its approval for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Afghanistan on cooperation in the field of Human Resource Development. +The MoU would facilitate students and faculty of Educational Institutions in Afghanistan to register and use the SWAYAM Courses. +Also, it would facilitate them to upload on SWAYAM, the courses developed in Afghanistan. +The required training to students and faculty from Afghanistan would be imparted by MHRD, Government of India. +Through this MoU, Government of India would provide access and share the technology of other major ICT Initiatives in Education such as National Digital Library of India (NDLI), Virtual Labs, Spoken Tutorials. +It is also proposed to establish Joint Master Degree Programmes between Indian and Afghanistan Universities / Institutions. +MHRD would assist the Ministry of Higher Education, Afghanistan in the areas of Curriculum Development and Capacity Development of Teaching Staff. +Through this MoU, both the countries agree to sign an agreement on mutual recognition of academic qualifications. +This is expected to promote student mobility under Study in India program, by attracting more foreign students to come and study in Afghan Institutions. +This MoU would be a significant mile-stone in the collaboration between two countries in education sector. +India and Afghanistan have strong diplomatic relations in various areas including education. +To strengthen this further, both the countries have decided to cooperate in the field of Human Resource Development by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). +Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India has taken up number of technology enabled learning initiatives under National Mission on Education through ICT (NMEICT). +Till date, more than 35 Lakhs students have enrolled in about 2000 courses that have been offered through SWAYAM. +This includes courses from Class 9th to Post-Graduation and also for lifelong learning. +The students can avail credit transfer upto 20 % for the courses done through SWAYAM. +Also, this platform is being used to provide Annual Refresher courses for higher education faculty. +Excellency Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong +I have been informed that Singapore is leading the world in putting driverless cars on the road. +But, I rest assured, we all rest assured, that one of India’s strongest well-wishers Prime Minister Lee is in the driving seat for Singapore and for our bilateral relationship. +Excellency Lee, you are a friend of India. +We commend your commitment and contribution to strengthening our ties. +It is indeed a great honour for me to welcome you here today. +My first visit to Singapore as Prime Minister was on a solemn occasion, to pay our respects to Lee Kuan Yew, a guiding light not just for Singapore, but for the whole of Asia. +This year, we were saddened by the demise of another great son of Singapore, former President S. R. Nathan. +He was a close friend of India, and we had the honour to confer on him the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman. +We will miss him. +Singapore’s National Anthem is “Majulah Singapura”– “Onward, Singapore” No surprise, therefore, that if there is one country that seems to act in the present, but is alive to the needs of the future, it is Singapore. +Whether it is manufacturing, environment, innovation, technology, or delivery of public services, Singapore does today what the rest of the world would do tomorrow. +Less than twelve months ago, during my visit to Singapore, we had upgraded our bilateral relationship to the level of a Strategic Partnership with “Renewed Spirit, New Energy”. +To deliver benefits to both our people, our partnership aims to combine the strengths of Singapore with the scale of India; and dynamism of Singapore with vibrancy of our States. +During my visit last year we had drawn up a road map to realize our ambitious cooperative agenda. +Expeditious implementation of agreed decisions has also been an important element of our engagement. +Today, Excellency Lee and I undertook a detailed review of the shape and substance of our strategic partnership. +During my visit to Singapore, Prime Minister Lee had taken me on a visit to the Institute for Technical Education. +I also welcome the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence for Tourism Training in Udaipur, in cooperation with the State Government of Rajasthan. +Rajasthan is also partnering with Singapore in the fields of urban development and waste management. +Singapore is already our partner in developing Amaravati, the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh. +The trade and investment ties form the bedrock of our bilateral relationship. +It is a step forward in our efforts to mobilize capital for India’s large infrastructure development needs. +Our defence and security cooperation is a key pillar of our strategic partnership. +As two maritime nations, keeping the sea lanes of communication open, and respect for international legal order of seas and oceans is a shared priority. +Our cooperation in the framework of ASEAN, East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Framework is aimed at building an open and inclusive architecture for regional cooperation, in an atmosphere of trust and confidence. +Rising tide of terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism, and the rise of radicalization are grave challenges to our security. +India has embarked on a path of strong economic growth and transformation. +In this journey, we regard Singapore as a key partner. +Recently, we benefitted from Deputy Prime Minister Shanmugaratnam’s ideas on transforming India. +I also deeply value your personal friendship, and your leadership in taking our bilateral relationship forward. +Once again, I extend to you and your delegation my warmest welcome. +I am confident that your visit to India will be productive and successful. +PM: There is need for a new set-up which will help India take “a big leap forward” in the spirit of cooperative federalism. +PM: Need for relook at Planning Commission has been raised since 1992. +He was delivering the opening remarks at a consultation meeting with Chief Ministers on the subject of replacement of the Planning Commission. +Invoking the spirit of “cooperative federalism”, the Prime Minister said that the current global scenario offered a chance for India to take a big leap forward. +The Prime Minister called for abandoning the incremental approach. +He stressed on the need for a suitable body to replace the Planning Commission, so that the strengths of the country can be suitably harnessed. +The Prime Minister said the question of role, relevance and restructuring of the Planning Commission had been repeatedly questioned for more than two decades. +The first introspection was done after the launch of economic reforms, in 1992, when it was felt that in light of changing Government policy, a different approach was required. +In 2012, the Parliamentary Consultative Committee stressed the need for a serious look at the Planning Commission and the need for a new body to replace it. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today greeted girl children and young women on New Year’s Day. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the exchanging of Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) land measuring 1.6 acres with an equivalent land area of 1.6 acres offered by Odisha Government. +The State Government has offered 1.6 acres of land in lieu of 1.6 acres land of AAI and agreed to undertake and relocate all the existing infrastructure of AAI on the subject land on its own cost. +Further, the land offered by the State Government is contiguous to existing airport and it will be used by AAI for construction of Parallel Taxi Track. +The exchange of land is not only beneficial to the State Government & AAI but also to the people. +Odisha Government wants to widen the State Government road near Bhubaneswar Airport (known as Ekamara Marg/Palashpalli Road) for streamlining the security arrangements of the VIP movements and creating buffer zone for public use. +For this purpose requires 1.6 acres land of AAI is required by the State Government. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today spoke at the opening session of the Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhawan. +He observed that all Governors can become catalytic agents for change in society, while upholding the sanctity of the Constitution. +Mentioning the target of New India by 2022, the Prime Minister emphasized that this can be achieved only by making it a people’s movement. +He encouraged Governors to interact at length with students and teachers in this regard. +In the same vein, he said youth in every State must focus on one sport. +He encouraged Governors to lead by example on the cause of Swachhata, or cleanliness. +The Prime Minister said that festivals and anniversaries can be great motivators and energizers in the quest for change. +He said that Governors can also motivate banks to give loans under Mudra to tribals, Dalits and women, especially in the period between Constitution Day on November 26th, and Ambedkar Mahaparinirvana Diwas on December 6th. +The Prime Minister encouraged Lt. Governors of Union Territories to share the best practices being adopted by them in areas such as solar energy, DBT, and making Union Territories kerosene free. +He said these achievements must be extended across all Union Territories speedily. +We took note of the following events held under India’s BRICS Chairpersonship before the Goa Summit. +Meetings of Parliamentarians & Ministers +1. BRICS Women Parliamentarians’ Forum(20-21 August 2016, Jaipur) 2. +Meeting of National Security Advisers (15-16 September 2016, New Delhi) 3. +Meeting of BRICS Agriculture Ministers (23 September 2016, New Delhi) 4. +Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Disaster Management (22-23 August 2016, Udaipur) 5. +Meeting of BRICS Education Ministers (30 September 2016, New Delhi) 6. +Meeting of BRICS Environment Ministers (16 September 2016, Goa) 7. +Meetings of BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (14 April 2016, Washington; 14 October 2016, Goa) 8. +Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relationson the margins of UNGA (20 September 2016, New York) 9. +Luncheon Meeting of BRICS Health Ministers and Heads of Delegation on the margins of 69th World Health Assembly (24 May 2016, Geneva) 10. +Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Labour& Employment (9 June 2016 on the margins of ILO meeting, Geneva; 27-28 September 2016, Agra) 11. +4th BRICS Science, Technology & InnovationMinisterial Meeting (8 October 2016, Jaipur) 12. +Meeting of BRICS Working Group on Agriculture (22 September 2016, New Delhi) 14. +Meetings of Experts for BRICS Agriculture Research Platform (27-28 June 2016, New Delhi; 21 September 2016, New Delhi) 15. +Meeting of BRICS Senior Officials for Anti-Corruption (16 March 2016 on the margins of OECD Anti-Bribery Convention in Paris; 8 June 2016 on the margins of 2nd G20 ACWG meeting in London) 16. +Anti-Drug Working Group Meeting (8 July 2016, New Delhi) 17. +Meeting of BRICS Competition Authoritieson the margins of International Legal Forum (19 May 2016, St. Petersburg, Russia) 18. +Meeting of BRICS Contact Group on Economic and Trade Issues (CGETI) (12 April 2016, New Delhi; 29 July 2016, Agra; 12 October 2016, New Delhi) 19. +Meeting of the Working Group on Counter Terrorism (14 September 2016, New Delhi) 20. +Meeting of BRICS Customs Agencieson the margins of Conference of the World Customs Organization (11-16 July 2016, Brussels) 21. +Meeting of BRICS Heads of Customs Administrations (15-16 October 2016, Goa) 22. +Meeting of BRICS Development Partnership Administrations (DPAs) and Forum for Indian Development Cooperation (FIDC) (6-7 August 2016, New Delhi) 23. +Meeting of BRICS Senior Officials on Education (29 September 2016, New Delhi) 24. +1st Meeting of BRICS Universities League Members (2 April 2016, Beijing) 25. +Meeting of Working Group on Energy Saving and Improvement of Energy Efficiency (4-5 July 2016, Visakhapatnam) 26. +Employment Working GroupMeeting (27-28 July 2016, Hyderabad). +27. Meeting of BRICS Working Group on Environment (15 September 2016, Goa) 28. +BRICS Dialogue on Foreign Policy (25-26 July 2016, Patna). +29. Meeting of Heads of Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) (13 October 2016, New Delhi) 30. +6th Informal meeting of BRICS Finance Officials on the margins of FATF(16 February 2016, Paris) 31. +7th Informal meeting of BRICS Finance Officials on the margins of FATF (18-24 June 2016, Bussan, RoK) 32. +Technical Group Meeting of BRICS Development Banks (10-11 March 2016, Udaipur) 33. +Working Group Meeting of BRICS Development Banks (28-29 July 2016, Mumbai) 34. +Working Group Meeting of BRICS Development Banks(on Local Currency Financing) (14 October 2016, Goa) 35. +Working Group Meeting of BRICS Development Banks(on Innovation Financing)( 14 October 2016, Goa) 36. +Annual Meeting of BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism (15 October 2016, Goa) 37. +Meeting of Heads of BRICS Development Banks with NDB (15-16 October 2016, Goa) 38. +1st Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of BRICS NDB (20 July 2016, Shanghai) 39. +BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement Working Group Meeting(25 February 2016, Shanghai) 40. +2nd BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement Standing Committee Meeting (26 February 2016, Shanghai) 41. +2nd BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement Governing Council Meeting (6 October 2016, Washington) 42. +BRICS Working Group on Geospatial Technology and Application (2 March 2016, Noida) 43. +6th Meeting of Heads of Intellectual Property Offices (HIPO) (20-22 June 2016, Moscow) 44. +Meeting of BRICS Network University International Governing Board (IGB) (27 September 2016, Mumbai) 45. +BRICS Railway Experts’ Meeting (29 April 2016, Lucknow; 14-15 July 2016, Secunderabad) 46. +6th Meeting of BRICS Senior Officials on Science, Technology & Innovation (7 October 2016, Jaipur) 47. +Meeting of BRICS Science, Technology & Innovation FundingWorking Group (6 October 2016, Jaipur) 48. +2nd Meeting of the BRICS Astronomy Working Group (8 September 2016, Ekaterinburg) 49. +1stPhotonics Conference of BRICSCountries (30-31 May 2016, Moscow) 50. +2nd Meeting of BRICSOfficials within specialized session “Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters” (26 August 2016, Saint-Petersburg) 51. +BRICS Sherpas and Sous-Sherpas meeting (29-30 April 2016, Jaipur; 5-6 August 2016, Bhopal; 2-3 September 2016, Hangzhou; 8-10 October 2016, New Delhi; 12-13 October 2016, Goa) 52. +Technical Level Meeting of BRICS National Statistical Agencies (24-26 February 2016, New Delhi) 53. +Meeting of Heads of BRICS Supreme Audit Institutions (24 June 2016, Beijing) +Seminars&Workshops +54. BRICS Academic Forum (19-22 September 2016, Goa) 55. +BRICS Think Tank Council meeting (23 September 2016, New Delhi) 56. +BRICS Civil Forum (3-4 October 2016, New Delhi) 57. +BRICS Digital Conclave (28-29 April 2016, New Delhi) 58. +Workshop on International Arbitration Mechanism (27 August 2016, New Delhi) 59. +Seminar on Challenges in Developing the Bond Market in BRICS (27 September 2016, Mumbai) 60. +BRICS Economic Forum (13-14 October 2016, Goa) 61. +BRICS Financial Forum (15 October 2016, Goa) 62. +Workshop on Financial Inclusion for BRICS Nations (19 September 2016, Mumbai) 63. +Seminar on Long Term Infrastructure Financing and PPP best practices(22 September 2016, New Delhi) 64. +Workshop on Investment Flows (13 October 2016, Mumbai) 65. +BRICS Handicraft Artisans Exchange Programme(6-15 September 2016, Jaipur) 66. +Workshop on Access to Medicines and Trade Agreements (23 May 2016, Geneva) 67. +Workshop on Health Surveillance System (1-2 August 2016, Bengaluru) 68. +1st General Conference on BRICS Network University (7-8 April 2016, Ekaterinburg, Russia) 69. +Workshop on Skill Development (25-29 July 2016, Mumbai) 70. +Workshop on Export Credit (14 October 2016, Goa) 71. +2nd Round Table on MSMEs and Seminar on Services (28 July 2016, Agra) 72. +BRICS Seminars on NTMs and Services (11 April 2016, New Delhi) 73. +BRICS Water Forum (29-30 September 2016, Moscow) 74. +BRICS Wellness Forum (10-11 September 2016, Bengaluru) 75. +3rd Meeting of the BRICS Urbanization Forum (14-16 September 2016, Visakhapatnam) 76. +BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave (14-16 April 2016, Mumbai) 77. +BRICS Business Council (14 October 2016, New Delhi; 15 October 2016, Goa) 79. +BRICS Business Council interaction with BRICS Leaders (16 October 2016, Goa) 80. +BRICS Business Forum (13 October 2016, New Delhi) +People-to-People & Business Exchanges +81. BRICS Trade Fair (12-14 October 2016, New Delhi) 82. +BRICS Film Festival(2-6 September 2016, New Delhi) 83. +BRICS Convention of Tourism (1-2 September 2016, Khajuraho) 84. +BRICSU-17 Football Tournament (5-15 October 2016, Delhi-Goa) 85. +BRICS Young Diplomats’ Forum (3-6 September 2016, Kolkata) 86. +BRICS Young Scientists’ Conclave (26-30 Sept 2016, Bengaluru) 87. +88. BRICS Parliamentary Forum (on the margins of IPU) 89. +Meeting of BRICS Energy Ministers 90. +6th Meeting of the BRICS Health Ministers 91. +Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Telecommunications 92. +Meeting of BRICS Senior Officials for Anti-Corruption 93. +Meeting of Senior Officials of Health 94. +BRICS Consultations of Middle East Envoys 95. +BRICS Sherpas and Sous-Sherpas meetings 96. +Meeting of the BRICS Heads of National Statistical Agencies 97. +Meeting of BRICS Heads of Tax Authorities 98. +Meeting of BRICS Experts on Tax Matters 99. +Meetings of BRICS Working Group on ICT Cooperation 100. +2ndTechnical Workshop among BRICS Exports Credit Agencies 101. +Exhibition and B2B Meetings on ICT 102. +Workshop on Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) 104. +Workshop on Drugs and Medical Devices 105. +Workshop on Non Communicable Diseases 106. +4th BRICS Seminar on Population matters 107. +Workshop on TB/AIDS 108. +Foundation Conference of BRICS Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology 109. +Conference on Foresight and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy of BRICS countries 110. +BRICS Forum on State Owned Enterprises Reforms and Governance 111. +Workshop on Sustainable Water Development, Conservation and Efficiency 112. +BRICS Local Bodies’ Conference (Focus: Budgeting) +1. BRICS Agriculture Research Platform 2. +BRICS Railway Research Network 3. +BRICS Rating Agency 5. +BRICS Institute for Economic Research and Analysis 6. +MoU on Environmental Cooperation 7. +Regulations on BRICS Customs Cooperation Committee 8. +MoU on Cooperation between Diplomatic Academies of BRICS Countries 9. +MoU on Cooperation among BRICS Development Banks and the NDB 10. +BRICS Women Parliamentarians’ Forum 11. +BRICS Under-17 Football Tournament 12. +BRICS Convention on Tourism 15. +BRICS Digital Conclave 16. +BRICS Wellness Forum 17. +BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave 18. +BRICS Smart Cities Workshop 19. +3rdBRICS Urbanisation Forum 20. +BRICS Local Bodies Conference 21. +BRICS Handicraft Artisans’ Exchange Programme 22. +BRICS Young Scientist Conclave 23. +BRICS Innovative Idea Prize for Young Scientists 24. +BRICS Economic Research Award +Prime Minister Narendra Modi met South African President Jacob Zuma on the margins of the BRICS Summit on July 16 in Brazilia. +President Zuma warmly congratulated Prime Minister on his election victory. +Prime Minister also congratulated President Zuma on his re-election. +The two leaders described the relations between India and South Africa as unique and special, forged by the strong presence of the Indian community in South Africa, shared struggle against colonialism and apartheid and their convergence on international issues. +He also paid tribute to President Nelson Mandela. +The two leaders pledged to strengthen bilateral relations and work closely in international forums to advance the interests of the two countries and the developing world at large. +President Zuma, in particular, sought Prime Minister’s help in strengthening Small and Medium Scale Industries in South Africa, for which he had recently created a new Ministry. +Prime Minister also had an opportunity to interact with eleven South American leaders at the meeting between BRICS and South America hosted by Brazilian President Rousseff. +This was the first occasion when an Indian Prime Minister had an opportunity to meet so many South American leaders at one place. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the various amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003 as per the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014. +Arunachal getting both “Gati” – momentum, and “Urja” – energy today. +Electricity, education are best weapons in the fight against poverty. +Dedicates to Nation, the Harmuti-Naharlagun Rail Line. +Flags off AC Express between Naharlagun and New Delhi; Inter-City Express between Naharlagun and Guwahati. +Inaugurates Festival of Arunachal 2015. +Releases Souvenir to mark 29th Statehood Day. +Inaugurates Water Supply Scheme for Itanagar. +Lays Foundation Stone of 132 KV Transmission Line. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi said Arunachal Pradesh is getting both “gati” (momentum) and urja (energy) today. +He was addressing a large gathering in Itanagar, after dedicating to the Nation the Harmuti-Naharlagun Rail Line. +The Prime Minister flagged off an AC Express between Naharlagun and New Delhi; and the Inter-City Express between Naharlagun and Guwahati. +The Prime Minister inaugurated the Festival of Arunachal 2015, and released a souvenir to mark the 29th Statehood Day of Arunachal Pradesh. +He inaugurated a Water Supply Scheme for Itanagar and laid the Foundation Stone of a 132 KV Transmission Line. +The Prime Minister spoke about the immense hydropower potential of Arunachal Pradesh. +He said Arunachal Pradesh could provide electricity to the entire country. +He called for development of the state’s hydropower potential, simultaneously providing proper compensation to people who get displaced by hydropower projects. +He said FM radio services would be expanded in the region. +He said “Make in Northeast” was being envisaged as an integral part of “Make in India.” +The Prime Minister said Ministers and senior officers of the Union Government are now working in close coordination with the Northeast states to remove bottlenecks in development. +The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Lt. Gen. Nirbhay Sharma (Retd.), the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Shri Nabam Tuki, the Union Minister for Railways Shri Suresh Prabhu, the Union MoS for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha, and the Union MoS for Home Shri Kiren Rijiju were present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Denmark on technical cooperation in the field of Sustainable and Smart Urban Development in April, 2018. +The objective of this MoU is to promote bilateral cooperation in the field of sustainable and smart urban development on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit through exchange of knowledge, institutional cooperation, research & development and commercial relations on related issues. +Areas of cooperation include smart urban solutions, liveability, sustainable and integrated urban planning, re-development and land use, integrated solid waste management including waste to energy, sustainable transport systems, water and sanitation management, energy efficiency, resource mobilization and other related areas mutually agreed upon. +Implementation strategy +Under this MoU, a Joint Working Group (JWG) will be set up to strategize and implement programmes on cooperation under the framework of the MoU. +The Joint Working Group will meet at intervals agreed upon by the Participants, alternately in Denmark and in India. +The MoU will promote bilateral cooperation in the field of Sustainable and Smart Urban Development between the two countries. +The MoU is expected to create employment in the areas of integrated solid waste management including waste to energy, sustainable transport systems, water and sanitation management, energy efficiency, resource mobilization. +I am keenly looking forward to my three nation tour of Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka on March 10-14. +We have a strong, multifaceted and important relationship with each, and they all occupy a very important place in our foreign policy. +My visit to the three Indian Ocean Island countries reflects our foreign policy priorities in India’s immediate and extended neighbourhood. +India attaches paramount importance to strengthening relations with this region, which is vital for India’s security and progress. +My first destination will be Seychelles. +India’s relationship with Seychelles has been built on the foundation of mutual trust and shared values. +My visit to Seychelles will be the first Prime Ministerial visit to Seychelles since 1981. +I am keenly looking forward to my meeting with President James Michel, a great friend of India. +On March 11-12, I will be in Mauritius. +My visit to Mauritius will aim to strengthen our age-old civilizational ties with “Chhota Bharat”. +I am honoured to be invited to address the National Assembly of Mauritius. +I will be participating in the joint commissioning of Indian-built Offshore Patrol Vessel Barracuda, and in the beginning of construction works for the building of World Hindi Secretariat. +I look forward to discussing with Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth ways in which we can further deepen our strategic partnership. +I also look forward to meeting the entire political leadership of Mauritius, which has provided unstinting support for this relationship. +My visit to Sri Lanka will be the first standalone Prime Ministerial visit to Sri Lanka since 1987. +This will be our second Summit in a month’s time since the visit of President Maithripala Sirisena to India last month. +I see this visit as an opportunity to further strengthen our relationship in all its dimensions – political, strategic, economic, cultural, and above all, people to people contacts. +This visit is also part of my objective of maintaining frequent contact with our neighbouring countries. +I am delighted with the opportunity to visit one of our most important neighbours. +I look forward to discussing our bilateral relations with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. +I am also looking forward to meeting other political leaders of Sri Lanka. +We will work together to forge a new partnership between our countries. +I am deeply honoured to be invited to address the Parliament of Sri Lanka. +My programme also includes some of the most important symbols of our timeless relationship. +I will be visiting the Mahabodhi Society in Colombo, and travel to Anuradhapura, Talaimannar and Jaffna, and interact with the cross-section of society. +In Jaffna, I will be laying the foundation stone for the iconic Jaffna Cultural Centre that will come up adjacent to the historic Jaffna Public Library. +I am confident that my visits to all three countries will reinvigorate our relations with them in this all-important region we call home – the Indian Ocean. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released a biography of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Braille. +This has been prepared by Dr. A Saibaba Goud, for the benefit of the visually challenged. +Dr Goud also runs the Devnar School for the Blind, in Hyderabad. +Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, Member of Parliament, was present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO for the successful launch of PSLV. +“Heartiest congratulations to our space scientists for yet another successful launch of PSLV. +This launch has put in orbit Kalamsat, built by India’s talented students. +With this launch, India also becomes the first country to use the fourth stage of a space rocket as an orbital platform for micro-gravity experiments”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with the Collectors of the four States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and Jammu and Kashmir. +He reviewed the progress towards ODF (Open Defecation Free) targets in each of these States. +The Prime Minister encouraged the States to share their views and experiences on the work they have done so far towards Swachh Bharat and sanitation goals. +He emphasized that there could be no greater inspiration for completing this task, than the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. +He said teams should be formed at the district level to monitor progress. +He said that efforts should be made to convert this mission into a Jan-Andolan (Mass Movement). +He said students and school children can play a key role in generating greater awareness in this regard. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to Chief Minister of Kerala Shri Pinarayi Vijayan regarding flood situation in the state. +The Prime Minister said, “Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the situation arising due to floods in various parts of the state. +Offered all possible assistance to those affected. +We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Kerala in the wake of this calamity”. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to various leaders after the signing of historic peace accord between Government of India and Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN). +I believe that Mahatma Gandhi is still as relevant in today’s world as he was in his lifetime: Shri Narendra Modi +Ever since he tookover as the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi ensured that Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals, principles and teachings are held aloft, both in India and abroad, through his speeches and actions. +The Salt Satyagraha Memorial is just one of many initiatives taken by the Prime Minister, which carry forward the legacy of the Mahatma. +While launching this scheme, he had said “A clean India would be the best tribute India could pay to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary in 2019”. +For the past four and half years, the scheme has been transformingthe length and breadth of India. +It has resulted in heightened awareness among the general public. +States have competed vigorously in the race to become Open Defecation Free, and India is now close to achieving 100 percent rural sanitation coverage. +Khadi was a subject that Mahatma Gandhi brought to the core of India’s consciousness during the freedom struggle. +The interest in Khadi had waned since those heady days. +But it has been revived by the Prime Minister, especially through his speeches. +Shri Narendra Modi used his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, to encourage people to buy Khadi products and thereby emphasizing on the revival of Khadi and cottage industries. +Shri Narendra Modi’s call had such an impact that the sale of Khadi products showed a quantum jump. +To commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s vision, the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC) was held in New Delhi from 29 September to 2 October, 2018. +The 4-day event saw ministers and sanitation sector leaders from all around the world participating and share their experiments and experiences. +Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite hymn ‘Vaishnav Jan To’, went global, with artists from over 124 countries contributing musically to it. +The project created a global appeal to a beautiful Indian bhajan. +Shri Narendra Modi also brought the Sabarmati Ashram, set up by Mahatma Gandhi in Ahmedabad, to the forefront of Indian diplomacy. +In his presence, key global leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, have visited Sabarmati Ashram to pay homage to the Mahatma. +From Brisbane to Hannover to Ashgabat, the Prime Ministerhasunveiled busts or statues of Bapu, creating a lasting awareness about the Mahatma, overseas. +A Mahatma Gandhi Museum was inaugurated at Alfred High School, Rajkot in 2018. +This was the school from where Mahatma Gandhi passed his matriculation in 1887. +The Prime Minister has put into practice the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and showcased how his ideas remain relevant even in 21st century. +He has used Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings to mobilize people and to further the mission of creating a New India. +His actions have actualized Mahatma Gandhi’s principles and values. +Shri Narendra Modi’s own words written in his blog on October 2, 2018 shows his vision in promoting the legacy of Bapuji. +He wrote “India is a land of diversity. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed pain over the loss of lives due to derailment of Kamayani Express and Janta Express, near Harda in Madhya Pradesh. +“The two train accidents in Madhya Pradesh are deeply distressing. +Deeply pained over the loss of lives. +Condolences to families of deceased. +My prayers with the injured. +Authorities are doing everything possible on the ground. +The situation is being monitored very closely”, the Prime Minister said. +The 25 PRAGATI meetings have seen a cumulative review of 227 projects with a total investment of over Rs. 10 lakh crore. +Resolution of Public Grievances has also been reviewed across a range of sectors. +The Prime Minister congratulated all stakeholders on the completion of 25 PRAGATI interactions. +He said that coordination between the Centre and the States has increased as a result of the PRAGATI mechanism. +He said the PRAGATI initiative is a great positive force for our federal structure. +He said that besides stalled projects, the platform has also helped in the review and improvement of several social sector schemes. +Today, in the twenty-fifth meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to the welfare of ex-servicemen. +He stressed on the importance of improving the speed of grievance disposal, so that the problems of ex-servicemen can be positively resolved in the shortest possible time. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of ten infrastructure projects in the railway, road, petroleum, power, coal, urban development, and health and family welfare sectors. +These projects are spread over several states including Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress in implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. +He also reviewed the programme for National Fellowships and Scholarships for Higher Education of Scheduled Tribe Students. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has approved establishment of two new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Madurai, Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 1,264 crore and Bibinagar, Telangana at a cost of Rs 1,028 crore. +The AIIMS will be set up under Pradhan MantriSwasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). +The Union Cabinet has also given its approval for creation of one post of Director in the basic pay of Rs 2,25,000/- (fixed) plus NPA (however pay + NPA would not exceed Rs 2,37,500/-) for each of the above two AIIMS. +• Each new AIIMS will have 15-20 Super Specialty Departments. +• Each new AIIMS will add around 750 hospital beds. +• As per data of current functional AIIMS, it is expected that each new AIIMS would cater to around 1500 Outdoor patients per day and around 1000 Indoor patients per month. +The objective is to establish the new AIIMS as Institutions of National Importance for providing quality tertiary healthcare, medical education, nursing education and research in the Region. +The proposed institution shall have a hospital with capacity of 750 beds which will include Emergency / Trauma Beds, AYUSH Beds, Private Beds and ICU Speciality and Super Speciality beds. +In addition, there will be a Medical College, AYUSH Block, Auditorium, Night Shelter, Guest House, Hostels and residential facilities. +The establishment of the new AIIMS will create capital assets for which requisite specialized manpower will be created, based on the pattern of the six new AIIMS, for their maintenance and upkeep. +The recurring cost on these Institutions shall be met through Grant-in-Aid to them from Plan Budget Head of PMSSY of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. +Setting up of new AIIMS would not only transform health education and training but also address the shortfall of health care professionals in the region. +The establishment of new AIIMS will serve the dual purpose of providing super speciality health care to the population while also help create a large pool of doctors and other health workers in this region that can be available for primary and secondary level institutions / facilities being created under National Health Mission (NHM). +Construction of new AIIMS is fully funded by the Central Government. +The Operations & Maintenance expenses on new AIIMS are also fully borne by the Central Government. +Setting up new AIIMS in the states will lead to employment generation for nearly 3000 people in various faculty & non faculty posts in each of the AIIMS. +Further, indirect employment generation will take place due to facilities & services like shopping centre, canteens, etc. coming in the vicinity of new AIIMS. +The construction activity involved for creation of the physical infrastructure for the various new AIIMS is also expected to generate substantial employment in the construction phase as well. +The AIIMS in Tamil Nadu was announced in the Budget Speech of Finance Minister in 2015-16 and Ministry of Finance conveyed its in-principle approval for establishment of AIIMS in Telangana in April, 2018. +Congratulating the award winners and their parents, the Prime Minister said that the presence of mind, quick thinking, selfless determination, and sensitivity for fellow human beings in distress were the most important elements of the acts of bravery performed by these children. +The Prime Minister added that for the award winners, this act of bravery should not become an end in itself. +He said life must continue to evolve, and the children should continue to develop their career, and continue to serve society to the best of their abilities. +He said that the book – Life progression of ICCW National Bravery Awardees – which he had released today, touched upon these aspects. +The National Bravery Award Scheme was initiated by the ICCW – Indian Council for Child Welfare – to give due recognition to the children who distinguish themselves by performing outstanding deeds of bravery and meritorious service and to inspire other children to emulate their examples. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal to allot land to Chandigarh Housing Board for construction of apartments for 3930 allottees under Self-Financing Housing Scheme for UT Employees. +Out of which 11.8 acre was already in possession of Chandigarh Housing Board. +In the instant proposal, 61.5 acre of Government land is to be allotted to Chandigarh Housing Board. +Chandigarh Housing Board was appointed as Nodal Agency for implementation of the said scheme. +Accordingly, the Chandigarh Housing Board advertised a scheme titled as “Self-Financing Housing Scheme” on lease hold basis for 99 years for the employees of the Chandigarh Administration in the year 2008. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, is grieved to learn about the loss of lives and injuries sustained by the persons in the bus accident of 19-9-2016 near Bennipatti, Madhubani District, Bihar; and the bus accident of of 20-9-2016 near Muhawa village, Attari, Amritsar district, Punjab. +He has sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the persons deceased, and Rs. 50,000 each to the seriously injured, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. +Over 100 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, from across the country, today interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at his residence. +During the informal interaction with Shri Narendra Modi, many of the beneficiaries explained how their lives had improved through the use of the Mudra loans sanctioned to them. +Ms. Munirabanu Shabbir Hussain Malek from Surat, received a Mudra Loan of Rs. 1.77 lakh. +Mr. Sijesh P. from Kannur, Kerala, worked abroad for 8 years. +On return to India, he worked as a sales manager in a medical unit. +He enthusiastically explained to the Prime Minister how he was able to set up a unit to produce herbal tooth powder, thanks to a Mudra Loan of Rs. 8.55 lakh. +He even presented some samples to the Prime Minister. +Mr. Salehundum Giridhar Rao from Telangana, shared his entrepreneurship story with the Prime Minister. +Ms. Veena Devi, from Kathua District of Jammu and Kashmir works as a weaver. +She received a Mudra loan of Rs. 1 lakh. +She is now one of the leading manufacturers of Pashmina shawls in her area. +Today, she presented one Pashmina shawl to the Prime Minister, during the interaction. +Mr. Rajendra Singh from Dehradun is an ex-Armyman. +He explained how he now does job work for foundries. +Mr. Satish Kumar from Jammu, received a loan of Rs. 5 lakh. +He was earlier unemployed. +Now, he has a business of manufacturing and trading of steel products. +He shared his experiences with the Prime Minister today. +Mr. Viplav Singh, from Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarkhand, worked with a pharma firm, but wished to set up his own business. +With the help of a Mudra Loan worth Rs. 5 lakh, he was able to start his own business of trading pesticides and fertilizers, and has now been able to generate employment for several other persons. +Several other beneficiaries also shared their experiences. +The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the entrepreneurs who have made good use of the Mudra Loans. +He said that 11 crore people have so far benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. +He said that one of the aims of this scheme is also to increase self-confidence among the people. +He said that so far, the conventional thinking has been that employment is generated either in the public sector or in the private sector. +This scheme, he said, has helped in the development of the “personal sector,” as a means of livelihood and self-employment. +The informal interaction between the Prime Minister and the beneficiaries, lasted for over an hour. +His Excellency Prime Minister Tony Abbott Friends from Media, +I thank Prime Minister Abbott, the people and the Federal and the State Governments of Australia for a wonderful visit so far. +Prime Minister Abbott and I have spent the last week together – at the East Asia Summit, the G-20 and for this bilateral summit. +This reflects the broad framework of our relationship, defined by a growing partnership in the cause of a peaceful and prosperous world, and a strong and broad-based bilateral relationship. +This is a natural partnership, arising from our shared values and interests, and our strategic maritime locations. +India and Australia have a great economic synergy. +There are huge opportunities for partnership in every area we can think of – agriculture, agro-processing, resources, energy, finance, infrastructure, education, and science and technology. +The economic climate in India has changed. +I believe it will be a lot easier to convert opportunities into concrete outcomes. +Prime Minister Abbott and I discussed what we should do to impart real momentum to our economic partnership. +Reconstituting the CEO Forum is an important step. +We have agreed to speed up negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. +I also asked for easier access for Indian business to the Australian market and quicker investment approvals. +India will hold a ‘Make in India’ show in Australia in 2015. +Australia would also be holding Business week in India in January 2015. +We also agreed on seeking early closure on the civil nuclear agreement, which will give Australia a chance to participate in one of the most secure and safe nuclear energy programme in the world. +Cricket and hockey are natural glue between our people. +The Social Security Agreement is a really positive development. +It will help in making our business relations stronger, especially in the Services Sector. +I greatly welcome the New Framework for Security Cooperation. +Security and defence are important and growing areas of the new India-Australia partnership – for advancing regional peace and stability, and combating terrorism and trans-national crimes. +This morning’s visit with Prime Minister Abbott to the Australian War Memorial reminded us of the need to strive together for a better world. +In conclusion, I would like to say that it has been nearly three decades since the last Prime Ministerial visit from India. +The fact that we have exchanged visits in two months is a sign of better times to come. +I am deeply honoured by the opportunity to speak to the Parliament and also look forward to spending the evening at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with Prime Minister Abbott. +Thank you once again. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted people on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima. +The Prime Minister in his message has said: +“Buddha Purnima greetings to everyone. +Today we remember the exemplary ideals of Gautama Buddha. +His noble thoughts will continue to guide generations. +Gautama Buddha inspires us to work towards harmonious, just and compassionate society.” +In a post from his Facebook account the Prime Minister said: +“I will visit Vientiane, Lao PDR on 7-8 September 2016 to attend the 14th ASEAN-India Summit and the 11th East Asia Summit. +This is the third time I am attending these Summits. +ASEAN is a key partner for our Act East Policy, which is vital for the economic development of our Northeastern region. +Our strategic partnership with ASEAN is also important for safeguarding and promoting our security interests and countering traditional and non-traditional security challenges in the region. +East Asia Summit is the premier forum for discussions on the challenges and opportunities before the Asia Pacific region. +Our ties with the countries of South East Asia are truly historic. +Our engagement and approach can be best encapsulated in just one word – connectivity. +We wish to enhance our physical and digital connectivity; to see greater people to people links; to strengthen our institutional linkages; and, to leverage the modern interconnected world for the mutual benefit of all our people. +During the visit, I will also have the opportunity to interact with the leaders of participating countries to discuss bilateral issues of mutual concern.” +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has given birthday greetings to His Majesty, Emperor Akihito of Japan. +“Birthday greetings to His Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan. +Let me begin by sincerely thanking President Xi again for his warm reception and the excellent organisation of this Summit. +After more than a decade of existence, BRICS has developed a robust framework for cooperation. +We contribute stability and growth in a world drifting towards uncertainty. +While trade and economy have been the foundation of our cooperation, our endeavours today touch diverse areas of technology, tradition, culture, agriculture, environment, energy, sports, and ICT. +The New Development Bank has started disbursing loans in pursuit of its mandate to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development in BRICS countries. +At the same time, our Central Banks have taken steps to make the Contingent Reserve Arrangement fully operational. +These are milestones of progress we can build upon. +Looking ahead, it is important that our people remain at the centre of our journey. +I am happy to note that China has taken forward the people-to-people thrust of our exchanges from last year. +Such inter-mingling will consolidate our links and deepen our understanding. +India’s own far-reaching journey of transformation gives pride of place to our people. +We are in mission-mode to eradicate poverty; to ensure health, sanitation, skills, food security, gender equality, energy, education and innovation. +National programmes of Clean Ganga, Renewable Energy, Digital India, Smart Cities, Housing for All and Skill India are laying the basis for clean, green and inclusive development. +They are also tapping the creative energy of our 800 million youth. +Our women’s empowerment programmes are productivity multipliers that mainstream women in nation building. +We have also stepped up the fight against black money and corruption. +Moving forward, using the springboard of our national experiences, BRICS countries can deepen partnership for win-win results. +Some thoughts come to mind for upgrading mutual cooperation. +I would urge that the roadmap for its creation should be finalized at the earliest. +Second, our Central Banks must further strengthen their capabilities and promote co-operation between the Contingent Reserve Arrangement and the IMF. +Third, affordable, reliable, and sustainable access to energy is crucial for the development of our nations. +Climate resilient development calls upon us to utilise all available resource streams. +Renewable energy is particularly important on multiple counts. +Recognizing this, India, together with France, launched a major international initiative – the International Solar Alliance (ISA) – in November 2015. +Our five countries have complementary skills and strengths to promote use of renewable and solar energy. +The NDB can also establish an effective link with ISA to support such cooperation. +Scaled up cooperation in skill development and exchange of best practices will be a valuable instrument. +Fifth, at the Goa Summit last year we had exchanged thoughts on smart-cities, urbanization, and disaster-management in the context of cooperation between our cities. +We need to further accelerate this track. +Sixth, Technology and innovation are the foundations of the next generation of global growth and transformation. +India has also found that technology and digital resources are powerful tools in fighting poverty and corruption. +A strong BRICS partnership on innovation and digital economy can help spur growth, promote transparency and support the Sustainable Development Goals. +I would suggest considering a collaborative pilot project under the BRICS framework, including private entrepreneurship. +Finally, India would be happy to work towards more focused capacity building engagement between BRICS and African countries in areas of skills, health, infrastructure, manufacturing and connectivity. +We acquired credibility, wielded influence and spurred growth. +Now, the next decade is crucial. +In an environment where we seek stability, sustainable development and prosperity. +BRICS leadership will be crucial in driving this transformation. +If we as BRICS can set the agenda in these areas, the world will call this its Golden Decade. +In our outreach segment with emerging markets tomorrow. +I will share some of our ideas in this regard. +I am confident that it will help the BRICS in our shared journey to scale new heights of partnership. +(i) That the Madhya Pradesh Government will surrender the land measuring 0.89 acres at 2, Gopinath Bardolai Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi to L&DO/MoHUA after completion of the construction of its State Guest House on the allotted land. +(ii) That the Madhya Pradesh Government will pay for the difference in the area of the land measuring 0.59 acres at the present land rates as both the lands are in the same zone of land rates. +(iii) That the Madhya Pradesh Government will pay the occupation charges on 0.89 acre already in possession at the present land rates, till it is surrendered by Govt. of Madhya Pradesh to L&DO/MoHUA. +The allotment of land will benefit the Madhya Pradesh Government for construction of its State Guest House with all modern facilities keeping in view their present and future requirements. +The Madhya Pradesh Government will not utilise this land for any purpose other than for construction of its State Guest House. +While constructing the building, the Madhya Pradesh Government will adhere to all existing building bye-laws, Master Plan norms, etc. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condemned the attack in Kabul. +The Prime Minister has extended condolences to the bereaved families. +“I condemn the attack in Kabul and extend my condolences to bereaved families. +Prayers with the injured for a speedy recovery”, the Prime Minister said. +I am delighted to welcome President Almazbek Atambayev on his first state visit to India. +Excellency, the warmth of your hospitality and welcome during my visit to the Kyrgyz Republic in July last year is still fresh in my mind. +Your visit this time helps us to carry forward the momentum of our cooperation and high level contacts. +The relationship between India and the Kyrgyz Republic is filled with goodwill from centuries of shared historical links. +Our societies share a sense of warmth that permeates our contacts with Central Asia, including the Kyrgyz Republic. +We are also bound by a common belief in democratic values and traditions. +Much credit goes to President Atambaev for nurturing and building strong foundations of democracy in Kyrgyz Republic. +We focused on our common priority of diversifying and deepening bilateral engagement. +We also discussed how we could work together to secure our youth and society against the common challenges of terrorism, extremism, and radicalism. +We agreed on the need to coordinate and work closely in addressing and overcoming these challenges for our common benefit. +We regard Kyrgyz Republic as a valuable partner in our common pursuit of making Central Asia a region of sustainable peace, stability and prosperity. +The Shanghai Cooperation Organization will also give us a valuable framework to work together on these issues. +The Kyrgyz-India Mountain Bio-Medical Research Center is an excellent example of successful collaboration. +It has proved to be a rewarding research initiative, which we need to build on. +We have commenced work on a Kyrgyz-India Joint Military Training Center in Kyrgyz Republic. +Our joint military exercises on counter-terrorism are now an annual feature. +The next edition has been planned for first quarter of next year in Kyrgyz Republic. +To this end, we will work to strengthen bilateral trade and economic linkages, and facilitate greater people-to-people exchanges. +We will encourage industry and business on both sides to play a leading role in exploiting opportunities in healthcare, tourism, information technology, agriculture, mining and energy. +We have decided to build on our development cooperation including in capacity building and training. +People have been at the center of such initiatives. +We shall give special emphasis to youth exchanges in our technical and economic cooperation programme with Kyrgyz Republic. +The understandings concluded today will support our thrust in these directions. +In a first with the Central Asian region, we had initiated tele-medicine links with Kyrgyz Republic last year. +I wish President Atambaev a memorable and productive visit in India. +Thank You Thank you very much +Two Groups of Secretaries to the Government of India, today presented ideas on Education and Crisis Management, to the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +Union Ministers, and officials from the NITI Aayog were also present on the occasion. +With this, all nine presentations on various governance related themes have now been made in the current series. +Speaking at the conclusion of the presentations, the Prime Minister emphasized that the Union Government is open to new ideas. +He urged all Secretaries to continue thinking holistically and give top priority to concrete outcomes. +The focus of the budget is on issues ranging from agriculture to Infrastructure. +On the one hand, the budget covers aspects such as health plans to address the concerns of the poor and middle class, while on the other hand it has plans to increase the wealth of small entrepreneurs in the country. +It is expected to accelerate the development process of the country. +Ease of Doing Business as well as Ease of Living are in focus in this budget. +More savings for the middle class, new generation infrastructure for 21st Century India and assurance of better health – all these are concrete steps towards Ease of Living. +Our farmers have contributed in a big way towards the progress of the country with a record production of fruits and vegetables. +Several steps have been proposed in this budget to support the farmers and enhance their income. +A record allocation of Rs. 14.5 lakh crores has been made for rural development and agriculture. +Dalits, oppressed and disadvantaged sections of the society will benefit from building of 51 Lakh new homes, more than 3 lakh kilometers roads, about 2 crore toilets, and 1.75 crore electricity connections to households. +These initiatives will create new opportunities especially in the rural areas. +I appreciate the decision to provide for one and a half times remunerative price for the cost incurred by the farmers for their produce. +Center will put in place a sound system in consultation with the states to ensure that the farmers can avail the full benefits from this decision. +‘Operation Greens’ will prove to be an effective instrument in this direction especially for the farmers engaged in producing vegetables and fruits. +We have seen how Amul was instrumental in ensuring fair price to the farmers engaged in the dairy sector. +We are also familiar with the cluster based approach for the development of the industry in our country. +Now, keeping in mind the agricultural produce in different districts, agricultural cluster approach will be adopted in different districts across the country. +I welcome the plan to develop storage, processing and marketing facilities for a particular agricultural produce after identifying the relevant districts. +In our country, the cooperative societies are exempted from paying income tax. +But the ‘Farmer Producer Organization’ -FPO, that is similar to the cooperative societies, does not get this benefit. +Therefore, income tax exemption for the ‘Farmer Producer Organization’ -FPO, which is meant for the welfare of the farmers, is a welcome step. +By providing the linkages between the Self Help Groups for women engaged in organic, aromatic and herbal cultivation and the ‘Farmer Producer Organizations’ the income of the farmers will be increased. +Similarly, the Gobar-Dhan Yojana will help in keeping the village clean, while increasing the income of farmers and cattle herders. +In our country farmers take up different occupations along with the farming. +Some are associated with pisciculture, animal husbandry, poultry or bee-keeping. +Farmers used to face difficulties in accessing loans from banks for such additional activities. +But now with Kisan card Arranging loan for pisciculture and animal husbandry has become very effective. +There are about 7000 blocks in more than 700 districts of India. +In these blocks, emphasis has been laid on modernization of infrastructure of 22 thousand rural business centers, by innovative and increased connectivity in the villages. +Under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna, now the villages will be connected to rural haats (markets), higher education centers and hospitals. +It will make life easier for the people in these villages. +We have seen an extension of the spirit of the Ease of Living in Ujjwala Yojana. +The scheme has not only provided relief to the poor women from the smoke but has also become a huge source of their empowerment. +I am happy to note that the target for Ujjawala has been enhanced from 5 crore families to 6 crore families. +A large number of dalit, tribal and backward class families have been benefited from this scheme. +This budget provides for allocation of about Rs 1 lakh crore for the welfare of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. +Medical treatment and its cost has always been a cause of concern for the lower middle class and poor sections of the society. +The new scheme ‘Ayushman Bharat’, presented in the budget, will address this serious concern. +The scheme will be available to nearly 10 crore poor and lower middle class families of the country. +It means it will provide coverage to 45-50 crore people. +Under the scheme these families will get free treatment up to Rs. 5 lakhs per annum in the identified hospitals. +This is by far, the world’s largest health insurance plan for which government will bear the cost. +The idea of setting up 1.5lakh Health Wellness Centers spread over all the major panchayats of the country is commendable. +This will provide easy access to health care services to the people living in the villages. +Establishment of 24 new medical colleges across the country will not only facilitate the treatment of the people but also help to impart medical education to the youngsters. +It is our endeavor to have at least one medical college for covering three parliamentary constituencies across the country. +Several important decisions have been taken in this budget keeping in mind the concerns 0f Senior Citizens. +Now Senior Citizens will be entitled to have a minimum interest of 8% on amount up to Rs 15 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandan Yojana. +No tax will be levied on interest up to Rs 50,000 on their Bank and Post Office deposits. +Health insurance premium worth Rs 50,000 will be exempt from the Income tax. +Besides, relief from Income Tax has been provided on expenditure up to Rs 1 lakh incurred on treatment of serious diseases. +For a long time, the small and medium enterprises or the MSME in our country had to pay higher taxes than the big industries. +A bold step has been taken in this budget wherein the government has reduced the tax rate for MSME by 5%. +Credit seeking facility from the banks and NBFCs has been eased to ensure the required working capital for MSME industries. +It will give a further impetus to the mission of Make in India. +MSME sector has been experiencing stress due to NPA in big industries. +The small entrepreneurs must not suffer because of the fault of others. +Therefore, the government will soon announce corrective measures to resolve the problems related to NPA and Stressed Account in the MSME sector. +In order to promote employment and to provide social security to employees the government has taken a far reaching decision. +This will give a push to shift from informal to formal sector and will generate new job opportunities. +Now the government will contribute 12% in EPF Account of new laborers for a period of 3 years. +Besides, the contribution from new women employees in the EPF for a period of 3 years is being reduced from the existing 12% to 8% so that their take home salary increases and more employment opportunities are available for women. +However, the employer contribution will be maintained at 12%. +This is a major step towards empowerment of working women. +In order to realize the dream of modern India, to enhance Ease of Living of the common man and to ensure stability in development, India requires Next Generation Infrastructure. +Special emphasis has been given to development of infrastructure related to Digital India. +These schemes will enhance employment opportunities in our country manifold. +I congratulate the Finance Minister for tax concession to the salaried and middle class. +This budget will live up to the expectation of every Indian Citizen. +The agreement aims to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable issues on the basis of mutual benefit equality and reciprocity. +The Agreement envisages establishing a Joint Committee to develop Work Plans in order to implement the Agreement. +The Agreement will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. +The approval entails Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury along with flexibility for continued use of mercury-based products and processes involving mercury compound up to 2025. +The Minamata Convention on Mercury will be implemented in the context of sustainable development with the objective to protect human health and environment from the anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. +The Convention protects the most vulnerable from the harmful effects of mercury and also protects the developmental space of developing countries. +This will drive research & development, and promote innovation. +PM sanctions Rs. 2 lakh ex-gratia to next of kin of the deceased +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives and injuries sustained by the persons in the stampede of 15-10-2016 at Rajghat bridge between Varanasi and Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh. +I have spoken to officials and asked them to ensure all possible help to those affected due to the stampede in Varanasi”, the Prime Minister said. +With the signing of this MoU, India will become the 54th signatory to the MoU. +Raptor MOU was concluded on 22nd October 2008 and came into effect on 1st November 2008. +Considering that the Raptor MOU is also in conformity with the provisions of the existing Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, wherein the birds have been accorded protection, India would gain domain knowledge which would be helpful in effectively managing the habitats of these Raptors, including concerted trans-boundary efforts for conservation through interaction with other range countries by signing of the MoU with the CMS. +Pakistan and Nepal are the other neighbours who are signatories to this MoU. +The CMS or Bonn Convention, under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to conserve migratory species throughout their range. +India had become a party to the CMS since 1st November 1983. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that focus on water conservation should be an integral part of all water supply initiatives. +Chairing a high-level meeting on the National Rural Drinking Water Programme, the Prime Minister also said that while planning for rural areas, a clear provision should be made for the water requirements of cattle and other related needs. +It was observed that following the increase in devolution of funds to States in accordance with the recommendations of the Finance Commission, States could spend a portion of the additional funds available, for drinking water supply projects. +Union Minister for Union Minister of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Sanitation and Drinking Water, Chaudhary Birender Singh was present at the meeting. +PM makes a strong pitch for investment in India at roundtable meeting with business leaders. +PM: Immediate investment opportunity for one trillion dollars exists in India. +At a roundtable meeting with business leaders at Masdar city, the Prime Minister made a strong pitch for investment in India, saying that an immediate potential of one trillion dollars worth of investment existed in the country. +He said India now had a decisive Government with full majority, and several sectors including insurance, railways, defence manufacturing have been opened up for foreign investment. +He touched upon renewable energy, port-led development and low-cost housing as sectors with huge investment potential. +The Prime Minister described India as a land of opportunity. +He said 125 crore Indians should be looked upon not just as a market, but also a great power. +He said major agencies including IMF and World Bank were in agreement that India is now the fastest growing major economy in the world, with immense possibilities of development. +The Prime Minister said that many people were describing the 21st century as Asia’s century. +He said that if India and UAE work together, they can make this vision of the Asian century a reality. +He said UAE would be at the economic focus of the Asian century. +The Prime Minister said he would try his best to resolve all outstanding issues in the economic sphere. +The Prime Minister visited the Micro-Nano Fabrication Facility and the Microscopy Lab. +The Prime Minister also took a brief walking tour of the city’s public spaces and was briefed on the sustainable building methodology and key architectural elements. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved inclusion of Common Service Centres (CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd.) under MeitY as an enrolment agency, and permitting bulk deposits by other Ministries / Departments / Welfare Boards / other agencies of Central and State Governments in lieu subscriber’s share. +The approval will enable workers in the Unorganized Sector, to get social security in the form of monthly pension of Rs. 3,000/- on attaining the age of 60 years. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his Jayanti. +“I bow to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his Jayanti. +He was a stalwart who committed himself towards ensuring India is free and leads a life of dignity. +We are committed to fulfilling his ideals and creating a strong India”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Atal Innovation Mission, India and Fund “Talent and Success”, Russia for promotion of science & technology, strong foundation to the collaborative work through exchange of students, teachers, researchers and scientists between both countries. +The MoU was signed on October 5, 2018. +The MoU will facilitate promotion of science & technology, strong foundation to the collaborative work through exchange of students, teachers, researchers and scientists between India and Russia. +The MOU will provide a mechanism in taking part in establishing relationships with-schools, universities, cultural institutions, science & technology and specialized education institutions, high-tech companies, startups and innovation centers in both countries. +The activities are expected to promote creation of new scientific knowledge, generation of intellectual property, innovations and products development in both countries. +Through this MoU, it is proposed to continue the collaborative work between Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), India and Fund “Talent and Success”, Russia. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin held their first informal Summit in the city of Sochi in the Russian Federation on May 21, 2018. +The Summit provided an occasion for both leaders to deepen their friendship and to exchange views on international and regional issues, in keeping with the tradition of high level political exchanges between India and Russia. +The two leaders agreed that the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia is an important factor for global peace and stability. +They shared the view that India and Russia have an important role to play in contributing to an open and equitable world order. +In this regard, they recognized each other’s respective roles as major powers with common responsibilities for maintaining global peace and stability. +The two leaders held in depth discussions on major international issues. +They agreed on the importance of building a multipolar world order. +They decided to intensify consultation and coordination with each other, including on the Indo-Pacific Region. +Both leaders expressed their concern over terrorism and radicalization, and their determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. +In this context, they endorsed the importance of restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan in an atmosphere free from the threat of terrorism, and agreed to work together towards achieving this objective. +Both leaders held detailed exchange of views on the national development plans and priorities. +They expressed satisfaction over the deep trust, mutual respect and goodwill that characterizes relations between India and Russia. +While expressing their satisfaction at the positive momentum since the last bilateral Summit in St. Petersburg in June 2017, the two leaders directed their officials to prepare concrete outcomes for the forthcoming Summit in India later this year. +Both leaders agreed to institute a Strategic Economic Dialogue between NITI Aayog of India and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, to identify greater synergy in trade and investment. +They noted with satisfaction the expanding cooperation in the energy sector and, in this regard, welcomed the arrival of the first consignment of LNG under a long-term agreement between Gazprom and GAIL, next month. +The two leaders also reiterated the significance of longstanding partnership in the military, security and nuclear energy fields and welcomed the ongoing cooperation in these areas. +The two leaders welcomed the idea of holding informal Summits as an additional engagement at leadership level, besides the Annual Summits between the two leaders. +Prime Minister has invited President Putin for the 19th Annual Summit in India later in the year. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has shared the link of his page for Diwali wishes, on his twitter handle. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today commended the contributions of all the retiring Members of the Rajya Sabha, and wished them well for the future. +In his remarks in the Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the Members retiring from the House, would now play an even stronger role in social service. +He said all of them have a unique importance, and have contributed in their own way. +The Prime Minister made a special mention of many retiring MPs and their contributions. +The Prime Minister said that it is unfortunate that the retiring Members will not be a part of Parliament, when the long due decision on Triple Talaq is taken. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for Indian membership of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) consortium by signing an MoU with the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for geosciences. +This is a government-funded, Public Law Foundation of the State of Brandenburg, Germany. +By signing the MoU on the membership for a period of five years with ICDP, India would enable engaging internationally renowned experts with profound expertise in different aspects of scientific drilling in order to accomplish deep drilling and associated investigations in Koyna region. +As a part of the membership agreement, India will get a seat on two ICDP panels – Executive Committee (EC) and Assembly of Governors (AOG). +Also, ICDP will provide technical / operational support, facilitate capacity building in terms of manpower training in key scientific areas, sample and data management and support workshops for the Koyna scientific deep drilling project undertaken by Ministry of Earth Sciences. +As a member of ICDP, scientists/engineers from India would have right to submit proposals, to participate in all ICDP co-funded workshops and drilling projects and have access to all data results from ICDP projects. +This will shed new light on the genesis of seismicity and better understanding of earthquake processes. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister David Cameron met in London on 12-13 November. +The two Prime Ministers celebrated the growing strength, breadth and depth of the relations between the two countries. +They emphasized that this enduring connection between the UK and India plays a vital role in safeguarding and promoting the security and prosperity of both peoples. +India’s economic development and rise as a global power affords opportunities to further deepen and extend this partnership to foster economic growth and inclusive development, update and strengthen the rules based international system, and counter global threats. +Noting that addressing climate change and promoting secure, affordable and sustainable supplies of energy are shared strategic priorities for India and the UK, they agreed to endorse a Joint Statement on Energy and Climate Change. +The two Prime Ministers also agreed to scale up bilateral cooperation to a global partnership for development through a “Statement of Intent on Partnership for Cooperation in Third Countries” which will facilitate working together to benefit third country partners by assisting them in addressing their development challenges in a wholly demand driven manner. +A Global Partnership +The two Prime Ministers noted that in an increasingly complex and interconnected world, deepening the already close partnership on global issues would be vital for safeguarding and promoting prosperity and security. +They agreed that this prosperity and security rests on an international system of rules, widely accepted and consistently applied. +The international architecture built 70 years ago has played an invaluable role in securing the space for transformational development. +Both Prime Ministers underscored the importance they attach to the G20. +They agreed to remain engaged closely with each other and with other G20 members to realize the full potential of the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation as well as for successful outcomes at the G20 Summits. +The UK and India share interests in stability and prosperity across Asia and the Indian Ocean. +Taking into account India’s geostrategic location and interests in the South Asian region, the two Prime Ministers resolved to deepen and extend existing bilateral consultation and cooperation in these areas through the establishment of an annual senior official South Asia dialogue covering security including terrorism, connectivity, and maritime issues. +The leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and directed their relevant officials to have close and regular consultations on UN terrorist designations. +They reiterated their call for Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the November 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai to justice. +The two Prime Ministers stressed the importance of a lasting and inclusive constitutional settlement in Nepal that will address the remaining areas of concern and promote political stability and economic growth. +They hoped the National Reconstruction Authority begins to function as soon as possible to facilitate post earthquake reconstruction. +They also hoped that, following the recent UN Human Rights Council Resolution, Sri Lanka will now be able to deliver lasting peace and prosperity for all its people and underlined their commitment to working with the Sri Lankan Government to achieve this. +They emphasised the importance of a stable and inclusive democracy in the Maldives including an independent judiciary. +The two Prime Ministers emphasised their shared commitment and support for a stable, secure and successful future for a sovereign, democratic and united Afghanistan. +They emphasised the importance of a sustainable and inclusive political order in Afghanistan which ensures that the gains of the past decade are consolidated and remain irreversible. +The two Prime Ministers stressed the need for inclusive political settlements in Syria and Iraq and committed to further support the victims in these brutal conflicts. +They agreed to continue to hold regular annual senior officials dialogue on West Asia/Middle East, as a priority area for both countries. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the historic agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, and noted the strong commitment of the international community to its swift and full implementation. +The two Prime Ministers agreed that the only way to de-escalate the crisis in eastern Ukraine was the full implementation of the Minsk measures by all parties to the agreement. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda ‘Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ and committed to supporting its implementation. +They recognized that the new 2030 Agenda along with the Sustainable Development Goals has poverty eradication as its overarching focus. +The two Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction, the progress made at the 2015 India-UK Cyber Dialogue. +They supported an open, inclusive, transparent, and multi-stakeholder system of internet governance and welcomed the ongoing review of the World Summit on the Information Society by the United Nations General Assembly. +They planned to work together to promote cyber security, combat cyber crime, and advance voluntary norms of responsible state behaviour and the application of international law in cyberspace. +They agreed to improve cooperation between their technical, law enforcement, cyber R&D, cyber security standards & testing and capacity building institutions. +They also agreed to promote public-private partnerships to support all aspects of cyber security. +They welcomed the 2015 report of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on international cyber security and looked forward to seeking broader agreement on principles guiding state behaviour in cyberspace. +They also expressed the need for both India and UK to participate and actively cooperate in these areas in the future. +The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the Commonwealth remains relevant, realises its potential, and brings strong values, development and prosperity to all its citizens. +The two Prime Ministers noted the importance of preserving the environment and sustaining diverse ecosystems, and recognised the rise of international criminal networks engaged in the illegal wildlife trade. +They resolved to work together to combat the illegal wildlife trade and to improve protection for both captive and wild Asian elephants. +India endorsed the London Declaration and Kasane Statement on Illegal Wildlife Trade. +Economic Development and Finance +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the strengthening economic outlook in both the UK and India but shared their concern that global growth is falling short of expectations and that the risks to the global outlook have increased. +They agreed to continue working towards strong, sustainable and balanced growth, and agreed on the importance of structural reforms and pursuing credible fiscal policies in order to raise living standards. +They committed to further strengthening the economic relationship, including through deepening the bilateral trade and investment relationship, and agreed that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne will drive this forward in their forthcoming Economic and Financial Dialogue. +The UK and India remain committed to working together to substantially increase trade and investment opportunities. +The two governments underlined the particular importance of the information technology and digital industries in both countries, and the contribution that they make towards strengthening trade ties between the UK and India as a key driver of growth and prosperity. +Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to work together to deepen and reinforce bilateral trade in goods and services in this area. +Acknowledging the valuable contributions made by skilled workers to both countries’ economies, they agreed to facilitate the temporary movement of skilled personnel in accordance with applicable international commitments. +The two Prime Ministers agreed that the City of London should play an important role in channelling investment into infrastructure projects in India including in the railways sector, laying the foundation for a long-term strategic partnership that leverages the capital and expertise of the City of London to finance India’s continued rapid growth. +In this context, they also welcomed the announcements by HDFC, Bharti Airtel, State Bank of India and Yes Bank to raise finance through the City of London which also opens up the opportunity for the Indian private sector to raise capital for their investment and growth. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed a long-term strategic partnership between India and the UK on the former’s flagship infrastructure investment initiative, the National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF), and announced the setting up of a India-UK partnership fund under the umbrella of the NIIF. +The collaboration will help bring global investors through the City of London to help finance Indian infrastructure in a sustainable way, further supporting India’s rapid growth. +Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Cameron welcomed the ongoing collaboration by the India-UK Financial Partnership led by key industry figures on both sides. +They look forward to considering the Partnership’s proposals for deepening the links between the two countries’ financial services. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the creation of a new Chevening Financial Services course, sponsored by Standard Chartered, aimed at mid-career professionals wanting to study in the UK. +They also welcomed the initiative taken to launch the first-ever exchange programme between the economic services of our two countries to support economic policy making in both countries. +The two Prime Ministers agreed that India’s huge achievements in economic growth and inclusive development are not just important for India’s own ambitious goals and targets, but an inspiration to the world and critical to the achievement of global targets. +They recognised that both India and the UK are thought leaders on development, and agreed to elevate the official-level development talks to a Biennial Ministerial dialogue on Development. +The two Prime Ministers recognised the importance of infrastructure for sustainable development and launched India’s first Low Income State Infrastructure Equity Partnership with co-investment from the UK Department of International Development and the State Bank of India. +This aims to provide equity partnerships for small infrastructure development in sectors like water & sanitation, clean energy and urban infrastructure. +Prime Minister Modi noted the partnership of UK and India in efforts to improve the Ease of Doing Business. +They announced a new Ease of Doing Business Partnership including several different strands of work which will provide impetus to greater investments. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the first meeting of the reconstituted India-UK CEOs Forum. +This Forum will be tasked with advising the Prime Ministers about the trade and investment opportunities and challenges. +Prime Minister Cameron welcomed a new fast track mechanism by DIPP for UK investments into and trade with India. +The two Prime Ministers acknowledged the need for technical cooperation between the offices of both the countries on Patents, Trademarks and Designs. +Prime Minister Modi appreciated the advances made by UK in rail project management and operations. +The two Leaders welcomed the MoU on Technical Co-operation in the Rail sector and acknowledged the potential business opportunities for the rail industry. +Both sides agreed to encourage their institutions to work together, develop options for infrastructure financing, share knowledge and expertise and to deepen research and development exchanges. +Prime Minister Modi announced the Government of India’s intention to launch the first government-backed rupee bond in London. +The two leaders expressed their wish to promote innovation led growth in the automotive sector in India. +They identified a need to collaborate and exchange technical knowledge in research and development, testing and administration of testing systems for vehicles. +The UK and India are willing to share expertise in these fields to develop knowledge and experience. +This will be achieved through an MoU to be signed between appropriate departments and agencies under the Government of India and UK. +Prime Minister Cameron and Prime Minister Modi recognised the importance of the multilateral, rules-based trading system, and agreed to work together to help ensure a successful outcome at the Nairobi World Trade Organization Ministerial in December, in conformity with the development mandate of the Doha Development Agenda. +The UK and India agree that corruption is one of the greatest enemies of progress in our time. +Both sides will work together, bilaterally and in multilateral fora like UNCAC and G20, in order to strengthen the global response to corruption, including through improving cooperation among law enforcement agencies, strengthening procedures for the identification and return of stolen assets, and increasing transparency around the true (or “beneficial”) ownership and control of companies. +Both Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to finalization of an EU-India BTIA as soon as possible. +The UK and India committed to work closely together towards this end. +Prime Minister Cameron welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. +Prime Minister Modi noted that this model of collaboration was already deeply ingrained in UK investments and partnerships with India. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the initiatives taken by both sides to deepen defence technology and industry cooperation. +Prime Ministers Cameron and Modi noted the deep and fruitful business relationship between the UK and India and welcomed the £9.2 Billion of commercial deals between the UK and India announced during the visit and listed in the annex. +Prime Minister Cameron noted the opening of the Indian market to greater foreign direct investment in the insurance sector. +In order to extend insurance cover to India’s large population, the Government has increased the FDI limit in insurance and pension sector to 49%. +As a result, the UK’s insurance industry with joint ventures in India, have announced a number of agreements to increase their Foreign Direct Investment in the country. +These agreements would amount to approximately £238 million of Foreign Direct Investment in the first instance subject to regulatory approvals. +This will support the ongoing development of the Indian insurance and reinsurance sectors, which are key elements in promoting sustainable economic growth. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed HSBC’s “Skills for life” initiative in India, a £10 million programme to skill 75,000 disadvantaged young people and children over 5 years. +Smart Cities and Urban Renewal +The two Prime Ministers announced three UK-India city partnerships with Indore, Pune and Amaravati to support India’s ambitious urban development goals through technical assistance, expertise sharing and business engagement. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the development of Technical Assistance partnership between the UK Department of International Development and the Indian Ministry of Urban Development for national and state-led support for the development of smart and sustainable cities that are drivers of inclusive growth and job creation. +The two Prime Ministers launched a new Thames/Ganga partnership for healthy river systems. +This partnership will consist of a collaborative programme of research and innovation to enable the sustainable management of water resources in the Ganga basin and a policy expert exchange in 2016 supported by the UK Water Partnership. +Education, Skills, Science and Research +Prime Minister Cameron offered to support Prime Minister Modi achieve his goal of preparing young Indians for the 21st Century. +Under the new UK-India Skills pledge, 11 UK companies have committed to support skills development in India. +The UK will also support the Indian Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to develop new models of skills training and entrepreneurship with a focus on digital delivery, women, the excluded and the disabled. +The two Prime Ministers announced that 2016 would be the UK-India year of Education, Research and Innovation. +This will highlight the strengths of the bilateral relationship, drive further collaboration, including a range of digital technology enabled education and training initiatives, so that both countries create a new 21st century framework as partners in education, research and innovation partners, in the global context. +Both Prime Ministers agreed to initiate virtual partnerships at the school level to enable young people of either country to experience the school system of the other country and develop an understanding of the culture, traditions and social and family systems. +The Prime Ministers announced that UK will be the partner country for the 2016 Technology Summit in Delhi. +Committed to promote further joint research partnerships, the two Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction, the planned academic exchange which would enable access for Indian scientists to the Neutron Facility at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxford University. +They welcomed the establishment of a Newton-Bhabha fund for joint research, capacity building and translation, noting that joint investment in UK-India research has grown from less than £1 million in 2008 to over £200 million today. +New substantial investments include multi-million-pound UK-India virtual centres in Clean Energy, Water Security and Agricultural Nitrogen. +The two Prime Ministers also welcomed new joint research and innovation programmes on Childhood and Maternal Health and Nutrition, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Urbanization and Heritage, Sustainable Water Resources for Food, Energy and Ecosystem Services, Atmospheric Pollution and Human Health in an Indian Megacity, Aquaculture, and the joint UK-India observational campaign on the South Asian Monsoon. +They welcomed the announcement by Innovate UK, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA), of the opening of a third round of collaborative industrial R&D, making up to £3.5 million available to support novel commercial solutions in the areas of clean-tech energy, affordable healthcare and ICT related to clean-tech energy and healthcare. +They also welcomed establishing of a joint Indo-UK Plant Science Centre in India. +The two Leaders welcomed UK’s plans to send 100 academics to India over the next two academic years as part of the Global Initiative for Academics Network (GIAN); and the ambition for 25,000 UK students to come to India through the Generation UK-India programme by 2020, including 1000 UK interns with Tata Consultancy Services in India by 2020. +The two Prime Ministers also welcomed the 3rd phase of the UK India Education and Research Initiative. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the commitment to achieving mutual recognition of UK and Indian qualifications. +The Department of Biotechnology would also work with Research Councils to establish a strategic group which would explore the mechanisms to develop the evidence base which would address anti-microbial resistance at the genomic level of the host-pathogen interactions to accelerate the development of new drugs and diagnostics. +The two Prime Ministers underlined their joint determination to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR), noting that it poses a grave public health and economic threat to both countries. +Both Prime Ministers recognised that a global response is required and supported a high level meeting on antimicrobial resistance at the 2016 UN General Assembly. +India and the UK will also contribute their scientific expertise to a global summit to be held in London in 2016 as part of the AMR initiative of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and the Research Councils, Government of UK. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the cooperation in the health sector between the two countries and the on-going Memorandum of Understanding covering areas including Medical Education and Training, Universal Health Coverage, containment of Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), improving patient safety through quality, safe and efficacious drugs and the collaboration between NICE International, UK and the Department of Health Research in India on medical technology assessment. +The two Prime Ministers emphasised the potential increased investment and co-operation in health and related sectors. +Prime Minister Cameron welcomed the decision of the Indian Government to set up a taskforce under the stewardship of the Department of Health and Family Welfare to facilitate such investment. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the agreement signed between King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Indo UK Healthcare Pvt Ltd to open King’s College Hospital, Chandigarh. +The two Prime Ministers noted the finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India and a leading UK institute for Integrated Medicine to strengthen and develop cooperation in the field of research and education in this area. +The two Prime Ministers announced that a UK-India Year of Culture will be organised in 2017 to celebrate our deep cultural ties and the 70th anniversary of Indian Independence. +The two Prime Ministers committed support to the digitization of the shared archival collections housed in the British Library and the National Archives of India. +Both Prime Ministers welcomed the posthumous reinstatement of Shyamji Krishna Varma to the bar, noting his key role in the Indian independence movement and the inspiration he has provided to subsequent generations. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the intention of the Indian Ministry of Tourism and the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism to promote safe and sustainable tourism between the two countries. +Prime Minister Cameron and Prime Minister Modi noted that in an increasingly complex and interconnected world, enhancing cooperation to target criminals across borders will be critical for guaranteeing the security and safety of both nations. +They agreed to work together to disrupt the flow of New Psychoactive Substances that harm both countries and to open the door for further negotiations on criminal record exchange to ensure greater collaboration between law enforcement agencies in both India and the UK. +Prime Minister Cameron and Prime Minister Modi reiterated their determination to enhance cooperation in the area of Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, particularly where it is related to terrorism cases. +The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of co-operation to tackle the trafficking of stolen artefacts/antiquities. +Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Cameron for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation and invited Prime Minister Cameron to visit India in 2016. +The two leaders affirmed their vision of a forward-looking partnership between the UK and India that would play an indispensable role in creating economic growth, jobs and security for the people of both countries. +They reaffirmed their commitment to working together to build such an enhanced and transformative partnership for the betterment of their two countries and the world. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh today. +He released a commemorative postage stamp on Maharaja Suheldev. +He also laid the Foundation Stone of a Medical College in Ghazipur. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the projects being unveiled at various events today, would go a long way in making Poorvanchal a medical hub, and a centre for research in agriculture. +The Prime Minister recalled Maharaja Suheldev, as a brave warrior, and a hero who inspires the people. +He spoke of the martial and strategic prowess, and administrative skills of Maharaja Suheldev. +The Prime Minister said the Union Government is determined to preserve the legacy of all those who contributed to the cause of India’s defence and security, and to its social life. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government and the State Government in Uttar Pradesh, are both sensitive to the concerns of the people. +He said the mission is to ensure a life of dignity for everyone. +The Prime Minister said that the medical college for which the Foundation Stone has been laid will provide the region with modern healthcare amenities. +He said this has been a long standing demand of the people of this region, and it shall soon become a reality. +He said this is one of many important hospitals that are being set up to improve healthcare facilities in the region. +In this context, he also mentioned hospitals that are coming up in Gorakhpur and Varanasi. +The Prime Minister said that healthcare is receiving this magnitude of attention from the Union Government, for the first time since independence. +He mentioned the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, and treatment being offered to patients. +He said that in just 100 days, over 6 lakh people had benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana. +The Prime Minister also mentioned the insurance schemes launched by the Union Government, and said 20 crore people across the country have joined the JeevanJyoti, or Suraksha Beema schemes. +The Prime Minister mentioned several projects in the region, which are associated with agriculture. +These include the International Rice Research Institute in Varanasi, cargo centres in Varanasi and Ghazipur, fertilizer plant in Gorakhpur, and Bansagar irrigation project. +He said such initiatives will benefit farmers and help improve their incomes. +The Prime Minister emphasized that steps taken only for immediate political gain, do not help solve the country’s problems. +He said the Union Government has fixed MSP of 22 crops based on 1.5 times the cost. +He mentioned various other initiatives taken for the agriculture sector. +Speaking of connectivity related progress, the Prime Minister said that work is in full swing for the Poorvanchal Expressway. +He said work is progressing on the Tarighat-Ghazipur-Mau bridge. +He said the recently opened waterway between Varanasi and Kolkata would also benefit Ghazipur. +He said these projects would boost trade and commerce in the region. +In a function at Solapur, the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation 765 kV Solapur – Raichur transmission lines, and four laning of Pune – Solapur section of NH-9. +The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for four laning of Solapur – Maharashtra / Karnataka Border Section of NH-9. +Giving the example of South Korea, the Prime Minister said across the world, countries which had invested in infrastructure creation, had reaped the fruits of development and prosperity. +He asserted that roads and highways development will be given priority by the new Government, drawing inspiration from the Golden Quadrilateral and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana launched by former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. +The Prime Minister shared the concern expressed by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Prithviraj Chavan, over power plants being idle due to shortage of coal and gas. +He, however, added that he had been raising this concern as Chief Minister of Gujarat. +He said the Union Government would do all it could to ensure enough fuel for power plants. +Coal would be extracted in a way that did not harm the environment. +The Prime Minister called upon students to take the lead in a nationwide movement to reduce electricity bills of their family. +This too would be a form of service to the nation, he added. +Students should exhort all family members to join in this movement, he said. +He said once this project is completed, Maharashtra would get electricity worth Rs. 400 crore, free, every year. +Greeting the people of Solapur who had gathered in large numbers for the function, the Prime Minister assured them that he would return the gift of their love through development. +He said Solapur was a well established centre for textile industry, and revitalization of this industry was among the priorities of the Union Government. +Union Ministers Shri Nitin Gadkari and Shri Piyush Goyal, and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Prirhviraj Chavan also spoke on the occasion. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary +“I bow to the great Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary. +We remember his indomitable spirit and invaluable contribution to India’s history. +Veer Savarkar’s undying love for India made him fight injustice against our Motherland. +He inspired many others to join freedom struggle. +We salute Veer Savarkar for his emphasis on social reform and remember his writing and poetry that ignites the spark of patriotism among people,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved a policy framework for development of Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) in coal and lignite bearing areas in the country. +UCG is a method of extraction of energy from coal/lignite resources which are otherwise regarded as uneconomical to work through conventional mining methods. +A policy on the lines broadly similar to the existing policy for Coal Bed Methane (CBM) development on revenue sharing basis will be adopted for offering the blocks through competitive bidding. +Development of UCG is envisaged to provide for energy security. +An Inter-Ministerial Committee under the Ministry of Coal with members from concerned Ministries will be responsible for identification of the areas, deciding about blocks to be put to bidding or awarding them to PSUs on nomination basis. +Ministry of Coal may engage a consultant for development of the contract document. +For development of bid documents, work programme, conducting the bidding process, evaluation of bids, monitoring and process protocols etc., Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL) will be the nodal agency. +In the perspective of next two years some explored blocks will be identified for offer. +Subsequently, additional blocks will be identified for offer in the long term. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said India’s history is not only about defeat, poverty or colonialism. +India gave the message of good governance, non-violence and Satyagraha, he added. +Paying homage to Lord Basaveshwara, he said Basaveshwara had envisioned a democratic arrangement, several centuries ago. +He said our land has been blessed with great individuals who have transformed our society. +He said reform has always come to our society from within, whenever required. +He expressed confidence that reformers would emerge from within the Muslim community itself, to put an end to the pain suffered by some Muslim women, because of the practice of “triple talaq.” +He urged the Muslim community not to look at this issue through a political lens. +Describing Lord Basaveshwara’s Vachanas as a basis for good governance, the Prime Minister said the fruits of development such as housing, electricity and roads should reach one and all, without distinction. +He said this is the true essence of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.” +The Prime Minister recalled the occasion in November 2015 in London, when he had unveiled the bust of Lord Basaveshwara. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has blogged on his recent visit to Myanmar, Australia and Fiji. +“Dear Friends, +On the evening of the 19th, my trip to Myanmar, Australia and Fiji concluded. +I thought this must change. +I attended five Summits including the one with leaders of Pacific Islands that I hosted in Fiji and met 38 world leaders. +The number of full bilateral meetings I had stands at 20. +In fact, I had the opportunity to meet leaders from every part of the world! +These meetings were frank, comprehensive and fruitful. +We covered substantial ground on several issues. +I met a wide range of business leaders as well. +During these bilateral meetings, I noticed one thing- that the world is looking at India with renewed respect and immense enthusiasm! +I see a global community that is tremendously keen to engage with India. +With every leader, we discussed how we could make our relations more extensive, diverse and wide-ranging. +Such exposure has become imperative keeping in mind the pace at which the world is developing. +Several world leaders also showed keenness on our plans to create ‘Next Gen Infrastructure’ and smart cities. +I had the opportunity to address the Parliaments of Australia and Fiji during this visit. +Coming from the world’s largest democracy, it is always heartening to visit these temples of democracies and to share thoughts from within the hallowed portals of their four walls. +There is no bond that is stronger than a bond between two democracies. +On one hand it gave me an opportunity to reach out to the wider political leadership of these nations and on the other hand it opened new avenues for co-operation. +Once again, the lawmakers were very upbeat about India. +Both addresses were a first for any Indian Prime Minister. +In fact, I was told that my address to the Fijian Parliament was a first by any world leader. +This is not a personal achievement, but it is a reflection on the respect that the 125 crore people of India have in the eyes of the global community. +At the G-20 Summit, India placed the issue of existence and repatriation of black money at the forefront of the world community. +I am glad that the world community took note of this because this is an issue that does not selectively affect one nation. +The menace of black money has the potential to destabilize world peace and harmony. +Black money also brings with it terrorism, money laundering and narcotics trade. +As democracies firmly committed to the rule of law, it becomes our obligation to collectively fight this evil and there was no better occasion than the G-20 to raise this. +Our efforts paid off with the official communiqué reflecting this issue. +It is my conviction that ASEAN and India can explore new frontiers together. +We share the bonds of culture and history and at the same time are blessed with the vigour and energy of our youth. +In Fiji I met with leaders of the Pacific Island Nations. +This is a region that is important to us. +I am very happy to have taken a significant and concrete step towards stronger bilateral relations with each of these nations individually. +There is a lot we can do for these nations and there is a lot we can learn from them. +Wherever I went, I witnessed immense warmth from the people. +I am extremely grateful to President Thein Sein, Prime Minister Abbott and Prime Minister Bainimarama the leaders of the three nations who hosted me. +My individual meetings with them also covered significant ground on how to take relations with our respective nations ahead. +With President Thein Sein my talks were centered around the 3Cs of culture, commerce and connectivity. +Prime Minister Abbott and I made unprecedented progress in the areas of energy, culture, and security and are moving very positively on the issue of nuclear energy. +The Framework for Security Cooperation is a fitting recognition of the increasing security ties with Australia. +There will be a ‘Make in India’ roadshow next year to invite Australia companies to India. +During my meeting with Australian business leaders, I could see their willingness and eagerness to invest in India and such a roadshow will surely be very valuable in this context. +On a personal note, the affection from the Indian community was touching. +Be it in Myanmar, Australia and Fiji, I will not be able to describe their warmth in words. +I could see that they were proud of India and of the changes happening in India. +There was immense glee on the faces of our diaspora when I announced the visa-on-arrival facilities and the OCI and PIO merger in Australia and Fiji. +It is our aim to make the diaspora an integral part of our development journey and since the last few months we have channelized our efforts in this regard. +We want to create an environment where our diaspora also feel that they can contribute towards India’s development. +That is also the reason I urged NRIs to keep sharing their views and thoughts on www.mygov.in. +I fondly remember the reception at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. +It was very kind of PM Abbott to specially fly down to Melbourne and host the reception, where cricketing greats including Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, VVS Laxman, Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Dean Jones and Glenn McGrath joined. +Friends, my eastward travels over the past few days have been a reminder to me of what the world expects from India. +I saw in their eyes a desire to see India playing its part for a peaceful, stable and developed global community. +I also saw a reflection of the energy of our youth, keeping pace with rapid changes across the world. +I am convinced, with even greater consciousness, of the positive difference India can make on the world stage. +The world is looking at India with renewed enthusiasm. +We must reciprocate with a renewed commitment to our shared values and goals. +Together we shall script a better future for India and the rest of the world.” +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tribute to C Rajagopalachari on his birth anniversary. +“I offer my tributes to the great freedom fighter, scholar and thinker par excellence, Shri C Rajagopalachari on his birth anniversary. +Rajaji was known for his administrative and political skills as well as for his literary and cultural pursuits. +A remarkable personality!” said the Prime Minister. +GSAT-11 will be ready for launch by the end of 2016. +Considering the 5600 Kg lift-off mass, the satellite will be launched using procured launch vehicle outside the country. +The ground segment is being realized to address the rural communication requirements. +The ground segment of GSAT-11 will enable the utilisation of a small portion of the bandwidth for societal services apart from providing in orbit testing support. +It will also provide a high throughput capacity of about 10 Gbps to render broadband connectivity especially in rural areas. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of Agreement between India and Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the exploration and uses of Outer Space for peaceful purposes. +The Agreement was signed on 1st October 2018 at New Delhi during the State visit of the President of Uzbekistan to India. +The signing of the Agreement will strengthen the cooperation between India and Uzbekistan and would provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication; satellite navigation; space science and exploration of outer space. +Agreement would lead to develop a joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. +It will lead to setting up of a Joint Working Group, which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementing the provisions of this Agreement. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today held talks with the President of the Spanish Government, Mariano Rajoy, in Madrid. +During his opening remarks, the Prime Minister said that today’s talks will go a long way in furthering ties between the two countries. +The Prime Minister said that in an interconnected and interdependent world – Spain and India can work together both for mutual benefit, and for the benefit of the world at large. +He described President Rajoy as a visionary leader. +The Prime Minister said India and Spain have both faced the scourge of terrorism, and will both focus on fighting it. +The Prime Minister said both India and Spain are engaging in vigorous economic reform. +He said there is immense scope for cooperation in infrastructure, railways and smart cities. +The Prime Minister said that the vision of “New India” will be enhanced through the “New Momentum” in relations between India and Spain. +Seven agreements were exchanged between the two countries, covering subjects such as energy, security and civil aviation. +Prime Minister Modi later met with Spanish CEOs. +He said during the meeting that there is immense potential for further growth of Spanish investments in India. +He mentioned in particular, sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, food processing, auto, chemicals and textiles. +He invited Spanish participation in the Smart Cities initiative. +He also gave a broad overview of the economic reforms undertaken in India, including GST. +He asserted that initiatives like Make in India, Digital India and Start up India have become global magnets for investment. +The Prime Minister also called on His Majesty King Felipe VI. +PM visits Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing unit +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today unveiled a Basaveshwara Statue at Lambeth in London. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said he was deeply pained by the terror attacks in Paris yesterday. +He said this was not just an attack on the people of France, but on all of humanity, and the time had come for all humanitarian forces from across the world to unite to fight this global menace. +He said it was imperative that the United Nations finalises a definition of terrorism. +The Prime Minister described Basaveshwara as a great philosopher and social reformer, who had fought against social evils of his time, and worked for the strengthening of democracy at the grassroots. +The Prime Minister inaugurated the Dr. Ambedkar Memorial at King Henry’s Road in London. +He lit a candle in front of Dr. Ambedkar’s bust. +He unveiled a plaque to mark the dedication of the Memorial. +“This is the sacred spot where Dr. Ambedkar pursued his quest for knowledge, overcoming all the difficulties and the barriers placed before him,” the Prime Minister wrote in the Visitors’ Book. +“I bow to the great man who worked ceaselessly for the oppressed sections of society,” he added. +The Prime Minister visited the Jaguar-Land Rover Manufacturing unit at Solihull. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on occasion of various festivals across the country. +Ugadi greetings to everyone! +I pray that this auspicious occasion leads to the fulfilment of all your aspirations. +May everyone be blessed with happiness and best health. +Greetings to the wonderful people of Manipur on Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba. +May this special festival further the spirit of happiness and harmony in our society. +Praying for a year filled with exceptional happiness. +May everyone’s aspirations be fulfilled in the coming times. +The culture of Kashmiri Pandits is truly special. +The community is blessed with immense courage and great spirit of resilience”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex post-facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Cambodia on Cooperation in the field of Communications. +The MoU was signed in Cambodia in March, 2019. +The MoU will contribute in strengthening bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding between India and Cambodia in the field of communications. +The Prime Minister said, ” On the NM Mobile App http://nm4.in/dnldapp , take the pledge and express your commitment towards building a new India. +A new India is emerging, which is being powered by the strength & skills of 125 crore Indians. +This India stands for development. +When we mark 75 years of freedom in 2022, we should have made an India that will make Gandhi Ji, Sardar Patel & Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar proud.” +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Viswanathan Anand on winning World Rapid Chess Championship. +India is proud of your exemplary success at the World Rapid Chess Championship.” +I am delighted to welcome President Lukashenku to India. +His visit comes as both countries mark 25 years of our diplomatic relationship this year. +We have earlier had the pleasure of receiving President Lukashenku in India in 1997 and in 2007. +During this visit, I hope Your Excellency will get a chance to see and experience the transformations taking place in India. +Our discussions today were wide-ranging and forward-looking. +They were marked by the warmth of our ties over two and a half decades. +We exchanged views on bilateral issues and on regional and global developments. +We reviewed the architecture of our partnership. +We considered ideas and initiatives for further expanding it. +We decided to enhance our interaction in all aspects of cooperation. +I found in President Lukashenku matching enthusiasm and desire to scale up our partnership for the benefit of our people. +To this end, we will work to diversify economic linkages. +The focuswill be to build upon the natural complementarity between us. +Our companies have to evolve from a buyer-seller framework to deeper engagement. +There are abundant business and investment opportunities in pharmaceuticals, oil & gas, heavy machinery and equipment. +Last year, Indian companies made a positive beginning with three joint ventures in pharmaceuticals. +Possibilities for partnership also exist in manufacturing of tyres, agro-industrial machinery, and mining equipment. +Similarly, in heavy-duty construction machinery India has a growing demand and Belarus has industrial strengths. +We will also encourage joint development and manufacturing in defence sector under the Make in India programme. +We have also progressed our discussion on utilising the US$ 100 million line of credit that India had offered in 2015 in specific projects in Belarus. +India is linked with Belarus under multilateral economic initiatives such as the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the International North South Transport Corridor. +India is negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the EEU. +Science and technology is another area of focus for stronger cooperation. +Belarus is a long-time partner in this field. +Innovation and commercialisation will be given due emphasis in fields like metallurgy & materials, nano-materials, biological & medical sciences, and chemical & engineering sciences. +We envisage participation of our youth in this process. +We are exploring the setting up of a technology demonstration Centre in India to showcase Belarusian technology. +Another dimension of India’s partnership with Belarus lies in development cooperation. +Belarus is an active participant in Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme. +In international forums, our two countries have close cooperation and common approaches on matters of mutual interest. +India and Belarus will continue extending mutual support for each other in multilateral fora. +President Lukashenku and I discussed the rich history of cultural interactions between our people, which has nurtured goodwill. +I was pleased to learn that many Belarusians take active interest in Indian culture, cuisine, films, music, dance, Yoga and Ayurveda. +I see great potential to enhance our tourism and people-to-people exchanges so as to build an even stronger foundation for our relations. +In closing, I want to thank President Lukashenku for being our honoured guest. +India will work closely with Belarus in the coming days and months to implement today’s consensus and outcomes. +I wish President Lukashenku a memorable stay in India. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today gave its approval for returning of approximately 478.307 hectares of land to the State Government of Madhya Pradesh. +The land returned would be utilized by the State Government for allotment to the auto and related ancillary industries which will have a synergistic effect with the existing NATRAX project. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today took stock of the situation following the fresh major earthquake felt in Nepal and parts of India, at a high-level meeting. +The Prime Minister directed all concerned authorities to be on alert for carrying out rescue and relief operations, as required. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has given good wishes to people of Myanmar on their Independence Day. +“On their Independence Day, my good wishes to people of Myanmar. +We are confident of even stronger India-Myanmar ties in the years to come”, the Prime Minister said. +PM exhorts IITs to provide innovative solutions to problems faced by common people. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called upon IITs to provide innovative solutions to problems faced by common people in their day-to-day life. +The Prime Minister was addressing a Conference of Chairmen of Boards of Governors and Directors of IITs at Rashtrapati Bhavan. +He said this would lead to a positive change in the quality of life of people, besides instilling a sense of “service” towards the Nation, among the bright young minds at IITs. +“How can IITs teach our students the science of thinking and the art of living,” the Prime Minister said. +He also said IITs could contribute towards user-friendly innovations in the Indian Railways. +The Prime Minister also called upon IITs to adopt nearby engineering colleges, and play a role in mentoring them. +He asked IITs to search for innovations that people may have developed in their neighbourhood, and which could serve as inspiration for path-breaking changes. +Describing “IITians” as a “great force,” the Prime Minister said IITs must encourage their alumni to interact with students, so that their experience can be leveraged. +He also called for a systematic mapping and grouping of IIT alumni, so that their experience can be used in different sectors. +The Prime Minister praised President Pranab Mukherjee’s initiative for the education sector, and said his guidance will benefit the Nation, and future generations in a big way. +The Prime Minister said while global rankings are important, we should also set up our own parameters for rankings, which will serve as an in-built mechanism for change and improvement. +The President of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Thomas Bach, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Mr. Bach and Prime Minister Modi noted with concern, the rising trend of conflict, civil war and terrorism around the world. +They agreed that sports is a powerful unifying force that can unite humanity and society. +The Prime Minister said sports is essential for any country to inculcate sportsman spirit among its citizens, which serves as a strong bond for the society. +The Prime Minister spoke of India’s humanitarian approach in dealing with recent tragic incidents in the neighbourhood, including the earthquake in Nepal. +The Prime Minister also mentioned how India had assisted in the evacuation of citizens of 48 countries, including Yemen. +He said India is the world’s youngest country, and has the maximum potential for growth of sports. +The Prime Minister sought the IOC President’s support in making India a hub of sports infrastructure, sports technology, and sports equipment manufacturing. +The Prime Minister expressed his intention to promote India on the global sports map. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the creation of one circle office of Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS), along-with all supporting officers and staffs for carrying out the functions of Commission of Metro Railway Safety as envisaged in the “Metro Railways (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2002”, in the Commission of Railway Safety under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. +The Cabinet also allowed assigning of additional charge of two circles to two existing Commissioners of Railway safety (CRSs) who will exercise their powers within their existing jurisdiction. +These circles will not be under the jurisdiction of CMRS, New Delhi. +The post of Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety will be in HAG ( pay level 15) in the Commission of Railway Safety under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. +The estimated expenditure on salary will be around Rs 59,39,040 per annum for the (one) Circle office. +Creation of these posts will ensure focused attention on the passenger safety and metro rail operation related issues, in respect of existing, as well as upcoming various metro rail projects, as envisaged in the “Metro Railways (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2002”, in the Commission of Railway Safety under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. +Implementation strategy and targets: +On receipt of their approval, orders for creation of the post shall be released immediately. +The Commission of Railway Safety working under the administrative control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Govt. of India), deals with the matters pertaining to safety of rail travel and train operation and is charged with certain statutory functions laid down in the Railway Act’1989. +These functions are inspectorial, investigatory and advisory in nature. +The Commission functions according to certain rules framed under the railways Act and executive instructions issued from time to time. +The most important duty of the Commission is to ensure that any new railway line to be opened for passenger traffic should conform to the standard and specifications prescribed by the Ministry of Railways and the new line is safe in all respects for carrying the passenger traffic. +This is also applicable to other works such as gauge conversion, doubling of lines and electrification of existing lines etc. +The Commission also conducts statutory inquiries into serious train accidents and makes recommendations for improving safety on the railways in India. +With a view to accord priority to passenger safety and also to ensure uniformity in safety certification, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs while enacting the “Metro railways (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2002”, has assigned similar functions to Commissioner of Metro Railway safety (CMRS) in respect of Metro Railways. +The CMRS will be administratively under the control of Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety under Ministry of Civil Aviation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will be on a day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir on May 19, 2018. +The Prime Minister will attend the Closing Ceremony of the Birth Centenary Celebration of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche in Leh. +At the same event, he will unveil a plaque to mark the commencement of work on the Zojila Tunnel. +The 14 km long Zojila tunnel will be India’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel. +The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, had approved the construction, operation and maintenance of this tunnel between Baltal and Minamarg, on the Srinagar-Leh section of NH-1A, at a total cost of Rs 6800 crore earlier this year. +It will lead to all-round economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions. +It also has immense strategic importance. +The Prime Minister will dedicate the 330 MW Kishanganga Hydropower Station to the Nation, at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. +He will also lay the Foundation Stone of the Srinagar Ring Road. +At the General Zorawar Singh Auditorium in Jammu, the Prime Minister will lay the Foundation Stone of the Pakul Dul Power Project, and the Jammu Ring Road. +He will also inaugurate the Tarakote Marg and Material Ropeway of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. +The Tarakote Marg will facilitate pilgrims visiting the shrine. +The Ring Roads in Srinagar and Jammu are aimed at reducing traffic congestion at these cities and making road travel safer, faster, more convenient and more environment friendly. +The Prime Minister will also attend the Convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Jammu. +Defence Minister of the Russian Federation Mr Sergei Shoigu called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister Modi recalled a very successful visit of the Russian President Vladimir Putin to India in December 2014 and conveyed that the time tested special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia acquired a new momentum with the visit of President Putin. +Prime Minister conveyed that he looked forward to visit Russia later this year for the 7th BRICS summit and for the bilateral Annual Summit. +Mr Sergei Shoigu is visiting India for the 14th meeting of the Inter Governmental Commission on Military and Technical Cooperation which is co-chaired by the Defence Minister of India. +Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Prime Minister said that India had the rich tradition of communities taking lead, to solve the challenges faced by an era. +Remembering SardarVallabhbhai Patel, Prime Minister said that the efforts of Sardar Patel towards cooperative sector should never be forgotten. +The Prime Minister urged the people of Gujarat to work on food processing. +He added that such value addition would benefit both farmers and industries. +Paying homage to Maa Annapurna, Prime Minister said that the Annapurna Dham Trust should give society the strength to ensure gender equality and prosperity for everyone. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives in the building collapse in Kanpur. +“My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in the building collapse in Kanpur. +May the injured recover quickly”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited Lucknow. +He attended the groundbreaking ceremony of 81 projects in Uttar Pradesh, with a total investment of over 60,000 crore rupees. +These projects have materialised within a few months after the UP Investors Summit, which was organized in February 2018, in an effort to attract investments and promote industrialisation in the State. +The Prime Minister referred to the heavy rain in some parts of the country. +He said the Union Government is monitoring the situation and working with the State Governments to provide assistance to all affected people. +He said that as a caring government, the objective is to ease the difficulty in the lives of people, and improve ease of living. +He said that the gathering today is part of the effort to transform the State of Uttar Pradesh. +He said the speed with which these projects have moved (from proposal to groundbreaking) within five months, is outstanding. +He congratulated the State Government for this achievement. +He noted that these projects are not restricted to certain parts of the State, but will enable balanced development. +He praised the new work culture of the State Government. +He said the changed investment climate in the State is bringing opportunities for employment, trade, good roads, adequate power supply, and a bright future. +He said these projects would provide many new employment opportunities, and benefit various sections of society. +He said that flagship programmes such as Digital India and Make in India, would receive a big boost through these projects. +The Prime Minister said that three lakh Common Service Centres spread across the rural areas today, are transforming lives in the villages, by enabling efficient and transparent service delivery. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government is ending silos, and focusing on solutions and synchronization. +He said India has become the world’s second largest producer of mobile phones, and Uttar Pradesh is leading this manufacturing revolution. +The Prime Minister said that as infrastructure projects get completed, it will become even easier to do business in India, and expenditure incurred on logistics will reduce. +He urged entrepreneurs and traders to move towards digital transactions. +The Prime Minister outlined the steps taken to improve electricity supply in the country. +He said the country is moving from conventional energy to green energy, and Uttar Pradesh will become a hub of solar energy. +He said India’s energy deficit has reduced from 4.2 percent in 2013-14, to less than one percent today. +The Prime Minister said that the roadmap for New India, is the fulfillment of the aspirations of its people, through Jan Bhagidaari (people’s participation). +H.E. Mrs Nguyen Thị Kim Ngan, President of the National Assembly of Vietnam, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister recalled their earlier meeting in Hanoi during his visit to Vietnam in September 2016. +He said that Ms. Ngan, as the first woman to head the National Assembly of Vietnam, is a source of inspiration to women across the world. +The Prime Minister welcomed increased Parliamentary interactions between India and Vietnam, and called for instituting an exchange programme for young parliamentarians of the two countries. +The Prime Minister said that the bilateral Agreement on Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, being signed today, will further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam. +What stood out about Mufti Sahab was his statesmanship. +In his long political journey he won many admirers across the political spectrum. +Mufti Sahab provided a healing touch to Jammu and Kashmir through his leadership. +He will be missed by all of us. +During the launch of ‘Ek Bharat Shresht Bharat’on 31st October 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “Sardar Patel gave us Ek Bharat. +It is now the solemn duty of 125 crore Indians to collectively make Shreshta Bharat”. +This is the idea that has guided Narendra Modi, even before he became the Prime Minister of India. +Narendra Modi believes in honouring national heroes, those who have sacrificed a lot for the unity, security, sovereignty and development of our beloved nation. +He wantsour history and heritage to be part of our national pride and consciousness. +The National Salt Satyagraha Memorial at Dandi, is one example. +It honours the spirit and the energy of the 1930 Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi and 80 of his fellow Satyagrahis. +The 182 metre tall Statue of Unity, depicting Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is the most vivid example of this. +The statue is not only a dedication to the Iron Man of India, who unified India, but also a monument of immense pride for all Indians. +For decades, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s family demanded that files relating to events in his life be declassified. +Successive Governments refused to take a firm decision. +Until October 2015, when Narendra Modi hosted Netaji’s extended family at his residence. +“I see no reason to strangle history,” he said, adding that those who forget history, also lose the power to create it. +The files were swiftly declassified, and put on a digital platform. +In the mid 1940s, the INA trials at Red Fort, had stirred the nation. +However, for decades, the building in which the trials happened, lay forgotten inside the Red Fort Complex. +On Subhas Bose’s Jayanti this year, the Prime Minister inaugurated a museum in the same building, dedicated to Netaji, and the Indian National Army. +The museum forms part of the complex of four Museums which are collectively known as “Kranti Mandir.” +Museums dedicated to the 1857 War of Independence and the JallianwalaBagh massacre also form part of the complex. +Narendra Modi has also announced an awardin the name of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, to honour police personnel involved in disaster response operations. +In the last four years, several other memorials have been made to recall the contributions of many great leaders of our history. +One of Narendra Modi’s key ideas is the Panchteerth – five memorials dedicated to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. +These include his birthplace in Mhow, the place in London where he stayed while studying in the UK, Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur, Mahaparinirvan Sthal in Delhi, and Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai. +While he was Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had inaugurated the memorial dedicated to Shyamji Krishna Varma in Kutch. +In Haryana, he unveiled the Statue of Sir Chhotu Ram, a great social reformer. +He has laid the Foundation Stone for the Shivaji memorial just off the coast of Mumbai, in the Arabian Sea. +In Delhi, the Prime Minister has inaugurated the Sardar Patel Gallery at the National Science Centre. +Recently, he dedicated the National Police Memorial to the nation, to salute the courage and sacrifice of over 33,000 police personnel who laid down their lives for the service of the nation. +Within weeks, a National War Memorial, will also be unveiled, dedicated to the memory of the soldiers who laid down their lives in wars and operations since independence. +Memorials are reminders of sacrifices, of those whose contributions now enable us to live a better life. +They are a sourceof inspiration for the present and future generations. +These memorials, built under the leadership of Narendra Modi, stand out as souvenirs of nationalism, instilling the feeling of oneness and pride, that needs to cherished and nourished. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and subsequent ratification of the Agreement on Transfer of sentenced persons between India and Somalia. +Signing the Agreement with Somalia shall facilitate the Indian prisoners imprisoned in Somalia or vice-versa to be near to their families, for serving remaining part of their sentence and shall facilitate their social rehabilitation. +The Government of India has signed bilateral Agreements on Transfer of Sentenced Persons with United Kingdom, Mauritius, Bulgaria, France, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bangladesh, Brazil, Israel, Bosnia & Herzegovina, UAE, Italy, Turkey, Maldives, Thailand, Russian Federation, Kuwait, Vietnam, Australia, Hong Kong, Qatar, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Bahrain and Estonia. +Prior to 2004, there was no domestic legislation under which foreign prisoners could be transferred to the country of their origin to serve the remaining part of their sentence, nor was there a provision for the transfer of prisoners of Indian origin convicted by a foreign court to serve their sentence in India. +The transfer of such prisoners to their own native countries shall facilitate their social rehabilitation. +Hence the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 was enacted for achieving the above purpose. +For achieving the objectives of the Act, a treaty/agreement is required to be signed with countries having mutual interest with us on this matter. +The said treaty/agreement is required to be notified in the Official Gazette. +Indo-Russian Rifles Pvt. Ltd. to be dedicated to the nation Several development projects for Amethi and the region to be unveiled by PM +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Amethi in Uttar Pradesh tomorrow on 3rd March 2019. +At Kauhar in Amethi, PM will dedicate the Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Limited to the nation. +Prime Minister will also address a public gathering at Kauhar. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has extended his New Year greetings to the citizens across India who are celebrating the start of New Year. +In a series of tweets the PM wished that may the year bring peace, joy and prosperity to everyone. +“People across India are celebrating the start of the new year. +New year greetings to everyone. +May the year bring peace, joy and prosperity. +Ugadi greetings to all those celebrating. +May the coming year fulfil all your wishes and may there be happiness all around. +Cheti Chand greetings to the Sindhi community. +May Lord Jhulelal bless us and the year ahead be a happy as well as memorable one. +Wishing the people of Maharashtra on the special occasion of Gudi Padwa. +May the coming year bring happiness, good health and prosperity.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing an Agreement on Cooperation between India and Russia in the field of combating all forms of terrorism and organized crime. +The Agreement is proposed to be signed during the upcoming visit of Indian Delegation, led by Home Minister, to Russia from 27-29 November, 2017. +India and Russia have a long history of close cooperation in international fora on matters of mutual interest. +With the rise in terrorism and organized crime across the world, it is imperative for countries to work together to combat all forms of terrorism. +The proposed Agreement, which will replace the Agreement of October, 1993, is a step towards consolidating the benefits accrued in the field of security and seeks to jointly fight the new and evolving risks and threats. +The Agreement would reinforce the relationship between India and Russia through exchange and sharing of information, expertise, best practices and would help in curbing terrorism and enhancing, security in the region. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated a newly constructed market yard of APMC, at Amreli. +He also inaugurated a new plant of Amar Dairy, and laid the foundation stone for a honey plant. +At a Sahakar Sammelan in Amreli, the Prime Minister said he was happy to see younger people coming to the fore and taking leadership of the cooperative sector. +He recalled how dairies had grown in Saurashtra, in the period when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat. +He said the e-NAM Yojana is benefiting farmers and giving them access to better markets. +He said the blue revolution and the sweet (honey) revolution have the potential to transform the lives of people in Saurashtra. +The Prime Minister said the Union Government is sensitive to the needs and concerns of the farmers. +The Prime Minister will inaugurate the PETROTECH – 2019 at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh on 11th February 2019. +He will also address the inaugural session of the event. +PETROTECH – 2019 is considered to be India’s flagship hydrocarbon conference. +PETROTECH-2019, the 13th International Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition is being organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India. +The three-day mega event, from 10 to 12 February 2019, will showcase the recent market and investor friendly developments in India’s oil and gas sector. +Over 95 Energy Ministers from partner countries and 7000 delegates from around 70 countries are expected to be part of PETROTECH -2019. +Along with the Conference, the event will have a concurrent exhibition spread over 20,000 square meters at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida. +The PETROTECH-2019 Exhibition will have over 13 country pavilions and around 750 exhibitors from over 40 countries, with exclusive areas on the Make in India and Renewable Energy theme. +PM has in the past inaugurated the 12 the edition of PETROTECH-2016on 5 December 2016. +Hesaid that “My vision for India’s energy future has four pillars: +Energy access, Energy efficiency, Energy sustainability &Energy security. ” +PM also invited the global hydrocarbon companies to come and Make in India and assured them that our motto is to replace Red Tape with Red Carpet.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Manipur on 16 March, 2018. +He will deliver the inaugural address at the 105th session of the Indian Science Congress, at Manipur University in Imphal. +Imphal will become the second city in the North-East to host this prestigious event. +At the Luwangpokpa Multi Sports Complex in Luwangsangbam, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the National Sports University, 1000 Anganwadi Centres, 19 residential complexes for teachers, doctors and nurses, and other development projects. +He will also inaugurate the Luwangpokpa Multi Sports Complex, Rani Gaidinliu Park, and other development projects. +He will address the gathering. +I have just returned to Delhi after two memorable days in Kathmandu. +I want to thank President Ram Baran Yadavji, Prime Minister Sushil Koiralaji, the Government of Nepal, all the political parties, officials, security personnel and, above all, the people of Nepal for the extraordinary warmth and affection with which I was welcomed in Nepal. +It made feel as though I had come home. +This experience has moved me and added another dimension to my personal relationship with Nepal. +I felt deeply honoured with the privilege to speak to the Members of the Constituent Assembly of Nepal. +During my two-day visit, I felt the strong urge for political stability and economic prosperity in everyone I met in Nepal. +I also believe that together we have laid the foundation for a new relationship between our two countries, which will draw strength from our deep ancient links and prepare us to together address the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century. +I will leave no stone unturned to translate our vision into reality, and our commitments into action. +I not only look forward to returning to Nepal in November and to the opportunity to visit other places, but to a more sustained process of political engagement between India and Nepal. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrived in Xi’an, the capital of China’s Shaanxi Province, on the morning of May 14th, 2015. +He was received by the Governor of Shaanxi Province Mr. Lou Qinjian, and Vice Foreign Minister of China Mr. Liu Zhenmin. +The Prime Minister visited the Terracotta Warriors Museum, and observed the exhibits there in detail. +The Prime Minister also visited the Daxingshan Temple in Xi’an. +The Prime Minister visited the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an. +He was received at the courtyard inside the main compound by President Xi. +The Prime Minister presented a Bodhi Tree Sapling to the Chief Abbot of the Pagoda. +The Prime Minister was given a Traditional Tang Dynasty welcome, at a ceremony at the South City Wall in Xi’an. +This was followed by a Dinner Banquet hosted by President Xi Jinping, and a cultural performance at Pot City, South City Wall. +The Prime Minister arrived in Beijing late in the evening. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi saluted the spirit of ‘Nari Shakti’ on International Women’s Day. +The Prime Minister said, ” Saluting the indomitable spirit, determination & dedication of Nari Shakti on International Women’s Day. +GoI’s various initiatives seek to facilitate economic empowerment, self-reliance & social equality as far as Nari Shakti is concerned. +Looking forward to addressing a conclave of women Sarpanchs & honouring trailblazers who have worked towards a Swachh Bharat.” +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Sri Lanka, on their Independence Day. +My best wishes for the development of Sri Lanka in the years to come. +I look forward to welcoming President Sirisena later this month”, the Prime Minister said. +My dear countrymen, Shriman Prakash Tripathi has written a rather long letter on the Narendra Modi App, urging me to touch upon the subjects he has referred to. +He writes, “The 1 st of February is the death anniversary of astronaut Kalpana Chawla. +She left us in the Columbia space shuttle mishap, but not without becoming a source of inspiration for millions of young people the world over”. +I am thankful to Bhai Prakash ji for beginning his long letter with the sad departure of Kalpana Chawla. +It’s a matter of sorrow for all of us that we lost Kalpana Chawla at that early age, but her life, her work is a message to young women across the world, especially to those in India, that there are no upper limits for Nari Shakti …. the power of women. +If one possesses the will & the determination, a firm resolve to achieve something, nothing is impossible. +It’s a matter of joy that women in India are taking rapid strides of advancement in all fields, bringing glory to the Nation. +In our country, respect for women, their status in society and their contribution has proved to be awe inspiring to the entire world, since ancient times. +There has been a long tradition of Vidushis… women exponents or women champions. +Many Vidushis of India have contributed in composing the verses of the Vedas. +Lopamudra, Gargi, Maitreyee…it’s a long list of names. +This means, a daughter is the equivalent of ten sons. +The ‘Punya’ that you earn through ten sons amounts to the same earned through just one daughter. +This underscores the importance that has been given to women in our society. +And that is why, in our society, women have been accorded the status of ‘Shakti’. +This woman power binds closely together society as a whole, the family as a whole, on the axis of unity & oneness. +They have always brought glory to the Nation. +Shriman Prakash Tripathi has further cited some examples. +He writes that the flight of our courageous Defence Minister Nirmala Seetharaman in a Sukhoi 30 fighter plane is inspirational for him. +He also refers to INSV Tarini, with an all women crew on board under the command of Vartika Joshi, which is currently circumnavigating the globe. +Three braveheart women Bhavna Kanth, Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi have become fighter pilots and are undergoing training on the Sukhoi- 30. +A few days ago, Hon’ble President took an initiative. +He met a group of extraordinary women who have achieved something significanty new in their respective fields. +It will infuse afresh energy, newer enthusiasm into them. +A book has beencompiled on these women achievers, first ladies, so that, the entire country comes to know about the power of these women and derive inspiration from their life work. +This is also available as an e-book on the Narendra Modi Website. +The country’s woman power has contributed a lot in the positive transformation being witnessed in our country & society these days. +Today, as we speak of women empowerment, I would like to refer to a railway station. +You must be wondering what a railway station has got to do with women empowerment. +Matunga station in Mumbai is the first station in India which is run by an all woman staff. +All departments have women performing duties… the commercial department, Railway Police, Ticket checking, Announcing, Point persons, it’s a staff comprising over 40 women. +This time, after watching the Republic Day Parade, many people wrote on Twitter and other social media that a major highlight of the parade was the BSF biker contingent comprising women participants. +Daredevil stunts performed by them was awe inspiring for our foreign guests. +Empowerment is another form of self reliance. +Today our Nari Shakti is assuming leadership roles. +It is becoming self reliant. +Leaving out things that are beyond the constraints of time and accepting betterment in things wherever necessary. +The benchmark of any living society is its self correcting mechanism. +In our country, there have been unending endeavours against social ills and evil practices, both individually & collectively. +Just a while ago, Bihar launched an interesting initiative. +In order to uproot social ills in the state, the world’s longest human chain spanning over thirteen thousand kilometers was formed. +This campaign made people aware of social maladies such as child-marriage and the dowry system. +The entire state thus resolved to fight against these social evils. +Children, the elderly, the youth full of energy and enthusiasm, women, girls turned out to participate in this battle. +The human chain that commenced formation from Gandhi Maidan in Patna gained momentum, touching the state borders. +In order to ensure that the fruits of progress rightly reach all sections of society, it is imperative that our society is freed of these ills. +Come, let us pledge to come together to wipe out these evil customs from our social fabric… let us build an empowered, capable New India. +I appreciate the people of Bihar, the Chief Minister, the administration, in fact every member of the human chain for this massive, special initiative towards social welfare. +Earlier, he wasn’t aware of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana. +But now that he’s come to know of the Jan Aushadhi Kendra, he has begun purchasing medicines from there and his expenses have been reduced by about 75%. +He has expressed his wish that I mention this in ‘Mann Ki Baat’, so that it reaches the maximum number of people and they can benefit from it. +Over some time lately, many have written on this subject; many of them have been telling me about it. +I too have seen videos put up on social media by beneficiaries of this scheme. +It is a matter of joy learning about happenings like these. +It gives you inner satisfaction. +I felt good to see Shriman Darshan ji think about sharing with others what he gained from it. +The motive behind this scheme is making healthcare affordable and encouraging Ease of Living. +Medicines available at the Jan Aushadhi Centres are 50% to 90% cheaper than branded drugs available in the market. +This is great help for the common man, especially for senior citizens who require medicines on a daily basis and results in a lot of savings. +Generic medicines sold under this scheme strictly conform to prescribed standards set by the World Health Organisation. +That is why good quality medicines are made available at affordable prices. +Today, over three thousand Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been set up across the country. +This has led to not only availability of cheaper medicines, but also new employment opportunities for individual entrepreneurs. +Affordable medicines are now available at ‘Amrit Stores’ at Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Centres & at hospitals. +The sole aim behind this step is ensuring availability of Quality & affordable health service to the poorest of the poor, so that a healthy & prosperous India comes into being. +My dear countrymen, Shri Mangesh from Maharashtra has shared a photo on the Narendra Modi Mobile App. +It was such a striking photo that my attention was magnetically drawn towards. +The photo showed that a grandson was participating in the Clean Morna River along with his grandfather. +The second painful fact was that the river was completely filled with wild grass and hyacinth. +A lot of garbage was being dumped into the river and along its banks. +An action plan was chalked out and on January 13 th a day before Makar-Sankranti, in the first phase of Mission Clean Morna sanitation of the two sides of the bank of the Morna river at fourteen places spread over an area of four kilometers, was carried out. +This noble and grand task named Mission Clean Morna involved more than six thousand denizens of Akola, more than 100 NGOs, Colleges, Students, children, the elderly, mothers, sisters, almost everybody participated in this task. +On January 20 th , 2018, this Sanitation Campaign continued in the same vein and I’ve been told that this campaign will continue every Saturday morning till the Morna river is completely cleaned. +Mission Clean Morna shows that if a person is determined to do something, then nothing is impossible. +Huge social reforms can be brought about through mass movements. +I congratulate the people of Akola, the district and the municipal corporation’s administration, all the citizens who were associated with this mass movement, I laud your efforts which are not only very much appreciated but this will inspire the other citizens of the country. +My dear countrymen, these days you must be hearing a lot about the Padma Awards. +These awards also attract attention innewspapers and television also. +There was a certain methodology of awarding Padma Awards every year, but this entire process has been changed for the past three years. +Now any citizen can nominate any person in our country. +Transparency has been brought about in the entire process by making it operable online. +In a way, the selection of these awards has been transformed completely. +He has been making toys from garbage for over four decades so that children can increase their curiosity towards science. +He has been trying to get children inspired to conduct scientific experiments using waste; towards this end he has been encouraging children by showing them films made in 18 languages in three thousand schools across the country. +What a wonderful life, what a dedicated mission! +A similar story is that of Sitavaa Jodatti from Karnataka. +She has not been hailed as Goddess of women empowerment just for nothing! +For the past three decades, in Belagavi, she has made a great contribution towards changing the lives of countless women. +Not only this, she has done unprecedented work for the welfare of Dalit women too. +You must have heard the name of Bhajju Shyam of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Bhajju Shyam was born in a very poor tribal family. +He was employed in a small job for eking out his living, but he was also fond of painting in the traditional tribal art form. +Today, due to this hobby, he garnered respect not only in India but the entire world. +He has exhibited his paintings in many countries like Netherlands, Germany, England and Italy. +The talent of Bhajju Shyam ji, who made India proud in many nations abroad, was also recognized and he was awarded the Padma Shri. +You will be pleasantly surprised listening to the story of Keralas tribal lady Lakshmikutti. +Laxmikutty is a teacher in Kallar and still resides in a hut made of palm leaves in a tribal tract amidst dense forests. +She has mastery in synthesizing medicines used for treatment of snake bites. +Lakshmi Ji is continuously serving society with her knowledge of herbal medicines. +Subhasini Mistri is a woman who, in order to construct a hospital, cleaned utensils in the homes of others and also sold vegetables. +At the age of 23 she lost her husband due to lack of proper treatment, and this incident inspired her to build a hospital for the poor. +They do not labour for any honor, but their work inspires us. +These people should be invited to schools and colleges to share their experiences. +Beyond awards, there should be some more efforts from our society in acknowledging their contribution. +My dear countrymen, we celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on January 9 th every year. +It was on the 9 th of January, when our revered Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa. +On this day, we celebrate the unbreakable bond that exists between Indians in India and Indians living around the globe. +This year we organized a program on Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, where all MPs and Mayors of Indian origin were invited. +You will be pleased to know that in this programme, Malaysia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Portugal, Mauritius, Fiji, Tanzania, Kenya, Canada, Britain, Surinam, South Africa and America, and many other countries wherever our Mayors or MPs of Indian Origin exist, all of them participated. +I am happy that the people of Indian origin who live in different countries continue to serve those countries and at the same time they have maintained their strong relationship with India as well +I would thus like to thank the European Union, for recognizing the people of Indian origin and through them in making people in India and people the world over aware of their exemplary work. +The 30 th of January is the death anniversary of our revered Bapu, who showed us a new path. +The path of peace and non-violence, is the path of Bapu and this is applicable not only for India or the world, but also for a person or a family or a society. +The ideals which Bapu practiced in his life, things that he imparted are relevant even today. +They were not just mere theories. +At present we witness at every step how accurate Bapus words were. +What can be a bigger tribute than taking a vow that we shall tread the path of Bapu – and walk, as far as possible? +My dear countrymen, with my best wishes to all of you for 2018, my speech draws to a close. +Thank you very much. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, today addressed the India-Japan Business Leaders Forum in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister recalled his visit to Japan last year, and the commitment of 35 billion dollars of investment made by Japan. +He said the “Japan Plus” initiative that was begun last year as a policy experiment, is also doing well. +The Prime Minister said it is clear that India is a land of possibilities. +We had the opportunity to listen to the whole of Africa. +Our first two Summits were limited to a few countries on the basis of the Banjul formula. +We are honoured today that all 54 African Nations are participating. +Your response is a clear affirmation that this is the right format for India and Africa to meet. +I express profound gratitude to each of you for sharing your thoughts. +There is nothing that teaches you more than the wisdom of your friends. +All of us in India have been inspired by your aspirations for your country and Africa; your vision for this world; your feelings for India; and, your expectations from our partnership. +Your friendship and faith is a source of great pride and strength for us. +Listening to you has reinforced my conviction that partnership between India and Africa is natural, because our destinies are so closely inter-linked and our aspirations and challenges are so similar. +We will work with you to realize your vision of a prosperous Africa, based on inclusive growth, empowered citizens and sustainable development; an integrated and culturally vibrant Africa; and, a peaceful and secure Africa, which has its rightful global place and is a strong partner for the world. +I have listened carefully on how we can make our partnership more effective. +Your feedback and suggestions will be very helpful in restructuring our Lines of Credit. +What we have learnt in the process of establishing institutions in Africa. +This will help us to implement these projects more efficiently. +We are very encouraged by the response to our scholarship programme. +We will improve it further and also create a more supportive environment to live, study and train in India. +I have listen the importance you attach to technology partnership. +As in India, we will increase focus on technology to transform the lives of the weakest in the remotest parts of Africa. . +We will give high priority to increase trade and investment flows between India and Africa. +We will make our trade more balance. +We will facilitate Africa’s access to the Indian market. +We will ensure full and effective implementation of the duty free access extended to 34 countries. +We have excellent defence and security cooperation with many African countries. +We have done this bilaterally and through multilateral and regional mechanisms. +Closer defence and security cooperation, especially in capability development, will be a key pillar of India-Africa partnership. +We will intensify our cooperation against terrorism and rally the world to build a common cause against it. +Excellencies, we are conscious of the shadow that falls between an idea and action, between intention and implementation. +So, implementation will be as important as starting projects. +We will strengthen our monitoring system. +This will include a Joint Monitoring Mechanism with African Union. +Excellencies, our solidarity and unity can be a major force in the cause of a more inclusive, fair and democratic global order. +We are at a decisive moment in charting its course. +We should intensify our cooperation and collaboration to seek reforms of the United Nations; achieve our shared goals in global trade; build a global partnership for the Development Agenda 2030; and, pursue our expectation from the Paris Meet on Climate Change. +A world shaped in our vision and aspirations will give us each a better chance to succeed. +Today, we have adopted the Declaration of this Summit and the Framework for Strategic Cooperation. +But, more than numbers and documents, the biggest outcome is our renewed friendships, stronger partnerships and greater solidarity. +Excellencies, given the scale of our Summit and the ambitious goals of our partnership, we have jointly agreed that the Summit should be held every five years. +However, Africa will remain at the centre of our attention. +Our engagement with Africa will remain intense and regular. +Finally, I sincerely thank you, your delegations, and other distinguished visitors from Africa, for being here. +I hope you enjoyed your stay. +Thank you for bringing good weather to Delhi. +I hope to see you in Paris for CoP-21 and the Solar Alliance. +I thank my ministerial colleagues, our officials and the city of Delhi for making this Summit a great success. +As this day ends, our partnership has received new energy and purpose from you today and the World, new confidence in its future. +Thank you very much. +He said that the best aspects of these one hundred years should be taken forward. +He added that this was an occasion for fresh resolve, and called upon all stakeholders to strive to establish new benchmarks in the years ahead. +The Prime Minister spoke of the great power of technology, and said the bar, bench and court should all be techno-savvy. +The active use of technology will improve the quality of both arguments and judgements, he added. +6. Other areas of cooperation that may be jointly decided upon by both the Sides. +Ministry of Railways have signed MoUs for technical cooperation in the Rail sector with various foreign Governments and National Railways. +The identified areas of cooperation include high speed corridors, speed raising of existing routes, development of world class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure etc. +The cooperation is achieved through exchange of information on developments in areas of railways technology & operations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training & seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has invited President Obama to be Chief Guest at the Republic Day. +With warm waters of the Indian Ocean on one side, and the Drakensburg mountain range on the other, even the nature rejoices in your rich diversity. +And, by protecting your plurality you help preserve and advance Mandela’s dream of a Rainbow nation. +Your worship,For me, it is a matter of privilege to be given a public welcome by the city of Durban.You have not just honoured me. +You have also recognized 1.25 billion of my countrymen. +I say this because it was here in 1860 that the first Indians landed in South Africa. +On 16 November 1860, the ship TRURO touched the shores of port Natal with 342 Indians. +I learn that the first four to get down from that ship were Davarum, his wife and two small daughters. +But, they do not live only for themselves. +Friends,The history of our people to people ties provides a strong foundation to build our modern day partnership. +Today, India is undergoing an economic transformation. +And, South Africa is one of the leading economies of Africa. +Our trade and investment partnership is already substantial. +Several of these are core strengths of Kwazulu Natal, and would hence reinforce our traditional ties with Durban. +The passion and love for this game runs wide and deep in our societies. +And, cricket has been an important part of our relations. +The Kingsmead ground has been home to many memorable matches, several of them between India and South Africa. +In conclusion, let me say this.Today, in our inter-dependent world India’s growth story is one of the brightest spots. +But, India’s economic advance is not for the benefit of our society alone. +The embrace of our partnership is open to the larger good of Africa and our friends like South Africa. +Earlier today, I visited Pheonix. +Thank you, Thank you very much. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the Malayali community at the start of Chingam, the first month of the Malayalam New Year. +“Greetings to the Malayali community at the start of Chingam, the first month of the Malayalam New Year. +May this year bring happiness and prosperity. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the protocol amending the Convention and the Protocol between India and Israel, for avoidance of double taxation and for prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital. +The Task Force will prepare overall strategy for sports facility, training, selection procedure and other related matters. +The Task Force will comprise of members who are in house experts as well as those from outside. +The Prime Minister said that the Task Force will be set up over the next few days. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Sao Tome and Principe for Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy. +The MoU was signed in March, 2018. +The MoU, will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of Traditional Systems of Medicine. +This will be of immense importance to both countries considering their shared cultural heritage. +Implementation strategy and targets: +The activities between the two sides will start after the receipt of copy of the signed MoU. +The initiatives taken between the two countries will be as per the terms of reference of the MoU signed and will be a continuing process till the MoU remains in operation. +India is blessed with well- developed systems of traditional medicine including medicinal plants, which hold tremendous potential in the global health scenario. +Another MoU is proposed to be signed with the Government of Sri Lanka. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia on his birth anniversary. +“Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia is one of the most remarkable personalities of 20th century India. +He combined scholarly zeal with a penchant for grassroot level politics. +His rich thoughts continue to shape socio-political discourse. +I bow to Dr. Lohia on his Jayanti”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a roundtable meeting with top American CEOs from the media and entertainment sector. +The CEOs present included Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman, News Corp and 21stCentury Fox; James Murdoch, CEO, 21st Century Fox; Robert Thompson, CEO, News Corp; Uday Shankar, CEO, Star India; David Zaslav, President and CEO, Discovery Communications; Michael Lynton, CEO, Sony Entertainment; Michael Roth, CEO, Interpublic Group of Companies; Shane Smith, CEO, Vice Media; Martin Sorrell, CEO, WPP; Jeff Bewkes, CEO, Time Warner; Nancy Dubuc, CEO, A&E Networks, Anthony Pratt, Chairman, Visy Industries; William Duhamel, Route One Investment Company; and Jeff Ubben, CEO, ValueAct Capital. +The CEOs appreciated the Prime Minister for energetic and dynamic leadership, and expressed optimism about the future of India. +Specifically, the CEOs were enthusiastic about the digital transformation that is taking place in India through the Digital India initiative. +They said that the current strong trajectory of the Indian economy makes it at a unique moment to accelerate growth in this sector. +The CEOs called for speeding up of television digitization, and strengthening of the cellular (mobile) infrastructure. +The Prime Minister and CEOs observed that the changes in technology and media in recent times have led to an enormous democratization of knowledge. +The Prime Minister said that the world is now in a technology- driven era, where growth of digital infrastructure is as important as growth of physical infrastructure. +He suggested to the CEOs that India represents both the biggest opportunity and the biggest challenge for them, and urged them to keep regional languages in mind, as they firm up investment plans for India. +He spoke of his Government’s vision to connect 600,000 villages through broadband connectivity. +He asked the CEOs to visualize the citizen of the 21st century, and think about what values he will represent and what challenges he will face. +He also spoke of the role that digital technology can play in human resource development. +The Prime Minister emphasized that he saw a key role for digital technology in further strengthening democracy, and in India’s development narrative. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP). +The details are as follows: +1. The benefit will be given with effect from 1st July, 2014. +2. Pension will be re-fixed for pre 1.7.2014 pensioners retiring in the same rank and with the same length of service as the average of minimum and maximum pension drawn by the retirees in the year 2013. +Those drawing pensions above the average will be protected. +3. The benefit would also be extended to family pensioners including war widows and disabled pensioners. +It will be effective prospectively. +5. Arrears will be paid in four half-yearly instalments. +However, all the family pensioners including those in receipt of Special/Liberalized family pension and Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one instalment. +6. In future, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 year. +The implementation of OROP will result in enhanced pension for the pensioners/family pensioners of Defence Forces. +The setting up of the Judicial Committee headed by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy will help in the removal of anomalies that may arise in the implementation of OROP order dated 7.11.2015. +Financial implications on account of grant of OROP including Pre-Matured Retirees (PMR) cases would be Rs. 10925.11 crore for payment of arrears and annual financial implication would be Rs. 7488.7 crore. +Till 31st March, 2016, 15.91 lakh pensioners have been given the first instalment of OROP, which amounts to Rs. 2,861 crore. +Information is being gathered for processing on priority basis, the cases of 1.15 lakh pensioners after filling in the gaps of information such as the length of service being assessed, etc. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of an Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation between India and Uzbekistan. +Signing of the Agreement will open a new chapter in bilateral relations, as both sides will now leverage complementary strengths spurred by a significant convergence of mutual interests in science and technology. +The objective of the Agreement is to promote cooperation in the fields of science, technology and Innovation between the two countries. +The stake-holders will include researchers from scientific organizations, academia, R&D laboratories and industries from India and Uzbekistan. +Agriculture and Food Science and Technology; Engineering Sciences; Information and Communication Technology, Applied Mathematics and Data Science and Technology; Health and Medical Technology; Materials Sciences; Life Sciences & Biotechnology; Physics and Astrophysics and Energy, water, climate and natural resources were identified as potential areas for immediate collaboration. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted all the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on their Raising Day. +“Greetings to all @BSF_India personnel on their Raising Day. +BSF has an exemplary legacy of courage and vital role in keeping our borders safe”, the Prime Minister said. +Last week has been a sad week for Belgium. +Let me say Mr. Prime Minister that we share the depth of sorrow and grief that the people of Belgium have experienced in the last 8 days. +My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones to the terror strikes in Brussels last week. +Having experienced terrorist violence ourselves on countless occasions, we share your pain. +Mr. Prime Minister, in this time of crisis, the whole of India stands in full support and solidarity with the Belgian people. +I deeply appreciate your welcome and the time that you have devoted to me despite pressing demands on you. +As part of our efforts to respond to this common challenge we could resume discussions on a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. +Negotiations on Extradition Treaty and a Treaty on Exchange of Sentenced Prisoners could be concluded expeditiously. +A hundred years ago, more than 130,000 soldiers from India fought in the First World War alongside your countrymen on Belgian soil. +More than 9,000 Indian soldiers made the supreme sacrifice. +Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of India-Belgium diplomatic ties. +To celebrate this important milestone in our friendship, we look forward to welcoming His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium in India next year. +We would also be commemorating it with a joint programme of activities in each others’ countries. +My conversation with Prime Minister Charles Michel today covered the whole spectrum of our ties. +A system of bilateral foreign policy consultations would recommend concrete ways to upgrade our partnership. +Our macroeconomic fundamentals are robust, and at 7% plus, we are one of the fastest growing economies of the world. +I believe that a combination of Belgian capacities and India’s economic growth can produce promising opportunities for businesses on both sides. +Prime Minister and I have just held a productive interaction with Belgian CEOs and business persons earlier today. +I invite the Belgian government and companies to pro-actively associate with India’s ambitious development projects including Digital India, Start Up India and Skill India. +Belgian businesses can make their global supply chains more cost effective by manufacturing in India. +India’s goal to modernize infrastructure, especially railways and ports, and building of 100 plus smart cities also presents a unique investment opportunity for the Belgian companies. +These partnerships can help us reach new heights in our trade and commercial partnership. +I have invited Prime Minister Michel to visit India with Belgian businesses to see first-hand the reality of India’s economic and political promise. +Clearly, it is not just diamonds that can bring shine to our partnership. +Climate change is one of the greatest challenges before mankind. +Prime Minister and I have agreed to enhance our cooperation in renewable energy. +We welcome Belgium’s collaboration in these areas. +Prime Minister Michel and I have just activated, remotely, India’s largest optical telescope. +This product of Indo-Belgian collaboration is an inspiring example of what our partnership can achieve. +The work is also afoot on other agreements in the areas of Information and Communication Technology, audio-visual production Tourism biotechnology and shipping and ports. +In a couple of hours from now, I would meet the E.U. leadership for the 13th India-E.U. Summit. +For India, E.U. is one of our strongest strategic partners. +Trade, Investment, and technology partnership between India and the E.U. would be one of the focus areas of our discussions. +I feel that a progressive path and creative mind-set to India-E.U Trade and Investment Agreement can enable all the European countries, including Belgium, to benefit from India’s strong economic growth. +I once again express my sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Charles Michel for his time, welcome and hospitality. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today received a six-member delegation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) from Sri Lanka. +The delegation is currently on a visit to India. +The visit of TNA leaders is part of India`s continuing engagement with the Government and political parties in Sri Lanka. +The TNA delegation briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Sri Lanka and their assessment and expectations regarding devolution and national reconciliation. +The Prime Minister stressed the need for a political solution that addresses the aspirations of the Tamil community for equality, dignity, justice and self respect within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. +In this context, the Prime Minister urged all stakeholders in Sri Lanka to engage constructively, in a spirit of partnership and mutual accommodation, towards finding a political solution that builds upon the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution. +PM launches “Give it up” campaign for voluntarily giving up LPG subsidy. +PM calls for enhancing domestic production to reduce the energy import burden of the country by at least 10 percent, till 2022. +PM: Union Govt aims to extend reach of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to 1 crore houses in the next five years. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today appealed to well-to-do sections of Indian society to voluntarily give up LPG subsidy, so that the benefit of the same could be shared more widely with poorer sections of society. +Delivering the inaugural address at the global energy summit – Urja Sangam-2015 – in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said about 2.8 lakh people from across the country had already given up LPG subsidy. +He said this was an important contribution for the service of the poor. +The Prime Minister called for enhancing domestic production to reduce the energy import burden of the country by at least 10 percent, till 2022 – the occasion of the platinum jubilee of India`s independence. +The Prime Minister complimented ONGC Videsh Ltd, Engineers India Ltd, and Barauni Refinery, for their successful journey of five decades, and called upon India`s energy sector to plan for the next five decades with a global perspective. +He said India, with one-sixth of the world`s population, should shoulder one-sixth of the world`s energy responsibility, hence contributing to global prosperity. +The Prime Minister highlighted various achievements of the Union Government, and reforms initiated in the energy sector over the last ten months. +He said these reforms were motivated by the quest for greater energy security, which is both a necessity and responsibility. +He said transfer of LPG subsidy directly into bank accounts through the world`s largest cash subsidy transfer programme in the world – PAHAL – had resulted in elimination of leakages, and curbing corruption. +He also mentioned deregulation of diesel prices, ethanol blended petrol to help sugarcane farmers, promotion of bio-diesel, and extension of the gas grid in eastern India, as some of the other major initiatives of the Government. +The Prime Minister said the Union Government aims to extend piped natural gas (PNG) to one crore houses over the next five years. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between India and Argentine in the field of Tourism. +The signing of MoU between India and Argentine in the field of tourism will help the two parties in creating an institutional mechanism for enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector. +PM at East Asia Summit: The shadow of terrorism stretches across our societies and our world. +East Asia Summit. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur. +In his intervention at the Summit, he spoke of the global challenge of terrorism. +“The barbaric terrorist strikes in Paris, Ankara, Beirut, Mali and on the Russian aircraft is a stark reminder that its shadow stretches across our societies and our world, both in recruitment and choice of targets. +We must build new global resolve and new strategies for combating terrorism, without balancing it against political considerations. +No country should use or supports terrorism. +There is no distinction between groups. +There are no sanctuaries. +There are no funds. +There is no access to arms. +But, we also have to work within our societies and with our youth. +I welcome the commitment to delink religion from terrorism and the efforts to promote human values that define every faith,” the Prime Minister said. +“India and Bangladesh recently settled their maritime boundary using the mechanism of UNCLOS. +India hopes that all parties to the disputes in the South China Sea will abide by the Declaration on the Conduct on South China Sea and the guidelines on the implementation. +Parties must also redouble efforts for early adoption of a Code of Conduct on the basis of consensus,” the Prime Minister said. +Unveiling of Statue of Swami Vivekananda. +The Prime Minister unveiled a statue of Swami Vivekananda at Ramakrishna Mission. +Speaking on the occasion, he said Swami Vivekananda was not just an individual, but the very soul of the millennia-old Indian culture. +He said that if we can imbibe the breadth of Indian culture, from the Upanishad to the Upagrah (satellite), we would have installed Vivekananda within us. +He said that at a time when the world was torn between materialism and spirituality, Swami Vivekananda had taken the message of Indian spirituality to the west. +He said that the ASEAN Summits that he had attended over the last two days, had an oft-repeated theme of “One Asia.” +He said that this was an idea first propounded by Swami Vivekananda. +Address to Indian Community. +The Prime Minister addressed the Malaysian-Indian Community. +He said “India is not confined to its territory. +India also exists in every Indian in every part of the world.” +“Independent India owes a debt of gratitude to Malaya-Indians. +The glory of India’s freedom struggle was written, in part, by the struggles and sacrifices of Malaya-Indians. +Thousands of your forefathers came forward to join Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army. +Women poured out in large numbers from the comfort of their homes to march shoulder to shoulder with Netaji Subhash Bose,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister paid homage to the Malay-Indians “who had laid down their lives so that a free India could rise.” +“70 years ago a tragic and deadly World War came to an end. +I also pay homage to the countless Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the battle fields of Malaysia. +A majority of those who laid down their lives were Sikhs. +Their blood is permanently mixed with the soil of Malaysia. +It was a war that mattered for both our countries. +And, their blood in the Malaysian soil now forms a bond between our two countries that can never be erased,” the Prime Minister said. +“Terrorism is the biggest threat to the world today. +It knows no boundary. +It uses the name of religion to draw people to its cause. +But, it is false. +And, it kills people of all faith. +We have to delink religion from terror. +The only distinction is between those who believe in humanity and those who do not. +I have said it before and I will say it here. +The world must come together to combat the biggest challenge of our times,” the Prime Minister said. +“In Malaysia an India-students Trust Fund was set up in 1954 to give financial assistance to Malaysian-Indian children who lacked the means for education. +This Fund is still needed by a section of the Indian community in Malaysia. +We are happy to announce a grant of about 1 million US dollars in additional funds to the corpus of the Trust Fund. +Thousands of your children go to India to become doctors. +While doctors are a critical need for our societies, I hope that you will take the opportunity to get education in other areas as well. +Malaysia and India should immediately recognize the degrees conferred by both our countries. +This is something I intend to take up with Prime Minister Najib,” Shri Narendra Modi said. +A delegation from the Pacific Pension and Investment (PPI) Institute, led by its President, Mr. Lionel C. Johnson, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +The delegation members praised the pace of economic reforms in India, and emphasized the growth potential that exists in the country. +Various aspects of the economy such as FDI, GST came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister highlighted various possibilities for investment in India. +He spoke of the recent reforms and steps taken for ease of doing business. +He said the rising aspirations of India’s people, along with robust economic fundamentals, represent a significant opportunity for investment. +He emphasized on the potential of investment in the renewable energy and organic farming sectors. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and expressed his sympathies and condolences at the damage caused by the earthquake. +“just spoke to President Ashraf Ghani and expressed my sympathies and condolences at the damage caused by the earthquake. +President Ashraf Ghanii shared with me his initial assessment of the damage. +I offered all possible assistance. +President Ashraf Ghani told me due to the quake a school building collapsed and children lost their lives. +I was very pained to hear of this. +When President Ashraf Ghani was telling me about the school, my mind went back to a similar tragedy in Anjar, Kutch in 2001. +Felt very sad”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his sixteenth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +Secretary (Department of Labour) outlined the improvements brought in the grievance redressal system, such as introduction of online transfer of claims; electronic challans; mobile applications and SMS alerts; linking UAN to Aadhaar numbers; introduction of tele-medicine; and empanelling of more super-speciality hospitals. +Expressing concern at the large number of grievances of labourers and EPF beneficiaries, the Prime Minister said that Government must be sensitive to labourers’ needs. +He said that in a democracy, the labourers should not have to struggle to receive their legitimate dues. +He also requested introduction of a system so that the process of finalization of retirement benefits for all employees can begin a year in advance. +In case of an untimely death, he said the papers should be completed within a specified time, and officers should be made accountable for the same. +During a review of the progress of the e-NAM initiative, officials mentioned that e-NAM which began in April 2016 with 21 mandis spread over 8 states, has now expanded to 250 mandis spread over 10 states. +13 States have completed the process of amending the APMC Act. +The Prime Minister urged the remaining states to quickly make the required changes in the APMC Act, so that e-NAM could be enabled across the country. +He also invited Chief Secretaries of States to give their suggestions on e-NAM. +The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the railway, road, power and natural gas sectors, spread over several states including Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar. +The Prime Minister reiterated the importance of completing projects in time, so that cost overruns could be avoided, and the benefits of projects could reach the people, as originally envisaged. +Among the projects reviewed today are: Phase-II of the Multi-Modal Transport System for Hyderabad and Secundarabad; the Angamaly-Sabarimala Railway Line; the Delhi-Meerut Expressway; the Renok-Pakyong Road project in Sikkim; and Phase-5 of the project to strengthen power infrastructure in Eastern India. +Progress of the Phulpur-Haldia gas pipeline project in Uttar Pradesh was also reviewed. +He said the word “NAGAR” in Hindi can be taken to mean provision of “Nal” (Drinking Water), Gutter (Sanitation) and Rasta (Roads). +He said AMRUT should focus on citizen-centric reforms. +Connecting related issues, the Prime Minister said such reforms should extend to all departments of the Government. +Mentioning the World Bank’s latest Report on Ease of Doing Business, the Prime Minister asked all Chief Secretaries and all Secretaries of the Government of India to study the report, and analyze the potential areas where there is scope for improvement in their respective departments and states. +The Prime Minister mentioned that the Union Budget presentation is being advanced by about a month to ensure speedier implementation of projects and schemes. +He urged all States to align their plans with this advancement, so that they could take maximum advantage of this move. +On the upcoming occasion of Sardar Patel Jayanti, the Prime Minister urged all Secretaries and Chief Secretaries to work towards ensuring that at least one website out of the departments and organizations under them, is available in all officially recognized Indian languages. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of theMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Canada. +The MoU was signed on 21st February, 2018 in New Delhi. +The MoU aims at fostering cross-border partnerships focused on research excellence and industry-academic collaboration between India and Canada that brings robust innovation gains to both countries. +Igniting collaboration through talent mobility is the core of the partnership. +The MoU enables Indian and Canadian researchers to undertake graduate level academic research mobility and cross-border industry-academic cooperation. +Under the graduate level academic research mobility programme, both sides intend to support upto 110 Master’s and PhD student researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields in a three-year period from eligible universities in India to participate in 12 to 24 weeks’ research with Canadian university research laboratories. +The same number of researchers from Canadian universities will also participate in 12 to 24 weeks’ research with research laboratories of eligible Indian universities. +Under the cross-border Industry-Academic Cooperation, upto 40 Master’s and PhD student researchers in three years from each side participate in 16 to 24 weeks’ research with industry partners located in the counterpart country. +The collaboration is expected to lead to new knowledge creation, joint scientific publications, Industrial exposure, IP generation, etc. +This MoU will further strengthen the long-standing relationship in Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation with Canada. +Thank you, Shantanu, John, Satya, Paul, Sunder, and Venkatesh, +A big thank you! +I am sure this was not pre-arranged. +But, here on stage you see a perfect picture of India-U.S. partnership in the digital economy. +Good Evening, everyone! +If there was ever a gathering under one roof that could claim to be shaping the world, it is this. +And, I am not talking about those in public office, here or in India! +It’s a great pleasure to be here in California. +It is one of the last places in the world to see the sun set. +But, it is here that new ideas see the first light of the day. +It’s a great honour that you have joined us tonight. +I have met many of you in Delhi and New York, and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. +These are the new neighborhoods of our new world. +If Facebook were a country, it would be the third most populous one and the most connected. +Google today has made teachers less awe-inspiring and grandparents more idle. +Twitter has turned everyone into a reporter. +The traffic lights that need to work the best are on CISCO routers. +The status that now matters is not whether you are awake or asleep, but whether you are online or offline. +The most fundamental debate for our youth is the choice between Android, iOS or Windows. +From computing to communication, entertainment to education, from printing documents to printing products, and, now to internet of things, it’s been a long journey in a short time. +From cleaner energy to better healthcare and safer transport, everything is converging around the work you do. +In Africa, it’s helping people transfer money on phone. +It has made reaching small island states no longer a journey of adventure, but a convenient click of a mouse. +In India, a mother in a distant hill village has a better chance to save her new born infant. +A child in a remote village has better access to education. +A small farmer is more confident about his land holding and getting better market price. +A fisherman on the sea has a better catch. +And, a young professional in San Francisco can Skype daily to comfort her sick grandmother in India. +An initiative by a father in Haryana for “Selfie with daughter” to draw attention to the girl child became an international movement. +All this is because of the work you people are doing. +Since my government came to office last year, we have attacked poverty by using the power of networks and mobile phones to launch a new era of empowerment and inclusion: 180 million new bank accounts in a few months; direct transfer of benefits to the poor; funds for the unbanked; insurance within the reach of the poorest; and, pension for the sunset years for all. +By using Space technology and internet, we have been able to identify in the last few months 170 applications that will make governance better and development faster. +When a small craftsman in a village in India brings a smile to a customer looking at his phone on a metro ride in New York; When a heart patient in a remote hospital in Kyrgyz Republic is treated by doctors sitting in Delhi, as I saw in Bishkek, we know we are creating something that has fundamentally changed our lives. +The pace at which people are taking to digital technology defies our stereotypes of age, education, language and income. +I like recounting my meeting with a group of unlettered tribal women in a remote part of Gujarat. +They were present at a local milk chilling plant I was inaugurating. +They were using cell phones to take photographs of the event. +I asked them what they would do with the images. +The answer was a surprise for me. +They said,they would go back, have the images downloaded on to a computer and take printouts. +Yes, they were familiar with the language of our digital world. +And, farmers in Maharashtra State have created a Whatsapp group to share information on farming practices. +Customers, more than creators, are defining the use of a product. +The world may be driven by the same ancient impulses. +We will continue to see human struggles and successes. +We will witness human glory and tragedies. +But, in this digital age, we have an opportunity to transform lives of people in ways that was hard to imagine just a couple of decades ago. +This is what sets us apart from the century that we have just left behind. +There may be still some who see the digital economy as the tool of the rich, educated and the privileged. +But, ask the taxi driver or the corner vendor in India what he has gained from his cell phone, and the debate gets settled. +I see technology as a means to empower and as a tool that bridges the distance between hope and opportunity. +Social media is reducing social barriers. +It connects people on the strength of human values, not identities. +Today, technology is advancing citizen empowerment and democracy that once drew their strength from Constitutions. +Technology is forcing governments to deal with massive volume of data and generate responses, not in 24 hours but in 24 minutes. +When you think of the exponential speed and scale of expansion of social media or a service, you have to believe that it is equally possible to rapidly transform the lives of those who have long stood on the margins of hope. +So, friends out of this conviction was born the vision of Digital India. +It is an enterprise for India’s transformation on a scale that is, perhaps, unmatched in human history. +Not just to touch the lives of the weakest, farthest and the poorest citizen of India, but change the way our nation will live and work. +For nothing else will do in a country with 800 million youth under the age of 35 years, impatient for change and eager to achieve it. +We will transform governance, making it more transparent, accountable, accessible and participative. +I spoke of E-Governance as a foundation of better governance – efficient, economical and effective. +I now speak of M-Governance or mobile governance. +That is the way to go in a country with one billion cell phones and use of smart phones growing at high double digit rates. +It has the potential to make development a truly inclusive and comprehensive mass movement. +It puts governance within everyone’s reach. +After MyGov.in, I have just launched the Narendra Modi Mobile App. +They are helping me stay in close touch with people. +I learn a great deal from their suggestions and complaints. +We want to free our citizens from the burden of excessive paper documents in every office. +We want paperless transactions. +We will set up a digital locker for every citizen to store personal documents that can be shared across departments. +We have set up Ebiz portal to make approvals for businesses and citizens easy and efficient so that they concentrate their energy on their goals, not on government processes. +We are using technology to impart scale and speed to development. +Information, education, skills, healthcare, livelihood, financial inclusion, small and village enterprises, opportunities for women, conservation of natural resources, distributed clean energy – entirely new possibilities have emerged to change the development model. +But for all this, we must bridge the digital divide and promote digital literacy in the same way that we seek to ensure general literacy. +We must ensure that technology is accessible, affordable, and adds value. +We want our 1.25 billion citizens to be digitally connected. +We already have broadband usage across India go up by 63% last year. +We need to accelerate this further. +We have launched an aggressive expansion of the National Optical Fibre Network that will take broadband to our 600,000 villages. +We will connect all schools and colleges with broadband. +Building I-ways are as important as highways. +We are expanding our public Wi-Fi hotspots. +For example, we want to ensure that free Wi Fi is not only there in airport lounges, but also on our railway platforms. +Teaming up with Google, we will cover 500 railway stations in a short time. +We are also setting up Common Service Centres in villages and towns. +We will also use information technology to build smart cities. +And, we want to turn our villages into smart economic hubs and connect our farmers better to markets and makes them less vulnerable to the whims of weather. +For me, access also means that content should be in local languages. +In a country with 22 official languages, it is a formidable, but an important task. +Affordability of products and services is critical for our success. +There are many dimensions to this. +We will promote manufacture of quality and affordable products in India. +That is part of our vision of Make in India, Digital India and Design in India. +As our economy and our lives get more wired, we are also giving the highest importance to data privacy and security, intellectual property rights and cyber security. +And,I know to achieve the vision of Digital India, the government must also start thinking a bit like you. +So, from creating infrastructure to services, from manufacture of products to human resource development, from support governments to enabling citizens and promoting digital literacy, Digital India is a vast cyber world of opportunities for you. +The task is huge; the challenges are many. +But, we also know that we will not reach new destinations without taking new roads. +Much of India that we dream of is yet to be built. +So, we have the opportunity to shape its path now. +And, we have the talent, enterprise and skills to succeed. +We also have the strength of the partnership between India and the United States. +Indians and Americans have worked together to shape the knowledge economy. +They have made us aware of the vast potential of technology. +From large corporate to young professionals in this great centre of innovation, each can be part of the Digital India story. +The sustainable development of one-sixth of humanity will be a major force of good for our world and our planet. +Today, we speak of India-U.S. partnership as a defining partnership of this century. +It hinges on two major reasons. +Both converge here in California. +We have the responsibility to shape a future of peace, stability and prosperity in this region. +Our relationship is also defined by the power of youth, technology and innovation. +These can ignite a partnership that will advance and sustain prosperity in our two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today congratulated Shri Harivansh, on his election as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. +Speaking in the Upper House, shortly after the election, the Prime Minister also expressed happiness that the Leader of the House, Shri Arun Jaitley, is back in the House, after recovering from illness. +The Prime Minister noted that we are marking the anniversary of the Quit India Movement today. +He said that Harivansh ji hails from Ballia, a land which has been linked with the freedom struggle, right from the 1857 war of independence. +The Prime Minister added that Shri Harivansh has been inspired by Loknayak Jaya Prakash Narayan. +The Prime Minister recalled that Harivansh ji had also worked with former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar ji. +The Prime Minister said that working closely with Chandra Shekhar ji, Harivansh ji knew in advance that Chandra Shekhar ji would resign. +However, he did not let his own newspaper have access to this news, the Prime Minister observed, adding that this shows his commitment to ethics and public service. +The Prime Minister said that Harivansh ji is well read and has written a lot. +He added that Harivansh ji has served society for years. +Shri Narendra Modi also congratulated Shri B.K. Hariprasad for being a part of the election for Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. +He thanked the Chairman and all the members, for the smooth conduct of the election. +The discussions focused on subjects such as increasing the share of gas in India’s energy mix, fresh investment in oil and gas exploration in India, regulatory frameworks, international acquisition of oil and gas assets, emerging areas such as shale gas and coal-bed methane, and the oil and gas sector related possibilities of “Make in India.” +The Prime Minister emphasized his vision for a fresh look at the sector, to bring in investment, technological upgradation, and development of human resource. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high level meeting on the drought and water scarcity situation in parts of Jharkhand. +The Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Shri Raghubar Das, was present in the meeting. +Senior officials from the Government of India, and the State of Jharkhand, were also present. +Rs 273 crore was released to the State as central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2015-16. +A further amount of Rs. 143.25 crore has been released as first instalment of SDRF for 2016-17. +The State has disbursed Rs. 376 crore to 12 lakh farmers under SDRF, through DBT. +Insurance claims of Rs. 53 crore were also settled through DBT. +Jharkhand plans to double its irrigated area from 19 per cent to 40 per cent in the next two years. +One lakh farm ponds are planned to be built under the State Plan, and an additional five lakh farm ponds will be built under MNREGA. +The State is promoting fishery in the water bodies. +The Prime Minister called for a mass movement to be generated for water conservation and rainwater harvesting in a comprehensive manner, and said youth organizations including NCC, NSS, NYKS, and Scouts and Guides should be involved in creation of water storage structures. +The Chief Minister informed that tenders for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana have been finalized in the State. +The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of regular monitoring of the progress towards implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. +The Prime Minister also called for generating a mass movement for soil health cards. +He said ‘mobilization, momentum and mechanism’ are all required to make the soil health card programme a success. +He said soil testing should be developed as a skill, and loans can be given for setting up labs through MUDRA. +Emphasizing the use of technology, the Prime Minister called for reporting of assets created by MNREGA, through geo-tagging and uploading of photographs with hand-held devices. +He also called for all water bodies to be identified through unique numbers and geo-tagging. +The meeting ended with a resolve on the part of the Centre and State to work together. +The visit will start on November 11, 2014. +“Starting 11th November I would be travelling to Myanmar, Australia and Fiji to participate in various summits & bilateral meetings. +Our ties with South East Asia are deep rooted. +Strengthening relations with ASEAN nations is an important part of our ‘Act East’ policy. +ASEAN is central to our dream of an Asian century, where India will play a crucial role. +I am sure the meetings there would be fruitful. +I will have bilateral meetings with leaders of Myanmar, a valued friend. +Having stronger relations with Myanmar is a priority area for us. +After Myanmar, I will go to Australia for G-20 Summit. +It is a great platform to showcase opportunities India has to offer to the world. +I look forward to working with G-20 leaders on important issues concerning the world, particularly those relating to the global economy. +My Australia visit is both special & historic. +It will be 1st bilateral visit to Australia by an Indian PM in 28 years. +In Australia I will meet the country`s top leadership & am honoured to have been given an opportunity to address the Australian Parliament. +I am also eagerly looking forward to interacting with the Indian community in Australia, http://www.pmvisit.org.au. +Cricket is a shared passion of Australia and India. +I would be visiting the War Memorial with PM Tony Abbott,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved MoU between India and Mauritius on Consumer Protection and Legal Metrology +The MoU is beneficial for bilateral relations of both the countries. +It will help in expanding cooperation in the field of consumer protection, and will provide an institutional mechanism for exchange of information and derive mutual benefits from development taking place in both the countries. +It will further promote inclusive sustainable and resilient development in the areas of Consumer Protection & Legal Metrology to deal with new challenges such as misleading advertisement, telemarketing, multi-level marketing, e-commerce etc. +It will ensure traceability of national and international standards, thereby developing new areas of expertise that may facilitate in tackling new challenges. +Further, periodical exchange of information and training programme will ensure gainful expertise,for good governance and in fighting consumer vulnerability. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Cuba on cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy. +The MoU was signed on 22.6.2018. +The MoU will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy . +This will be of immense importance to both countries considering their shared cultural heritage. +The Traditional Systems of Medicine in India are well organized, codified and well documented comprised of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy. +These systems hold tremendous potential in the global health scenario. +The Ministry of AYUSH having the mandate to promote, propagate and globalize these Traditional Systems has taken effective steps by entering into MoU with 10 countries for Cooperation in the field of Traditional Medicine. +The MoU will facilitate better understanding of the regulatory aspects between the two sides and help in increasing India’s export of medical products to Indonesia and better coordination in international fora. +His Excellency, President Michel, +It is always a great pleasure to welcome home a special friend, which President Michel certainly is. +I am also delighted to reciprocate President Michel’s exceptional hospitality in March, this year. +He has led his country with great vision. +He is a strong global voice of concern on climate change, especially for small island countries. +Excellency, just as we appreciate your country’s beauty, we admire your Nation’s progress. +Let me repeat what I said in Seychelles: Your country shows that size is no barrier to the scale of achievements. +Just as the range of our interests are broad, so are the foundations of our relationship deep – our shared values, ties of kinship, unmatched mutual respect and trust, and a partnership of equality. +I am pleased that we are making good progress on the decisions from my very productive visit in March. +President Michel’s visit has imparted additional momentum to our relations. +We have excellent security cooperation, especially for maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region. +We are honoured to be a partner in providing aircraft, naval vessels and coastal radar systems for strengthening surveillance capacities. +Our cooperation in hydrography surveys is extensive and growing. +I have conveyed that India will gift one more Interceptor Coastguard boat to Seychelles. +In March, I had announced that we would gift a second Dornier aircraft to Seychelles. +I am pleased that we have completed the process quickly and signed the agreement today. +President and I place strong emphasis on Ocean or Blue Economy. +I believe, as he does, that we should look at small island countries as large ocean states with vast potential. +We are pleased that sustainable use of oceans and marine resources is a distinct element in the Sustainable Development Goals in the United Nations that were finalised recently. +Our bilateral agreement for cooperation on blue economy is a huge step forward in our relationship and in promoting sustainable ocean economy in the region. +We look forward to cooperating in Space, including in the areas of managing land and marine resources, fisheries advisory, weather forecasting and disaster management. +We have begun preparations for infrastructure development on the Assumption Island in Seychelles. +We had spoken in March about improving connectivity. +The Air Services Agreement today will enable more and easier connections between the two countries. +Climate change is a major global challenge. +It is a serious threat to island countries like Seychelles. +With a shoreline of 7500 kilometres and nearly 1300 islands, India has similar concerns. +We both have ambitious National plans for a more sustainable future. +We also work together for a comprehensive, balanced and effective outcome on climate change at COP 21 in Paris later this year. +I shared our desire to press for reforms of the United Nations, including its Security Council, in this 70th anniversary year. +We greatly appreciate Seychelles’ support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of an expanded United Nations Security Council. +I also conveyed our desire to work with Small Island Developing States to realise their vision of Samoa Pathway and to be a source of strength for each other in international forums. +I thank President Michel for his support for the Third India-Africa Forum Summit to be held in October. +Let me also express our gratitude to Seychelles for their active support in making the International Day of Yoga a big success. +This special and unique relationship will always be at the centre of our interests. +I am confident that this milestone year for our relationship will be the springboard for taking our strategic partnership to a new level. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi praised the beauty of North East India and urged people to share their photos of their North East visits on Instagram using #MagnificentNortheast yesterday. +He promised that he will share his photos as well. +Today he has shared some of his photos of North East visits. +Yesterday, had requested you all to share pictures of your visits to the Northeast on Instagram using #MagnificentNortheast. +I shared some of the pictures in a Story on my page. +Do have a look! https://t.co/HL4RbIyE9z +— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 9, 2019 +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited the Facebook Headquarters in California. +The Prime Minister and CEO, Facebook Mr. Mark Zuckerberg, participated in a townhall Q&A session. +During the event, The Prime Minister answered questions on a diverse range of issues. +He explained why the world should be optimistic about India, and his dream of making India a 20 trillion dollar economy. +He said that over the last 15 months, the world had changed its attitude of looking at India. +In response to a question on whether social media and the internet could become a tool for governance and citizen engagement, he said social media had enabled the Government to get real-time feedback on its actions. +He spoke of his engagement on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, and how he had tweeted greetings to the people of Israel, on the occasion of Hanukkah, in Hebrew, on Twitter, and how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had replied in Hindi. +The Prime Minister said this was a new dimension in diplomacy. +In a voice that choked repeatedly with emotion, the Prime Minister spoke of his parents, especially his mother, and how she had struggled to bring up her children. +He said that this story of struggle is not just of his mother alone, but many other mothers in India as well. +He spoke of his commitment to involve women in the decision making process of governance. +The Prime Minister visited the Google Headquarters, where he was received by Mr. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google. +He was given an overview of some of Google’s innovations and future plans. +Mr. Eric Schmidt and Mr. Larry Page were present. +During a demonstration of Google Streetview, the Prime Minister asked for Khagaul to be pinpointed on Google Earth. +Khagaul near Patna is where the great ancient astronomer Aryabhatta had an observatory. +Roundtable on Renewable Energy. +The Prime Minister met Mr. Ernest Moniz, US Secretary of Energy. +He later chaired a roundtable on renewable energy. +Dr. Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy, United States; and Prof. Steven Chu, former US Secretary of Energy were present at the roundtable meeting. +Prof Arun Majumdar, Prof Roger Noll, Dr. Anjani Kochar, and Prof. Sally Benson, all from Stanford University, participated. +Among the views expressed at the roundtable, was a clear assertion that India has the makings of becoming the “clean energy world capital.” +The participants said that clean and renewable energy will soon be an inexpensive energy option, with electricity storage becoming cheaper. +Participants were of the view that States and Cities in India should be allowed to take the lead in clean energy initiatives. +A related thought was that the current grid is not designed for carrying the 175 GigaWatts (GW) of renewable energy that India is targeting, and therefore a complimentary effort is required on the grid side. +Private investment was emphasized as vital for realizing the vision of 175 GW, with a parallel example being given of how Israel had solved its water shortage using private investment. +The Prime Minister thanked the participants for their views, and emphasized India’s commitment to realize the vision of 175 GigaWatts of clean energy. +He said there is massive scope of investment in the sector, for example, through the Railways, where 100 percent FDI has been allowed. +He said the Government is working to address issues in regulation, and address the financial health of Discoms. +The Prime Minister also gave an overview of initiatives already undertaken in the area of renewable energy, such as Kochi Airport becoming a solar-powered airport, and solar panels being installed over a canal in Gujarat. +He said that early next month, a district court in the tribal belt of Jharkhand will become entirely solar-powered. +The Prime Minister also mentioned coal gasification as an important area of research. +He expressed confidence of a renewable energy revolution over the next decade. +The Prime Minister addressed the Start-Up Konnect event, which was a platform for Indian Start-Ups to showcase their innovations. +He spoke of his vision for Start-Ups in India: +“The convergence of technology, integration across diverse fields, distributed architecture and people willing to back an idea, have opened a new world for enterprise. +This ecosystem was born in the Silicon Valley. +No community is shaping our world as much as the one on this Californian Coast. +It isn’t just big names, but small firms that are fashioning every day new ways to enrich human life with the joy of artists and creators. +That underlines America’s success and inspires the world. +So, I see Startups, technology and innovation as exciting and effective instruments for India’s transformation, and for creating jobs for our youth. +We are a nation of 800 million youth below the age of 35 years. +They are eager for change; have the energy and drive to pursue it; and, the confidence to achieve it. +When each of the five hundred odd towns produces ten Startups and each of our six hundred thousand villages produce six small businesses, on a regular basis, we will create an enormous economic momentum and generate a huge number of jobs in our country. +India’s own ecosystem of startups is evolving rapidly. +It is driven by the energy, enterprise and innovation of our youth.” +The Prime Minister launched the BHARAT Fund – Better Health, Agriculture, Renewables and Technologies. +7 MoUs were signed at the event. +Address to Indian Community +The Prime Minister addressed the Indian diaspora at the SAP arena. +He spoke of the partnership between India and US, forged on the shared values of democracy and innovation. +He gave a broad overview of the work done by his Government over the last fifteen months. +He complimented the Indian IT professionals of Silicon Valley for their contribution in changing for the better, the global perception of India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its ex-post-facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation to establish the Pace Setter Fund – a fund to support the Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy track of the U.S. – India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE) between India and United States of America. +This MoU was signed at New Delhi on 30th June, 2015. +The signing of MoU will help accelerate commercialization of innovative off-grid clean energy solutions by providing early-stage grant funding, which would allow businesses to develop and test innovative products, systems and business models. +The MoU will help cooperation through technical and commercial innovation and advancement of clean energy in off-grid space. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will share his thoughts with the Nation on All India Radio in the next series of ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +The program is scheduled to be broadcast at 11:00 AM on 26th April. +The Prime Minister has already interacted directly with the people in the earlier six editions of ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +In the last edition broadcast on 22nd March, he shared the concerns of farmers and said that the government would stand by them and take prompt steps to address their issues. +The Prime Minister has from time to time invited citizens to share their ideas and thoughts on the subject in the Open Forum of MyGov.in. +In order to enable people without access to internet to communicate with him, the Prime Minister has invited people to write to him at – Mann Ki Baat, Akashvani, Sansad Marg, New Delhi. +The program has generated an encouraging response from citizens across the country. +It is simultaneously broadcast live on all channels of All India Radio and Doordarshan. +The program would also be live-streamed on the Prime Minister’s official website. +The regional language version of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ will be broadcast the same day, April 26th, at 8:00 PM on regional networks of All India Radio. +The Cabinet observed two-minute silence in his memory and passed a condolence resolution. +The text of resolution is as follows: +In his death, the country has lost a veteran and distinguished leader, affectionately called “Kalaignar”. +He was born in Thirukkuvalai village in Nagapattinam District on 3rd June, 1924. +He had held various important positions in his public and political life during his long career in Tamil Nadu political arena. +He entered Tamil Nadu Assembly winning Kulithalai seat in the 1957 elections at the age of 33. +He became a Minister in Tamil Nadu Government in 1967 and then rose to become the Chief Minister of the State for the first time in 1969. +He held the position as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu five times. +Apart from his political life and career, he has been very popular screenwriter in Tamil cinema. +He used medium of cinema for propagating the ideals of the Dravidian movement. +Dr. M. Karunanidhi was also famous for his writing and oratorical skills. +His contribution to Tamil literature has been profound and prolific covering a wide range i.e. poems, screenplays, novels, biographies, stage-plays, dialogues and movie songs. +In his death, people of Tamil Nadu have lost their popular leader. +The Cabinet extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family as well as the people of Tamil Nadu on behalf of the Government and the entire nation. +“Tributes to all great personalities who framed our Constitution. +I salute Dr. Ambedkar for his efforts as Chairman of Drafting Committee”, the Prime Minister said. +Your Excellency Mr. Emomali Rahmon President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Media, +I extend a warm welcome to President Rahmon and his delegation in India. +Tajikistan is a valued friend and strategic partner in Asia. +President Rahmon himself is very familiar with India. +We are indeed delighted to have the opportunity to host him again. +In India, we deeply appreciate his leadership and contribution to strengthening our bilateral relationship. +Our strategic partnership is built on a foundation of mutual respect, trust and shared interests in regional security and development. +Our countries and societies also enjoy a natural affinity anchored in deep-rooted shared history and heritage. +Our cultural, religious and linguistic inter-mingling from the past has carried into the warmth and friendship that characterizes our people-to-people linkages today. +President Rahmon and I had fruitful discussions earlier today. +We assessed the broad progress achieved under different pillars of our bilateral engagement, including our partnership in defence and security. +India and Tajikistan live in an extended neighbourhood that continues to face multiple security challenges and threats. +Combating terrorism has, therefore, been an important area of our cooperative engagement. +We appreciate Tajikistan’s role in the Central Asian region as a mainstay against forces of extremism, radicalism, and terrorism. +President Rahmon and I agreed today to strengthen action on this front based on mutually agreed priorities. +We will do this on multiple levels :- +through reinforcing overall bilateral security cooperation; through greater training, capacity building and information exchanges; and, through active coordination in regional and multilateral contexts. +India’s membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be a valuable platform to work closely on regional security and counter-terrorism efforts with Tajikistan. +President Rahmon and I also exchanged views on the developments in our region. +We agreed that peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan are important for the region. +India and Tajikistan are joined in our steadfast support of the Afghan people and their aspirations for a peaceful and prosperous nation. +President and I agreed on the need to increase the scope and scale of our economic engagement, especially trade and investment traffic. +We agreed that enhanced surface connectivity is crucial to realize the promise of our economic partnership for the benefit of our countries. +India supports initiatives to develop the existing port and transport infrastructure and connecting it through road and rail network to Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Central Asia. +In this respect, we will work to build trade and transit links through Chahbahar port in Iran. +India is also engaged in facilitating the International North South Transport Corridor with other members, including Tajikistan. +Our planned accession to the Ashgabat Agreement will further help in linking us to Tajikistan and Central Asia. +India and Tajikistan enjoy a rewarding partnership in capacity and institution-building, including under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation training programme. +President Rahmon and I agreed on sustaining and strengthening this partnership. +Next year, we will commemorate the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Tajikistan. +I am encouraged by the wide-ranging agenda for action that President Rahmon and I have set for our countries during this visit. +I further expect that the agreements concluded today and our discussions will help boost practical cooperation in different sectors between India and Tajikistan. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today gave its ex-post facto approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE), an Agency of Government of Singapore on cooperation in the field of Urban Planning and Governance. +The MoU was signed on 24th November, 2015. +The MoU will allow the two countries to share experiences in the field of urban development, governance and capacity building. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Thursday met and interacted with a group of over 80 Additional Secretaries and Joint Secretaries serving in the Government of India. +This was the second of five such interactions. +During the interaction, officers shared their experiences on subjects such as performance based administration, innovation in governance, waste management, river and environment pollution, forestry, sanitation, climate change, value addition in agriculture, education and skill development. +Responding to observations made by the officers, the Prime Minister emphasized that officers must not restrict themselves to files, but go to the field, to understand the true impact of decision-making. +In this context, he recalled the experience of officers in post-earthquake reconstruction in Gujarat, in 2001. +The Prime Minister said that officers should not look on their work as just a duty, but an opportunity to make a positive transformation for governance in the country. +He urged them to use technology interventions to simplify governance processes. +He asked the officers to focus attention on the 100 most backward districts of India, so that they can be brought up to the national average level, on various development parameters. +Today on this very occasion I also bow to Shri Shri Mataji as I have been told that she is now present in a similar programme at Los Angeles. +What could be the reason that one translates his thoughts into another language to reach out to others. +The Prasad is not mine, neither have I prepared it, but it is something holy and by distributing it I get a sense of satisfaction. +We are experiencing a feeling of spiritual pleasure by disseminating the words of Yogiji after receiving the same as Prasad . +Yogiji had a short life span, may be it had some spiritual significance. +Yogiji was an ardent exponent of the positive aspects of Hatha Yoga despite the fact that people sticking to a point are more often taken otherwise. +It powers our journey within self. +But he never got detached even for a fraction of a second from mother India. +The soul then left for infinity. +Adi Shankaracharya preached the doctrine of Advaita (Non-dualism) that postulates the identity of the Self (Atman) and the Whole (Brahman[). +According to Adi Shankara, the one unchanging entity (Brahman) alone is real, while changing entities do not have absolute existence. +Where there is no “I” or “You” is Advaita, the thought that God and I are different is not there. +He was of the view that God (Brahm) is within me and I am within God (Brahm) is Advaita (Non-Dualism). +Yogiji also had written this meticulously in one of his poems. +Though I cannot explain it the way it has been mentioned exactly, but while reading these verses and later during its interpretations I found this very close to the doctrine of Advaita. +And when Yogiji says: The Brahm entered within me, I entered within Brahm, is it self a simplified version of Advaita doctrine. +“Knowledge, the exponent and the seeker, all becoming one. +Likewise we say that the moment “performer”” and the “Act” becomes one, there results easy achieving. +The “doer” need no “Action” thereafter and the Karma (Act) doesn’t wait for the “doer”. +Performer and Karma get united with attainment as the unique resultant. +Yogiji further comments- Calm, unsegmented, ever exciting, Calm, unsegmented, ever exciting, Calm, unsegmented, ever exciting active alive for ever, ever vernal calm, ever innovative calm. +Means calm of bygone days may not be worth today. +Today I seek ever, new, innovative calm so Swamiji pronounced “ Om Shanti Shanti” in the end. +It’s not a protocol but a state attained after persistent penance. +Only after that comes the verse “ Om Shanti Shanti”. +It is attainment of supreme bliss that is beyond the imagination and aspirations of anyone. +Never say stop and don’t ask space for its passage. +In the same way Yogiji have established his presence around us to get a feel of his unhindered existence like air. +He thinks, Ok, today this guy was unable to achieve his target, no matter be it next day. +This kind of coolness and patience exists in very few orders and traditions. +Yogiji gave bountiful flexibility to his order, established an institution and then departed. +Had there been institutional prejudice or system centric order, one had seen the impressions of personality, thinking and timings upon it. +But these are the movements spread beyond time frames where spiritual activities go on simultaneously amid the passage of generations without confrontation and segmentation. +Setting up of unhindered order is one of the prominent contribution of Yogi ji. +It is just like a family having unwritten set of rules for its routine working. +So is the theme laid down by Yogi ji that his institution is still dynamic and thrashing even after his exit from the centre stage. +And being carried away by his spiritual bliss we are also running this institution. +In my opinion this is his biggest contribution. +The world of today is charmed by economics and technology so every one weighs the world as per his perceptions. +I will have your image as per my perception. +This depends upon the understanding, perception, nature and timings. +However, the world is yet to know about one specific parameter of India which is in real terms is the strength and power is its spirituality. +This is the bad luck of this country that there are some one who are of the view that spirituality and religion are similar entities. +Caste, creed and religion are distinctly different from spirituality. +The Prime Minister also symbolically replaced one bulb in South Block, with an LED bulb. +Replacement of all bulbs in South Block with LED bulbs will enable savings of 7000 units of energy each month. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister called for making energy conservation through the spread of LED bulbs, a people’s movement. +He noted that it is much more economical to conserve power, than to produce power. +Suggesting innovative ways to generate awareness and spread the message of energy efficiency, the Prime Minister said gifts such as diaries and calendars on New Year should be replaced by gifts of LEDs. +Companies could distribute LED bulbs along with dividend payments, he suggested. +The Prime Minister called for setting district level goals, and to prioritize this scheme in all towns with population above one lakh. +The Prime Minister said involvement of entrepreneurs, eminent citizens and common people in this programme would represent an act of patriotism – as it would reduce import bills, and an act of social service – as it would save the environment. +The initiative is part of the Government’s efforts to spread the message of energy efficiency in the country. +The Prime Minister launched a web-based system to enable consumers in Delhi to register requests for procuring LED bulbs under Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme” (DELP). +Consumers can register either through the programme website (www.eeslindia.org/Delhi-Launch) or by sending an SMS to a designated number. +Shri Narendra Modi also handed over two LED bulbs to one common citizen of Delhi – who was the first person to register. +LED bulbs shall be distributed in a phased manner from March 2015 onwards. +The entire project of installing LED bulbs for domestic and street-lighting in 100 cities is targeted for completion by March 2016. +In Delhi, LED bulbs will be provided to all domestic consumers at an initial payment of Rs. 10 each and recovery of Rs. 10 each for 12 months from their electricity bill. +Hence, the cost for an LED bulb to domestic consumer will be Rs 130 through this programme due to bulk procurement, compared to the current open market retail price in the range of Rs. 350-600 for LED bulbs. +The estimated annual savings for households in Delhi per LED bulb will be Rs. 162. +The LED bulbs will have a warranty of 3 years. +The Prime Minister today interacted with Young Entrepreneurs at the “Champions for Change” initiative organised by NITI Aayog at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra. +Six groups of Young Entrepreneurs made presentations before the PM on themes such as – Soft Power: Incredible India 2.0; Education and Skill Development; Health and Nutrition; Energizing a sustainable tomorrow; and Digital India; New India by 2022. +Appreciating the new ideas and innovations envisaged in the presentations made by the entrepreneurs, the Prime Minister said, that in times past, social initiatives had catered to the requirements of people at large, and these movements were spearheaded by eminent people in society. +The Prime Minister described the “Champions for Change” initiative as one effort to bring together diverse strengths for the benefit of the nation and society. +The Prime Minister said this initiative would be taken forward and institutionalised in the best possible way. +One possibility could be to associate the groups that made presentations today, with the respective departments and Ministries in the Union Government. +He gave the example of Padma Awards to say how processes can be transformed to recognise hitherto unknown heroes of society. +The Prime Minister said the team of senior officers in Union Government are keen to explore new avenues and ways for the betterment of people. +He encouraged the entrepreneurs to continue their ideation in their respective groups. +He said that if they did so, they could go a long way in furthering the cause of governance. +The Prime Minister said a lot of small changes have been brought in by the Union Government, which have brought significant results. +He said trusting the common man, through self attestation of documents is one such initiative. +He also mentioned the abolition of interviews for Group C and D positions in the Union Government. +Shri Narendra Modi said that today there is an “app” for filling every gap. +He said technology and innovation should be harnessed to transform governance. +He said decentralised structures are important to nurture the rural economy. +In this context, he mentioned the role of startups in catalysing transformation. +The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of good teachers in society. +He said technology can provide a big boost to the quality of education. +The Prime Minister encouraged the entrepreneurs to work towards promoting the social welfare schemes of the Government among their employees. +The event was coordinated by CEO NITI Aayog, Shri Amitabh Kant. +The MoU provides for cooperation in the fields of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Food Processing, Genetic Resources as well as Environmental Sustainability. +Both sides will encourage the private sector in both countries to enter into cooperation in these areas. +The cooperation between the two sides involves exchange of visits, information, technology and training and also expansion of agricultural trade while reducing trade barriers. +Under the MoU, a Joint Working Committee will be constituted to identify priority areas of mutual interest and follow up on the progress of implementation of the activities identified by both sides. +The MoU will be initially signed for a period of five years and shall be automatically renewed for a subsequent periods of five years unless either party expresses its desire/intention to terminate it. +IARI-Jharkhand would work on the agrarian challenges and complexities of eastern India with all existing Central and State Government R&D institutions and Private sector enterprises. +It will undertake research, education, extension programmes in its mission towards developing quality human resource, generation of farmer friendly technologies to enhance productivity, quality and profitability. +It will be an off-campus of IARI, New Delhi and integrated multi-disciplinary research would be undertaken in School mode, i.e. Schools of Crop Sciences, Natural Resource Management, and Animal Sciences. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for entering into the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and International Monetary Fund (IMF) for setting up of South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) in India by the IMF. +It also authorized the Finance Minister to approve related decisions in respect of India’s contribution for setting up of the centre, including Letter of Understanding for financial contribution by India, site of the SARTTAC, representative of India on the Steering Committee on SARTTAC, etc. +Capacity development at Central and State level in fiscal and financial policies will enhance revenue mobilization and development of policies aimed at more effective public and financial management. +This will result in economic development and inclusive growth in the country. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shri Nawaz Sharif and expressed his condolences on the loss of lives due to the quake. +The Prime Minister has offered all possible assistance from India to Pakistan. +“Spoke to PM Nawaz Sharif and expressed condolences on the loss of lives due to the quake. +Offered all possible assistance from India. +Expressed my gratitude to PM Nawaz Sharif for his efforts that ensured Geeta returned home”, the Prime Minister said. +The partnership is expected to bring together Toyota’s global leadership in technology and manufacturing, with Suzuki’s strength in manufacture of small cars, especially in India. +It is expected to enable India to use new technological developments. +Further, high volumes will enable local manufacture of components required for these technologies. +Hence, the partnership will promote Make in India, and contribute to employment generation. +It also opens up scope for export of new technology cars from India +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed tax administrators at the Rajasva Gyan Sangam. +This is the first time that the two revenue boards – the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), and the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), are holding a simultaneous conference. +The Prime Minister began by inviting suggestions from officers. +Some of the officers present, expressed their views on diverse subjects such as digitization, voluntary tax compliance, facilitation for taxpayers, increasing the tax base, upgradation of digital and physical infrastructure for tax administrators etc. +He encouraged the officers for a free and frank exchange of ideas during the Rajasva Gyan Sangam. +He stressed that while there should be respect for the rule of law among all citizens, and even fear of the long arm of the law for those who evade taxes, people should not fear tax administrators. +He said that India is today at a unique stage in its history, and the high aspirations of its people need to be nurtured by the Government, so that they translate into the nation’s development. +He stressed on the need for tax administrators to engender trust in the system. +Citing the example of the “Give it up” initiative for voluntarily giving up gas subsidy, he said that the tax base too could be increased significantly, provided the tax administrators can demonstrate the leadership to bring about a change. +The Prime Minister outlined a five-point charter for tax administrators – RAPID: R for Revenue, A for Accountability, P for Probity, I for Information and D for Digitization. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved transfer of 16.5 cents of land and building belonging to Department of Posts at Thrissur in Kerala to Thrissur Municipal Corporation for widening of Pattalam Road, in public interest on the principle of land in exchange of land. +The Department of Posts will get an equal area of land of 16.5 cents which is about 200 metres away from the existing Thrissur Central Post Office. +The Thrissur Municipal Corporation will also construct a Post Office having a built up area of 3500 sq.feet, as per the specifications of Department of Posts including compound wall with two gates at their own cost. +This proposal of the Thrissur Municipal Corporation related to widening of the existing Pattalam road, to have accident-free movement of traffic, will benefit people of the area. +The proposal under consideration will benefit the people in the locality to travel freely without any traffic block and within a short time through the Pattalam Road in front of the existing Thrissur Central Post Office. +Your Excellency, Prime Minister Tony Abbott, +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, met and interacted with a group of over 70 Additional Secretaries and Joint Secretaries serving in the Government of India. +This was the first of five such interactions. +During the interaction, officers shared their experiences on subjects such as a digital and smart governance, administrative procedures and accountability, transparency, doubling of farmers’ income, skill development, Swachh Bharat, consumer rights, environment protection, and building of New India by 2022. +The Prime Minister said the combination of development and good governance is essential for the welfare and satisfaction of citizens. +He said good governance should be a priority for the officers. +He emphasized the need for all wings of Government to work in harmony, and synchronisation, to achieve the best possible results. +He said all officers must keep the poor and the ordinary citizens in their minds while taking decisions. +The Prime Minister said the world is looking to India with positive expectations. +He said the entire world feels that a successful India is vital for a global balance. +He said there is also a strong undercurrent for excellence from the common citizens of India. +Youth from humble backgrounds, with very limited resources are achieving best positions in competitive exams and sports. +He asked the officers to work to promote this spontaneous upsurge of talent, recalling the spirit and energy that they themselves would have possessed in the first three years of their service. +The Prime Minister said this was a unique opportunity for officers to deliver their utmost for the benefit of the nation. +He emphasized the importance of breaking silos, and efficient internal communication between various departments of the Government. +He also underlined the necessity of speed and efficiency in decision making. +He said that honest decision making with good intention would always be encouraged by the Union Government. +He asked the officers to focus attention on the 100 most backward districts of India, so that they can be brought up to the national average level, on various development parameters. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has written to Mrs. Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, thanking her for her letter of felicitations on his assumption of office. +In the letter, which was handed over by External Affairs Minister Smt. +“My Government will apply itself to further accelerating our engagement and strengthening the framework of our relationships,” Shri Narendra Modi assured Sheikh Hasina. +The Prime Minister has accepted Sheikh Hasina`s invitation to visit Bangladesh. +He has extended an invitation to Sheikh Hasina to visit India at her earliest convenience. +The MoU will promote technical cooperation in the field of Housing, including affordable/low income housing and enhance participation of authorities and companies in the housing and infrastructure projects undertaken in both the countries. +It will also promote sharing of knowledge and experiences in development and transfer of modern construction techniques and encourage R&D in the fields of housing development. +Name of MoUs/Agreements +Description of MoU/ Agreement +Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on Income. +Dr. Masoud Karbasian, Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance +MoU on Exemption from Visa requirement for holders of Diplomatic Passports. +Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs +Exchange of Instrument of Ratification of Extradition Treaty. +Lease Contract for Shahid Beheshti Port- Phase 1 of Chabahar during Interim Period between Port and Maritime Organization (PMO), Iran and India Ports Global Limited (IPGL). +Leasing of a part of the area of the multipurpose and container Terminal for a term of one and half solar year (18 months) to take over operation of existing port facilities. +Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Shipping +Dr. Abbas Akhundi, Minister of Road and Urban Development +MoU on Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine. +To develop and strengthen cooperation in traditional systems of medicine including regulation of teaching, practice, drugs and drugless therapies; facilitating supply of all medicine materials and documents; exchange of experts for training of practitioners, paramedics, scientists, teaching professionals and students and accommodating them in institutions for research, educational and training programmes; mutual recognition of pharmacopoeias and formularies; setting up of academic chairs; provision of scholarships; recognition of traditional preparations on reciprocity basis; permission to practice on reciprocity basis. +Shri Vijay Gokhale, Foreign Secretary +H.E. Gholamreza Ansari, Ambassador of Iran +MoU on the establishment of an Expert Group on Trade Remedy Measures to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest. +Dr. Mohammad Khazaei, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance +MoU on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors. +Bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sector including joint activities, programmes,exchange of information and personnel; cooperation in the field of agricultural crops, agricultural extension, horticulture, machinery, post harvest technology, plant quarantine measures, credit and cooperation, soil conservation, seed technology, livestock improvement, dairy development. +Shri S K Pattanayak, Secretary (Agriculture) +MoU on Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine. +To establish comprehensive inter-ministerial and inter-institutional cooperation between two sides including pooling of technical, scientific, financial and human resources; upgrading the quality and reach of human, material and infrastructural resources in healthcare, medical education, research and training; exchanging experience in training of medical doctors and other health professionals; assistance in development of human resources and setting up of health care facilities; regulation of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics and exchange of information thereon; cooperation in medical research; cooperating in public health, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and international health. +MoU on Postal Cooperation. +Cooperation between the two postal agencies including exchange of experience, knowledge and technology in e-commerce/logistics services; cooperation on philately; establishment of working group of experts; feasibility studies on using air and surface transit capacities of both countries. +Shree Anant Narayan Nanda, Secretary (Post) +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its post-facto approval for the following decisions: +i. National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) will make short term borrowings at prevailing market rate of interest for approx. +Rs.20,000 crore for on-lending to Cooperative Banks at 4.5% rate of interest. +ii. Additional capital of Rs.2,000 crore to be provided to NABARD for this purpose through the Union Budget. +To start with, additional capital of Rs.500 crore may be released to NABARD during 2016-17 itself. +iii. Interest Subvention of about 1.8% and NABARD’s administrative cost of 0.2% to be provided as per the scheme of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW). +iv. NABARD will coordinate the conversion of operative/live KCCs into RuPay/ATM-enabled Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs) by Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) in a mission mode. +The approval will ensure increased availability of short term crop loans to farmers through Cooperative banks at reduced rate of interest. +In our country, the LED bulb which used to sell for more than Rs. 350 before the year 2014, the same LED bulb is now available for Rs. 40-45. +In addition to having affordable LED bulbs, the households that have been using them have been able to save around Rs. 15,000 crore in electricity bills per year. +Today, every Indian has been working towards realising the dream of a New India. +We have been moving in the direction of an India where the poorest of the poor person gets the equal opportunity for progress, where the poorest of the poor person can see dreams and fulfill them. +Today, I see a Mini India before me. +Indians from every corner of the country, Indians working in different sectors, present a grand view. +I’ve visited Oman nearly 10 years ago. +I was going to Africa as then chief minister of Gujarat and during that journey I had passed through Salala. +I was longing to visit Oman to meet all of you, to be amongst you. +Today, that opportunity has come. +You people would have also noticed as to what extent the interest of gulf countries in India has gone up along with India’s rising stature and progress. +Today, my presence in this stadium named after His Majesty Sultan to have an audience with you people in such a large numbers has a special importance. +This reflects that how much warmth His Majesty Sultan himself has shown for India and Indians. +We are extremely grateful to him for this special gesture. +We have been working to make the life of the common man of the country easier by following the formula of: Minimum Government – Maximum Governance. +We have included all these things in culture of the government: simplification of the processes; repealing unnecessary laws; reducing the size of forms in the government office from 40-50 pages to 4-5 pages; creating system for online filling of those forms; giving a sincere hearing to the grievances of the people and work on them. +The poor people have been given life and safety insurance at a premium of 90 paise per day and one rupee per day. +An amount of Rs. 2,000 crore has been disbursed as the claim to poor people under these insurance schemes. +We have announced such a scheme in the budget that has grabbed the attention of the entire world. +Under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme we have been providing for the health insurance to 10 crore poor families of the country, it means nearly 45-50 crore people. +We have given assurance for the free treatment of up to Rs. 5 lakh to a poor family. +At present, the next generation infrastructure is being developed in the country by taking into account the requirement of the 21st century. +Especially, we have been developing the transport sector in such a manner that different components complement each other. +Highways, airways, railways and waterways, all these have been integrated as per the requirement of each other. +The work to construct 53 thousand kilometer long national highways has been started under the Bharatmala project. +The work to develop railway corridors in different parts of the country has been going on. +We have started a Blue Revolution scheme for the brothers from the fishing community and we have been helping them to purchase modern trawlers. +Also, the government has been developing more than 110 waterways in the country. +Now, the decisions are not delayed in India; now the challenges are being confronted. +The projects are being completed on time by setting the target. +This is an example of changing work culture of India. +It’s an example of a New India. +The country’s funds are saved when the decisions are taken with a clear conscience and as per a well laid out policy. +When the work is being carried out in an efficient manner, when the present resources are being utilised in the best possible manner then the country’s funds are saved. +I consider you people an important partner in the development of the country and in the nation building. +The impact of the solemn pledges made by you people for making a New India will also be seen in India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Himachal Pradesh, on the statehood Day. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated weightlifter Sathish Kumar Sivalingam on winning the Gold Medal at Commonwealth Games. +“India’s weightlifters are also lifting our position in the medal’s tally. +Well done Sathish Kumar Sivalingam for clinching a Gold in the 77 kg weight category. +He has entered the history books by winning consecutive Golds in 2 CWGs, Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018”, the Prime Minister said. +My dearest countrymen namaskar. +Maybe the system has also become accustomed in dealing with these problems, and so do have the people become accustomed to them. +Every time the inputs that come in response to every episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, are analyzed in detail by the government. +What are the kinds of suggestions, what are the kinds of complaints and what are the experiences of the people? +It is an inherent human nature to advise others. +While travelling in the train or the bus if someone coughs, the next person immediately advises a cure. +To offer advice or suggest a solution, are part of our nature. +Most of those who give suggestions or try to reach to me are those who are really doing something in their lives. +They are making efforts and are engrossed as per their intellect, capacity, ability and circumstances so that something good must happen. +And when these things came to my notice I felt that these suggestions are extraordinary. +These are suggestions that have emerged out of a certain squeeze of life’s experiences. +Some people also give suggestions thinking that if an idea has the potential to work then more people would listen to it if it is heard on a wider platform and hence many people can benefit. +And therefore it is their natural desire that it gets a mention in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ +According to me all of these things are extremely positive steps. +First of all, I express my gratitude to the Karma yogis and those people who have offered some or the other service to the society and recommend maximum suggestions. +And not only this, when I mention something positive, such memories come to recall, it is very much a pleasant experience. +In the previous ‘Mann Ki Baat’, some people had suggested to me that food was being wasted; not only had I expressed my concern but mentioned it too. +And upon my mention, there were mentions of many innovative ideas to save food from being wasted that are being put into practice employed in many corners of the country on NarendraModiApp and also on MyGov. +I had never even imagined that in our country especially the young generation has been doing this kind of work from a long time. +Some social institutions have been involved in this activity for many years was common knowledge, but the youth of my country are engaged in this task, I only came to know later. +Many have sent me the videos of their work in this field. +There are many places where ‘Roti Banks’ are operating. +In the Roti Banks, the leftover rotis are deposited by people, they also deposit the leftover vegetables and the needy can obtain food from these banks. +The person who donates rotis feels a sense of satisfaction also, the recipient also does not feel humiliated. +These are examples of how work can be achieved with the help of society. +Today is the last day of month of April. +1st May is the foundation day of the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. +On this occasion, many felicitations to the citizens of these two states on my behalf. +And both the states had a steady stream of great men whose lives and sterling contributions in every sphere of society is a source of inspiration for us.. +In remembrance of these great men, on the foundation day of these two states, we should take the pledge of taking our state, our country, our society, our city, and our family to glorious heights in 2022, when we celebrate 75 years of independence. +Plans should be drawn to achieve that pledge and taken forward with the cooperation of all citizens. +I wish the very best to these two states. +Nature has also changed the rules of the game. +The heat that we used to experience in months of May-June in our country is being felt in March-April this year. +So, when I was taking suggestions for ‘Mann Ki Baat’, most of the suggestions offered related to what should be done to beat the heat during summer time. +They’ve mentioned that water should be kept in trays and utensils on the balcony and on the terrace. +I have seen that small children of the family do this very enthusiastically. +Once they understand why they should fill the pots with water they would go and inspect 10 times in a day to ensure there is water in the tray. +And also watch if the birds came or not. +We think as if it is a game going on , but in actuality, this is a novel way of instilling empathy in the child’s mind. +You can also experience for yourself that a little attachment to an animal or a bird makes you feel very happy. +Some time back, Shri Mr. Jagat Bhai from Gujarat, had sent his book, ‘Save the Sparrows’ in which he not only expressed concern about the continuously declining number of sparrows, but also what steps he has taken in a mission mode for the conservation of the sparrow which is very nicely described in that book. +In our country, we are traditionally imbued with a sense of symbiotic co-existence with animals, birds and nature yet it is necessary that collective efforts in this regard should be emphasized. +When I was Chief Minister of Gujarat, Syedna Sahib the religious leader of Dawoodi Bohra Community had completed his hundred years. +He lived till 103 years. +As part of the celebration of his 100th year the Bohra community society had launched a huge campaign to save the sparrow under the aegis of Burhani Foundation. +I had the opportunity to inaugurate it. +Nearly 52 thousand bird feeders were distributed in every nook and corner of the world. +This effort also found a mention in the Guinness book of World Records. +Sometimes we are so busy, that we even forget to offer water to the newspaper boy, the milkman, the vegetable seller, the postman or anybody else who come to our house in peak summer days. +Young friends, I want to have a chat with you too. +I am sometimes worried that much of our younger generation prefer leading life in their comfort zones. +Parents also raise their children in a very protective manner. +True there are other extremes also but most are brought up in this comfort zone syndrome . +Summer vacations feel good inspite of scorching heat. +But as a friend, I want to suggest you certain tips about of how to utilize your vacation. +I believe some people will put them to use and they will tell me about that too. +The experiment must be positive and a little out of your comfort zone. +We all belong to the middle class and happy comfortable families. +Friends have you ever thought of travelling in a Second Class railway Compartment without a reservation, and going for atleast a 24 hours ride? +What great experience it will be? +In the evening, take your football or your volleyball or any other sports item and go to a colony of poor and lesser privileged people. +Play with those poor kids, you will experience a new kind of joy, the kind you would have never experienced in your life before-that’s the kind of joy you’ll experience! +Have you ever thought what changes would come in the lives of those kids who live in abject poverty when get the opportunity to play with you. +And I believe that if you go there once, your heart will tell you to go back again and again. +This experience will teach you a lot. +Many volunteer organizations are engaged in this kind of work. +It is possible that you can teach them. +Collectivity is also a way of life, collectivity is power in itself. +Secondly I had mentioned about skill acquisition, don’t you feel that you should learn something new! +Today is the era of competition. +Sometimes you feel scared that our youth have become robot like, living life like a machine. +Friends, dreams of making it big in life is a good thing, it is good to have some purpose in life, and you must achieve your goals. +But also self-evaluate whether the human element within yourself is getting frustrated, are we not moving away from our human qualities. +Can’t a little emphasis be given on this aspect in Skill development? +Get away from technology, and try to spend some time with yourself. +Learn a musical instrument or learn a few sentences of a new language, Tamil, Telugu, Assamese, Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi or Punjabi. +This is a country full of diversity and if you look, then there can be someone who can teach us something new is just around the corner. +If you don’t know how to swim, then learn swimming, try doing some drawing, even if you do not end up making the best drawing, try to practice putting hand to the paper! +The empathy within you will begin to appear. +You’re able to ride a bicycle but have you ever tried to operate the three-wheeler cycle or rickshaw which transports people? +You see, all these new experiments, these skills are such that they will bring you joy and will remove you from the limitations of life to which you’re tied down! +Do something out of the box, my Friends. +This is the only time to make something of your life. +And if you think that after appearing in all exams, at a new threshold of your career you will learn some new skill, then you won’t get a chance. +At that time you will be tangled into other things and therefore I tell you if you have a passion to learn magic then learn the card tricks! +Keep showing the tricks to your friends. +Try to know about things about which you have no prior knowledge, it will definitely benefit you. +I can tell you from my experience of going around the world, that the amount we can learn by seeing the world is something we cannot even imagine. +New places, new cities, new towns, new villages, new areas. +But before leaving for a particular place, preparing for the journey and upon reaching your destination gathering information about it like a seeker of knowledge, understanding about the place and having discussions with the local people, if you make an effort in this manner then the pleasure of visiting the particular place would be something else! +I wish you share your travel photographs with me, it will be nice. +What new did you see ! +Where did you travel to ! +Make good use of the hash tag Incredible India and share your experiences. +Friends, this time around, the government of India has provided you with a great opportunity. +The new generation is more or less freeing itself from the shackles of cash. +It does not need cash. +It has begun adopting digital currency. +I know you do it, but have you ever wondered that you can earn using this very scheme? +It is a scheme of the Government of India. +You must be downloading the BHIM App and using it. +Ten rupees will be credited to your account from the government. +If you involve twenty persons in a day, by evening, you would’ve earned two hundred rupees. +The traders can earn, so can students. +And this scheme is valid till the 14th of October. +It will be your contribution towards making of a digital India. +But that it runs so very deep, I just experienced, when the government recently decided that no person in India, whatsoever his status might be, will not move with a red beacon atop his vehicle. +The red beacon now has gone for good but nobody can say with certainty that the same in the mindset has also disappeared. +I have received a very interesting phone call. +They feel distanced. +I wish to say something on the government’s ban on red beacons. +I don’t have to be caught in a traffic jam and I don’t have to stop for anyone as well. +I want to thank you from the core of my heart for this decision. +And the Swachch Bharat Campaign that you have launched will not only clean our country, it will get rid of the VIP hegemony from our roads. +If we collectively strive to do it with eternal vigilance , it surely can be flushed out. +Our concept of New India precisely is that in place of VIP, more priority should be accorded to EPI. +Let us warmly accept the importance of a hundred & twenty five crore countrymen, let us respectfully embrace the Mahaatmya, the divine greatness of a hundred & twenty five crore Indians and we’ll garner strength of immense magnitude. +We have to do this together. +My dear countrymen, I maintain time & again that we should keep re – visiting the annals of our history, traditions and culture. +That lends us energy and inspiration. +This year, we the hundred & twenty five crore countrymen are celebrating the thousandth birth anniversary of Saint Ramanujacharya. +For one reason or the other, we confine ourselves to celebrating and observing centenaries of events mostly. +For other countries of the world, a century may be of immense significance. +Through his own conduct, he embraced those who were ostracized by society. +A thousand years ago, he launched an agitation allowing their entry into temples and succeeded in facilitating the same. +We are indeed fortunate that in every era, for eradicating social evils, noble souls, great men were born in this society itself. +Now that we are celebrating the 1000th birth anniversary of Ramanujacharya, we should gain inspiration from him in our endeavour to foster social unity, to bolster the adage ‘unity is strength’. +In memory of Saint Ramanujacharya, the government of India is releasing a stamp tomorrow, the 1st of May. +I respectfully salute Saint Ramanujacharya and pay tributes to him. +My dear countrymen, tomorrow, that is the 1st of May, carries one more significance. +In many parts of the world, it is observed as ‘Labour Day’. +And when ‘Labour Day’ is referred to, labour is discussed, labourers are discussed, it is but natural for me to remember Babasaheb Ambedkar. +You would be aware that for the facilities and respect that workers have earned, we are grateful to Babasaheb. +One can never forget the contribution of Babasaheb towards the welfare of the working class. +Today when I refer to Babasaheb, when I talk about Ramanujacharya, I’m also reminded of the great 12th century saint & social reformer from Karnataka Jagat Guru Basaveshwar. +Yesterday I got the opportunity to be part of a function. +It was the occasion of dedication to the nation of his collection of Vachana Amrit, the elixir of his spoken words. +In the 12th century, he had laid down his profound thoughts on labour & workers. +I distinctly remember the words of Shriman Dattopant Thengdi, the founder of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the thinker, who deliberated a lot on the working class. +And in India, Ashok’s life perfectly epitomizes the transformation from war to enlightenment. +I feel fortunate that the occasion of the great festival of Budha Purnima is celebrated as Vesak day by the United Nations. +This year it will take place in Sri Lanka. +On this holy event I shall get an opportunity to pay tributes to Lord Budha in Sri Lanka. +It will be an opportune moment to re-visit his ideals. +My dear countrymen, India has always advanced on the path of progress in the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas… inclusive development for all. +And very specially to our neighbouring countries. +May our neighbouring countries be with us in our journey, may they develop equally. +There are many projects under way. +On the 5th of May, India will launch the South Asia Satellite. +The capacities of this satellite and the facilities it provides will go a long way in addressing South Asia’s economic and developmental priorities. +It is an important step by India to enhance co-operation with the entire South Asia… it is an invaluable gift. +This is an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia. +My dear countrymen, the weather is too hot and inhospitable , take care of your loved ones and take care of yourselves. +Wish you all the best. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the nation on occasion of Chhath Puja. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a Jan Abhar Rally at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, to mark the completion of one year of the State Government. +Before arriving on the dais, the Prime Minister visited an exhibition on government schemes. +He also interacted with the beneficiaries of various schemes. +Addressing a large gathering, he praised the State of Himachal Pradesh, as a land of spirituality, and bravery. +He recalled that former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had a special bond with the State. +The Prime Minister applauded the State Government for reaching people, especially those in the rural areas of the State in the last one year, through its schemes. +The Prime Minister said that the State Government is focusing on next-generation infrastructure. +He said projects related to highways, railways, power, solar energy and petroleum sector, are all underway in the State of Himachal Pradesh. +The Prime Minister spoke at length of the tourism potential of the State. +Similarly, he said, the number of approved hotels in India in 2013, was about 1200, which has now risen to 1800. +The Prime Minister recalled that for forty years, our ex-servicemen longed for ‘One Rank, One Pension’. +He said that when his Government assumed office, the entire gamut of issues, and resources required was understood. +Thereafter, OROP was implemented to ensure the welfare of our ex-servicemen. +The Prime Minister especially complimented the people of Himachal Pradesh for their commitment to cleanliness. +They have accepted ‘Swachhata’ as a ‘Sanskaar’ (culture), he added. +This also augurs well for the tourism sector in the state, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister explained how the Union Government has curbed corruption. +He said that through Direct Benefit Transfer, a check has been put on corruption and nearly Rs. 90,000 crore rupees has been saved. +Mr. Dick Costolo, CEO, Twitter, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +He also urged Twitter to help promote India’s rich tourist potential across the world. +Shri Modi talked about the International Day of Yoga and how Twitter can contribute in making it more vibrant across the world. +Shri Modi said that Twitter should tap into India’s linguistic diversity and offer services that would draw people from various linguistic backgrounds to Twitter. +Mr. Costolo told the Prime Minister that Twitter is growing fast in India and that he has come here to see how people are innovating. +He added that he saw India’s young population as a wonderful opportunity for Twitter to grow. +Mr. Costolo shared some of the innovations being done by Twitter to enhance connectivity between Twitter users. +The National Food Security Act (NFSA) has come into force w.e.f. +The coverage under the Act is based on 2011 population estimates. +It was expected that the Act will be implemented in all the States/UTs latest by September, 2015 and beneficiaries will start receiving highly subsidized wheat and rice under the PDS System. +Accordingly, additional allocation for APL and BPL families during the current financial year was made to non NFSA States/UTs only upto September, 2015. +20 States/UTs have begun implementing the NFSA while the rest of the States/UTs are still under existing TPDS. +These States are, however, under active preparation to implement the NFSA within the next few months. +The expectation is that more and more States/UTs will shift as early as possible to NFSA implementation from the older TPDS pattern. +Following is the full text of the Prime Minister’s message: +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the establishment of International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography, as a Category-2 Centre (C2C) of UNESCO, in Hyderabad. +The purpose of this Agreement is to establish a training centre towards development of capacity for the countries on the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR), African countries bordering the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, small island countries under the framework of UNESCO. +The operational oceanography is an activity of conducting systematic oceanographic studies towards providing information services to various sectors viz. fisherman, disaster management, shipping, ports, coastal states, navy, coast guard, environment, offshore industries for conducting their day-to- day operations. +The establishment of UNESCO Category-2 Centre will provide an opportunity for India to emerge as a leading country in the Indian Ocean. +This will also help India to forge cooperation and improve engagement among the counties of the Indian Ocean, including South Asian and African states bordering the Indian Ocean. +The establishment of the centre would respond to the worldwide increasing need to build technical and management capacity to address marine and coastal sustainability issues and prepare the region for and react efficiently to marine natural hazards. +The Centre could contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal-14 (SDG 14) related to building marine scientific research capacity in geographical area of the Centre responsibility which will also fulfill the commitments to support Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries. +This C2C is intended to improve skill of students and other participants which will increase the employment opportunities within and outside India. +The establishment of C2C is also expected to increase ancillary development leading to employment generation in India. +The centre is currently operational with the state-of-the-art facilities available at Indian Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad. +So far, over 681 scientists including 576 from India and 105 from 34 other countries have been trained at this centre in various aspects of operational oceanography. +The other infrastructure facilities like building and training hostel are being established. +It is also envisaged to invite world class (acuities and trainees from around the world and work out a curriculum for long duration courses (of 3-9 months). +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh, on Tuesday. +The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), at Bilaspur. +This 750 bed hospital will be built at a cost of approximately Rs. 1350 crore. +In addition to healthcare, it will also provide medical education at the under-graduate and post-graduate level, besides nursing. +The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), at Una. +Shri Narendra Modi will also inaugurate a Steel Processing Unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), at Kandrori, Kangra. +He will later address a public meeting. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the hardwork, determination and dedication of millions of Shramiks, on Labour Day. +On Labour Day we salute the hardwork, determination and dedication of millions of Shramiks who have an invaluable role in the making of India”, the Prime Minister said. +PM assures Nepal of full cooperation in its development programmes +Three agreements signed +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Nepal, Shri Sushil Koirala. +Delegation-level talks were also held between the two sides. +Shri Narendra Modi highlighted that the biggest focus of the two nations should be development. +“Sabka saath, sabka vikaas” is relevant for India’s neighbours too, he asserted. +Stressing the need for prioritizing infrastructure in the pace of development, Shri Narendra Modi said that the bridge of trust between the two nations should be strengthened. +The Prime Minister of Nepal, Shri Sushil Koirala endorsed the Prime Minister’s view we should work together with mutual confidence and trust. +He sought India’s assistance in several development projects. +Peace and stability are essential for development, he asserted. +The Prime Minister appreciated the Constituent Assembly’s objective of a federal democratic republic +Later, three agreements were signed between India and Nepal, in the presence of the two Prime Ministers: +• Letter of Exchange for establishing Pancheswor Development Authority +• MoU in the health sector for Goitre Control Programme +• Cooperation between Doordarshan and Nepal TV +The two Prime Ministers released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the visit of the Prime Minister of India. +Mr. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +rime Minister recalled his productive and memorable visit to Sri Lanka on occasion of the International Vesak Day last month. +He congratulated Mr Karunanayake on taking over his new responsibility as Foreign Minister. +Prime Minister further conveyed condolences on the loss of lives and destruction caused by the recent floods and landslides in Sri Lanka. +He reaffirmed India’s readiness to continue assisting Sri Lanka in this regard. +Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake thanked Prime Minister for quick Indian assistance in the aftermath of the floods and landslides. +He conveyed the commitment of the Government of Sri Lanka to continue strengthening the close partnership with India. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Film Actor Shashi Kapoor for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. +“Shashi Kapoor ji is a fine actor and a stalwart of the film industry. +I congratulate him for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired the Combined Commanders’ Conference on board INS Vikramaditya at Sea, off the coast of Kochi. +This is the first time that the Combined Commanders’ Conference has been held on board an aircraft carrier. +The Prime Minister inspected a Tri-services Guard of Honour this morning at INS Garuda at Kochi, before arriving on board INS Vikramaditya, where he was received by the three Service Chiefs. +After the Conference, the Prime Minister witnessed an operational demonstration of India’s naval and maritime air capabilities. +The operational demonstration included take-offs and landings of naval fighter aircraft from INS Vikramaditya, missile firing from a warship, flypast of helicopters and fighter aircraft, marine commando operations, and steam-past of warships, including INS Virat. +The Prime Minister interacted with soldiers, sailors and airmen on board INS Vikramaditya. +Following are the extracts of the PM’s speech:- +Raksha Mantri, Shri Manohar Parikarji, +The Chiefs of the Air Force, Army and Navy, +It is a great pleasure and privilege to join our military leaders again. +I am delighted that we are meeting at a base outside Delhi. +Kochi is at the head of the Indian Ocean and at the crossroads of our maritime history. +It also holds the key to the fortunes of the world. +This aircraft carrier is the instrument of our maritime power and a symbol of our maritime responsibility. +The Indian Armed Forces have always been known not just for the power they represent, but by the maturity and responsibility with which they wield it. +And, in calamity and conflicts, they do more than just bring relief and hope to our people. +They lift the spirit of the Nation and win the trust of the world. +In Chennai, you battled the fury of rain and the river to save lives. +Today, I express our Nation’s gratitude to our military. +So, to honour your service and uphold your welfare will always be our solemn duty. +For this reason, we have moved with speed to implement the One Rank One Pension promise that had remained unfulfilled for decades. +And, we will build the National War Memorial and Museum that you so richly deserve in the heart of our nation’s capital. +We will also improve skills and opportunities for our ex-servicemen, so that when they leave the Service, they can still serve the nation with pride and dignity. +I complement our negotiators for bringing new hope in the long standing Naga problem. +India is at an exciting moment of change. +There is a high tide of hope and optimism in the country. +There is a new level of international confidence and interest in India. +We have become the fastest growing major economy in the world. +And, our economy is on a more stable path. +Our factories are humming with activity again. +We are building the next generation infrastructure at a higher pace and with an eye to the future. +Foreign Investments are rising sharply and so is India’s ranking as a place to do business in. +Every citizen can see a future of opportunities and fulfilled basic needs with confidence. +This is important for India’s prosperity, and also our security. +So, there is new intensity and purpose in our foreign policy. +In the East, we have strengthened our traditional partnerships with Japan, Korea and ASEAN. +We have made new openings in the region, including with Australia, Mongolia and Pacific Islands. +We have extended our reach in the Indian Ocean Region, and for the first time articulated a clear strategy for our maritime region. +We have raised our engagement with Africa to a new level. +We have retraced our ancient links to Central Asia. +We have established closer relations and security cooperation in West Asia and Gulf, even as we have revived our close relations with Iran. +Russia has always been a source of strength for us. +It remains important for our future, too. +With the United States, we have advanced our partnership in a comprehensive manner, including in defence. +Our strategic partnerships in Europe have deepened. +The shadow of West Asian instability is becoming longer. +For this, we have started a new NSA-level dialogue to bring security experts face to face with each other. +But, we will never drop our guard on security and we will continue to judge progress on their commitments on terrorism. +We remain committed to help the great Afghan people build a united, peaceful, prosperous and democratic nation. +We are also pursuing closer relations with China to harness the full potential of our economic partnership. +In a world of rapid changes, India faces familiar threats and new ones. +Our challenges cover land, sea and air at the same time. +It includes the full range, from terrorism to conventional threat to a nuclear environment. +Our responsibilities are no longer confined to our borders and coastlines. +They extend to our interests and citizens, spread across a world of widespread and unpredictable risks. +As our world gets transformed, the character of economies change and technology evolves, the nature of conflicts and the objectives of war will also change. +We know that old rivalries can play out in new theatres such as space and cyber. +And, new technologies offer us new ways to be more effective against both traditional and new challenges. +So, we in India must be ready for the present and prepare for the future. +India is confident that our defence forces are prepared to deter and defeat any misadventure. +Our strategic deterrence is robust and reliable, in accordance with our nuclear doctrine, and our political will is clear. +We have speeded up the process of defence procurements. +We have approved many long pending acquisitions. +We are taking firm steps to address shortages and cater for replacements. +We are advancing the pace of expansion of border infrastructure and improve the mobility of our forces and equipment. +This includes the strategic railways to the border region. +We are transforming defence manufacturing in India through radically new policies and initiatives. +Our public sector is gearing up to the challenge. +The private sector has responded with great enthusiasm. +We can never call ourselves a secure nation and a strong military power unless we develop domestic capabilities. +This will also reduce capital costs and inventories. +In addition, it will be a huge catalyst for industry, employment and economic growth in India. +Defence technology will now be a national endeavour that taps the potential of all institutions in our country. +Armed Forces will be crucial to the success of Make in India Mission. +I am encouraged by your localization plans, especially in the capital intensive Navy and Air Force. +We want to see clear targets and goals on domestic acquisition; more clarity on specifications; and, greater involvement of our forces in innovation, design and development, especially from those who wield the weapons in the field. +In the course of the past year, I have seen progress, but I also feel that our forces and our government need to do more to reform their beliefs, doctrines, objectives and strategies. +We must define our aims and our instruments for the changing world. +At a time when major powers are reducing their forces and rely more on technology, we are still constantly seeking to expand the size of our forces. +Modernisation and expansion of forces at the same time is a difficult and unnecessary goal. +We need forces that are agile, mobile and driven by technology, not just human valour. +We need capabilities to win swift wars, for we will not have the luxury of long drawn battles. +We must re-examine our assumptions that keep massive funds locked up in inventories. +As our security horizons and responsibilities extend beyond our shores and borders, we must prepare our forces for range and mobility. +We must fully incorporate the power of digital networks and space assets into our capabilities. +Equally, we must be prepared to defend them, for they will be the first targets of our adversaries. +As our economy grows, we will be able to secure ourselves better. +This is also a year when humanity has come together in the United Nations to combat poverty and climate change. +In the memories of the great tragedies of the past and in our united efforts for a better world, we are reminded of the enduring human story of progress and peril. +And, of the responsibilities that men and women in uniform bear. +To serve the cause of peace. +To become the sentinels of progress. +I know that our forces live by that creed. +For our Nation, for our friends, and our world. +And, you will help India rise to its promise and its place in the world. +Your Excellency President Dilma Rousseff, +Your Excellency President Xi Jinping, +Your Excellency President Jacob Zuma, +·I wish to join my other colleagues and congratulate President Dilma Rousseff on her re-election as the President of Brazil. +·From Brazil to Brisbane, it has been most successful journey under your leadership. +·Our group will continue to benefit from your visionary leadership. +·I would also like to thank President Rousseff for hosting today’s meeting. +·The historic 6th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza delivered- the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement. +·These signal our collective capacities to create and manage global institutions. +·These can be effective in promoting sustainable development and bridge infrastructure gaps. +We can be more aligned to local conditions and requirements. +We should focus on next generation infrastructure. +·We can promote new models of governance and financing, while maintaining the highest banking standards. +We should also make it more participatory. +·We need to work towards their early implementation. +·We propose that we should set the target of 2016 for inauguration of this Bank. +·We hope to ratify the agreement by the end of the year. +We would soon nominate our candidate for the post of the Presidency. +·The Contingent Reserve Arrangement is also a very timely initiative. +·The work on the Reinsurance pool among BRICS is also a welcome one. +We hope that our officials will be able to come up with a concrete proposal by the next year. +·These measures send a strong message to the rest of the world about the efficacy of BRICS. +·Besides these, we have started work on many other proposals that would deepen our relations and enhance our cooperation in all spheres. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has called for making Yoga a mass movement, connecting people and strengthening the bonds of humanity. +In a post on Facebook, the Prime Minister said that the entire global community has come together in support of celebrating the first-ever International Day of Yoga, on June 21st. +“Now, that strong support has also turned into immense enthusiasm. +I am seeing several people and organisations across the world are working towards making the first ever International Day of Yoga a memorable event,” the Prime Minister said. +In the run-up to 21st June, the Prime Minister would be sharing a post daily, covering various aspects of Yoga. +Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased. +We stand firmly with the people of Pakistan in this hour of grief. +I wish all those injured a quick recovery”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today had five bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit in Kathmandu. +These were with the Prime Minister of Bhutan Mr. Tshering Tobgay, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Ms. Sheikh Hasina, the President of Afghanistan Dr. Ashraf Ghani, the President of Sri Lanka Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and the President of Maldives Mr. Abdulla Yameen. +A large part of the discussions centred around the statements made and events at the SAARC Summit. +During the bilateral meetings, various heads of Government complimented the Prime Minister for his statement at the SAARC Summit and his forward looking vision. +The Prime Minister was also complimented for his initiative of the SAARC satellite. +Some countries also shared what they look forward to from such a satellite. +The Prime Minister’s emphasis on solar energy was also greeted with enthusiasm during these meetings. +The Prime Minister invited Mr. Tshering Tobgay, the Prime Minister of Bhutan to visit India in January, and also be part of the Vibrant Gujarat summit. +The Prime Minister also invited the President of Afghanistan Dr. Ashraf Ghani to visit India. +The National Security Advisor will travel to Sri Lanka and Maldives next month. +Maritime security shall be on the agenda during these visits. +The Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh had a detailed exchange of views on matters relating to security and terrorism which impact both countries. +I said I will take it up in next programme. +I invite you to share your views on the issue of mitigating the menace of drugs. +If you worked in this area, please share your experiences. +I call upon NGOs that are working on this to share their experiences as well. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will be in Srinagar on Diwali, 23rd October, and will spend the day with flood-affected people. +“Will be in Srinagar on Diwali, 23rd October and will spend the day with our sisters and brothers affected by the unfortunate floods,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for signing an MoU between India and Afghanistan on Technical Cooperation on Police Training and Development. +The MoU will help in capacity building of Afghanistan National Police and improving the security apparatus in the region. +It has been approved for a period of 5 years from the date of signing the MoU and shall be extended for a further period of 5 years on the condition that are not further changes and or revision. +India and Afghanistan have friendly relations and the police personnel of Afghanistan National Police come regularly for training purposes in different training institutes of India. +India and Afghanistan have already signed an “Agreement on strategic partnership” between the two countries in October, 2011. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Centenary Celebrations of the Gaudiya Mission and Math in Kolkata. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said India’s spiritual consciousness is the reason for its long-standing civilizational ethos. +He said this spiritual consciousness had remained intact through the ages. +The Prime Minister said this consciousness transcended even language. +The bhajan“Vaishnav Jan To Tene Re Kahiye Re” is a prime example of this, he said. +He added the words “Vaishnav Jan” could easily be replaced with “Jan Pratinidhi” (Public Representatives) in the modern context. +The Prime Minister later offered prayers at the Gaudiya Math. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met various groups of flood-affected people in Srinagar to understand their problems first-hand, and listen to their suggestions on the rehabilitation process following the recent floods. +The Prime Minister had announced that he would be spending the day of Diwali interacting with flood-affected people of Srinagar. +These included delegations from Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Social Organizations and NGOs, Civil Society Organizations, Transport Operators, Tour and travel operators, fruit growers, dealers and horticulture institutions, educational institutions, youth organizations, religious communities and political groups. +The Prime Minister said that a common thread running through the interaction with all groups was the suggestion that affected people should be given help directly. +The Prime Minister said this request would be seriously considered. +For instance, the Prime Minister said, it could be considered that assistance for rebuilding houses could be given directly to bank accounts of beneficiaries. +Over and above the special central assistance of Rs. 1000 crore that was announced during the Prime Minister`s visit to Srinagar in September, Shri Narendra Modi announced Rs. 570 crore assistance for housing. +He said six major hospitals in the state of Jammu and Kashmir were in poor condition and required immediate intervention. +For this he announced assistance of Rs. 175 crore. +The Prime Minister also directed that schoolchildren who had lost books etc in the flood, should be provided the necessary study material immediately. +The Prime Minister said other requests made by the state government would be considered after verification. +Earlier, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Omar Abdullah, called on the Prime Minister, soon after the Prime Minister arrived in Srinagar. +PM condemns terror attack in Pathankot, says evil designs of India’s enemies will never succeed. +Strongly condemning the terror attack in Pathankot today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that enemies of humanity who cannot see the Nation succeed, had attempted to cause harm to the Indian Armed Forces. +He appreciated the Armed Forces for successfully defeating the designs of the terrorists, and paid homage to the jawans who were martyred during the operation. +He said he is proud of the jawans and the security forces. +The Prime Minister said that the Nation stood united against these enemies and therefore their evil designs would never succeed. +The Prime Minister was speaking at a public meeting for the inauguration of the Centenary Celebrations of His Holiness Jagadguru Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji of Sri Suttur Math at Maharaja College ground in Mysore. +Earlier, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, arrived in Mysore today. +He was received at Mysore airport by the Governor of Karnataka Shri Vajubhai Vala, and the Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri Siddaramaiah. +The Prime Minister visited the Avadhoota Datta Peetham, where he met His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji. +He visited the Datta Temple and was conferred the Peetham honours. +Addressing the gathering there, the Prime Minister said that sages and saints in India do a lot of work for society which is not fully appreciated. +In this context he appreciated the work of the Avadhoota Datta Peetham. +The Governor of Karnataka Shri Vajubhai Vala was present. +The Prime Minister inaugurated the Centenary Celebrations of His Holiness Jagadguru Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji of Sri Suttur Math, at Maharaja College Ground in Mysuru. +He unveiled a foundation stone for a Knowledge Research Centre to mark the occasion. +Addressing a large gathering, he said that Saint Basaveshwara had showed the path of social reform centuries ago. +He recalled that he had the great fortune to unveil a statue of Shri Basaveshwara in London recently. +The Prime Minister said that Indian society was unique because social reformers arose from it time and again, to reform society, and fight social evils. +He said it was the social reform movements of the 18th and 19th century that laid the foundation for India’s successful freedom movement in the 20th century. +The Prime Minister said that the 21st century is the century of knowledge, and the country which focused on knowledge and innovation would lead the world in this century. +He appreciated Jagadguru Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji, for his Initiative of the Knowledge Resource Centre. +The Prime Minister recalled the recent meeting of the CoP-21 in Paris, and the initiatives of “Mission Innovation” and “International Solar Alliance” taken there, in which India had played a leading role. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today held bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia. +The two leaders jointly inaugurated the “Torana Gate” at Little India in Kuala Lumpur. +This gate takes inspiration from the Torana Gate at the Sanchi Stupa. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that his visit to Malaysia has been marked by a number of historic events, and the joint inauguration of the Torana Gate is one of them. +He said the Gate is not just a sculpture, but a link between two countries, which highlights their cultural ties. +The Prime Minister recalled Lord Buddha, who had, centuries ago, delivered his message of peace across Asia. +The Prime Minister had an interaction with leaders of Corporate Malaysia, for strengthening economic ties. +Malaysian CEOs expressed interest in several sectors of the Indian economy, including food processing, oil and gas, and aviation. +A very warm welcome to all the delegates from across the world to the Partners’ Forum, 2018. +A lot yet remains to be done. +From bigger budgets to better out-comes, and from mind-set change to monitoring, there is lots to be done. +Hope that behavioural change can be ensured. +Hope that rapid progress can be achieved. +I am pleased to note that Latin America and Caribbean region and India will be show-casing adaptations of the global strategy during the course of this Forum. +I hope that these adaptations will inspire other countries and regions to develop similar strategies. +I firmly believe that a nation prospers when its people and importantly the women, and childrenare educated; and are able to live independent, empowered and healthy lives. +When my government assumed office in 2014, we were losing more than 44,000 mothers, annually, during child-birth. +Children’s nutrition is being addressed through the POSHAN Abhiyan. +This has provided 800 million health screening check-ups, and free referral treatment to 20 million children, in the last four years. +One thing that constantly worried us was the high out-of-pocket expenditure incurred by families to avail medical care. +We therefore launched the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. +Ayushman Bharat has a two-fold strategy. +We plan to start 150 thousand such Health & Wellness Centres by 2022. +The other arm of Ayushman Bharat is the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. +This number is almost equal to the population of Canada, Mexico and the US taken together. +We have already provided free treatment worth 700 Crore rupees to 5 lakh families under this scheme within 10 weeks of its launch. +I instructed my officials to identify 117 ‘Aspirational Districts’. +Each such district has been entrusted to a team that works across sectors like education, water and sanitation, rural development with top-most priority to health and nutrition. +We are working on women centric schemes through other departments also. +Till 2015, more than half of Indian women did not have access to clean fuel for cooking. +This scheme enables direct benefit transfer to their bank accounts to compensate for wage loss, enable better nutrition and adequate rest before and after delivery. +Women, children and youth will continue to remain at the heart of every policy, programme or initiative. +I would like to stress on the need for multi-stake-holder partnerships for achieving success. +In all our endeavours, we are aware that effective healthcare, especially for womenand children, is best organized through convergent action. +I have been given to understand that over the next two days this Forum will discuss12 success stories from all over the world. +I call upon each one of you here, including those who have joined us virtually, to embrace this in true spirit, so that we are able to extend our support to the entire humanity. +Let us join our hands together as an expression of our commitment towards this noble cause. +The joint stamps were released in June 2018. +The Commemorative Postage Stamps on India-South Africa: Joint Issue depicts image of DeendayalUpadhyaya and Oliver Reginald Tambo of South Africa. +An MoU was signed to this effect between India and South Africa in May 2018. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Senegal in the field of Health and Medicine. +The main areas of cooperation between the Parties will include the following: +May this festival bring more prosperity in the lives of farmers”, the Prime Minister said. +The CCH had been earlier superseded by Board of Governors through an Ordinance and subsequent amendment of Act. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condemned the attack on the Afghanistan Parliament. +“The attack on the Afghanistan Parliament is a despicable and cowardly act. +There is no place for such attacks in a democracy. +My prayers are with those injured. +We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Afghanistan in this hour”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing and ratification of the Extradition Treaty between India and Afghanistan. +The treaty would provide a legal framework for seeking extradition of terrorists, economic offenders and other criminals from and to the Afghanistan. +Follow Shri Narendra Modi on Instagram. +Taking his interaction with well wishers on social media to the next level, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi joined Instagram on 12th November 2014. +He shared his first photo from the 25th ASEAN Summit from Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar. +Prior to Instagram, Prime Minister had already been reaching out to the masses through some of the most popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and many more. +With frequent tweets, posts on Facebook and other sites of various events and visits, social media platforms have clearly proved to be useful to connect with millions of his followers and supporters globally. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has been quite active on other social sites like Stumbleupon, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn. +He has been sharing photos on Flickr as well. +Shri Narendra Modi has continuously been encouraging the use of this digital platform. +The Prime Minster has been making use of social media to showcase the work done by the government as well as inspire people to serve the nation through campaigns like the Swachch Bharat Mission. +Social media has been helpful for spreading out messages directly from the PM and build a strong leadership. +It has been successful in opening up a direct channel of communication between people and the PM. +The Corporate Sector is coming forward to extend its support to the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir. +The Mahindra & Mahindra Group and Samsung Electronics have donated Rs. 2 Crores and Rs. 3 Crores respectively towards the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. +Yesterday, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, had appealed for generous donations towards Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, to help the people of Jammu and Kashmir in this hour of crisis. +“Sankranti greetings to my sisters and brothers of Karnataka. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the health assurance scheme: Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana – at Ranchi, Jharkhand. +The Prime Minister visited an exhibition on the scheme, before arriving on the dais to launch PMJAY at a huge public gathering. +At the same event, the Prime Minister unveiled plaques to lay the Foundation Stone for medical colleges at Chaibasa and Koderma. +He also inaugurated 10 Health and Wellness Centres. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that this launch has been done with a vision to provide the poorest of the poor, and the underprivileged sections of society, with better healthcare and treatment. +He said this scheme, which envisions health assurance of 5 lakh rupees per family per year, will benefit over 50 crore people, and is the world’s biggest health assurance scheme. +He said the number of beneficiaries of this scheme is roughly equal to the population of the European Union, or the population of America, Canada and Mexico, taken together. +He said the first part of Ayushman Bharat – the health and wellness centres, was launched on BabasahebAmbedkar’s birth anniversary, and the second part – the health assurance scheme, is being launched two days before DeendayalUpadhyay’s birth anniversary. +Explaining how comprehensive the PMJAY is, the Prime Minister said it would cover 1300 illnesses, including serious illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. +He said private hospitals too would be part of this scheme. +The Prime Minister said that the amount of 5 lakhs would cover all investigations, medicine, pre-hospitalization expenses etc. +He said it would also cover pre-existing illnesses. +He said that people can learn more about the scheme by dialling 14555, or through their Common Service Centre. +The Prime Minister said that for the States that are a part of PMJAY, people can get the benefit of the scheme in whichever of these States they go to. +He said more than 13,000 hospitals across the country have joined the scheme so far. +The Prime Minister also spoke of the 10 health and wellness centres inaugurated today. +He said the number of such centres across the country has reached 2300. +He said the aim is to have 1.5 lakh such centres in India within four years. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government is working with a holistic approach to improve the health sector in the country. +He said the focus is on both “Affordable Healthcare” and “Preventive Healthcare.” +The Prime Minister expressed confidence that through the efforts of all those involved with PMJAY, and the dedication of the doctors, nurses, healthcare providers, ASHAs, ANMs etc, the scheme would become a success. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will attend the Silver Jubilee Foundation Day of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), at New Delhi, on 12th October. +The Prime Minister will issue a Postage Stamp and Special Cover on the occasion. +He will also launch the new version of NHRC website. +The website will be more user-friendly and accessible to persons with special needs. +The Prime Minister will address the gathering. +Two Groups of Secretaries to the Government of India, today presented ideas on Health, Sanitation & Urban Development, and Commerce & Industry, to the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +Union Ministers, and officials from the NITI Aayog were also present on the occasion. +A total of seven presentations on various governance related themes have now been made in the current series, out of the total of nine scheduled to be made. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Netherlands on cooperation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes. +The MoU was signed on May 11 & 22, 2017 at Bangalore and The Hague respectively. +This MoU shall enable the following areas of cooperation such as, space science, technology and applications including remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication and satellite based navigation; Space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system; and application of space technology. +The MoU would lead to set up a Joint Working Group, drawing members from Department of Space/ Indian Space Research Organisation (DOS/ISRO), and the Netherlands Space Office (NSO), which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementing this MoU. +It will provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication; satellite navigation; space science and exploration of outer space. +The MoU would lead to develop a joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. +Thus all sections and regions of the country will get benefited. +DOS/ISRO Centres have long association with ITC (International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente) Netherlands on capacity building; and with the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) for carrying out calibration/ validation experiments on earth observation. +Antrix Corporation, the Commercial arm of Department of Space (DOS) launched a satellite belonging to the Netherlands (DELFI-C3) in April 2008. +Officials of ISRO and the Netherlands Space Office (NSO) discussed on the modalities of building space cooperation between two countries. +Accordingly, both sides arrived at mutually agreed version of MoU for cooperation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation for the successful launch of GSAT-6. +“Another day and another phenomenal accomplishment by our scientists. +Congratulations ISRO for the successful launch of GSAT-6,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the following: +i. Ex-post facto approval for formation of an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Berhampur Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860; +iii. Accepting land, free of cost, from the State Government of Odisha; +iv. Creation of the post of Director of the Institute in the Pay Scale of Rs.80,000 (Fixed); and +The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) have been declared as Institutes of National Importance under the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education & Research (NITSER) Act, 2012. +These Institutes are envisaged to carry out research in frontier areas of science and to provide quality science education at the Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate level. +To increase the presence of IISERs in various States/ geographical locations to cater to the need for quality education in science and research, the Union Finance Minister, in his Budget Speech (2015) had announced setting up of an IISER in the State of Odisha. +Accordingly, today the Cabinet approved the setting up of IISER Berhampur at the transit/ temporary campus at academic-cum-workshop building of the Government ITI, Berhampur. +The total cost of the project for temporary campus is Rs. 152.79 crores. +EdCIL, a PSU of Ministry of HRD, Government of India has been asked to submit a proposal for preparation of detailed Project Report for the permanent campuses. +Thereafter the process for setting up of the campus would start. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Maghar in Sant Kabir Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh today. +He offered floral tributes at Sant Kabir Samadhi, on the occasion of the 500th death anniversary of the great saint and poet, Kabir. +He also offered Chadar at Sant Kabir Mazaar. +The Prime Minister said that Sant Kabir Academy, to be built at a cost of about Rs. 24 crore, would create an institution to preserve the legacy of Sant Kabir, as well as regional dialects and folk arts of Uttar Pradesh. +The Prime Minister said that Sant Kabir represents the essence of India’s soul. +He broke the barriers of caste, and spoke the language of the ordinary, rural Indian, Shri Narendra Modi added. +Naming many such saints from various parts of India, across different eras, the Prime Minister mentioned BabasahebAmbedkar who ensured for every citizen of India, equality, through the Constitution. +Making a strong statement against political opportunism, the Prime Minister recalled Sant Kabir’s teaching that the ideal ruler is one who understands the feelings and suffering of the people. +He said Sant Kabir had criticized all social structures which discriminated among people. +He also mentioned the increase in pace in various infrastructure sectors such as roads, railways, optical fibre network etc. +He said the Union Government is working to ensure that all parts of India receive the fruits of development. +He hoped that the teachings of Sant Kabir would help us give shape to the vision of New India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated the Sardar Sarovar Dam to the nation. +The occasion was marked by prayers and chanting of hymns at the Dam at Kevadia. +The Prime Minister unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion. +Later, the Prime Minister visited the construction site of the Statue of Unity, an iconic structure dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, at Sadhu Bet, a short distance from the Sardar Sarovar Dam. +He was given an overview of the progress of work at the site. +At a large public meeting in Dabhoi, the Prime Minister unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of the National Tribal Freedom Fighters’ Museum. +The occasion also marked the closing ceremony of the Narmada Mahotsav, which generated awareness about the River Narmada, in various districts of Gujarat. +Speaking on the occasion, he said the huge gathering shows the respect that people have for Maa Narmada. +On the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti, he said that he salutes all those who are working to build the nation. +Let us leave no stone unturned to build a New India by 2022, the Prime Minister exhorted. +The Prime Minister recalled Sardar Patel’s vision of the dam. +He said that both Sardar Patel and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar gave a lot of emphasis to irrigation and waterways. +The Prime Minister said lack of water resources has been a major impediment to development. +He recalled visiting the border areas in the past, when BSF jawans did not have enough water. +We brought Narmada waters to the border areas for the jawans, he said. +The saints and seers of Gujarat have played a very big role in the making of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, he said. +The waters of the River Narmada will help citizens and transform lives, he added. +The Prime Minister said that in the western part of the country, there is water shortage, and in the eastern part, there is power and gas shortage. +He said the Government is working to overcome these shortages, so that India scales new heights of development. +The Prime Minister said the Statue of Unity would be a fitting tribute to Sardar Patel, and would draw tourists from all over. +He recalled freedom fighters from tribal communities, who fought against colonialism. +The Union Government has revised the guidelines for the National Disaster Relief Fund. +Under the revised guidelines the quantum of compensation has been hiked from Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh, in the event of death due to natural calamity. +Accordingly, the next of kin of those who lost their lives in various parts of the country due to the earthquake on 25th April, shall receive an enhanced compensation of Rs. 4 lakh from the National Disaster Relief Fund. +This is in addition to the compensation of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. +It implies that the next of kin of those who perished in the tragedy will now receive a total compensation of Rs. 6 lakh. +In addition to these measures, a compensation of Rs. 50,000 from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund has also been announced for those who were seriously injured in the earthquake. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Swachh Kumbh, Swachh Aabhaar event in Prayagraj. +He reached the dais after a dip in the waters of the Holy Sangam at Prayagraj, and after conducting a “Charan Vandana” of select sanitation workers, as a mark of respect to their efforts in ensuring a clean Kumbh. +He described all those, who have been involved in ensuring the best of arrangements for the devotees gathering at Prayagraj for the Kumbh, as “Karm-Yogis.” +In this context, he mentioned the NDRF, the boatmen, the local population, and the sanitation workers as well. +Mentioning that over 21 crore people have visited the Kumbh over the last few weeks, he said the sanitation workers have shown that nothing is impossible. +He said that they are most deserving, for all the appreciation that the Kumbh has got this year. +He said the moments when he offered Charan Vandana to some sanitation workers, would always remain etched in his memory. +The Prime Minister said that the Swachh Seva Samman Kosh, announced today would help the sanitation workers and their families, in times of need. +The Prime Minister said that Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is progressing rapidly. +He said the country is moving towards becoming Open Defecation Free before the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, on October 2 this year. +Shri Narendra Modi said that the cleanliness of the River Ganga has also been the subject of much discussion this year. +He added that today, he has witnessed it first-hand. +He said that this is also a result of the efforts of Namaami Gange, and the Union Government. +He said drains falling into the river are being blocked, and sewage treatment plants being built. +He said that a few days ago, he received the Seoul Peace Prize, which included an amount of about Rs. 1.30 crore. +He said he has donated that amount towards the Namaami Gange Mission. +He said the gifts and mementoes he has received as Prime Minister have also been auctioned, and their proceeds have also gone towards Namaami Gange. +The Prime Minister had a special word of appreciation for the boatmen (Naviks) involved in Kumbh as well. +He also noted that for the first time since independence, pilgrims arriving for Kumbh had a chance to visit the Akshay Vat. +The Prime Minister thanked everyone present in the gathering for fulfilling his vision of a Kumbh that was a blend of spirituality, faith and modernity. +He also appreciated the role being played by the Uttar Pradesh Police in this regard. +The Prime Minister said that the arrangements made for Kumbh this year, have included development of vital infrastructure, which will continue to serve the city, even after the Kumbh Mela is over. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Varanasi today. +He dedicated the campus of the International Rice Research Institute, at Varanasi, to the nation. +He visited various laboratories of the Institute. +At the DeendayalHastkalaSankul, the Prime Minister visited the One District, One Product (ODOP) Exhibition. +He launched a Comprehensive Pension Management Scheme. +He unveiled plaques to mark the laying of Foundation Stones, or dedication of various projects in Varanasi. +Mentioning the various projects unveiled today, he said they all have a common theme: Ease of Living, and Ease of Doing Business. +He described the Uttar Pradesh Government’s “One District, One Product” scheme as an extension of “Make in India.” +The Prime Minister said that in the State of Uttar Pradesh, the small and medium sector enterprises have been a part of traditions. +In this context, he mentioned the carpet industry of Bhadohi, the sports goods industry of Meerut, and the silk industry of Varanasi, among others. +He described Varanasi and Poorvanchal as a hub of handicrafts, and art. +The Prime Minister said 10 products of Varanasi and nearby regions, have received Geographical Indication tags. +He said the One District, One Product scheme will convert these expressions of art, into profitable business, by ensuring good machines, training and marketing support. +He said that he has been informed that loans worth Rs. 2000 crore are likely to be disbursed during this event. +He said the emphasis in this scheme is to provide a holistic solution for the makers of the products. +He said that the DeendayalHastkalaSankul, is now fulfilling its ultimate objective. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government has worked to make the lives of common people better, and to promote ease of doing business. +The Prime Minister said that SAMPANN – the System for Authority and Management of Pension launched today, will greatly facilitate pensioners of the telecom department, and help in timely disbursement of pension. +The Prime Minister said the Union Government is using technology to improve ease of living, and greater ease of access to citizen-centric services. +He said India Post Payments Bank is being used to expand banking services through post offices. +He said a network of over 3 lakh Common Service Centres is helping to provide a range of services, digitally, to the people in rural areas. +He also spoke of the huge increase in the number of internet connections in the country. +He said over one lakh Panchayats in the country are now connected via broadband. +The Prime Minister said Digital India, apart from facilitating people, is also bringing in transparency in government working, and curbing corruption. +In this context, he mentioned the Government e-Marketplace, or GeM. +He said GeM will be of immense use for MSMEs. +The Prime Minister said the Union Government is committed to empowering MSMEs. +By making access to credit easier for MSMEs, ease of doing business is also being ensured. +The Prime Minister said a big effort is underway to provide modern amenities and promote industry in eastern India, through LNG. +One benefit of this is cooking gas which is now becoming available to thousands of homes in Varanasi, he added. +Referring to the International Rice Research Institute campus in Varanasi, he said this Centre is a result of our efforts to make agriculture more profitable, using technology. +The Prime Minister said that the transformation of Kashi is now becoming visible. +He said the development projects unveiled today would further help in this regard. +He reiterated that the Union Government is committed to cleaning the River Ganga. +He said public support is facilitating the move towards this goal. +The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the upcoming PravasiBharatiya Divas, later this month in Varanasi, would be a success. +Following is the text of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s message on World Toilet Day. +“Today, on World Toilet Day, we reiterate our commitment towards enhancing cleanliness and sanitation facilities across the nation. +We in India take pride at the remarkable speed with which sanitation cover has increased in the last four years. +The movement for a cleaner India and ensuring better sanitation facilities is a people’s movement. +It is the 130 crore Indians, particularly women and youngsters who have taken the lead in this movement. +I congratulate all those working to fulfil the dream of a Swachh Bharat.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Swapping of 10.25 acres of land belonging to Airports Authority of India (AAI) at Rajahmundry Airport with equivalent extent of land belonging to Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. +The proposal is intended to provide road connectivity to the villages around the Rajahmundry Airport, in order to facilitate ease of access to the general public of the area. +The proposal will provide road connectivity and thus, ease of access to the general public of the area, especially facilitating access to farmers to their agricultural land. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to New Productivity Linked Reward Scheme for all Major Port Trusts and Dock Labour Board employees/workers for the years 2015-16 to 2017-18. +Ministry of Shipping has formulated a New Productivity Linked Reward (PLR) Scheme for all Major Port Trusts and Dock Labour Board employees/workers for the years 2015-16 to 2017-18. +PLR will be calculated on the enhanced wage ceiling for calculation of Bonus at Rs. 7000/- per month. +PLR shall be paid annually on the basis of 50% weightage given to all India Performance and 50% weightage given to the individual Port Performance. +There is an existing scheme of Productivity Linked Reward (PLR) for the employees/workers of Major Port Trusts and Dock Labour Board, wherein Productivity Linked Reward (PLR) was granted on yearly basis based on the settlement arrived at between Management and the Labour Federations of the Major Port Trusts. +Infrastructure development, Connectivity and Ease of Doing Business to get a fillip in Coastal and Western Odish +Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in Jharsuguda to be dedicated to the Nation +New Railway Line to be inaugurated between Balangir & Bichupali +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Balangir in Odisha tomorrow on 15 January, 2019. +He will dedicate Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) Jharsugudaand other developmental projects to the Nation. +The Prime Minister will inaugurate a new railway line from Balangir-Bichupali. +He will also lay foundation stone for permanent building at KendriyaVidhyalaya, Sonepur. +The Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at Jharsuguda is built at a cost of Rs 100 Crores. +It will facilitate EXIM and Domestic cargo including Private Freight Traffic. +MMLP is located adjacent to Howrah- Mumbai which is 5 km from Jharsuguda Railway Station. +Many important industries like steel, cement, paper etc are located around the facility and will be benefitted from it. +The Multi-Modal Logistics Park will establish Jharsuguda as a prime logistics hub in Odisha and boost ease of doing business in the State. +The 15 km Balangir-Bichupali New Railway Line would connect coastal Odisha with western Odisha synchronising development across the State. +It will reduce travel time from Bhubaneswar and Puri to major cities like New Delhi and Mumbai. +During the visit, the PM is likely to launch the following development projects – +• Dedication of Electrification of 813 km of Jharsuguda-Vizinagaram and Sambalpur-Angul lines at a cost of Rs. 1085 crores. +It will ensure seamless rail connectivity on the line. +It will result in rebuilding of the linkage over Nagaveli river which was washed away during floods in July 2017. +In addition, the restoration and renovation work of Ranipur Jharial group of monuments in Balangir situated on the ancient trade route on this occasion. +The PM will also inaugurate renovation and restoration works at Asurgarh Fort in Kalahandi. +Asurgarh figures as an important political and commercial centre in ancient texts. +Mr. Modi will also lay foundation stone for permanent building at KendriyaVidyalaya in Sonepur. +PM addresses public meeting at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium, Srinagar. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today announced a development package of eighty thousand crore rupees for the State of Jammu and Kashmir. +In his address at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar, Shri Narendra Modi recalled former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s message of Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat, Insaniyat. +“India is not complete without Kashmiriyat,” the Prime Minister said, mentioning the Sufi tradition of India. +He praised the people of the state for reposing their faith in Jamhooriyat (democracy) and said that the progress of Jammu and Kashmir had to be based on Insaniyat. +The Prime Minister said his Government worked for “Sabka saath, sabka vikas,” and therefore, it was essential for development to reach all parts of the country. +He said the State of Jammu and Kashmir should return once again to the days when people from all parts of India saved money to visit the State. +He said that besides tourism, attention was being given to sectors such as Pashmina, and Saffron. +The Prime Minister narrated his experience of reconstruction following the Gujarat earthquake of 2001. +He said that though the State of Jammu and Kashmir had suffered a lot due to floods last year, he saw the spirit (jazba) among the people, and was convinced that the State would soon overcome the difficulties. +He recalled how he had rushed to the State soon after the floods and had spent Diwali last year in the State. +He also recalled how his mother had given him Rs. 5000 last year for flood relief in Jammu and Kashmir. +The Prime Minister said the atmosphere of gloom that pervaded India till recently has lifted over the last 17 months. +He said India is now considered the fastest growing major economy in the world. +The Prime Minister mentioned that the State from where young cricketer Pervez Rasool hails, should witness international cricket matches again. +He said top Indian cricketers use bats made in the State. +The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari, and Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has expressed commitment to realize the potential of the North-East and to accelerate its progress. +In a series of tweets issued ahead of his 3-day visit to the North-Eastern states of Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland, the Prime Minister said that he was eagerly looking forward to being there and interacting with the people. +“Rich natural resources combined with talent of our youth gives our North-East the potential to play a key role in our development journey. +India will not develop till the North-East develops,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Dung also visited the holy city of Bodh Gaya. +He had a meeting with the Chief Minister of Bihar, H.E. Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi. +A Conclave of business leaders from both countries was held during the visit. +The Prime Ministers welcomed the developments in recent years which have led to a continuous strengthening of the Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam. +They reaffirmed their commitment for comprehensive development of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. +The Prime Ministers agreed that a strong India-Vietnam partnership would lead to peace, prosperity and stability for people of both countries and in the wider region. +Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed that Vietnam was an important pillar of India’s Look East Policy. +Prime Minister Dung welcomed a greater role for India in the regional and international arena. +The Prime Ministers noted that strategic partnership between both countries was based on traditional friendship, mutual understanding, strong trust, support and convergence of views on various regional and international issues. +They expressed happiness on the success of the recent State Visit of President of India H.E. Shri Pranab Mukherjee to Vietnam in September 2014. +The Prime Ministers called for more intensive exchanges at all levels under the established dialogue mechanisms and urged effective implementation of agreements concluded between both countries. +They expressed hope that the ongoing robust defence and security cooperation between India and Vietnam will continue to be strengthened through regular exchanges at high level. +The Prime Ministers agreed that enhancing economic cooperation between both countries should be pursued as a strategic objective. +They welcomed the strong growth in bilateral trade in recent years particularly after the implementation of India-ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement and noted that the conclusion of India-ASEAN Trade in Services and Investment Agreements would further boost economic cooperation between India and ASEAN in general and Vietnam in particular. +They instructed officials on both sides to utilize established mechanisms such as the Joint Sub-Commission on Trade as well as closer PPP and B2B contacts for furthering our shared trade and investment objectives. +They also called for close cooperation towards realization of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP). +Prime Minister Dung was accompanied by a large business delegation which had separate meetings with apex chambers of commerce and industry of India including CII, FICCI, and ASSOCHAM. +The Prime Ministers urged the business leaders to explore business opportunities on both sides. +Business leaders on both sides identified the following sectors as priority areas for cooperation: -hydrocarbons, power generation, infrastructure, tourism, textiles, footwear, medical and pharmaceuticals, ICT, electronics, agriculture, agro-products, chemicals, machine tools and other supporting industries. +The Prime Ministers expressed their satisfaction on the steady progress made in enhancing trade and investment through fruitful interaction between business leaders from both sides. +They urged that events like the India-CLMV Business Conclave should be utilized by business leaders and decision makers to achieve this target. +The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of investment for the growth of their economies and ways to create environment to mobilise greater investment. +Prime Minister Dung welcomed Indian companies to invest in Vietnam and affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to create favourable conditions for Indian investments. +Prime Minister Modi invited the Vietnamese companies to join the accelerated economic growth programme ‘Make in India’ for reaping the benefits of this new initiative. +They agreed to utilize the Customs Cooperation Agreement and Maritime Shipping Agreement between the two countries for facilitating more intensive economic engagement. +The Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the Agreement between ONGC Videsh Limited and PetroVietnam for exploration of new oil and gas projects in Vietnam. +Prime Minister Dung welcomed Indian oil and gas companies to explore new opportunities in midstream and downstream activities in the oil and gas sector in Vietnam. +The Prime Ministers welcomed the approval by the State Bank of Vietnam for the opening of the Bank of India branch in Vietnam. +The Prime Ministers emphasized the importance of connectivity between India and Vietnam and welcomed the code share arrangement between Jet Airways and Vietnam Airlines leading to commencement of Jet Airways flights to Ho Chi Minh City from 5 November 2014 onwards. +They expressed hope that Vietnam Airlines will also commence flight services to India shortly. +They also encouraged air carriers of both countries to further open and operate flights between Vietnam and India. +They agreed to promote maritime connectivity between the two countries and ship building cooperation. +The Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the MoU on conservation and restoration of Cham monuments at My Son by the Archaeological Survey of India. +They called for energizing tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries. +They also welcomed signing of the MoU on Nalanda University as a symbol of Buddhist heritage shared by India and Vietnam. +The Prime Ministers appreciated the convening of the 3rd Round Table of the ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks in Hanoi in August 2014. +They also agreed to continue cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and explore cooperation in the field of space, including in the launch of satellites. +The Prime Ministers valued the cooperation and coordination between both sides at regional and international fora and agreed to strengthen cooperation particularly in ASEAN, ARF, ADMM Plus, EAS, UN, NAM, ASEM and WTO, as well as other sub-regional cooperation mechanisms. +They noted that Vietnam’s assumption of the role of ASEAN Coordinator for India for the period of 2015-18 would facilitate closer cooperation between the two sides as ASEAN reaches its goal of becoming a full community by 2015. +The Prime Ministers also agreed to strengthen the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation. +Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude for Vietnam’s consistent support to India’s candidature for permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UNSC. +India also agreed to assist Viet Nam in capacity building for participation in UN peacekeeping operations. +The Prime Ministers reiterated their desire and determination to work together to maintain peace, stability, growth and prosperity in Asia and beyond. +They also welcomed the collective commitment of the concerned parties to abide by and implement the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and to work towards the adoption of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea on the basis of consensus. +They called for cooperation in ensuring security of sea-lanes, maritime safety and security, combating piracy and conducting search and rescue operations. +The following Agreements were signed in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Dung:- +He extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Vietnam at a mutually convenient date. +Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation with pleasure. +Dates for the visit will be finalized through diplomatic channels. +A list of documents signed during the State Visit of Prime Minister of Vietnam to India can be found here. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has wished the very best to the athletes representing India at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, starting from 7th September. +“The people of India will be enthusiastically cheering for our athletes representing India at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, starting 7th September. +We all wish our contingent for the Rio 2016 Paralympics the very best. +I am sure our athletes will give their best & make us proud”, the Prime Minister said. +Shri Narendra Modi had received the Honour on behalf of the former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during his recent visit to Bangladesh. +The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has has approved the strengthening of the mechanism for resolution of commercial disputes of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) inter se and also between CPSEs and other Government Departments/Organizations. +The Cabinet decision is based on recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries (CoS). +The decision will put in place an institutionalized mechanism within the Government for speedy resolution of commercial disputes of CPSEs without the matter being referred to the Courts of law. +2. At the First level (tier), such commercial disputes will be referred to a Committee comprising of Secretaries of the administrative Ministries/Departments to which the disputing CPSEs/Parties belong and Secretary-Deptt. of Legal Affairs. +The Financial Advisors (FAs) of the two concerned administrative Ministries/Departments will represent the issues related to the dispute in question before the above Committee. +In case the two disputing parties belong to the same Ministry/Department, the Committee will comprise Secretary of the administrative Ministry/Department concerned, Secretary-D/o Legal Affairs and Secretary-Department of Public Enterprises. +In such a case, the matter may be represented before the Committee by the FA and one Joint Secretary of that Ministry/Department. +Further, in case of a dispute between CPSE and State Government’s Department/Organization, the Committee will be comprised the Secretary of the Ministry/Department of the Union to which the CPSE belongs and Secretary-D/o Legal Affairs and a senior officer nominated by the Chief Secretary of the State concerned. +In such a case, the matter may be represented before the Committee by concerned Principal Secretary of the State Government’s Department/ Organization. +4. For the prompt disposal of disputes, a time schedule of 3 months at the first level has been prescribed. +Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) will issue guidelines immediately to all CPSEs through their administrative Ministries/Departments and State Governments/UTs for compliance. +The new mechanism will promote equity through mutual/collective efforts to resolve commercial disputes thereby reducing the number of litigations regarding commercial disputes in Court of Law and also avoid wastage of public money. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of a Bill for establishment of a Regional Centre for Biotechnology in Faridabad. +The objective of the Bill is to provide a legal status to the Centre so as to function independently as an autonomous body and also an Institution of National Importance for education, training and research in the areas of biotechnology. +The Centre has already been established by an executive order of the Government of India in November, 2008 after the approval by the Union Cabinet. +It is currently operational at the NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad and the enactment does not involve any financial implications at this stage. +Over 110 Officer Trainees of the 2016 batch of the Indian Police Service, today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +The National Security Advisor, Shri Ajit Doval, was present at the interaction. +This has paved the way for enhanced cooperation between the two countries in security related matters under the aegis of the India-US Homeland Security Dialogue. +Six Sub-Groups were formed under Homeland Security Dialogue covering the areas of: +1. Global Supply Chain, Transportation, Port, Border and Maritime Security, +2. Megacity Policing and Sharing of Information among Federal state and Local Partners, +3. Illicit Finance, Illegal Smuggling of Cash, Financial Fraud and Counterfeiting; +5. Capacity Building; and +6. Technology Upgradation. +Structured cooperation between the key institutions handling capacity building in India and USA is considered to be important. +Accordingly, US side has proposed for a MoC between FLETC in USA and their Indian counterpart which is the BPR&D. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of Framework of Understanding (FoU) on Cooperation in the Hydrocarbon Sector with Bangladesh. +The objective of the proposed FoU is to establish a cooperative institutional framework mechanism to facilitate and enhance India-Bangladesh bilateral cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. +The FoU promotes bilateral cooperation at the sub-regional and regional levels. +It will provide impetus to development and enable the two countries to realize their developmental aspirations, shared destiny and common vision of a peaceful and prosperous South Asia. +The proposed FoU is non-binding in nature and will be valid for five years. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated to the nation, the Deendayal Hastkala Sankul – a trade facilitation centre for handicrafts – at Varanasi. +The Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone of this Centre in November 2014. +Today, he visited the Centre, and was given an overview of the facilities developed there, before arriving on the dais for the dedication. +Shri Narendra Modi flagged off the Mahamana Express through a video link. +This train will connect Varanasi with Surat and Vadodara in Gujarat. +The Prime Minister also unveiled plaques to mark the laying of Foundation Stone and dedication of various development works in the city. +He inaugurated banking services of the Utkarsh Bank, and unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of the headquarters building of the Bank. +The Prime Minister dedicated a Jal Ambulance service, and a Jal Shav Vahan service to the people of Varanasi, through a video link. +He distributed tool-kits and solar lamps to weavers and their children. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that in one programme from one dais, projects worth over 1000 crore have been either dedicated, or their foundation stone laid. +He described the Trade Facilitation Centre as one of the biggest projects for Varanasi for a long time. +He said this Centre would help the artisans and weavers showcase their skills to the world, and facilitate a brighter future for them. +He asked the people to encourage all tourists to visit this Centre. +He said this would result in increased demand of handicrafts, and also boost the tourism potential of Varanasi, and indeed the economy of the city. +The Prime Minister said the solution to all problems is through development. +He said the Government is focused on bringing about positive change in the lives of the poor and of succeeding generations. +In this context, he praised the efforts of Utkarsh Bank. +Referring to the Jal Ambulance and Jal Shav Vahini launched today, the Prime Minister said that these represent the drive for development even through water-ways. +In the context of the Mahamana Express, the Prime Minister observed that Vadodara and Varanasi, which happen to be the two constituencies from which he contested the 2014 Parliamentary elections, are now connected via railway. +The Prime Minister said the country is progressing rapidly today, and firm decisions are being taken in the interest of the nation. +He said eastern India must match the progress of the western part of the country, and the projects being launched today would go a long way in achieving this objective. +Shri Kapil Dev, renowned cricketer and Chairperson of Khushii (Kinship for Humanitarian Social and Holistic Intervention in India), called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +He presented a cheque of Rs 51 lakhs for the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund on the behalf of Khushii to the Prime Minister. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has wished Justice VR Krishna Iyer on his 100th birthday. +“Warm birthday wishes to an icon in Indian public life, Justice VR Krishna Iyer as he turns 100. +I pray that he is blessed with good health. +Legal luminary, philosopher and intellectual, Justice Krishna Iyer is an Institution in himself, who dedicated his life to the Nation. +Justice Iyer’s life and works are an inspiration to all of us. +My interactions with him have been very enriching. +I learnt a lot from him,” the Prime Minister said in a tweet. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has welcomed Indians, who have returned from South Sudan. +Prime Minister also congratulated Raksha Mantri Shri Manohar Parrikar, Indian Air Force, Indian Railways and Air India for their role in the Operation Sankat Mochan. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, visited Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and launched various development projects. +He unveiled the plaque to mark the inauguration of Civil Terminal of Hindon Airport. +The Prime Minister also visited the Shaheed Sthal (New Bus Adda) Metro Station in Ghaziabad and flagged off the metro rail from Shaheed Sthal Station to Dilshad Garden. +He also took a ride in the metro. +In this context, he mentioned about increased road and metro connectivity in Ghaziabad,its 13th rank in Swachh Survekshan rankings and its stature as a business hub of Uttar Pradesh. +The Prime Minister, said that with the new Civil Terminal in Hindon Airport, people of Ghaziabad can take air travel to other cities from Ghaziabad itself, instead of going to Delhi. +He said that fast pace at which the civil terminal was built, shows the determination and work ethic of the Union Government. +He added that the new section of metro from Shaheed Sthal will reduce the suffering of travellers plying between Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. +Built at a cost of Rs.30000 crore, the Delhi-Meerut RRTS system is the first of such transport system in India, PM said. +Once completed, it will reduce the travel time between Delhi and Meerutconsiderably. +He said that themodern infrastructure being built in Ghaziabad, will ensure Ease of Living for the people in the city and nearby areas. +He added that more than two crore farmers have received their first instalment under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Maritime issues between India and Denmark. +The MoU is proposed to be signed during the upcoming visit of the WIP from Denmark to India in January, 2019. +Signing of the MoU will pave way for both countries for exploration of areas for bilateral collaboration: +Denmark is one of the important trading partners with India. +Major Danish exports to India include medicinal/ pharmaceutical goods, power generation machinery; industrial machinery, metal ores, organic chemicals, etc. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of aMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Renewable Energy between India and Fiji. +The MoU was signed on 24th May, 201 7at Suva, Fiji. +Both sides aim to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable issues on the basis of mutual benefit equality and reciprocity. +The MoU envisages establishing a Joint Working Committee to review, monitor and discuss matters relation to areas of cooperation. +It provides for exchange of expertise and networking of information. +The Memorandum of Understanding will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. +I am delighted to be in Brazil for the sixth BRICS Summit. +This is my first Summit and I look forward to benefiting from your wisdom. +I convey my profound gratitude to our gracious host, President Dilma Rousseff, the people, and the Government of Brazil. +Madam, I congratulate you for successfully hosting the Football World Cup. +Truly, the ‘beautiful game’ brings the world together. +I thank President Zuma for his leadership during South Africa’s Chairmanship of BRICS. +We have made significant progress. +Your Excellencies, the first BRICS Summit took place in the middle of a global economic crisis. +BRICS was aray of hope. +It supplemented existing international institutions with newer ideas and mechanisms. +It provided an additional avenue of working for global economic recovery and stability. +It was a new voice in the cause of global peace and development. +I am happy that we are living upto that promise. +However, the challenges of economic weakness, and political turmoil are still with us. +The need to address them is urgent. +The choices we make now will shape the future of not just our countries, but the World at large. +This is a great responsibility we bear. +I thus, commend Brazil for the theme of this Summit – Inclusive Growth: Sustainable Solutions. +It captures our responsibility to humanity, and our obligation to future generations. +I am confident that this Summit will be a landmark in this mission. +I extend our best wishes to Brazil as it assumes the BRICS Chair. +India offers its full support in taking the BRICS agenda forward for the benefit of our countries, and the world at large. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today participated in the Swachhata Hi Seva movement by performing Shramdaan at a school in Delhi. +Shortly after launching the movement through a video conference interaction with a cross-section of people from 17 locations across the country, the Prime Minister travelled to the Babasaheb Ambedkar Higher Secondary School, at Rani Jhansi Road in central Delhi. +He offered floral tributes to a statue of Babasahed Ambedkar, and participated in the cleanliness drive. +He also interacted with young students at the school, and exhorted them towards the cause of Swachhata. +The Prime Minister travelled to, and from the school, in normal traffic, and without customary protocol. +No special traffic arrangements were made for his visit. +This school campus had been bought by Dr. Ambedkar himself in 1946, with an aim to advance the educational, social and economic well-being of Scheduled Castes. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today commended the people of Uri and announced the fulfilment of a request made by them with immediate effect. +Praising the people for this request, Shri Modi said a nation where people place emphasis on education has a bright future. +He announced that the Kendriya Vidyalaya would start enrolling students from Class 11, this month itself. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded the budget as the budget for New India which will energise the nation. +PM said, the development initiatives of the NDA government have touched several lives which have been reflected in the budget proposals from farmer welfare to middle class, from income tax relief to infrastructure, from manufacturing to MSME, from housing to healthcare and from the increased pace of development to the New India, +He expressed happiness that it is good to see more people being removed from the shackles of poverty. +Our Neo-middle class is rising and so are their dreams. +PM congratulated the middle class for the relief in taxes and said, I salute the middle class for their stellar contribution towards the development of the nation. +About the pro-farmer initiatives in the budget, he lamented that for years, many initiatives have been initiated for farmers but sadly, lot of farmers never came under the ambit of these schemes. +He said that PM Kisan Nidhi is a historic step for farmer welfare which will help the farmers who have under 5 acres of land. +PM added that the animal husbandry sector, fisheries have been taken care of in the Budget for New India. +Underlining the importance of safeguarding the interests of the unorganised sector, he said PM Shram Yogi Man Dhan Yojana will be of great help. +This sector needed more safeguarding of their interests and the Budget for New India has done so. +Ayushman Bharat Yojana and social security schemes are also going to touch their lives, PM added. +PM summed it up saying that it is essential to ensure the benefits of development reach all sections of society. +He said,” The budget will empower the poor, give a boost to the farmer and an impetus to the economic growth.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the Ease of Doing Business Grand Challenge at an event in Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. +The objective of this challenge is to invite innovative ideas based on Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Big Data Analytics, Blockchain and other cutting edge technology to reform Government processes. +The platform for the Grand Challenge is the Startup India Portal. +Addressing the gathering on this occasion, the Prime Minister complimented industry representatives and all others present, for their efforts in improving India’s ranking in “Ease of Doing Business (EoDB).” +He recalled that when he had first articulated his vision for India to break into the Top 50 in EoDB rankings in the years to come, it was greeted with skepticism. +He added, however, that a great improvement is now visible in just four years. +He said the EoDB rank has improved by 65 spots in this period. +He said India now ranks first in South Asia, and is just some steps away from the Top 50 target. +He said that the Union and State Governments have both worked together towards improving EoDB, in the spirit of cooperative, competitive federalism. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government has laid stress on Policy Driven Governance and Predictable Transparent Policies. +He said that the reforms being undertaken by the Union Government are also aimed at improving ease of living for the common people. +He said, today small entrepreneurs can do business more easily, and simple things like getting an electricity connection have got easier. +He said that in the last four years, more than 1400 archaic laws have been repealed. +He said dramatic reductions have been achieved in areas such as time taken for resolution of commercial disputes, and time taken for clearing imported goods. +He listed a number of other areas, where great improvements have been made. +He mentioned the efforts made for the MSME sector, such as approval for loans upto Rs 1 crore in 59 minutes. +The Prime Minister said that organizations such as IMF and Moody’s, today appear confident and optimistic about India’s future. +The Prime Minister said that the aim is to make India a 5 trillion dollar economy in the shortest possible time. +He said that for this, improvement is necessary in every sector of the economy. +He said that the Union Government is also working towards an industrial policy which will be more reflective of current realities, and will be in accordance with the new vision of the entrepreneurs of New India. +He exhorted the gathering to work towards achieving the target of a Top 50 position in EoDB rankings. +The Prime Minister said that it is necessary to reduce human intervention in processes, and increase the use of modern and digital technologies. +He said that a work culture based on this, will further promote policy driven governance. +The essential features of the new Air Services Agreement are as follows: +(i) The open sky has been formalized with Serbia as per National Civil Aviation Policy. +Apart from this through routing flexibility any intermediate and beyond point can also be served by the designated carriers of both sides. +(iii) The designated Airline of each party can enter into cooperative marketing arrangements with the designated carriers of same party, other party and third country. +(iv) It will not only provide direct connectivity but also connectivity through 3rd country carriers, which may also be viable for Indian carriers. +(v) Both countries shall be entitled to designate one or more airline. +In earlier arrangement only maximum of two airlines of could be designated by each side. +It will provide enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the carriers of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security. +As of now there is no connectivity between the two nations and the revised agreement may lead to establishing connectivity between the two countries. +It also approved closure of HMT Tractor Division by offering attractive VRS / VSS at 2007 notional pay scales. +It will have a financial implication (cash outgo) of Rs. 718.72 crore for payment of outstanding salary, wages and statutory dues, VRS/VSS ex-gratia payments and clearing of Tractor Division’s liabilities towards Bank, creditors etc. +The Cabinet has also given its approval for transfer of selected small parcels of HMT land at Banglore and Kochi to different Government entities for their use in larger public interest. +HMT played a key role in laying the foundation for evolution of engineering and manufacturing capabilities in the country. +HMT Tractor Division was established in Pinjore, Haryana in 1971 to manufacture HMT Tractors. +Performance of the company started to decline in the ’90s, in the post liberalisation economic environment with rising costs, stiff competition from international players and availability of imported goods at cheaper rates. +Several efforts were made in past to arrest the declining trend but it could not succeed to turn around. +HMTL’s profit making tractor business was affected due to poor off-take, under-utilisation of capacity and working capital constraints, etc. +The Tractor Division has been incurring losses continuously and is unable to pay the salaries and other statutory dues of its employees. +The statutory dues (Terminal benefits, PF, Gratuity, Leave encashment etc.) are also pending for the employees of other Divisions of HMTL [Corporate Head Office(CHO), Common Service Division(CSD) and Food Processing Machinery unit, Aurangabad (FPA)]. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit his Parliamentary Constituency of Varanasi, on the 22nd and 23rd of September. +The Prime Minister’s engagements in this period will cover aspects as diverse as infrastructure, railways, textiles, financial inclusion, environment and sanitation, animal husbandry, culture and spirituality. +The Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation, the Deendayal Hastkala Sankul – a trade facilitation centre for handicrafts – at Bada Lalpur. +He will briefly visit the facilities at the Sankul. +Shri Narendra Modi will flag off the Mahamana Express through a video link. +This train will connect Varanasi with Surat and Vadodara in Gujarat. +At the same venue, the Prime Minister will also unveil plaques to mark the laying of Foundation Stone for dedication of various development works in the city. +The Prime Minister will inaugurate banking services of the Utkarsh Bank, and will also unveil a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of the headquarters building of the Bank. +The Utkarsh Bank specializes in micro-finance. +The Prime Minister will also dedicate a Jal Ambulance service, and a Jal Shav Vahan service to the people of Varanasi, through a video link. +On the evening of 22nd September, the Prime Minister will visit the historic Tulsi Manas Temple in Varanasi. +He will release a postal stamp on “Ramayana.” +He will later visit the Durga Mata Temple in the city. +On the 23rd of September, the Prime Minister will briefly participate in a sanitation related activity in the village of Shahanshahpur. +He will then visit a Pashudhan Arogya Mela. +The Prime Minister will distribute certificates to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural & Urban), and will address the gathering. +Honoured that Mr. Xi Jinping invited me to Xi’an in his home province & a land associated with Xuan Zang, who visited India. +Democracy and Buddhism bind India with Mongolia – our spiritual friend. +Looking forward to more trade and investment with your gifted country. +Hello to my friends in the Republic of Korea. +I will be visiting this beautiful land of the morning calm once again, on 18th & 19th May. +We are committed to maximising engagement with the Asia Pacific Region. +India-Korea ties will be given a new energy and priority. +Korea will always be a special partner in our development journey. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called for stepping up economic engagement between India and Kazakhstan in a big way. +Addressing a business roundtable attended by members of the business community from both India and Kazakhstan, the Prime Minister praised the huge strides made by Kazakhstan in economic progress over the last decade. +Noting that Kazakhstan has been blessed with vast natural resources, the Prime Minister emphasized that India has huge demand for these resources, and therefore, both countries have a great potential for partnership. +The Prime Minister called for enhanced investment from Kazakh companies in India, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, smart cities, housing, and railways. +He said Kazakhstan could benefit from partnerships with Indian companies, which will bring in modern technology, engineering skills and cost effective mechanisms. +He said Kazakhstan could also benefit from India’s strength in the Information Technology sector. +Shri Narendra Modi, and the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr. Karim Massimov, also witnessed the commencement of drilling at the Satpayev Exploration Block, where ONGC Videsh Ltd has a significant stake. +Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Greece. +The Agreement has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries bringing it in tune with the developments in the civil aviation sector. +It will provide enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the carriers of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security. +The essential features of the ASA are as follows: +i. Both countries shall be entitled to designate one or more airline. +ii. The designated airlines of either country shall have the right to establish offices in the territory of the other country for the promotion end sale of air services. +iii. The designated airlines of the two countries shall have fair and equal opportunity to operate the agreed services on specified routes. +iv. The designated Airline of each party can enter into cooperative marketing arrangements with the designated carriers of same party, other party and third country, +v. As per the Route Schedule, the Indian carriers can operate to Athens, Thessaloniki, HerakIion and any 3 points to be specified later in Greece from points in India, whereas the carriers of Hellenic Republic can establish direct operation to 6 metros viz. +New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennal. +Any points shall be available as intermediate and beyond point for the designated carriers of India as well as the designated carriers of Greece. +At present there is no ASA between India and Greece. +The delegations of two sides met in New Delhi on 6-7th September, 2016 and finalized the text of ASA. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the scientists and science lovers, on National Science Day. +The Prime Minister also remembered Sir CV Raman, for his contribution to the world of science. +“Greetings to scientists and science lovers on National Science Day. +May the spirit of research and innovation grow further in our country. +We remember with immense pride the rich and everlasting contribution of Sir CV Raman to science. +He is a great inspiration for young minds”, the Prime Minister said. +The fortnight long process of auctioning of mementoes received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his term so far in office, came to a close on Saturday evening. +The process of auctioning received a tremendous response from the people of India. +The process consisted of two parts – a physical auction organized at the National Gallery of Modern Art for two days, and an e-auction through the website pmmementos.gov.in +Over 1800 mementoes were successfully auctioned to the highest bidder during this period. +The proceeds from this auction will go towards supporting the noble cause of Namami Gange. +Some highlights of the auction +During the auction organized at NGMA, a specially handcrafted wooden bike, received a successful bid of Rs. 5 lakhs. +• A wooden replica of the Ashok Stambh, which had a base price of Rs. 4000/- was auctioned for Rs. 13 lakh. +• A memento entitled “Divinity” received from SGPC, Amritsar, which had a base price of Rs. 10,000/- was auctioned for Rs. 10.1 lakh. +• A statuette of Gautam Buddha, which had a base price of Rs. 4000/- was auctioned for Rs. 7 lakh. +Many other mementoes fetched an auction value that is several times their base price. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Certified Professional Accountants Afghanistan (CPA Afghanistan). +The MoU will establish mutual co-operation framework in the areas of Capacity Building of “Afghanistan Accountancy Board (AAB)”, strengthening the IT Capacity and Quality Assurance in Afghanistan through facilitating Knowledge Transfer; Students and Members Exchange Programs; Conduct of Seminars, Conferences and Joint Activities mutually beneficial to both the parties. +1. Students and members exchange programs from their respective jurisdictions so as to update them on the emerging developments in the areas of accounting profession either in the form of study tours or as may be mutually decided by both the Institutions; +2. Providing updates on the development of the accountancy profession in India, and promote international good professional practices; +3. Strengthening the quality assurance setup in Afghanistan through facilitating knowledge transfer to help implement regime of necessary quality controls and periodic reviews in Afghanistan. +India and Afghanistan share a very strong partnership based on historical and cultural links. +In the recent past, the partnership between the two countries has touched new heights when India’s Afghanistan policy shifted to a more confident and multi-dimensional approach by opening Investment in Afghanistan’s nascent democracy and economy; strengthening Kabul’s defence capability and promoting regional connectivity and integration. +Afghanistan will help India and ICAI to facilitate indirect employment generation for Indian CAs through recognition and acceptability amongst Afghanistan employers. +It is also believed that the relationship developed between the two countries over the past few years is strategic in nature and is of mutual benefit. +The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India, ‘The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949’, to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. +CPA Afghanistan is an independent regulator of accountancy profession in Afghanistan, which operates under the supervision of Ministry of Finance, Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted Freedom Fighter Bagha Jatin, on the centenary of his martyrdom. +“I salute Bagha Jatin on the centenary of his martyrdom. +His courage and sacrifice for our Motherland will always be remembered”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the proposal for Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I Project from Washermanpet to Wimconagar. +It covers a length of 9.051 km. at a total cost of Rs. 3770 crore. +This extension will provide improved access to public transport for dense population comprising predominantly industrial workers to move towards the central business district of the city for work. +In the total project cost, Government of India’s (Gol) share will be Rs. 713 crore and Government of Tamilnadu’s (GoTN) share will be Rs. 916 crore. +The share of GoTN included cost of Land and R&R of Rs. 203 crore. +The balance amount of Rs. 2141 crore will be met from loan from multilateral/bilateral/domestic funding agency. +The estimated ridership will be 1.6 lakh passengers per day in first year of operation. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the transfer of administrative control of Hemisphere Properties India Ltd. +(HPIL), PSU from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) after infusion of equity amounting to Rs. 700 crore and Rs. 51 cr. secured GOI Loan into the Company and implementation of scheme of arrangement for de-merger of surplus land. +b) Granting an exemption to HPIL from the policy of Government of India relating to Foreign Direct Investment in real estate business. +c) Delegation of power to HPIL to take appropriate decision to give effect to object clause of its MOA including sale, long term lease and disposal of land +d) Transfer of equity stake and management control of HPIL from Department of Telecommunications under Ministry of Communications to Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). +e) Authorizing Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to undertake all steps incidental for transfer of equity stake in HPIL from Ministry of Communications to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) infusion of equity and implementation of Scheme of Arrangement. +It would facilitate demerger of surplus land from Tata Communications Limited to Hemisphere Properties India Limited (HPIL) and further smooth functioning of HPIL. +Implementation Strategy and Targets: +After due approval of this proposal by the Cabinet, surplus land would be transferred from TCL to HPIL on payment of Stamp Duty. +As intimated by the TCL, approximately seven to eight months would be required for the approval of Scheme of Arrangement by National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). +After its approval by NCLT, approximately four to five months would be required to implement various steps involved. +Overall, approximately one year would be required to implement the decision. +At the time of disinvestment, surplus land measuring 773.13 acres located at five locations in 4 cities, namely, Pune, Kolkata, New Delhi and Chennai (out of a total of 1230.13 acres of land) was demarcated and decided that the surplus land will not be part of the disinvestment bid. +As per the Share Holding Agreement / Share Purchase Agreement, PFL undertook an obligation to de-merge or hive off the surplus land into a realty company under Sections 391 to 394 of the Companies Act, 1956. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remembered Acharya Kripalani, on his birth anniversary. +“Remembering Acharya Kripalani, an inspiring personality who worked for the well-being of the poor and marginalised, on his birth anniversary”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will join Israel Prime Minister, Shri Benjamin Netanyahu, and Mrs. Sara Netanyahu, on a visit to Gujarat tomorrow. +They will pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram. +Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Netanyahu will inaugurate the iCreate Center at Deo Dholera Village in Ahmedabad. +They will visit a Startup Exhibition and interact with innovators and Startup CEOs. +The two Prime Ministers will dedicate a mobile water desalination van to Suigam Taluka, of Banaskantha district, through a video link. +Both leaders will also address the gathering. +Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister Modi will also visit the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables at Vadrad in Banaskantha district. +They will be briefed on work plan of the Centre. +They will inaugurate the Centre of Excellence for Date Palms at Kukama, Bhuj District, through a video link. +The two Prime Ministers will also interact with farmers. +Prime Minister Netanyahu will later depart for Mumbai. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of South Africa, on their Freedom Day. +“Greetings to my sisters and brothers of South Africa on Freedom Day. +This is a day that celebrates hope and optimism. +On Freedom Day we remember the beloved Madiba, an inspiration and a harbinger of change who strived to bring a better tomorrow for his people”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Norway on India-Norway Ocean Dialogue. +The MoU will promote cooperation in the areas of mutual interest pertaining to the development of blue economy. +The proposed MoU will contribute to create opportunities for collaboration in areas such as exploitation of hydrocarbons and other marine resources, as well as management of ports and tourism development for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders within the framework of the Joint Task Force (JTF). +It will contribute to the objective of Food Security through infusion of new technologies in fisheries and aquaculture. +It will further offer a platform for businesses in both countries to execute profitable ventures. +Scientists and researchers may collaborate on studying ocean ecosystem also in the context of the Arctic region. +Situated in Thrissur district, the Cheraman Juma Masjid is believed to be the first mosque built in India by Arab traders around 629 AD, and symbolic of active trade relations between India and Saudi Arabia since ancient times. +According to oral tradition, Cheraman Perumal was the Chera King and a contemporary of the Holy Prophet who went to Arabia and embraced Islam after meeting the Holy Prophet at Mecca. +Some years later, he sent letters to his relatives and the ruling chieftains of Malabar through his friends Malik bin Dinar and Malik bin Habib who, along with their companions, were then given permission by the local rulers to build the mosque at Kodungallur. +The mosque has an ancient oil lamp that is always kept burning and believed to be over a thousand years old. +People from all religions bring oil for the lamp as an offering. +U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The two visiting Secretaries briefed Prime Minister on the 2nd India-U.S. Strategic & Commercial Dialogue that concluded yesterday in New Delhi. +They discussed progress in bilateral engagement since Prime Minister’s visit to U.S. in June 2016. +Secretary Kerry also shared U.S. perspective on developments in the region and beyond with Prime Minister. +Prime Minister conveyed satisfaction at the expanded and strengthened strategic partnership between India and the United States over the past two years that has opened up new vistas for collaboration. +He conveyed that he looked forward to rapid progress and successful completion of the decisions taken with President Obama at the recent Summit Meeting in June. +Prime Minister conveyed that he looked forward to meeting President Obama at the G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the transfer of 34.87 Ha land in Sector 24, Dwarka, New Delhi from Delhi Development Authority to Land and Development Office (L&DO) for the purpose of the Second Diplomatic Enclave. +Currently, there is one Diplomatic Enclave in Chanakyapuri, where land has been allotted to the Embassies by L&DO. +MEA has expressed need for more land for allotment to Diplomatic Missions/ International Organizations for building their Chanceries/ Embassies in Delhi. +For this DDA has earmarked 34.87 Ha land in Sector 24, Dwarka, which will be transferred to L&DO. +This will provide land for Second Diplomatic Enclave in the capital. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Indian Community in Brussels. +He described the Indian Community as the “Lokdoot” of India. +The Prime Minister recalled the horrendous terror attack in Brussels last week, and offered condolences to the families of the victims. +He described terrorism as a challenge to humanity. +He said the need of the hour is for all humanitarian forces to join hands to fight it. +He recalled the Global Sufi Conference in New Delhi recently, where liberal Islamic scholars had denounced terrorism. +He said this approach was essential to stop radicalization. +The right atmosphere had to be created to end terror, he added. +The Prime Minister regretted that the United Nations had not been able to come up with a structured response to terrorism. +He said the UN has not been able to fulfill its responsibility in this regard, and had not come up with a suitable resolution. +He warned that institutions which do not evolve appropriate responses to emerging situations, risked irrelevance. +The Prime Minister also mentioned that the whole world which is passing through an economic crisis, had recognized India as a ray of hope. +He said India has become the fastest growing large economy in the world, and this is not because of good fortune. +He said this has happened despite two successive drought years. +He said that this is the result of good intentions and sound policies. +Talking about 2015, the Prime Minister said he wished to give an account of the work done by the Government. +He mentioned ethanol blending of petrol, and ending urea shortages through enhanced production, and neem coating. +He said poor had been provided LPG connections in large numbers. +He said this was largely due to the give-it-up campaign for the well-off to surrender their LPG subsidy, and 90 lakh people had done so. +He also mentioned Union Budget commitments in this regard. +He said that maximum production of power and coal also happened in 2015. +He said that investment in Railways has been enhanced substantially, because he believes that the Railways can be the spine of the Indian economy. +He said car production and software exports had also reached maximum numbers in 2015. +He said 21 crore new bank accounts have been opened, as part of the financial inclusion drive. +The Prime Minister explained how the concept of “Jandhan Aadhar Mobile” (JAM) had helped reduce corruption and leakages in LPG subsidy. +He said over 18,000 villages had remained unelectrified after nearly seven decades of Independence, and he had promised to have them electrified within 1000 days. +He expressed satisfaction that over 7000 such villages had been electrified till now. +He also mentioned pick up in the pace of road construction. +He said the whole world was surprised when he had declared a target of 175 GigaWatts of renewable energy, but the country was now on track to achieve it. +He said the commitment to deliver One Rank, One Pension for the Armed Forces had also been fulfilled. +The Prime Minister said the Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh was an example of how contentious issues could be resolved peacefully. +He mentioned the Narendra Modi App, and suggestions he had received on India-Belgium relations. +The Prime Minister also mentioned recent decisions taken for the benefit of NRIs. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has approved the revision in the wage structure and allowances of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) of the Department of Posts. +The revision in the wage structure would entail an estimated expenditure of Rs 1257.75 crore (Non-recurring expenditure – Rs 860.95 crore and Recurring expenditure of Rs.396.80 crore) during 2018-19. +3.07 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks will be benefitted by this wage revision. +1. Time Related Continuity allowance (TRCA) structure and slabs have been rationalised. +During and after the presentation, several members of the audience, including the Prime Minister and Union Ministers asked questions related to the theme of the presentation, and gave their suggestions. +“Strongly condemn the terror attack in Kabul and condole loss of innocent lives. +India stands with Afghanistan in its fight against terrorism”, the Prime Minsiter said. +PM receives the Foreign Minister of UAE, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan +Prime Minister expressed deep appreciated for the vision of the UAE’s leadership in transforming the country by harnessing the possibilities of human spirit, innovation and science. +He appreciated the vibrant and multicultural society in UAE that has also embraced and protected interest of 2.6 million Indians in the country. +Prime Minister said the visit of the Foreign Minister of UAE in follow up to his own visit a couple of weeks back reflected the new found vibrancy in the relationship. +He expressed deep satisfaction that concrete steps were being taken to implement the decisions taken during his visit. +The Foreign Minister of UAE conveyed that they attached highest importance to comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. +He reiterated UAE’s commitment to expeditiously implement the substantive outcomes emerging from the Prime Minister’s visit to UAE in August 2015 in a broad range of areas, including trade and investment, defence, security, energy, space, renewable energy, science and technology, tourism and people to people contacts. +Opportunities of bilateral cooperation, including joint research and development in the frontier areas of science and technology; UAE investments in setting up manufacturing industry in India and strengthening cooperation in third countries were, inter alia, discussed. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi reiterated his invitation to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to visit India at his earliest convenience. +Co-chair and Trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates, called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The discussion centered around clean energy initiatives, financial inclusion, sanitation, health and nutrition. +Mr. Bill Gates was appreciative of the work done in India in the field of renewable energy and emphasized to the need to lower the cost of clean energy to the level of hydrocarbons. +Mr. Gates said that there has been enormous progress on financial inclusion and offered support to strengthen the efforts in this direction. +The issue of leveraging existing postal infrastructure to create Hybrid Payment Banks across the country was also discussed. +On the issue of health, Mr. Gates appreciated the work done, particularly the introduction of new vaccines. +The Swachh Bharat campaign and the Government’s efforts to improve sanitation were discussed at length. +We look forward to working with you closely to take India-US bilateral ties to a new height”, the Prime Minister said. +Text of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Belgium, USA and Saudi Arabia today: +“On 30th March, I will be in Brussels to meet with the Belgian Prime Minister Mr. Charles Michel. +I would also be holding the 13th India-EU Summit with the E.U. leadership. +No words are enough to salute the resilience and spirit of the people of Belgium. +We stand shoulder to shoulder with them in the wake of the horrific attacks in Brussels and share the grief of those who lost their loved ones. +Our relations with Belgium are deep rooted and have stood the test of time. +Within the E.U., Belgium is India’s 2nd largest trading partner. +My meeting with the Prime Minister aims to expand trade, investment and high technology partnership with this important E.U. member. +Along with Prime Minister Charles Michel, I would remote activate the India-Belgium ARIES (Aryabhatta Research Institute for Observational Sciences) Telescope. +The European Union is a vital trading partner and the biggest export destination for India. +This Summit will advance our multifaceted engagement across a whole range of domains. +In Brussels, I would also be meeting with the Members of European Parliament (MEPs), Indologists, Belgian CEOs as well as a wide cross section of the Indian diaspora in Belgium. +I would also interact with the Board Members of the Association of Diamond Traders in Belgium. +The same evening, I will address a Community Programme and interact with the Indian community. +After Belgium, I will be in Washington DC on 31st March to participate in the 4th Nuclear Security Summit, where several Nations and global organisations would be represented. +The Summit would deliberate on the crucial issue of threat to nuclear security caused by nuclear terrorism. +Leaders would discuss ways and measure through which to strengthen the global nuclear security architecture, especially to ensure that non-state actors do not get access to nuclear material. +On the sidelines of the Summit, I would meet with several world leaders to carry forward the agenda of bilateral cooperation with those Nations. +I also look forward to my interaction with the scientists associated with LIGO project. +On 2nd and 3rd April, at the invitation of H.M. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, I will be visiting Saudi Arabia. +India’s ties with Saudi Arabia are special. +Robust people-to-people ties constitute a key component of our engagement. +I plan to work with the Saudi leadership to expand and deepen our bilateral relations. +Discussions on the regional situation would also be on the agenda. +Our economic ties are also expanding. +Saudi Arabia is India’s 4th largest trading partner, and is also India’s largest crude oil supplier. +In addition to meeting with H.M. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, I also look forward to my discussions with other important members of the Royal family. +We want the prominent Saudi businesses to partner with India’s development priorities. +That would be one of the key objectives of the business event planned in Riyadh. +I will visit the Masmak Fortress, ‘L&T Workers’ Residential Complex and TCS All Women IT & ITES Center in Riyadh.” +The global economic growth remains weak, with slowdown in several major economies, volatile financial markets and competitive devaluation of currencies. +I congratulate the Turkish Presidency for coordinating efforts on Growth and Investment strategies and Employment Plans. +We must all now implement our commitments. +To stimulate growth, we need to enhance public investments, not just rely on monetary policy. +G20’s continued call to Central Banks for careful communication on monetary policy actions will be helpful in keeping financial and currency markets stable. +Multilateral Development Banks should enlarge their capital base to support infrastructure needs of the developing countries. +New institutions such as the New Development Bank are welcome additional sources of financing. +There is global consensus on the need to address climate change. +However, multilateral institutions should not impose such difficult safeguards and conditions on loans that they become barriers to development in many countries and undermine sustainable development. +G20 efforts must be aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, adopted this year, particularly with the number one goal of elimination of all poverty by 2030. +We welcome the G20 focus on employment of women and, on youth this year. +Stable long term global economic growth requires not just capital flows, but also efforts to facilitate labour mobility and skill portability. +We have reduced inflation and current account and fiscal deficits. +Our programmes of inclusive development, including Financial Inclusion, universal access to basic needs by target year, Make in India, Skill India, Digital India, Industrial Corridors and Smart Cities will boost growth and, employment in India. +This will be a source of strength for the global economy. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, interacted informally this evening with Trade Ministers from Africa. +Welcome friends, +All of us are back together once again after the recess during the Budget Session of the Parliament. +There will be detailed discussion on the Budget and I am sure the level of debate and discussion will be of good quality. +It will be focused on the issues pertaining to the welfare of the poor. +All the political parties have also been extremely positive and cooperative in their response. +We have been able to move forward in this direction after arriving at a consensus on certain decisions subsequent to detailed discussion on this issue in a democratic manner. +The efforts are on to enlist the co-operation of all to ensure that GST is in place by this session. +I am extremely thankful to all of you once again. +Boost to healthcare infrastructure +In a major boost to the expansion of healthcare infrastructure in the country, the Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) beyond 12thFive Year Plan to 2019-20. +The financial outlay for this purpose is Rs 14,832 crore. +Under this scheme, new AIIMS are established and Government medical colleges are upgraded. +The PMSSY, a Central Sector Scheme, aims at correcting the imbalances in the availability of affordable tertiary healthcare facilities in different parts of the country in general, and augmenting facilities for quality medical education in the under-served States in particular. +Setting up of new AIIMS would not only transform health education and training but also address the shortfall of health care professionals in the region. +Construction of new AIIMS is fully funded by the Central Government. +The Operations & Maintenance expenses on new AIIMS are also fully borne by the Central Government. +Upgradation programme broadly envisages improving health infrastructure through construction of Super Specialty Blocks/Trauma Centers etc. and procurement of medical equipment for existing as well as new facilities on Central and State share basis. +Setting up new AIIMS in various states will lead to employment generation for nearly 3000 people in various faculty & non-faculty posts in each of the AIIMS. +Further, indirect employment generation will take place due to facilities & services like shopping centre, canteens, etc. coming in the vicinity of new AIIMS. +The upgradation programme is carried out in selected Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) by agencies appointed by the Government of India under the direct supervision of the Central Government. +Post-Graduate seats and additional faculty posts as per norms will be created and filled up in these GMCs by the respective State/UT Governments. +The construction activity involved for creation of the physical infrastructure for the various new AIIMS and Government Medical Colleges’ upgradation projects being undertaken under the scheme is also expected to generate substantial employment in the construction phase as well. +PMSSY has two components – +Setting up of AIIMS-like institutions; and +Up-gradation of existing State Government Medical College (GMCs). +Projects under PMSSY: +Various projects taken up under different Phases of PMSSY are as: +This is in line with the Start up India Action Plan unveiled by Government in January 2016. +An amount of Rs.500 crore has already been provided to the corpus of FFS in 2015-16 and Rs.600 crore earmarked in the 2016-17. +The Fund is expected to generate employment for 18 lakh persons on full deployment. +The FFS emanates from the Start up India Action Plan, an initiative of Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP). +The expertise of SIDBI would be utilized to manage the day to day operations of the FFS. +The monitoring and review of performance would be linked to the implementation of the Start Up Action Plan to enable execution as per timelines and milestones. +A corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore could potentially be the nucleus for catalyzing Rs. 60,000 crore of equity investment and twice as much debt investment. +This would provide a stable and predictable source of funding for Start up enterprises and thereby facilitate large scale job creation. +Accelerating innovation driven entrepreneurship and business creation through Start-ups is crucial for large-scale employment generation. +An expert committee on Venture Capital (VC) has opined that “India has the potential to build about 2500 highly scalable businesses in the next 10 years, and given the probability of entrepreneurial success that means 10000 Start ups will need to be spawned to get 2500 large scale businesses”. +A large majority of the successful Start-ups have been funded by foreign venture funds and many of them are locating outside the country to receive such funding. +A dedicated fund for carrying out Fund of Funds operations would address these issues and enable flow of assistance to innovative Start ups through their journey to becoming full fledged business entities. +This would encompass support at seed stage, early stage and growth stage. +Government contribution to the target corpus of the individual Fund as an investor would encourage greater participation of private capital and thus help leverage mobilization of larger resources. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, was greeted by an enthusiastic group of people today, as he unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Bishkek. +Speaking on the occasion, he remarked that this was his first visit to Central Asia, and a statue of Mahatma Gandhi had been unveiled in two countries, during this visit. +The Prime Minister described Mahatma Gandhi as a “vishv maanav” – one who was not bound by man-made borders. +He said Bapu was a torchbearer not only for his generation but for the future generations as well. +He said the world currently faces two major challenges, terrorism and climate change, and said the solution to both could be found in the life and thought of Mahatma Gandhi. +The Prime Minister congratulated the people and leaders of Kyrgyzstan for adopting the democratic form of Government. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the loss of lives due to the collapse ofan under-construction flyover in Varanasi. +“Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to the collapse of an under-construction flyover in Varanasi. +I pray that the injured recover soon. +Spoke to officials and asked them to ensure all possible support to those affected. +I spoke to UP CM Yogi Adityanath Ji regarding the situation due to the collapse of an under-construction flyover in Varanasi. +The UP Government is monitoring the situation very closely and is working on the ground to assist the affected”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has extended his greetings on the occasion of Navroz. +PM said, ” Navroz Mubarak to the Parsi community! +May the coming year further the spirit of happiness and harmony. +I pray that everyone’s dreams and aspirations are fulfilled.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said Lord Buddha’s timeless message of love and compassion could help rid the world of the problems of war and violence. +The Prime Minister said that the gathering today, is conscious of the suffering that the recent earthquake has caused in Nepal – the land of Buddha’s birth. +But he added that this is also an opportunity for everyone to follow Lord Buddha’s message of “karuna” (compassion), and to wipe the tears of those suffering in Nepal. +The Prime Minister said that Lord Buddha was conscious towards both individual emancipation and social reform. +He said that the importance given to the “Sangh” highlights how Lord Buddha sensed the importance of uniting people towards a noble cause. +He said Lord Buddha’s teaching of “Atta Deepo Bhavah” – “Be your own light” – was one of the greatest management lessons ever, contained in just three words. +He said that the profound spiritual consciousness that pervaded these temples, must be forged into a powerful force for good in the world. +The Union Minister of State (I/C) for Culture Shri Mahesh Sharma, the Union Minister of State for Home, Shri Kiren Rijiju, and the Ven. +Lama Lobzang, Secretary General, International Buddhist Confederation, were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated to the nation, Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited, a petrochemical complex, at Lepetkata, near Dibrugarh. +He also dedicated to the nation, the wax plant of Numaligarh Refineries Limited. +He said that with the dedication of these projects to the nation, there was joy (Anand) across the country and all-round joy (Sarbanand) in Assam. +Highlighting the importance of completing projects in time, the Prime Minister said this would ensure employment generation, and avoid massive cost overruns. +He said rapid industrial development of the country is necessary to create employment for India’s youth. +The Prime Minister reiterated that eastern India must develop, for the all-round development of India. +In this context, he said the Union Government is paying special attention to the North-Eastern region by boosting infrastructure and connectivity. +The Prime Minister said that the initiatives of the Union Government, including MUDRA and Start-up India, were aimed at creating fresh opportunities for the youth. +He said employment opportunities have to be created not just in big cities but in smaller towns too. +My dear fellow citizens! +In this, I seek your blessings and continued support. +Always in your Service. +While expressing apprehensions about the trend of increased radicalisation and emerging threat of terrorism, the leaders underlined the need for greater unity and collective efforts to meet the challenge. +The leaders brought to the notice of Shri Narendra Modi, issues relating to properties of Muslim shrines, Masjids and Madrassas. +They also sought the support of the Government in providing better facilities to Muslim youth particularly in the field of education. +The Prime Minister gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured them of his full support in meeting grievances of all sections of the Muslim society. +He further promised his complete assistance in ameliorating their social conditions and addressing their educational requirements. +The Muslim leaders reiterated full support of the community to the Prime Minister in meeting his objectives of ensuring speedy economic growth, promoting communal harmony and peace and strengthening National security. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Justice Dipak Misra on taking oath as the Chief Justice of India. +“I congratulate Justice Dipak Misra on taking oath as the Chief Justice of India. +I wish him the very best and a fruitful tenure.”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Djibouti, on Djibouti’s Independence Day. +“On Djibouti’s Independence Day, I convey my greetings and best wishes to the people of Djibouti. +India truly cherishes our ties with Djibouti. +We remain grateful to Djibouti for the strong support and active cooperation during Yemen evacuation. +It indicates the robustness of our ties”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the proposal of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) for ratification of ISA’s Framework Agreement by India. +ISA was launched jointly by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France on 30th November, 2015 at Paris on the side-lines of the 21st CoP meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. +The ISA will strive to bring together more than 121 solar resource rich nations for coordinated research, low cost financing and rapid deployment. +The foundation stone of the ISA Headquarters was laid at Gwal Pahari, Guragaon in Haryana. +India has already committed the required support of operationalization of ISA. +ISA will put India globally in a leadership role in climate and renewable energy issues. +It will also give a platform to showcase its solar programmes. +The Agreement was opened for signature on the sidelines of 22nd CoP meeting at Marrakesh, Morocco. +The Agreement invokes the Paris Declaration on ISA and encapsulates the vision of the prospective member nations. +UNDP and World Bank have already announced their partnership with the ISA. +Till now, 25 nations have signed the Framework Agreement. +He thanked the various Members of the House, for adding vigour into the debate, and sharing insightful points +The opening remarks set the tone of his Government- “A government that works for the people of India, sensitive to people’s aspiration, honest, transparent, against corruption and for fast pace of development.” +PM said that India has seen remarkable progress in the last four years. +From foreign direct investment to steel sector, start-ups, milk and agriculture, aviation, India’s progress has been outstanding. +“We have become the second largest steel producer, second largest mobile phone manufacturer, 4th largest automobile manufacturer in the world. +We are a nation with have a bumper harvest production.” he added. +The speed of the work done and for whom the work was done, you decide for yourself.” he said. +About opposition, PM said that people have seen the work a government with an absolute majority can do and they have seen the work of his Government. +PM asserted that one is free to criticise him but in doing so they should not criticize the nation, +Talking tough on corruption, PM said his Government is working tirelessly to bring the corrupt people to book. +On Benami Law, he said it was his government that implemented Benami Law and now people are getting caught for having the benami properties. +Speaking on Rafale, PM Modi said Defence Minister had answered to all the allegations in detail and the controversy was being created by those who think no defence deal can be done without kickbacks. +“They are saying that I had taken Rs 7,800 crore but the government has attached properties worth Rs 13,000 crore”. he added. +On the employment front, PM said maximum job growth has been in the transport sector. +In the past four years, more than 6 lakh new professionals have joined the workforce and they have added to more number of jobs for the people. +He talked about how more than 1.80 crore people have been enrolled under Employees Provident Fund over between September 2017 to November 2018 , over a span of just 15 months , out of which 64% are below 28years age. +PM also told the LokSabha that more than 1.20 crore people have been registered under National Pension System or NPS. +He added that before Paris agreement was finalised, top world leaders used to talk to India. +PM also made it clear that India will be friends with both Israel and Palestine as well as with both Saudi Arabia and Iran. +PM summed it up saying that his Government will always fulfil the aspirations of the people of India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the establishment and operationalization of permanent campus of seven new Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) at Amritsar, Bodh Gaya, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Sirmaur, Vishakhapatnam and Jammu, and their recurring expenditure at a total cost of Rs 3775.42 crore (Rs 2999.96 crore asNon-Recurring and Rs 775.46 Crore as Recurring Expenditure). +These IIMs were established in the year 2015-16/2016-17. +These institutes are presently functioning from transit campuses. +The total cost is assessed as Rs. 3775.42 crore, out of which Rs. 2804.09 crore will be spent for construction of permanentcampuses of these institutes, as per the following details: +Name of IIM +Amount (In Rupees Crore) +IIM Amritsar +IIM Nagpur +IIM Vishakhapatnam +Each of these IIMs will construct an area of 60384 Sqm, which will have complete infrastructural facilities for 600 students in each IIM. +Recurring grants to these institute has also been approved @ Rs 5 Lakh per student per year for 5 years. +Thereafter, the institutes are expected to meet their running cost / maintenance cost from the internal generation of funds. +The construction of permanent campus of these institutes shall be completed by June, 2021. +With this, all the 20 IIMs will have their own permanent campuses. +The IIMs will provide education to students to enable them to become professional managers. +The approval will promote economic and industrial development of the country. +I am delighted to be here at Gift City to inaugurate India’s first international stock exchange, that is, the India International Exchange. +Indeed, it is a momentous occasion for India’s financial sector. +As you are aware, this project took shape in the year 2007. +In those days, as now, wherever I went, I would meet some of the top financial brains of those countries. +Whether in New York, London, Singapore, Hong Kong or Abu Dhabi, I would find many of them to be of Indian origin. +I was impressed by their understanding of the financial world, and also their contributions to their adopted countries. +I used to think, “How can we bring this talent back and at the same time, provide leadership to the entire financial world?” +Indians have a long tradition in mathematics. +India invented the concept of ‘zero’ and the ‘decimal system’ more than two thousand years ago. +When the Gift city was conceptualised, I was Chief Minister of Gujarat. +Technological progress had accelerated manifold. +We had world class talent of Indian origin working in India and abroad. +I deliberated a lot with experts about how to make India, a thought leader, in the field of Finance. +It was clear that we would need to have the best facilities and the ability to transact in all markets in the world. +Gift city was born out of this vision. +Our aim was to provide world class facilities to India’s world class talent in finance and technology. +Today, with the inauguration of this Exchange, we have reached an important landmark in achieving that vision. +I had visited the Bombay Stock Exchange in June 2013 for a book launch. +At that time, I had invited BSE to set up a world beating International Stock Exchange. +In the year 2015, during the Vibrant Gujarat event, they signed an MoU with Government of Gujarat. +Today, I am delighted to be here to inaugurate the new India International Exchange. +It is an important milestone not just for Gift city but for India, in creating 21st century infrastructure. +I am told this exchange will trade in equity, commodities, currencies and interest rate derivatives in the first phase. +Later, it will trade equity instruments of Indian and foreign companies. +I am told Masala bonds will also be available for trading here. +Many more companies from Asia, Africa and Europe should be able to raise funds from this important International Finance Centre. +This exchange is set to be among the fastest exchanges in the world with most modern trading, clearing and settlement systems. +India is in an excellent time-zone between West and East. +It can provide financial services through the day and night to the entire world. +The exchange, I am told, will work twenty two hours a day, starting when the Japanese markets start, and closing when US markets close. +I am sure, this exchange will set new standards for quality of service and speed of transactions across time zones. +This exchange is part of the International Financial Services Centre, – IFSC – at Gift city. +The concept of an International Financial Services Centre is simple but powerful. +It aims to provide onshore talent with an offshore technological and regulatory framework. +This is to enable Indian firms to compete on an equal footing with offshore financial centres. +Gift City IFSC will be able to provide facilities and regulations comparable to any other leading international finance centres in the world. +It is not easy to create an offshore-like environment in a large country like India with a huge domestic market. +India cannot be compared to small city states. +Such countries have very small local markets and hence can afford to have specially favourable tax and regulatory regimes. +Large countries cannot do the same. +Creating an offshore-like centre within a large country like India, therefore did pose regulatory challenges. +I am glad that the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank and SEBI have found solutions to the regulatory issues. +There has been criticism for long that a lot of trading, even in Indian financial instruments, is currently taking place abroad. +It is said that India has stopped becoming the price setter for even some Indian financial instruments. +Gift city will be able to mitigate many of these criticisms. +But my vision for Gift City is larger. +India needs to create thirty crore new jobs over the next twenty years. +It is a huge endeavour. +Skilled and well-paying jobs in the service sector will have to be part of this job revolution. +Indian youth can do it. +The international exposure which our youth will be able to get from Gift city will ensure that more and more of them will be able to join this important field. +I urge Indian companies, exchanges and regulators, to help create a pool of experienced and world beating finance professionals. +They can work out of this great new city and provide services to the entire world. +Over next ten years, I expect this city to generate several lakh jobs. +You are aware of the importance I attach to the development of smart cities. +Gift city is the first ground up truly smart city in the country. +All the 100 smart cities will do well to understand how Gift city has been able to create its underground infrastructure which can compete with the best in the world. +I have said before that India can become a developed country in one generation. +I hereby declare the India International Exchange open. +I wish Gift city and the India International Exchange the very best. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved MoU between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India and Mozambique. +A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of the Government of India and the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, Government of Mozambique in New Delhi on 5th August, 2015, during the visit of H. E. Mr. Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique to India. +The Memorandum of Understanding will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. +The objective of this Memorandum of Understanding is to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation, investment promotion and partnership on new and renewable energy issues on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity. +PM Modi and PM Abe met on the sidelines of NSS 2016. +In line with the Special Strategic and Global Partnership with Japan, discussions were held in a very cordial atmosphere. +PM Abe thanked PM Modi for the excellent hospitality during his bilateral visit to India in December 2015. +He described his visit to Varanasi as unforgettable. +PM Abe acknowledged that under PM Modi’s leadership, the Indian economy was now serving as the engine of global growth. +The two leaders reviewed the decisions taken during PM Abe’s visit and expressed satisfaction at the strong pace of implementation. +PM Abe conveyed that a survey Mission will be coming from Japan in May to take forward the Convention Centre project in Varanasi. +They also discussed measures to promote further trade and investment. +PM thanked PM Abe for Japan’s strong participation in the International Fleet Review. +The two leaders also discussed the continuing threat of terrorism and the need for the International community to eschew selective approaches. +They also reviewed global and regional issues. +PM Abe said that he was greatly looking forward to PM Modi’s bilateral visit to Japan later this year. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for amendment of the Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Order, 1954 by way of the Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2017. +The Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2017 has already been notified in Gazette of India on 6th July, 2017 after the assent of the President. +Cabinet approves taking over of Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati by Department of Atomic Energy +Tata Memorial Centre to manage the administrative control +166 posts in Medical, Para medical and support positions to be created +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the following: +The decision comes in the wake of the increasing instances of cancer, limited cancer treatment facilities and the need for a hospital support to carry out further research in North Eastern Region. +The approximate non-recurring expenditure for strengthening of institute is estimated at Rs. 150 crore and annual recurring expenditure is estimated at Rs. 45- 50 crore. +Borooah Cancer Institute was established in 1974 in Guwahati with the aim and objective of investigation, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the North Eastern region of India by a voluntary organization. +Government of Assam took over the institute with all its assets and liabilities in 1986 and entered into a tripartite agreement with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and North Eastern Council for management of the institute. +The institute is presently a 209 bedded hospital with 8 bedded ICU. +Tata Memorial hospital under DAE is a premier research institution in the field of cancer research and treatment. +TMC under the aegis of DAE has been extending financial and technical support to the institute since 1989. +Chief Minister of Assam in October 2013 had proposed that DAE should take over the institute to develop it as a center for excellence for cancer treatment, education and research for the entire North East. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has invited ideas from people on what shape the new institution to replace the Planning Commission can take. +A special open forum has been created on the website mygov.nic.in for suggestions on the new institution. +The demand to give constitutional status to the OBC commission had been raised for years. +This time our Parliament has made an effort to protect the interests of backward classes, interests of the extremely backward classes by according the constitutional status to the OBC commission. +I salute all those brave hearts from the bottom of my heart. +India has become the sixth largest economy of the world. +Today I salute those brave freedom fighters from the core of my heart on behalf of my countrymen. +Our soldiers, the para-military forces and the Police are laying down their lives and are in service of the people of the country day in and day out for maintaining the splendour and dignity of the National flag, the tricolour. +After independence, an highly inclusive constitution was drafted under the leadership of Baba SahebAmbedkar. +It came with the resolve of making a new India. +This is the strength of India. +If you take into consideration the work that has been done in the last four years, you will be surprised to see the speed at which the country is moving and the pace at which the progress is being made. +Had we worked with the speed of 2013, an entire generation would have taken to connect the country with optical fibre. +We will go by such speed to achieve all these goals. +The country is experiencing change in the last four years. +The country is progressing with new zeal, enthusiasm and courage. +Today the country is constructing twice the highways and four times more houses in the villages. +The country is producing record foodgrains and manufacturing record number of mobile phones. +The sale of tractors has reached a new high. +After independence the country is buying largest numbers of airplanes. +The new IIMs, IITs and AIIMS are being established in the country. +The mission of Skill Development is being encouraged by establishing new centres in small places. +Start-up programmes have mushroomed in Tier II and Tier III cities. +On the one hand, our soldiers help those who are at the brink of catastrophe with sympathy and empathy and on the other hand they are capable of attacking the enemies with surgical strikes. +With the help of small traders, their openness and their aptitude to accept new things, the country has successfully implemented the GST. +It has brought a new confidence among the traders. +Benami Property Law has been implemented with great courage and intention for the good of the country. +There was a time when the world used to call India’s economy risky. +However, today India is being discussed for – ‘reform, perform and transform’. +There was a time when the world counted India among the ‘fragile five’. +However, today the world has been saying that India has become the destination for multi-trillion dollar investment. +It is being said about India’s economy that the ‘sleeping elephant’ has woken up and has started racing. +The world economists and institutions have observed that for the next three decades India would contribute momentum to the global economic strength. +India’s stature has increased at the international forums, India has voiced its opinions strongly on such forums. +Earlier India was awaiting membership of various international organisations. +Now innumerable institutions have come forward to give membership to India. +India has become a hope for all the other countries as far as global warming is concerned. +International solar alliance is being welcomed throughout the world. +Today we see a magnificent impression of North East in the field of sports. +The last village in the North East has been electrified. +We are getting progressive news about highways, railways, airways, waterways and information ways (I-ways) from North East. +Our youths from the North East are establishing BPO in their areas. +In our country 65% of our population consists of 35 year old people. +13 crore people have availed MUDRA LOAN which is a great achievement. +Of this 4 crore are youth who have availed loan for the very first time and are self-employed and progressing independently. +Now we are focussed on bringing modernisation and advancement in the field of agriculture. +We have dreamt of doubling farmer’s income by 75th year of Independence. +We want to expand the horizons of agriculture with the help of modernization. +We want to adopt value addition right from ‘seeds – to –market’. +For the first time we are progressing in the path of Agriculture Export Policy so as to enable our farmers to emerge powerful in the world market. +In fisheries, India has emerged second largest country of the world. +The export of honey has doubled. +It is a matter of pleasure for the sugarcane farmers that the production of ethanol has tripled. +In rural economy, the other sectors are also important. +Now the sale of Khadi has doubled. +Our farmers are now focussing on solar farming. +Due to this he can contribute to agriculture and at the same time earn money by sale of solar energy. +Along with economic progress and development, we also want to focus on dignity of human life which is supreme. +Hence we are also planning to continue with those schemes which enable a common man to lead his life with pride, respect and dignity. +According to WHO report 3 lakh children have been saved because of Swachchta Campaign. +Taking inspiration from Gandhiji who had organized satayagrahis, we have succeed to mobilize ‘Swatchagrahis’. +On the occasion of 150th birth anniversary crores of “Swatchagrahis’ plan to pay tribute in deed and action to respected Bapuji in the form of Swatch Bharat. +In order to provide free health services to the poorest people, Government of India has launched Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojanaAbhiyan. +Now under this scheme any person can get relief from diseases by going to the good hospitals. +With this objective technology tools have been developed. +Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaAbhiyan will be launched on 25th September, 2018 as a result from now on, common man need not suffer from problems of dreaded diseases. +Government is making efforts to close all the leakages. +We are on the path of removal of corruption and black-money. +Due to all these efforts we were able to mobilize 90000 crore money to the Government Exchequer. +Upto 2013, for the past 70 years the direct tax payers were only 4 crore people. +Now the numbers has doubled and grown to 7.25 crores. +For the period of 70 years, indirect tax officials were able to mobilize 70 lakhs of revenue. +Whereas by implementation of GST, within a year we were able to mobilize 16 lakhs of revenue. +We cannot tolerate black money and corruption. +Now power brokers are not visible in the streets of Delhi. +In order to maintain transparency we have launched online process. +We have utilized Information Technology to the maximum level. +We have to liberate this country, and society from the clutches of this demonic attitude. +Law is doing it’s own business. +Those who did not get Talak (divorce) are also sailing in the same boat. +We made an effort to alleviate the grief of Muslim women by bringing an act in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. +But even today there are some people who do not want to pass the Bill. +Due to the efforts of security forces and endeavours made by State Governments, and also due to the implementation of Central and State Government developmental schemes and the people’s participation, Tripura and Meghalaya have been liberated from the Armed Forces Special Power Act. +The way shown to us by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the matters of Jammu and Kashmir is the best way. +We would like to go in the same path. +In the months to come, rural people of Jammu and Kashmir will be able to enjoy their rights. +They will be able to take care of themselves. +Government of India gives enough money to Gram Panchayaths which will be useful for development. +They have capability to provide advanced industrial technologies needed by the Indian Capital Goods Sector. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, was apprised about Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India joining IEA Bioenergy TCP as its 25th member on 25th January, 2019. +IEA Bioenergy TCP works under the framework of International Energy Agency (IEA) to which India has “Association” status since 30th March, 2017. +The primary goal of joining IEA Bioenergy TCP by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) is to facilitate the market introduction of advanced biofuels with an aim to bring down emissions and reduce crude imports. +The R&D work in IEA Bioenergy TCP is carried out carried out within well-defined 3-years programmes called “Tasks”. +Each year the progress of the Tasks is evaluated and scrutinized and each 3 years the content of the Tasks is reformulated and new Tasks can be initiated. +Technical persons from Public sector Oil Marketing companies will also be contributor in the Tasks participated by MoP&NG. +The benefits of participation in IEA Bioenergy TCP are shared costs and pooled technical resources. +The duplication of efforts is avoided and national Research and Development capabilities are strengthened. +There is an information exchange about best practices, network of researchers and linking research with practical implementation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to Mr. Emmanuel Macron, congratulating him on the victory in French Presidential election. +“Called President Emmanuel Macron to convey my congratulations on his victory in the French Presidential election. +I look forward to working with President Emmanuel Macron to further deepen cooperation between India and France”, the Prime Minister tweeted from his Twitter Account. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi had six meetings today at Nay Pyi Taw, in addition to the India-ASEAN Summit. +He referred to the possibility of cooperation between India and the ASEAN countries in the field of solar energy. +He stressed on the need for India and ASEAN to collaboratively tackle terrorism, drug-trafficking and gun-running. +He specifically mentioned the example of security intelligence sharing between India and Malaysia, and said this was a model which could be followed with other ASEAN member countries as well. +The Prime Minister sought cooperation from Malaysia in the field of public housing. +The Prime Minister expressed keenness to work closely with Singapore in the field of urban renewal. +The Korean side expressed keenness to share its proven industrial competence with India, especially in infrastructure. +The Prime Minister, in his meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, described her as a symbol of democracy, and referred to the enormous effort and sacrifice she has made for democracy. +Daw Aung San Suu Kyi described India as her second home. +The Prime Minister gifted Daw Aung San Suu Kyi a copy of Mahatma Gandhi’s commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Amendment of the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951. +Gist of the decision: +In the existing Act, there is a provision for representation of a single national political party. +Deletion of the party specific member from the Trust will make it apolitical. +The proposed amendment ensures representation of the Opposition Party in the Trust. +The proposed Amendment will empower the Government to terminate and replace a Trustee to participate in functioning of the Trust or for any other reason. +“Very good day for India at the Asian Games. +Congrats to our Hockey Team & congrats to our women athletes for the Gold in 4×400 metres relay. +I have been closely following India`s progress at the Asian Games & I congratulate every medal winner. +You make India very proud,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved leave encashment up to 180 days in respect of those Defence personnel who died or were invalidated out of service between 30.12.1991 to 29.11.1999 with less than 15 years of service. +The decision will benefit the families of 9777 Officers and other personnel of Defence Services who died or were invalidated out of service during this period. +This period is very significant as a large number of casualities took place during the Kargil conflict (“Operation Vijay”) and in counter insurgency operation in J&K and North East during the period. +Under the MoU, the NPC will provide the following services: +1. Energy Assessment Services +2. Training & Certification of Energy Auditors +3. Demand Side Management. +Meanwhile, Al Etihad ES will provide the following services to all the relevant projects on a case by case basis: +i) Customer Support with UAE Government and Private owned organizations in the United Arab Emirates +ii) All local support for Field Auditing Professionals in the UAE +iii) All local support for Training & Certification of Energy Auditors in UAE +iv) All support related to Demand Side Management of industries based in UAE +MoU will be a precedent for engagements with other International collaboration partners and will enhance NPC’s visibility in arena. +The MoU will help promote NPC in GCC member countries and will generate business for NPC in the area of energy. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a large gathering at the swearing-in ceremony of the Council of Ministers of Assam. +He congratulated the people of Assam and said that in Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, they had a Chief Minister from the tribal community who is dedicated to serving society. +He expressed confidence that the new Government would serve the people of Assam and transform the State through development. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government is working on the principle of cooperative federalism, and wants to give States maximum strength to enable them to progress. +He said democracy is about bhaagidaari (participation), and said the Centre and the States must walk shoulder to shoulder for development. +He stressed the need for comprehensive and all-round development of the Nation, and especially the eastern part of the country. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today presented President of Turkmenistan, H. E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, a specially handcrafted horse saddle. +President Berdimuhamedov is a keen horse rider and known for his passion for horse breeding, racing and equestrian. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated tennis players Leander Paes and Martina Hingis, on winning Wimbledon mixed doubles title. +“More good news from Wimbledon. +Congrats again Martina Hingis. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister has today given its approval to Recommendations on Fiscal Deficit Targets and Additional Fiscal Deficit to States during Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) award period 2015-20 under the two flexibility options recommended in para 14.64 to 14.67 of its Report (volume – I). +FFC has adopted the fiscal deficit threshold limit of 3 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for the States. +Further, FFC has provided a year-to-year flexibility for additional fiscal deficit to States. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has saluted all brave BSF personnel on BSF Golden Jubilee Raising Day. +“On BSF Golden Jubilee Raising Day, I salute all brave BSF personnel & recall with pride their rich contribution in making our Nation safer”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today outlined his vision for “Skill India” as he launched the “National Skill Development Mission” in New Delhi. +Asserting that his Government has declared a war on poverty and is determined to win it, the Prime Minister said that each poor, underprivileged youth is a soldier in this war. +Noting that India will have a surplus manpower of 4 to 5 crore over the next decade, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to provide this youthful manpower with skills and ability to tackle global challenges, and warned that the demographic dividend would otherwise become a challenge in itself. +He said that if the 20th century saw India’s foremost technical institutes – the IITs – make a name for themselves globally, the 21st century required that India’s ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes), acquire global recognition for producing quality skilled manpower. +The Prime Minister said India can become the world’s largest provider of skilled workforce for the world. +In order to prepare for this, Shri Narendra Modi said there is a need for mapping of manpower requirements, not just in India, but globally as well. +He also launched the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and Skill Loan Scheme. +The Prime Minister felicitated the six Indian medal winners of the World Skill Oceania competition. +Union Ministers Shri Arun Jaitley, Shri Manohar Parrikar, Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Shri Suresh Prabhu, Shri Ananth Kumar, Shri JP Nadda, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Shri Anant Geete, Shri Piyush Goyal, and Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot were present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and the Federal Insurance Office, USA. +The MoU provides a framework for cooperation and coordination, including for the exchange of information and research assistance with respect to each Authority’s overview and other lawful responsibilities. +Under the agreement, both the countries intend to share their experiences on various regulatory functions and to provide mutual assistance including training activities. +India andUSA have also agreed to continue to facilitate cooperation on international standard-setting activities, financial stability and the development and implementation of consumer protection through sound prudential regulation of the insurance sector. +IRDAI is a body set up under the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of the insurance and re-insurance business in India. +Similarly, in USA, Federal Insurance Office (FIO) is vested with the authority to monitor all aspects of the insurance sector and to represent the USA on prudential aspects of international insurance. +India and USA have strong business relations with each other and both the countries have been in regular discussions at various political and official levels. +Various institutional mechanisms have also been put in place over time to strengthen bi-lateral cooperation on wide ranging multi-sectoral issues between the two countries. +USA is one of the major contributors of foreign direct investment in India and many insurance companies have set up joint venture with USA based insurance companies. +With increase in foreign investment cap to 49%, there is further scope for foreign investments in Indian insurance sector particularly from USA based companies. +Hence the bilateral MoU between IRDAI and FIO, USA holds lot of potential for the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has bowed to Swami Vivekananda, on his Jayanti. +“I bow to Swami Vivekananda on his Jayanti. +Today, on National Youth Day I salute the indomitable energy and enthusiasm of our youngsters, who are the builders of New India”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the function in honour of the retiring and retired MPs of the Rajya Sabha. +In his remarks on the occasion, the Prime Minister observed that people with such experience and capabilities, can never “retire” and should always continue to work in the field which interests them the most, for the benefit of the nation. +In this context, he gave the examples of former President Shri APJ Abdul Kalam, and former Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr. John Major. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) and Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) for export credit of USD 9 billion for infrastructural development in India and for the supply of goods and services as part of projects in third countries. +The MoU is proposed to be signed between the two banks during the forthcoming visit of the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, to Seoul, Korea during 14-15 June 2017 for the Annual Financial Bilateral Dialogue. +The decision is expected to promote the country’s international exports, and deepen political and financial ties between India and Korea. +The export credit will be utilized through lending by EXIM Bank for promoting projects for priority sectors, including smart cities, railways, power generation and transmission etc., in India and for the supply of goods and services from India and Korea as part of projects in third countries. +Implementation Strategy +Under the implementation strategy, the parties to the MoU will hold mutual consultations to structure the financial assistance, review the existing arrangements and related procedures. +EXIM Bank will identify viable projects in India. +For projects in third countries, both parties will jointly identify viable projects. +It is understood from EXIM Bank that the USD 9 billion would be extended by KEXIM by way of Investment Credit (typically export credit facility to finance projects with a certain level of Korean import content and interest rates as per OECD export credit guidelines). +This amount may also be utilized by KEXIM as the financier without the participation of EXIM Bank subject to satisfaction of the purpose. +The supply of goods and services from India and Korea as part of projects in third countries will be an additional avenue which this MoU will enable. +It will help in exchanging mutual experience, sharing information on financing export and import operations, project assessment and knowledge generated in respective fields of activities. +The Joint Statement issued in 2015 during the visit of the Prime Minister to the Republic of Korea stated that Korea intends to offer USD 10 billion of infrastructural development in India. +The package was subsequently prepared to comprise of USD 1 billion from the South Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) as government to government funding and USD 9 billion as export credit from KEXIM. +The credit of USD 9 billion from KEDIM is to be through a formal MoU to be signed between KEXIM and EXIM Bank. +The estimated project cost is Rs. 338.58 crores and the resource center is expected to be functional by 2018-19. +The institution will be the first of its kind for quality laboratory animals for basic and applied biomedical research in the country. +It will be developed as a world-class facility for breeding and housing of animals such as primates, cabines and other specialized models such as transgenic and knockout rodents required for testing of various R&D products. +The facility will create, develop and provide access to a range of laboratory animals and related technological resources for advancement of biomedical research in the country, mainly to facilitate research in medical colleges, research and academic institutions, universities and Biotech/Bio-pharma companies. +The facility will also provide training facilities for personnel in the specialized areas in the field of biomedical research. +The State Government has allotted 102.69 acres of land at Genome Valley, Hyderabad, free of cost, to the ICMR for Establishment of National Animal Resource Facility (NARF) for Biomedical Research. +Addressing a public rally at Kargil, the Prime Minister recalled his visit to the town during the 1999 Kargil war. +He said gunfire was heard in those days, where now we hear the sound of people clapping. +He said the people of Kargil had supported the Indian Armed Forces during the war. +He said he still recalled the excitement and patriotic fervour in the town when Tiger Hill was won. +Today the people here wish to join the development mainstream. +The Prime Minister said it is time to change the old adage – Paani aur jawaani pahaad ke kaam nahin aate. +He said through hydropower, the rivers (paani) is being harnessed for the benefit of the moutains. +And electricity was not just for industry – but would also help the youth of the mountains hone their skills and find suitable employment, without having to migrate to urban areas. +He said the Government of India would provide Rs. 8000 crore additional funding for road projects in the state. +He said the Leh-Kargil-Srinagar transmission line would boost education and employment opportunities in Kargil. +He said he wished to make Kargil one of the fastest growing districts in the country. +The Prime Minister said development is the sole solution to all problems. +He said development is his Government`s priority, and maximum stress is being given to employment of youth. +In this context, he spoke of Pashmina, saffron cultivation and value addition in apple cultivation. +He said that there is no dearth of funds for development, and he has taken up cudgels against corruption. +The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Shri N. N. Vohra, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Shri Omar Abdullah, the MoS(i/c) for Power, Shri Piyush Goyal, were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will address the Nation in the next series of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme on All India Radio on June 28, 2015. +This is the ninth edition of the radio program in which PM shares his thoughts with the citizens. +The Prime Minister has also invited citizens to share their thoughts and ideas for the programme on the Open Forum of MyGov.in. +“Next ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme will be held on 28th. +Share thoughts and ideas for the programme on MyGov Open Forum https://mygov.in/group-issue/give-your-inputs-prime-ministers-mann-ki-baat/“,the Prime Minister said. +Ladies & Gentlemen, +1. I am delighted to be here again amidst such a large and distinguished gathering of political and business leaders. +Earlier today, I had the pleasure of meeting President Obama and we shared our thoughts on a wide range of issues concerning our two nations. +India’s bilateral relationship with the United States is stronger than ever and we both agreed that the future would be even brighter. +2. I am speaking to you at a time when the global economy continues to be weak. +Several parts of the world are still facing very difficult conditions. +This is a time when the world needs new engines of growth. +From the point of view of the world’s oldest democracy, obviously it would be nice if the new engines are democratic engines. +I am happy to tell you that today India is poised to contribute as a new engine of global growth. +3. A larger Indian economy has multiple benefits for the world. +Obviously, India presents a large and growing market. +4. As India embarks on a new era of development, it needs to learn much from America’s tradition of entrepreneurship and innovation. +Indeed, to me, America is not just a country with a great past; it is a country with an exciting future. +I am therefore sure, that ours will be a partnership which sees both nations benefit. +5. A very unique feature of the Indo-American relationship is the critical role of the Indian-American community in the US economy. +It is rare that emigrants from one nation, who become immigrants in another, enjoy such high respect and repute in both countries. +Indian-Americans are a powerful cementing force in our growing economic and cultural ties. +6. I have just completed two years in office. +When I addressed you in 2014, I had just taken over the reins of government. +We faced a particularly challenging domestic and external environment. +Confidence of investors was at a low. +Doubts were being expressed about the future of the Indian economy. +The business community was unhappy with the inertia and stagnation that had set in. +There was frustration with archaic policies and red tape. +In 2 years, we have managed to overcome the odds and register an impressive economic performance. +7. I want to take this opportunity to describe to you the key elements of our policies. +I have said several times that my aim is to reform to transform. +For me, reforms are those policies that transform the lives of ordinary citizens. +In the last two years, we have taken a comprehensive package of reforms which go beyond more economic reforms. +I can classify them into four types. +8. Let me start with the macro-economy. +9. Since we took office, inflation, the fiscal deficit and the balance of payments current account deficit have all fallen. +GDP growth, Foreign exchange reserves, stock market valuations, and investor confidence have all increased. +This success is the result of a series of well thought out policies. +We have legislated a monetary framework with inflation targeting and an independent monetary policy committee to curb inflation. +We embarked on a course of fiscal consolidation and our fiscal deficit has been reduced substantially in each of three budgets so far. +Even while cutting the fiscal deficit, we have greatly increased productive public investment. +10. This has been made possible in two ways. +Firstly, we imposed carbon taxes on fossil fuels. +We took the bold step of de-controlling diesel prices and thereby eliminated energy subsidies. +We then replaced them with taxes. +A Clean Environment cess has been increased by eight times from Rs.50 per ton to Rs.400 per ton. +Globally, there is much talk of carbon taxes but much of it is just that – TALK. +We have actually acted. +Secondly we have reduced wasteful expenditure through innovative methods and use of technology. +Subsidies are increasingly credited directly to bank accounts of the deserving with fool proof biometric identification. +11. Let me now turn to our policies to stimulate growth and employment. +This audience is probably aware of the sweeping liberalization that we have undertaken in foreign direct investment. +We have put most sectors on automatic approval and opened up sectors like defence and railways to foreign investment. +The long pending insurance law reform was successfully passed. +Several insurance companies, including American companies, have already enhanced their investment in the insurance sector. +We have taken major steps to increase the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and have already begun climbing steeply in the global rankings. +We are encouraging foreign and domestic investors to set up high quality and efficient manufacturing facilities. +We have greatly enhanced investment in roads, railways, ports and waterways to improve logistics. +We have made major process improvements in our ports to reduce the time taken for cargo to enter and exit. +We admire the start up eco-system in your country. +We are making a beginning in replicating it. +Our Start-Up India programme has stimulated a new breed of innovators. +In 2016, Bengaluru has become the fifth most preferred location for innovation centres. +It was not even in the top 10 in 2015. +12. For our economy to succeed, we need a strong banking system. +We inherited a system where cronyism and corruption were believed to be rampant in banking decisions and in appointments to public sector banks. +I held the first ever retreat of a Prime Minister with bankers. +We have set up clear performance measures and accountability mechanisms. +We are committed to ensuring adequate capital. +Interference in banking decisions has ended. +A new process for appointments has been put in place under a Bank Boards Bureau. +Credible and capable bankers have been appointed to head banks. +For the first time since banks were nationalized 47 years ago private sector professionals have been appointed in key positions. +13. I now turn to our policies to ensure that growth is inclusive. +We have brought two hundred million people into the banking system through the Jan Dhan Yojana. +This is more than the population of most countries in the world. +Now, these millions are part of our banking system, and words like ‘interest rate’ have a meaning for them. +These people have shown that there is great strength at the bottom of the pyramid. +Believe it or not, accounts opened under the Jan Dhan Yojana today have a total balance of almost six billion dollars. +14. The Jan Dhan Yojana has also transformed the ability of the poor to make and to receive electronic payments. +Every Jan Dhan account holder is eligible for a debit card. +India’s banks and post offices are also being encouraged to operate ‘mobile ATMs’. +A mobile ATM is one where cash can be drawn and simple banking tasks done through a hand held device. +15. We have provided a safety net through new social security schemes. +We have introduced three non-subsidised but low cost schemes covering accident insurance, life insurance and pensions. +Because of their massive coverage the premia are low. +There are now over 120 million subscribers. +16. We have paid special attention to gender justice and to empowering women. +We have a new savings programme to help pay for girls’ education with a special high rate of interest. +To relieve rural women from the health hazards of cooking with firewood, we are giving 50 million new gas connections in poor rural areas. +Under our new self-employment financing programme (Mudra), over 70% of the beneficiaries are women. +More than 27 million new women-headed businesses have been assisted. +We have changed our policies to allow women in combat roles in the armed forces. +New rules are increasing the representation of women on corporate Boards of Directors. +17. Agriculture remains India’s mainstay in terms of providing livelihood. +There was a tendency to deprive farmers of subsidized fertilizer by diverting it for the production of chemicals. +A simple but very effective solution is neem-coating of fertilizer which makes it unsuitable for diversion. +We have moved towards universal neem-coating of urea. +It has already saved crores of rupees of diverted farm subsidies and improved fertilizer availability to farmers. +It is an example of how simple reforms can be very effective. +18. We have introduced a Soil Health Card nationally, which tells every farmer the condition of his or her soil. +It enables the farmer to choose the best crop and right quantity and mix of inputs. +This greatly reduces wastage of inputs and increases crop yield besides protecting the soil. +By reducing unnecessary chemical inputs, it is also good for health of consumers. +It reduces costs, increases yields, improves the environment and protects the health of consumers. +140 million soil health cards will be issued, requiring a collection of over twenty-five million soil samples, and tested through a nationwide network of nearly 1500 laboratories. +19. This brings me to an achievement that I think even our worst critics do not dispute. +This is the change in levels of corruption. +We removed discretion in allocation of key resources and moved to transparent auctions of mines, spectrum and FM radio licenses and we have plugged leakage through direct benefit transfer. +We have revamped our personnel management to ensure that senior positions are held by persons of integrity. +We have launched an on-going campaign against tax evasion and black money. +The poor are the greatest beneficiaries of the reduction in corruption. +20. Looking to the future let me outline what I see as the path we will follow in the coming years. +21. Firstly, we will continue to have disciplined and prudent macro-economic policies. +I firmly believe that sound macro-economic fundamentals are a necessary foundation for long term sustainable growth. +22. Secondly, we will combine this with a continued stress on inclusion and equity. +This is to ensure the fruits of development accrue not to a few, not to many but to all Indians. +And this will also mean continuing our attack on corruption. +23. Thirdly, we will continue to make progress on improving the investment climate and Ease of Doing Business. +We want to make India a destination which not only welcomes business but where it is easy to do business. +We have largely achieved the first by drastically liberalizing our foreign direct investment policies. +We have made a good beginning on the second and will continue to make further improvements. +24. We will continue to strengthen the “Make in India” initiative. +It is not intended for only manufacturing for the domestic market or import substitution. +It is as much about making world-class products and services for the whole globe. +That is why, for us, improvements towards free trade are important. +It is very important for us that developed countries open their markets, not only to goods from countries like India but also to services. +I see this as a win-win proposition for the U.S. and for India. +India is the future human resource powerhouse of the world with a young hard-working population. +In my vision, a partnership between American capital and innovation, and Indian human resources and entrepreneurship can be very powerful. +I am convinced we can strengthen both our economies through such a partnership. +25. We will continue to make our tax policies more predictable. +At the same time, like the U.S., we are cracking down on tax evasion and unfair tax avoidance. +26. We will continue to open up our defence sector. +I am aware that licensing policies can sometimes slow down the process of investing in India’s defence sector. +We are exploring a simpler and more efficient project licensing approach for defence. +In the field of nuclear energy, we are purchasing six nuclear reactors from Westinghouse which will mark a new era in our nuclear and scientific cooperation. +I was delighted when GE became one of the first companies to make a major investment in the newly liberalized railway sector. +It is setting up a locomotive manufacturing plant in the relatively poor state of Bihar. +I expect many more such investments. +27. The river Ganga has a special significance for India. +The ‘Namami Gange” programme to clean the river Ganga is on the verge of taking off. +It will be a big priority over the coming years. +This project offers major opportunities for American companies with their expertise in environmental engineering, water and sewage treatment and the like. +This project is a high priority for my Government and our aim is to restore the Ganga to its pristine glory. +28. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have begun our journey towards a transformed India. +A transformed India, with one sixth of humanity will mean a transformed world. +The journey will be long. +But the progress we have achieved so far, convinces me that we will reach our destination. +I invite you to join us on that journey. +It is a journey which offers the exciting possibility of not only building a better balance sheet for your company but of building a better India, building a better America, and building a better world. +Last month, all of us were celebrating Diwali. +Like every year, this Diwali too, I had gone to the border, to the China border, to celebrate the occasion with our soldiers, our jawans. +I celebrated Diwali with ITBP men and army jawans on the lofty heights of the Himalayas. +I do it every time, but this Diwali was an entirely different experience. +The heartening effect of the novel way in which our 1.25 billion countrymen dedicated this Diwali to soldiers of our army, to our defence forces, was clearly evident on their faces. +Your collective contribution, the sentiments of soldiers, your emotional universe dedicated to our security forces as expressed in your creativity will form the content of this volume. +Bu we do miss our near and dear ones back home during festivals. +But, to tell you the truth, this time we did not feel so. +Never did it appear to us even once that we are not at home for the festivities. +It felt as if we were celebrating Diwali together with a hundred and twenty five crore Indians. +My dear countrymen, this warmth of emotion, this fervour that has been kindled in the hearts of our defence forces, our soldiers this Diwali, should this be confined to only a few occasions? +When the entire nation stands by the armed forces, their might mutiplies a hundred and twenty five crore times. +A few days ago, all Pradhans from the villages of Jammu & Kashmir had come to see me. +They were from the Jammu & Kashmir Panchayat Conference. +I got an opportunity to speak to them at length. +These village Pradhans spoke about these topics with such affection and openness that everything touched my heart. +I had urged them to focus on these children’s future, on their return home. +Recently, just a few days ago, when the Board examinations were held, 95% of the sons and daughters of Kashmir, the young students appeared in the examinations. +The sheer volume of students, who appeared in the Board Examinations, is a clear indication that our children from Jammu & Kashmir are committed to attain newer heights of progress, to build a bright future through the medium of education. +For their resolute zeal I congratulate these students and I also felicitate their parents, their kith and kin, their teachers and all the Gram Pradhans as well from the depths of my heart. +My dear brothers and sisters, this time when I asked people for suggestions for ‘Mann ki Baat’, I can say that almost all the suggestions that were received echoed one theme. +Everyone wanted me to speak in more detail about the 500 & 1000 rupee notes. +On the 8th of November at 8 in the evening, in my Address to the Nation, I had talked about launching a mega campaign to bring about reforms in the country. +When I had taken this decision and presented it before you, then also I had said openly that it was not an ordinary decision, it was one fraught with difficulties. +It was a very important decision but implementation of that decision is equally important. +And I had also foreseen that this would result in all of us having to face various new difficulties in our day-to-day lives. +These maladies have been afflicting us for the past 70 years and the campaign for getting rid of these can never be an easy task. +I can very well understand the problems you are going through! +But when I see your support, when I look at your co-operation; although numerous efforts are on to misguide you, despite that, and despite witnessing some disturbing incidents, you have whole heartedly comprehended the path of righteousness and truth, you have favourably accepted this step taken in the best national interest. +500 and 1000 rupee notes and such a vast country, wide proliferation of currencies, billions and trillions of bank notes and amidst that, this decision – the whole world is minutely observing, every economist is analysing it, evaluating it. +The whole world is watching – will hundred and twenty-five crore Indians finally attain success after facing numerous hardships? +This question may be there in the world community. +However, India has nothing but faith and faith only and supreme confidence in her hundred and twenty five crore countrymen that they will certainly fulfill their resolve. +Across the country, central government, state governments, all units of the local self government institutions, one lakh thirty thousand bank branches, lakhs of bank employees, over one and a half lakh post offices, over a lakh Bank-Mitras are relentlessly at work, day and night, with complete dedication. +In the midst of immense and varied stress, all these individuals are working hard, maintaining a calm and composed demeanour, taking it as a Yagya of Service to the Nation, an attempt towards a great transformation. +And I have seen that in the midst of such difficulties, all personnel of banks and post offices are working very hard. +And when it comes to the practice of humanity, they appear two steps ahead. +Someone told me that in Khandwa, an old gentleman met with an accident. +Money was needed urgently. +This came to the knowledge of local bank personnel, and I was happy to learn that they personally carried and handed over cash at his home, for help in treatment. +I profusely thank all such compatriots who have striven hard to perform this MAHAYAGYA, and lived up to the lofty virtue of PURUSHARTH. +The greatest validation of SHAKTI, strength, comes when the same is put to test. +I distinctly remember, when the Prime Minister’s Jan Dhan Yojana was launched, bank personnel earnestly and zealously shouldered their responsibilities and showed that they could achieve what had not been accomplished during the last 70 years. +Their capabilities were manifested. +Today, once again, they have accepted the challenge and I do believe that the steely resolve of one hundred and twenty five crore countrymen, their collective demonstration of PURUSHARTH will go a long way in investing our nation with a new power and strength on its path of progress. +But vices are so widespread and deep-rooted that even today there are people whose vicious habits refuse to die. +Even now, some people think that they can re-introduce into the system, money from corruption, black money, unaccounted wealth and Benami money (money in unknown person’s name), using some route or the other. +They seek illegal means to save their ill-gotten wealth. +The saddest part is that, for this too, they have chosen to misuse the poor, the underprivileged people. +By misguiding the poor, enticing them through the vices of avarice and temptation, wrongfully pumping money into their bank accounts, or getting them to undertake some wrong activities, some people are trying to save their black money. +Do not do anything that may bring the names of the poor on record for wrong reasons and land my dear poor people into trouble during the investigation later on account of your foul deeds. +And the law regarding Benami property that has been enacted and is being implemented is very stringent and it is going to be extremely tough on wrong doers. +The government does not wish that our countrymen should face undue hardships. +I have received a similar call from Mr. Yellappa Velankar Ji from Karnataka: – +I want to thank you wholeheartedly because you had said that good days will come, but nobody had ever thought that you would take such a big step. +You have taught a lesson to black money mongers and the corrupt through the demonetization of 1000 and 500 rupee notes. +For each and every citizen of India there could be no better days than these. +For this I thank you from the core of my heart.” +We get to know certain things through media, through the people and through government sources which add to our enthusiasm for work. +It gives us such a great happiness and a sense of pride to know that the common man in my country has such a wonderful capability. +So people go and eat there and make payments on their next visit after 2, 4 or 6 days. +This is the strength of my country which encompasses the spirit of service, of sacrifice and also of genuineness and honesty. +During elections, I used to have ‘चाय पर चर्चा’, that is discussions over tea and this got publicised around the whole world. +People in many countries of the world even learnt to utter the phrase – ‘Chai Par Charcha’. +But, I did not know ‘Chai Par Charcha’ could be linked to a marriage also. +I learnt that on 17th November, a marriage was solemnised with ‘Chai Par Charcha’ in Surat. +Guests from the bridegroom’s side also gracefully accepted it as their ceremonial welcome. +Bharat Maaroo and Dakshaa Parmar from Surat, through their marriage, have made a valuable contribution in the ongoing fight against corruption and black money and set up a very inspiring example. +I convey my blessings to the newlyweds Bharat and Dakshaa and profusely compliment them also for having transformed their wedding occasion into an offering for the great task and thereby converting it into a new opportunity. +Whenever confronted by such difficult times, people do succeed in exploring and finding good avenues and solutions. +These tea workers get their wages on weekly basis. +Now, what they did when they received a 2000 rupee note as wages? +Four women from the neighborhood got together and jointly made purchases and made the payment with the 2000 Rupee note; they did not need small currency as they had jointly made their purchases and had decided that they would settle accounts later when they were to meet next week. +People are themselves finding ways. +And just look at this change. +The government received a message that people of tea gardens in Assam are demanding setting up of ATMs in their areas. +See, how the village life is also getting transformed. +Some people are getting instant benefits from this campaign. +The nation will reap these benefits in the days to come but some people have got benefits instantly. +On asking how things were going on, I got to know about the impact in small towns. +Thus there are big arrears of payments, which remain pending. +All municipalities receive hardly 50% of their tax revenues. +But, this time after the decision taken on the 8th instant, people rushed to deposit their old currency notes. +47 urban institutions had received about 3 to 3.5 thousand crore rupees in taxes last year. +You will be surprised and also happy to know that during this one week, these institutions received 13 thousand crore rupees. +Imagine the difference – from 3 to 3.5 thousand crores to 13 thousand crores. +And, that too with the self initiative of those making payments. +Now that these municipalities have received 4 times the money, it is quite natural that poor localities and slums will get better drainage facilities, better water supply and better Aanganbari system. +Many such examples are coming to light where direct benefits of this demonetisation can clearly be seen. +Brothers and sisters, our villages and our farmers are strong pillars of our economy. +Every citizen is making requisite adjustments amidst the difficulties as a result of the new changes. +But, I especially wish to compliment the farmers of our country. +I was just gathering data of the sowing of this crop season. +I am glad that be it wheat, be it pulses, be it oilseeds, the data received till 20th November indicates that sowing has increased substantially as compared to sowing during the last year. +Our farmers have discovered new avenues amidst the present difficulties. +The government has also taken many important decisions, wherein priority has been accorded to our farmers and villages. +Despite these measures, some difficulties persist but I am confident that our farmer who bravely faces every difficulty, including natural calamities, is standing firm in the face of present odds also. +Small traders and businessmen of our country provide employment opportunities besides adding to the economic activities. +A number of initiatives were taken to grant them loans under Mudra Yojana. +These small traders were provided loans worth lakhs and crores of rupees under Mudra Yojana because there are crores of such small traders and they impart momentum to the business activities worth billions of rupees. +But naturally they too had to face difficulties due to this decision. +However, I have seen that these small businessmen too have kept providing services to their customers in their own ways through the use of technology such as Mobile App, Mobile Bank and Credit Card and on the basis of mutual trust also. +And, I want to tell our small trader brothers and sisters that this is a ripe opportunity for them too to make their entry into the digital world. +You too download Apps of Banks on your mobile phones. +You too keep a POS machine for transactions in Credit Cards. +I want that you not only extend your cooperation in making this campaign successful but also lead the process of transformation and I have full confidence that you can be the leader for this change. +Wages shown on paper are much higher than the wages actually paid to you. +If sometimes full wages are paid, someone stands outside to forcibly take his cut and the worker is compelled to accept this as his fate. +We want that under this new system you should have a bank account; your wages should be deposited directly into your bank so that payment of minimum wages is ensured. +You get your due wages in full, without anybody extracting a cut. +No one should exploit you. +And, once the money is credited into your bank account, you can use your mobile phone as an e-wallet and you do not need any hi-fi smart phone for this, because even with the help of your ordinary mobile phone itself you can make purchases from the neighbourhood shops and make payments as well. +That is why, I specially urge our worker brothers and sisters to participate in this scheme because after all I took such a momentous decision for the benefit of the poor people, the farmers, the workers, the deprived and the suffering people of the country and, hence, these benefits must reach them. +I specially want to talk to our young friends today. +We keep telling with great fanfare the whole world that India is a country where 65% of the population is below the age of 35 years. +I know, dear young men and women of my country, that you have liked my decision. +I also know that you support my decision. +I even know that you are making a big contribution in positively taking this mission forward. +But dear friends, you are my true soldiers, my true partners. +We have got a wonderful chance to serve our mother India and to take our country to new economic heights. +Dear youngsters, can you please help me? +You will be with me but that alone is not enough. +The older generation does not have the exposure and experience of the new world which you possess. +Possibly your elder brother and even your parents and uncles and aunts also may not know. +You know what an ‘App’ is, what ‘online banking’ is and how ‘online ticket booking’ is done. +For you these are routine things and you also make use of them. +But, the great task that the country wants to accomplish today is the realisation of our dream of a ‘Cashless Society’. +It is true that a hundred percent cashless society is not possible. +But why should India not make a beginning in creating a ‘less-cash society’? +Once we embark on our journey to create a ‘less-cash society’, the goal of ‘cashless society’ will not remain very far. +You know how many opportunities there are today for a cashless society, for digital banking or for mobile banking. +Every bank provides online banking facility. +Every bank in India has its own ‘mobile App’. +Various types of cards are available. +Just as there is a prepaid card for mobile phones, prepaid cards are also available in banks to facilitate expenditure. +UPI is a very useful platform for carrying on trade activities which enables you to make purchases, send money and even receive money. +And, this procedure is as simple as sending messages through WhatsApp. +Even an illiterate person today knows how to send and also forward WhatsApp messages. +Not only this, with the simplification of technology, we do not require any big smart phones for this purpose. +Cash can be transferred even with a phone with ordinary features. +A washerman, vegetable vendor, milk supplier, newspaper vendor, tea stall owner or a chanaa vendor, everyone can easily use this facility. +I have provided further impetus to simplifying this system even more. +All banks are engaged in this and are doing their best. +My dear young friends, despite all these things, there is an entire generation which is ignorant in these matters. +And I know it very well that all of you are actively contributing in this great task. +But, my dear young friends, I once again tell you that I need your help in this task. +Yes, yes, yes – I repeat that I NEED YOUR HELP and I am very sure that millions of young people of our country will accomplish this tremendous task. +You just do one thing, take a resolve today itself that you will yourself become a part of the ‘cashless society’. +Every technology needed for online spending will definitely be available on your mobile phone. +Kenya made a resolve and set up a mobile based system M-PESA, adopted appropriate technology which was named M-PESA and today in Kenya, in this region of Africa, total business is ready to shift to this system. +That country has brought about a big revolution. +My dear young friends, I once again earnestly appeal to you to take forward this campaign. +I invite you to work for this mission individually and collectively in every school, in every college, in every university, in NCC and in NSS. +We must take this forward. +We have got an opportunity to render a great service to our nation; this chance must not be missed. +Dear brothers and sisters, today is the birth anniversary of a great poet of our country – Shriman Harivansh Rai Bachchan Ji and on this occasion today, Shriman Amitabh Bachchan Ji has given a slogan for Swachhta Mission. +You must have noticed, that Amitabh Ji, the most popular actor of this century, has been whole-heartedly promoting the campaign for cleanliness. +I respectfully bow to Harivansh Rai Ji. +I also thank Shriman Amitabh Ji to connect in such a warm manner with ‘Mann Ki Baat’ and for taking forward the Cleanliness Campaign. +My dear countrymen, now your views and your sentiments on ‘Mann Ki Baat’ though your letters, on MyGov, on NaarendraModiApp keep me constantly connected with you. +Presently Mann Ki Baat is broadcast at 11 AM but we are going to start its broadcast in regional languages immediately after my Hindi broadcast. +I am grateful to Akashvani for taking up this initiative which will definitely provide an opportunity to connect our countrymen even in those areas, where Hindi language is not prevalent. +Many thanks to all of you. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today gave its ex-post facto approval for Memoranda of understanding (MoU) signed between India and various countries for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Germany, Spain, Russia and France +“I will visit Germany on 29-30 May 2017 on the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the Fourth India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC). +India and Germany are large democracies, major economies and important players in regional and global affairs. +Our strategic partnership is based on democratic values and commitment to an open, inclusive and rules-based global order. +I would begin my visit from Meseberg near Berlin in Germany, where Chancellor Merkel has very graciously invited me to hold discussions on issues of regional and global importance. +On 30 May, Chancellor Merkel and I will hold the 4th IGC to review the state of our bilateral relationship. +We will also chart out a future roadmap of cooperation with focus on trade and investment, security and counter-terrorism, innovation and science & technology, skill development, urban infrastructure, railways and civil aviation, clean energy, development cooperation, health and alternative medicine. +I would also call on H.E. Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany. +Germany is our leading partner in trade, technology and investment. +In Berlin, Chancellor Merkel and I will interact with top business leaders of both the countries to further strengthen our trade and investment ties. +I am confident that this visit will open a new chapter in our bilateral cooperation with Germany and further deepen our Strategic Partnership. +I will pay an official visit to Spain from 30 – 31 May 2017. +This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Spain in almost three decades. +I will have the honour of calling on His Majesty King Felipe VI during this visit. +I look forward to my meeting with President Mariano Rajoy on 31 May. +We will discuss ways to enhance bilateral engagement, especially in the economic sphere, and cooperation on international issues of common concern, particularly in combating terrorism. +There is significant potential for deepening bilateral trade and investment ties. +We seek active participation of Spanish industry in various Indian projects including infrastructure, smart cities, digital economy, renewable energy, defence and tourism. +I will also meet top CEOs of Spanish industry and encourage them to partner with us in our ‘Make in India’ Initiative. +The first meeting of the India-Spain CEOs Forum will be held on the sidelines of my visit. +I look forward to their valuable recommendations for strengthening India-Spain economic partnership. +I will be visiting St. Petersburg, Russia from 31st May to 2nd June for the 18th India-Russia Annual Summit. +On 1st June, I will be conducting detailed discussions with President Putin to take forward our dialogue from the last Summit in Goa in October 2016. +With a spotlight on economic ties, both President Putin and I will also be interacting with CEOs from both countries. +On the next day, I will be addressing the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) together with President Putin. +I appreciate the invitation to be the Guest of Honour at this year’s Forum. +India is the Guest Country at the SPIEF this year. +I will also have occasion to visit the world famous State Hermitage Museum and the Institute of Oriental manuscripts. +I greatly look forward to my visit to St. Petersburg in this special year for the bilateral relationship as both countries celebrate the 70th Anniversary of our diplomatic relations. +France is one of our most important Strategic Partners. +I look forward to meeting President Macron and have discussions on issues of mutual interest. +I would be exchanging views with the French President on important global issues including UN Security Council reforms and India’s permanent membership of the UN Security Council, India’s membership of the various multilateral export control regimes, counter-terrorism cooperation, collaboration on climate change and International Solar Alliance. +France is our 9th largest investment partner and a key partner in our development initiatives in the area of defence, space, nuclear and renewable energy, urban development and railways. +I am committed to substantially strengthening and advancing our multi-faceted partnership with France.” +48 newly elected Sarpanchesof Panchayats from Jammu and Kashmir called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today. +The delegation was led by Shri Shafiq Mir, President of the All Jammu &Kashmir Panchayat Conference. +He urged the members of the delegation to prioritize people’s interests, as the people have reposed enormous faith and hope on them. +The Prime Ministercongratulated the local representatives for the courage displayed by them in the face of heavy odds; and for successfully participating in the democratic process, despite threats and intimidation. +He assured them of the Government of India’s full support for making the Panchayati Raj model a success, and responsive to the people’s basic necessities and grievances. +Empowerment of grassroots institutions is a significant step in taking Jammu and Kashmir away from the path of violence and secure the rights and development of the local populace. +He also appreciated the participation of women in the recent Panchayat elections. +Devolution of powers at the grassroots level is a unique opportunity for people to become stakeholders in their own developmental process. +The J&K Panchayat Act was passed in 1989, but only three of the allotted 25 functions under the Act were actually provided budgetary support. +The Government has now amended the J&K Panchayati Raj Act of 1989 and transferred Rs 2,000 Crore per annum to the Panchayats. +Another Rs 1,200 Crore has been made available to the Urban Local Bodies. +The Panchayats will directly monitor activities pertaining to 19 departments/subjects and carry out audits of government schemes and projects. +Elections to 1,100 Urban Local Body wards were held after a gap of 13 years; and 35,000 Panchayats after seven years in Nov-Dec 2018. +74 percent voter turnout (out of total 58 Lakh voters) was witnessed in the Panchayat elections. +To take the process forward, a training programme for 40,000 grass-roots representatives will be undertaken soon. +The Sarpanches will be provided a monthly honorarium of Rs 2,500 and Rs 1,000 per month will be disbursed to each Panch. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will be on a visit to his Parliamentary Constituency, Varanasi, on September 17 and 18, 2018. +He will arrive in the city on the afternoon of 17th September. +He will head directly for Narur village, where he will interact with children of a primary school who are being aided by the non-profit organisation “Room to Read.” +Later, at DLW campus, the Prime Minister will interact with students of Kashi Vidyapeeth, and children assisted by them. +On the 18th, at BHU Amphitheatre, the Prime Minister will inaugurate or lay the Foundation Stone for various development projects, cumulatively worth more than Rs. 500 crore. +Among the projects to be inaugurated are: Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) for Puraani Kashi; and an Atal Incubation Centre at BHU. +Among the projects for which the Foundation Stone will be laid, is the Regional Ophthalmology Centre at BHU. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Lucknow, where he will take part in various programmes including the Yoga Day programme tomorrow. +Today evening, the Prime Minister will visit CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI). +The Prime Minister will also inaugurate a building of the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University. +In Lucknow, PM will dedicate to the nation the 400 KV Lucknow-Kanpur D/C transmission line. +PM will also distribute sanction letters to beneficiaries of PM Awas Yojana. +Tomorrow morning, on 3rd Yoga Day, Prime Minister will join the Yoga Day programme at the Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan in Lucknow. +The Prime Minister wished the crew of INSV Tarini a ‘Happy Diwali’, on behalf of the nation. +He also wished them success in their mission. +The Prime Minister also conveyed birthday greetings in advance to two of the crew – Lt. Cdr. +Vartika Joshi, and Lt. Payal Gupta – whose birthdays are coming up shortly. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people on the occasion of Samvatsari. +May the power of compassion and forgiveness further kindle the spirit of unity in our society,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Indian Community in Stockholm. +He thanked the Government of Sweden, in particular His Majesty the King of Sweden; and the Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr. Stefan Lofven who was present at the event, for the warm welcome he received in Sweden. +He said that India is going through a great transformation today. +He said that the current Union Government had been elected on the mandate of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. +He said the Government has worked towards a developed and inclusive India, in the last four years. +He said all efforts are being made to create a New India by 2022. +The Prime Minister said that through initiatives such as International Yoga Day, efforts are also being made to see that India emerges as a global thought leader once again. +He said the world is looking at India with confidence. +In this context, he mentioned humanitarian relief and rescue efforts, the International Solar Alliance, and membership of key regimes such as MTCR, Wassenaar Arrangement, and Australia Group. +The Prime Minister said that because of digital infrastructure, the format of engagement between citizens and Government is changing. +Technology is bringing about accountability and transparency, he said. +He said access to Government is no longer a privilege, but a practice. +In this context, he mentioned faster file disposal, Ease of Doing Business, GST, Direct Benefit Transfer, and access to cooking gas through the Ujjwala Yojana. +The Prime Minister said that through the MUDRA scheme, there are new opportunities available to entrepreneurs. +He said 74 percent of the beneficiaries under the MUDRA scheme till now, are women. +He also mentioned the Atal Innovation Mission, Skill India and Start Up India. +The Prime Minister said that India is also building International Partnerships to boost innovation. +In this context he mentioned the innovation partnership with Sweden, and a similar initiative with Israel. +He said the Government is focusing on Ease of Living. +In this context, he also mentioned the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which he described as the world’s biggest healthcare assurance scheme. +The Prime Minister said that these steps are indicative of a transformation in India. +He said that towards this end, the partnerships with Sweden and the other Nordic countries are very important. +The Prime Minister urged the gathering to not limit their connect with India, to just an emotional one. +He said the emerging New India offers them many opportunities to innovate, trade and invest as well. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the following:- +GeM SPV shall provide an end-to-end online Marketplace for Central and State Government Ministries / Departments, Central & State Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs & SPSUs), Autonomous institutions and Local bodies, for procurement of common use goods & services in a transparent and efficient manner. +DGS&D shall be wound up and cease its functions by 31st October, 2017. +In case it is not possible to wind up DGS&D by 31st October, 2017, the Department may extend the date of closure with proper justification latest upto 31st March, 2018. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes those who fought courageously in the 1971 war on Vijay Diwas. +“Vijay Diwas is a fitting reminder of the valour and sacrifice of all those who fought courageously in the 1971 war. +Tributes to them”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Monday evening reviewed the progress of digital infrastructure, rural infrastructure, and connectivity sectors. +The Prime Minister sought details from officials on preparations for providing electricity to all unconnected villages in the country within 1000 days, as mentioned in his Independence Day address. +He directed concerned departments to monitor progress towards this goal on a real-time basis. +The Prime Minister was apprised of the status of mobile connectivity across the country. +He directed officials to explore the possibility of leveraging existing resources, including railway and other communication infrastructure, to provide mobile connectivity in remote, unconnected areas. +He emphasized that the targets for digital infrastructure should be synchronized with the targets for the Digital India initiative. +The Prime Minister expressed serious concern over the issue of “call drops” and asked officials as to what steps were being taken to address this problem, which, he said, directly affects the common man. +He directed that steps be taken urgently to resolve the problem, and also to ensure that the problems in voice connectivity do not extend to data connectivity in the future. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of solar energy related projects, especially with regard to railway stations and airports. +He directed that work related to setting up of Railway Universities be speeded up. +He also called for priority to be assigned to road links with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. +The Prime Minister said that with enough funds now being provided for infrastructure creation, the onus is on the concerned Ministries to ensure that these outlays are converted into proportionate outcomes. +Shri Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairman NITI Aayog, was present at the meeting. +Senior officials from PMO, NITI Aayog, and concerned Ministries were also present. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with Mudra Yojana beneficiaries from across the country, through video bridge. +The video conference is the second in the series of video bridge by the Prime Minister, interacting with various beneficiaries of Government schemes. +Expressing happiness at being able to interact with the beneficiaries, the Prime Minister said that the Mudra Yojana has become a job multiplier. +He further added that the initiative has helped in relieving the entrepreneurs from the vicious cycle of moneylenders and middlemen. +It has opened up new opportunities for youth, women and those who wanted to start or expand their businesses. +Under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, Government has so fargiven out 12 crore loans worth Rs. 5.75 lakh crore. +Out of which 28% of the loans worth Rs. 3.25 lakh crore were given to first time entrepreneurs.Of the total loans disbursed, 74% of the total beneficiaries were women and 55% of the loans were given to SC/ST and OBC communities. +Prime Minister, while addressing the PMMY beneficiaries, said that the scheme has transformed the lives of the poor. +He said that by aiding small and micro businesses, the scheme has helped to strengthen people economically, socially and has given people a platform to succeed. +Emphasizing on creating self-employment, Prime Minister said that being self- employed is a matter of pride now and has helped people in achieving things that were considered impossible before. +During the interaction, Prime Minister said that if Mudra Yojana was implemented a few years ago, it would have helped lakhs of people to set up their own businesses and would have stopped migration to a great extent. +Interacting with the Prime Minister, beneficiaries explained how Mudra Yojana has helped to set up their own business and thereby helped to create employment for others. +Boost to Ease of Doing Business in Petroleum & Natural Gas Sector +In line with the Government initiative of ease of doing business, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for delegating the powers to Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Finance Minister to award the Blocks/Contract Areas to successful bidders under Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) after International Competitive Bidding (ICB) based on the recommendations of Empowered Committee of Secretaries (ECS). +Under HELP, Blocks are to be awarded twice in a year. +Therefore, this delegation of powers will expedite the decision making process on awarding blocks and give a boost to the initiative of ease of doing business. +Under the NELP Policy, ECS considers the Bid Evaluation Criteria (BEC), conducts negotiations with the bidders wherever necessary and make recommendations to CCEA on award of blocks. +The CCEA approves the award of blocks. +The entire process, including Inter Ministerial Consultations (IMC) is quite lengthy and time consuming. +In consonance with the Government initiative of ‘Ease of Doing Business’, it is desirable to shorten the duration of time taken for award of the Blocks / Contract Areas. +Under the New Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy’ the competitive bidding will be continuous and blocks will be awarded twice a year. +Government of India launched a new policy regime for Exploration & Production (E&P) sector namely Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) in 2016 which is paradigm shift from earlier policy regime. +The main features of new Policy regime are Revenue Sharing Contract, single Licence for exploration and production of conventional as well as unconventional Hydrocarbon resources, marketing & pricing freedom, etc. +Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) under HELP, is main innovative feature wherein investor can carve out Blocks of their own interest and submit an Expression of Interest (Eol) throughout the year. +Based on the areas for which expression of interest has been expressed bidding will be conducted every 6 months. +Government received an overwhelming response in first Eol cycle of OALP which started on 1st July, 2017 and closed on 15thNovember, 2017. +In the first Bid round, 55 blocks, having an area of 59282 sq.km spreading across 11 States have been offered for bidding. +The bidding process is being handled through a secured and dedicated e-bidding portal. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today interacted with Collectors and Officers-in-charge of aspirational districts, at a Conference organized by NITI Aayog at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. +This event is in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Transforming India by 2022. +The Union Government has embarked upon a major policy initiative for the rapid transformation of 115 districts that are lagging on specific development parameters. +Six groups of officers made presentations on the themes of nutrition, education, basic infrastructure, agriculture and water resources, eradication of Left Wing Extremism and financial inclusion and skill development. +Addressing the gathering, which also included many Union Ministers and senior Union Government officers, the Prime Minister said this is the first official programme at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, and therefore has a special significance. +He said that relative backwardness of some regions is an injustice to the people of those regions. +In that context, he added, this effort to develop 115 backward districts, is in keeping with the vision of Dr. Ambedkar, who worked for the upliftment of the under-privileged. +Giving the examples of the Jan Dhan Yojana, the construction of toilets, and rural electrification, the Prime Minister said nothing is impossible in our country if we have a firm resolve. +He also gave examples of success that is being achieved in entirely new initiatives such as soil testing. +The objective of this MoU is to establish mutual cooperation in the field of civil aviation, which will cover, to begin with, the airports of Jaipur and Ahmedabad. +This cooperation will be extended to other airports with mutual consent. +Government of Singapore owns one of the best managed airports in the world, which has consistently maintained its ranking for last many years. +The city side and airside will continue to be managed directly by AAI. +Globally, limited O&M contract models are prevalent for the entire airport operations. +AAI has no previous experience in awarding O&M contract model of terminal buildings to other entities. +In order to implement the decision, it was necessary to ensure that a suitable entity be engaged for undertaking the O&M contract at Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid homage to 10th Sikh Guru Guru Gobind Singh ji on his 350th Prakash Parv. +PM said, “As we mark the 350th Prakash Parv, I bow to the venerable Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. +He was an embodiment of exceptional courage and immense wisdom. +His brave deeds and noble thoughts inspire people across generations. +Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji believed in the power of equality. +He inaugurated the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Super Speciality Hospital, and delivered the Convocation Address at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. +The Prime Minister exhorted the students to always remember that one of the sources of funding for this University, was the donation made by poor pilgrims at the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi. +He said that the students should also take a pledge to do something for the poor. +He said that the nation is scaling new heights, and with a youthful population, there is a lot that can be achieved. +He said the 21st century is the century of knowledge, and whenever there has been an era of knowledge, India has shown the way. +The Prime Minister appreciated the girl students for performing exceedingly well academically. +He also recalled the feat of Dipa Karmakar, who has become the first Indian woman to qualify for an Olympics gymnastics competition. +The Prime Minister later inaugurated the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Sports Complex, and addressed a public meeting. +He appreciated the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, for her energetic leadership, and for the enthusiasm with which she spoke of the future of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. +He also recalled the former Chief Minister of the State, Shri Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. +Referring to the Sports Complex, he said that sports is extremely important to build sportsman spirit in society. +The Prime Minister recalled Shri Atal Bihari’s vision for Jammu and Kashmir – Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat, and Kashmiriyat. +He said that every effort would be made to work towards the development of the State, keeping in mind this vision. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on prevention of human trafficking especially trafficking in women and children: rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of victims of human trafficking. +The salient features of the MoU are as follows:- +(i). To strengthen cooperation to prevent all forms of the human trafficking, especially that of women and children and ensure the speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organized crime syndicates in either country; +(ii). enumeration of preventive measures that would be taken to eliminate human trafficking in women and children and in protecting the rights of victims of trafficking; and +My colleagues in government, +Friends and Distinguished Guests from India and abroad, +I am happy, to be here today, to address the Sixth Delhi Economics Conclave. +This is a good platform for bringing together economists, policy-makers, and thought-leaders, from India and abroad. +I compliment the Ministry of Finance for organising it. +Your topic of discussion is JAM, that is, Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar and Mobile. +This JAM vision, will serve as the bedrock of many initiatives to come. +For me, JAM is about Just Achieving Maximum. +– Maximum value for every rupee spent. +– Maximum empowerment for our poor. +– Maximum technology penetration among the masses. +– GDP growth is up and inflation is down. +– Foreign investment is up and the Current Account Deficit is down. +– Revenues are up and interest rates are down. +– The fiscal deficit is down and the rupee is stable. +Obviously, this did not happen by accident. +And the world economy is not exactly doing well. +This success, is the result of a series of well thought out policies. +Many of the purely macro economic reforms we have undertaken, are probably well known to this audience. +We have embarked on a course of fiscal consolidation. +We have entered for the first time into a monetary framework agreement, with the Reserve Bank to curb inflation. +Even while cutting the fiscal deficit we have substantially increased productive public investment. +This has been made possible in two ways. +Firstly, we have imposed, carbon taxes on fossil fuels. +We took the bold step of de-controlling diesel prices and thereby eliminated energy subsidies. +We have actually acted. +Secondly, we have reduced wasteful expenditure through innovative methods like the use of technology. +Some of the methods, are part of your agenda, such as using Aadhaar to target subsidies to the deserving. +These are reforms that you are probably aware of. +But our reforms are far broader, and far deeper, than is generally recognised. +Before I elaborate on this, I would like to raise two issues. +My answer is clear. +The second question is, REFORM FOR WHOM? +Who is the target audience? +Is our aim to impress groups of experts and score points in intellectual discussions? +Or to achieve ranks in some international league table? +Again, my answer is clear. +The destination is transformation of India. +Therefore, REFORM TO TRANSFORM. +And reforming to transform, is a marathon, not a sprint. +The reforms we have undertaken, are of many types. +For simplicity, I will classify them as financial, structural and institutional. +It will not be possible for me to cover all of them here. +But I will certainly mention some of the most important. +Let me start with the financial reforms. +We talk often about interest rates and credit policy. +Changes in interest rates are debated for months. +Tons of newsprint and hours of television are spent on it. +It is for this reason that development experts have been advocating financial inclusion. +What we have done in the last 17 months is to bring one hundred and ninety million people into the banking system. +This is more than the population of most of the countries in the world. +Now these millions are part of our banking system, and words like ‘interest rate’ have a meaning for them. +Not only have these people been brought into the system but they have shown that there is great strength at the bottom of the pyramid. +Believe it or not, accounts opened under the Jan Dhan Yojana today have a total balance of almost Rs. 26,000 crores or nearly four billion dollars. +Clearly our financial inclusion reform has been transformational. +And yet this quiet revolution has hardly been noticed. +The Jan Dhan Yojana has also transformed the ability of the poor to make and to receive electronic payments. +India’s banks are also being encouraged to operate ‘mobile ATMs’. +A mobile ATM is one where cash can be drawn and simple banking tasks done through a hand held device. +Thanks to Jan Dhan Yojana and the RuPay debit card, we have also introduced healthy competition in the debit-credit card space. +This has traditionally been dominated by a few international players. +Even one year ago, there were hardly any indigenous card brands in the market. +Today, 36 % of debit cards in India are Ru-Pay cards. +Financial inclusion is not just about opening bank accounts or enabling electronic payments. +I firmly believe, that India has tremendous entrepreneurial energy. +This needs to be harnessed so that we become a nation of job-creators, rather than job seekers. +When we took office, we found that 58 million non-corporate enterprises provided one 128 million jobs. +60% of them were in rural areas. +Over 40% were owned by people from the Backward Classes and 15% by Scheduled Castes and Tribes. +But bank credit accounted for a tiny share of their financing. +Most of them never get any bank credit. +In other words the most employment-intensive sector of the economy gets the least credit! +While Jan Dhan Yojana was to bring banking to the unbanked the second reform was to bring funding to the unfunded. +We are creating a new financing and regulatory architecture under the Micro-Units Development and Refinance Agency scheme popularly known as MUDRA. +Already under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana banks have provided More than six million loans to small businesses for a total value of nearly Rs 38,000 crores or six billion dollars. +If one conservatively estimates that each loan creates 2 jobs we have laid the foundation for 12 million new jobs. +Even Rs Two Hundred Thousand crores invested in the corporate sector would not produce this many jobs. +We have now launched a programme where each branch of each bank that is a total of 125,000 bank branches will assist one Dalit or a Scheduled Tribe person and one woman in starting a business. +We are also creating an environment that fosters innovation and start-ups through the Atal Innovation Mission and the Self Employment and Talent Utilisation programme. +Another financial reform is the provision of a safety net through new social security schemes. +We have introduced three non-subsidised but low cost schemes covering accident insurance life insurance and pensions. +Because of their massive coverage the premia are low. +There are now over 120 million subscribers. +For many of these reforms to be successful we need a strong banking system. +We inherited a system where cronyism and corruption were believed to be rampant in banking decisions and in appointments to public sector banks. +After the first ever retreat of a Prime Minister with bankers, known as the Gyan Sangam, we have moved decisively to change this. +Major steps have been taken to improve efficiency, including clear performance measures and accountability mechanisms. +We have made a commitment to ensuring adequate capital. +But more than that there have been very powerful non-financial steps. +Interference in banking decisions has ended. +A new process for appointments is being put in place under the Bank Boards Bureau. +Credible and capable bankers have been appointed to head banks. +For the first time since banks were nationalised 46 years ago private sector professionals have been appointed in key positions. +This is a major reform. +There is a whole eco-system focused on alleviating poverty. +Perhaps this can be called the ‘poverty alleviation industry’. +Obviously the intentions are good. +Well designed schemes and subsidies do have an important place. +But empowering the poor is far more effective than empowering the poverty alleviation industry. +Our financial reforms empower the poor to fight poverty themselves. +I can take the analogy of a house. +The foundation and basic structure occupies some of the costs. +Then come the fixtures, fittings and furniture. +If the foundation and structure are weak any investment in nice fittings or attractive floor tiles or beautiful curtains is unlikely to last long. +So also, empowering the poor through financial inclusion and social security will provide a more stable and lasting solution. +Let me now turn to structural reforms in various sectors. +Agriculture remains India’s mainstay in terms of providing livelihood. +We have introduced a series of reforms. +There was a tendency to divert subsidised fertiliser for the production of chemicals. +A simple but very effective solution is neem-coating of fertiliser which makes it unsuitable for diversion. +This had been tried on a small scale earlier. +We are now moving towards universal neem-coating of urea. +This has already saved crores of rupees of diverted farm subsidies. +It is an example of how simple reforms can be very effective. +We have introduced a Soil Health Card nationally which tells every farmer the condition of his or her soil. +It enables the farmer to choose the right quantity and mix of inputs. +By reducing unnecessary chemical inputs, it is also good for health of consumers. +It enables farmers to choose the best crop for their soil. +Many farmers have been unaware that their land is actually more suited for a different crop. +In economic terms, it is a win-win-win-win. +It reduces costs, increases yields, improves the environment and protects the health of consumers. +About four million samples have already been collected. +This too is a reform to transform. +We have launched a housing for all program – one of the most ambitious in the world. +The programme will make sure no Indian is houseless. +It will also generate a large amount of employment mainly for the unskilled the semi-skilled and the poor. +This multi-pronged program is also a transformative reform. +Much has been said and written about India’s labour markets. +We have already undertaken some important steps. +Many workers in the organised sector have suffered when changing jobs by being unable to access provident fund and other benefits. +The benefits accrued under one employer become difficult to account for under another employer. +We have introduced a Universal Account Number which will remain with an employee even when he changes jobs. +This greatly improves labour mobility and makes life easier for employers and employees. +Over a period of years, this will have a major impact on the quality of employment in India. +Before becoming Prime Minister, I had received many inputs about the reforms needed in India from many economic experts. +However, none of them touched on the issue of cleanliness and sanitation. +Sanitation has languished for years as a poor cousin of health or of drinking water supply. +It has often been viewed as a question of budgets and projects and expenditure. +Yet, you will all agree that poor sanitation and lack of cleanliness is much more than an issue of health. +It touches upon every aspect of our well-being. +It is of particular importance to women. +We have undertaken major managerial improvements in the transport sector. +Our major ports have seen a 5% growth in traffic and an 11% increase in operating income in 2014-15 despite a global contraction in trade volume. +The Shipping Corporation of India had been making losses continuously for several years and had a loss of Rs. 275 crores in 2013-14. +The pace of award of new highway works has increased from 5.2 km per day in 2012-13 and 8.7 km per day in 2013-14 to 23.4 km per day currently. +These managerial reforms in the working of the public sector will have large multiplier effects throughout the economy. +Another measure we have taken is to identify what can be called ‘dead money’ and use it productively. +The best example is gold. +India is well known for its cultural affinity for gold. +As economists you will probably understand that this so-called cultural affinity has a strong economic logic. +India has often witnessed high inflation. +Gold is an excellent hedge against inflation and is a highly portable store of value. +Its portability and usability, also make it a source of empowerment of women who traditionally are the main owners of gold jewellery. +However, this micro-economic virtue, can become a macro-economic vice. +It implies a high level of gold imports. +We have just launched a series of gold-related schemes. +These will provide Indians with the inflation protection of gold along with a modest interest without actually holding it. +If the scheme reaches its potential, it will help meet the rational expectations of the public while moderating imports. +Surely, this too is an important reform with potential to transform. +Let me now turn to institutional and governance reforms. +For years, the Planning Commission was widely criticised. +It was generally seen as a cumbersome centralising force which imposed central will on the states. +It is another matter that some of its strongest critics suddenly developed a nostalgic admiration for the institution they had hated till the previous day. +After coming to power we created a new institution, the National Institution for Transforming India, or NITI. +My vision of NITI is very different from the Planning Commission. +It is to be a collaborative forum for ideas and action where States are full partners and where Centre and States meet in a spirit of co-operative federalism. +Perhaps some people thought this was merely a slogan. +But we already have concrete examples of its transformative power. +As you all know, the 14th Finance Commission recommended that states be given an enhanced share of Central revenues as automatic devolution. +Despite some internal advice to the contrary, I decided to accept the recommendation. +This has created a need to restructure Centrally Sponsored Schemes. +Ever since the First Five Year Plan in 1952, such decisions were taken unilaterally by the Centre. +We did something very different. +The task of fixing the sharing pattern of Central schemes was entrusted not to a group of Central ministers but to a Sub-Group of Chief Ministers in NITI. +And I am delighted to say, that in a fine example of co-operative federalism at its best, the Chief Ministers have unanimously agreed on a set of recommendations. +This is despite the fact that this is a very complex issue, and that they come from many different political parties. +I received their report, on 27th October. +The main recommendation on the sharing pattern was accepted the very same day and written instructions were issued the very next day. +On many other issues too, the Chief Ministers are taking the lead in setting the national agenda. +By reforming the institution, we have transformed the relationship. +Our work on ‘Make in India’ and ‘Ease of Doing Business’ is of course well known. +Our push to ‘Make in India’ must be viewed in the context of the very slow growth in world trade. +The growth rate of trade exceeded GDP growth from 1983 to 2008. +Since then, trade has been growing more slowly than GDP. +Therefore, producing for domestic consumption is important for growth. +You are all probably aware, that India has substantially improved its ranking in the World Bank’s Doing Business survey. +But a new feature, is the very healthy and constructive competition among states. +You would be surprised to know, that among the top few states are Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Odisha. +This is an example of constructive competitive federalism. +In a break with over sixty-five years of tradition we have involved states even in foreign policy. +The Ministry of External Affairs has been asked to work with the States. +When I visited China, a state-to-state summit was also held. +And states have been asked to create export promotion councils. +Making the States think globally is yet another reform with potential to transform. +I firmly believe that India’s people are far more mature and far more public-spirited than arm-chair critics and experts give them credit for. +An important governance issue is the mutual trust between citizens and the state. +We made a beginning in trusting the citizens by abolishing many requirements for ‘attestation’ of signatures. +For example, the Department of Higher Education, has permitted self attestation by students of documents used for admission in various academic courses. +We also ended the requirement to visit government offices for life certification for pensioners by introducing online biometric identification. +Economists have traditionally believed that people act in their self interest. +But India has a long tradition of voluntarism. +We introduced the Give-it-up Campaign seeking the cooperation of the public in voluntarily giving up cooking gas subsidies. +We promised them that for every connection given up one poor family currently without gas would be given a connection. +This will enable us to liberate many poor women from the health hazards of using firewood including respiratory illness. +The response has been tremendous. +Within a few months over four million Indians have given up their cooking gas subsidies. +Most of them are not rich households and belong to the lower middle class. +If any of you in this room still have a subsidised connection let me appeal to you to join them. +This brings me to an achievement that I think even our worst critics do not dispute. +This is the change in levels of corruption. +For many years, economists and other experts have held corruption to be one of the main constraints on the growth of any developing economy. +We have taken decisive steps to curb corruption. +I have already referred to what has been done in public sector banks. +Another major reform is well known. +This is the removal of discretion in allocation of key resources. +Our auctions of coal spectrum and FM radio licences have produced major additional revenues. +In the case of coal the major beneficiaries are some of India’s poorest states, who will now have much more resources for development. +Interviews for lower level government jobs have widely been seen, as a source of corruption. +We have recently abolished the system of interviews for lower level posts in government. +We will rely on transparent written examination results to decide who will be selected. +Our campaign against tax evasion and money laundering is also well known. +Rs. 6500 crores has been assessed before the new Black Money Act was implemented. +Additionally, over Rs 4000 crores has been declared under the new Act. +Thus over Rs 10,500 crores of black money from abroad has been detected and assessed. +If we can sustain this improvement in integrity and transparency what can be a more transformative reform? +We are also taking several steps to serve the honest taxpayer better. +Electronic filing of returns now covers 85% of all tax returns. +Earlier, electronic returns had to be followed by a paper verification which used to take weeks to be processed. +This year, we have introduced e-verification using Aadhaar and over four million taxpayers made use of this facility. +For them, the entire process was simple, electronic and completed instantly with no paper at all. +I have asked the Income Tax Department to move to a system where not only returns but also scrutiny is done without having to go to the office. +Queries could be raised and answered online or by Email. +There should be a visible electronic trail of what is pending with whom, where, and for how long. +This is being piloted in five big cities. +I have also instructed that the performance appraisal system, for Income Tax Officers be changed. +The appraisal should reflect, whether or not the officer’s orders and assessments have been upheld on appeal. +This will deter corruption and also motivate officers to pass correct orders. +When fully implemented, these changes, namely online scrutiny, and changes in performance appraisal have transformative potential. +This is a distinguished gathering. +You have many interesting and thought provoking sessions ahead. +My appeal to all of you, is to think beyond conventional remedies. +We should not limit our idea of reforms to a few standard notions. +Our idea of reforms should be inclusive and broad-based. +The goal of reforms is not better headlines in the pink papers, but better lives for our people. +I am sure you with your knowledge will come up with even better ideas. +I look forward to hearing from you of more ‘reforms to transform’ which will make life better for the whole of India. +Then not only we in India but the whole world will benefit. +Also, possibility of encroachments of FBP land and ensuing security concerns to FBP would be reduced due to presence of the BSF personnel in the area. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the reforms to boost employment generation and exports in the Made-ups Sector. +The following interventions have been approved in a time bound manner within the approved budget of Rs. 6,006 crore for the apparel package with the objective of creating large scale direct and indirect employment of upto 11 lakh persons over the next three years in the made-ups sector:- +1. Providing production incentive through enhanced Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) subsidy of additional 10% for Made-ups similar to what is provided to garments based on the additional production and employment after a period of 3 years. +2. Extension of Pradhan Mantri Paridhan Rozgar Protsahan Yojana (PMPRPY) Scheme (for apparel) to made-ups sector for providing additional 3.67% share of Employer’s contribution in addition to 8.33% already covered under Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY) for all new employees enrolling in EPFO for the first three years of their employment as a special incentive to Made-ups sector +3. Extension of Rebate of State Levies (ROSL) (for apparel) Scheme to made-ups sector for enhanced Duty Drawback on exports of Made-ups. +4. Simplification of labour laws: +(i) Increasing permissible overtime up to 100 hours per quarter in Made-ups manufacturing sector, +(ii) Making employees’ contribution to EPF optional for employees earning less than Rs 15,000 per month. +The interventions are expected to boost employment in the textile sector and create employment for upto eleven lakh persons, lead to increase in exports and enhance benefits to the workers in the textile and apparel sector. +“Congratulations to Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji on being elected the President of India! +Best wishes for a fruitful & inspiring tenure. +Gladdened by the extensive support for Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji among MPs & across various states. +I thank members of the Electoral College. +I also congratulate Meira Kumar Ji for her campaign, which was in spirit of the democratic ethos & values we all are proud of”, the Prime Minister said. +In his message, the President has said, “Please accept my warm greetings and good wishes on your birthday. +Let this day be the beginning of a year of greater achievements in your and our nation’s life. +May the Almighty bless you with good health, happiness and many more years of dedicated service to the nation”. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the loss of lives due to collapse of a building in Mumbai. +“Collapse of a building in Mumbai is saddening. +My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and prayers with the injured”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO scientists on the successful launch of GSLV MK III-D2 carrying GSAT-29 satellite. +“My heartiest congratulations to our scientists on the successful launch of GSLV MK III-D2 carrying GSAT-29 satellite. +The double success sets a new record of putting the heaviest satellite in orbit by an Indian launch vehicle. +The satellite will provide communication and internet services to the remotest corners of our country”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people on Onam. +“Greetings to Malayali friends on Onam. +May Onam enhance the spirit of peace, prosperity, brotherhood and truthfulness in our lives,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister also remarked on the significance of Onam as a symbol of national integration, justice, peace and prosperity on the occasion. +���It is wonderful how all sections of Malayali society come together to celebrate Onam, making it a wonderful occasion of national integration. +Onam reminds us of the glorious era of King Mahabali and is a day to reaffirm our commitment to create a just, peaceful & prosperous society,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on his Nirvan Divas. +“I bow to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on his Nirvan Divas. +India will always be thankful to Babasaheb for his rich service to the nation,” the Prime Minister said. +PM’s conversation with Chinese journalists based in New Delhi. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in a conversation today with Chinese journalists based in New Delhi said, “India and China are bound by history, connected by culture, and inspired by rich traditions. +Together they can create a bright future for the entire mankind.” +Prime Minister summarized the possibilities of our bilateral ties moving ahead as “Inch (India and China) towards Miles (Millennium of Exceptional Synergy).” +He said that every inch we cover can rewrite history of humanity and every mile we cross will go a long way in making this planet a better place. +He hoped that together India and China cover several miles. +Several miles that take not only the two nations forward but also all of Asia and humankind towards the path of progress and harmony. +Referring to the large population base of India and China, Prime Minister said that when India and China gain, almost 35% of the world’s population benefits; when India and China strengthen relations, almost 35% of the world’s people come closer; when economic cooperation between India and China increases, the lives of almost 35% of the world’s population undergoes qualitative changes. +In response to a question on how he foresees India and China relations developing, Prime Minister explained that our relations go beyond plain arithmetic. +They have a unique chemistry that can make for a defining moment. +Elaborating on the nature of the relationship he said, “the arithmetic and chemistry of our relations convince me that together we can script history and create a better tomorrow for all of mankind.” +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Bodh Gaya tomorrow. +In the course of the visit, the Prime Minister will visit the Mahabodhi Temple and the Holy Bo Tree. +He will also inaugurate the Exhibition “Chetiya Carika: The Pilgrimage and Quest for Truth.” +The Prime Minister’s visit to Bodh Gaya coincides with Day 3 of SAMVAD – the Global Hindu Buddhist Initiative on Conflict Avoidance and Environment Consciousness, during which the delegates for this event will be present at Bodh Gaya. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for Memorandum of Understanding between India and Finland on cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of outer space. +The MoU has already been signed in 10thJanuary, 2019 at New Delhi. +The signed MoU will provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication; satellite navigation; space science and exploration of outer space. +Cooperation with the Government of Finland would lead to develop a joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. +The Memorandum of Understanding shall enable the following potential interest areas of cooperation such as, +Remote sensing of the earth +Satellite communication and satellite based navigation +Space science and planetary exploration +Development, testing and operation of space objects and ground system +Launching of Finnish Space objects by Indian launch vehicles +Processing and use of space data +Developing innovative applications and solutions based on space technologies and use of artificial intelligence +Cooperation around emerging New Space opportunities and data ecosystems and sustainable used of outer space. +Under this MoU the Participants or upon their authority, the implementing agencies, may set up project teams if necessary, to manage specific cooperative projects taken up under implementing arrangements. +Implementation Strategy and Targets: +The Participants will each nominate a coordinator for the purpose of coordinating cooperative activities under this MoU. +In order to facilitate the implementation of this MoU, the Participants could meet on mutual decision alternately in India or in Finland or through videoconference. +The Participants or, upon their authority, the implementing agencies, may set up project teams if necessary, to manage specific cooperative projects taken up under implementing arrangements. +The move comes in the background of interest expressed by the Govt. of Finland for co-operation in the area of Space. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Central Silk Board (CSB), India and National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS), Japan for collaborative research in the field of silkworm and silk industries. +The MoU was signed on 11.11.2016 between CSB and NIAS for initiating a Collaborative Research for developing prolific bivoltine hybrids of silkworm suitable for the Indian tropical conditions. +The MoU is of scientific and technological nature. +It would help in developing prolific hybrid silkworms, which would improve the manufacturing capacity and the quality standards of the Indian sericulture industry and thereby enhance exports of silk and silk products. +It is expected that subsequent to the MoU, the Indian Textiles & Apparel Industry would be able to produce world class silk and silk products. +The improvement of quality and productivity would ultimately increase export of silk products. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has today given its approval to grant Special Remission to Prisoners as part of Commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. +As part of commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the following categories of prisoners will be considered for special remission and released in three phases. +Ministry of Home Affairs will issue advice to all States and UTs asking them to process the cases of eligible prisoners. +State Governments and UT Administrations will be advised to constitute a Committee to examine the cases. +State Governments will place the recommendations of the Committee before Governor for consideration and approval under Article 161 of the Constitution. +After the approval, the prisoners will be released on 2nd October 2018, 10f/l April, 2019 and 2nd October, 2019. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has given its ex-post facto approval on the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan in the field of Healthcare and Wellness signed on 29th October, 2018. +The MoC covers the following areas of cooperation: +(a) Promoting specific projects: +i. Developing human resource in the field of acute medicine,surgery and trauma care including focus on new areas of competency in each field; +ii. Establishing an advanced joint testing laboratory for clinical examination; +iii. Establishing a Japanese language education centre for trainee candidates of care workers; +iv. Establishing collaborations among tertiary care centres in both countries such as AUMS; and +v. Supporting sending organisations to provide pre-lectures about elderly care for technical intern training programmes of care workers through sending out certificated care workers from Japan and providing a curriculum and textbooks so as to provide trained care-givers to Japan. +(b) Development of infrastructure: +i. Establishing a centralised management healthcare distribution centre; +ii. Improving sanitary environment by increasing access to hygienic and affordable toilets such as on-site processing one; +iii. Promoting institutional collaboration on patient data analysis and Information and Communication Technology & Artificial Intelligence in medicine; +iv. India-Japan Innovation Hub in India; +v. Establishing high end mobile BSL 3 Lab facilities in India; and +vi. Collaboration on getting high end medical devices including Point of Care Diagnostics with a special focus on establishing manufacturing units in India under “Make in India”. +i. Developing human resource, research and project promotion for health self-management such as ME-BYO and Ayurveda; and +A Joint Committee as a high-level consultative mechanism will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this MoC. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval to the Cabinet note on the proposal for official Amendments in The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016 so as to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) of Chhattisgarh. +The following changes will be made in list of Scheduled Tribes of Chhattisgarh:- +This Act may be called the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019. +After the Bill becomes an Act, member of the communities newly listed in the revised list of Scheduled Tribes of Chhattisgarh will also be able to derive benefits meant for Scheduled Tribes under the existing schemes of the Government. +Some of the major schemes of this kind include Post Matric Scholarship, National Overseas Scholarship, National Fellowship, Top Class Education, Concessional Loans from National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation, Hostels for ST boys and girls etc. +In addition to above, they will also be entitled to benefits of reservation in services and admission to educational institutions as per Government policy. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the creation of National Bench of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT). +The National Bench of the Appellate Tribunal shall be situated at New Delhi. +GSTAT shall be presided over by the President and shall consist of one Technical Member (Centre) and one Technical Member (State). +The creation of the National Bench of the GSTAT would amount to one time expenditure of Rs.92.50 lakh while the recurring expenditure would be Rs.6.86 crore per annum. +Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal is the forum of second appeal in GST laws and the first common forum of dispute resolution between Centre and States. +The appeals against the orders in first appeals issued by the Appellate Authorities under the Central and State GST Acts lie before the GST Appellate Tribunal, which is common under the Central as well as State GST Acts. +Being a common forum, GST Appellate Tribunal will ensure that there is uniformity in redressal of disputes arising under GST, and therefore, in implementation of GST across the country. +Chapter XVIII of the CGST Act provides for the Appeal and Review Mechanism for dispute resolution under the GST Regime. +Section 109 of this Chapter under CGST Act empowers the Central Government to constitute, on the recommendation of Council, by notification, with effect from such date as may be specified therein, an Appellate Tribunal known as the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by the Appellate Authority or the Revisional Authority. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has has approved the Mutual Recognition Agreement between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). +Approval of the Cabinet has been granted in respect of Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between ICAI and SAICA to establish a mutual co-operation framework for the advancement of accounting knowledge, professional and intellectual development, advancing the interests of their respective members and positively contributing to the development of the accounting profession in South Africa and India. +The Agreement will: +i. facilitate recognition of Indian Accountancy Professionals with local Accountancy qualification in addition to existing ICAI qualification, which will increase their professional avenues in South African markets. +ii. foster strong working relations between the two accounting institutes. +iii. increase mobility of professionals at either end and would herald a new dimension for small and medium businesses in both countries. +Strategically it is very important for the ICAI to maintain a close relationship with SAICA will significantly help the Institute to further the interests of its members and strengthen the ICAI brand in the region. +The relationship developed over the past few years is strategic in nature and of Mutual benefit. +SAICA is the foremost accountancy body in South Africa and one of the leading Institutes in the world. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Kuwait on their National Day. +“Greetings to people of Kuwait on their National Day. +We value our close relations with Kuwait and look forward to strengthening them further”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the scientists of ISRO on the successful launch of the navigation satellite IRNSS-1I . +“Congratulations to our scientists on the successful launch of navigation satellite IRNSS-1I by PSLV. +This success will bring benefits of our space programme to the common man. +Proud of team ISRO!”, the Prime Minister said. +Shri Aditya Thackeray, President of the ‘Yuva Sena,’ called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +He was accompanied by a delegation comprising Shiv Sena MPs including Shri Anandrao Adsul. +Shri Aditya Thackeray briefed the Prime Minister on voluntary initiatives for the education sector – including distribution of study material for Classes 8th, 9th and 10th through “Tablet PCs” in the state of Maharashtra. +The Prime Minister appreciated the initiative and complimented Shri Aditya Thackeray for the same. +PM to arrive in San Jose, visit Tesla Motors, deliver an address at the Digital India and Digital Technology Dinner. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will attend the G-4 summit in New York City tomorrow. +The G-4 grouping comprises Brazil, Germany and Japan, besides India. +The summit will focus on reform of the UN Security Council. +The Prime Minister will then travel to San Jose, California. +He will visit Tesla Motors and will meet top officials of IT companies, including Tim Cook (Apple Inc.), Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Sundar Pichai (Google) and Shantanu Narayen (Adobe). +The Prime Minister will deliver an address at the Digital India and Digital Technology Dinner. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the terror attack in Mazar-i-sharif, Afghanistan. +“Strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Mazar-i-sharif. +Our prayers and condolences to the familes who lost loved ones”, the Prime Minister said. +We, the Prime Minister of India and the Federal Chancellor of Germany, met in Hannover and Berlin to exchange views on upgrading and further strengthening our Strategic Partnership. +We view each other’s development as mutually reinforcing and offering significant opportunities for expanding cooperation between the two countries. +Our common objective is to encourage greater synergies between German engineering, experience in sustainable development, innovation and skills, and the new opportunities available in India and through ‘Make in India’, ‘Clean India’, ‘Digital India’ and other initiatives towards achieving economic growth and sustainable development. +India’s participation as Partner Country at Hannover Messe 2015 is a welcome expression of our common desire to strengthen this cooperation. +We are exploring ways of expanding our dialogue on foreign policy and security issues. +We welcome the proposed visits of the Defence Minister of Germany to India and the External Affairs Minister of India to Germany before the Inter-Governmental Consultations. +Taking our partnership into the future, we will also work together on meeting global challenges such as climate change, energy and food security. +We look forward to our 3rd Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) in India in October 2015. +Our Strategic Partnership is entering a new and more intensive phase. +In order to strengthen this cooperation, we agreed to encourage our respective Ministries/Departments to take proactive steps to advance our collaboration in the following areas. +3. Urban Development: Strengthen the bilateral cooperation through the establishment of a working group on urban development. +Support development of urban planning and infrastructure in India, including (a)cooperation in the development of new areas of collaboration and mutual benefit in the development of smart cities in India; (b) Setting up peer-to-peer network of Municipalities for direct collaboration; and (c) Assistance in the area of affordable housing. +4. Environment: Strengthen the bilateral cooperation through the establishment of two working groups in the areas of water and waste management. +5. Railways: Support for the modernization of the railway infrastructure including setting up of semi high-speed and high-speed railways and training and skill development of personnel in the rail sector starting with signalling and telecommunications and a high-speed rail system. +6. Cleaning of Rivers: Following the completion of the Ganga Scoping Mission in October 2014 by Germany, develop cooperation on Ganga River rejuvenation strategies, capacity support for urban sanitation, setting up of standards, approaches to industrial pollution and innovative financial models. +7. Renewable Energy: Support India’s proposed objective of 175GW of renewable energy by 2022 through technical and financial support for developing comprehensive solar rooftop and green energy corridor projects in India. +8. Education: Promote closer educational exchanges, including through setting up of an International Center for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences, strengthening collaboration between universities in India and Germany through the Indo German Strategic Partnerships in Higher Education program, and enhancing the exchange of scientists between both countries, e.g. in the framework of India’s GIAN initiative. +9. Language: Support the respective programs and efforts in India and Germany to broaden knowledge of each other’s languages among the youth in accordance with the national policy of each country. +10. Science and Technology (S&T): Both sides declared their intent to promote closer R&D Cooperation in science, technology and innovation, in particular through extending the tenure of the bi-national Indo-German Science & Technology Center in India with appropriate resources, the cooperation arrangement between Ministry of Earth Sciences, India and Helmholtz Association, Germany for Institutional collaboration in the area of Earth Sciences, and understanding between National Council of Science Museums in India and Leibniz Association, Germany on closer cooperation in science communication. +We agree that we strengthen our efforts towards carrying on negotiations for an ambitious EU India Free Trade Agreement with a view to its early conclusion. +Our discussions in Germany have established a robust road-map for expanding our multi-faceted and mutually beneficial ties. +We are confident that this will receive a further boost during the visit of the German Chancellor to India for the 3rd Inter-Governmental Consultations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today described the Union Government and 29 State Governments as 30 pillars of “TEAM INDIA” which would take India forward. +Addressing a large public meeting at Burnpur after dedicating to the Nation the 2.5 MT modernized and expanded IISCO steel plant at Burnpur, the Prime Minister mentioned various instances of cooperative federalism of recent months, including the setting up of the NITI Aayog, and the devolution of additional revenues to the States through acceptance of the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission. +The Prime Minister said that the decades old Land Boundary issue between India and Bangladesh had been successfully resolved through the same spirit of Team India, as all state governments and political parties had come together to support the resolution of the issue. +The Prime Minister said it was time for India to address the issue of “geographical imbalance” too along with economic and social imbalance. +He said that eastern India too should develop as fast as western India is developing, and for that, development of Bengal is essential. +The Prime Minister said “District Mineral Foundations” would be set up to help speed up progress and welfare of the poor in the mineral-rich districts. +He said that within a year, the atmosphere of gloom has lifted, and all global rating agencies now agree that India is among the world’s fastest growing economies. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief on the unfortunate accident in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. +He has extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. +Shri Modi also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the accident. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the implementation of Supreme Court’s Judgment dated 27th October 2015 regarding Target Plus Scheme (TPS) 2004-09 in Civil Application No. 554 of 2006. +The revenue implication under the TPS arising from the Hon’ble Supreme Curt’s Judgment is about Rs. 2700 crore. +Benefit is being extended to all the applicant exporters eligible as per provisions of the initially notified TPS Scheme under FTP for the year 2005-06, and as per provisions of Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09 throughout the country. +The Target Plus Scheme (TPS) 2005-06 was already implemented partially. +However, the claims which were denied as a result of retrospective Notification will be now settled as per direction of the Supreme Court in the CA No. 554 of 2006. +The claims will be considered as per original notifications till the date of the Notification No. 48 dated 20.02.2006 and Notification No. 8 dated 12.8.2006. +The corrective measure will bring an end to multiple litigations with the Government and the claims under the TPS will be issued as per original provisions under Foreign Trade Policy in compliance with the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. +In the Civil Appeal No. 554/2006 titled DGFT v/s Kanak Exports & Ors., the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in its Judgment dated 27.10.2015 gave verdict on the Target Plus Scheme for Export Promotion. +It held that the Notification No. 48/2005 dated February 20, 2006 (certain products were made ineligible) and Notification No. 8/2006 dated June 12, 2006 (rates were reduced to 5% from the earlier 5, 10 and 15%) related to the Target Plus Scheme (TPS) could not be applied retrospectively and they would be effective only from the date of their issue. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the revised air services agreement to be signed between India and Morocco. +After the new Air Services Agreement comes into force, the existing Air Services Agreement of December, 2004 shall stand superseded. +It will provide enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the carriers of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security. +iii) This agreement allows designated airlines of either countries to establish offices in the territory of other country for the promotion and sale of air services; +iv) The designated airlines of the both countries can operate any number of services to/from the six points specified in the Route Schedule to the ASA viz. +v) Air Services Agreement also has the provisions relating to Revocation or Suspension of Operating Authorization, Principles governing operations of agreed services, commercial opportunities, safety and security related clause etc. that have been incorporated in line of Indian Model ASA. +Keeping in view of the growth in the civil aviation sector and also with a view to modernize and improve seamless air connectivity between the two sovereign nations, the existing Air Services Agreement between India and Morocco has been updated. +The existing Air Services Agreement between India and Morocco was signed in year 2004 and does not have the updated clauses on Safety, Security, Designation of Airlines, Commercial Activities, Tariffs etc. +Besides, the provisions of Cooperative Marketing Arrangements which enable both sides to establish the code share on each other flights and also on the flights of 3rd country carriers are also not available in the present Air Services Agreement. +My greetings, to all those, watching on TVs, laptops, tablets and phones, as well. +This, is a great city. +It has assimilated, the world, in itself. +Today, you have shown, that you also care, for the world outside. +Because, you are the future. +What you do Today, will decide, our Tomorrow. +I feel, a current of hope, in this Park. +Among you, I feel confident about the future… +You are touching, the lives of those, who are not as fortunate, as you are. +What an admirable act, this is. +What a sacred mission. +For you to think, about those, who are far. +Whose faces, you have not seen. +Whose names, you do not know. +Whose nationality, does not matter to you. +I feel proud, of each one of you. +I am sure, your families, your friends, your nation, feels just as proud. +Some believe, that the world changes, with the wisdom of the old. +I think, that the idealism, innovation, energy and ‘can do’ attitude, of the youth, is even more powerful. +Put clean water, and sanitation, within the reach of all. +Make healthcare, available to all. +A roof, over every head. +I know, it is possible… Because, I feel, a new sense of purpose, energy, and will, in India. +Because, India’s youth, can see that, you are joining hands, with them. +We can take pride in the economic initiatives of the BRICS. +These will not only strengthen BRICS economies, but will also benefit the developing world. +As BRICS, we must place our priorities on the agenda and activities of G20. +One, in the area of development, G20 must place priority on, +• effective implementation of Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and ensure adequate funding for it. +Two, in the area of global finance, G20 should focus on, +• Implementation of the decisions to restructure global economic institutions. +• Greater collaboration between multilateral and regional financial institutions. +• Enhanced long term finance for infrastructure in developing countries. +• Developing next generation, climate resilient infrastructure. +This would also include converting waste into inputs for infrastructure. +• lower the cost of global remittances well before 2030, +• close coordination on preventing corruption and cooperation on freezing of unaccounted money hoarded abroad and its repatriation. +Three, in the area of trade, we should focus on, +• Strengthening the rule-based global trading system and ensuring that new trading blocs do not lead to division of the global trade regime. +• speeding up the completion of the Doha Development Agenda. +• promoting greater mobility of skilled professionals and creating a global skill force market. +Four, in the area of climate change, G20’s priorities should include, +• a successful outcome at the COP21 based on the principles of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. +• Facilitate climate finance and technology transfer to developing countries. +• enhance research and development on clean and renewable energy to increase access, efficiency and affordability of clean energy. +• support development of next generation and climate resistant infrastructure. +• Support the India-proposed international solar alliance. +Five, G20 should promote stronger global action to address security challenges, including through, +• comprehensive global strategy to put an end to finance, supplies and communication channels of the terrorists. +• stopping the flow of arms and explosives to terrorist groups. +• Creating special international legal regime to disrupt terrorist activities. +• cooperation in preventing the use of cyber networks by terrorist groups. +• early adoption of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. +I am confident that BRICS economies will continue to be strong and stable and will remain a source of strength for the global economy. +The Strategy for BRICS Economic Cooperation, which we endorsed in Ufa, is an important framework document. +The Contact Group on Trade and Economic Issues and Business Council should prepare a Work Plan for implementation of the Strategy in a time-bound manner. +Each BRICS member country should take the lead in at least two priority areas listed in the Strategy. +It would be appropriate if the first joint meeting is held during the Russian Chairmanship. +The joint sitting may also work on a Roadmap for Trade, Economic and Investment Cooperation till 2020. +We hope that the New Development Bank will start its operations quickly. +As I said in Ufa, its first project should be on clean energy, preferably across all BRICS countries. +We need to create a supporting mechanism, such as a New Development Bank Institute or NDBI, which should function as bank of ideas, a storehouse of experience and a knowledge powerhouse. +It can also provide inputs for the Contingency Reserve Arrangements. +India will continue to work closely with our BRICS partners in the spirit of mutual trust, respect and transparency. +I had shared some ideas at Ufa. +These included trade fairs; agriculture research; railway research; digital initiative; energy efficient technologies; cooperation between states, cities and local bodies; promoting films and sports exchange. +We will be building upon them and putting more new ideas on the BRICS agenda. +We will work with you to further strengthen the institutional mechanisms of BRICS. +I look forward to seeing you in India for the 8th Summit next year. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex post facto approval to the signing of MoU between India and Morocco in the field of mining and geology. +The MoU will provide an institutional mechanism between India and Morocco for cooperation in the field of geology and mining. +This cooperation will be mutually beneficial on economic, social and environmental fields in both countries. +The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation between India and Morocco in the field of mining and geology. +The activities involved in the cooperation viz. development of geological infrastructure, promotion of mining and geology, training programs and establishment of geological data bank would serve the objective of innovation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Dr. Zakir Hussain, former President of India, on his birth anniversary. +“India remembers Dr. Zakir Hussain on his birth anniversary. +His contribution towards India’s freedom movement was tremendous. +He also distinguished himself as a scholar and educationist”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today joined thousands of people in witnessing the collective e-Gruhpravesh of beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Gramin) at a large public meeting in Jujwa village of Valsad district in Gujarat. +At the same event, the Prime Minister distributed certificates and employment letters etc to select beneficiaries under various development schemes, including Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Gramodaya Yojana and National Rural Livelihood Mission. +He distributed appointment letters and mini-ATMs to women bank correspondents. +The Prime Minister also laid the Foundation Stone for the Astole Water Supply Scheme. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister noted that the festival of Raksha Bandhan is approaching. +He said he is satisfied that over a lakh women have got a house in their name, on this occasion, as a gift on Raksha Bandhan. +He said a new house brings with it, new dreams; and a new collective enthusiasm in the family to work hard to achieve those dreams. +The Prime Minister said that the discourse had long been about politicians getting fancy homes built. +He said now this discourse has changed to the poor getting their own homes. +Describing the Astole Water Supply Scheme, for which the Foundation Stone was laid today, as an engineering marvel in the making, the Prime Minister said that clean drinking water saves people from diseases. +The Prime Minister explained how the Government is seeking to transform the lives of the poor by providing them access to their own house, to electricity, to clean drinking water, and to clean cooking fuel. +During the course of these Summits and my bilateral visits, I will meet over 40 leaders from countries representing Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Pacific Region, as also heads of many multilateral institutions. +These meetings are taking place at a time of multiple global challenges. +I look forward to seeking a global environment that supports our aspirations for economic development and a peaceful world. +This dynamic region is our continental and maritime neighbor, linked by centuries-old ties. +ASEAN is at the core of our Act East Policy and at the centre of our dream of an Asian century, characterized by cooperation and integration. +No region in the world embodies so much dynamism or faces so many challenges as the region spanning the Indian Ocean, continental Asia and Pacific Ocean. +And, no other forum, perhaps, has as much potential to shape this region and the world`s future as the East Asia Summit. +At the East Asia Summit, I look forward to discussing with ASEAN and seven global leaders how we can strengthen regional institutions, international norms and regional cooperation in pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity. +Grant of promotion to SAG level will also enable these officers to be considered for empanelment under the Central Staffing Scheme and add to the pool of officers available for serving the Government of India under the said scheme in different Ministries/ Departments of the Government of India. +Indian Trade Service was created as a Central Group ‘A’ Service to cater to the growing need of an organized cadre to handle various aspects of India’s international trade and trade promotion. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated the Bogibeel bridge in Assam, to the nation. +At a massive public meeting in Kareng Chapori, on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra,the Prime Minister also flagged off the first passenger train passing through the bridge. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister paid homage to the famous Assamese singer Deepali Borthakur, who passed away recently. +He also paid homage to many other famous and historical figures from the State, who have brought laurels for the State and the country in various fields. +He greeted the people on the occasion of Christmas. +He said that today is the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and is also celebrated as “Sushaasan Divas” or “Good Governance Day”. +The Prime Minister said that for the last four and a half years, the Union Government has pursued the objective of good governance. +He said the dedication of the historic Bogibeel rail-cum-road bridge, is a symbol of this objective. +He said this bridge is a marvel of engineering and technology, and is of immense strategic significance. +He said this bridge reduces distances between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. +He said it would greatly enhance “ease of living” in this region. +The Prime Minister said that this bridge had been a dream for the people of this region for generations, and is now a reality. +He said that Dibrugarh is an important centre of healthcare, education and commerce in the region, and the people living north of the Brahmaputra, can now access this city, more conveniently. +The Prime Minister appreciated all those involved in the construction of the bridge. +He recalled that in May 2017, he had also dedicated the country’s longest road bridge, the Bhupen Hazarika Bridge at Sadia in Assam, to the nation. +The Prime Minister noted that while only three bridges were built over the Brahmaputra river in 60-70 years, three more have been completed in the last four and a half years alone. +Another five, he said, are in progress. +He said this enhanced connectivity between the northern and southern banks of the Brahmaputra, is an element of good governance. +He said this pace of development will transform the North-East. +The Prime Minister spoke of the Union Government’s vision of Transformation through Transportation. +He said the infrastructure in the country is growing today at a rapid pace. +The Prime Minister complimented the State Government of Assam for its efforts towards completing pending projects. +He said almost 700 kilometres of National Highways have been completed in four and a half years. +He also mentioned several other connectivity related projects in the North-Eastern region. +He said that a strong and progressive Eastern India, is the key to a strong and progressive India. +Besides infrastructure, the Prime Minister mentioned several initiatives such as Ujjwala, and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which have seen rapid progress in Assam. +The Prime Minister said that today, the youth of the country, from the far-flung areas, is bringing laurels for India. +Mentioning the famous athlete of Assam, Hima Das, he said youth are now becoming symbols of the self-confidence of New India. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is making efforts to build infrastructure for India’s future needs. +I am very pleased to have the privilege to participate in the India-ASEAN Summit. +I am particularly honoured that I got this opportunity in Myanmar. +Myanmar is our great neighbour, with which we have had historically very close relations. +Further, India’s Eastern journey begins on the Western boundary of Myanmar. +Today ASEAN has established its own identity and voice in global political and economic affairs. +Today, the entire Asia-Pacific region desires integration and cooperation. +The ASEAN community is India’s neighbour. +We have ancient relations of trade, religion, culture, art and traditions. +We have enriched each other through our interaction. +This constitutes a strong foundation of a modern relationship. +We have no irritants in our relationship. +We see encouraging opportunities and challenges in the world in similar ways. +ASEAN and India have the vigour and enthusiasm of its youth and wisdom and understanding of its ancient civilisations. +Rapidly developing India and ASEAN can be great partners for each other. +We are both keen to enhance our cooperation in advancing balance, peace and stability in the region. +We have been successful to a considerable extent in pursuing our dreams. +We have laid a foundation for a strong and comprehensive strategic partnership. +But, our potential is much higher than where we are at the moment. +We greatly respect the enthusiasm with which you have extended the hand of friendship to India. +Today the world and the region need a strong India-ASEAN partnership; +That is why we believe that we are entering in a new era in the India-ASEAN partnership. +I look forward keenly to hear your views. +But before I end, I want to thank His Majesty Sultan Hassan-al Bolkiah of Brunei for injecting so much energy in India-ASEAN relationship as country-coordinator. +I am also confident that Vietnam, as the next country-coordinator, will take our relationship to an even higher plane. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Israel on cooperation in the Oil and Gas Sector. +The MoU is expected to provide impetus to India – Israel ties in the energy sector. +The cooperation envisaged under the agreement will facilitate promotion of investments in each other’s countries, technology transfer, R&D, conducting joint studies, capacity building of human resources and collaboration in the area of Start-ups. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, dedicated the National Police Memorial to the nation, on Police Commemoration Day, today. +The Prime Minister announced an award in the name of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, to honour the police and paramilitary personnel, involved in disaster response operations. +The award would be announced every year, recognizing the bravery and courage displayed in saving lives of people, in the wake of a disaster. +Shri Narendra Modi, laid wreath and paid homage to the martyrs at the National Police Memorial. +He honoured the three surviving members of Hot Springs incident. +He also inaugurated the Museum of National Police memorial and signed the visitor’s book. +Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister saluted the courage and sacrifice of policemen who laid down their lives for the service of the nation. +He recalled the sacrifices of the brave police personnel who fought valiantly at Hot Springs, Ladakh and paid respects to their family and loved ones. +Expressing happiness in dedicating the National Police Memorial, Prime Minister said that the Central Sculpture of the memorial represents capability, courage and service orientation of the police forces. +He added that every object associated with the National Police Memorial would inspire the citizens and educate them about the bravery of police and para military personnel. +Talking about the National Police Memorial, Prime Minister said that Memorial was accorded priority by the NDA Government and was finished on time. +He said that the memorial underlines the vision of the government to accord maximum respect to people who played a vital role in nation building. +Stressing on the importance of technology, Prime Minister urged the police forces to adopt technology and innovation in their daily discharge of duties. +In this context, Prime Minister mentioned about the Modernization of Police Forces Scheme (MPF), which ismodernizing the police forces through technology, modern communication systems and modern weapons. +Prime Minister said that police forces have a big role to play in strengthening the bond between police and society. +In this regard, Prime Minister urged the Police forces to make Police Stations more citizen friendly. +The National Police Memorial consists of Central Sculpture, a Wall of Valour-engraved with the names of police personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty and a State of Art Museum dedicated to the memory of the martyred police personnel. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to enhance the grant of compensation to the civilian victims under the scheme titled “Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of Terrorist/ Communal/Left Wing Extremist (LWE), Cross Border Firing and Mine/IED blasts on Indian Territory” from Rs.3 lakhs to Rs.5 lakhs. +The highlights of the scheme are as follows:- +1. For the first time, civilian victims of cross border firing along the Indo-Pak border will be given a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh similar to those who die due to terrorism or LWE violence. +2. The decision to give compensation to the victims of cross border firing and enhancing the amount from Rs.3 lakh to Rs.5 lakh to the victims of terrorism or LWE violence was taken by the Government on Wednesday. +3. Now onwards, any civilian who dies anywhere in the country due to terror attack, LWE violence, firing from across the border, shelling or IED explosion will be given Rs.5 iakh as compensation uniformly. +The amount will be given to the next of kin of the victim. +4. Rs.5 lakh will also be given to those who receive 50 per cent or more disability or incapacitation due to the same reasons. +5. The compensation amount will be given subject to the condition that no employment has been provided to any of the family members of the victims by State or Central Government. +6. Till now the next of kin of persons killed or civilians who suffered permanent incapacitation as a result of such violence were paid Rs.3 lakh as per provisions of the Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of Terrorist, Communal, Naxal violence since 2008. +Families of the victims would be eligible to get assistance under the scheme even if they have received any other assistance, by way of payment of ex-gratia or any other type of relief from the Government or any other source except when a similar scheme is already being implemented by the Central Government. +So far, the Government has disbursed Rs.35.89 crore as compensation to civilian victims since inception of this Scheme in 2008. +During the Prime Minister’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir on 23.10.2014, the issue of financial assistance to the people killed in cross border firing was raised. +For the first time in 70 years since independence, realizing the problem of Indian population residing in border areas, the Government analyzed their plight as they suffer due to frequent violations of ceasefire specifically on the North Western border of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan. +Approximately 770 km of the Line of Control (LC) and approximately 220 km of International Border (IB) have been a witness to frequent ceasefire violation and the influx of terrorists since 1990. +13921 civilians have lost their lives till 2015. +In view of the hardships faced by the civilian populations, the Government decided to include the civilian victims of cross border firing under the Scheme. +PM: This scheme will open the door for “good politics.” +PM: Rural development should be demand driven, participative. +The Prime Minister said that development in villages was often supply-oriented. +The Prime Minister said that while democracy and politics were inseparable, damage was often caused by bad politics. +This scheme would inspire a movement towards good politics, with MPs acting as facilitators and catalytic agents, the Prime Minister said. +Addressing the gathering after releasing the guidelines for the scheme, the Prime Minister said that from independence till now, all Governments have worked for rural development. +These attempts should be progressively modified with time, in tune with changes happening around the world. +He said though government schemes were working across the country, in each state there were a few villages that the state could be proud of. +This shows that there was something extra that the leadership and people in those villages had done, beyond government schemes. +The Prime Minister said this “something extra” is the spirit behind Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. +The Prime Minister sought inspiration from Loknayak Jayaprakash Narain on his anniversary, saying that people’s participation in development was essential in building an Adarsh Gram. +He also paid tribute to Nanaji Deshmukh, who had worked towards the concept of village self-sufficiency. +The Prime Minister said the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana will work through the leadership of Parliamentarians. +He said that by 2016, one village will be developed by the MPs, and then by 2019, two more villages will be taken up. +He said that if states also encouraged their legislators to take up the scheme – five to six more villages could be added in this timeframe. +He said if even one village per block is developed, it has a cascading effect on other villages in that block. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its expost-facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Kenya on cooperation in the field of National Housing Policy Development and Management (NHPDM). +The MoU was signed on 11th July, 2016 at Nairobi during the visit of the Prime Minister of India. +Under the MoU, both the sides will collaborate on all matters relating to housing and human settlements through various strategies including training of personnel, exchange visits, expos/exhibitions, conferences and workshops. +The cooperation between the two countries will focus on upscaling slum upgradation and prevention initiatives based on the experience and implementation process of each country. +They will collaborate on development and sharing of information on housing and real estate data base including market trends, best practices and investment opportunities. +This would be useful to explore ways of a delivery model towards Government employees housing scheme, including creating an enabling environment for participation in the delivery of such intended scheme by private sector players. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and interacted with over 360 Officer Trainees of the 92nd Foundation Course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. +He is at LBSNAA on a two-day visit. +He had a lively informal interaction with the officer trainees in four groups. +During the wide-ranging interaction, which lasted nearly four hours, the Prime Minister urged the Officer Trainees to express their ideas and thoughts to him frankly and without fear. +A variety of subjects such as administration, governance, technology and policy-making came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister encouraged the Officer Trainees to study and research governance issues in depth, so that they could understand them well. +He also stressed on the need for them to develop a national vision. +The discussions were marked by a large degree of experience-sharing. +He interacted with faculty members of the Academy, who gave him an overview of the work being done there, to train India’s civil servants. +The Prime Minister visited the state-of-the-art Gandhi Smriti Library at LBSNAA. +He attended a short cultural programme by the Officer Trainees. +Earlier, on arrival at the Academy, the Prime Minister offered floral tributes on the statues of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. +Dr. Rafael Reif, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +He apprised the Prime Minister on work being done by MIT in the areas of education, health, water and innovation. +Dr. Reif invited the Prime Minister to visit MIT and interact with the students and faculty. +The Prime Minister asked Dr. Reif to explore the possibility of using MIT’s expertise in the Flagship Programmes of Skill India, Digital India and Start-Up India. +The Prime Minister suggested that senior or retired faculty from MIT could visit India for a few months to teach in an Indian University. +Dr. Reif appreciated the suggestion, and offered his assistance in this regard. +Shri Ratan Tata was also present on the occasion. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, was today briefed on the progress of various healthcare initiatives of the Union Government; and India’s progress towards Millennium Development Goals. +The Prime Minister said that an evaluation should be made on the contribution of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, towards improvement of health indicators. +He called for documentation and adaptation of best practices in the healthcare sector across the country, to enable their rapid scaling up for maximum benefit. +He said that these benefits of low TFR should be brought before the people across the country. +The Prime Minister asked the Health Ministry to keep an eye on acute health problems affecting specific parts of the country, such as Japanese Encephalitis in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. +He also said more attention was required on the healthcare initiatives for the urban poor. +Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri J. P. Nadda, was present at the meeting. +Prime Minister Modi, President Vladimir V Putin of Russian Federation and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, held a Trilateral Meeting in Buenos Aires today. +The three leaders exchanged views on expanding mutual cooperation in international forums, and to encourage greater interaction among the three countries. +They agreed on the importance of reform and strengthening of multilateral institutions which have benefitted the world, including the United Nations, WTO and well-established as well as new global financial institutions. +They underscored the benefits of a multilateral trading system and an open world economy for global growth and prosperity. +The three leaders also agreed to have regular consultations at all levels to jointly promote international and regional peace and stability, to strengthen cooperation through BRICS, SCO and EAS mechanisms, to address global challenges such as terrorism and climate change, and to encourage peaceful resolution of all differences. +The three leaders acknowledged the importance of cooperation in RIC format and have agreed to hold further such trilateral meetings on multilateral occasions. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released a book on the life of Late Shri Kedarnath Sahni. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister recalled several anecdotes about Shri Sahni. +Expressing concern at the decline in moral values in society and in public life, the Prime Minister asserted that corruption and black money cannot be accepted as a part of the system. +He said that we must think about the future of the nation, and not accept any compromise on corruption. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated Sania Mirza for winning the US Open Mixed Doubles title. +“Congratulations to Sania Mirza for the victory in the US Open Mixed Doubles Finals. +We are very proud of the achievement,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister also congratulated Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori for making it to the US Open Finals. +“Good news from US Open continued with Kei Nishikori`s exemplary win! +My best wishes to this young sportsman for the Final,” the Prime Minister said. +He will also dedicate the twenty kilometre long Hijli- Narayangarh third line to the nation. +• PM: Revamp Urban Governance. +• Align Urban Renewal with Digital India Mission. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said revamping urban governance should be at the core of the vision of the Ministry of Urban Development. +He was chairing a high-level meeting on urban development issues. +In order to realize this mission, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to institutionalize special training programmes for urban administrators to systematically improve the quality of urban governance in India. +There is need for extensive brainstorming on these issues, the Prime Minister said. +He said a special module on urban governance should be a part of the IAS officer’s training. +He said once these objectives were clear, the programmes should be implemented in close consultation and coordination with states, generally based on the PPP model. +Corresponding human resource requirements should also be projected and suitably skilled for this purpose. +The Prime Minister outlined the details of his vision for solid waste management and waste water management in 500 towns across India. +He said this would spur growth of organic farming, especially vegetables, in the area surrounding these towns, as organic fertilizer would be readily available. +This would also lead to abundant supply of vegetables in the town, thereby reducing inflation, and corresponding spin-off benefits in health and tourism sectors. +The Prime Minister said the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan should be linked to urban development in a big way, so that there is a demand from the grassroots for total sanitation in cities. +On Heritage cities, the Prime Minister spoke about HRIDAY – Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana. +He said that while conserving the city’s heritage, care should be taken that the people of heritage cities get access to modern facilities. +Minister for Urban Development Shri Venkaiah Naidu, and senior Government officers were present at the meeting. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with Chief Secretaries of States and Union Territories. +This interaction was part of the National Conference of Chief Secretaries on the theme of “States as Drivers for Transforming India.” +This is the first time, that the Prime Minister has addressed such a gathering, at such an event. +Chief Secretaries spoke briefly on one best practice each, of their respective States. +The best practices presented by the Chief Secretaries included themes such as rural development, skill development, crop insurance, health insurance, tertiary healthcare, welfare of divyang children, reducing infant mortality, tribal welfare, solid waste management, sanitation, drinking water, river conservation, water management, e-governance, pension reform, emergency services, development of mineral-rich areas, PDS reform, Direct Benefit Transfer of subsidy; solar energy, cluster development, good governance and ease of doing business. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said priority and approach, matter a lot in governance. +He said we have a lot to learn from the experiences of States, which could provide the best solutions to problems and challenges. +He said top government officials have the collective vision and capabilities to overcome challenges. +In this regard, experience sharing is very important, he added. +The Prime Minister said a team of young officers from across States should now deliberate and learn from these best practices, by visiting each State. +These will help in efficient adoption of best practices across States. +The Prime Minister asked officers to remain ever mindful of the credo of ‘competitive cooperative federalism.’ +He said districts and cities must also be part of a virtuous competitive environment of development and good governance. +He said the successes of small States and Union Territories, could be replicated by large states in one district to begin with. +In this regard he mentioned Haryana and Chandigarh becoming kerosene-free. +The Prime Minister gave the example of monthly PRAGATI meetings, which had given a decisive push to many long-pending projects. +He urged States to come out of the silos, and work cohesively with the Centre and which each other. +He said this is a golden opportunity for us. +He said “ease of doing business” should be accorded top priority, and would greatly help States in attracting investment. +The Prime Minister said improvement in “ease of doing business” would bring in greater investment in the States. +He said States have enormous untapped development potential. +The Prime Minister recalled his initial days as Chief Minister of Gujarat, and the work of post-earthquake reconstruction in Kutch. +He praised the work of officers who worked as a team and put in a dedicated effort in those days. +In this context, he also mentioned the importance of removing archaic laws and rules. +Speaking on the agriculture sector, the Prime Minister said the use of technology was imperative. +He stressed on eliminating wastage in farm produce, and focus on food processing. +The Prime Minister called for States to focus on agriculture reforms, and e-NAM in particular. +The Prime Minister strongly urged officers to adopt a positive attitude to new initiatives. +He said the elected political leadership would always be receptive to new, positive ideas, irrespective of ideology. +The Prime Minister said the use of Aadhaar has brought benefit all around, and eliminated leakages. +He urged all present to maximize its use in the interest of good governance. +He said Government e-Marketplace (GeM) could provide efficiency, savings and transparency in government procurement. +He asked all State Governments to maximize the use of GeM by August 15th. +Speaking on “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”, he said we must always recall the factors which unite us. +He urged all Chief Secretaries to work on this scheme. +The Prime Minister said good governance is the greatest key to success of Government programmes, and development goals. +He said relatively junior officers in States must spend adequate time in field visits, so that they are aware first-hand about issues on the ground. +The Prime Minister emphasized on the importance of preserving institutional memory. +He said writing of Gazettes by officers should be made compulsory in the districts. +The Prime Minister mentioned the completion of 75 years of independence in 2022. +He said this is an opportunity for collective inspiration and for everyone to work in mission mode for all-round development. +Union Minister of State for Planning – Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, Vice Chairman NITI Aayog – Dr. Arvind Panagariya, CEO NITI Aayog – Shri Amitabh Kant, and senior officials from Government, PMO and Cabinet Secretariat were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Manipur on their Statehood Day. +“Manipur is blessed with immense natural beauty and hardworking citizens. +I can never forget the affection I have got in the state. +On their Statehood Day, I greet my sisters and brothers of Manipur. +May the state continue scaling new heights of development”, the Prime Minister said. +The superannuation age has been enhanced to 65 years in respect of doctors under their administrative control of the respective Ministries/Departments [M/o of AYUSH (AYUSH Doctors), Department of Defence (civilian doctors under Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Service), Department of Defence Production (Indian Ordnance Factories Health Service Medical Officers), Dental Doctors under D/o Health & Family Welfare, Dental doctors under Ministry of Railways and of doctors working in Higher Education and Technical Institutions under Department of Higher Education]. +The Union Cabinet has further empowered respective Ministries/Departments/Organizations to take an appropriate decision in respect of the age of doctors for holding the charge of administrative position as per the functional requirement. +The decision would help in better patient care, proper academic activities in Medical colleges as also in effective implementation of National Health Programmes for delivery of health care services. +Around 1445 doctors of various Ministries/Departments of the Central Government would be benefitted. +The decision will not have much financial implications as large number of posts are lying vacant and the present incumbents would continue to work in their existing capacity against sanctioned posts. +• The age of superannuation of doctors of Central Health Service was enhanced to 65 years w.e.f 31st May, 2016. +• The doctors other than Central Health Service including doctors of other systems of Medicine of Central Government requested for enhancement of age of superannuation on the ground of parity with CHS and shortage. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has written to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, offering assistance in the flood relief effort in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. +“While reviewing the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, I was informed that the damage to life and property is equally, if not more, severe in areas across the Line of Control as well. +My heart goes out to the affected people and my deepest sympathies are with them and their families. +In this hour of need, I offer any assistance that you may need in the relief efforts that will be undertaken by the Government of Pakistan. +Our resources are at your disposal wherever you need them,” the Prime Minister wrote. +The Scheme beneficiaries are the youth in the age-group of 15-29 years, in line with the definition of ‘youth’ in the National Youth Policy, 2014. +In case of programme components specifically meant for the adolescents, the age-group is 10-19 years. +Background: +The Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram Scheme is an ongoing Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and has been continuing since 12th Five Year Plan. +The Scheme aims to develop the personality and leadership qualities of the youth and to engage them in nation building activities. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for IRDAI’s admission as a signatory to International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU) +The International Association of Insurance Supervisors is a global framework for cooperation and information exchange between insurance supervisors. +International Association of Insurance Supervisors, Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding is a statement of its signatories’ intent to cooperate in the Field of information exchange as well as procedure for handling information requests. +With increasing integration of financial market and growing number of internationally active insurance companies there is an increased need for mutual cooperation and information exchange between insurance industry supervisors. +In this background the IRDAI had become a signatory member of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors, Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding. +In the absence of any bilateral agreements the IAIS, MMoU provides a formal basis for cooperation and information exchange between the Signatory Authorities regarding the supervision of insurance companies where cross-border aspects arise. +The scope of the IAIS MMoU is wider than the existing agreements as this agreement also provides for supervision of other regulated entities such as insurance intermediaries under Anti Money Laundering, (AML) and Combating the Finance of Terrorism (CFT). +I am delighted to see that both sides are keen to maintain deep relations at all levels. +Today, we had a comprehensive and meaningful discussion on bilateral, regional and global issues. +Our strong bilateral relations have progressed further through this visit. +The issues like disarmament and geographical expansion are extremely important for both Switzerland and India. +In this context, we are extremely grateful to Switzerland for supporting India’s entry into the MTCR. +We also discussed Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement between Indian and European Free Trade Association. +The discussion on the provisions of this agreement has already started. +It’s a very welcome step. +Be it black money or dirty money, or be it money laundering or be it the funds linked to arms and drugs. +Our cooperation with Switzerland is ongoing to deal with this global curse. +I’m happy that Switzerland has recognized Ayurveda and it is keen to have more cooperation in this important sector. +In order to avail benefits from Switzerland in the fields of vocational education and skill, both countries took a joint initiative in the form of SkillSonics; more than five thousand Indians have taken advantage of this initiative. +We are willing to extend our cooperation to expand this model. +Climate Change is a big challenge faced by every country. +In this context, we thank you for the constant support of Switzerland to us in getting the membership of NSG. +Initiatives like International Solar Alliance and our efforts to achieve the target of generating 175 Giga Watt of renewable energy by 2022 reflect India’s commitment to clean energy and green future. +Once again I heartily welcome you and wish you to have a meaningful visit to India. +Thank you very much! +The Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC member countries has enabled India to strengthen its ties with the SAARC countries. +The arrangement will further financial stability in the region, besides improving the standing and credibility of India among the SAARC countries. +The extension of currency Swap facility to SAARC countries will strengthen regional integration and inter-dependence and also enhance India’s economic influence in the region. +Merely extending the validity of the Framework Arrangement has no financial implications. +If any bilateral Swap Arrangement is signed, then, in the event of a draw down by either party/parties, the foreign exchange reserves with RBI would be temporarily depleted upto a maximum amount of 2 billion USD. +Interest would be paid by the Receiving Party on the USD/Euro/INR amount although no interest will be received on the domestic currency given in exchange thereof to the Providing Party. +The “Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC Member Countries” was approved by the Government of India on March 1st, 2012. +The Framework was formulated with the intention to provide a line of funding for short term foreign exchange requirements or to meet balance of payments crises till longer term arrangements are made or the issue is resolved in the short-term itself. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017 to repeal 105 Acts. +The two Member Committee constituted by the PMO, the Law Commission of India and the Legislative Department identified 1824 redundant and obsolete Central Acts for repeal. +After careful examination and consultation with various Ministries/Departments in the Government of India, four Acts have been enacted to repeal 1175 Central Acts (during the period May, 2014 to August, 2016) by Parliament which are – +Out of the aforesaid 1824 Acts, 227 Acts (including Appropriation Acts enacted by Parliament for the States under President’s Rule) are identified to be repealed by State Governments have been requested to take necessary action to repeal them. +A list of remaining 422 Central Acts was circulated among all the Ministries/ Departments for their comments on repeal of Acts pertaining to their respective Ministries/Departments. +Till date, 73 Ministries/Departments including Legislative Department have given their comments whereby they have agreed to repeal 105 Acts and disagreed to repeal about 139 Acts. +On the basis of the comments/concurrence received from the Ministries/Departments, 105 Acts have been identified for repeal by this Department. +I am glad, today, to be able to launch one of her dream projects– the Amma Two Wheeler Scheme. +We are working in this direction. +Over 11 crore loanshave been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. +An amount of 4 lakh, 60 thousand crore rupees has been given to people without any bank guarantee.And most importantly, seventy per cent of the beneficiaries are women. +In the recent Union Budget, we announced that the EPF contribution for new women employees will be reduced from 12 percent to 8 percent for three years. +The Employer contribution will remain 12 percent. +We have also extended maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. +Under the Pradhan MantriAwaasYojana, the registry of the House is done in the name of the woman. +They have reduced carbon dioxide emissions by a significant amount. +When there was a Congress-led Government at the Centre, Tamil Nadu had received 81 thousand crore rupees under the 13th Finance Commission. +The Government is working to provide a home to every poor person by 2022. +About one crore houses have been built in the last three years. +Farmers in Tamil Nadu have also benefited from the Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojana. +I am told that claim amounts worth over 2600 crore rupees have been given to farmers in Tamil Nadu so far, under this scheme. +Besides making their lives easier, such trawlers will also help the fishermen earn more. +The Pradhan MantriSurakshaBeemaYojana and the JeevanJyotiYojana have provided insurance cover to more than 18 crore people. +We have also taken other steps such as providing medicines at economical rates, through more than 800 Jan AushadhiKendras. +We remain committed towards working hard in bringing a positive change in the lives of people. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has saluted our scientists, on the successful test-firing of Agni V missile. +“Successful test-firing of Agni V from a canister makes the missile a prized asset for our forces. +I salute our scientists for their efforts”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted people of Himachal Pradesh on their Statehood Day. +“Best wishes to the people of Himachal Pradesh on their Statehood Day. +May this state, the land of natural beauty and bravery, attain even more prosperity in the years to come. +I pray that the people of this state are blessed with joy and good health,” the Prime Minister said. +Generations will remember Shri BKS Iyengar as a fine Guru, scholar and a stalwart who brought Yoga into the lives of many across the world,” the Prime Minister said. +He said that several members have shared their views and there was considerable discussion on demonetization. +The Prime Minister said that the fight against corruption and black money is not a political fight, and it is not to single out any particular party. +He emphasized that corruption has adversely impacted the aspirations of the poor and the middle class. +He said that those who are cheating the system will have to be dealt with toughness, so that the hands of the poor are strengthened. +The Prime Minister said that about 700 Maoists surrendered after demonetization and this number is increasing. +Shri Narendra Modi said that there is today a horizontal divide – in which – on one side are the people of India and the Union Government, and on the other side are a group of political leaders. +The Prime Minister said that today, India is working to correct the wrongs that have entered our society. +He said that we should continuously move forward for practical change, and never underestimate the strength of our country. +The Prime Minister said that institutions should be kept above politics, and the Reserve Bank of India should not be dragged into controversy. +The Prime Minister said that on matters related to governance, a lot has been done which has given strength to the common man. +He mentioned the transparency that has been brought in the Government procurement process, through Government e Marketplace. +The Prime Minister congratulated the media for furthering the message of Swachh Bharat and creating awareness. +He added that sanitation coverage in the rural areas has increased. +He said that cleanliness should become a public movement, and we should all work towards this cause. +The Prime Minister said that under the “Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat” initiative, we all have the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the culture and capabilities of various parts of the country. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a book titled “Maru Bharat Saru Bharat” (My India Noble India) written by Jain Acharya Ratnasundersuriswarji Maharaj through video conference today. +Addressing the book release function organized by Sahitya Satkar Samiti of Ratnatrayee Trust held in Mumbai, the Prime Minister lauded the works of Acharya Ratnasundersuriswarji Maharaj and said 300 books is not a small thing. +Several aspects of life have found their reflection in the works of Maharaj Saheb. +The Prime Minister said, these books resonate his “Divya Vani” which reflects the urge to give back to the society. +He said that Rashtra Dharma is above every Dharma (religion). +The Prime Minister lauded the role of saints and said it is our heritage that India has given many Saints and Munis who have led the society towards Nation building. +He urged the people to strive for poverty alleviation, clean India and to harness the energy of millions of youth towards a strong Nation on the move. +The Prime Minister emphasized that India has never talked about communalism but always preached spirituality for the benefit of mankind. +He said, “We believe that every problem can be solved through Spirituality”. +Acharya Ratnasundersuriswarji Maharaj thanked the Prime Minister for addressing through video conference from New Delhi and said that “Families have values and the countries have culture”. +1. the Daman and Diu Municipalities (Amendment) Regulation, 2018; +2. the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Municipal Council (Amendment) Regulation, 2018; and +3. the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Municipal) Amendment Regulation 2018 +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for promulgation of: +(i) the Daman and Diu Municipalities (Amendment) Regulation, 2018; +(ii) the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Municipal Council (Amendment) Regulation, 2018; and +(iii) the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Municipal) Amendment Regulation 2018 +It will help ensure better provisions for the constitution, administration and powers of the Municipalities in the Union Territories of Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. +Provisions relating to anti-defection, constructive no confidence motion, establishment of ombudsman etc. will be inserted in “the Daman and Diu Municipalities Regulation, 1968”, “the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Municipal Council Regulation, 2004” and “the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Municipal) Regulation, 1994, respectively. +The regulations also include other amendments like (i)replacement of term ‘servant’ by ’employee’ to remove colonial connotation, (ii) provisions for voting through Electronic Voting Machines, (iii) making CCS(CCA) Rules, 1965 applicable to penalty proceedings and (iv) revision in the amount of fines which were fixed many years back. +The program has a budget outlay of Rs. 20,000 crore for the next 5 years. +Marking a major shift in implementation, the Government is focusing on involving people living on the banks of the river to attain sustainable results. +Drawing from the lessons learnt from previous implementation, the program also focuses on involving the States and grassroots level institutions such as Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions in implementation. +NMCG will also establish field offices wherever necessary. +In order to improve implementation, a three-tier mechanism has been proposed for project monitoring comprising of +In order to ramp up progress, the Centre will now take over 100% funding of various activities/ projects under this program. +The program emphasizes on improved coordination mechanisms between various Ministries/Agencies of Central and State governments. +Major infrastructure investments which fall under the original mandate of other ministries viz. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane. +Speaking on the occasion, he noted how the organizer of the event, Mr. Hemant Nayak, had recalled that Shri Modi was keen on having this statue installed even from the days when he had not yet become the Chief Minister of Gujarat. +He thanked Mr. Nayak for correcting the perception that some people had, that he had begun to mention Mahatma Gandhi only after becoming Prime Minister. +He said it was no ordinary being, but an era, that had been born on October 2nd, (1869) at Porbandar. +He said Gandhiji is relevant even today to the world. +He referred to the problems of global warming and terrorism that had been discussed in the just-concluded G20 summit at Brisbane, and said Gandhiji’s life gives us the answers. +The Prime Minister said the tendency of human beings for several centuries had been to exploit nature. +However, Mahatma Gandhi always showed us that we have no right to do so. +He would not accept a full glass of water, if he needed half a glass; and he would use the reverse side of used envelops to conserve paper. +The Prime Minister said that if the world follows Gandhi`s examples, a lot can be done for the environment. +The Prime Minister said that for Mahatma Gandhi ahimsa (non-violence) was an article of faith – he was against even verbal violence. +He said the world can be healed if we all imbibe his message, of respecting one and all. +The Governor of Queensland Paul de Jersey and Lord Mayor of Brisbane Councillor Graham Quirk were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted people across India on the various festivals. +“Greetings to people across India on the various festivals. +May this auspicious day bring joy & prosperity in everyone’s lives. +Wishing you all on Poila Boishakh & praying for a wonderful year ahead. +Wishing the people of Assam on the auspicious occasion of Bohag Bihu. +Greetings on Puthandu to my Tamil sisters & brothers. +May the year be full of happiness, good health and prosperity. +On the special occasion of Vishu, I convey my good wishes to the people of Kerala. +I pray the coming year brings joy & good health. +Greetings to all Odia people on Maha Vishuba Sankranti. +May all your wishes be fulfilled in the coming year.” the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Renewable Energy Cooperation between India and Seychelles in March, 2015, during the visit of the Prime Minister to Seychelles. +The objective of the MoU is to strengthen, promote and develop renewable energy cooperation between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. +The MoU will also help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of renewable energy. +Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu called Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today to convey his “deepest appreciation and gratitude” Prime Minister for India’s “exemplary” support and assistance in the evacuation of Israeli citizens from Nepal. +Prime Minister Modi assured him of full support in the evacuation of other Israeli citizens from Nepal, if required. +The two leaders also briefly discussed bilateral relations. +Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed Israel’s interest in participating in Prime Minister’s “Make in India” mission. +PM Shri Narendra Modi has extended his greetings to people of Maharashtra on their statehood day. +PM said, “Best wishes to the people of Maharashtra on their Statehood Day. +I pray for the continued progress and prosperity of Maharashtra. +May the state scale new heights and keep contributing to the development journey of our nation.” +The total estimated cost will be Rs.1,009.6 crore. +This would facilitate phasing out of obsolete electronic voting machines procured during 2000-2005. +It will enable the Election Commission to replenish the stock with a view to meeting the requirement of conducting General Elections to Lok Sabha and some of the State Assemblies due in 2019. +Authorising the Election Commission to vary to the quantity would ensure better management of the procurement process and timely delivery of the units. +Prime Minister Harper and Members of Media, +This has been reinforced by my excellent experience with Canada as Chief Minister of Gujarat. +Our relationship had drifted in the past. +In recent years, Prime Minister Harper’s vision and leadership changed the course of our relations. +We are two major democracies with deeply shared values. +Few countries in the world can match Canada’s potential to be a partner in India’s economic transformation. +And, it exists in a new environment in India, which is open, predictable, stable and easy to do business in. +Equally, the vast scale of India’s transformation, and our rapid economic growth, offers immense opportunities for Canada. +I seek Canada’s cooperation and investment in every area of India’s national development priority,- Energy and Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Skills,Smart Cities and agro-industry, and Research and Education. +I am confident that we can conclude the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement very soon. +We will also implement the road map to conclude the Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement by September 2015. +The thirteen agreements on skill development reflect my commitment to empower the youth of India with world class skills for India and the global economy. +The agreement on procurement of uranium from Canada for our civilian nuclear power plants launches a new era of bilateral nuclear cooperation. +It also reflects a new level of mutual trust and confidence. +Further,it will contribute to India’s efforts to power its growth with clean energy. +As the agreement today on Space highlights,we have strong synergy for cooperation in areas of advanced technologies. +Prime Minister and I agree that a strong bilateral relationship will provide a solid foundation to pursue our common international interests. +We also agree that in the troubled world of today, our cooperation will help advance our shared values and peace in the world. +We in India felt Canada’s pain when this city was struck by a senseless act of terrorism. +The threat of terrorism is growing; its shadow extends over cities and lives across the world. +We also agree on the need to enhance our defence and security cooperation. +I welcome our recent agreement on cyber security. +We both recognise that peace and stability in West Asia will make us safer at home; so will Afghanistan’s successful transition. +I believe that Canada is a major Asia Pacific power and should play a more active role, including in regional institutions, in promoting a stable and prosperous future for the region. +I look forward to our continued partnership in G 20. +In conclusion, let me say that ours is a natural partnership of shared values.It is an economic partnership of immense mutual benefit. +It is a strategic partnership that can help address many of our shared global challenges. +And, it is a relationship nurtured by the emotional bonds of a vibrant Indian community of 1.2 million. +I am confident that this visit will be a springboard for a new strategic partnership between our two democracies. +Finally,Prime Minister has been most gracious and generous in choosing to go with me to Toronto and Vancouver. +I also thank him for returning to us a precious piece of our heritage. +There is no better evidence of his commitment to our relationship. +There will be no better way for me to experience this country’s huge diversity. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the killing of Japanese citizens Mr. Kenji Goto and Mr. Haruna Yukawa, terming it as gruesome and unfortunate. +Prime Minister said that his thoughts and prayers are with families of Mr. Kenji Goto and Mr. Haruna Yukawa. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the International Conference on Frontiers in Yoga Research and its applications, at Jigani, Bengaluru. +He unveiled the Foundation Stone for a hospital of integrative medicine. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s inaugural address:- +Governor of Karnataka Shri Vajubhai Vala, +Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri Siddaramaiah, +My valued colleagues in the Council of Ministers, +Dr. Nagendra, +Dignitaries on the dais, esteemed guests from all over the world and Yoga enthusiasts, +Iam deeply grateful to Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhan Sansthan for organizing this conference. +He not only made a unique contribution to the spiritual revival of India, he also placed our timeless wisdom before the world. +He had a deep understanding of the beauty of human diversity and spoke passionately for unity in our world. +This is a particularly special year for the science of yoga. +On June 21, more than a million people in 192 countries came together to celebrate the first International Day of Yoga. +The overwhelming global support is a mark of Yoga’s growing international popularity. +It is also a symbol of the universal aspiration for health and well being. +It reflects the shared global desire for balance between human and Mother Nature; and, peace and harmony between people and nations. +Above all, it demonstrated once again the capacity of people from different cultures to reach beyond the familiar boundaries of their lives and unite in pursuit of a larger good. +It is this spirit of unity that demonstrates the timeless science of yoga. +When it comes to a sustainable future for our world, a healthy habit and happier people, a change in our way of life that influences the choices we make as individuals, nations and global community is important. +This is a recognition that is dawning on the world. +The WHO fact sheet on the global burden of disease says that non-communicable diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide. +By 2030, low-income countries will have eight times more deaths attributed to NCDs than high-income countries. +Some studies have estimated that India stands to lose about 4.58 trillion dollars before 2030 due to non communicable diseases and mental health conditions. +So, we must address the question of psychological state of our existence as much as we try to advance our physical and material life. +This is where the role of Yoga is paramount. +Across the world, there are moving stories of transformed lives and rekindled hopes due to Yoga. +This discipline was not originally considered or conceived as system of medicine. +It fits well with the change in the way that world increasingly defines health. +We are no longer satisfied with just preventing and managing diseases. +Traditional Indian systems are rooted in looking at human beings in totality. +They see the link between Adhi or problems at the mind level and Vyadhi or problems at the physical level. +So, we must recognize that science, as we see it, does not constitute the only form of empirical knowledge about the world. +And, we must remember that the western system of thought, from Hippocrates to Percival to Edison have expressed views on health that are not fundamentally different from the philosophy of the Indian System. +So, along with the accumulated wisdom and experience gathered over the ages, we must also apply the techniques and methods of modern science to test and validate results, assure quality and explain benefits. +And, this is why we are placing emphasis on our efforts to increase awareness, acceptance and adoption of AYUSH System of Medicine. +We will also reduce the social and economic costs to our society and promote a more environment friendly healthcare system. +I am not here to advocate the supremacy of one system over another. +I believe that humanity is wealthier for its diversity. +Civilisations, cultures and countries have enriched each other by sharing their knowledge and wisdom. +And, we can progress more by learning from each other. +It is in this spirit that Swami Vivekananda called for combining the best from the East and the West. +So, it must be in the area of healthcare. +My vision for healthcare is an integrated system that understands and builds on the best and most effective of different traditions. +Breakthroughs in medicines and vaccines have helped conquer and contain many diseases. +And, the world is embracing traditional Indian medicine with great enthusiasm. +You will contribute not only to healthier and happier life for people, but also to a more prosperous and peaceful world, and a more sustainable future for our planet. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Iran on the establishment of an expert group on trade remedy measures to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest. +The MoU was signed on 17thFebruary, 2018 during the visit of the President of Iran. +The MoU will promote cooperation between the two countries in area of trade remedies such as exchange of information, capacity building activities, cooperation in investigations related to anti-dumping and countervailing duty, etc. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval for creation of National Urban Housing Fund (NUHF) for Rs.60,000 crores. +The Ministry has so far sanctioned 39.4 lakh houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). +More than 17 lakh houses have been grounded and about 5 lakh houses have been completed. +Under Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS), wherein housing for EWS / LIG / MIG beneficiaries is being sanctioned by the Banks / HFCs to the eligible beneficiaries under the PMAY(Urban), the responses have grown significantly. +Nearly 87,000 Housing Loans have been sanctioned in last 8 months under the Scheme and over 40,000 applications are under consideration for approval. +The target is to cater to the demand of housing shortage of nearly 1.2 crore and make available housing to all by 2022, when the Country celebrates its 75th Anniversary of Independence. +NUHF will facilitate raising requisite funds in next four years so that flow of Central Assistance under different verticals i.e. Beneficiary Linked Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Parternership (AHP), In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR) and Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) is sustained and construction of houses to address the gap in Urban Sector progresses smoothly. +The President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +Later, the Prime Minister described the meeting as “very fruitful.” +“We discussed several ways of working together in the times to come,” he said. +We live in a world where speed matters. +Quick execution is essential. +Speeding up World Bank projects will surely increase the impact. +Rather than dollars, we are more interested in knowledge and expertise of World Bank. +Today the world focuses on trade in goods but in future the core issue will be how to get skilled people. +We need to work in this direction. +I also suggested to Dr. Jim Yong Kim that the cleaning of the Ganga would be a very inspiring project for the World Bank.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Gujarat on 23rd August, 2018. +At a large public meeting in Jujwa village of Valsad district, the Prime Minister will witness the collective e-Gruhpravesh of beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Gramin) – a flagship scheme of the Union Government which envisions “Housing for All.” +More than one lakh houses have been completed in the State of Gujarat. +Beneficiaries of these houses will celebrate collective Gruh-Pravesh across 26 districts. +At Valsad, beneficiaries from five districts of South Gujarat – namely Valsad, Navsari, Tapi, Surat and Dangs will gather. +At the remaining districts, collective Gruh-Pravesh will be celebrated at the block level. +Beneficiaries in these districts will be suitably connected through a video link to the main event in Valsad. +A total of more than 2 lakh people are expected to be connected with the event. +At the same event, the Prime Minister will distribute certificates and employment letters etc to select beneficiaries under various development schemes, including Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Gramodaya Yojana and National Rural Livelihood Mission. +He will distribute appointment letters and mini-ATMs to women bank correspondents. +He will also address the gathering. +At Junagadh, the Prime Minister will inaugurate several development projects. +These include a Government Civil Hospital at Junagadh; 13 projects of Junagadh Municipal Corporation; and a milk processing plant at Khokharda. +He will also address the gathering. +The Prime Minister will deliver the Convocation Address of the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, at Gandhinagar. +He will attend a meeting of the Somnath Trust in Gandhinagar, before returning to Delhi. +The estimated cost of the project will be around Rs. 500 crore and the total time for completion of the entire project is estimated to be five years. +Post-Independence, more than 22,500 soldiers have made the supreme sacrifice in national interests and in defence of the sovereignty and integrity of the country. +However, even after 69 years of Independence, no memorial to commemorate the martyrs has been constructed till date. +With the present decision of the Cabinet a long pending demand of the Armed Forces has been redressed. +This government will be establishing a War Memorial and a Museum with a deep sense of gratitude to honour those brave soldiers, who laid down their lives. +The memorial will promote a sense of patriotism in the minds of visitors, and will award an opportunity to citizens of this vast nation, to express their token sense of gratitude to the brave soldiers, who laid down their lives for the mother land. +While their final movements, would have gone unnoticed and on occasions their final resting place unknown, this museum will capture those poignant moments in history and bring out the variegated nature of their commitments. +Their dedication, this government feels is a part of unfinished work in nation building. +A visit to the memorial shall inspire us to rededicate ourselves to this great nation with utmost devotion. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Canada for cooperation in Higher Education. +As per terms of the MoU, at the end of the five years, the MoU was to be renewed for a possible renewal for a further five year period. +Recognizing the immense potential of collaboration between Higher Education Institutions of Canada and India and to further develop the existing bilateral relations in the field of Higher Education and Research, it has been proposed to further strengthen the educational ties between India and Canada by renewing the MoU. +India and US will be co-hosting the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) at Hyderabad from 28-30 November, 2017. +In a series of tweets from his account the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi said: +“India and US will co-host the Global Entrepreneurship Summit at Hyderabad from 28-30 November 2017. +The Summit is a unique opportunity for bringing together entrepreneurs and start ups with global leaders. +Look forward to Ms. Ivanka Trump’s presence at Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017-Hyderabad as the leader of the US delegation.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the newly constructed Western Court Annexe in New Delhi. +This building will serve as transit accommodation for Members of Parliament. +He said that her compassion is reflected in the attention to detail that has been given in this project. +The Prime Minister said that the project has been completed well within the stipulated time and cost. +He congratulated all those involved in the construction of the project. +The Prime Minister said that when MPs are newly elected, they have to stay in hotels and this makes headlines. +However, he said that what is often missed is that previous occupants overstay beyond the designated time. +The Prime Minister asserted that the Union Government is walking on the path shown by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. +At the core of Dr. Ambedkar’s ideals is harmony and togetherness, he said. +He added that working for the poorest of the poor is the Government’s mission. +The Prime Minister announced that the memorial to commemorate Babasaheb Ambedkar, at 26 Alipur Road in New Delhi, which was the last home of Dr. Ambedkar, will be inaugurated on the 13th of April – the eve of his birth anniversary. +He condemned the politics being played by certain people, in the name of Dr. Ambedkar. +Distributed Ledger/Block chain technology holds potential for solutions to various challenges being faced in the financial sector space of the BRICS nations. +The MoU intends to enhance understanding of Distributed Ledger/Block Chain technology, through the joint research efforts to identify areas within respective business operations where it may have the potential for applications aimed at enhancing the operational efficiencies. +Accordingly, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Collaborative Research on Distributed Ledger and Block chain Technology in the Context of the Development of the Digital Economy was suggested to be inked by all member banks. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with over 230 youth who have been working in rural areas under the Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellows (PMRDF) Scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development. +Later, in an interactive session with the Prime Minister, several participants shared their thoughts on themes such as development of the North-East, rural education, tribal development, organic farming, and welfare of the disabled. +The Prime Minister recalled the letter that he had written to all the Fellows, seeking their responses on the “Narendra Modi App.” +He appreciated the extensive responses that he had received from the fellows, and especially emphasized that there was not a single complaint among the responses. +The Prime Minister said that people’s participation emerges as a common theme among the presentations given today, as well as from the responses which he has received. +He stressed that this can be the most important aspect of bringing about change. +Shri Narendra Modi appreciated the participants for working with dedication and devotion, in rural and backward areas of the country, often withstanding peer and family pressures. +The Prime Minister invited specific comments and suggestions to further refine the PMRDF initiative. +The Prime Minister released a book – Scripting Change – which visually demonstrates the essence of the work being done by PMRD Fellows across the country. +Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh was present on the occasion. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone for the Leh-Kargil-Srinagar power transmission line, at Leh. +This 245 km long transmission line will be built at a cost of Rs. 1788 crore. +Shri Narendra Modi also dedicated to the nation the 45 MW installed capacity Nimmo Bazgo hydroelectric power project on the River Indus. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said these projects will connect Ladakh, and the state of Jammu and Kashmir with the other parts of the country through energy. +Addressing the large number of people gathered at the venue, the Prime Minister said these timeless peaks of Ladakh would have witnessed such a mammoth gathering of people after a very long time. +He said he is well-acquainted with the love, affection and strength of the people of Ladakh. +He said he would return the love that the people of Ladakh have showered on him over the years, now that he has a chance to serve them as the Prime Minister. +This would enable Ladakh to join the mainstream of national development. +He said “prakash (energy), paryavaran (environment) aur paryatan (tourism)” of Ladakh are such a strength that not just Jammu and Kashmir – the entire nation will benefit from it. +Energy (prakash) from here will dispel darkness, save the environment and help attract tourism. +He said Ladakh would soon produce all its energy needs. (swayam prakashit roshni). +Stating that in the past, there was an issue between the Centre and State governments over a sum of Rs. 60 crore, for the solar project, the Prime Minister announced a waiver for this amount. +Stressing on infrastructure for the nation`s development, the Prime Minister said he wants to connect all parts of the country through rail, road, telephone, power. +He said his idea of development was to bring about a change in the lives of common people. +Talking of the development strategy of Himalayan states, he said the natural resources of this area can help build a development model for the entire country. +The Government is committed to boosting tourism in all parts of the country including Jammu and Kashmir. +He said a series of announcements for development of the Himalayan states have been made in the budget. +This will boost the incomes of farmers in rural areas. +A research institute for conservation of the natural and environmental resources of the Himalayas would be established. +He said saffron cultivation would be given a big boost in the state. +A new unit for saffron will be established in Spices Development Board for this purpose. +Saying Pashmina is the pride of Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said a special scheme will be launched to enhance the skill of Pashmina producers and craftsmen. +The Prime Minister said 4 important road projects were conceived for the state in Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee`s tenure. +However, these projects witnessed cost escalation, which neither the Centre nor the State was willing to bear. +He announced an additional funding of Rs. 8000 crore from the Centre, for these projects. +He said his Government is committed to providing power and water, not just for industries, but also to make a difference in the lives of ordinary people, and help in skill development of the youth. +In this context he said, there is no dearth of funds for development, but a lot of funds are lost in corruption. +Therefore, he said, his Government would fight corruption with full force. +The Prime Minister felicitated select beneficiaries of Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, and handed over LPG connections to select Ujjwala beneficiaries. +He released a commemorative postage stamp on Varanasi City. +Speaking on the occasion, he urged people to send their messages to soldiers on Diwali. +He said the Union Government has focused on timely completion of projects, and has worked towards ensuring that not only are foundations laid, but projects are also inaugurated on time. +He said the real aim of Government initiatives is proper execution and touching people’s lives. +The Prime Minister spoke about environment friendly initiatives, and the Government’s new vision for the Indian Railways, which can emerge as a growth engine for the economy. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, called Shri Maithripala Sirisena and congratulated him and the people of Sri Lanka on the peaceful and democratic poll process. +“I spoke to Shri Maithripala Sirisena and congratulated him. +I congratulate the people of Sri Lanka on the peaceful and democratic poll process. +As a close friend and neighbour, reaffirmed India’s continued solidarity and support for Sri Lanka’s peace, development and prosperity,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi today gifted 200 cows to villagers who do not yet own a cow, under the Rwandan Government’s Girinka Programme. +The function to mark the handing over of cows was held at Rweru Model Village, in the presence of Rwandan President Paul Kagame. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister appreciated the Girinka Programme, and President Paul Kagame’s initiative in this regard. +Girinka was initiated by President Paul Kagame in response to the alarmingly high rate of childhood malnutrition and as a way to accelerate poverty reduction and integrate livestock and crop farming. +By June 2016, a total of 248,566 cows had been distributed to poor households. +The program has contributed to an increase in agricultural production in Rwanda – especially milk production and products, reduced malnutrition and increased incomes. +The program also aimed at promoting unity and reconciliation among Rwandans based on the cultural principle that if a cow is given from one person to another, it establishes trust and respect between the giver and beneficiary. +While this was not an original goal of Girinka, it has evolved to become a significant aspect of the program. +The beneficiary should be in position to construct an animal shed or willing to join others in community to construct a communal cow shed to be jointly used with the rest. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis on the situation arising due to incessant rain in Mumbai and surrounding areas. +Prime Minister has assured all possible support from Center to the Government of Maharashtra in mitigating the situation due to heavy rains in parts of the state. +“Spoke to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on the situation arising due to incessant rain in Mumbai and surrounding areas. +Centre assures all possible support to the Government of Maharashtra in mitigating the situation due to heavy rains in parts of the state. +Urge the people of Mumbai and surrounding areas to stay safe and take all essential precautions in the wake of the heavy rain”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing and ratification of Protocol between India and Japan for amending the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) signed between the two countries in 1989 for avoidance of double taxation and for prevention of fiscal evasion, through a protocol. +The Protocol will facilitate exchange of information, as per accepted international standards, on tax matters including bank information and information without domestic tax interest. +There is a further provision in the Protocol for sharing any information received from Japan, with authorization of the competent authority in Japan and vice versa, in respect of a resident of India, with other law enforcement agencies. +The Protocol also has a provision for India and Japan to lend assistance to each other in collection of revenue claims, as well as for exemption of interest income from taxation in the source country, with respect to debt-claims insured by the Government or Government-owned financial institutions. +PM: Biggest challenge is with people dedicated to Ayurveda – they themselves do not trust it fully. +PM: Ayurveda can make a global impact, like Yoga. +PM: Ayurveda practitioners should be dedicated to Ayurveda for serving mankind, not just as a profession. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today said the biggest challenge to Ayurveda comes from people who have dedicated their life to it. +They too do not trust it fully, he said. +Seeking to dispel the notion of Ayurveda and Allopathy being competing streams of medical science, the Prime Minister described Ayurveda as a way of life. +He said a disease can be cured by Allopathy; and if a person adopts Ayurveda, he can ensure that he remains healthy and free of disease. +He called upon practitioners of Ayurveda to be dedicated to Ayurveda not just as a profession, but as a service to mankind. +He was speaking at the valedictory function of the 6th World Ayurveda Congress. +The Prime Minister said that Yoga had acquired global recognition for people who wanted a stress-free life and were moving towards holistic healthcare. +Similarly, if Ayurveda is presented in the right spirit as a way of life, it too can acquire acceptance. +The Prime Minister said it is essential for Ayurveda to reach people in a simple, effective way. +For this, the modes of treatment should also be better packaged. +Shri Narendra Modi said space has to be created in international medical and science publications, for articles on Ayurveda. +But the effort for this has to come from the practitioners and researchers of Ayurveda, he added. +“Bihar has unlimited potential! +It can invigorate the entire Nation. +Bihar’s development is a top priority. +India will fully develop only when the Eastern part of India develops.” – PM Narendra Modi. +Farmer’s Welfare +·Up-gradation of Rajendra Prasad Agriculture University to Central University, creation of new Research Centre ·Development of Fisheries, Farm water management, Storage capacity, Farm mechanisation, Seed production systems ·Construction of new Godowns for foodgrains +·Central University near Bhagalpur ·IIM at Bodhgaya +·Establishment of Mega Skill University ·Training of 1 lakh youth +·Up-gradation of 3 medical colleges at Patna, Bhagalpur, Gaya +·1,300 MW new power plant at Buxor ·Electrification of villages under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Vidyut Yojana (sufficient for farms, uninterrupted for homes) ·Electrification of towns–cities under Integrated Power Development Scheme +·22,500 kms of Rural Roads +Highways +·2,775 kms of National Highways (four-laning and widening) ·Construction of Bridges (across Ganga, Sone, Kosi) ·Construction of 12 Rail overbridges +·Doubling and Tripling of 676 kms of Railway line ·Electrification of 574 kms +·Construction of new airport at Patna ·Development of airports at Gaya, Raxaul, Purnea +·Software Technology Parks, Rural BPOs, Training Centres ·1,000 new Mobile towers to increase coverage and quality ·30 WiFi hotspots across prominent tourist places ·Common Service Centres to be scaled up from 8,800 to 26,000 +Petroleum & Gas +·Expansion of Barauni Refinery + new Petrochemical Plant ·Construction of Gas pipelines, new LPG plants and massive expansion in domestic LPG connections ·Petrol-Diesel pipeline from Raxaul to Nepal +·Development of 7 Tourist circuits +Unspent amount of 2013 Package (of Rs 12,000 cr) +Ongoing works of National Highways +UMPP (Ultra Mega Power Project) in Banka under PPP +Tax Relief on New Capital Investment for galvanizing Industrial Development +Prime Minister’s Bihar Package over and above on-going National social sector schemes:-Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Sukanya Samruddhi Yojana, MUDRA, Free LPG connections to BPL, Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan and so on. +PM in Leh: attends Closing Ceremony of the Birth Centenary Celebration of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche; unveils plaque to mark commencement of work on the Zojila Tunnel +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, arrived in Leh on the first leg of a day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir today. +He attended the Closing Ceremony of the Birth Centenary Celebration of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche in Leh. +At the same event, he unveiled a plaque to mark the commencement of work on the Zojila Tunnel. +The 14 km long Zojila tunnel will be India’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel. +It will cut down the time taken to cross the Zojila pass from the present three and a half hours, to just fifteen minutes. +It will lead to all-round economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions. +It also has immense strategic importance. +Addressing a large gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister recalled the rich contribution of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche. +His was a life dedicated to serving others, the Prime Minister said. +He added that the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche distinguished himself as an outstanding diplomat. +He mentioned that during his visit to Mongolia, he had witnessed first-hand, the goodwill he has in that country. +Shri Narendra Modi expressed happiness that he is visiting the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir today. +He said the State of Jammu and Kashmir is going to get development projects worth Rs. 25,000 crore. +These projects will have a positive impact on the people of the state, he added. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has saluted Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on their martyrdom day. +“I bow to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on their martyrdom day & salute their indomitable valour & patriotism that inspires generations. +In the prime of their youth, these 3 brave men sacrificed their lives so that generations after them can breathe the air of freedom”, the Prime Minister said. +I will be visiting Bhutan from 15 to 16 June 2014 at the invitation of His Majesty the King and the Government of Bhutan. +Bound by common interests and shared prosperity, India and Bhutan enjoy a unique and special relationship, which has been forged by ties of geography, history and culture. +Therefore, Bhutan as the destination for my first visit abroad as Prime Minister is a natural choice. +Relations with Bhutan will be a key foreign policy priority of my government. +During my visit, I will have the opportunity to hold detailed discussions with His Majesty the King, His Majesty the Fourth King and the Prime Minister of Bhutan on the entire gamut of our bilateral relations. +Bhutan’s peaceful and smooth transition to a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy has been a success story. +Its orderly conduct of elections is testimony to the consolidation of its democracy, in accordance with the wise vision of Their Majesties. +During my visit, I will have the honour to address the Joint Session of the Parliament of Bhutan. +The Government of India has been a privileged and leading partner of Bhutan in its socio-economic development. +We rejoice in Bhutan’s remarkable economic growth and its progress and prosperity. +We are committed to continuing our unstinted support to Bhutan in its development efforts. +I will review with the Bhutanese leadership our development cooperation programme to make it even more effective and responsive to the changing aspirations of the people of Bhutan. +I will also inaugurate one of our assistance projects during this visit, i.e., the building of the Supreme Court of Bhutan. +Our Hydropower cooperation with Bhutan is a classic example of win-win cooperation and a model for the entire region. +During the visit, we will lay the Foundation Stone of the 600 MW Kholongchu Hydropower Project. +People-to-people contact is an important aspect of our bilateral relations. +I intend to discuss with the Bhutanese leadership how to further strengthen these contacts between our countries, particularly among the youth. +In this regard, the role of educational links will be very important. +I am looking forward to my first-ever visit to Bhutan and to nurturing and further strengthening India’s special relations with Bhutan. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved MoU on passenger cruise services on the coastal and protocol routes between India and Bangladesh for starting regular movement of passengers and tourists in water crafts between the two countries. +The operationalization of this MoU will promote people to people contact and cooperation between the two countries in respect of economic, social and cultural advancement. +It will also generate employment opportunities for the people of India and Bangladesh. +The nodal agency for the membership would be Earth System Science Organisation – National Institute of Ocean Technology (ESSO-NIOT) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. +By becoming a member of the IEA-OES, India will have access to advanced R&D teams and technologies across the world. +India will partner in developing test protocols along with other countries. +This will help in testing Indian prototypes as per international requirements and norms. +Joint cooperative programs with institutes of member countries could be taken up. +India’s own research projects with specific targets can be taken up in conjunction with other countries. +The long coastline of India and severe power deficit in the country, warrant the study of ocean renewable energies. +Vagaries of the sea makes harnessing ocean energy a technological challenge. +In the Indian context designing of scaled up ocean energy devices (including wave, currents and tidal) and their techno-commercial viability needs to be undertaken. +Tropical countries have high sea surface temperatures and hence Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a good option for countries like India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal to introduce a Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017. +The Bill would provide for a comprehensive resolution framework for specified financial sector entities to deal with bankruptcy situation in banks, insurance companies and financial sector entities. +The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance, Bill 2017 when enacted, will pave the way for setting up of the Resolution Corporation. +It would lead to repeal or amendment of resolution-related provisions in sectoral Acts as listed in Schedules of the Bill. +It will also result in the repealing of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961 to transfer the deposit insurance powers and responsibilities to the Resolution Corporation. +The Resolution Corporation would protect the stability and resilience of the financial system; protecting the consumers of covered obligations up to a reasonable limit; and protecting public funds, to the extent possible. +The Government has recently enacted the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“Code”) for the insolvency resolution of non- financial entities. +The proposed Bill complements the Code by providing a resolution framework for the financial sector. +Once implemented, this Bill together with the Code will provide a comprehensive resolution framework for the economy. +The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017 seeks to give comfort to the consumers of financial service providers in financial distress. +It also aims to inculcate discipline among financial service providers in the event of financial crises by limiting the use of public money to bail out distressed entities. +It would help in maintaining financial stability in the economy by ensuring adequate preventive measures, while at the same time providing the necessary instruments for dealing with an event of crisis. +The Bill aims to strengthen and streamline the current framework of deposit insurance for the benefit of a large number of retail depositors. +Further, this Bill seeks to decrease the time and costs involved in resolving distressed financial entities. +I welcome you all to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. +I also wish you a very happy, prosperous and successful new year. +I fondly recall the modest launch of this event in 2003. +Since then it has been a very successful journey. +I particularly thank the initial partner countries of the Vibrant Gujarat event: Japan and Canada. +Many other prestigious global organisations and networks are also partners of this event. +I thank you all for this partnership. +Your presence is a source of motivation for business leaders as well as young entrepreneurs gathered here. +Without your support, this event could not have seen eight biennial chapters; each better and bigger than the earlier one. +The last three events have been particularly big. +The presence of political and business leaders from more than 100 countries, and a large number of organisations from around the world make this a truly global event. +I would urge the participants to reach out to each other and to derive the greatest benefit from this summit. +You should also visit the trade show and the exhibition where hundreds of companies have showcased their products and processes. +Gujarat, the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, also represents the business spirit of India. +Through the ages, it has led in commerce and enterprise. +Centuries ago, its people went across the seven seas in search of opportunities. +Even today, this state boasts of being the origin of the highest number of our people living and working abroad. +And wherever they have gone, they have created a mini-Gujarat. +In other words, Wherever a Gujarati resides; there, forever, resides Gujarat. +Gujarat is currently in the midst of the Kite Festival. +May the kites inspire us all to fly high. +As I have often said India’s strength lies in the three Ds: Democracy, Demography and Demand. +Our biggest strength is the depth of our Democracy. +Some people say that democracy cannot deliver effective and fast track governance. +But we have seen in the last two and a half years that it is possible to deliver quick results in a democratic set up as well. +Over the last two and a half years, we have also evolved a culture of healthy competition among states. +States are being rated on parameters of Good Governance. +The World Bank is helping us in this process. +Coming to Demography, ours is a nation of vibrant youth. +The disciplined, dedicated, and talented youth of India offers a globally unmatched work-force. +On the Demand front, our rising middle class offers a huge domestic market. +The seas that surround the Indian peninsula, connect us to some of the world’s biggest markets, including Africa, the Middle East and Europe. +Nature has been kind to us. +Our three crop seasons enable us to grow food, vegetables and fruits in abundance. +The diversity in our flora and fauna is unparalleled. +The richness of our culture and its living symbols is unique. +Our Institutions and scholars are recognised the world over. +India is now an emerging R&D hub. +We produce the world’s second largest number of scientists and engineers. +Our entertainment industry is making waves worldwide. +All this helps ensure a good quality of life, at relatively low cost. +Our Government was elected first and foremost on the promise to provide clean Governance and end the prevailing regime of corruption and nepotism. +It is our vision and mission to bring a paradigm shift in the ways of our polity and economy. +We have taken a series of decisions and steps in this direction. +· From relation based Governance to system based Governance; · From discretionary administration to policy based administration; · From random interference to technological intervention; · From favouritism to level playing field; · From Informal economy to formal economy. +In doing this, digital technology has played a key role. +I have often said that e-governance is easy and effective Governance. +I have also emphasized the need for policy driven Governance. +Online processes help bring speed and openness in decision making. +Towards this end, we are working to adopt and absorb newer technologies, to bring about transparency, and to end discretion. +Believe me, we are on the threshold of becoming the world’s most digitised economy. +Most of you wanted this change in India. +I am proud to say that it is happening before you. +Over the last two and a half years, we have worked relentlessly to realise India’s potential, and to set right the economy. +The results have been encouraging. +There has been substantial improvement in key macro-economic indicators like GDP growth, inflation, fiscal deficit, current account deficit as well as foreign investments. +India has become the fastest growing major economy in the world. +We are seen as the engine of global growth. +World Bank, IMF and other institutions have projected even better growth in the coming days. +In 2014-15, India contributed 12.5 per cent of global growth. +Its contribution to global growth is sixty eight per cent higher, than its share of the world economy. +Creating an enabling environment for business, and attracting investments, is my top priority. +We have to do this in order to create opportunities for our youth. +With that spirit, we are moving towards implementation of some historic initiatives. +This includes the Goods and Services Tax. +The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, the National Company Law Tribunal, a new arbitration framework and a new IPR regime are all in place. +New commercial courts have also been set up. +These are just a few examples of the direction in which we are going. +My government is strongly committed to continue the reform of the Indian economy. +We have placed the highest emphasis on Ease of Doing Business. +We have taken decisive steps to ease licensing processes, and rationalize provisions and procedures relating to clearances, returns, and inspections. +We are monitoring implementation of hundreds of action points across various sectors, aimed at improving the regulatory framework. +This is part of our promise of Good Governance. +The outcomes of our efforts are visible in India’s global rankings on various indicators. +A number of global reports and assessments over the last two years have shown that India has improved its policies, practices and hence its economic profile. +India’s rank has improved considerably, in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report. +India is ranked third in the list of top prospective host economies for 2016-18 in the World Investment Report 2016 released by UNCTAD. +Our rank also improved by thirty two positions in World Economic Forum’s ‘Global Competitiveness Report 2015-16 and 2016-17’; +We have moved up sixteen ranks in the ‘Global Innovation Index 2016’ brought out by WIPO and other institutions; +We have moved up nineteen positions in the World Bank’s ‘Logistics Performance Index of 2016.’ +You can see that we are moving closer to global best practices. +Day by day we are getting more and more integrated with the world. +Our confidence has been boosted by the positive impact of our policies and practices. +This also gives us the motivation to further simplify our processes to become the easiest place to do business. +Every day, we are further rationalising our policies and procedures, to make it simple for businesses to establish and grow. +We have liberalised our FDI regime in many sectors and in various ways. +India is today among the most open economies. +This change in environment has been recognized by both domestic and foreign investors. +An encouraging Start-up eco-system is now taking shape in the country. +This unleashing of the youth power is heartening. +The total FDI inflows in the last two and a half years have touched US Dollars one hundred and thirty billion. +The FDI equity inflow in the last two financial years was sixty per cent higher as compared to previous two financial years. +In fact, the total FDI inflows received during the last year have been the highest ever. +The number of countries from where FDI is coming in, and the sectors in which they are being routed have also diversified in the last two years. +India is now the leading recipient of capital investment in the Asia-Pacific. +It also continues to be among the top ten countries globally in terms of FDI inflows. +But the story does not end here. +India has left every other country behind in terms of providing return on investment. +In 2015, India has risen to first position in the Baseline Profitability Index. +Make in India has become the biggest brand that India has ever had. +It is directed towards making India a global hub for manufacturing, design and innovation. +Our Gross Value Added in manufacturing has recorded a growth of nine per cent in 2015-16. +This is much higher than the five to six per cent growth in the previous three years. +All this is helping us expand the job market and raise the purchasing power of our people. +But the real potential is even higher. +To give you a few examples: India’s Food Processing Industry is expected to increase almost five fold in the next ten years. +Similarly, India’s low vehicle penetration makes it one of the world’s most attractive auto markets. +We are taking a leap towards next generation infrastructure: in both core and social sectors; in both rural and urban areas. +This includes Freight Corridors, Industrial Corridors, High Speed and Metro Rail projects, Logistics Parks, Smart Cities, Coastal Zones, regional airports, water, sanitation and energy initiatives. +Our per capita electricity consumption must rise. +Even as we do so, we are committed to promoting renewable energy. +We are keen to promote tourism in a big way and this needs tourism infrastructure. +I daresay, that India alone offers the opportunities that could rival those of an entire continent. +It offers today, the possibilities of a full century. +And we want to do all this in a cleaner, greener and sustainable way. +We are committed to protect the environment and uphold our responsibility towards Nature. +Once again, I welcome you and invite you to be part of – · India of Today; · and India of Tomorrow. +I assure you that I will be available to hold your hands whenever required. +Establishment of AIM and AIM Directorate would result in implementation of Mission activities in a focussed manner. +This would be a focal point for innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. +The details are as follows:- +Thirty Operational Flights of PSLV +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Continuation Programme (Phase 6) and funding of thirty PSLV operational flights under the Programme. +The Programme will also meet the launch requirement of satellites for Earth observation, Navigation and Space Sciences. +This will also ensure the continuity of production in Indian industry. +The total fund requirement is Rs. 6131.00 Crores and includes the cost of thirty PSLV vehicles, essential facility augmentation, Programme Management and Launch Campaign. +The operationalisation of PSLV has made the country self-reliant in the launching capability of satellites for earth observation, disaster management, navigation and space sciences. +The PSLV Continuation programme will sustain this capability and self-reliance in the launching of similar satellites for national requirements. +The PSLV Continuation Programme – Phase 6 will meet the demand for the launch of satellites at a frequency up to eight launches per year, with maximal participation by the Indian industry. +All the operational flights would be completed during the period 2019-2024. +The Programme will also meet the launch requirement of satellites for Earth observation, Navigation and Space Sciences. +PSLV Continuation Programme was initially sanctioned in 2008, and four phases have been completed and the fifth phase is expected to be completed by Q2 of 2019-20. +The Phase 6 approval will cater to the launch of satellite missions during the period Q3 of 2019-20 to Q1 of 2023-24. +PSLV has emerged as a versatile launch vehicle to carry out Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO), Geo-synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and low inclination Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions. +With the recent successful launch of PSLV-C41 on 12th April, 2018, PSLV has completed three developmental and forty three operational flights and the last forty one flights have been successful. +PSLV has established itself as a workhorse vehicle for national satellites with a production capacity that would enable responding fast to commercial launch opportunities also. +Your Excellency Prime Minister Saikhanbileg, +Distinguished members of Mongolian delegation, +I am delighted to visit Mongolia. +It is a great honour to be the first Prime Minister of India to do so. +It is a special privilege to come on the occasion of two important milestones that unite us – 25 years of democracy in Mongolia and 60 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries. +I am deeply grateful for your welcome and hospitality that have touched our hearts. +You have embraced us with unlimited generosity and warmth of a true friend. +Your Parliament’s decision to host me on a Sunday is a remarkable gesture of honour for India. +I could not have started my visit in a better way. +This is a token of friendship from the people of India. +I am here in respect and appreciation for our timeless kinship. +You have called us your spiritual neighbour and third neighbour. +We will always fulfil the responsibility that comes with this honour. +Today, Mongolia is also an integral part of India’s Act East Policy. +The destinies of India and Mongolia are closely linked with the future of Asia Pacific Region. +We can work together to help advance peace, stability and prosperity in this region. +So, I am also here in commitment to our shared responsibility to our region. +Prime Minister has spoken eloquently about the relationship and our meeting today. +I will have the honour to speak about our vision in the Parliament a little later. +I was very pleased with my discussions with Prime Minister today. +We have strong convergence of views on bilateral relations and our regional and international partnership. +The agreements that we have just signed speak to the depth of the relationship. +These cover economic relations, development partnership, defence and security, and people-to-people contacts. +We will take our economic partnership to a new level. +Today, I am pleased to announce that India will provide a Line of Credit of One Billion U.S. dollars to support expansion of Mongolia’s economic capacity and infrastructure. +Supporting development of human resources is the best way to secure a nation’s development. +We reiterated our commitment to continue our efforts in Mongolia. +India will increase the ITEC training slots for Mongolia from 150 to 200. +We will also establish an India-Mongolia Joint School. +Later today I will have the pleasure to lay the foundation stone for the expansion and upgrading of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Center of Excellence for Information and Communication Technology. +I will also visit the National Cancer Centre to gift Bhabhatron II. +It is state of art nuclear medicine cancer therapy machine, developed and manufactured in India. +We attach high importance to our security cooperation. +We will continue to participate in each other’s defence exercises. +The agreements today will deepen our cooperation in border security and cyber security. +Cooperation between National Security Councils will provide a strategic framework for cooperation. +We have also agreed that India will help establish a cyber security centre in Mongolia’s defence and security establishment. +Our trade and investment relations are modest. +We recognise that there are physical limitations. +But, we agreed that economic growth in our two countries is opening up new opportunities. +There is huge potential in civil nuclear sector, mining, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and dairy. +We should also explore the possibilities of using digital technology to expand our economic relations. +I conveyed to Prime Minister that we greatly value our international partnership, which is based on our friendship, shared spiritual heritage and democratic values. +These also provide solid foundation for our cooperation in our region. +I conveyed India’s sincere appreciation for Mongolia’s strong support for India’s permanent membership of United Nations Security Council. +In a reflection of our commitment to further deepen our relationship, we have decided to upgrade our Comprehensive Partnership to ‘Strategic Partnership’. +We also agreed to renew our Treaty of Friendly Relations and Cooperation. +So, at a significant milestone in our relationship, we are starting a new era in our partnership. +I keenly look forward to the rest of my stay in Mongolia. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Maldives +I warmly congratulate him on his victory in the recent elections. +It represents the collective aspirations of the people of the Republic of Maldives for democracy, rule of law and a prosperous future. +India and The Maldives share a strong partnership rooted in history, strong bonds between our peoples, and their shared aspiration for peace and prosperity. +My Government’s vision of inclusive development ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas’ extends to all our neighbours too. +We in India strongly desire to see a democratic, prosperous and peaceful Republic of Maldives. +I will convey to the new Maldivian Government of Mr. Solih the desire of my Government to work closely for realisation of their developmental priorities, especially in areas of infrastructure, health care, connectivity and human resource development. +I am confident that my visit will herald a new era of even closer exchanges and cooperation between our two countries”. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has appreciated the extensive arrangements made for devotees and tourists at Ujjain Simhasth. +He talked at length about extensive arrangements at @Simhasth. +Was delighted to know about the usage of technology in @Simhasth. +It includes five IR Bns in the state of J&K, four IR Bns in Chhattisgarh, three IR Bns in Jharkhand, three IR Bns in Odisha and two IR Bns in Maharashtra. +The major thrust in raising these 17 Bns. is as follows: +• Local youths will be recruited. +To achieve this, the States will relax the age and educational criteria, if required. +• In respect of the 05 IR Bns to be raised by J&K, 60% of the vacancies will be filled from the border districts of J&K for the posts of constables and class IV. +• For LWE states, 75% of the vacancies of constables will be filled up from 27 core districts under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme. +The Government of India introduced the scheme of Indian Reserve Battalions in 1971. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the soldiers who fought 1971 War, on the occasion of Vijay Diwas. +“On Vijay Diwas we salute the unflinching courage of all those who fought in 1971 and protected our nation diligently. +Every Indian is proud of their heroism and service”, the Prime Minister said. +She has recently won the Bhagavad Gita Champion League, organized by ISKCON – the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. +During her meeting with the Prime Minister, Ms. Maryam donated Rs. 11,000/- each to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, and the Swachhta Abhiyan. +The Prime Minister gifted her five books on different religions. +He congratulated her for her achievement, and said her interest in various religions is an inspiration for all Indians. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), India and Direction Nationale De Industries (MLINDI), Republic of Mali on Standardization and Conformity Assessment. +The MoU aims to facilitate closer cooperation and provide a mechanism by which India and Mali can work together towards the common aim of strengthening standardization and conformity assessment activities in order to facilitate sharing of expertise and mutual trade. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will visit Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala tomorrow. +He will review the situation arising in the aftermath of cyclone ‘Ockhi’, and the status of relief operations, at Kavaratti, Kanyakumari, and Thiruvananthapuram. +The Prime Minister will meet with officials and public representatives. +He will also meet with cyclone victims, including fishermen and farmer delegations. +The Navy has provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to people affected by cyclone ‘Ockhi’ in Lakshadweep. +President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani paid a visit to India on September 19, 2018 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. +The two leaders reviewed and positively assessed the progress of the multi-faceted India-Afghanistan strategic partnership. +They expressed satisfaction at the increase in bilateral trade that has crossed the US $ 1 billion mark. +The two leaders also appreciated the successful conclusion of the India-Afghanistan trade and investment show in Mumbai from September 12-15, 2018 and expressed determination to strengthen connectivity, including through Chabahar port and Air-Freight Corridor. +It was agreed to deepen the New Development Partnership in the areas of high impact projects in this field of infrastructure, human resources development and other capacity building projects in Afghanistan. +President Ghani briefed the Prime Minister on initiatives by his government towards peace & reconciliation and also in confronting the challenges of terrorism and extremism imposed on Afghanistan and its people. +He unequivocally condemned terrorist attacks and violence in Afghanistan which have caused immense loss of precious human lives and expressed solidarity with the people and national defence forces of Afghanistan in their fight against terrorism. +While expressing satisfaction at the coordination and consultation on activities at various international fora, the two sides agreed to strengthen this cooperation and also to work even more closely with their regional and international partners for prosperity, peace, stability and progress. +PM: Centre will stand shoulder to shoulder with all states, irrespective of political affiliation, to facilitate economic growth. +PM: Investment worth 100 billion dollars has applied for visa to India. +PM appreciates Madhya Pradesh for quick follow-up action to derive benefit from key policy initiatives of the Centre. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today declared that the Centre would stand shoulder to shoulder with all states, irrespective of political affiliation of the state government, to facilitate investment and economic growth. +Shri Narendra Modi said he wanted the Centre and each state government to work together in the spirit of “one and one – eleven.” +Delivering the inaugural address at the “Invest Madhya Pradesh – Global Investors Summit – 2014” at Indore, the Prime Minister said that following his recent summit level interactions with Japan, China and the US, “investment worth 100 billion dollars had applied for a visa to India.” +It is now upto the states to grab a share of this investment, he added. +The Prime Minister emphasized that India’s strength is inherent in its states, and if India is to be developed, states must go forward. +He said he stands for Team India – a team consisting of the Prime Minister and all Chief Ministers. +If this team works together, a lot can be accomplished, he added. +Shri Narendra Modi said the Centre and states are not competitors or enemies; they are complementary. +Complimenting the Madhya Pradesh Government and Chief Minister for rapid strides in development, the Prime Minister said that the team of Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan deserves full credit for it. +He said Madhya Pradesh has ample land, good infrastructure, and effective governance; and therefore is an excellent investment destination. +He also complimented the state government for quick follow-up action to derive benefit from key policy initiatives of the Centre, such as the “Make in India” vision and defence manufacturing policy. +The Prime Minister said India is a country of youth, and therefore employment is the primary aim of all investment initiatives. +As a part of this exercise this plot of land is being sold to NBCC. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its ex-post facto approval on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Croatia in the field of tourism. +The MoU in the field of Tourism will help the two parties in creating an institutional mechanism for enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector. +The MoU has been signed on 26 March, 2019 during the visit of President of India to Croatia. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today received Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) of Singapore Mr. Goh Chok Tong. +ESM Goh was accompanied by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry S Iswaran and Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee. +The Prime Minister recalled his long personal association with ESM Goh and ESM’s special contribution to the development of bilateral relations. +ESM Goh congratulated the Prime Minister on his emphatic victory in the elections and for presenting an ambitious vision of India’s economic and social transformation. +He encouraged the Prime Minister to work towards developing India as a Global Manufacturer through a combination of skill development, standard setting and access to the global market. +In this context, he called upon India to engage more proactively with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership initiative. +He also emphasized that a prosperous India was critical for the peace and prosperity of the entire Asian region. +The Prime Minister apprised ESM Goh of the various initiatives being taken by the Government for development of smart cities and urban centres; improving the ease of doing business; and cleaning of rivers. +Prime Minister said that India’s strength in terms of 3Ds – Demographic Dividend, Democracy and Demand (large domestic market) – would enable it to emerge as a Global Manufacturer. +However, for implementation of these initiatives, it would be essential to enter into partnerships with the international community to access the necessary funding and expertise. +In this context, the Prime Minister conveyed India’s keen desire to partner with Singapore. +ESM suggested that both sides should work for entering into a strategic economic partnership. +ESM Goh extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Singapore. +The Prime Minister said that he looked forward to visiting Singapore at the earliest convenience. +Both sides also look forward to an exchange of visits by the Presidents of India and Singapore as part of Golden Jubilee celebrations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, reviewed the progress of Aadhar and Direct Benefit Transfer programmes at a high level meeting on Monday. +In the course of the two hour meeting, the Prime Minister was informed about the progress made in Aadhar number generation, and seeding of official databases with Aadhar numbers to streamline the process of identification of beneficiaries, and to ensure proper targeting of benefits to the people. +It was informed that in 2015-16, an amount of over Rs. 61,000 crore was distributed to over 30 crore beneficiaries, using Direct Benefit Transfer. +This includes over Rs. 25,000 crore in MGNREGS, and over Rs. 21,000 crore in PAHAL (for LPG). +In MGNREGS too, a saving of Rs. 3000 crore (roughly 10 per cent) has been estimated in 2015-16. +Several States and Union Territories too have achieved significant savings through DBT. +The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of creating a platform that is error-free, and would ensure that the targeted beneficiaries receive their benefits in time. +He also asked all concerned departments to ensure that as the new mechanisms are put in place, they do not result in causing inconvenience to any beneficiary. +The Prime Minister asked the officials to test their systems carefully before implementing them on a large scale. +The Prime Minister was also informed of steps taken towards a unique identifier for NGOs. +Over 71,000 NGOs are now registered with the NGO Darpan portal maintained by NITI Aayog. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received today the crew of Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine (SSBN) INS Arihant. +He stressed that a strong India will fulfill the hopes and aspirations of over a billion Indians and will also be an important pillar for global peace and stability, especially in a world full of uncertainties and concerns. +The Prime Minister extended greetings to the participants and their families on the occasion of Deepawali, the Festival of Light. +He expressed the hope that just as light dispels darkness and all fear, INS Arihant will be harbinger of fearlessness for the country. +As a responsible nation, India has put in place a robust nuclear command and control structure, effective safety assurance architecture and strict political control, under its Nuclear Command Authority. +It remains committed to the doctrine of Credible Minimum Deterrence and No First Use, as enshrined in the decision taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security in its meeting chaired by the then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on January 04, 2003. +A delegation of SANY Group and Chinese Businessmen headed by Mr. Liang Wengen, called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today. +The delegation expressed its interest to invest in various sectors in India. +Mr Liang Wengen is the Chairman of SANY Group. +Both leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and agreed to cooperate with each other to eliminate this menace from South Asia. +They also agreed on the following steps to be taken by the two sides:- +1. A meeting in New Delhi between the two NSAs to discuss all issues connected to terrorism. +2. Early meetings of DG BSF and DG Pakistan Rangers followed by that of DGMOs. +3. Decision for release of fishermen in each other’s custody, along with their boats, within a period of 15 days. +4. Mechanism for facilitating religious tourism. +5. Both sides agreed to discuss ways and means to expedite the Mumbai case trial, including additional information like providing voice samples. +Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated his invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Pakistan for the SAARC Summit in 2016. +Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation. +On the occasion of International Day of Girl Child, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has exhorted the people of India to pledge to create an atmosphere for equality for the girl child and to end gender-based discrimination in the country. +“On International Day of Girl Child we celebrate the achievements of our daughters. +From the classroom to sports, they shine everywhere. +Today let us pledge to create an atmosphere of equality for the girl child. +There is no question of any discrimination based on gender,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister also called for eradication of the menace of female foeticide from the country and invited suggestions from the citizens on “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” on the MyGov portal. +“Female foeticide is a matter of deep shame and a cause of great concern. +Lets work together to remove this menace from society. +Share your ideas on ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ on this specially created MyGov group. http://mygov.in/group_info/beti-bachao-beti-padhao,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gave its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Korea on Trade Remedy Cooperation. +The MoU was signedin July 2018 during the State visit of President of Korea to India. +The MoU will promote cooperation between the two countries in the area of trade remedies viz. anti-dumping, subsidy and countervailing and safeguard measures, which will enhance the bilateral trade relations. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Armenia on Cooperation in the field of Disaster Management. +The MoU would enhance cooperation in the field of Disaster Management and contribute to the well-being and safety of the people of both the countries in the event of disaster. +It will also result in exchange of information in the relevant fields of disaster management which is of mutual interest. +Further, the MoU seeks to put in place a system, whereby both India and Armenia will be benefited from the disaster management mechanisms of the other country and will help in strengthening the areas of preparedness, response and capacity building. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to the bus accident in Cuttack, Odisha. +“Condolences to those who lost their loved ones due to the bus accident in Cuttack, Odisha. +May the injured recover at the earliest”, the Prime Minister said. +I am visiting the United States from 26 to 30 September 2014. +I will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York and, thereafter, visit Washington DC on 29-30 September 2014 for a bilateral summit with the U.S. President Barack Obama. +Since its participation as a founding member of the United Nations in 1945, India has shown unwavering commitment to multilateral processes to advance peace and security and promote broad-based inclusive economic development in the world. +India`s contribution to UN peacekeeping operations over decades is a strong testimony of our efforts to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the UN charter. +The 69th session of the UN General Assembly is meeting at a moment of many pressing challenges for the international community – a still fragile global economy, turbulence and tension in many parts of the world, growth and spread of terrorism, the Ebola health crisis in Africa, climate change and the endemic global challenge of poverty. +I will call for a stronger global commitment and more concerted multilateral action in meeting these challenges. +I will urge early adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda with focus on growth, development and elimination of poverty. +As we head towards the 70th Session of the UNGA in 2015, I will also stress the urgency of early reforms in the United Nations, to ensure that it remains relevant and effective in dealing with the challenges of the 21st Century. +I will also meet the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and leaders from other countries on the margins of the UNGA. +The New York leg of my visit will also cover important elements of our bilateral relations with the United States. +I look forward to meeting business leaders to invite them to participate more actively in India`s economic growth and transformation. +This is message that I will also convey to the U.S. business community in Washington DC. +My participation in a public event in Central Park in New York that on poverty is to focus international attention on this great challenge for humanity and affirm my support for global civic action, especially involving the youth, to address it. +I keenly await the opportunity to meet the Indian American Community at the Madison Square Garden in New York. +Their success in diverse fields, their contribution to the United States, their abiding bonds with India and their role as a vibrant bridge between the two largest democracies is a source of pride for us. +They serve as a window to our heritage, progress and potential. +I look forward to meeting President Obama over two days in Washington DC. +This will be my first meeting with him. +His life`s journey is a remarkable testimony to the rights and opportunities that democracies provide, and an inspiration for people around the world. +Shared values, convergent interests and complementary strengths provide the foundation for natural partnership between the world`s oldest and largest democracies. +I see the United States as a vital partner for our national development, drawing especially on the rich possibilities of partnership in education, skills, research, technology and innovation – and, above all, a shared commitment to human values. +Working together, and with others, we can bridge the many divisions of our times and contribute to building a more peaceful, stable, secure, sustainable and prosperous world. +I will discuss with President Obama how we can use the strength of all that we share and all that we have built so far to take our relationship to a new level in the interest of our two countries and the cause of this world. +I am confident that the visit will mark the start of a new chapter in our strategic partnership. +It will have 200 general ward beds. +During the same event, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the 555-bed Super Speciality Block in Safdarjung Hospital. +Mentioning the National Health Policy, the Prime Minister said that affordable healthcare and prevention of diseases are also high on the Government’s agenda. +He said that Rural Development Ministry, Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry, Women and Child Development Ministry, and AYUSH Ministry are all involved in this multi-disciplinary approach. +The Prime Minister said that India has set a target to eliminate TB by 2025, which is well before the global target of 2030. +He said he trusts the country’s medical sector to accomplish this task. +Friends, the development schemes launched by the government have made a positive impact on every individual of the country. +The benefits of Aayushman Bharat Yojana will reach out to 50 crore poor people. +21 crore people have gained from Pradhan MantriJeevanJyotiYojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojana. +Over 9 Crore Families have got the benefits of Swachh Bharat Mission. +Now in this budget, over 12 crore farmers and their families, 3 crores middle class taxpayers and 30-40 crore laborers will be directly benefitted. +Friends, thanks to the efforts of the government, poverty alleviation has gathered momentum with a record speed.It is good to see lakhs and crores of people being removed from the shackles of poverty and raising their level to the middle class and the neo-middle class. +This large group is now aspiring to fulfill its dreams and give an impetus to the development of the Nation. +Government has shown is commitment to provide support and give wings to the hopes and aspirations of this rising middle class. +Now,PM KisanNidhi is coming up, also being called PM-KisanYojna will help the farmers who have land 5 acres or below. +This has been a historic step since independence for the welfare of farmers. +Our Government is taking many steps for the farmers. +Areas related to agrarian and rural life such as animal husbandry, cow’s welfare, separate department of fisheries have also been taken care of. +National Kamdhenu Mission and separate department of fisheries will help increase the livelihood opportunities for crores of farmers. +It will help fishermen. +Our earnest effort is to empower the farmer, provide machinery and resources to double his income. +The decisions today will provide an impetus to this mission. +However, the unorganised sector- be it the labourers, household workers, agricultural labourers or manual thelawalas, a large cross section of the society has been neglected. +They have been left to fend of on their own.There are around 40-42 crore unorganised labourers in our country. +Pradhan MantriShram Yogi Man DhanYojna will be a major support for them after the age of 60 years. +They will not only will get the benefits of Ayushman Bharat Yojna, Pradhan MantriJeevanJyotiBimaYojna, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojna, Pradhan MantriAwasYojna and other welfare schemes, but also receive pension to meet their daily expenses. +Brothers and Sisters, our Government has been making efforts to reach out to people at the last mile of development. +We have decided to set up a Welfare Board for nomadic communities like Madaris, Snake charmers, Banzaras, Gadiyalohars etc. +I am hopeful that after proper recognition, the benefits of development will reach out to these communities at a faster pace. +Friends, we have made some forward movement on having a separate Ministry for traders and business people. +DIPP has been restructured with a special mandate to meet the requirements of the business people, traders and other officials. +Now this department will be known as Department for Promotion of Industries and Internal Trade. +I am happy that this budget has incorporated schemes keeping in mind the requirements and targets by the end of next decade. +It is all pervasive, touching the lives of all and all inclusive. +It is dedicated to the development of all. +CIRB/ICAR will extend the needed technical support (without any financial involvement) for carrying out research on fodder development in Punjab. +The Government of Punjab had ordered the establishment of State-of-the- Art Advanced Cattle Farm, construction of which is in full swing. +The farm has limited land to cultivate feed and fodder to maintain 300 cattle. +Therefore, the land given to CIRB on lease basis was asked back by the Government of Punjab. +This decision fulfills the fodder requirements for the Advanced Cattle Farm at Rauni. +Once the Ordinance is issued, it would pave the way would pave the way for bringing persons residing in the areas adjoining International Border within the ambit of Reservation at par with persons living in areas adjoining Actual Line of Control. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Guru Ravidas on the occasion of Guru Ravidas Jayanti. +He stood for a society that is equal, just and compassionate. +His teachings are eternal and are relevant for people of all sections of society. +Guru Ravidas Ji ushered in several positive changes in our society. +He questioned practices that were archaic and regressive, and inspired people to change with the times. +This spirit of inquiry and emphasis on moving with the times makes extremely great. +Guru Ravidas Ji had unwavering faith in values of harmony and brotherhood. +He did not believe in any kind of discrimination. +When we work with the motto of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ we are deeply motivated by Guru Ravidas Ji’s emphasis on serving every human, especially the poor. +Today I would like to share these words of Guru Ravidas Ji: +Guru Ravidas Ji dreamt of a time when everybody has enough to eat and every person is happy”, the Prime Minister said. +PM: India’s thrust on Renewable Energy production is an effort to ensure universal energy access for India’s poor. +PM: India is graduating from Megawatts to Gigawatts in Renewable Energy production. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today described India’s thrust towards renewable energy production as an effort to ensure universal energy access for India’s poor. +He was speaking at the inauguration of RE-Invest 2015, India’s first Renewable Energy Global Investors’ Meet and Expo, in New Delhi. +Observing that India has now graduated from Megawatts to Gigawatts in terms of renewable energy production, the Prime Minister said that even today there are lakhs of families in the country that are deprived of energy connectivity. +He said the fruits of development will not reach the common man until energy connectivity reaches every last household of the country. +The Prime Minister asserted that in this age of globalization, we have no option but to make a quantum leap in energy production and connectivity. +The Prime Minister asserted that India’s stress on renewable energy is not aimed at impressing the world, but to meet our own people’s energy requirements. +The Prime Minister spoke of the “seven horses of energy.” +He said that so far, India has focused on thermal, gas hydro and nuclear power. +But now we need to add Solar Energy, Wind Energy and Biogas Energy. +The Prime Minister said India is also working towards evolving a consortium of about 50 countries that are blessed with abundant solar radiation. +This will aim to pool research and technological advancements in the field of solar energy, to improve its accessibility to the poorest of the poor, and in the remotest of locations. +Shri Narendra Modi suggested the possibility of hybrid energy parks harnessing solar and wind energy together in an area to maximize benefit. +He also encouraged the installation of solar panels over water bodies to harness solar energy as well as minimize surface evaporation. +He further spoke about the need for harnessing rooftop solar power. +In the rural areas, he stressed on the need for solar pumps to reduce input costs for farmers. +He further spoke about need for micro-irrigation to conserve water and enhance crop yield for farmers. +He welcomed initiatives by many state governments in this direction. +This collective effort, he said, will truly take the country “from Megawatts to Gigawatts”. +He said that if any country has the potential to lead the world in the domain of renewable energy, it is India. +The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Piyush Goyal, were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Shri N Biren Singh on taking oath as Chief Minister of Manipur. +“Congratulations to Shri N Biren Singh and his team on taking oath. +I am sure this team will work tirelessly towards Manipur’s development,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended a meeting of the Somnath Trust in New Delhi, in his capacity as a trustee. +The meeting was also attended by Shri Keshubhai Patel – Chairman of the Trust, and the other trustees – Shri L K Advani, Shri P K Lahiri, Shri Harshvardhan Neotia and Shri J D Parmar. +The meeting condoled the passing away of Shri Prassanvadan Mehta, who was also a trustee. +The trustees discussed ways and means to make the Somnath complex even more attractive for tourists. +They discussed the town infrastructure, keeping in view the increase in the number of tourists. +Ongoing projects of the Trust were also discussed. +The trustees nominated Shri Keshubhai Patel as Chairman of the Trust for one more year. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Shirdi, Maharashtra on October 19, 2018. +Prime Minister will unveil the plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of various development works of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust. +He will release a silver coin to commemorate Centenary year of Shri Saibaba Samadhi. +At a public function, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will hand over the keys to mark the Grihapravesh of Prime Minister Awas Yojana- Grameen (PMAY-G) beneficiaries in Maharashtra. +He will also address the gathering. +Prime Minister will also visit the Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple Complex. +Thereafter, it will be financially self-sustainable. +In view of the need to have a specialized body in India like the most advanced countries, the Finance Minister in the Budget speech of 2017-18 had announced setting up of a National Testing Agency (NTA) as an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organization to conduct all entrance examinations for higher educational institutions. +Team to give Report on Relief and Compensation Package +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has instructed a two-member Central Team to rush to Arunachal Pradesh for an on-the-spot-assessment of damage in the wake of the recent landslide in Tawang District. +The team will comprise of a Senior Advisor in the Niti Aayog and a Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Home Affairs. +The Prime Minister has directed the team to make an assessment of the nature of relief and compensation package, after holding discussions with the State and District officials and to submit a report. +The mishap took place on Sunday, 22nd April, 2016. +Prime Minister has already sanctioned ex-gratia relief of Rs. 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the persons deceased and Rs. 50,000/- each to those seriously injured in the landslide in Tawang. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has bowed to Jyotiba Phule, the prominent social reformer of the nineteenth century, on his Punya Tithi. +“I bow to Mahatma Phule on his Punya Tithi. +A towering personality, his focus on education and social reform touched many lives”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has accorded its approval for establishment and operationalisation of a National Academic Depository (NAD). +The decision aims at bringing another dimension and enhancement of the vision of Digital India. +Academic institutions would be responsible for the authenticity of data digitally uploaded by them into the system. +The depositories will ensure the integrity of the data in the NAD. +The NAD will register educational institutions/boards/eligibility assessment bodies, students and other users/verifying entities like banks, employer companies, government agencies and academic institutions. +It will provide digital or a printed copy of the academic award with security features to the students or other authorized users. +NAD will verify academic awards online on the same day of request initiated by any authorized user. +Requests for access to academic awards, for example, from potential employers, and academic institutions would be only on the basis of consent of the student. +NAD shall maintain the authenticity, integrity and confidentiality of its database. +It will also train and facilitate academic institutions/boards/ eligibility assessment bodies to efficiently lodge academic awards in the database. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has wished all the participants of the Khelo India Youth Games which are beginning in Pune today. +“My best wishes to all young friends taking part in the Khelo India Youth Games, which are beginning in Pune today. +May this tournament showcase the best sporting talent and give our youth a platform to fulfil their sporting dreams. +More sports, better health and a fitter nation! +5 Minute Aur is a great effort that will further fitness levels across India. +It’s also wonderful to see noted athletes talk about their own experiences vis-à-vis spending more time on the field”, the Prime Minister said. +On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and interacted with the recipients of the Stree Shakti Puraskar and Nari Shakti Puraskar for the year 2014. +During the interaction, the awardees shared their experiences and sources of inspiration. +The Prime Minister urged the awardees to help spread awareness about various welfare schemes and initiatives of the Union Government, including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, and the pension scheme announced during the recent Union Budget. +Maneka Gandhi, Minister for Women and Child Development, was present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for signing of an agreement on the abolition of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports between India and Spain. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for revision of the Agreement between India and Qatar for the avoidance of double taxation and for the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. +The revised DTAA meets the minimum standards on treaty abuse under Action 6 and Mutual Agreement Procedure under Action 14 of G-20 OECD Base Erosion & Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project, in which India participated on an equal footing. +He called for expansion of the applications of the Aadhaar platform, so that its benefits can be extended to as many public services as possible. +He directed concerned officials to identify applications, where concrete results can be achieved in the next two months. +Appreciating the progress made in some areas, the Prime Minister directed the strengthening of the institutional mechanism related with Aadhaar and DBT, using a portion of the savings being achieved. +He also asked concerned officers to examine the possibility of incentivizing states through a one-time sharing of a portion of the savings, as a result of successful implementation of DBT schemes. +The Prime Minister was informed about the current status of Aadhaar enrolment, and the direct transfer of benefits in various sectors. +PM: Foodgrain productivity must rise from 2 tons per hectare to 3 tons per hectare +PM: Tehsil should be the unit of agricultural development +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called for increasing food-grain productivity from 2 tons per hectare to 3 tons per hectare. +Addressing a gathering of farmers at New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan on the occasion of the launch of DD Kisan, Doordarshan’s channel dedicated exclusively to farmers, the Prime Minister also called for making the “Tehsil” the unit of agricultural planning and development. +The Prime Minister said that if the country has to move forward, villages must progress, and if villages are to progress, then it is essential for agriculture to progress. +He said there was a time when agriculture was the most preferred of professions, but over a period of time, its attractiveness had declined to rock bottom. +He added that with the right incentives and actions, this trend could be completely reversed. +The Prime Minister recalled the inspiration of former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, which had led farmers to make the country self-sufficient in the production of foodgrains. +He said the same inspiration and spirit was needed again, so that the nation became self-sufficient in the production of pulses and oilseeds. +The Prime Minister said the DD Kisan channel should keep an eye and inform farmers about the changes in weather, global markets etc., so that farmers can plan ahead and take the right decisions well in time. +The Prime Minister called for re-engaging rural youth with agriculture in a big way. +He said DD Kisan channel can also highlight the efforts of progressive farmers, so that their innovations can be replicated across the country. +The Prime Minister called for farmers to adopt a three-pronged approach to agriculture, which balanced farming, animal husbandry and tree plantation. +The Union Minister for Agriculture Shri Radha Mohan Singh, and the Union Minister for State for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Rajyavardhan Rathore, were present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved setting up of a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Deoghar, Jharkhand. +A provision of funds worth Rs. 1103 crore has been approved for the project and the said AIIMS will be set up under the Pradhan MantriSwasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). +• A medical college with an in-take of 100 MBBS students per year +• A nursing college with an int-ake of 60 B.Sc.(Nursing) students per year, residential complexes and allied facilities / services, broadly on the pattern of AIIMS, New Delhi. +• 20 Speciality/Super Speciality Departments including 15 Operation Theatres. +• An Ayush Department with 30 beds for providing treatment facilities in the traditional system of medicine. +The setting up of new AIIMS at Deoghar will serve the dual purpose of providing super speciality health care to the population while also helping to create a large pool of doctors and other health workers in this region to be available for primary and secondary-level institutions/facilities being created under the National Health Mission (NHM). +Under the PMSSY, AIIMS have been established in Bhubaneswar, Bhopal, Raipur, Jodhpur, Rishikesh and Patna. +Work of AIIMS Rae Bareli (U.P.), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Kalyani (West Bengal) and Mangalagiri in Guntur (A.P.) is in progress. +Construction work has also been awarded for AIIMS, Gorakhpur (U.P.). +Further, following AIIMS have also been sanctioned: +• Bathinda, Punjab in July 2016 +• Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh) in January 2018 +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, after the formal Consultation Meeting with Chief Ministers on the new institution to replace the Planning Commission, held a Retreat with the Chief Ministers. +The Retreat is a first of its kind where the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers met without the support of any officials in a relaxed, private setting and discussed developmental issues and specific success stories in their states. +The purpose is to learn from each others’ successes so that they could be replicated in other states. +All the participants felt that this was an extremely useful exercise which could be repeated in future. +The Prime Minister today presented Singapore Prime Minister H. E. Mr Lee Hsien Loong a reproduction of a map of the island of Singapore dating back to 1849. +Measuring 52in x 52in and based on a survey that was done during 1842-45, the map depicts topographical details and description of various points in the vicinity of Singapore town above the level of low water spring tides. +The reproduction was done from the cartographic collection of the National Archives of India, New Delhi. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Shri Gopal Krishna Gokhale, on his birth anniversary. +“Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a great personality; a remarkable freedom fighter and social reformer. +Tributes to him on his birth anniversary”, the Prime Minister said. +On 26 September 2015, H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, invited H.E. Ms. Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil, H.E. Ms. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany and H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, for a G-4 meeting in New York. +The G-4 leaders stressed that a more representative, legitimate and effective Security Council is needed more than ever to address the global conflicts and crises, which had spiralled in recent years. +They strongly emphasized that the process underway in the UN to bring about the reform of the Security Council should be conducted, given its urgency, in a fixed time frame. +The leaders paid tribute to the dynamic leadership of the President of the 69th General Assembly and the efforts of the Chair of the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) in moving the IGN process towards text-based negotiations. +They welcomed the adoption by consensus of the General Assembly Decision 69/560 to use the text presented by the President of the 69th General Assembly in his letter dated 31 July 2015 as the basis for negotiations within the IGN. +They also pledged to support and cooperate with the President of the 70th General Assembly. +The leaders also noted with appreciation the efforts of Member States in moving towards text-based negotiations. +They welcomed, in particular, the efforts undertaken by the Member States of the African Group, CARICOM and the L.69 Group. +They supported Africa’s representation in both the permanent and non-permanent membership in the Security Council. +They also noted the importance of adequate and continuing representation of small and medium sized Member States, including the Small Island Developing States, in an expanded and reformed Council. +The leaders emphasized that the G-4 countries are legitimate candidates for permanent membership in an expanded and reformed Council and supported each other’s candidature. +They also reaffirmed their resolve to continue contributing to the fulfillment of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. +They pledged to work together with all Member States and to accelerate outreach towards achieving an early and meaningful reform of the Security Council. +They expressed determination to redouble their efforts towards securing concrete outcomes during the 70th session of the General Assembly. +The Prime Minister was given a series of presentations over nearly two hours, by senior officials, on the outcomes of various theme sessions during the meet. +In his remarks at the special session, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for new initiatives in all areas of governance, using space technology applications. +The Prime Minister called upon all Ministries of the Union Government to identify at least one space application in their work within the calendar year 2015. +The Prime Minister recalled the eminent space scientist Vikram Sarabhai’s words on the costs of India’s space programme, who had said that no effort should be spared in the objective of fulfilling the needs of India’s common man. +The Prime Minister said he was happy to note the high degree of enthusiasm among government departments to use space technology in their respective areas of governance. +He emphasized on the need to make use of all available resources and data, to derive best results. +The Prime Minister gave a number of illustrations on possible applications of space technology for the benefit of the common man: location of fish catches for fishermen, irrigation infrastructure for Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, tracking of illegal mining etc. +Shri Narendra Modi said technology is the most powerful medium that the Government has to ensure good governance, transparency and accountability. +He emphasized that there should be no “space” between the common man and space. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Telangana on their Statehood Day. +The PM also extended his wishes to the people of Andhra Pradesh. +“On the Statehood Day of Telangana, my greetings to the people of Telangana. +I hope the state progresses to new heights in the years to come. +I convey my greetings to my sisters and brothers of Andhra Pradesh. +My best wishes as the state continues to develop at a rapid pace”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his best wishes for the Namami Brahmaputra festival. +“It is a matter of great pride that the Namami Brahmaputra festival is being launched by the Assam Government. +Best wishes for the festival. +The Brahmaputra is the lifeline of Assam and the Northeast and is the source of livelihood for people in the region. +Rivers occupy a central role in India’s history and culture. +Let us keep working together to ensure clean rivers for India’s growth. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today approved the operationalisation of the Atal Pension Yojna (APY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY). +Approval of the Cabinet was given to extend funding support for implementing the APY and apprise the Cabinet on operationalisation of the PMJJBY and the PMSBY. +Approval was also given to provide Rs. 50 crore per annum for the next 5 years as the Government contribution for publicity / awareness creation related expenditure for PMJJBY and PMSBY. +The minimum age of joining APY is 18 years and maximum age is 40 years. +The benefit of fixed minimum pension would be guaranteed by the Government. +Under PMJJBY, annual life insurance of Rs. 2 lakh would be available on the payment of premium of Rs. 330 per annum by the subscribers. +The PMJJBY will be made available to people in the age group of 18 to 50 years having a bank account from where the premium would be collected through the facility of “auto-debit”. +Under PMSBY, the risk coverage will be Rs. 2 lakh for accidental death and full disability and Rs. 1 lakh for partial disability. +The Scheme will be available to people in the age group 18 to 70 years with a bank account, from where the premium would be collected through the facility of “auto-debit”. +It is expected that around two crore subscribers would be enrolled during the current financial year under APY. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi today. +Describing India’s journey towards a brighter future, the Prime Minister said India’s current position should be looked out in the global context, as well as the context of where India stood a few years ago. +The Prime Minister explained his vision for economic reforms, and mentioned some of the major economic successes of the recent past, including GDP Growth Rate of 7.4%, and improvement in the ease of doing business. +He said the ease of doing business could improve only because both the Centre and States worked together. +The Prime Minister said States had now been given additional finances based on the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission. +The Prime Minister explained how direct transfer of LPG subsidy, and the LED lighting schemes were saving thousands of crores of rupees. +He said neem-coating of urea was preventing diversion of urea meant for agriculture. +The Prime Minister mentioned the recent FDI in the railway sector, for two locomotive manufacturing units to be built in Bihar. +The Prime Minister also talked about the process of electrification of India’s 18000 unelectrified villages, and said the progress towards this end can be seen by everyone using the Grameen Vidyutikaran App. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today addressed officers, soldiers and air warriors of the Indian Army and Air Force at Leh. +He condemned the continuing proxy war by Pakistan. +He said that the neighbouring country has lost the strength to fight a conventional war, but continues to engage in the proxy war of terrorism. +The Prime Minister said the Indian Armed Forces are suffering more casualties from terrorism than from war. +He said this is a global problem and all humanitarian forces of the world should unite to fight it. +India is committed to strengthening and uniting these humanitarian forces. +The Prime Minister said India is committed to strong armed forces, well-equipped with modern arms and technology. +He said that the jawans should be assured that the entire country supports them. +In an emotional vein, Shri Narendra Modi said soldiers remain undeterred in spite of the many negatives and struggles that their families face in day-to-day life. +The Prime Minister said that this energy and sense of duty inspires him and therefore, he keeps visiting jawans on the border to seek inspiration. +The Prime Minister said that our armed forces deployed in border areas are well-connected with the people who live there. +He highlighted the example of the Kargil infiltrations, about which the first information was given to our armed forces by a shepherd named Tashi Namgyal. +The Prime Minister mentioned provisions made in the recent Union Budget towards the modernization and welfare of the armed forces, including ‘One Rank One Pension’. +He also promised that the National War Memorial would be built and would inspire future generations of India. +He said that the government is committed to make India self-reliant in defence manufacturing. +Later, writing in the Visitor’s Book at Leh Auditorium, Shri Narendra Modi said that peace and security is a pre-requisite for development. +The Prime Minister also interacted with jawans. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Production Linked Bonus for Railway Employees. +As a result of the review of the scheme and approval of the Cabinet the salient features of the PLB scheme are as under: – +(i) total goods revenue net tonne kilometres. +(ii) non-suburban passenger kilometres converted by a factor of 0.076. +(iii) suburban passenger kilometres converted by a factor of 0.053. +Incremental capital is confined to Rolling Stock utilised for movement of trains. +The relative weights given are 0.50 for Tractive Effort, 0.20 for Wagon Capacity and 0.30 for Seating Capacity. +The labour input i.e. non-gazetted staff strength is then increased to the extent of the percentage increase in the incremental capital. +Highest PLB amount of 78 days’ wages was paid for the financial years 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. +The financial implication of payment of 78 days’ PLB to railway employees has been estimated to be Rs. 1030.02 crore. +The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB to the eligible non-gazetted railway employees is 3500/- p.m. +The maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee is Rs. 8975 for 78 days. +About 12.58 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees are likely to benefit from the decision. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his twelfth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to disbursement of scholarships/fellowships to students. +He sought to know the reasons for the delay, and enquired about the progress of Aadhaar-linkage to disbursal of benefits to students. +He urged the concerned officials to increase the speed of addressing grievances, and aim for quick and effective resolution of students’ issues with regard to scholarships and fellowships. +The railway projects reviewed included the Akhaura-Agartala rail line, which will be a vital link between India and Bangladesh. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of modernization and expansion works for the Bhilai Steel Plant. +Taking serious note of the delay in this project, he asked the Steel and Heavy Engineering Ministries to sort out all issues, and complete the project at the earliest. +Shri Narendra Modi reviewed the progress of the “waste to wealth” initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission. +This includes both “waste to compost,” and “waste to energy” components. +Various States gave details about the progress of works under this initiative. +He directed that necessary equipment for timely detection of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis be installed in the districts on priority. +He also called for a review of the progress towards combating the disease to be undertaken at the district level. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards further reducing Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate (IMR and MMR), and the initiatives that have been taken in various States in this regard. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, addressed the India-Italy Technology Summit at New Delhi. +The Prime Minister of Italy,Mr. Giuseppe Conte, was also present on the occasion. +During the address, Prime Minister announced the launch of the next phase of the India-Italy Industrial Research and Development Cooperation program. +He added that the program will enable our industry and research institutes to develop new products. +Talking about the importance of technology, Prime Minister said that India has made technology a medium forattaining social justice, empowerment, inclusionand transparency. +He added that the government is using technology to ensure effective last mile delivery of services. +Prime Minister said that the government is emphasising on developing technological temperament along with scientific temperament among the citizens. +In this context, Shri Modi mentioned about Atal Innovation Mission, Umang App and three lakh Common Service Centres spread across the country. +He said that these technological solutions haveensured that government is brought to the doorsteps of the citizens. +Highlighting the Indian Space Program, Prime Minister said that it is an example of innovation with quality. +He added that India is now able to send space satellites of many countries including Italy’s and that it showcases India’s capability of creating innovative solutions at low cost. +Prime Minister also expressed happiness in the enhanced cooperation between India and Italy in the field of Life Style Accessories Design (LAD). +He added that special focus will be given forLeather sector and Transportation & Automobile Design (TAD). +Several development projects to be unveiled +PM to dedicate National Cancer Institute, Bhadsa in Jhajjar to the nation +Foundation stone of National Institute of Ayurveda, Panchkula to be laid by PM +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Kurukshetra in Haryana on 12 February 2019. +He will participate in Swachh Shakti- 2019. +He will also inaugurate and lay foundation stone of several development projects in Haryana. +The Prime Minister will participate in Swachh Shakti-2019 and distribute the Swachh Shakti-2019 awards. +He will visit the Swachh Sundar Shauchalay exhibition at Kurukshetra and address a public gathering. +Swachh Shakti-2019 is a national event to be attended by women Panches and Sarpanches from across the country. +It is expected that 15,000 women will take part in Swachh Shakti event this year. +The event is aimed at empowering women. +First edition of Swachh Shakti programme was launched from Gandhinagar, Gujarat by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on International Women’s Day. +The next edition was Swachh Shakti-2018 from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and now the third edition is being inaugurated from Kurukshetra to empower the women. +Development Projects +Dedication to Nation of National Cancer Institute, Bhadsa, Jhajjar +The National Cancer Institute is the state of the art Tertiary Cancer care cum Research Institute, constructed at the AIIMS Jhajjar campus. +The NCI will be the nodal institution for all activities related to cancer in the country and will have linkages with regional cancer centers and other cancer institutes within the country. +Inauguration of ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Faridabad +This will be the first ESIC Medical College and Hospital in North India. +Laying of foundation stone of National Institute of Ayurveda, Panchkula +National Institute of Ayurveda, Panchkula is being set up at Shri Mata Mansa Devi Temple Complex in Panchkula. +It will be a national level institute for Ayurveda treatment, education and research. +Once completed, it will be highly beneficial for the residents of Haryana and other nearby states +Laying of foundation stone of Sri Krishna Ayush University, Kurukshetra +Sri Krishna Ayush University is the first University related to Indian system of medicine in Haryana as well as the first University of this kind in India +Laying of Foundation stone of ‘Battles of Panipat Museum’, Panipat +The museum will honour the heroes of the various battles of Panipat. +The Museum is in line with the Union Government’s initiative to honour the unsung heroes of India, who have contributed greatly to nation building. +Laying of Foundation Stone of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay University of Health Sciences, Karnal +Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay University of Health Sciences, Karnal. +These measure are expected to give a boost to educational, health and cultural facilities in Haryana. +Geeta, the differently-abled girl who had accidentally crossed over into Pakistan many years ago, met the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, this evening. +She had returned to India earlier today. +“Welcome back home, Geeta” said the Prime Minister, as Geeta embraced him warmly. +He assured Geeta that every effort would be made to trace Geeta’s family, and that she will be looked after well. +“All of India will take care of you,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister complimented Ms Bilqis Bano Edhi, Founder of Edhi Foundation, Karachi, for taking care of Geeta with love and affection for so many years. +The Prime Minister announced that India would give the Edhi Foundation Rs. 1 crore, as a token of appreciation, not just for taking care of Geeta, but also for the wonderful work that the Foundation has been doing. +Upon learning that Ms. Bilqis Bano Edhi was born in Bantwa, in Junagadh, Gujarat, the Prime Minister invited her to visit Junagadh along with her family. +External Affairs Minister, Ms. Sushma Swaraj, who was present on the occasion, also complimented Ms. Bilqis and the Edhi Foundation for the love and affection that they have showered on Geeta. +The Prime Minister will meet President François Hollande in Chandigarh and Delhi. +“A warm welcome to French President François Hollande. +We are honoured and delighted to have him as the Chief Guest for Republic Day celebrations. +President François Hollande and I will meet in Chandigarh and Delhi. +We will build on the ground covered during our previous interactions”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said a Nation’s maritime strength is a vital input for its emergence as a global economic power. +He was speaking at a function in New Delhi, for the release of the book Pre-Modern Kutchi Navigation Techniques and Voyages. +The Prime Minister referred to his recent visit to nations in the Indian Ocean. +He described this as an effort to revitalize relations with the countries with whom India shares a common ocean. +The Prime Minister said historically, India has been a strong maritime power, which gave her economic strength. +The book is a depiction and transcription of “Malam Ni Pothis” – a collection of Gujarati manuscripts which describe the pre-modern navigation technology of Gujarat. +The book describes expeditions undertaken by the Malams (navigators) of Kutch. +The original Pothis are dated from the 17th to 19th century. +The book, Pre-Modern Kutchi Navigation Techniques and Voyages, has been transcribed and edited by Mr. Ashok B. Rajeshirke. +It is a collaborative effort by the National Museum, New Delhi, and the Darshak Itihas Nidhi – a Foundation for Research and Studies in History. +Our guests from our neighbours and from nations far beyond, +Welcome to a land that is a timeless fountain of peace, and an ancient source of traditions and faiths, which has received and nurtured religions from the world. +Welcome to a people with an abiding belief in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the World is one family. +A belief in harmony with the message of Holy Quran that mankind were one community, then they differed among themselves, +A creed echoed in the words of the great Persian Sufi poet Saadi, written in the United Nations, that human beings come from the same source: We are one family. +Welcome to the ancient city of Delhi – built by the genius of diverse peoples, cultures and faiths. +Like our nation, the city’s heart has place for every faith, from those with few followers to those with billion believers. +Its magnificent shrines include the dargahs of great Sufi saints Mehboob-e-Ilahi and Hazrat Bakhtiyar Kaki, that draw people from all faiths and all corners of the world. +This is an extraordinary event of great importance to the world, at a critical time for humanity. +At a time when the dark shadow of violence is becoming longer, you are the noor, or the light of hope. +When young laughter is silenced by guns on the streets, you are the voice that heals. +In a world that struggles to assemble for peace and justice, this is an assembly of those whose life itself is a message of peace, tolerance and love. +You have come from different lands and cultures, but you are united by a common faith. +You speak different languages, but they blend together in a message of harmony. +And, you represent the rich diversity of the Islamic civilization that stands on the solid bedrock of a great religion. +It is a civilization that reached great heights by the 15th century in science, medicine, literature, art, architecture and commerce. +It drew on the immense talents of its people and also Islam’s engagement with diverse civilizations – ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Africa; the Persian, Central Asian and Caucasian lands; the region of East Asia; and, with Buddhism and Indian philosophy and science. +As it enriched itself, it also enriched the world. +And, this is the message of Sufism, one of the greatest contributions of Islam to this world. +From its origins in Egypt and West Asia, Sufism travelled to distant lands, holding aloft the banner of faith and the flag of human values, learning from spiritual thoughts of other civilisations, and attracting people with the life and message of its saints. +In the different settings of Saharan Africa or in Southeast Asia, in Turkey or in Central Asia, in Iran or India, Sufism reflected the universal human desire to go beyond the practice and precepts of religion for a deeper unity with the Almighty. +And, in that spiritual and mystical enquiry, Sufis experienced the universal message of Almighty: +That perfection in human life is reflected in the qualities that are dear to God. +That all are creations of God; and, that if we love God, we must also love all his creations. +As Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya said, “Almighty holds dear those who love Him for the sake of human beings, and those who love human beings for the sake of Almighty.” +This is the message of oneness of humanity, of all of Almighty’s creations. +For the Sufis, therefore, service to God meant service to humanity. +In the words of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, of all the worships, the worship that pleases the Almighty God the most is the grant of relief to the humble and the oppressed. +And, its humanism also upheld the place and status of women in society. +These words reflect the divine message to the Holy Prophet that there is no compulsion in religion; And also that to every people we have appointed ways of worship which they observe. +And, it is in harmony with the soul of the Bhakti saint’s saying in the Hindu tradition, “Into the bosom of the one great sea, Flow streams that come from hills on every side.” +And in the wisdom of Bulleh Shah, “Lord is mixed in every heart.” +These values are the need of our times. +This is the reality of Nature. +We learn this wisdom in the perfect balance and harmony that exists in the vast diversity of a forest. +Its message is beyond the confines of schools and sects. +And, just as India became a principal center of Islamic civilization, our nation also emerged as one of the most vibrant hubs of Sufism. +Sufism became the face of Islam in India, even as it remained deeply rooted in the Holy Quran, and Hadis. +And, it helped shape a distinct Islamic heritage of India. +We see this heritage in the fields of art, architecture and culture that is part of the fabric of our nation and our collective daily lives. +We see it in the spiritual and intellectual tradition of India. +It helped strengthen the inclusive culture that is our great nation’s immense contribution to the cultural tapestry of this world. +In Baba Farid’s poetry or Guru Granth Sahib, we feel the same spiritual connection. +We see compassion in the langars of Sufi shrines and the village tombs of local Pirs that attracted the poor and hungry; +The words of Hindavi were spoken in the Sufi Khanqahs. +Sufism’s contribution to poetry in India is huge. +Its impact on the development of Indian music is profound. +None had a greater impact than the Sufi poet-musician Amir Khusrau. +Eight centuries later, his poetry and musical innovation continue to be part of the soul of Hindustani music. +No one had spoken of Indian music with such passion as he had. +Who else could have expressed love for India so beautifully as he did: +“But India, from head to toe, is a picture of heaven, +Adam came from the palace of paradise, +He could only be sent to an orchard of fruits that is India. +If India is not paradise, how could it be made the abode of the peacock, the bird of paradise?” +It is this spirit of Sufism, the love for their country and the pride in their nation that define the Muslims in India. +They reflect the timeless culture of peace, diversity and equality of faith of our land; +They are steeped in the democratic tradition of India, confident of their place in the country and invested in the future of their nation; +And, above all, they are shaped by the values of the Islamic heritage of India. +It upholds the highest ideals of Islam and has always rejected the forces of terrorism and extremism. +Now, as they travel to different parts of the world, they are the ambassadors of the values and traditions of our nation. +As a nation, we stood against colonialism and in our struggle for freedom. +At the dawn of independence some chose to go away; and, I believe, that it also had to do with the colonial politics of that time. +The tallest of our leaders, such as Maulana Azad, and important spiritual leaders, such as Maulana Hussain Madani, and millions and millions of ordinary citizens, rejected the idea of division on the basis of religion. +Now, India is moving forward on the strength of the struggles, the sacrifices, the bravery, the knowledge, the skill, the art and the pride of every member of every faith in our diverse and yet united nation. +Like the strings of sitar that each produces a note, but come together to create a beautiful melody. +This is the spirit of India. +This is the strength of our nation. +All our people, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, the micro-minority of Parsis, believers, non-believers, are an integral part of India. +Just as it once came to India, today Sufism from India has spread across the world. +But, this tradition that evolved in India belongs to the whole of South Asia. +That is why I urge others in the region to nurture and revive this glorious heritage of ours. +When the spiritual love of Sufism, not the violent force of terrorism, flows across the border, this region will be the paradise on earth that Amir Khusrau spoke about. +Let me paraphrase what I have said before: Terrorism divides and destroys us. +Indeed, when terrorism and extremism have become the most destructive force of our times, the message of Sufism has global relevance. +In this digital century of new promise and opportunities, the reach of terror is growing and its toll is rising every year. +Since the beginning of this century, tens of thousands of families have lost their loved ones in thousands of terrorist incidents globally. +Last year alone, I am talking about 2015, over 90 countries experienced terrorist attacks. +Parents in 100 countries live with the daily pain of their children lost to the battlefields of Syria. +And, in a globally mobile world, one incident can claim citizens of many nations. +Every year, we spend over 100 billion dollars on securing the world from terrorism, money that should have been spent on building lives of the poor. +The impact cannot be fully captured in statistics alone. +It is changing the way we live. +There are forces and groups that are instruments of state policy and design. +There are others recruited to the cause in misguided belief. +There are some who are trained in organized camps. +There are those who find their inspiration in the borderless world of cyber space. +Terrorism uses diverse motivations and causes, none of which can be justified. +Terrorists distort a religion whose cause they profess to support. +They kill and destroy more in their own land and among their own people than they do elsewhere. +And, they are putting entire regions to peril and making the world more insecure and violent. +The fight against terrorism is not a confrontation against any religion. +It cannot be. +It is a struggle between the values of humanism and the forces of inhumanity. +It is not a conflict to be fought only through military, intelligence or diplomatic means. +It is also a battle that must be won through the strength of our values and the real message of religions. +As I have said before, we must reject any link between terrorism and religion. +Those who spread terror in the name of religion are anti-religious. +And, we must advance the message of Sufism that stands for the principles of Islam and the highest human values. +This is a task that states, societies, sages, scholars and families must pursue. +However, to me, the message of Sufism is not just confined to combating terrorism. +The values of harmony, welfare, compassion and love for human beings are the foundation of a just society. +That is the principle behind my creed of “Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikaas”. +And, these values are important to preserve and nurture diversity in our societies. +Diversity is a basic reality of Nature and source of richness of a society; and, it should not be a cause of discord. +We need just not constitutional provisions or legal safeguards, but also social values to build an inclusive and peaceful society, in which everyone belongs, secure about his rights and confident of her future. +This is also a time of great flux and transition in the world. +The middle of the last century was an important turning point in history. +A new world order emerged. +Many new nations were born. +At the beginning of a new century, we are at yet another point of transformation on a scale rarely seen in human history. +In many parts of the world, there is uncertainty about the future, and how to deal with it as nations and societies. +These are precisely the times that the world is most vulnerable to violence and conflicts. +The global community must be more vigilant than ever before and counter the forces of darkness with the radiant light of human values. +So, let us remember the teaching of Holy Quran that if anyone slew one innocent person, it would be as if he slew a whole people; if anyone saved one life, it would be as if he saved a whole people. +Let us be inspired by the message of Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti, +With your spiritual light, dissolve the clouds of discord and war and spread goodwill, peace, and harmony among the people. +Let us remember the infinite humanism in Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi’s words, “Contain all human faces in your own, without any judgment of them.” +Let us also live the sermon of Bible that calls us to do good, seek peace and pursue it. +And, oneness in Kabir’s observation that a river and its waves are one. +And, Guru Nanak Devji’s prayer that Lord, may everyone in the world prosper and be in peace. +Let us be inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s appeal against divisions and for people of all religions to hold the banner of harmony, not of dispute. +Let us also reaffirm the enduring message of Ahimsa of Lord Buddha and Mahavira. +And, from this forum, in this land of Gandhi, +Let us, therefore, send a message to the world: +Let us challenge the forces of violence with the kindness of our love and universal human values. +and Lastly, Let us restore the light of hope and turn this world into a garden of peace. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will attend the CPSE Conclave at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on April 9, 2018. +Senior officers of Central Public Sector Enterprises, and top Ministry officials will attend the conclave. +The conclave will feature presentations on best practices in CPSEs. +In the afternoon, thematic presentations will be made to the Prime Minister on subjects such as corporate governance, human resource management, financial re-engineering, and innovation. +The Prime Minister will later address the conclave. +My loving greetings to all. +It is my honour to be here, in this august gathering. +That too, on the auspicious occasion of Maha-Shivratri. +There are many festivals, but this one is pre-fixed with “Maha.” +Indeed, there are many Devs, but only one Maha-Dev. +There are many Mantras, but the Mantra which is identified with Lord Shiva, is called Maha-Mrityunjayi Mantra. +Such is the glory of Lord Shiva. +Maha-Shivratri symbolizes a union of divinity with a purpose, of overcoming darkness and injustice. +It inspires us to be courageous and fight for good. +It marks the shift of seasons, from the cold to the lively spring and brightness. +Maha-Shivratri celebrations go on for the entire night. +This symbolizes a spirit of vigilance- that we have to protect nature and mould our activities in sync with our ecological surroundings. +My home state, Gujarat is the land of Somnath. +The call of the people and the longing for service took me to Kashi, the land of Vishwanath. +From Somnath to Vishwanath, from Kedarnath to Rameshwaram and from Kashi to Coimbatore where we have gathered, Lord Shiva is everywhere. +Like crores of Indians across the length and breadth of the nation, I too feel delighted to be a part of celebrations of Maha-Shivratri. +And we are merely drops in the ocean. +Through centuries, there have lived countless devotees, in every age and time. +They came from different places. +Their language may have been different but their longing for the divine is always the same. +This longing throbs in the core of every human heart. +Their poetry, their music, their love has soaked the very earth. +Today, Yoga has come a long way. +This is the beauty of Yoga- it is ancient, yet modern, it is constant, yet evolving. +The essence of Yoga has not changed. +And I say this because it is of utmost importance to preserve this essence. +Otherwise, we may just have to discover a new Yoga to re-discover the soul and essence of Yoga. +Yoga is the catalytic agent, ushering the transformation from Jiva to Shiva. +By practicing Yoga, a spirit of oneness is created – oneness of the mind, body and the intellect. +India is a land of unparalleled diversity. +India’s diversity can be seen, heard, felt, touched and tasted. +The diversity has been India’s greatest strength and has also brought India together. +Think of Lord Shiva and the picture that comes to mind is that of his majestic presence at Mount Kailash, in the mighty Himalayas. +Think of Goddess Parvati and you remember the beautiful Kanyakumari, which is surrounded by the vast oceans. +The union of Shiva and Parvati is a union of the Himalayas with the oceans. +Shiv and Parvati… this is by itself a message of oneness. +And look at how this message of oneness further manifests itself: +Around the neck of Lord Shiva, there is a snake. +The ‘Vahan’ of Lord Ganesh is the mouse. +The family of Lord Shiva is diverse yet the spirit of harmony and unity is vibrant. +Diversity is not a cause of conflict for us. +We accept it and embrace it whole heartedly. +It is a speciality of our culture that wherever there is a God or Goddess, there is either an animal, a bird or a tree that is associated with him or her. +That animal, bird or tree is also worshipped with the same spirit as the God or Goddess. +There cannot be a better means to inculcate a spirit of reverence for nature. +Truth is one, sages call it by different names. +We have been living these virtues since our childhood and that is why compassion, kindness, brotherhood and harmony are naturally a part of us. +These are values we have seen our ancestors live and die for. +These are virtues that have kept the Indian civilization alive for centuries. +Our mind should always be open to new thoughts and ideas from all sides. +Unfortunately, there are a select few, who in order to hide their own ignorance, take a very rigid view and destroy any scope of welcoming new thoughts and experiences. +Rejecting an idea just because it is ancient can be potentially harmful. +It is essential to analyse it, understand it and try to take it to the new generation in a manner in which they understand best. +The progress of humanity is incomplete without the empowerment of women. +The issue is no longer women development but it is women-led development. +I am proud of the fact that in our culture the role of women is central. +Our culture has so many Goddesses who are worshipped. +You would be interested to know, that in India we say –नारी तू नारायणी, नारी तू नारायणी – woman is a manifestation of the divine. +He can earn it after good deeds. +That is also why perhaps Sadhguru insists that one takes the oath of being a mother to the world. +A mother is someone who is unconditionally inclusive. +The changing lifestyles of the 21st century have brought their own set of challenges. +Lifestyle related ailments, stress related diseases are becoming more and more common. +The communicable ailments can be controlled but what about the non-communicable ones? +The burden of stress takes a heavy toll and one of the sharpest weapons to overcome stress is Yoga. +There is ample evidence that practicing yoga helps combat stress and chronic conditions. +If the body is a temple of the mind, yoga creates a beautiful temple. +That is why I call Yoga a passport to health assurance. +More than being a cure to ailments, it is a means to wellness. +Yoga is about Rog Mukti (freedom from diseases) as well as Bhog Mukti (desisting from worldly greed). +Yoga makes the individual a better person in thought, action, knowledge and devotion. +It would be very unfair to see Yoga only as a set of exercises that keeps the body fit. +You may see people twist and turn their bodies in many sorts of fashion. +But they are not all yogis. +Yoga is far beyond physical exercises. +Through Yoga, we will create a new Yuga – a Yuga of togetherness and harmony. +When India mooted the idea of the International Yoga Day at the United Nations, it was received with open arms. +The world celebrated both the Yoga Days, 21st June 2015 and 2016 with greatfervour. +Be it Korea or Canada, Sweden or South Africa- in every part of the world the rays of the sun were welcomed by Yogis, engaged in the practice of Yoga. +The coming together of so many nations to mark the International Day of Yoga illustrates the real essence of Yoga- togetherness. +Yoga has the potential to herald in a new Yuga (a new era)- a Yuga of peace, compassion, brotherhood and all-round progress of the human race. +One truly remarkable thing that Sadhguru has done is he has made yogis out of ordinary, common people. +Wherever one is, in whatever situation one is placed, one can be a yogi. +I see so many radiant and joyous faces here. +I see people working with utmost love and care, paying attention to the smallest of details. +I see people full of energy and enthusiasm to offer themselves to a greater cause. +Adiyogi will inspire many generations to take up yoga. +My gratitude to Sadhguru for bringing this to us. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for diversion of State Highway-149 passing through Naval Land at Kakinada. +In this connection, the following decisions were also taken:- +a) Taking over of 11.25 acres of land of the Government of Andhra Pradesh underneath the existing Highway passing through Naval land at Kakinada. +b) Surrender of 5.23 acres of Naval land at Kakinada to the State Government of Andhra Pradesh. +c) Payment of Rs. 1882.775 Lakhs as compensation to the State Government of Andhra Pradesh to facilitate them for acquisition of land and for associated construction of alternate road. +The re-routing of state highway at Kakinada will provide hindrance free training by reducing accidents and improvement in security of the establishment. +It will ensure safety and security of Amphibious Warfare Training Centre alongwith related infrastructure. +He offered his best wishes for the successful conduct of the forthcoming Urs. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and the USA for co-hosting the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) 2017 in India. +The MoU delineated the responsibilities, areas of co-operation including logistics and venue related requirements between the parties for smooth conduct of the Summit. +The GES-2017 provided excellent opportunity to entrepreneurs and investors to have meetings with global industry leaders, networking sessions, pitching competitions, strategic workshops and sector-specific programs for forging new collaborations. +The Summit provided a forum to enhance economic opportunities to young entrepreneurs, especially women entrepreneurs and marginalized groups in the long run. +The GES-2017 was held during 28-30 November, 2017 in Hyderabad. +It was attended by more than 1500 registered delegates from 150 countries in addition to CEOs of MNCs, policy makers and Government officials. +A decision to host the Eighth Edition of the GES in 2017 in India was taken at the meeting between the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the then US President Barack Obama on 7th June, 2016 under the Joint Declaration. +This was reiterated by the Prime Minister during his visit to the USA from 25-27 June 2017 and he invited Ms. Ivanka Trump, Adviser to the US President to lead the US delegation to the GES in India. +The GES is a pre-eminent forum for emerging entrepreneurs. +The Summit provided opportunities for meeting with global industry leaders, networking of international entrepreneurs, innovators, investors. +The summit also provided forum for pitching competition, strategic workshops and sector-programmes to help in creating new collaborations amongst entrepreneurs and Investors. +The Summit provided for significantly increased economic opportunities for young entrepreneurs, especially, women entrepreneurs and start-ups. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the untimely passing away of the Union Minister for Rural Development, Shri Gopinath Munde, in a road accident this morning. +Expressing his sadness and shock, the Prime Minister described Shri Gopinath Munde as a true mass leader, who rose to great heights and tirelessly served people. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s tweets: +“Extremely saddened & shocked by the demise of my friend & colleague Gopinath Munde ji. +His demise is a major loss for the Nation & the Govt. +Gopinath Munde ji was a true mass leader. +Hailing from backward sections of society, he rose to great heights & tirelessly served people. +Condolences to Munde ji’s family. +We stand by them in this hour of grief.” +Mr. Shigeo Katsu, President of the University, +Students and eminent guests. +I am delighted to be here. +Mr. Prime Minister, I am deeply honoured that you have joined us today. +You are a person of learning and many talents. +I learnt today that your skills in Hindi and yoga are among them. +It is a great privilege to embark on a journey of all five nations of Central Asia. +This might be the first time this has happened. +I am truly excited to visit a great country and a great region that has been called the pivot of human history. +It is a land of beauty and cultural splendor, of outstanding achievements and great heroism. +It is also a region of continuous engagement with India since human civilisation began. +So, I have come here, drawn by history and goodwill and as a neighbour, to write a new chapter in an ancient relationship. +Tonight, as I speak to the people of Central Asia, I could not have a chosen a better venue than the Nazarbayev University. +In its short life, it has emerged as an excellent centre of education. +And, I congratulate the first batch that has graduated this year. +The university reflects the vision of President Nazarbayev that education is the foundation of a nation’s progress and leadership. +It recalls the wisdom of the great Kazakh writer, Abai Kunanbaev, who spoke about education as the shield and pillar for Kazakh people. +Today, Kazakhstan is a nation of global stature and respect. +This is not just because Mother Nature has been generous to you with resources of every kind. +It is because of your investment in education, human resources and infrastructure. +These have helped increase the size of the economy four times in the last ten years. +It is because of your leadership in advancing peace and cooperation in the great Eurasian region. +It is your vision that has given us the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building in Asia. +Kazakhstan is a voice of responsibility and maturity in international forums, including the United Nations. +No Indian will forget Kazakhstan’s generosity in making way for India’s bid for the membership of the UN Security Council in 2011-12. +We stand solidly behind you for your bid in 2017-18. +Like Kazakhstan, the rest of Central Asia is on the rise. +It is just over two decades since nations here gained independence and regained their identity. +The countries of Central Asia are endowed with rich human and natural resources. +I am coming from Tashkent. +Uzbekistan is experiencing rapid economic growth and progress. +Turkemistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgystan are turning their resources into a promise of a more prosperous future. +You have built modern, inclusive and pluralist nations at a time when many in the region are caught in conflict and instability. +Your success is as important for the region as it is for the world. +Central Asia is at the crossroads of Eurasia. +It has been caught in the currents of history and it has also shaped it. +It has seen rise and fall of empires. +It has witnessed trade thrive and ebb. +For monks, merchants and monarchs, it has been both – a destination and a passage. +It has been an intermediary of cultures and faiths from across Asia. +Your gifts to human civilisation have been rich. +Your imprint on human progress has been lasting. +And, over the last two thousand years and more, India and Central Asia have influenced each other profoundly. +For centuries, Buddhism flourished in this part of the world and even influenced Buddhist Art in India. +Through here, it spread eastward. +As I stood in the Gandan Monastery in Mongolia this May, I marveled at that journey of faith that linked Asia across its daunting landscape. +The confluence of Indian and Islamic civilisations took place in Central Asia. +We enriched each other not only in spiritual thought, but also in medicine, science, mathematics and astronomy. +The Islamic heritage of both India and Central Asia is defined by the highest ideals of Islam – knowledge, piety, compassion and welfare. +This is a heritage founded on the principle of love and devotion. +And, it has always rejected the forces of extremism. +Today, this is an important source of strength that brings India and Central Asia together. +The richness of our ties is written into the contours of our cities and our daily lives. +We see this in architecture and art, handicraft and textile and in most popular food. +The dargahs of Delhi resonate with Sufi music that draws people from all faiths. +The cities of Central Asia have become centres of yoga and Hindi, long before the world came together to celebrate the International Day of Yoga on 21st June. +Uzbekistan has recently completed fifty years of radio broadcast in Hindi. +Our epics Ramayana and Mahabharata were popular on Uzbek TV as they were in India. +Many of you wait for the release of the latest Bollywood film with the same excitement as people in India. +This is the source of goodwill between our people. +It is the foundation of a relationship of hearts and emotions. +And, it cannot be measured only by the scale of trade or the demands of States. +It was evident when President Nazarbayev and the leaders of other Central Asian Republics came to India soon after their nation’s independence. +Since then, our political engagement has deepened. +Our defence and security cooperation is growing. +Trade is expanding, but it is still modest. +Our cooperation in energy sector has begun. +Later today, we will launch the drilling of the first oil well with Indian investments in Kazakhstan. +Indian investments in Central Asia have started flowing in. +And, so have Indian tourists in growing numbers. +More than 50 flights a week connect the five Central Asian capitals to India. +And, it takes about the same time as it would take to fly to Chennai from Delhi. +Our strongest progress is in human resource development. +Thousands of professionals and students from Central Asia have trained in India. +Many from India come to the universities in the region. +We have established Centres of Excellence in Information and Communication Technology in the region. +And, we are also pleased that we have three Indian cultural centres in the region. +Yet, we will be the first to say that the engagement between India and Central Asia falls short of its promise and potential. +We have a special place in our hearts for each other. +But, we have not paid as much attention to each other as we should. +This will change. +That is why I am travelling to all five countries in the region in the early stages of my Government. +India constitutes one-sixth of humanity. +It is a nation of 800 million youth that is an enormous force of progress and change for India and the world. +Our economy is growing at 7.5% every year. +We can sustain higher growth rates long into the future. +India is the new frontier of opportunities for the world. +Central Asia is a vast region of immense resources, talented people, rapid growth and a strategic location. +So, I am here to start a new era in our relationship with Central Asia. +India is prepared to invest more in a new partnership of prosperity. +We will work together not just in minerals and energy, but in industries such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, engineering and small and medium enterprises. +We can invest in refineries, petrochemicals and fertilizer plants here. +We can harness our strength in information and communication technology to create wealth and opportunities for our youth. +Today, I will inaugurate a Centre of Excellence in Astana with a Super Computer from India. +We can use the reach of Space technology for closer partnership in development and resource management. +I also see vast opportunities in areas like agriculture and dairy. +We can renew our old ties in traditional medicines. +Central Asia is a natural destination for the Indian tourists. +In this troubled world, we must also strengthen our defence and security cooperation to defend our values, our nations’ security and our region’s peace. +We live at the frontier of instability. +We live close to the crucible of extremism and terrorism. +We see terrorism spawned by nations and groups. +Today, we also see cyber space become a platform without borders for terror to draw recruits to its cause. +From theatres of conflicts to the calm neighbourhoods of distant cities, terrorism has become a global challenge as never before. +It is a force that is larger and more enduring than its changing names, locations and targets. +So, we must ask ourselves: Will we let a generation of youth be lost to guns and hate, because they will hold us accountable for their lost future? +So, during this visit, we will strengthen our defence and security cooperation in the region. +But, we will also combat terrorism by the strength of our values and our commitment to humanism. +This is a responsibility that India and Central Asian nations owe to our shared inheritance and to the future of our region. +Our shared values and aspirations are also the foundation of closer international partnership, including in the United Nations. +But, in a transformed world, we also see the growing institutional erosion of the United Nations. +As nations that are committed to international order, we must work to make it relevant to our times. +So, as the United Nations turns 70, we should press for reforms of the United Nations, especially its Security Council. +India’s membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will deepen our regional partnership. +And we have begun a study on a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union for deeper integration with this region. +This is an era in which Space and Cyber are making roads and rails less relevant. +But, we will also restore our physical connectivity for trade, transit and energy. +The International North South Transport Corridor opens a competitive and quick route for India to Eurasia. +And, I hope all of Central Asia will join it. +We hope to join the Ashgabat Agreement on trade and transit. +India’s investment in Chahbahar Port in Iran will bring us closer to Central Asia. +I also hope that we can restore the traditional route to Central Asia through Pakistan and Afghanistan. +We can draw confidence from the agreement between Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India on the gas pipeline. +This region has prospered the most when we have been connected. +Indeed, our hopes of an Asian Century will be realized, when we see Asia as one – not as South, West, East or Central. +Asia will rise when we all prosper together. +For that, we must connect Asia’s different parts. +India is at the crossroads of Asia’s land and sea routes. +We understand our responsibility. +And, we are working with a sense of priority to connect ourselves to the East and the West, by land and sea. +There is a surge of interest in reconnecting Asia with itself and beyond. +Today, all of Asia seeks the revival of the glorious ancient Silk Road. +But, we must also remember the lessons of history. +The Silk Road flourished and waned with the fortunes of Central Asia. +The end of the Silk Road did not just come about from the rise of sea-based trade of the new European powers. +It also happened because Central Asia was no longer a bridge between regions, but the new fault line between great empires to the east, west and south; +When it was no longer the hub of trade, but a land in the shadows of the high walls of the powers around it. +Central Asian nations declined and trade withered. +From Europe to Asia, all nations must foster a climate of cooperation and collaboration, not competition and exclusion, in this region. +The region must remain stable and peaceful, free from conflict and the violence of extremism and terrorism. +In an age of globalization, Asia cannot remain fragmented. +And, Central Asia cannot remain distant and disconnected from India. +I am confident that we can make it happen. +Our ancestors crossed the mighty Himalaya, Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Pamirs for spiritualism, knowledge, and markets. +We will all work together to build the Silk Route of the 21st century. +We will connect through space and cyber as we will by air, land and sea. +Let me conclude with a few lines from Abduraheim Otkur, a poet of this region. +I say this to you: India and Central Asia will redeem that promise. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has extended his best wishes to the people of Kyrgyzstan, on their Independence Day. +“I extend my best wishes to the people of Kyrgyzstan on their Independence Day. +Kyrgyzstan is India’s very valued partner in Central Asia. +My recent visit to Kyrgyzstan was extremely fruitful in expanding India-Kyrgyzstan relations in a wide range of sectors”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today began his two-day visit in Gujarat by offering prayers at the Dwarkadheesh Temple at Dwarka. +The Prime Minister unveiled plaques to mark the laying of foundation stones for a bridge between Okha and Beyt Dwarka; and other road development projects. +The Prime Minister said he saw a new energy and enthusiasm in Dwarka today. +He said the bridge whose foundation stone has been laid, is a means to reconnect with our ancient heritage. +It will boost tourism, which will generate employment, he added, noting that development will be the key to promoting tourism. +The Prime Minister recalled how lack of infrastructure, led to difficulties and challenges for the people of Beyt Dwarka, some years ago. +The Prime Minister said that the development of the tourism sector cannot happen in isolation. +He said that if we want to draw more tourists to Gir, we should also inspire the tourists to visit other nearby places like Dwarka. +Building of infrastructure should enhance economic activities and add to the atmosphere of development, the Prime Minister said. +We want development of ports and port-led development; the blue economy should help further the progress of India, he added. +The Prime Minister said that the Government of India is taking steps towards the empowerment of fishermen. +He said Kandla Port is seeing unprecedented growth because resources were devoted to improve the port. +He said a new lease of life has been given to Alang, and steps taken for the welfare of the labourers working there. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is modernising the marine security apparatus. +An institute for this will be set up in this Devbhoomi of Dwarka, he added. +Speaking on the decisions taken by consensus in the GST Council meeting yesterday, the Prime Minister said that when there is trust in a government and when policies are made with best intentions, it is natural for people to support us for the best interests of the nation. +The Prime Minister asserted that the Government wants to help fulfil the aspirations of the people, and fight poverty. +The Prime Minister said that the world’s attention is being drawn to India, and people are coming to invest here. +“I see Gujarat contributing actively to the development of India and congratulate the Gujarat Government,” the Prime Minister added. +High Level Committee chaired by the Union Home Minister has recommended Rs. 1304 crore for drought relief to UP under National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF). +The State Government would disburse the relief amount directly into the bank accounts of farmers within a week. +It was decided that Government of UP will forward a Memorandum for Rabi 2016 soon. +Drinking Water : Chief Secretary, UP informed that a comprehensive contingency plan to address the drinking water situation in Bundelkhand region especially Mahoba, Chitrakoot and Banda districts of Chitrakoot division are ready. +State Government will ensure distribution of Rs. 700 crore released under the labour component of MGNREGS directly to the eligible beneficiaries via electronic payment system. +State Government was advised to ensure Aadhar seeding of MNREGS beneficiaries and ration cards on high priority. +Bundelkhand Package +During the meeting, implementation of previous Bundelkhand package was high on agenda. +It was brought to the notice that Rs. 264 crore was released by NITI Aayog on 31.03.2016 to complete the committed liabilities on ongoing projects in UP as a one-time grant. +Drought Proofing +It was also decided that water tanks, building of dug wells, farm ponds would be taken up on priority under various projects and schemes for Bundelkhand. +CEO, NITI Aayog in consultation with State Government will explore the possibility of taking up fresh projects for drought proofing from the resources available under the package for Bundelkhand region. +It was brought out that Sesame is the most important Kharif crop in Bundelkhand. +It was agreed that MSP for Sesame for 2016-17 be announced expeditiously. +A bonus of Rs. 20 for Bundelkhand region over and above the MSP shall be considered. +State Government would finalise a procurement plan for Sesame in consultation with Secretary, Agriculture. +To focus on boosting agricultural production and productivity in Bundelkhand region State Government will send a proposal for introduction of a new sub scheme under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. +However, the coverage in Bundelkhand due to distress situation is around 30 percent. +Secretary, Water Resources was requested to ensure release of funds on priority for the nine ongoing projects under Repair, Rejuvenation and Restoration (RRR) of water bodies. +CEO, NITI Aayog, Secretary (Water Resources), Principal Secretary (Irrigation), UP will meet on 12th April, 2016 to resolve various issues pertaining to Arjun Sahayak, Varuna and Banasagar irrigation projects. +CEO NITI Aayog in consultation with State Government will also resolve the pending proposals of drinking water at the earliest. +It was also agreed that various development proposals especially under PMGSY, drinking water, village electrification etc. should have wider consultation with local public representatives especially Members of Parliament. +As per the Prime Minister’s vision and in the true spirit of cooperative federalism, Government of India and the State Government will together work for long term sustainable solutions to address the problem of vulnerable regions in natural distress. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Shri Sher Bahadur Deuba on being elected the Prime Minister of Nepal. +“Called Shri Sher Bahadur Deuba to congratulate him on being elected the Prime Minister of Nepal +I conveyed my best wishes to Shri Deuba for peace, prosperity and progress in Nepal under his leadership”, the Prime Minister said. +A 12-member delegation of the Seychelles Parliament called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister welcomed increased exchanges between the legislatures of both countries. +He appreciated their role in upholding strong and vibrant ties between India and Seychelles as close partners, including in the Indian Ocean. +Prime Minister recalled his own productive visit to Seychelles in March 2015 that helped both countries further deepen cooperation. +The delegation shared their perspectives with Prime Minister on further strengthening cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. +The Seychelles parliamentary delegation is on an official visit to India on the invitation of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. +Excellency Hadid Adel ,the Head of Farhingstan +Dr Janati, the Minister of Cultural Affairs of Iran, +Distinguished scholars, +Ladies and gentlemen +The wise words of Dr. Adel and Dr. Janati before me have set the tone for this Conference. +Your conference is most ideally timed. +It is an occasion to recall and renew our centuries old association. +It is also a perfect response to the those who preach radical thoughts in our societies. +It also fulfils a responsibility to familiarize our younger generations with the beauty and riches of our cultural heritage. +No one is more qualified to shoulder this task than this gathering of learned men and scholars. +I must particularly congratulate Dr. Adel, who has been ahead of the curve in realizing this need. +His ongoing project to bring out Encyclopaedia on the Indian sub-continent in Persian would be of great service to researchers and scholars. +It is indeed an honour and privilege to be amidst such a galaxy of scholars and thinkers of Iran. +In the world of today, political pundits talk of strategic convergence. +But, India and Iran are two civilizations that celebrate the meeting of our great cultures. +The rare Persian manuscript Kalileh-wa-Dimneh, released just now, captures the close historical links between India and Iran. +It is remarkable how the simple stories of the Indian classics of Jataka and Panchatantra became the Persian Kalileh-wa-Dimneh. +A true depiction of the wisdom of our ancient civilizations. +For those with the sweet tooth it is शक्कर from India. +(Meaning: All the nightingales of Iran get this fresh sweet arriving in Tehran from India) +Centuries of free exchange of ideas and traditions, poets and craftsmen, art and architecture, culture and commerce have enriched both our civilizations. +Our heritage has also been a source of strength and economic growth for our nations. +The richness of Persian heritage is an integral part of the fabric of the Indian society. +Our ancient heroes and epics bear striking parallels. +The dargahs of Azmer Sharif and Hazrat Nizamuddin in India are equally revered in Iran. +Mahabharata and Shahnama, Bhima and Rustam, Arjuna and Arsh exhibit similarity in our world views and values. +In the richness of Iranian culture, who can forget the poetry and beauty of its vehicle—the Persian language. +In India, we regard it as one of our own. +The great medieval poets of India have called the Persian and Sanskrit the two sisters. +India’s religious epic Ramayana which has seen over a dozen translations in Persian is known to have about 250 words of Persian. +It served as a court language in medieval India. +But, its popularity is also because it is written on the hearts of the Indians. +It is taught in around 40 universities in India. +All India Radio has been running the Persian language service for last 75 years. +India has a proud collection of almost 5 million manuscripts of Persian in public and private collections. +There are more than 20 million documents in Persian in National and State Archives. +In Salar Jung museum in Hyderabad, such a combination can be found in many manuscripts. +A major effort to digitize all manuscripts, including Persian is currently underway in India. +Every year, the President of India has conferred awards on the Persian Scholars. +Ladies and Gentlemen, +As two ancient civilizations, we are known for our ability to be inclusive and welcoming to foreign cultures. +Our contacts have not just refined our own cultures. +They have also contributed to the growth of moderate and tolerant societies globally. +The spirit of Sufism is also reflected in the Indian concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, the World as one family. +India and Iran have always been partners and friends. +Our historical ties may have seen their share of ups and downs. +But, throughout our partnership has remained a source of boundless strength for both of us. +Time has come for us to regain the past glory of traditional ties and links. +Time has come for us to march together. +In this endeavour, you, the eminent scholars have a defining role to play. +It is indeed my great pleasure to inaugurate the Conference “India and Iran, Two Great Civilizations: Retrospect and Prospects.” +In extending my best wishes for the success of your conference, I would also keenly look to receive the ideas that emerge out of your discussions. +I am happy to see that ICCR and Farhangistan have worked closely to organize this Conference. +Your deliberations indeed provide a body of strength to our literary, academic and people to people ties. +Let me thank you all once again for inviting me. +I wish all you and the conference only the very best. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of former civil servant Shri Naresh Chandra. +“Shri Naresh Chandra was an outstanding public servant, who left an indelible mark on matters of governance and policy. +Pained by his demise. +I remember an insightful discussion with Naresh Ji, who as USA ambassador invited me for dinner. +He believed in strong India-USA friendship.” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted Indian Coast Guard personnel, on their Foundation Day. +“Greetings to Indian Coast Guard personnel on their Foundation Day. +They are diligently and bravely guarding our coasts”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award, at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, in New Delhi. +The Award focuses on the triple bottom-line of People, Profit and Planet. +It will be offered annually to the leader of a Nation. +His selfless service towards India, combined with his tireless energy has resulted in extraordinary economic, social and technological advances in the country.” +The Citation adds: “Under his leadership, India is now identified as the Centre for Innovation and Value Added Manufacturing (Make in India), as well as a global hub for professional services such as Information Technology, Accounting and Finance.” +The Citation also mentions: “His visionary leadership has also resulted in the Digital Revolution (Digital India), including the Unique Identification Number, Aadhaar, for social benefits and financial inclusion. +It is enabling entrepreneurship, ease of doing business, and creating a 21st century infrastructure for India.” +The Citation mentions initiatives such as Make in India, Startup India, Digital India, and Swachh Bharat, “which have positioned India as one of the most lucrative manufacturing and business destinations in the world.” +Prof. Philip Kotler is a world renowned Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. +Owing to his ill-health, he deputed Dr. Jagdish Sheth of EMORY University, Georgia, USA, to confer the award. +Lays Foundation Stone for new Capital city of Andhra Pradesh. +Inaugurates Garuda Terminal at Tirupati Airport. +Lays Foundation Stone of mobile manufacturing hub at Tirupati. +May there be peace, unity and harmony in the country, PM says, after offering prayers at Tirumala Temple, Tirupati. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the ceremony to mark the laying of the Foundation Stone for the new Capital city of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravathi. +He unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion. +He said urbanization should be seen as an opportunity, and not a challenge. +He hoped that Amaravathi would become a model for cities across the country. +The Prime Minister expressed happiness that the Chief Minister of Telangana, Shri K Chandrasekar Rao had been specially invited and was attending this event. +The Prime Minister spoke of the joint efforts of the Union and State Governments for human resource development in Andhra Pradesh. +He hoped that the State would emerge as one of the leaders in the “Start-Up” space. +“I too have got water and soil like all of you,” the Prime Minister told the assembled gathering. +He mentioned that he had brought water from the Yamuna river and soil from the Parliament House premises, for the new Capital city. +He said this was in a way, symbolic of the nation’s capital moving to Amaravathi. +The Prime Minister inaugurated the Garuda Terminal at Tirupati airport. +He said the Union Government was working to boost the Tourism sector, through better infrastructure, and other facilitation initiatives. +The Prime Minister laid the Foundation Stone of the Sri Venkateswara Mobile and Electronics Hub at Tirupati. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Telangana, on the Statehood Day. +The Prime Minister also extended his wishes to the people of Andhra Pradesh. +“Statehood Day wishes to the people of Telangana. +I pray for the progress and prosperity of the state in the times to come. +My good wishes to the dynamic people of Andhra Pradesh. +May AP touch new heights of development and continue to contribute to India’s growth”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today held discussions with Secretaries of all the Ministries and senior officers of the Departments of the Government of India. +Such a meeting has taken place after more than eight years. +The Prime Minister listened extensively to suggestions and comments of the Secretaries for nearly two and a half hours. +Shri Modi empathized with the sentiment expressed by the Secretaries, and their anguish in not being able to realize their true potential because of circumstances. +However, he expressed full faith in their commitment and competence to build a better future for the country. +He called upon the senior bureaucrats to simplify and streamline the administrative rules and procedures to make them people-friendly. +He emphasized the need for a team spirit and urged the Secretaries to be leaders of their teams. +He also encouraged the officers to take decisions and assured them that he would stand by them. +He stressed upon the need to identify and do away with such archaic rules and procedures. +He even added that the process of governance of his government should begin with cleaning-up of the offices, improving the workplace, which would automatically result in a better work culture and efficient services to the citizens. +The Prime Minister emphasized the need for use of technology for greater efficiency and effectiveness in administration. +He further added that in a democracy, redressal of citizens` grievances is very important, and information technology can help greatly in this regard. +He also added that through use of technology, and better understanding among departments, administrative and schematic convergence is possible. +Only through collective action, faster results can be achieved. +Shri Modi offered that he would always be ready to give an account of the work being done by him. +The senior bureaucrats echoed this sentiment and welcomed a similar standard of accountability. +The exhibition is an ode to the valour and sacrifice of Indian Armed Forces personnel protecting the borders of the country. +The Prime Minister visited the exhibits and recreations of the battle scene in various sectors. +He met some of the veterans of the 1965 war. +We are very proud of them,” the Prime Minister later tweeted. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will be visiting Bengaluru tomorrow. +He will inaugurate “Aero India-2015,” the 10th international edition of the aerospace and aviation exhibition. +He will also visit the Institute for Stem Cell Biology, interact with scientists at the Indian Institute of Sciences, and deliver the Convocation Address at NIMHANS – the National Institute for Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and South Africa for cooperation in the field of Tourism. +The MoU was signed on 08.07.2016. +The main objectives of the MoU are: +a) to expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector; +b) to exchange information and data related to tourism ; +c) to encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders, including hotels and tour operators. +d) to establish exchange programmes for cooperation in Human Resource Development; +e) Investing in the tourism and hospitality sector; +f) to encourage visits of Tour Operators/Media/ Opinion Makers and tourists from both countries for promotion of two way tourism; +g) to exchange experiences in the areas of promotion, education, marketing, destination development and management; +h) to participate in travel fairs/exhibitions in each other’s country; and +i) to promote safe, honourable and sustainable tourism. +India and South Africa share and enjoy warm and friendly bilateral relations. +South Africa is an emerging tourism source markets for India (India received approximately 51922 tourists from South Africa in 2015). +India has extended the Electronic Tourist Visa (eTV) facility for the South African Nationals which elicited good response from travel trade of both. +The MoU will be instrumental in increasing arrival from this emerging source market. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has written to President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H. E. Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, greeting him on the occasion of his 75th birthday. +The Text of the Prime Minister’s letter is as follows:- +“Please accept my heartiest greetings and felicitations on the occasion of your 75th birthday. +We admire your extraordinary vision and leadership in guiding Kazakhstan’s development as a nation and its rapid progress over the past two and half decades. +We also greatly value your strong and steadfast support for relations between our two countries. +I keenly look forward to meeting you in Astana during my forthcoming visit to Kazakhstan. +I wish you good health, well-being and success in the days ahead.” +He also extended warm Diwali greetings to the Indian community in Japan. +Terming the Indian community as ambassadors of India in Japan, Prime Minister urged them to invest in India and to maintain cultural ties with the motherland. +Prime Minister highlighted India’s hugely successful space program and robust digital infrastructure being built in India. +He said that ‘Make in India’ program is making India a Global Hub for Electronics and Automobile Manufacturing. +The Prime Minister is on a two-day tour to Japan. +This will help in promoting safe, economical, efficient and environmentally sound road transport in the country and will further help both the countries in creating an institutional mechanism for cooperation in the field. +Salient features of the MoU are: +a.Exchange and sharing of knowledge and cooperation in the area of transportation technologies and transport policies, for passenger and freight movement by roads; +b.Planning, administration and management of road infrastructure, technology and standards for roads/highways construction and maintenance; +c.Sharing of information and best practices for developing road safety plans and road safety intervention strategies, and outreach activities aimed at reducing deaths and injuries resulting from road accidents through: +d.Sharing of knowledge and best practices in user-free (toll)-related issues; including modern systems, technologies and methods of levying of user-free and collection including Electronic Toll Collection System; +f.Sharing of information and cooperation for mobilizing investments for setting up of Logistics Parks, freight logistics, transportation warehousing and value added services (VAS) as an enabler and as a catalyst of economic growth and seamless freight movement. +Greeting the people on Vijaya Dashami, the Prime Minister said, he is fortunate to be a part of this ancient tradition of Ramleela. +He described Ramleela as the festival of victory of truth over falsehood; and of defeating the oppressor. +He said that as we burn Ravana every year, we should all resolve to remove the ills from ourselves, our social structures and our nation. +He asked the people to resolve to end ten shortcomings within themselves, each Dussehra. +He emphasized that all of us have the strength to try and ward off these evils, and make this nation great. +Describing terrorism as the enemy of humanity, the Prime Minister said that Shri Ram represents the best of humanity, and is an epitome of sacrifice and dedication. +The Prime Minister said that it was Jatayu – a character in the Ramayana – who fought terrorism first. +Jatayu gives us the message of fearlessness, the Prime Minister said, exhorting 125 crore Indians to be Jatayu in the face of terrorism. +He said if everyone is alert, the evil designs of the terrorists can be foiled. +The Prime Minister said that the forces of humanity across the world must now unite against terrorism. +He added that even those who provide sanctuary to terrorists must not be spared now. +The Prime Minister said that day is also observed as the International Day of the Girl Child. +Speaking out strongly against female foeticide, he said we must strive hard to bring an end to such an evil practice. +Highlights progress achieved in bilateral ties in last 100 days . +Urges Nepal to adopt a Constitution by consensus. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today highlighted the rapid and multi-faceted progress made in bilateral ties with Nepal over the last 100 days. +In his remarks at the official handover and inaugural ceremony of the National Trauma Center in Kathmandu today, the Prime Minister said relations between India and Nepal were now powered by the ‘engine of trust.’ +He said he was fortunate to be back in Nepal again after a short period. +He said he had visited many places across the world in the intervening period, but he could never forget the love he had received in Nepal. +The Prime Minister said the Trauma Center would save lives in distress, and was therefore a symbol of abiding hope and friendship between the two countries. +He said India would always stand by Nepal for upgradation of the trauma center, as required. +He added that he would visit these places in the near future. +The Prime Minister complimented the Prime Minister of Nepal, the political parties and officers of Nepal for removing obstacles and speeding up work which had been held up for the last 25 to 30 years. +He said he feels satisfied, because a happy Nepal gives India a reason to smile. +He said work on hydropower projects and transmission lines was now moving forward. +He also mentioned the one billion dollar line of credit, and the Kathmandu Delhi bus service. +He said he had asked his officers to explore the possibility of the buses being wi-fi enabled. +He said India had reduced the rate for phone calls by 35 percent, and urged Nepal to also move in this direction. +He said a mobile soil testing laboratory would be gifted to Nepal. +He said it would now be possible to bring 500 and 1000 Indian rupee notes upto Rs. 25,000 into Nepal. +He highlighted people to people contact and youth exchange programmes, saying the first batch of 450 University students from Nepal was currently in Kolkata. +The Prime Minister made an impassioned plea for Nepal to complete its Constitution. +He said the Constitution should be made by consensus, and not by majority. +He said this would be in Nepal’s interest and it would require the mind of a sage (Rishi-Mann) among the members of the Constituent Assembly. +Name of MOU +Joint Declaration of Intent of Cooperation for Safety in the Railway sector between India and Italy +Mr. Renato Mazzoncini, CEO & General Manager, Italian Railways +Mr. Ved Pal Additional Member (Planning), Railway Board +MoU on 70 years of diplomatic relations between Indian Council of Cultural Relations and Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, Government of the Republic of Italy +Mr. Lorenzo Angeloni, Ambassador of Italy to India +Ms. Riva Ganguly Das, DG ICCR +MoU on cooperation In the field of Energy between India and Italy +Mr. Anand Kumar, Secretary, MNRE +Executive Protocol on Cultural Cooperation between India and Italy +Ms. Reenat Sandhu, Ambassador of India to Italy +MoU for promoting mutual investments between Italian Trade Agency and Invest India +Mr. Michele Scannavini President, Italian Trade Agency +The festival, which will be held in Chhattisgarh, will commence on 12th January 2016 on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. +“Young friends, what are your ideas for the 2016 National Youth Festival? +Share your ideas with me on the Mobile App. http://nm4.in/dnldapp. +The festival, which will commence on Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary on 12th Jan will be held in the beautiful state of Chhattisgarh,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval for moving a Resolution in the first Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for amending the Framework Agreement of the ISA for opening up the ISA membership to all countries that are members of the United Nations. +Opening the membership of the ISA will put solar energy in global agenda with the universal appeal for developing and deploying solar energy. +It will make ISA inclusive, whereby all member countries that are members of the United Nations could become member. +Expanding membership will lead to ISA initiative benefitting the world at large. +He was received by his family in the presence of Shri Narendra Modi. +The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, paid an official visit to Australia from 16-18 November 2014, following the G-20 Summit, as the guest of Prime Minister Tony Abbott. +Prime Minister Modi held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Abbott, addressed a joint sitting of both houses of the Parliament (the first time an Indian prime minister has done so) and met the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Leader of the Opposition in Canberra. +He also visited Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, where he met political leaders, academics, businesspeople and sporting figures and addressed members of the Australian Indian community. +He visited research, cultural and historic institutions. +A number of agreements were signed and new initiatives launched. +For the first time,Australian and Indian Prime Ministers have made reciprocal visits in the same year, underscoring the growing depth of the Australia-India strategic partnership and building on converging interests, shared values and common democratic institutions. +Prime Minister Abbott and Prime Minister Modi recognised that the partnership has tremendous room for growth and agreed to unlock the vast potential of the economic relationship, especially in priority areas such as resources, education, skills, agriculture, infrastructure, investments, financial services and health. +They directed that an equitable, balanced, mutually beneficial and high quality Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement be brought to an early conclusion to realise the potential of commercial relations. +They expressed satisfaction at the increase in investment while recognising the tremendous untapped potential in both directions. +Indian investment in the resource sector in Australia promises to create jobs and value for the Australian economy just as Australian investment in cold chain storage, energy, infrastructure and other sectors can do for the Indian economy. +Energy is a central pillar of the economic relationship. +Prime Minister Abbott and Prime Minister Modi agreed to expedite approvals for key mining investment projects. +They agreed to cooperate on clean coal technologies and welcomed the intention to explore opportunities for partnership between Australian institutions and the Indian School of Mines in Dhanbad. +Australia and India are committed to working together to combat terrorism and other transnational crimes. +Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abbott agreed that the existing Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism would be renamed to cover other transnational crimes, including on-going cooperation on illegal migration. +They witnessed the signing of an Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and a Counter-Narcotics MoU. +Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abbott decided to extend defence cooperation to cover research, development and industry engagement. +They agreed to hold regular meetings at the level of the Defence Minister, conduct regular maritime exercises and convene regular Navy to Navy, Air Force to Air Force and Army to Army staff talks. +They recalled the time spent together at the Australian War Memorial and agreed to strengthen efforts to commemorate the shared military history, including through the WWI centenary. +They welcomed the cooperation between the two national broadcasters, Prasar Bharati and the ABC, to co-produce a film on Gallipoli. +Australia and India are working together more closely to build a safe and prosperous region, including through key regional forums such as the East Asia Summit. +Both countries value their engagement with ASEAN, are strongly committed to building up the Indian Ocean Rim Association, and support regional efforts to create stronger humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities, combat malaria and boost regional trade, including through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. +They welcomed the introduction of measures to facilitate easier travel and witnessed the signing of an MoU on Tourism, which will promote continued strong growth in an industry vital to both countries. +India will hold a Tourism Week in Australia in 2015. +Negotiations on an Audio-visual Co-production Agreement are progressing well, with the aim of boosting links between the dynamic film industries. +Educational links are deep and strong. +They welcomed two-way exchanges and cooperation in river basin planning under the water partnership and a new program of joint research on agricultural water management. +A Festival of India will be held in Australia in 2015 to showcase the dynamism and diversity of contemporary Indian culture. +Prime Minister Modi renewed his invitation to Prime Minister Abbott to visit India again at his convenience. +They agreed that high-level visits played a key role in enhancing the strategic partnership between the two countries. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the revised Model Memorandum of Understanding between the Financial Intelligence Unit(FIU) – India (FIU-Ind) with its counterpart foreign Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) for exchange of information. +Most of the foreign FIUs require an MoU to be signed for sharing of information with them. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for raising a total of Rs. 31,300 crore in the financial year 2016-17 and to service the principal and interest against the Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR) of Rs. 16,300 crore by Government of India to augment infrastructure spending. +Out of the EBR of Rs.31,300 crore, it is proposed to finance the funds to be raised by Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) by Government of India. +This implies that the principal and the interest in respect of the EBR of Rs.16,300 crore to be raised by PFC, IREDA, IWAI, and NABARD shall be financed by Government of India by making suitable budget provisions in the Demand of respective Ministries/Departments. +The move is intended to supplement the efforts of the Government to improve infrastructure spending and to improve the revenue-capital mix of the expenditure for a more sustainable growth. +Infrastructure spending is one of the key parameters to judge the sustainability of growth in a country. +The proportion of Capital expenditure to the total expenditure is the yardstick to measure this. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed happiness as number of beneficiaries of Ujjwala Yojana crossed 2.5 Crore. +“Ujjwala Yojana continues to expand its reach! +Extremely delighted that today the number of beneficiaries crossed 2.5 crore. +I thank Rashtrapati Ji for the special gesture of handing over LPG connections to beneficiaries in Jangipur, West Bengal. +I congratulate Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and his entire team that has been working round the clock for the success of Ujjwala Yojana”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the loss of lives due to train accident in Amritsar. +“Extremely saddened by the train accident in Amritsar. +The tragedy is heart-wrenching. +My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and I pray that the injured recover quickly. +Have asked officials to provide immediate assistance that is required”, The the Prime Minister tweeted. +The Prime Minister visited the AJI-3 dam site, and witnessed the release of water from the gates of the dam. +Addressing a large gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister recalled that even as Chief Minister of Gujarat, it had always been his firm belief that water was most important for the farmer. +He said that the water table in the State had begun to rise. +Check dams have also been built in large numbers, he added. +The Prime Minister noted how the situation had changed even in Kutch, where even our jawans did not get enough water at one point of time. +The Prime Minister said he still remembered the time when he had first met lawmakers from Saurashtra, and discussed the SAUNI Project. +He said this is an initiative that should make every Gujarati proud. +Shri Narendra Modi also emphasized on the need for water conservation, and spoke about the various initiatives taken by the Union Government for the welfare of the farmers, such as crop insurance. +The Prime Minister explained how schemes such as Ujjwala for LPG gas connections, and LED bulb distribution are transforming the quality of life of the people. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on the telephone to H.E. Mme. Park Geun-Hye, President of the Republic of Korea this afternoon. +The call was initiated by the Korean side. +Premier Park congratulated Prime Minister Modi on his victory in the general elections. +She recalled with appreciation Prime Minister’s association with Korea as Chief Minister of Gujarat and expressed confidence that the Strategic Partnership between our two countries will expand in all areas under his leadership. +President Park thanked India for its gift of a sapling of the sacred Bodhi tree and for the Visa-on-Arrival facility extended by India to Korean nationals following her visit to India in January 2014. +She expressed support and appreciation for India’s role and standing in world affairs and in the international community. +Prime Minister Modi thanked President Park for her warm felicitations. +He hoped to work together with President Park and her government for common interest and benefit of the two countries and the mankind. +Prime Minister welcomed greater economic engagement between the two countries and hoped to achieve more substantive and all-round progress in our partnership in the years to come. +President Park invited Prime Minister Modi to pay an early visit to Korea. +Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation with pleasure. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016. +Through this Bill the Government has evolved a mechanism for their social, economic and educational empowerment. +The Bill will benefit a large number of transgender persons, mitigate the stigma, discrimination and abuse against this marginalized section and bring them into the mainstream of society. +It will lead to greater inclusiveness and will make the transgender persons productive members of the society. +Transgender community is among one of the most marginalized communities in the country because they don’t fit into the stereotypical categories of gender of ‘men’ or ‘women’. +Consequently they face problems ranging from social exclusion to discrimination, lack of education facilities, unemployment, lack of medical facilities and so on. +The Bill will make all the stakeholders responsive and accountable for upholding the principles underlying the Bill. +It will bring greater accountability on the part of the Central Government and Slate Governments/Union Territories Administrations for issues concerning Transgender persons. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed over 360 Officer Trainees of the 92nd Foundation Course at LBSNAA, Mussoorie, on the 2nd day of his visit. +The Officer Trainees belong to 17 Civil Services, and 3 Services from the Royal Bhutan Civil Service. +The address was preceded by presentations made by the Officer Trainees on essays written by them on the subject “Why I joined the Civil Services”; and on themes such as housing, education, integrated transport systems, malnutrition, solid waste management, skill development, digital transactions, Ek Bharat – Shreshtha Bharat, and New India – 2022. +Officer Trainees also presented the best of their ideation on the Swachh Bharat Mission. +Addressing the Officer Trainees (OTs), the Prime Minister began by complimenting them on the presentations. +He said that he has given instructions that these presentations be studied in depth by senior officers of the Government of India. +He said their observations and feedback should be shared with the OTs before the end of the Foundation Course. +Giving tips to the OTs on how to prepare for their life immediately after the end of the training, the Prime Minister said that they must always be alert and attentive to the people around them. +He said that the learning from books would surely prevent them from straying down the wrong path; but it is the connect and rapport they can establish with their teams and the people, that will help them to become successful. +The Prime Minister stressed on the importance of jan-bhagidaari, or public participation, for policy initiatives to be successfully implemented. +The Prime Minister said that before independence, the Civil Services were tasked with the objective of preserving the British Raj. +Now, he said, the objective of the Civil Services is the prosperity and well-being of the people. +He said if civil servants imbibe these objectives, the gap between Government machinery and the people can be bridged. +The Prime Minister said that the problem of silos, and lack of team spirit among civil servants, can be effectively tackled during the initial training at Mussoorie. +Referring to the trek performed by OTs during the Foundation Course, the Prime Minister asked them to imbibe the learnings of the trek, such as team spirit and leadership, and apply them throughout their careers. +The Prime Minister said that social movements can drive change in a democracy, and the civil services should be catalysts for the same. +Referring to the devotional song “Vaishnav Jan”, performed by OTs during the cultural programme yesterday, the Prime Minister said that the OTs should contemplate on the lyrics of this song, after replacing the words “Vaishnav Jan” with “Civil Servant.” +The Prime Minister said that anonymity is the biggest strength of the civil servant. +He compared the civil services to the fourth lion of the Ashoka Emblem, which remains invisible, yet makes its presence felt at all times. +The Prime Minister said travel is a great Indian tradition, and travelling and interacting with people is a great learning experience. +He urged OTs to tour the field areas, during their postings. +Exhorting the OTs, the Prime Minister said that the “sense of career,” which had successfully brought them to LBSNAA, should now be replaced by a “sense of mission” – to serve the people of India. +He said that in future, when they serve in the field, this should be their “purpose of life.” +Earlier this morning, the Prime Minister participated in the Yoga session of the Officer Trainees, held in the lawns of the Academy, in the backdrop of the Himalayas. +The Prime Minister unveiled plaques to mark the laying of Foundation Stone of the New Hostel Building, and a 200 metre multifunctional synthetic athletic track. +The Prime Minister visited the Balwadi at the Academy and interacted with the children. +He also visited the gymnasium and other facilities at the Academy. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today presented to the Lord Mayor of Hannover a Madhubani painting depicting various stages of life, association with nature, as also the interconnected nature of life on Earth. +The painting is painted on canvas by a 70-year old national award winning artist, Smt Baua Devi. +The Madhubani style of painting refers to the rural art form developed by women from Mithila, an area in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. +The painting is done with fingers, nib–pens, twigs and matchsticks, generally using natural dyes and pigments, and is characterized by eye-catching geometrical patterns. +Most Madhubani paintings depict man and his association with nature, and scenes and deities from ancient epics. +Natural objects, plants, social events are also represented in these paintings. +There are paintings for each occasion and festival. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the development of Pune Metro Rail Project Phase – 1. +The total completion cost of the metro rail corridor will be Rs.11,420 crore. +The population of approximately 50 lakh of Pune Metropolitan Area will be benefitted through this metro corridor. +The project is scheduled to be completed in five years from the date of start of work as per the Detailed Project Report (DPR). +The approved alignments are expected to provide the much needed connectivity to the commuters and would traverse through some of the densest and traffic congested routes in the Pune Metropolitan Area. +It will considerably reduce the traffic congestion and will bring in fast, comfortable, safe, pollution-free and affordable mass transportation system in the city, which in turn will contribute to further development and prosperity of the area. +Development and prosperity of Pune Metropolitan Area will also contribute to the prosperity and development of the nation. +Project will be covered under the legal framework of the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978; the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002; and the Railways Act, 1989, as amended from time to time. +The project will benefit from experience and learnings from other Metro Rail projects in Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Nagpur etc. +Pune Metropolitan Area includes Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). +Both the cantonment areas namely Pune and Khadki have witnessed rapid growth of population. +The population of Pune Urban Agglomeration was 4.99 million as per 2011 census compared to 3.57 million in 2001 census. +This is further projected to increase to 6.90 million in 2021 and 7.73 million in 2031. +With the projected increase in the area’s population, strengthening and augmenting the existing transport infrastructure has assumed urgency. +With the growing economy and inadequate public transport services, the passengers will shift to private modes, which is already evident from the high vehicle ownership trend in the region. +This would not only aggravate the congestion on streets but also increase the air pollution. +Hence, Metro Rail System has become essential. +Following is the text of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Sweden and the United Kingdom. +“I will be visiting Sweden and the United Kingdom for bilateral meetings and for the India-Nordic Summit and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting during 17-20 April 2018. +On 17th April, I will be in Stockholm on the invitation of Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. +This is my first visit to Sweden. +India and Sweden share warm and friendly ties. +Our partnership is based on democratic values and commitment to an open, inclusive and rule-based global order. +Sweden is a valuable partner in our development initiatives. +I would also call on His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden. +The Nordic countries have globally recognized strengths in clean technologies, environmental solutions, ports modernization, cold-chains, skill development and innovation. +Nordic competencies fit well with our vision for India’s transformation. +On 18th April 2018, I will be in London on the invitation of Prime Minister Theresa May. +I had last visited the UK in November 2015. +India and the United Kingdom share a modern partnership bound by strong historical ties. +My visit to London presents another opportunity for both countries to infuse fresh momentum to this growing bilateral engagement. +I will be focusing on enhancing India-UK partnership in the areas healthcare, innovation, digitization, electric mobility, clean energy, and cyber security. +Under the theme of “Living Bridge”, I will also have the opportunity to meet people from various walks of life who have enriched the multi-faceted India-UK relationship. +I would also call on Her Majesty The Queen, interact briefly with CEOs of the two nations who are working on a new agenda of economic partnership, launch an Ayurveda Centre of Excellence in London, and welcome the UK into the International Solar Alliance, as its newest member. +I am confident that these visits to Sweden and UK will be useful in enhancing our engagement with these countries.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and interacted with the members of his Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). +This Council renders advice on all matters related to Science, Technology and Innovation and monitors the implementation of the Prime Minister’s vision on these issues. +Members of the Council briefed the Prime Minister on various steps being taken to nurture innovation and research in key sectors of science and technology. +The Prime Minister emphasized that the fruits of science, technology and innovation must reach the common man, solve common day-to-day problems, and facilitate ease of living for the people of India. +In this context, he urged the Council members to work towards establishing strong linkages between the educational institutions, R&D labs, industry and various government departments. +He reiterated the need to break silos among academic and research institutions. +The Prime Minister called for development of suitable platforms and mechanisms which can identify and nurture scientific talent among schoolchildren, and link them to Atal Tinkering Labs at the district and regional level. +In this context, the Prime Minister mentioned some priority areas of research such as raising agricultural income, solutions for chronic and genetic diseases such as sickle cell anaemia, waste management and cyber security. +It implies that India’s rich history, culture and tradition are in Sanskrit. +The knowledge of Sanskrit connects us with our rich literature, heritage and glorious past. +On the occasion of Sanskrit Day I extend my heartfelt greetings to the scholars and students of this beautiful language. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of an Agreement between India and Uzbekistan on cooperation in health and medical science. +The Agreement covers the following areas of cooperation:- +1. Expanding opportunities for the development of business cooperation in the field of medical equipment, including equipment for teaching and research laboratories of institutions of medical education, and pharmaceutical products; 2. +Strengthening of primary health care and setting up of health care facilities; 3. +Medical and health research development, as well as exchange of experience in these areas; 4. +Exchange of experiences and technologies in the field of telemedicine and electronic-health information systems; 5. +Maternal and child health protection; 6. +Development and improvement of the techniques and strategies for epidemiological surveillance and communicable and non-communicable diseases control; 7. +Regulation of drugs and pharmaceutical products; 8. +Any other areas of cooperation of mutual interest. +A Working Group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this Agreement. +The Union Cabinet chaired by chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Restructuring of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) by upgradation, creation and abolition of certain posts of Joint Secretary-level and above. +The total cadre strength of Indian Bureau of Mines has been maintained at the existing strength of 1477. +The restructuring would help in enabling the IBM to effectively discharge its function to help reform and transform the regulation of the mineral sector. +It will enable the adoption of IT and space technology by the IBM to improve its effectiveness in mineral regulation and development. +Further, the posts entail a great deal of decision-making and accountability in the functioning of the organization. +The improved and enhanced performance of IBM would benefit the mining sector. +The upgradation, creation and abolition of certain posts of Joint Secretary-level in IBM consists of: +1. Creation of 1 post of Chief Controller of Mines in Level 15 and 3 posts of Controller of Mines in Level 14; +2. Upgradation of 11 posts i.e. 1 post of Controller General from Level 15 to 16, 2 posts each of Chief Controller of Mines and Director (Ore-Dressing) from Level 14 to 15 and upgradation of 8 posts (5 posts of Controller of Mines, 1 each of Chief Mineral Economist, Chief Ore-Dressing Officer and Chief Mining Geologist) in the existing Level of 13A to 14; and +3. Abolition of 1 existing cadre post of Deputy Director General (Statistics), an officer of Indian Statistical Service in Level 14 in pay matrix. +The Ministry of Mines has taken a number of initiatives through IBM for effective facilitation and regulation of the mineral sector: +IBM is also engaged in handholding the States for auction of mineral blocks for greater transparency in allocation of mineral concessions. +IBM is helping the States in preparation of auction blocks, publishing of average sale price, assisting in post auction monitoring and approval process. +The relocation of offices of IBM has already been effected for carrying out the responsibilities given to IBM. +New Regional Offices at Raipur and Gandhinagar have been opened and the sub-regional office at Guwahati has been upgraded to Regional office. +The existing Regional Offices at Kolkata and Udaipur have been upgraded to the Zonal office (East) and Zonal Office (North). +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Rajya Sabha MP Shri Praveen Rashtrapal. +“Pained by the demise of Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat Shri Praveen Rashtrapal. +My thoughts are with his family in this hour of grief. +As a trade unionist & subsequently as a leader, Shri Rashtrapal remained sensitive to concerns & aspirations of the poor & marginalised”, the Prime Minister said. +This will provide the benefits accruing from regularization to a large number of people in unauthorised colonies that have come in existence between 31.03.2014 and 01.06.2014. +Honourable Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Chief Minister; +My Cabinet colleagues; +Delegates of Foreign Navies; +Brave and proud men and women of the Indian Navy; and +The resolute people of this great city- Visakhapatnam. +I am privileged to visit Visakhapatnam. +The city has a special place in the heart of all Indians. +My last visit to Vishakhapatnam was in October of 2014. +At that time, Cyclone Hudhud had left the city shattered in pieces. +But, the people of Vishakhapatnam smiled in the face of adversity. +It is a tribute to the city that within 14 months, you have risen against all odds to welcome the Navies from across the continents in this International Fleet Review. +A little over a year ago, we saw the full fury of the ocean. +Today, thanks to the spirit of the people of Visakhapatnam, we are discussing how the oceans can be a source of economic prosperity for all of us. +For its courage and resolve, we all salute the city of Visakhapatnam. +My profuse thanks to the men and women of the Indian Navy for their tireless dedication for making this Fleet Review a truly historic success. +My sincere gratitude also to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naiduji for his strong support for this international event. +For me personally, witnessing the harmony among the best of International Navies here has been a rewarding experience. +Just over three months earlier in October, we welcomed in Delhi, for the first time ever, all the 54 African Nations, including over 40 Heads of State for the 3rd India-Africa Summit. +A few weeks earlier in August 2015, India had hosted in Jaipur 14 Heads of the State for the Second Forum for India-Pacific Island Cooperation. +Just day before yesterday, we welcomed all the SAARC countries for the 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati. +And today it is our pleasure to welcome 50 foreign Navies from every corner of the globe at India’s second International Fleet review- the first one on India’s East Coast. +Your participation is a message of cooperation and friendship that we deeply cherish. +On behalf of my countrymen, I thank you all for accepting our invitation and joining in this event with such spirit. +To build on the gains from today’s gathering, India would host the first ever Global Maritime Summit in April this year. +Its priority would be to scale up and strengthen the vibrant trade / investment / technology and commercial linkages between India and other maritime Nations. +The oceans and world’s waterways are global commons. +The last time India hosted the International Fleet Review was in the year 2001, in the city of Mumbai. +The world of 2016 is vastly different. +Its politics is turbulent, and its challenges complex. +At the same time, the oceans are the lifelines of global prosperity. +They present us with great economic opportunities to build our nations. +Over 90% of global merchandise trade is carried on the oceans. +Over the last 15 years, its value has grown from about 6 trillion dollars to about 20 trillion dollars. +Oceans are critical for the global energy security as over 60% of world’s oil production moves through sea routes. +Our ability to reap economic benefits from the oceans rests on our capacity to respond to the challenges in the maritime domain. +The threat of sea borne terror, of which India has been a direct victim, continues to endanger the regional and global peace and stability. +Piracy too remains a strong challenge. +The threat of natural disasters like tsunamis and cyclones is ever present. +Manmade problems such as oil spills, climate change continue to risk the stability of the maritime domain. +A peaceful and stable maritime environment is, therefore, critical for the regional and global security. +It is also a must to harvest the riches of the oceanic ecosystems. +Given the scale and complexity of modern day challenges, the international maritime stability cannot be the preserve of a single nation. +It has to be a shared goal and responsibility of all the seafaring countries. +To this end, the Navies and maritime agencies of the world need to work together, and engineer virtuous cycles of cooperation. +But, where necessary, they also need to act to secure the international sea lanes of communication. +I believe that if oceans were to propel our economies, then we must: +• Use seas to build peace, friendship and trust, and curb conflict; +• respect and ensure freedom of navigation; and +• cooperate, not compete in responding to the challenges in the seas. +The large presence of foreign Navies at this Fleet Review is a confirmation of our shared urge to walk the pathways of peace and cooperation to keep the maritime domain safe and secure. +India is, and has always been, a maritime nation. +India’s ancient Sanskrit texts also refer to the oceans as the storehouse of Chaturdashanam Ratnanam, the 14 gems. +India’s central location in the Indian Ocean has connected us with other cultures, shaped our maritime trade routes, influenced India’s strategic thought, and defined our maritime character. +Since the days of the Indus Valley Civilization, India has maintained an extensive network of maritime links, including with Africa, Western Asia, the Mediterranean region, the West, South East Asia and the Far East. +We are delighted that the Navies from all these regions have joined in this Fleet Review. +The Photo Essay book on the ‘Maritime Heritage of India’, that I have just released, showcases this glorious maritime tradition. +About half of world’s container traffic; and close to one-third of world’s cargo traffic passes through this region. +90% of our trade by volume and 90% of our oil imports are carried on the seas. +India’s 1200 island territories, and our huge Exclusive Economic Zone of 2.4 million square kilometers makes clear the economic significance of the Indian Ocean. +For us, it also serves as a strategic bridge with the nations in our immediate and extended maritime neighbourhood. +In March last year, in Mauritius,I had spelt out our vision for the Indian Ocean. +The Indian Ocean Region is one of my foremost policy priorities. +Our approach is evident in our vision of “Sagar”, which means “Ocean” and stands for – Security And Growth for All in the Region. +We would continue to actively pursue and promote our geo-political, strategic and economic interests on the seas, in particular the Indian Ocean. +To this end, India’s modern and multi-dimensional Navy leads from the front. +It is a force for peace and good. +A network of growing political and economic maritime partnerships, and strengthening of regional frameworksalso helps us pursue our goals. +India’s quest for economic prosperity through oceans is a part of our larger efforts to transform India. +We are not just a bright spot in the global economy. +Regionally and internationally, we are a pillar of stability and an important growth centre. +India’s rise is in harmony with the goal of maintaining the regional and global peace and security. +Within the country, there is great optimism, enthusiasm and a “can do” mindset. +This optimism comes from the energy and enterprise of our confident youth. +It also comes from our bold and sustained measures to transform our country, improve our laws, processes and institutions. +We are launching new initiatives and creating opportunities to empower people, and give them a sense of ownership in Nation’s progress. +Defence manufacturing and ship building are among its focus areas. +In a week from now, on 13 February, we would hold 7 days of global engagement under “Make in India” in Mumbai. +During this time, the best in the global industry would link up with the innovation, design and manufacturing opportunities of India- the world’s fastest growing economy. +We want to invite the world to Make in India, Make for India, and Make for the World. +Our “Skill India” program is building institutions that train, support, encourage and guide our 800 million youth on the path of entrepreneurship. +Our skilled youth are ready to respond to the national and global manpower demands of the 21st century. +An important part of India’s transformation is my vision of “Blue Economy” +The Blue Chakra – or the wheel – in our National Flag, represents the potential of the Blue Economy. +An essential part of this pursuit is the development of India’s coastal and island territories: but, not just for tourism. +We want to build new pillars of economic activity in the coastal areas and in linked hinterlands through sustainable tapping of oceanic resources. +Strengthening our marine research, development of eco-friendly, marine industrial and technology base, and fisheries are other elements of our goal. +In this endeavour, I see youth in the coastal areas as our true assets. +They have a natural and deep understanding of the Oceans. +They could lead the way in the development of blue economy in India. +In partnership with all the coastal states of India, I want to shape a special program of skilling India’s youth in the coastal areas of the country. +In the end, let me once again congratulate the Indian Navy for the flawless conduct of this grand event. +Procedure for Closure: +1. Disposal of fixed assets as well as current assets will be in accordance with the guidelines of DPE dated 14.06.2018 and the proceeds from the sale of assets, after meeting the liabilities, will be deposited in Consolidated Fund of India. +2. In accordance with the DPE guidelines dated 14.06.2018, a Land Management Agency (LMA) will be engaged for disposal of assets. +The LMA will be directed to carry out a thorough verification of the assets before undertaking their disposal in accordance with the DPE guidelines. +3. Ministry of Textiles does not propose to use any land or building of BJEL for its own purposes or for any of its other CPSEs and the Land Management Agency will be informed upfront accordingly. +The decision will benefit the Government exchequer in reducing recurring expenditure incurred in operating both the sick CPSEs in running their activities. +The proposal will help in closing loss making companies and ensuring release of valuable assets for productive use, or for generating financial resources for developmental progress. +The available land with both the CPSEs will be put up for public use/other government use for overall development of society. +1. NJMC has been incurring losses for several years and was under reference to BIFR since 1993. +The company’s primary product was hessian jute bags used for packaging of food grain used by the various State Governments. +Over the years, the demand for hessian bags has eroded and to that extent, it has been found to be no longer commercially viable to run the company; +2. The Mills of NJMC which were proposed for revival, namely, Kinnison Mill at Titagarh, Khardah Mill at Khardah and RBHM Mill at Katihar are under suspension since August, 2016 (the last mill to be closed was Kinnison Jute Mill on 31.8.2016), because of the failure of the Job Contractor to execute the job efficiently and problems with the local labour. +The different models of outsourcing operations which were attempted have not been successful. +Looking at its past performance, market conditions and the competition from plastics and the capacity of private jute mills, it was noted that NJMC would not be in a position to recoup its negative net worth through operational profits. +BJEL has no staff and as the factory is not in operation; closure does not have any adverse implications. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for adoption of United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics. +The adoption of the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics will bring professional independence, impartiality, accountability and transparency in methods of collection, compilation and dissemination of official statistics, besides adopting international standards. +The adoption will also pave way for devising a National Policy on Official Statistics for improving systems, procedures and institutions consistent with these principles. +The ten Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, as endorsed by the UN General Assembly, are set out below: +Statistical agencies are to choose the source with regard to quality, timeliness, costs and the burden on Respondents. +Most of the ingredients in these principles are already being adhered to by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since they are, in any case, for qualitative improvements and good of the statistical system. +On a reference from the Ministry of External Affairs on the draft UN General Assembly Resolution on Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, MoSPI supported the Resolution. +The UN General Assembly endorsed the Principles in its Resolution in January 2014. +Adoption of these Principles by Government of India is a basic requirement for their implementation and for reporting compliance to international obligation. +The event marked the launch of the celebration of the Golden Jubilee year of Banas Dairy. +On this occasion, the Prime Minister unveiled a plaque to mark the inauguration of a cheese plant and whey drying plant at Palanpur by remote control. +Addressing a huge gathering, the Prime Minister said that farmers of North Gujarat have shown the world what they are capable of. +The Prime Minister noted how drip irrigation has widely benefited farmers in the region. +He added, “The farmers here turned to dairy and animal husbandry. +This was beneficial for the farmers.” +Shri Modi said that along with ‘Shwet Kranti’ (White Revolution) there is also a ‘Sweet Kranti’ (Sweet Revolution) as people are now being trained about honey products. +Speaking about demonetisation, PM Modi said that the Government has been successful in weakening the hands of terrorists and those in fake currency rackets. +Shri Modi said that Union Government is working tirelessly for welfare of the poor. +He encouraged people to use e-banking and e-wallets. +He said India wants progress and for that, the evils of corruption and black money must end. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the MoU between India and United Kingdom (UK) for Cooperation in the Field of Intellectual Property (IP). +The MoU was signed on 7.11.2016. +The MoU seeks to establish a wide-ranging and flexible mechanism for developing and furthering the cooperation in the development of automation, new documentation and information systems in IP. +It provides an opportunity for collaboration in training programmes, exchange of experts and technical exchanges and outreach activities. +Implementation of the MoU will result in enhancement of the capacity of the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks to examine patent applications, which in turn will impact innovation positively. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the last rites of Former President, Bharat Ratna A P J Abdul Kalam, at Rameswaram. +The Prime Minister paid homage and offered his last respects to the former President. +He met and offered condolences to the family members of the former President. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Former President of India, Shri R Venkataraman and Former Prime Minister of India, Shri IK Gujral, on their birth anniversary. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today granted ex-post facto approval to the proposal for undertaking cadre review of the Indian Postal Service. +The cadre review will enable the Department of Posts to meet the functional requirements and strengthening the cadre structure both in the headquarters and in the field on the basis of functional requirement, which will provide more avenues to earn review and respond effectively to the customer needs, reduce the existing stagnation and improve the career prospects of Indian Postal Service officers. +The proposal will be implemented through measures that include creation of a post of DG(Postal Operations) in the Apex scale, creation of post of Additional DG(Coordination) in the HAG+ scale, one post in HAG level, 5 posts in SAG level and 4 posts at the JAG level, and also increase of 84 posts at JTS level by down-grading from STS and overall decreasing STS posts by 96 for adjustment of new posts proposed to be created, without any overall change in the total number of posts in the cadre. +For undertaking the above exercise, necessary consultations on the CRC recommendations with Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions have been duly completed. +The Department of Expenditure have conveyed their ‘no objection’ to the proposal. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has announced ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs for the next of kin of those killed, and Rs. 50,000 for those seriously injured, in the rail accident in Uttar Pradesh, from PMNRF. +This is over and above any assistance announced by the Railways. +MoU/Agreement +MoU on Nepal Police Academy (NPA) +Mr. Suman Prasad SharmaSecretary, Ministry of Finance +Ms. Sneh lata Kumar Secretary (BM)Ministry of Home Affairs +Unveiling of Plaque for Nepal Police Academy +MoU on Tourism +Mr. Suresh Man Shrestha, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation +MoU Traditional Medicines +Mr. Sant Bahadur Shrestha, Secretary, Ministry of Health +MoU on Youth Exchange +Mr. Dipendra Nath Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Youth & Sports +Handing over of keys for Mobile Soil Testing Van by Shri Saroj Kumar Poddar, Chairman, paradeep Phospates Ltd to Mr. Jaya Mukunda Khanal, Secretary, Ministry of Agricultural Development , GoN +LoC US$ 1 billion Agreement +Mr. David Rasquinha Deputy Managing Director, Exim Bank +Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) +Bishnu Om Bade, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure & Trnasport +Mr. Niraj Verma, Joint Secretary Ministry of Road Transport & Highways +MoU on PDA for ARUN III +Shri Radhesh Pant CEOInvestment Board Nepal +Twin City Agreement between Ayodhya-Janakpur +Mr. Purna Chandra Bhattarai Officiating Secretary,Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development +Twin City Agreement between Kathmandu-Varanasi +Mr. Dhan Bahadur Shrestha Executive Officer Kathmandu Metropolitan City +Twin City Agreement between Lumbini-Bodh Gaya +Mr. Durga Nath Gautam Executive Officer Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for establishment of new AIIMS at Kamrup (North Guwahati Revenue circle). +The cost of the project is Rs.1123 crore and it will be set up under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). +The new AIIMS will be completed in a period of 48 months from the zero date (that is the date of the approval of Government of India), broadly comprising a pre-construction phase of 15 months, a construction phase of 30 months and stabilization / commissioning phase of three months. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the function for the release of the book “Citizen and Society,” written by the Vice-President Shri Hamid Ansari. +The book was released by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, at Rashtrapati Bhawan. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated the Vice President for presenting his thoughts to the future generations through the book. +He said today technology has converted citizens to netizens, and traditional boundaries are being obliterated. +However, in India, he said, there is a unit called “Family” between Citizen and Society, which has been our biggest strength. +He said India should be proud to be a country of so many dialects and languages, and so many different faiths, living in harmony. +He said all citizens have made a contribution to make this happen. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Transplant Organization, Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, Spain and the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India on cooperation in the field of Organ Transplant Services. +The MoU would facilitate bilateral cooperation in the field of organ and tissue procurement and transplantation and better understanding between the two countries. +The knowledge gained will help in improving the services rendered to the patients suffering from end stage organ failure. +The Memorandum of Understanding is proposed to be signed during the forthcoming bilateral meeting with the Spanish side. +The Federal Finance Minister of Germany, Mr. Wolfgang Schäuble, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern about the recent terror attack in Paris and further related developments in Europe. +Prime Minister Modi lauded the able leadership of Chancellor Angela Merkel in such difficult times. +Prime Minister Modi and Minister Schäuble discussed the federal structure of India, its parallels with Germany, and the lessons that could be applied to the evolving political structure of Europe. +Recalling his initial address, the Prime Minister said that in a very simple way, he spoke of the vision for New India, and about the Vedas written 5000 years ago. +He said the Vedas have said that milking of nature is permitted, but exploitation of nature is not. +He said that he had been asked this question three days ago in Germany, and he had said at that time that whether or not there is a Paris accord, India’s traditions have been to hand over a clean planet, with clean air, to our children, so that they too can live well. +He emphasized that the issue here is not about being on one side or the other, but about being on the side of generations yet to be born. +On India Russia relations, and on China +The Prime Minister said that the world is no longer bipolar as it was a few decades ago. +He said that when we discuss global relations, we must understand that the whole world is interconnected and interdependent. +He said every country is connected to every other in some way, and there may be areas of differences, as well as of cooperation. +Reiterating that relations between India and Russia are strong, the Prime Minister said that the whole world will read the St. Petersburg Declaration carefully, to understand this relationship, and see how we move forward. +With China, the Prime Minister said that though there is a border dispute, not a single shot has been fired across the border in the last forty years. +Economic relations are expanding, the Prime Minister said. +He said that the relationship between any two countries, should not be seen from the prism of a third. +He said that in BRICS, all member countries are working together. +In this context, he mentioned the BRICS Bank as an example. +The Prime Minister said that in the eighties and nineties, the world did not fully understand terrorism and the dangers it posed. +He said India has been a victim of cross border terrorism for forty years. +He said that it was only after 9/11 that the world understood the true horrors of terrorism, and the fact that it has no boundaries. +The Prime Minister said that the need of the hour is for all humanitarian forces to unite to save the world against terrorism. +The Prime Minister regretted that for forty years, the United Nations has not been able to come to an agreement on the definition of terrorism. +He welcomed President Putin’s assertion yesterday that he will raise the matter at the United Nations. +He said that the whole world must realise that this is an issue that concerns humanity, and only then will we be able to overcome terrorism. +The Prime Minister said that India believes in an open economy. +He said that in global trade, all countries make adjustments for each other, and should help each other. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the sixth Convocation of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University at Lucknow. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that on one hand he is happy to see India’s rise in the 21st century, as a nation full of youthful energy, with youthful dreams and youthful resolve. +He said the youth is India’s source of strength. +On the other hand, the Prime Minister recalled the recent suicide committed by a student in Hyderabad, and said he felt and understood the pain of the family. +He said that whatever may have been the reasons, a mother lost her son; indeed Mother India had lost a son. +The Prime Minister said that his Government would follow the path shown by Babasaheb Ambedkar, and work towards creating an environment where problems could be overcome. +The Prime Minister recalled Dr. Ambedkar’s economic vision, and said the Government is working towards the development of youth as job creators, instead of job seekers. +The Prime Minister mentioned how Dr. Ambedkar had placed importance on education, and had achieved so much despite adversity. +He said that Dr. Ambedkar had then resolved to return to India and devote his life for the welfare of the weaker sections of society. +He urged the convocating youth to follow the example set by Dr. Ambedkar, and try to serve the poor and the downtrodden. +The Prime Minister laid the Foundation Stone of the state-of-the-art Student Activity Centre at the University. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today described Sankranti as a festival which has a relationship to nature and the energy of the sun. +He said though the festival is celebrated in different forms across the country, it inspires all of mankind towards progress and achievement. +The Prime Minister was speaking at a Sankranti Milan organized by Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Minister for Urban Development, in the capital today. +Mr. Tilak Marapana, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today afternoon. +Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana is on a three-day bilateral visit to India. +Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Tilak Marapana on assuming his new responsibility as Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka. +Prime Minister referred to his fruitful visit to Sri Lanka in May this year for the International Vesak Day. +Prime Minister reaffirmed the high importance that India attaches to its relations with Sri Lanka. +Both countries enjoy deep and broad-based ties. +Prime Minister conveyed that he looked forward to continue to work closely with the President and the Prime of Sri Lanka to further strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation. +The President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +During the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed happiness at the World Bank’s continued support to India, especially in priority areas like Smart Cities, Ganga Rejuvenation, Skill Development, Swachh Bharat and Power for All. +Dr. Kim said he was impressed by the progress made towards the ambitious targets in these programmes. +The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of adequate climate change financing for countries like India which are consciously choosing to follow an environmentally sustainable path. +Dr. Kim assured the Prime Minister that the World Bank would be proactive and fully support this agenda. +Dr. Kim appreciated India’s rapid progress in improving the ease of doing business, especially in the area of logistics. +The Prime Minister and Dr. Kim discussed a broad range of issues and possible avenues of cooperation. +The disposal of assets of company will be in terms of the guidelines of Department of Public Enterprises on time bound closure of sick/loss making Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and disposal of movable and immovable assets. +Secured creditors of HCL, Kolkata, led by SBI as consortium lenders to the company, have been generous in their support. +The One Time Settlement (OTS) terms include complete waiver of interest and settle on principal amount of Rs. 305.63 crore in settlement of all pari-passu collateral held by them. +There is no production activity in the company since January 2003. +The employees of the company are in 1997 pay scales. +Due to non-payment of salary & wages, it is very difficult for the employees to survive and meet their immediate financial obligations. +With the VRS/VSS package and clearance of other outstanding liabilities, the employees will come out of their present financial crisis. +It will also help the employees in their post retirement rehabilitation. +With the present time bound closure of the company, the valuable assets of the company will be available for other optimum utilization. +HCL was established in the year 1952. +It had four manufacturing units at Rupnarainpur (West Bengal), Hyderabad (Telengana), Naini (U.P.) and Narendrapur (West Bengal). +Registered office of HCL is located at Kolkata. +The company was set up to cater to the needs of Government-owned telecom companies BSNL and MTNL for manufacture of telecom cables. +Due to rapid change in telecommunication technology (wire-line to wireless), the demand for telecom cables has been drastically reduced. +Several attempts were made by Department of Heavy Industries for revival of the company but failed. +Attempts to transfer HCL units to Ministry of Defence/Department of Defence Production also did not yield results. +The proposal for closure of the company has been made as per the recommendations of BIFR, BRPSE and the Roadmap approved by CCEA on 29.12.2014 for phasing out non-plan budgetary support to sick CPSEs. +The company is a BIFR referred company since 2002. +Government of India’s decision for closure of the company will be conveyed to BIFR for seeking their approval. +The employees of the Company will be offered attractive VRS/VSS. +Retrenchment process will also be followed as per Industrial Disputes Act 1947. +OTS with secured creditors will be made to free the land assets of the Company. +The other liabilities of the company including statutory liabilities arising during the process of closure of company will be taken care of as per the provisions of law and the aforesaid guidelines of Department of Public Enterprises. +Prime Minister has approved the constitution of a Committee to carry out a review to identify obsolete laws. +The newly-constituted Committee will examine all Acts recommended to be repealed by the Committee on Review of Administrative Laws, which had been appointed by the Union Government of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in 1998. +The Prime Minister has expressed concern that out of the 1382 Acts recommended for repeal by that Committee, only 415 have been repealed so far. +He has called for a focused and result-oriented exercise to systematically weed out archaic laws and rules. +The Committee will also examine Acts and Rules which may have become obsolete within the last ten to fifteen years. +The Committee will be chaired by Shri R. Ramanujam, Secretary PMO. +Shri V. K. Bhasin, former Secretary, Legislative Department, will be its other member. +The Committee will submit its report within three months, so that a comprehensive Bill can be introduced in the Winter Session of Parliament, based on its recommendations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today laid the foundation stone for four sewerage projects under the Namami Gange programme; and four National Highway projects, at Mokama in Bihar. +The total outlay of these projects is over Rs. 3700 crore. +Addressing a large public meeting, the Prime Minister said that he is delighted to come to a land closely associated with the great poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar Ji. +He assured everyone that the Union Government and the State Government will do everything possible for Bihar’s growth. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is working tirelessly to fulfil the aspirations of the people. +He said the projects whose foundation stones are being laid today will give impetus to Bihar’s development. +He added that the Government is focussing on increased pace of road construction. +The projects related to Namami Gange will help preserve the River Ganga, he said. +Referring to the recent launch of the Antyodaya expresses, he said these will improve connectivity between Bihar, eastern India and other parts of the country. +Asserting that good connectivity will lead to greater development, the Prime Minister said stress is being given to roads, railways, and waterways. +The four National Highway projects for which foundation stones have been laid include: +• 4-laning of Aunta-Simariya section of NH-31 and construction of 6-lane Ganga Setu +• 4 laning of Bakhtiyarpur-Mokama section of NH-31 +• 2-lane construction of Maheshkhunt-Saharsa-Purnea section of NH 107 +• 2-lane construction of Biharsharif-Barbigha-Mokama section of NH-82 +The four sewerage projects include Sewage Treatment Plant at Beur, Sewerage System with Sewer Network at Beur, Sewage Treatment Plant at Karmalichak and STP and Sewer Network at Saidpur. +These projects together will create new STP capacity of 120 MLD and upgrade the existing 20 MLD for Beur. +Your Excellency President Reuven Rivlin And Friends from the Media, +I am honoured to welcome President Reuven Rivlin, and distinguished members of his delegation to India. +President Rivlin is on his first ever visit to India. +We are delighted to receive him on this special occasion. +Excellency, your visit will provide crucial push to our efforts to build new pillars in our partnership. +It will also carry forward the momentum generated by the first ever visit of President of India to Israel last year. +Next year, both countries will be celebrating 25 years of the establishment of full diplomatic relations. +As we approach this big milestone, we are both committed to advance our engagement on several fronts. +And, build on convergences and commonalities in our interests and concerns on regional and global issues. +Promoting educational exchanges. +We are familiar with Israel’s advances in agriculture, and its expertise in micro-irrigation in drought-prone areas and water management. +We both agreed that the current trajectory of the Indian economy opens up many promising opportunities for Israeli companies. +Our economic initiatives and programmes, and emphasis on innovation, research and technological development match well with Israel’s strengths and capacities. +Israeli companies can scale up their tie-ups with our flagship schemes of Make in India, Digital India, Skill India, and Smart Cities. +I would encourage the private sector stakeholders on both sides to take lead in utilizing this perfect opportunity to build business ties of commerce and investment between our two countries in these areas. +Indian and Israeli companies can also work together in high-technology manufacturing, and services sectors. +Make in India and as President Rivlin told me in our discussion, Make with India can generate jobs and benefit both geographies. +Our partnership can generate jobs and benefit both geographies. +IT services is an area where our partnership can make a difference for both our economies. +President Rivlin and I deeply value our strong and growing partnership to secure our societies. +Our people are constantly threatened by forces of terrorism and extremism. +We recognize that terrorism is a global challenge, knows no boundaries and has extensive links with other forms of organized crime. +Regrettably, one of the countries of its origin and spread is in India’s neighbourhood. +We agreed that the international community must act with resolve and determination against terror networks and States that harbour them. +Failure to act and silence of speech only encourages the terrorists. +We,agreed to intensify our cooperation to combat the forces of extremism and radicalization that threaten all peace-loving nations. +We also prioritized practical and specific engagement such as in the cyber domain. +We noted the strength of our growing defence partnership. +And, agreed on the need to make it more broad-based through production and manufacturing partnerships. +India is also grateful to Israel for its clear support to India’s permanent candidature in a reformed UN Security Council. +As fellow democracies, our people are our biggest strength and the biggest beneficiaries of a strong India-Israel partnership. +The 2000-year old Jewish community in India represents a thriving link to this past. +Today, it is a vital part of our composite cultural mosaic that continues to thrive in their traditions. +We are proud of the Jewish community in India. +President and I agreed that promoting people-to-people contacts, which has a long shared history, is our shared priority. +Two and a half decades of our friendship has brought rich dividends for both our nations. +It has also strengthened voices of peace, stability and democracy globally. +Your visit provides an opportunity to break new ground and shape new contours of our partnership. +With these words, I once again welcome President Rivlin on his first State visit to India, and wish him a productive and enjoyable stay in India. +A delegation of 30 leaders from the Muslim community, led by Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +Interacting with the leaders, the Prime Minister said he neither believes in politics which seeks to divide people on communal lines, nor will he ever speak communal language. +He said the politics of majority and minority had caused a lot of damage to the country. +He said employment and development are the solution to all problems, and he is focused on delivering them. +The Prime Minister spoke of the initiatives in skill development taken by the Union Government, and the work done by him as Chief Minister of Gujarat in fields such as education of the girl child, and revival of the kite industry. +The Prime Minister appreciated the gesture of the leaders, to take time out to meet him, even on the busy festive occasion of Shab-e-Barat. +The Delegation members appreciated the Prime Minister’s leadership over the last one year, and said they wanted to forge a partnership for progress and development with the Prime Minister. +They said that the Muslim community had rejected the divisive politics of vote-banks, and was interested in development. +The leaders congratulated the Prime Minister for his vision of Muslim youth with a Quran in one hand and a computer in the other. +They also congratulated him for the country’s success in the adoption of the International Day of Yoga, by the United Nations. +1. Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi Chief Imam, All India Imam Organization +12. Moulana Zakir Hussain Tableeg -e- Jamat +19. Dr. Parvez Ahmed Son of Late Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Ex-President of India, World Renowned Heart Specialist +20. Dr. Asgar Ali Khan Advocate, High Court, Delhi +21. Dr. Firoz Ahmed Bakht Grand Nephew of Moulana Abul Kalam Azad +26. Moulana Bilal Ahmed Bijroulvi Mohatmin Madarsa Jamia Arabia +29. Moulana Kalbey Rushaid Shia aalim e Deen +30. Moulana mufti Afroz Alam Qasmi Qazi Chairman – Markaji Milli Foundation +The package includes a slew of measures which are labour friendly and would promote employment generation, economies of scale and boost exports. +The steps will lead to a cumulative increase of US$ 30 bn. in exports and investment of Rs. 74,000 crores over next 3 years. +The majority of new jobs are likely to go to women since the garment industry employs nearly 70% women workforce. +Thus, the package would help in social transformation through women empowerment. +Agreement on Social Security +To strengthen the people-to-people contacts and facilitate and regulate the regulations between the two countries with respect to social security benefits and coverage. +It will provide for social security and superannuation benefits for those who have been residents of the other country on basis of equality of benefit, export of benefits and avoidance of double coverage. +It will lead to greater economies and promote the flow of professionals. +Agreement concerning Transfer of Sentenced Persons +To enhance cooperative efforts in law enforcement and administration of justice and to cooperate in the enforcement of penal sentences. +It will facilitate, regulate and lay down procedures for the transfer of sentenced persons and enable rehabilitation and reintegration of sentenced persons into society. +MOU on Combating Narcotics Trafficking and Developing Police Cooperation +To address concerns regarding illicit trafficking and drug abuse. +It places priority on tackling illicit trade, diversion of precursors, asset forfeiture and drug money laundering. +It will promote capacity building and help develop strategies and procedures for operations to disrupt and dismantle transnational narcotic related threats. +MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Arts and Culture +To enhance cultural relations between the two countries in pursuance of the Cultural Agreement of 1971. +It will promote cooperation through exchange of information, professional expertise, training and exhibitions in the field of culture. +It will deepen understanding between the people, institutions and art genres and promote sound and sustainable artistic and cultural activities. +MOU in the Field of Tourism +To enhance the bilateral cooperation and strengthen the friendly between the people. +It will encourage cooperation in tourism policy, information exchange, interaction between tourism stakeholders, training and investments in hospitality sector and promote the importance of the tourism sector in economic development and employment generation. +Prime Minister welcomed Tableaux Artists, Tribal Guests, NCC Cadets & NSS Volunteers to his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg today. +Congratulating the artists and participants for their participation in the Republic Day parade and related events, the Prime Minister said that this is a great opportunity of their lives. +He added that the whole country takes inspiration from them. +The Prime Minister spoke of the importance of discipline in daily life, and added that discipline is an integral part of NCC. +He said that citizens should remain aware of their civic duties at all times. +He said this, combined with the aspirations of the people, will take India to great heights. +The Prime Minister also witnessed colourful cultural performances by some of the invitees, on this occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said there can be no bigger inspiration than Mahatma Gandhi, for pursuing the vision of Swachh Bharat. +The Prime Minister especially highlighted the positive and proactive role played by electronic media in this regard. +The Prime Minister said Swachhta or cleanliness is a matter of habit. +Once this habit is inculcated, an individual cannot tolerate an unclean environment. +He said that while India has been a very conscious society in terms of personal hygiene, social hygiene had been neglected. +This needed to be corrected, the Prime Minister added. +The Prime Minister said that upto 1000 children die daily in India, due to unhygienic conditions. +He said that Swachh Bharat cannot be seen as merely a Government programme. +He said this was everyone’s programme. +If 125 crore people decide that India must be clean, it can be ensured, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister commended the efforts of the award winners, and said their work would serve as inspiration for many others. +He also gave several other examples of individuals, especially youth, who had made a significant contribution towards Swachh Bharat over the last one year. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Financial Services Commission (FSC), Gibraltar for mutual co-operation and technical assistance. +The MoU is likely to promote further development of economic links and cooperation between the two regulators and aims at creating conditions for an effective development of securities markets in the two countries. +It would also contribute towards strengthening the information sharing framework between the two signatories. +It is expected to add value to overseas mutual cooperation and regulation activities of SEBI and FSC, Gibraltar. +Digital Platform for National Agriculture Market to be launched on Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on April 14th +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today unveiled the operational guidelines for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana at a massive farmers’ rally in Sehore in Madhya Pradesh. +Explaining the benefits of this comprehensive crop insurance scheme to the farmers, the Prime Minister said it can provide a solution for the farmers problems, in times of difficulty. +He said care had been taken to eliminate the shortcomings of previous crop insurance schemes, and create trust among farmers with regard to crop insurance. +The Prime Minister outlined several other initiatives that have been taken by the Union Government for the welfare of farmers. +He mentioned the steps taken to clear the pending dues of the sugarcane farmers, which had mounted to many thousands of crore rupees. +Speaking about the Digital India movement, the Prime Minister said welfare of the farmers is at the core of this initiative. +He announced the launch of the digital platform – National Agriculture Market – from the 14th of April, 2016, on the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar. +This would enable farmers to get a better price for their produce. +The Prime Minister also mentioned other major initiatives taken in the agriculture sector, such as the soil health card scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, organic farming, and ensuring adequate availability of urea. +Shri Narendra Modi congratulated the farmers of Madhya Pradesh, and the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, for the State’s excellent performance in the agriculture sector. +The Prime Minister also gave away soil health cards, and settlement certificates for insurance claims to select beneficiaries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will address two important video conferences on 31st December and 1st January. +On 31st December, the Prime Minister will deliver the inaugural address, via video conference, for the 85th Sivagiri Pilgrimage Celebrations, at Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, Kerala. +Sivagiri is the holy abode of one of the great saints and social reformers of India, Sree Narayan Guru. +The class of particles that obey Bose–Einstein statistics, has been named Bosons, after Prof. Bose. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today welcomed Village Pradhans from the Varanasi Parliamentary Constituency at his residence in New Delhi. +This was the third such group from Varanasi Parliamentary Constituency to meet the Prime Minister. +During the interaction, the Prime Minister encouraged the Pradhans to generate greater awareness among the people in their villages about Central Government Schemes such as Soil Health Card Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that for the first time in the country, the people, and the urban leadership would play the pivotal role in deciding the future course of their cities. +He was speaking at the launch of three major urban development initiatives: AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation); Smart Cities Mission; and Housing for All (Urban), at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister explained that for the first time in India, a challenge was being floated, in which the citizens of urban India could contribute in the formulation of development visions of their cities. +Those cities which were able to competitively meet the required parameters would be developed as smart cities. +Hence, the Prime Minister said, this competitive mechanism would end the top-down approach, and lead to people-centric urban development. +The Prime Minister gave a simple vision of a smart city, as one which was a step or two ahead of people’s aspirations. +Technology, transportation, energy efficiency, walk-to-work, cycling etc were some elements mentioned by the Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister said the Government is sensitive to consumer protection, and towards ending undue harassment, especially with regard to housing. +He said one Bill towards this end has already been introduced in Parliament. +He said the people assembled in Vigyan Bhawan today, had on them the collective responsibility for better quality of life for 40 percent of India’s population that either lived in cities, or were dependent on cities for their livelihood. +He said the aspirations of migrants from rural areas, and slum dwellers, have to be balanced with the changing global environment. +He said ensuring a good life for them is our responsibility. +In this context, this 2-day workshop presented a good opportunity to work out strategies for the future. +Recalling the Emergency, which was imposed 40 years ago on this day, the Prime Minister said the dreams and aspirations that inspired people to struggle against the emergency, should be a beacon for this gathering. +He said all schemes for urban development should move forward based on people’s participation. +The Prime Minister said that urbanization should be viewed as an opportunity, and urban centres should be viewed as growth engines. +He said if this had been done 25-30 years ago, it would have led to good results today, but better late than never. +He said schemes which had a clear vision and were people-centric, were the need of the hour. +He called for replication of best practices from across the country. +In particular, the Prime Minister mentioned Hyderabad’s tax collection system, Karnataka’s efforts for solid waste management, and Chhattisgarh’s work to eliminate open defecation. +Mentioning the challenge of rising population, he said all possible avenues should be explored to find the resources for urban development. +He said the Government’s effort was to not just provide a house, but to provide the right environment to live life to the fullest. +Through AMRUT, the aim of the Government is to give cities themselves the chance to plan their future growth. +The Prime Minister said urban and rural development in our country should be complimentary. +One way of doing this was to ensure waste water management in urban areas, so that the treated water could be returned to rural areas for irrigation. +Similarly solid waste management could generate compost which could act as organic fertiliser for the surrounding rural areas. +The Prime Minister released logos, and taglines for AMRUT and Smart Cities Mission; and guidelines for AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission and Housing for All (Urban). +He laid the foundation stone of Defence Corridor in Jhansi and unveiled various development projects. +Addressing a public gathering on this occasion, he said, “Our neighbours’ intentions will be given a befitting reply by the people of India. +Everyone is in favour of ending terrorism.” +He said, “Our neighbouring country has forgotten that this is a new India. +Pakistan is roaming around with its begging bowl but it’s not getting help from the world.” +Laying the foundation stone of Defence Corridor, PM told that the Defence corridor in Jhansi Agra stretch would create a lot of direct and indirect employment to the youths of this region. +Many Foreign and Domestic defence related companies will invest in this region. +They would impart skill development to the workforce in this region, he added. +PM underlined the importance of the project saying that the youth can earn from near their hometown and need not migrate. +The defence corridor will also help in making India self-reliant in defence production, he added. +PM laid Foundation Stone of Piped Water Scheme for the rural areas of Bundelkhand Region. +He said that this is not only a pipeline project but a lifeline to this drought prone region. +It will save the efforts of our mothers and sisters to fetch water from far off places and drinking water would be provided through piped connection to every house. +Under AMRUT scheme, PM laid the foundation Stone of Jhansi City Drinking Water Scheme Phase-II. +He told that a Rs 600 crore project is coming up to use Betwa river water for drinking purpose for Jhansi and adjoining villages.. +Foundation stone of doubling of 425 km long Jhansi-Manikpur and Bhimsen-Khairar railway lines and Coach Refurbishing Workshop in Jhansi was also laid by the PM on this occasion. +PM inaugurated the electrification of 297 km long section of Jhansi- Khairar section. +The projects would create lot of employment opportunities and would lead to the overall development of Bundelkhand region. +Speaking on this occasion PM wished that Bundelkhand region will develop like Kutch in Gujarat which is similar to this region. +West- North Inter-Region Power Transmission Strengthening Project to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Western Uttar Pradesh was dedicated to the nation. today. would go a long way in meeting the power demand in this region. +Another highlight was the inauguration of the Pahari Dam Modernization Project. +The project will benefit farmers by reducing the water leakage from the dam and make more water available for the farmers. +PM also said that under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana about Rs. 7.5 Lakh crore will be deposited in the bank accounts of the farmers directly. +Similarly transferring the subsidy, scholarship, etc directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries have saved Rs.1 lakh crore in leakages, he added. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the increase in the carpet area of houses eligible for interest subsidy under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) for the Middle Income Group (MIG) under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). +To further enhance the scope, coverage and outreach of the Scheme, the Cabinet has approved the following: +• increasing the carpet area in the MIG I category of CLSS from the existing 90 square metre to “up to 120 square metre” and increasing the carpet area in respect of MIG II category of CLSS from the existing 110 square metre to “up to 150 square metre”; and +• making the above change effective from 01.01.2017 i.e. the date the CLSS for MIG had become effective. +The CLSS for MIG is a pro-active step in meeting the challenges of urban housing shortage. +It also is a pioneering step to enable the Middle Income Group to access the benefits of an interest subsidy scheme. +The interest subsidy will be calculated at 9% NPV over a maximum loan tenure of 20 years or the actual tenure, whichever is lesser. +Housing loans above 9 lakh and 12 lakh will be at non-subsidized rates. +The CLSS for MIG is currently effective up to 31.03.2019. +Mr. Mark Zuckerberg: Prime Minister Modi, it’s an honour to welcome you to Facebook. +And thank you to everyone here in Hacker Square, and in our community watching us live in India and around the world. +You know, India is personally very important to the history of our company here. +And that is something that I’ve always remembered over the last 10 years as we’ve built Facebook. +We had a great conversation last year, in Delhi. +And I am looking forward to having a conversation with you and our entire community about how you see the future of India and the world. +When I think about the future, I’m personally excited about India for a number of reasons. +First, one the greatest opportunities we have in the world today, is to connect everyone to the Internet. +The internet provides access, not only to entertainment and communication, but also vital information about health, education, and jobs. +In fact, for every 10 people who gain access to the internet, about one person gets lifted out of poverty, and about one new job gets created. +Now, there’s still a billion people in India who we need to connect to the internet. +And connecting them represents one of the greatest opportunities available to humanity today. +Whether spreading messages of peace, or campaigning for women’s rights, of children’s development, or Digital India, it’s fitting that the leader of the world’s largest democracy is also setting the example for all world leaders for how they should connect with their citizens in the future. +So, the last time that a Prime Minister of India visited California was in 1982. +And a lot has changed since then. +And, Prime Minister Modi, you are an example of what that looks like. +So I’m excited to hear today about how you see these goals, and why the world should be optimistic about the future of India. +Thank you and welcome to Facebook. +Mr. Mark Zuckerberg: All right, so we have the first question from the thread. +We’ve received about 40,00 comments and questions on our Facebook post about this town hall. +That’s pretty incredible engagement! +And several people have flown in today to ask their questions. +But before we call them up, I’m actually going to start with one for you. +You were one of the early adopters of the internet and social media and Facebook. +Did you, at the point, think that social media and the internet would become an important tool for governing and citizen engagement and policy? +Our next question is from Veer Kashyap. +Veer, why don’t you tell us where you’re from? +Mr. Veer Kashyap: Morning, Prime Minister Modi, and Mark. +Thanks for having us here. +I always felt that much like governments in the past had to invest in physical infrastructure, in this day and age, one of the main roles governments should be playing is to build digital infrastructure which will allow its citizens to get connected and be productive citizens of the global society. +Mr. TS Khurana: Well, I was born in India but we immigrated to the US in 1971. +I learnt my English on the streets of Kentucky. +Prime Minister, welcome to our campus and Mark, thank you for hosting us on this fine Sunday morning. +My question for the Prime Minister is, do you think it’s become easier, in the last 15 months, to do business in India or not? +You introduced a programme called “Make in India” to cut red tape. +But there is a perception that the pace of reform is slow. +Do you think that “Make in India” will ultimately be successful? +Doctor, will you tell us where you’re from, and your question? +Mr. Mark Zuckerberg: All right, so for our next one, I want to ask you a personal question. +People may not realize this but there’s actually a number of things that we have in common. +In fact, both my parents are actually here today. +In understand that your mother is very important in your life. +So I’m hoping that you’ll tell us a bit about her. +Thank you, Mark. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to citizens of Chandigarh, during his visit. +“The inconvenience caused to citizens in Chandigarh, especially shutting of schools due to my visit is regretted. +It was totally avoidable. +An inquiry will be held and responsibility will be fixed for the inconvenience caused to the people of Chandigarh”, the Prime Minister said. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Singapore. +“I will be visiting Singapore on 14-15 November, to participate in the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits. +In addition, I would also participate in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Leaders’ Meeting. +My participation in these meetings symbolizes our continued commitment to strengthening our engagement with ASEAN Member States and with the wider Indo-Pacific region. +I am looking forward to my interactions with other ASEAN and East Asia Summit Leaders. +On 14 November, I will have the honour to be the first Head of Government to deliver the Keynote Address at the Singapore Fintech Festival. +As the world’s largest event on financial technology, the Festival is the right forum not only to showcase India’s strengths in this fast-growing sector, but also to forge global partnerships for fostering innovation and growth. +During my visit, I will also have the opportunity to interact with the participants and winners of the joint India-Singapore Hackathon. +It is my firm belief that if we provide the right encouragement and a nurturing ecosystem, our youth has the ability to become global leaders in providing solutions to the challenges facing humanity. +I am confident that my visit to Singapore will impart fresh momentum to our growing partnership with ASEAN and East Asia Summit nations. +As I depart for Singapore, I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to Singapore for their able Chairmanship of ASEAN this year, and convey my best wishes for all success in hosting ASEAN and related Summits”. +Inaugurates Integrated Terminal Building of Vadodara Airport; Distributes Aids and Assistive Devices at Samajik Adhikarita Shivir +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Integrated Terminal Building of Vadodara Airport. +Speaking on the occasion, he highlighted the importance of air connectivity for the economy, and the tourism sector in particular. +He said the Union Government had unveiled an aviation policy which envisaged the future direction and growth of this sector. +The Prime Minister said that Vadodara Airport had now become the second eco-friendly airport in the country, after Kochi. +Speaking after distributing aids and assistive devices to Divyang, the Prime Minister said the requirements of the Divyang must always be kept in mind while creating infrastructure. +He said the Union Government has accorded the highest priority to ensuring that the benefits of its schemes and initiatives reach the intended beneficiaries. +He said initiatives for the Dalits and the marginalized are at the centre-stage in the working of the Union Government. +The Prime Minister said development is the key to solving all problems related to poverty, lack of education and access to healthcare. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today offered his last respects and heartfelt tribute to his Cabinet colleague Shri Gopinath Munde. +The Prime Minister also met the family members of Shri Gopinath Munde, and offered his condolences on the untimely passing away of Shri Munde. +The establishment of the NAA, to be headed by a senior officer of the level of Secretary to the Government of India with four Technical Members from the Centre and/or the States, is one more measure aimed at reassuring consumers that Government is fully committed to take all possible steps to ensure the benefits of implementation of GST in terms of lower prices of the goods and services reach them. +It may be recalled that effective from midnight of 14th November, 2017 the GST rate has been slashed from 28% to 18% on goods falling under 178 headings. +There are now only 50 items which attract the GST rate of 28%. +Likewise, a large number of items have witnessed a reduction in GST rates from 18% to 12% and so on and some goods have been completely exempt from GST. +The “anti-profiteering” measures enshrined in the GST law provide an institutional mechanism to ensure that the full benefits of input tax credits and reduced GST rates on supply of goods or services flow to the consumers. +This institutional framework comprises the NAA, a Standing Committee, Screening Committees in every State and the Directorate General of Safeguards in the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC). +Affected consumers who feel the benefit of commensurate reduction in prices is not being passed on when they purchase any goods or services may apply for relief to the Screening Committee in the particular State. +However, in case the incident of profiteering relates to an item of mass impact with ‘All India’ ramification, the application may be directly made to the Standing Committee. +After forming a prima facie view that there is an element of profiteering, the Standing Committee shall refer the matter for detailed investigation to the Director General of Safeguards, CBEC, which shall report its findings to the NAA. +In the event the NAA confirms there is a necessity to apply anti-profiteering measures, it has the authority to order the supplier / business concerned to reduce its prices or return the undue benefit availed by it along with interest to the recipient of the goods or services. +If the undue benefit cannot be passed on to the recipient, it can be ordered to be deposited in the Consumer Welfare Fund. +In extreme cases, the NAA can impose a penalty on the defaulting business entity and even order the cancellation of its registration under GST. +The constitution of the NAA shall bolster confidence of consumers as they reap the benefits of the recent reduction in GST rates, in particular, and of GST, in general. +PM: Union Government is committed to boosting the agricultural economy through value addition and infrastructure creation. +PM: Centre and States must work as a team for India to progress. +India’s federal structure will be followed in letter and spirit. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said the Union Government was committed to boosting the agricultural economy and empowering the farmers by facilitating value addition through creation of appropriate infrastructure, including rural connectivity, storage and warehousing. +He was addressing a large gathering at Tumkur in Karnataka, after inaugurating the India Food Park. +Speaking about this project, the Prime Minister said it will fulfil the vision of “Annam Brahma” – Food is God. +He said his Government is committed to ensuring that as the farmer provides food for all, he should also get good income for his produce. +(Kisan hamaare pet bhi bhare. +The Prime Minister said value addition in agriculture and food products is not new to India. +In a number of illustrations, the Prime Minister mentioned Sattu, Ghee, Jaggery (Gud), Pickle and even recalled how the ancient sea trade route between India and Europe was referred to the Spice Trade Route. +The Prime Minister said that if India is to progress, the Centre and States have to work together as a team for country to progress. +He said India can be strong and developed only if its states are strong and developed. +The Prime Minister said central schemes will have to be implemented by both the Centre and the State working together. +Shri Narendra Modi said he will follow India’s federal structure in letter and spirit. +Speaking of India Food Park, he said this project had a combination of Central, State and Private Sector Partnership. +He said his Government will boost infrastructure facilities required for the agriculture and food processing sector through Public-Private Partnership. +The Governor of Karnataka, Shri Vajubhai Vala, the Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri Siddaramaiah, and Union Ministers Shri Ananth Kumar, Shri Sadanand Gowda and Ms. Harsimrat Kaur Badal were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of former Maharashtra CM and Union Minister Shri AR Antulay. +He extended condolences to Shri Antulay’s family. +The Prime Minister recalled Shri Antulay’s contribution to public life and said that he was among the tall leaders of the Congress Party from Maharahstra. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the scientists on National Science Day. +The Prime Minister also saluted Sir CV Raman for his contribution to the science. +“On National Science Day, my greetings and best wishes to our scientific community. +Their role in nation building and advancement is paramount. +We salute Sir CV Raman for his pioneering contribution to science, which continues to inspire generations of science enthusiasts’’, the Prime Minister said. +MOU between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Seychelles regarding Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of Small Development Projects through Local Bodies, Educational and Vocational Institutions +Shri M.J. Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs +Ms. Pamela Charlette, Minister for Habitat Infrastructure and Land Transport +Twinning Agreement on the Establishment of Friendship and Cooperation between the Corporation of the City of Panaji (Municipal Corporation) and the City of Victoria of the Republic of Seychelles +MOU between the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Republic of India and the Department of Information Communications Technology of the Republic of Seychelles on Cooperation in the area of Cyber Security +Mr. Charles Bastienne, Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture +Cultural Exchange Programme between the Governmepnt of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Seychelles for the years 2018-2022 +Technical Agreement on Sharing White Shipping Information between the Indian Navy and the National Information Sharing and Coordination Center of the Republic of Seychelles +MOU between the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India and the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Seychelles +Shri J.S. Mukul, Dean, Foreign Service Institute +Barry Faure, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has shared few posts on his Facebook page, regarding his upcoming visit to five Central Asian Nations and Russia. +My first visit will be to Uzbekistan, which is the most populous country in Central Asia. +India and Uzbekistan enjoy a close strategic partnership. +In Uzbekistan I would be holding talks with President Karimov and we would be inking key agreements to strengthen cooperation between our countries. +We want to expand our economic ties with Uzbekistan and enhance trade and economic linkages. +I must add that President Karimov has visited India five times, including four times as President, with the last visit taking place in 2011. +It is well known that Indian movies, language and music are very popular in Uzbekistan. +In fact, the Uzbek radio completed 50 years of Hindi broadcasting in 2012. +During this visit I would be interacting with Indologists, students learning Hindi and members of the Indian community. +There are over 3000 Indians in Uzbekistan. +It was in Tashkent that we lost one of our most popular and respected leaders, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri ji, who ignited our Nation with the clarion call of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.’ +I will be paying my tributes to this proud son of India during the visit. +I am confident that this visit will be a major step towards further expanding India-Uzbekistan ties. +I will be in Kazakhstan, the largest of the central Asian Nations, on 7th and 8th July. +This will be my second stop during my visit to Central Asia. +Kazakhstan is India’s largest trading partner in Central Asia and has been a valued friend of India at various international forums. +India and Kazakhstan have a strategic partnership, indicating the importance we attach to relation with Kazakhstan. +There will be delegation level talks with President Nazarbayev followed by the signing of documents and a joint press statement. +India and Kazakhstan are cooperating in a wide range of sectors including energy and space. +I see a huge opportunity for our economic ties to grow further. +India and Kazakhstan can also increase ties in agriculture. +During this visit I look forward to interacting with the youth of Kazakhstan at the Nazarbayev University. +I will inaugurate the India-Kazakhstan Centre for Excellence in Information and Communication Technology at the LN Gumilev Eurasian National University. +I will join a wreath laying ceremony and planting of sapling at the Monument of Defenders of Motherland. +Our cultural ties with Kazakhstan are deep rooted. +Our films, TV serials and dances are very popular. +Yoga is gaining popularity. +I must appreciate the enthusiasm with which Kazakhstan joined Yoga Day celebrations on 21st June. +May this visit script a historic chapter in our ties with a valued friend. +I will join the 7th BRICS Summit and SCO Summit in Ufa, Russia. +In the past one year I have had the opportunity to meet the BRICS leaders at the Summit in Brazil and during other international forums. +The Summit last year was productive and I am sure we will build on the ground covered during the last Summit. +I expect positive outcomes in economic cooperation and cultural ties among the BRICS Nations. +I will be meeting the leaders individually and will be a part of the variousinteractions of BRICS leaders with captains of industry and leaders of other invited states. +India attaches high importance to BRICS. +It is a great forum that can contribute effectively to mitigate global challenges. +BRICS also has a very crucial role to play in further world peace and security and ensuring we leave behind a better planet for our future generations. +After the BRICS Summit, I will reach Turkmenistan on 11th July. +This is the first visit by an Indian PM after Shri P V Narasimha Rao’s visit in 1995. +I view this visit as an excellent opportunity to strengthen India-Turkmenistan ties in several areas. +The visit will begin with a meeting with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. +This will be followed by talks, signing of agreements and a meeting with the press. +Areas where I see a rich scope for better ties with Turkmenistan include tourism, fertilizers, space, science and technology and defence. +Our bilateral trade is way below its potential and I am confident we can improve it. +I will inaugurate a statue of Mahatma Gandhi and a Traditional Medicine and Yoga Centre. +I am very happy to see the increased enthusiasm towards Yoga in Turkmenistan. +I will also lay wreath at the Mausoleum of the First President. +It is my firm belief that my visit will take India-Turkmenistan ties to the next level and benefit our citizens. +The fourth Central Asian country that I will visit will be Kyrgyzstan. +This is the first Prime Ministerial visit in twenty years. +I will be there on 12th July. +My talks with President Almazbek Atambayev will be focused on ways to develop a strong partnership with Kyrgyzstan in as many areas as possible. +Stronger economic ties between India and Kyrgyzstan will be very helpful in the long run. +I am eager to also meet Prime Minister Semir Tariyev and Speaker of the Parliament Mr. Asylbek Jeenbekov. +We are glad to be gifting medical equipment to Kyrgyz Field Hospital. +I am sure this will touch the lives of several sisters and brothers in Kyrgyzstan. +I will inaugurate Tele-medicine links, which shall promote medical tourism from Kyrgyzstan to India. +A statue of Mahatma Gandhi will also be unveiled. +I will have the opportunity to visit the Kyrgyz-India Mountain Biomedical Research Centre and join the Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Victory Monument in Bishkek. +May this visit usher in a new era of very strong India-Kyrgyzstan ties. +On 12th and 13th July I will be in Tajikistan. +This last PM visit to Tajikistan was by Atal ji in November 2003. +We have a strategic partnership with Tajikistan and have very strong defence cooperation as well. +However, our economic cooperation has been limited and the scope of growth is immense. +Bilateral trade has huge potential. +My visit will build on the existing strong diplomatic and defence ties and script a fresh chapter in our economic ties. +I look forward to meeting President Emomali Rahmon. +Key agreements will also be signed after our meeting. +I will gifting medicines for the India-Tajikistan Friendship Hospital. +You would be interested to know that Indian films are shown on Tajik television. +The Indian Cultural Centre in Dushanbe is popular among people, who go there to learn Tabla, Kathak, Yoga and Hindi among other activities. +A statue of the beloved and widely admired Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore will be unveiled in Dushanbe. +I am optimistic that the outcomes from this visit will be very positive and further deepen the strong bond between India and Tajikistan.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the progress report of Special Committee for Inter-Linking of Rivers during 1.7.2016 to 31.3.2018 +A periodical report is required to be submitted to the Cabinet on the progress made by the Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre at 15 Janpath, Delhi tomorrow. +He will also launch the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre For Socio-Economic Transformation (DAICSET). +“At 11 AM tomorrow, I will inaugurate the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre at 15 Janpath, Delhi. +This occasion is even more special as I had the opportunity to lay the foundation stone for this centre. +In the heart of our national capital, it is a fitting tribute to Dr. Ambedkar. +The Dr. Ambedkar International Centre is a fusion of Buddhist and present day architecture. +It includes seminar as well as conference halls. +There are three auditoriums and an extensive library with a rich digital repository. +Tomorrow the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre For Socio-Economic Transformation (DAICSET) will be launched. +This institution will show the way and further discussions on vital issues as well as encourage research, original thinking among the youth”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will be visiting Malaysia and Singapore from November 21, 2015 to November 24, 2015. +In a series of Facebook posts the Prime Minister said:- +“I will be travelling to Malaysia and Singapore for a four-day visit. +In Malaysia I will be attending the ASEAN-India Summit and the 10th East Asia Summit. +I will be holding talks with Prime Minister Najib Razak and other world leaders who are attending the Summits. +In Singapore, I will hold deliberations with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on ways to enhance India-Singapore ties on the occasion of commemoration of 50th anniversary of our diplomatic ties. +My visits to Malaysia and Singapore are aimed at making our economic ties with these nations stronger and to also strengthen the security cooperation between us. +You can get all the latest news and updates from this visit on the Mobile App. http://nm4.in/dnldapp +Malaysia is at the core of our ‘Act East Policy.’ +Since 2010, India has a strategic partnership with Malaysia. +Malaysia investments, including in various infrastructure projects are strong in India. +During my Malaysia visit, I will meet Prime Minister Najib Razak and discuss bilateral ties with him. +I will join the programme for the inauguration of Torana Gate and also interact with Corporate Malaysia. +Our diaspora must be saluted for their accomplishments and bringing the two Nations closer. +After Malaysia, I will visit Singapore. +This visit comes at a special moment when we mark fifty years of strong India-Singapore relations. +The importance India attaches to ties with Singapore is immense. +Singapore’s success is indeed noteworthy. +Their achievements in urban development, urban transport, waste management, development of ports and skill development are well known. +My visit to Singapore will focus on these key areas of India-Singapore cooperation. +My first engagement will be the Singapore Lecture. +There will be talks with President Tony Tan Keng Yam, PM Lee Hsien Loong, and Emeritus Senior Minister Mr. Goh Chok Tong. +I have had the honour of meeting them on previous occasions. +President Tony Tan Keng Yam visited us in February this year. +A meeting with prominent investors will focus on the investment opportunities in India. +With a focus on skill development, I will visit ITE. +I will also pay homage at the INA Memorial Marker at Esplanade Park. +Over 350,000 Indians stay in Singapore. +We will interact at a community programme on the evening of 24th November. +It is a great pleasure to welcome you to India. +Your visit is a high point in our top-level political exchanges. +You come from a land that is very familiar to us. +From the Legend of Rama to the Wisdom of Buddha our ties are founded on a shared cultural heritage. +Our historical people-to-people ties provide a strong basis to our partnership. +Thailand is a trusted and valued friend, and one of our closest partners in Southeast Asia. +And, we also recognize that our close security partnership would help us to secure our peoples from these threats. +In our shared objective to combat these challenges, India is particularly grateful to Thailand for its assistance and cooperation. +Beyond terrorism, we have agreed to further deepen our security engagement in the fields of cyber security, narcotics, transnational economic offenses and human trafficking. +The land frontiers of our two countries are not far apart. +And, we are also maritime neighbours. +So, Prime Minister and I have agreed to forge a closer partnership in the fields of defence and maritime cooperation. +Trade and commerce flows are an important lifeline of the interdependent world today. +In this context, we welcome the first meeting of the India-Thailand Joint Business Forum to be held later today. +We encourage them, and the other business-sector stakeholders, to take lead in tapping the emerging business opportunities in both our countries. +Alongside trade, there are also ample avenues for greater manufacturing and investment linkages. +We see a particular synergy between Thai strengths in infrastructure, particularly tourism infrastructure, and India’s priorities in this field. +Information Technology, pharmaceuticals, auto-components, and machinery are some other areas of promising collaboration. +We also see early conclusion of a balanced Comprehensive Economic and Partnership Agreement as our shared priority. +Prime Minister and I are fully aware that smooth flow of goods, services, capital and human resources between our economies needs a strong network of air, land and sea links. +We have, therefore, prioritized completion of India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral highway; and early signing of the Motor Vehicles Agreement between our three countries. +Connectivity is also an area of priority for India’s development. +Improving access to Southeast Asia from our Northeastern States benefits both our peoples. +Next year, to commemorate the seventy years of establishment of our diplomatic relations, we will celebrate Festival of India in Thailand, and Festival of Thailand in India. +This year, India is also celebrating one hundred and twenty-fifth birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution. +I am delighted that the Indian Constitution will soon be translated into Thai language. +I am also happy to announce that to welcome more tourists from Thailand to India, and to help them enjoy their visits to Buddhist sites in India, we will soon facilitate double entry e-tourist visas for citizens of Thailand. +India has always deeply appreciated the warmth and affection of the Royal Family of Thailand for India. +Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has been a frequent and very welcome visitor to India. +We look forward to welcoming her in India again later this year. +We also look forward to the honour of receiving His Royal Highness Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn in India at his earliest convenience. +In conclusion, let me say that the convergence of Thailand’s ‘Look West’, and India’s ‘Act East’ policy lights the path to a bright future of our partnership. +Excellency, let me once again welcome you and your delegation to India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the Make in India initiative with an aim to give the Indian economy global recognition. +Addressing a gathering consisting of top global CEOs at the event in Vigyan Bhawan in the capital, the Prime Minister said “FDI” should be understood as “First Develop India” along with “Foreign Direct Investment.” +He urged investors not to look at India merely as a market, but instead see it as an opportunity. +The Prime Minister said it is important for the purchasing power of the common man to increase, as this would further boost demand, and hence spur development, in addition to benefiting investors. +The faster people are pulled out of poverty and brought into the middle class, the more opportunity will there be for global business, the Prime Minister said. +Therefore, he said, investors from abroad need to create jobs. +Cost effective manufacturing and a handsome buyer – one who has purchasing power – are both required, the Prime Minister said. +More employment means more purchasing power, he added. +The Prime Minister said that India is the only country in the world which offers the unique combination of democracy, demography, and demand. +He said the new Government was taking initiatives for skill development to ensure that skilled manpower was available for manufacturing. +He also referred to the Digital India mission, saying this would ensure that Government processes remained in tune with corporate processes. +The Prime Minister said he had felt a mood of gloom among India’s business community in the last few years, due to lack of clarity on policy issues. +He said he had heard even Indian businessmen say that they would leave India and set up business elsewhere. +He said on the basis of the experience of the last few months, he could say that the gloom has lifted. +Let us begin with trust; if there is an issue, Government can intervene, he said. +The Prime Minister said trust too can be a transformative force. +Shri Narendra Modi said development and growth-oriented employment is the government`s responsibility. +To the expression “Look East,” the Prime Minister added “Link West”, and said a global vision was essential. +He said Mission Swachh Bharat and “waste to wealth” could lead to good revenue models for business as well. +He referred to his vision of waste water management and solid waste management in 500 towns across India through public private partnership. +The Prime Minister also spoke of infrastructure of the future – including i-ways besides highways – and mentioned port led development, optical fibre networks, gas grids and water grids. +The Prime Minister also unveiled the Make in India logo, and launched the website- makeinindia.com +Recalling his promise of delivering One-Rank, One-Pension for the armed forces personnel, the Prime Minister said the Union Government had fulfilled this promise, with the announcement made yesterday. +He said that the cost of implementing this promise would be around Rs. 8000 crore to Rs. 10,000 crore, which was significantly higher than some estimates that had been made earlier. +The Prime Minister was speaking after inaugurating the Badarpur-Faridabad Metro Line at Faridabad. +The Prime Minister regretted that it had become a fashion to politicize every decision taken by the Union Government for the progress of the country. +Asserting that no one should mislead the jawans and the people of the nation, the Prime Minister said that the country would progress not through Raj-neeti (politics), but through Rashtra-neeti (nationalist policies). +The Prime Minister said that a significant proportion of army jawans were from Haryana, and therefore, the announcement of OROP would contribute significantly to Haryana’s economy. +Reiterating that development is the solution to all problems, the Prime Minister said the Union Government is taking all steps for India’s development. +He said the whole world had recently faced economic difficulties, but India’s economy had stood firm. +He added that all State Governments and the Union Government had to move forward shoulder to shoulder. +He reiterated his Government’s resolve for Housing for All by 2022. +The Prime Minister travelled from Central Delhi to Faridabad, and back, by metro. +In the course of the journey, he interacted with several people, especially youth, who were also travelling on board the metro train. +This will provide a more efficient, flexible and dynamic policy for crude procurement, eventually benefiting the consumers. +The existing policy for import of crude oil was approved by the Cabinet in the year 1979. +In 2001, the Cabinet approved some amendment to the policy. +While the current policy has ensured that collective energy needs of Oil PSUs are consistently met over the years, the policy needs to evolve with the changing times. +With the changing geo-political environment, the crude oil import policy needs to be modified to bring it in tune with current needs. +The current market practices for purchase of crude oil on spot basis also need to be adopted to compete effectively in the market. +The current policy has certain limitations and restrictions in this regard, which limit the potential sources and methods of procurement. +After the last decision of the Cabinet in 2001, the Govt. of India has delegated substantial powers to Navaratna and Maharatna companies among PSUs. +Such companies are given high degree of autonomy in various operational, financial and investment matters. +Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved that the Oil PSUs of the Govt. of India shall be empowered to evolve their own policies for import of crude oil, consistent with CVC guidelines and get them approved by the respective Boards. +This measure, which is in keeping with the principle of Minimum Government Maximum Governance, will increase the operational and commercial flexibility of the oil companies and enable them to adopt the most effective procurement practices for import of crude oil. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of soldiers in Siachen. +“Demise of soldiers in Siachen is very tragic. +I salute the brave soldiers who gave their lives to the Nation. +Condolences to their families”, the Prime Minister said. +The Minister conveyed to Prime Minister Modi, greetings from President Sisi of Egypt. +Prime Minister Modi requested the Minister to convey his best wishes to President Sisi. +The two dignitaries discussed the shared commitment of India and Egypt to strengthen bilateral engagement. +Deepening of cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, trade and investment and people-to-people relations was discussed. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of two Bilateral Memorandums of Understanding signed between India and Cuba, and India and Korea in the area of Biotechnology. +The MoUs were signed on 22nd June 2018 at Havana, Cuba and on 9th July 2018 at New Delhi, respectively. +The MoUs signed with Cuba and Korea respectively, are in the agreed areas of collaboration and objectives in the field of Science & Technology, wherever the expertise in these areas exist in the country. +Indo-Cuba Collaboration +India and Cuba signed a bilateral MoU to deepen collaboration on biotechnology on 22nd June 2018 during the visit of Hon’ble President of India to Havana, Cuba. +The Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of the Republic of Cuba, have signed the MoU on 22nd June,2018 at Havana. +India-Republic of Korea Collaboration +India and Korea have signed an MoUin the area ofBiotechnology and Bio-economy. +The MoU aims to broaden and deepen cooperation between the two countries in Science & Technology, in the fields of Biotechnology and encouraging industrial R&D and related bilateral investment flows. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has strongly condemned the terror attacks in Afghanistan yesterday. +“We strongly condemn the terror attacks in Afghanistan yesterday. +They are an attack on Afghanistan’s multicultural fabric. +My thoughts are with the bereaved families. +I pray that the injured recover soon. +India stands ready to assist the Afghanistan government in this sad hour”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its post-facto approval for launching of Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana 2017 (VPBY 2017). +It is a part of Government’s commitment for financial inclusion and social security. +The differential return, i.e., the difference between the return generated by LIC and the assured return of 8% per annum would be borne by Government of India as subsidy on an annual basis. +VPBY-2017 is proposed to be open for subscription for a period of one year from the date of launch. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the passing away of renowned actor, Shri Sadashiv Amrapurkar. +“We will remember Shri Sadashiv Amrapurkar as a versatile actor, popular across generations. +Rest in Peace. +My deepest condolences to his family,” the Prime Minister said in a tweet. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for signing a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) between India and Germany on cooperation in the field of Health. +The JDI was signed on 1st June, 2017. +The JDI covers the following areas of cooperation :- +a) postgraduate education; +b) training of medical personnel; +c) pharmaceuticals and pharmacoeconomics; and +A Working Group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this JDI. +This is my third India-ASEAN Summit. +I am delighted to renew close bonds of friendship that we have nurtured with ASEAN over the years. +I would also like to thank you for the excellent arrangements and for the warmth of your welcome. +The visit to the beautiful heritage city of Vientiane reminds me of deep historical and cultural links that the city shares with India. +I also commend Vietnam for its able leadership of ASEAN-India relations as the Country Coordinator. +Our engagement with ASEAN is not just about a solid base of shared civilizational heritage. +It is also driven by our common strategic priorities of securing our societies and bringing peace, stability and prosperity to the region. +ASEAN is central to India’s ‘Act East’ Policy. +And, our ties are a source of balance and harmony in the region. +The substance of our strategic partnership covers all three major segments of ASEAN activities-security, economic and socio-cultural. +And, the ASEAN India Plan of Action for the period 2016-2020 has served us well in fulfilling our objectives. +We have already implemented 54 out of 130 activities identified in the Plan of Action. +Enhancing connectivity in all its dimensions- physical, digital, economic, institutional and cultural-is at the heart of India’s strategic partnership with ASEAN. +And, readiness to link our economic success, and share development experiences with ASEAN nations, especially the CLMV countries, drives our engagement. +In face of growing traditional and non-traditional challenges, politico-security cooperation is a key emerging pillar of our relationship. +Rising export of terror, growing radicalization through ideology of hatred, and spread of extreme violence define the landscape of common security threats to our societies. +The threat is local, regional and transnational at the same time. +Our partnership with ASEAN seeks to craft a response that relies on coordination, cooperation and sharing of experiences at multiple levels. +Next year will be a historic milestone in our ties. +We will celebrate 25 years of our Dialogue Partnership, 15 years of our Summit Level interaction and 5 years of our Strategic Partnership. +The celebrations will be launched at an ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2017. +We would also host a Commemorative Summit on the theme “Shared Values, Common Destiny.” +A host of other events – a Business Summit; CEOs Forum; a car rally and sailing expedition; and cultural festivals are also planned. +I look forward to working with all of you to make this commemoration a success. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a proposal for revision of policy of Ministry of Defence for providing Defence land to Communication Operators for construction of Shared Communication Towers and allied Infrastructure, based on experience in implementing the policy and guidelines issued by Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for issue of clearance for installation of Mobile Towers. +The revised policy will cover allotment of Defence land on lease and grant of permission in Defence areas and Cantonments to Access Service Licensees and Companies registered with DoT as IP-I for setting up shared communication towers and allied infrastructure. +This will improve the quality of communication services in the Cantonments and Military Stations. +Appreciates contribution of Mr. David Cameron in strengthening India-UK ties +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Theresa May, on taking over as the new Prime Minister of United Kingdom. +Prime Minister also appreciated contribution of Mr. David Cameron in strengthening India-UK ties. +“Congratulations to Theresa May on taking over as the new UK PM. +Looking forward to working with her for stronger India-UK ties. +I also appreciate the significant contribution of David Cameron in strengthening India-UK ties.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the Indian Blind cricket team for winning the T20 World Cup in Bengaluru. +“Delighted that India won the Blind T20 World Cup. +Congratulations to the team. +India is proud of their accomplishment,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Canada in the field of Civil Aviation. +MoU will help in deepening the bilateral cooperation and enhancing the experience and technical knowledge in the field of Civil Aviation between India and Canada. +Some of the important features of the MoU would be as under:- +• An appropriate platform shall be formalized for exchange of views on the possibilities of fostering greater commercial/economic cooperation between the two countries in the areas of civil aviation. +• The two countries shall have a cooperation programme in the areas of safety of aircraft operations and related issues that will provide more up-to-date knowledge to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to make it familiar with best international practices and latest International Civil Aviation Organisation’s safety oversight programme requirements. +• Apart from the above, India firms could also be benefited from the exchange of technical knowhow with Canadian companies as the aviation industry is far more developed in Canada. +Reciprocally, Canadian companies could gain from enhanced access to the fast developing civil aviation industry in India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Election Commission of India to enter into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration with the Election Management Bodies of other countries/International Agencies. +These are as follows: +vi. The Union Election Commission of Myanmar; and +vii. The India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). +These MoUs contain standard articles/clauses which broadly express promotion of cooperation in exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of organizational and technical development of electoral process; support in exchanging information, institutional strengthening and capacity building, training of personnel, holding regular consultations etc. +These MoUs would promote bilateral cooperation, aimed at building technical assistance / capacity support for the said Election Management Bodies. +The Election Commission has been participating in promoting cooperation in the field of election matters and electoral processes across the world with certain foreign countries and agencies by adopting the mode of MoU signed by the concerned parties. +The Election Commission, a constitutional body, conducts the largest electoral exercise in the world. +It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to organize free and fair election in the country of about 85 crore voters with diverse socio-political and economic backgrounds. +In recently years, the role being played by the Election Commission ensures greater participation of people in political affairs. +India, today, is considered as the world’s largest democratic country. +The success of democracy in India has attracted the attention of almost every political system around the world. +US Secretary of Defense James Mattis called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today afternoon. +Prime Minister recalled his wide-ranging, candid, and fruitful discussions with President Trump during his visit to the United States in June this year. +Both sides had reaffirmed their resolve to further develop their strong strategic partnership. +Secretary Mattis briefed Prime Minister on the progress in advancing the bilateral agenda and implementing the decisions taken during that visit. +They also discussed enhanced cooperation, regionally and globally, in pursuing shared priorities for peace, stability and combating terrorism. +Prime Minister appreciated the close engagement between the two countries on regional and global issues of mutual concern. +1) MoU between Twin Star (Sterelite is Holding Company) and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation which is investing into LCD FAB with techno partner AUTRON from Taiwan. +This will be first of its kind of project in India. +The proposed investment will be Rs. 20000 Crores. +The project is expected to benefit 5000 farmers with an average landholding of 2 acres each. +3) MoU between M/s Raymond Industries and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation as part of “Farm to Fabric” initiative. +Raymond intends to invest Rs. 1400 cr. for manufacturing of Linen Yarn and fabric and Garmenting. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the inaugural session of the 90th Annual General Meeting of FICCI. +He recalled that around the time of FICCI’s founding in 1927, Indian Industry had united against the Simon Commission that was constituted by the then British Government. +He said that Indian Industry had joined all other sections of Indian society, in national interest, at that time. +The Prime Minister said that a similar atmosphere exists today when people of the country are coming forward to fulfill their responsibilities towards the nation. +He said the hopes and aspirations of people are to rid the country from internal problems like corruption, and black money. +He said political parties and chambers of industry should keep in mind the country’s requirements and the feelings of the people, and work accordingly. +The Prime Minister said that a lot has been achieved since independence, but several challenges have arisen as well. +He said the poor seemed to be struggling against the system that came to be established, for things such as bank accounts, gas connections, scholarships, pensions etc. +He said the Jan Dhan Yojana is one example of this, and increasing “ease of living” has been the focus of the Union Government. +He also mentioned the Ujjwala Yojana, construction of toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. +He said that he has come through poverty, and understands the need to work for the requirements of the poor and the nation. +He also mentioned the Mudra Yojana, for collateral-free loans to entrepreneurs. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government is working to strengthen the banking system. +He said the issue of NPAs is a legacy received by the current Government. +He said, rumours are now being spread about the Financial Regulation and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill. +He said the Government is working to protect the interests of the account holders, but rumours that are being spread are the exact opposite. +He said organizations such as FICCI have a responsibility to generate awareness about such issues. +He said, that similarly, FICCI has a role to play in making GST more effective. +He said the Government’s effort is to ensure that maximum businesses register for GST. +He said the more formal the system becomes, the more it will benefit the poor. +It will enable easier availability of credit from the banks, and reduce cost of logistics, thereby enhancing competitiveness of businesses. +I hope FICCI has some plan to generate large-scale awareness among small traders, he added. +He also said that FICCI must also voice concerns, when necessary, on issues such as builders exploiting the common man. +The Prime Minister mentioned policy decisions taken in sectors such as urea, textile, civil aviation, and health, and the benefits achieved from them. +He also mentioned reforms in sectors such as defence, construction, food-processing etc. +He said that as a result of these measures, India’s rank has risen from 142 to 100, in the World Bank “Ease of Doing Business” rankings. +He also mentioned other indicators which point to the robust health of the economy. +He said that the steps taken by the Government are also playing a key role in job creation. +The Prime Minister said FICCI has a key role to play in sectors such as food processing, start-ups, artificial intelligence, solar power, healthcare etc. +He urged FICCI to play the role of a think-tank for the MSME sector. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with over 170 young IAS officers who have recently been appointed Assistant Secretaries in the Government of India. +The Prime Minister encouraged them to share their experiences of field training. +He discussed with them, some of the elements of good governance, including Jan Bhagidaari, information flows, optimal utilisation of resources, and people’s trust in governance. +Recent governance initiatives such as Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, and Ayushman Bharat, also came up for discussion. +Minister of State in PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh and senior officials from the Department of Personnel and Training were present on the occasion. +My Ministerial Colleagues Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Shri Manoj Sinha +Executive Director, United Nations Environment Program +Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change +Other Distinguished Dignitaries from India and Abroad +Ladies and Gentlemen. +On behalf of the one point three billion people of India, I am delighted to welcome you all to New Delhi. +On the side-lines of this event, I hope the delegates joining us from abroad, shall have some time to see the history and splendour of Delhi. +We are proud to be the global host for World Environment Day, 2018. +As we celebrate this important occasion today, we recall our ancient ethos of universal brotherhood. +This has been expressed in the famous Sanskrit phrase– VasudhaivaKutumbakam – the world is one family. +The same ethos was reflected in the doctrine of trustee-ship, advocated by Mahatma Gandhi. +He had said that ‘Earth provides enough to satisfy everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.’ +Our traditions have for long stressed the importance of living in harmony with nature. +This is reflected in our reverence of the elements of nature. +It is reflected in our festivals, and in our ancient texts. +We are committed to raising the standards of living of our people. +We are also committed to ensure, that we do so, in a way that is sustainable and green. +In this direction, we have given forty million new cooking gas connections in the last two years. +This has freed rural women from the misery of poisonous smoke. +It has also eliminated their dependence on firewood. +It is the same commitment, which has seen over three hundred million LED bulbs being installed across India. +Besides saving electricity, this has also prevented huge additional amounts of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. +We are engaged in a massive push towards renewable energy generation. +We have targeted generation of one hundred and seventy-five GigaWatts of solar and wind energy by 2022. +We are already the fifth largest producer of solar energy in the world. +Not only this, we are also the sixth largest producer of renewable energy. +We aim to provide an electricity connection to every household, which will further reduce dependence on environmentally degrading forms of fuel. +We are reducing dependence on fossil fuels. +We are switching sources of fuel where possible. +We are transforming cities and public transportation. +We are a young Nation. +To generate employment, we are working towards making India a global manufacturing hub. +We have launched the Make in India campaign. +While doing so, we are laying stress on zero defect and zero effect manufacturing. +This means manufacturing that is without defect, and which does not harm the environment. +As part of the Nationally Determined Contributions, India is committed to reducing thirty-three to thirty-five percent of emission intensity of its GDP during 2005 to 2030. +We are on track to meet the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution. +According to the UNEP Gap Report, India is also on track to meet its Copenhagen Pledge. +We will reduce the emissions intensity of India’s GDP by twenty to twenty-five percent over 2005 levels by 2020. +We have a robust National Biodiversity Strategy. +With only two point four percent of the world’s land area, India supports seven to eight percent of the recorded species diversity. +At the same time, India supports nearly eighteen percent of human population. +Our tree and forest cover has also increased by one percent in the last two years. +We have also done well in the field of wildlife conservation. +The population of tiger, elephant, lion rhino and other forms of wildlife is on the rise. +We have launched the massive Namami Gange initiative. +This programme, which has already started giving results, will soon revive the Ganga, our most precious river. +India is primarily an agrarian country. +Continued availability of water for agriculture is of importance. +The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana has been launched to ensure that no farm goes without water. +Our motto is ‘More crop, per drop.’ +We have also launched a massive campaign to ensure that our farmers convert agricultural waste to valuable nutrients instead of burning them. +Ladies and Gentlemen. +While much of the world focuses on Inconvenient Truth, we have moved on to Convenient Action. +It was this call for Convenient Action that led India, along with France, to form the International Solar Alliance. +This is perhaps, the single most important global development, towards the cause of environment, after the Paris Conference. +World Environment Day seeks to address a very significant challenge this year. +Plastic now threatens to become a menace to humanity. +A lot of it never makes it to the recycling bin. +Worse, a lot of it is non-bio-degradable. +Plastic pollution is already having a deadly impact on our marine ecosystem. +Scientists and fishermen alike have pointed to signs of trouble. +These include declining fish catches, warming ocean temperatures, and vanishing habitats. +Marine litter especially micro-plastic, is a major trans-boundary problem. +India is preparing to join the “Clean Seas Campaign” and make its contribution towards saving our oceans. +Plastic pollution is now entering into our food chain. +In fact, micro plastics have now even entered basic food like salt, bottled water and tap water. +The per capita plastic consumption in India is much lower than in many parts of the developed world. +Our national mission on cleanliness and sanitation – Swachh Bharat Abhiyan – has a special focus on “plastic waste management.” +A short while ago, I visited the Exhibition set up by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. +It showcases some of our success stories. +Among its participants are United Nations, Union and State Governments, industry, and non-government organizations. +I hope they continue to do exemplary work in curbing plastic pollution. +Environmental degradation hurts the poor and vulnerable, the most. +It is the duty of each one of us, to ensure that the quest for material prosperity does not compromise our environment. +As part of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development the world had agreed to the theme of “Leave No One Behind.” +This is not possible without ensuring that we all come together to protect what Mother Nature has given us. +This is the Indian way. +And we are happy to share it again with the international community on the auspicious occasion of World Environment Day. +In conclusion, as global host of World Environment Day 2018, I reiterate our commitment to sustainable development. +Let us all join together to beat plastic pollution and make this planet a better place to live. +The choices that we make today, will define our collective future. +The choices may not be easy. +But through awareness, technology, and a genuine global partnership, I am sure we can make the right choices. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed shock over the fire tragedy which happened at a temple in Kollam district of Kerala. +Shri Modi said that he will be reaching Kerala soon to take stock of the situation arising due to the unfortunate tragedy. +” Fire at temple in Kollam is heart-rending and shocking beyond words. +My thoughts are with families of the deceased & prayers with the injured. +Have also asked my Cabinet colleague and Health Minister JPNadda to immediately reach the site of the fire tragedy in Kollam. +I will be reaching Kerala soon to take stock of the situation arising due to the unfortunate fire tragedy in Kollam”, the Prime Minister said. +Mr. Gen Nakatani, Defence Minister of Japan, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister condoled the loss of life of Japanese citizens in the terror attack in Dhaka earlier this month. +The Prime Minister called for greater bilateral and multilateral cooperation against terrorism. +Mr. Nakatani briefed the Prime Minister on the bilateral defence cooperation initiatives. +The Prime Minister welcomed Japanese participation at the International Fleet Review in Vishakhapatnam in February 2016, and in the Malabar Exercise off the Japanese coast in June 2016. +Mr. Nakatani also briefed the Prime Minister on regional developments in East and Southeast Asia. +The Prime Minister said that he is looking forward to his visit to Japan later this year for the Annual Summit. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met a group of over 100 youth and children from Jammu and Kashmir. +They are currently touring different parts of India as part of the initiative “Watan Ko Jaano.” +The youth and children asked a number of questions to the Prime Minister on themes such as infrastructure development in Jammu and Kashmir, sports facilities in the State, education and employment opportunities, and the Prime Minister’s work routine. +Interacting with them, the Prime Minister spoke of the efforts being made by the Union Government to improve connectivity and infrastructure in the State. +He emphasized the importance of sports, and sportsman spirit among people. +The Prime Minister said that working hard is never a cause for exhaustion, and completion of a task brings satisfaction, that is greater than any sense of exhaustion. +The Minister of State in the PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh, was present on the occasion. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condemned the terror attack at a school in Peshawar, Pakistan. +“Strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack at a school in Peshawar. +It is a senseless act of unspeakable brutality that has claimed lives of the most innocent of human beings – young children in their school. +My heart goes out to everyone who lost their loved ones today. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today handed over the annual Batukbhai Dikshit award, of the Surat Shaher Patrakar Kalyan Nidhi, to 13 Gujarati journalists in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister congratulated the awardees for this honour. +Some Members of Parliament, including Shri CR Patil, were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the 8th International Convention of Saurashtra Patel Cultural Samaj through video conference. +The International Convention of Saurashtra Patel Cultural Samaj is being held in California, United States of America, this year. +Applauding the efforts of NRIs, particularly Saurashtra Patel community, Prime Minister said that NRIs have always made India proud. +He added that their efforts have ensured that Indian Passport is respected everywhere. +Prime Minister said that various schemes of the Government, like Swachh Bharat has boosted tourism in the country. +He also appealed to NRI community to motivate at least five foreign families to visit India every year for Bharat Darshan. +This can pave a new way to serve the purpose of Ek Bharat Shresht Bharat Abhiyan, ultimately providing a great boost to India’s tourism development. +He also talked about how NRIs can contribute to the success of Mahatma Gandhi’s dream, Swachh Bharat. +Prime Minister said that India would celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, beginning from 2nd of October. +He added that in the name of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a mammoth Statue of Unity is constructed on River Narmada and it will be completed on 31st October 2018. +Once completed, the Statue of Unity will be the highest statue in the world. +Addressing the gathering, Narendra Modi said that India is now seen as a shining star in the world. +He added that today India is associated with fast economic growth and honest, transparent governance. +Initiatives like GST and strict action against corruption has helped people doing honest business. +These initiatives have resulted in 42-place jump in the Ease of Doing Business rankings in the last four years, he added. +Prime Minister also appealed to the NRI community to work towards the dream of creating a New India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Cadre review and formation of Group ‘A’ service of the technical cadre of Petroleum & Safety Organization (PESO) in the name of Indian Petroleum & Explosives Safety Service (IPESS). +PESO is a subordinate office under Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP). +The organization is serving the nation since 1898 as a nodal agency for regulating safety of substances such as explosives, compressed gases and petroleum. +Over the years, the role and responsibilities of PESO have increased manifold and expanded into diverse fields. +Today, the organization deals with wide range of subjects related to explosives, petroleum, compressed gases, pressure vessels, gas cylinders, cross-country pipelines, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Auto Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Auto LPG) etc. +Boost to infrastructure facilities for judiciary +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary beyond 12th Five Year Plan i.e. from 01.04.2017 to 31.03.2020 to be implemented in a Mission Mode through National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms with an estimated outlay of Rs.3,320 crore. +The Cabinet also approved setting up of an on-line monitoring system with geo-tagging by the Department of Justice enabling data collection on progress, completion of court halls and residential units under construction, including for future projects as well as better asset management and formulation of norms and specification of court halls and residential units to be constructed under Scheme for implementation throughout the country for future. +Benefits from the Scheme: +The Scheme will increase the availability of suitable number of Court Halls and Residential Accommodations for Judges / Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Courts all over the country including at District, Sub-District, Taluka, Tehsil and Gram Panchayat and Village levels. +This will help in improving the functioning and performance of the Judiciary across the country in reaching out to every citizen. +The central assistance is provided to the State Governments / UT Administrations under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary for construction of court halls and residential units for Judicial Officers / Judges of District and Subordinate Courts. +The funds sharing pattern for Centre and State is 60:40 in respect of States other than North Eastern and Himalayan States. +The funds sharing pattern is 90:10 in respect of North Eastern and Himalayan States; and 100% in respect of Union Territories. +This will help for completion of on-going projects for construction of 3,000 court halls and 1,800 residential units for judicial officers of District and Subordinate Courts. +Monitoring of the Scheme +An on-line monitoring system will be set up by the Department of Justice enabling data collection on progress, completion of court halls and residential units under construction as well as better asset management. +Regular meetings of the Monitoring Committee may be organised in various States with State Chief Secretaries and PWD officials to enable speedy and good construction. +It may also be monitored if the funds released by the Centre are released without delay onward to PWD by the State Governments. +Central Government augments the resources of the States in this regard through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for development of infrastructure facilities for Judiciary which is being implemented since 1993-94. +The central assistance is provided to the State Governments / UT Administrations under the Scheme for construction of court halls and residential units for Judicial Officers / Judges of District and Subordinate Courts. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the promulgation of an Ordinance to make amendments to the Aadhaar Act 2016, Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2005 & Indian Telegraph Act 1885. +The amendments proposed are the same as those contained in the Bill passed by the Lok Sabha on 4th January 2019. +The amendments would enable UIDAI to have a more robust mechanism to serve the public interest and restrain the misuse of Aadhaar. +The Supreme Court in its judgement dated 26.9.2018 in W.P (civil) No.494 of 2012 and other tagged petitions held Aadhaar to be constitutionally valid. +However, it read down/struck down few sections of the Aadhaar Act and Regulations and gave several other directions in the interest of protecting the fundamental rights to privacy. +Consequently it was proposed to amend the Aadhaar Act, Indian Telegraph Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in line with the Supreme Court directives and the report of Justice B.N.Srikrishna (Retd.) committee on data protection, in order to ensure that personal data of Aadhaar holder remains protected against any misuse and Aadhaar scheme remains in conformity with the Constitution. +Towards this, the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was passed by the Lok Sabha in its sitting held on 4th January, 2019. +However, before the same could be considered and passed in the Rajya Sabha, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the policy to permit exploration and exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbons such as Shale oil/gas, Coal Bed Methane (CBM) etc. +It will be carried out under the existing Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs), CBM contracts and Nomination fields to encourage the existing Contractors in the licensed/leased area to unlock the potential of unconventional hydrocarbons in the existing acreages. +This policy will enable the realization of prospective hydrocarbon reserves in the existing Contract Areas which otherwise would remain unexplored and unexploited. +With this policy dispensation, new investment in Exploration and Production (E&P) activities and chances of finding new hydrocarbon discoveries and resultant increased domestic production thereof is expected. +Exploration and exploitation of additional hydrocarbon resources is expected to spur new investment, impetus to economic activities, additional employment generation and thus benefitting various sections of society. +This will lead to induction of new, innovative and cutting-edge technology and forging new technological collaboration to exploit unconventional hydrocarbons. +As per existing contractual regime of PSCs, existing Contractors are not allowed to explore and exploit CBM or other unconventional hydrocarbons in already allotted licensed/leased area. +Similarly, CBM Contractors are not allowed to exploit any other hydrocarbon except CBM. +Acreages held at present by various Contractors in PSCs and CBM blocks and National Oil Companies (NOCs) in nomination regime constitute a significant part of India’s sedimentary basin. +In preliminary studies, ‘in place’ probable Shale gas resources in the range of 100-200 TCF in 5 Indian sedimentary basins have been assessed by various international agencies. +Presence of Shale oil/gas has a strong possibility in basins such as Cambay, Krishna- Godavari (KG), Cauvery etc. where mature organic rich Shale exist. +An area of 72,027 sq. km. held under PSCs of Pre- New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP)/NELP regime and 5269 sq. km area under CBM contracts has been opened up for simultaneous exploration and exploitation of conventional or unconventional hydrocarbons. +With the approval of this policy, there will be complete shift from ‘One hydrocarbon Resource Type’ to ‘Uniform Licensing Policy’ which is presently applicable in Hydrocarbon Exploration & Licensing Policy (HELP) and Discovered Small Field (DSF) Policy. +The fiscal and contractual terms of the policy provide for ring-fencing of Petroleum Operations and cost recovery of new hydrocarbon discoveries in PSC block. +Additional 10% rate of Profit Petroleum/ Production Level Payment (PLP) in case of CBM contract, over and above the existing rate of Profit Petroleum/PLP is to be shared with Government on new discoveries. +For nomination blocks, NOCs will be allowed to explore and exploit unconventional hydrocarbons under the existing fiscal and contractual terms of exploration/lease license. +• Launches eco-friendly E-boats at Assi Ghat • Distributes E-rickshaws to beneficiaries • Visits Gyan Pravah – Centre for Cultural Studies and Research • Interacts with prominent citizens of Varanasi +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, launched the environment friendly E-Boats at Assi Ghat, in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi this evening. +The Prime Minister interacted with boatmen, and took a brief ride on an e-boat in the River Ganga, before arriving at the dais to address the gathering at Assi Ghat. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister explained that the e-boats would reduce pollution, provide a better experience for tourists, and save a substantial amount for the beneficiaries through lower fuel costs. +He urged the beneficiaries to use the savings for the benefit of their younger generation. +The Prime Minister recalled how India’s indigenous navigation satellite network, has been named “NAVIC” in honour of the millions of people who earn their livelihoods on boats. +Earlier, the Prime Minister distributed e-rickshaws to beneficiaries, and interacted with them, at the DLW Grounds in Varanasi. +The Prime Minister visited Gyan Pravah: Centre for Cultural Studies and Research, and appreciated the efforts made to showcase India’s cultural heritage. +Interacting with prominent citizens of Varanasi, the Prime Minister exhorted them to work towards ensuring cleanliness, and making Varanasi one of the cleanest cities. +Heads of State and Health Ministers from various countries and 1200 delegates would be participating in this forum. +PMNCH is a global partnership of 92 countries and over 1000 organisations. +The Prime Minister graciously agreed to be Patron of the PMNCH Forum and accepted the Logo of the forum. +Dr. Michelle Bachelet, as the incoming Chair, explained the mandate of the Partnership and sought ideas from the Prime Minister on how to take forward the challenge of women empowerment, children and young people. +Prime Minister shared his personal experiences on the initiatives taken in Gujarat for increasing institutional deliveries through partnership with the private sector and organising community feeding for the poor and pregnant women in villages so that their nutrition needs could be met. +He stressed on effective communication strategy. +He also emphasised that ‘participation is partnership’. +The Prime Minister also suggested that we should involve people across the globe, specially young people in important issues like nutrition, age of marriage, pre-natal and post-natal care and seek ideas for effective implementation and communication for programmes for women, children and adolescents. +He suggested that we could have an online quiz competition on these themes and provide awards to prize winners in the upcoming Partners’ Forum Meeting in December 2018. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will be on a two-day visit to Gujarat from today. +The Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay foundation stone for various development projects in Kutch today. +In Bhachau, a pumping station would be inaugurated & I shall join a public meeting. +It is blessed with wonderful people and a remarkable spirit of resilience. +From suffering unimaginable destruction due to the 2001 quake, Kutch is today known as one of India’s fastest growing districts. +On Tuesday, I will be in Gandhinagar to participate in the opening ceremony of the meetings of the @AfDB_Group. #AfDBAM2017 +The Annual Meetings of @AfDB_Group have chosen the very relevant theme of ‘Transforming Agriculture for Wealth Creation in Africa.’ +On the sidelines of @AfDB_Group Annual Meetings, I shall meet some of the distinguished delegates who will be taking part in #AfDBAM2017.”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +Perpetrators of Pulwama terror attack act will be punished, says PM +PM warns the perpetrators and those aiding and abetting terrorists that they have made a big mistake and will have to pay a heavy price +Free hand has been given to security forces to act:PM +He has warned the perpetrators and those aiding and abetting terrorists that they have made a big mistake and will have to pay a heavy price. +Stating that free hand has been given to the security forces to act, PM dared Pakistan not to live in illusion that it can destabilize India. +“At the outset, my tributes to the soldiers martyred in the terror attack in Pulwama. +They have laid down their lives for the country. +My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their near and dear ones in this hour of grief. +I know there is deep anger, your blood boils looking at what has happened. +At this moment, there are expectations and the feelings of a strong response which is quite natural. +We have given full freedom to the security forces. +We have full faith in the bravery and valour of our security forces. +I am hopeful that the patriotic fervour will ensure that people will provide correct information to our agencies so that we can intensify our efforts to crush terror. +I want to tell the terror outfits and those aiding and abetting them that they have made a big mistake.They will have to pay a very heavy price for their actions. +Let me assure the nation that those behind this attack, the perpetrators of this attack will be punished. +I also understand the sentiments of those who are criticising us. +They have full rights. +We should speak in one voice and rise above politics.The message which should go across the world is that we are one nation, one voice in our fight against terror, the fight which we have to win. +Our neighbour which is already isolated by the global community is in a state of illusion, if it thinks that it can demoralize India with its dastardly acts and nefarious designs. +Let me state categorically that it should stop day dreaming to destabilize India. +130 crore Indian will give a befitting reply to any such act or attack. +Many big countries have strongly condemned this terror attack, have stood behind India and expressed support for India. +I am thankful to all these nations and appeal to them to join hands in the global fight against terrorism. +The menace of terror can be contained only when the nations are united in the fight against terrorism. +Friends, after Pulwama terror attack, we are in a state of grief as well as deep anger. +Our brave soldiers have laid down their lives. +The martyrs live for two dreams- for Suraksha – safety of the nation and for sammridhi- prosperity of the nation. +I salute our martyrs, seek their blessings and assure you that we will leave no stone unturned to fulfil their dreams for which they have laid down their lives for the nation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Mahatma Phule on his birth anniversary. +“I bow to Mahatma Phule on his Jayanti. +His selfless efforts towards social reform, women empowerment & education had transformative impacts,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today laid the Foundation Stone of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Bathinda in Punjab. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that social infrastructure is essential for the development of every nation, and therefore, we need top quality schools and hospitals. +He said that the AIIMS at Bathinda will benefit the local areas. +He emphasized that this Union Government does not stop at laying foundation stones, and ensures completion of projects. +Timely completion of projects is a priority for us, he added. +The Prime Minister said that Pakistan now knows fully well what the Indian Army is capable of. +He called upon the people of Pakistan to tell their rulers to fight corruption and fake notes. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government will do everything it can, to give enough water to the farmers. +Water that belongs to India cannot be allowed to go to Pakistan, he added. +The Prime Minister said he is doing everything possible to ensure that the middle class is not exploited and the poor get their due. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Model Agreement on exemption from visa requirements for the holders of diplomatic and official passports. +This would facilitate visa-free entry, transit and stay up to 90 days (or less) in any period of 180 days (or more) in the territory of India or signatory country for holders of diplomatic and official passports of either country. +This is part of India’s ongoing efforts to expand the envelope of visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and official passports to other countries of the world, visa free Agreements have been signed with 69 countries. +There are still more than 130 countries with which India is yet to enter into or sign similar Agreements. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Protocol amending the Convention between India and Portugal for avoidance of double taxation. +The Protocol will also ensure prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. +Once the Protocol enters into force, both India and Portugal would be able to exchange tax related information, which will help tax authorities of both countries to curb tax evasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to the Chief Minister of Bihar Shri Nitish Kumar regarding the flood situation in parts of the state. +The Prime Minister tweeted that the Centre has assured all support to the Bihar government to mitigate the flood situation and that the situation is being monitored closely. +“My thoughts are with all those affected by floods in parts of Bihar. +The situation is being monitored closely. +Centre assures all support to Bihar government to mitigate the flood situation. +Teams of NDRF are in Bihar for rescue and relief work”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today flagged off a train between Manduadih Railway Station in Varanasi, and Patna. +He launched various development projects and addressed a public meeting at the DLW Grounds in Varanasi. +He complimented the people of Kashi for extending a warm welcome to French President Emmanuel Macron. +He said the Government of India is committed to the continuous development and upgradation of DLW, which is a symbol of the industrial development of Varanasi. +He appreciated the efforts of the State Government in the housing sector, and to ensure that more people get access to housing facilities. +He also appreciated the exhibition on various “waste to wealth” initiatives that was set up at the venue. +He said there is immense potential for tourism in Varanasi, and all efforts should be made to keep the city clean. +The Prime Minister said that the recently announced Ayushman Bharat scheme is going to transform the health sector. +It will provide top quality healthcare to the poor, he added. +The Prime Minister complimented the Uttar Pradesh State Government for implementing schemes extremely well. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today granted ex-post facto approval to the MoU between India and Japan for promoting sustainable, stable and low-carbon thermal power development in India. +The proposal includes undertaking of activities like: +b. Identification of issues to be addressed regarding both existing and upcoming facilities, and also operation and maintenance at either of them. +f. Implementation of an annual workshop in India and CCT Transfer Programme in Japan for bilateral knowledge and technology exchanges. +Any relevant party/stakeholder may also attend the meeting as special invitees as agreed on by the Parties. +Bilateral talks with Sweden, Finland and Poland +After inaugurating the Make in India Centre Expo in Mumbai today, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with the Prime Ministers of Sweden and Finland and Deputy Prime Minister of Poland. +In his talks with his Swedish counterpart Mr.Stefan Lofven, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi lauded Sweden as a significant participant under the Make in India initiative. +He invited Swedish companies to forge partnerships in the fields of defence, electronic goods, medical equipment etc. +During his interaction with the Finnish Prime Minister Mr. Juha Sipila, Shri Narendra Modi invited Finland’s active participation in engineering, power plants, biotech and innovation. +Putting technology to good use, the two Prime Ministers tele-inaugurated the new state-of-the-art manufacturing unit of Trivitron Healthcare in Chennai. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recalled long association of his home state Gujarat with Poland through Jamnagar during his bilateral talks with the Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Piotr Glinski. +Shri Modi discussed areas of cooperation in food processing, clean energy and transportation sectors. +Two doctors from Nashik, Maharashtra, Hitendra Mahajan and Mahendra Mahajan, who recently completed the 4800 km cycling event – Race Across America – called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +At the outset, I wish to express our sincere condolences on the loss of life due to the recent earthquake in Aceh . +I am honoured to welcome President Joko Widodo , on his first State Visit to India. +I had first met President Widodo in November 2014 at , and had discussed at length how our partnership could be of benefit to us and the region. +You are the Leader of a great nation. +As the world’s most populous Muslim nation Indonesia stands for democracy, diversity, pluralism, and social harmony. +These are also our values. +Our nations and societies have nurtured strong bonds of commerce and culture throughout our history. +We live in a geography that is at the centre of rapid political, economic and strategic changes currently underway in the world. +Your visit allows us to impart vigour and momentum to our Strategic Partnership. +And, shape our convergences to act as a force of peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. +Indonesia is one of India’s most valued partners in our Act East Policy. +It is the largest economy in South East Asia. +And, India is one of the fastest growing large economies in the world. +As two large democracies and major emerging economies, we have shared economic and strategic interests. +We also face common concerns and challenges. +My extensive conversation with President today focused on the full range of our cooperation. +The Joint Statement on Maritime Cooperation outlines the agenda of our engagement in this field. +Our partnership will also extend to combating terrorism, organized crime, drugs and human trafficking. +President and I also agreed to build a strong economic and development partnership that strengthens the flow of ideas, trade, capital and people between our two countries. +I agreed with President Widodo to encourage Indian companies to work closely with Indonesia in the fields of pharmaceuticals, IT & software, and skill development. +As two developing countries we also decided to move on infrastructure development two-way investment flows leveraging our respective capabilities. +In this regard, the CEOs’ Forum should take the lead in identifying new avenues of wider and deeper industry to industry engagement. +We also underscored the importance of deepening our two decades old valuable cooperation in the field of Space. +To sustain the momentum of our partnership, President Widodo and I have directed for an early meeting of the existing Ministerial-level mechanisms to carry forward the bilateral cooperation agenda. +Ties of history and strong cultural links between our societies are our shared heritage. +The President and I agreed on the importance of stimulating research on our historical linkages. +And, We agreed to speed up establishment of Chairs of Indian and Indonesian Studies in each other’s universities. +And, in this respect we welcome Garuda Indonesia’s decision to commence direct flights to Mumbai. +I thank once again for your visit. +I share with you the strong intent to take our bilateral engagement to a new level. +And, I am confident that our discussions and the agreements that we have signed today, will help shape an action agenda and add new direction and intensity to our Strategic engagement. +Before I conclude, to all our friends in Indonesia, I would like to wish Thank you. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the MoU between India and Australia on cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine. +The main areas of cooperation include the following: +1. Communicable diseases such as Malaria and TB; +2. Mental Health and Non-Communicable Diseases; +3. Anti-Microbial Resistance and responding to public health emergencies; +4. Regulation of Pharmaceuticals,vaccines and medical devices; +5. Digital Health; +6. Tobacco Control; and +7. Any other area of cooperation decided mutually between the two countries. +The MoU will involve cooperation through joint initiatives in the Health Sector and strengthen bilateral ties between India and Australia. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Arunachal Pradesh and Jharkhand tomorrow. +The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Festival of Arunachal 2015. +He will inaugurate a water supply scheme for Itanagar, and lay the Foundation Stone for a 132 KV Transmission Line. +In the afternoon, the Prime Minister will inaugurate a new railway line from Hazaribag to Kodarma. +The function will be held at Hazaribag. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a roundtable meeting on renewable energy, with top energy CEOs and experts, in San Jose. +Dr. Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy, United States; and Prof. Steven Chu, former US Secretary of Energy were present at the roundtable meeting. +Top energy CEOs and investors, including Ahmad Chatila, CEO SunEdison; Nikesh Arora, President and COO, Softbank; K.R. Sridhar, CEO, Bloom Energy; Jonathan Wolfson, CEO, Solazyme; John Doerr, Venture Capitalist; and Ira Ehrenpreis of DBL partners were present. +Prof Arun Majumdar, Prof Roger Noll, Dr. Anjani Kochar, and Prof. Sally Benson, all from Stanford University, participated. +Among the views expressed at the roundtable, was a clear assertion that India has the makings of becoming the “clean energy world capital.” +The participants said that clean and renewable energy will soon be an inexpensive energy option, with electricity storage becoming cheaper. +Participants were of the view that States and Cities in India should be allowed to take the lead in clean energy initiatives. +A related thought was that the current grid is not designed for carrying the 175 GigaWatts (GW) of renewable energy that India is targeting, and therefore a complimentary effort is required on the grid side. +Experts were of the view that India has to address issues in four key areas – viz. technology integration; finance; regulatory frameworks; and the right talent pool. +They also expressed concern at the financial status of power distribution companies (Discoms) in India. +The CEOs present gave a brief overview of the technologies and innovations being used in their companies. +In addition to solar and wind energy, biomass was also suggested as a key provider of clean energy. +The Prime Minister thanked the participants for their views, and emphasized India’s commitment to realize the vision of 175 GigaWatts of clean energy. +He said the Government is working to address issues in regulation, and address the financial health of Discoms. +The Prime Minister also gave an overview of initiatives already undertaken in the area of renewable energy, such as Kochi Airport becoming a solar-powered airport, and solar panels being installed over a canal in Gujarat. +He said that early next month, a district court in the tribal belt of Jharkhand will become entirely solar-powered. +The Prime Minister also mentioned coal gasification as an important area of research. +He expressed confidence of a renewable energy revolution over the next decade. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the National Rurban Mission from Kurubhat, in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described the Rurban Mission as one which would enable cluster based development – with a “rural soul and urban amenities.” +He said this scheme would complement the Smart Cities initiative by creating Smart Villages. +The Prime Minister described Rurban clusters as centres of economic activity, which would spur growth, and improve the quality of life in nearby villages. +The Prime Minister said the country is taking a new direction of development. +He said one example of this was that the important Rurban mission was being launched not from New Delhi, but from Kurubhat, in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh. +He said that Government was now being brought to the doorstep of the villages and the tribal communities. +The Prime Minister congratulated villages and communities of nearby areas for achieving Open Defecation Free status. +Earlier, the Prime Minister visited an exhibition at the venue, which showcased the implementation of development schemes, and handicrafts. +The MoU will help in developing a long term and sustainable cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual interest in the areas of IT&E in line with each country’s laws and regulations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Ms. Mirabai Chanu on winning gold at the World Weightlifting Championship. +“India is proud of Mirabai Chanu, who has won a gold at the World Weightlifting Championship. +Congratulations and best wishes for her future endeavours.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Mumbai tomorrow. +Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Make in India Centre at MMRDA Grounds, Bandra Kurla Complex. +He will walk through the Centre, accompanied by the Prime Minister of Sweden, the Prime Minister of Finland, and other senior dignitaries from India and abroad. +He will hold bilateral meetings with senior foreign leaders. +The Prime Minister will formally launch the Make in India week at an event at NSCI, Worli. +He will address a gathering comprising senior leaders and captains of industry from both India and abroad. +Make in India Week shall be a flagship event to provide greater momentum to the Make in India initiative, and to showcase to the world the achievements of the nation in the manufacturing sector. +It shall promote India as a preferred manufacturing destination globally. +Earlier, after arriving in Mumbai tomorrow morning, the Prime Minister will unveil a plaque to mark the inauguration of the new building complex of the Bombay Art Society. +He will also address the gathering. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today presented Myanmar State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi a special reproduction of the original research proposal that she had submitted for fellowship at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study at Shimla in May 1986. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted all those who sacrificed their lives for India’s unity, during the period of the merger of Hyderabad State into India. +The Prime Minister also remembered exemplary role played by Sardar Patel in Hyderabad State’s merger into India. +“I salute all those who sacrificed their lives for India’s unity during the period of the merger of Hyderabad State into India. +No mention of Hyderabad State’s merger into India is complete without remembering exemplary role played by Sardar Patel during those times”, the Prime Minister said. +Miss Pratyusha collected the amount by reaching out to Indian families after school hours and handed over the money to the Embassy of India in Kuwait to be sent to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) in relation to Mutual Co-operation. +The MoU is likely to establish cooperation arrangements as a precondition for ESMA to recognize Central Counter Parties (CCPs) established in India and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Board of India to provide clearing services to clearing members or trading venues established in the European Union and to provide ESMA with adequate tools to monitor the on-going compliance by the Covered CCPs with the Recognition Conditions. +The Prime Minister of India and the Prime Minister of Australia reaffirm that the Strategic Partnership between India and Australia is based on converging political, economic and strategic interests; a shared desire to promote regional and global peace, security and prosperity; and a commitment to democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. +They have decided to establish a Framework for Security Cooperation to reflect the deepening and expanding security and defence engagement between India and Australia, and to intensify cooperation and consultation between Australia and India in areas of mutual interest. +The Framework will be implemented in accordance with the Action Plan below: +1. Annual Summit and Foreign Policy Exchanges and Coordination +a. Annual meeting of Prime Ministers, including in the margins of multilateral meetings b. +Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue c. +Senior Officials’ Talks led by India’s Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs and the Secretary of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade d. +East Asia Talks between External/Foreign Affairs senior officials e. +2. Defence policy planning and coordination +a. Regular Defence Ministers’ Meeting b. +Annual Defence Policy Talks c. +Annual 1.5 Track Defence Strategic Dialogue d. +Service to service engagement including regular high-level visits, annual staff talks, joint training and regular exercises as agreed e. +Regular bilateral maritime exercises f. +Explore defence research and development cooperation, including through visits by Australian and Indian defence material delegations and efforts to foster joint industry links +3. Counter-terrorism and other Transnational Crimes +a. Annual Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and other Transnational Crimes b. +Cooperation in CT training and exchanges between experts on countering improvised explosive devices, bomb incidents and technologies c. +Exchanges on counter-radicalisation d. +Cooperation between police on investigation of transnational crime e. +Cooperation on extradition and mutual legal assistance requests f. +Cooperation between AUSTRAC and Financial Intelligence Unit-India g. +Exchanges on cyber policy and cooperation between CERT India and CERT Australia h. +Cooperation on combating illegal migration +4. Border Protection, Coast Guard, and Customs +a. Annual meetings of the Joint Working Group on Visas, Passports and Consular Matters b. +Exchanges and cooperation between the Indian Coast Guard and Australian border protection authorities c. +Cooperation between Customs authorities, including training +5. Disarmament, Non-proliferation, Civil Nuclear Energy and Maritime Security +a. Annual bilateral dialogue on Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and International Security, including maritime security b. +Australian support for Indian membership of the export control regimes c. +Early operationalization of civil nuclear energy cooperation and Australia’s support for strengthening India’s energy security by supply of uranium for India’s safeguarded nuclear reactors d. +Cooperation between agencies engaged on international search and rescue, including through information exchange and regional dialogue e. +Cooperation on these issues in relevant international fora, including the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum +6. Disaster management and peacekeeping +a. Exchange on approaches to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief b. +Collaboration in the East Asia Summit on disaster management c. +Cooperation and exchanges on peacekeeping issues, including between peacekeeping institutions +7. Cooperation in Regional and Multilateral Fora +a. Close cooperation in regional and multilateral fora, including the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, the UN and its specialised agencies, and the G20 b. +Support for India’s bid to be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council +Progress under the Action Plan will be reviewed through established institutional arrangements, including the Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue and the Defence Ministers’ Meeting. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Thursday met a team of scientists from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory in Washington DC. +The team, which was led by the Director of the National Science Foundation Dr. France Cordova, included three young Indian scientists who have worked on the LIGO project. +Dr. Cordova explained how India was extremely important for the future of the LIGO project. +The Prime Minister described the LIGO project as a great example of India-US scientific collaboration, and said the success of this project could well inspire an entire young generation of Indian scientists. +He urged the Indian scientists who are part of the LIGO project to interact with Indian students and visit Indian universities, as much as possible. +The Prime Minister’s meeting with the LIGO scientists in Washington DC, comes just two days after he met scientists from the Institute of Plasma Research in New Delhi, who are also working on the LIGO project. +The Prime Minister also witnessed the exchange of an MoU on the establishment of Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) in India. +The agreement was signed earlier in the day by Dr. France Cordova, Director, US National Science Foundation, and Dr. Sekhar Basu, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO for the successful launch of GSLV – MKIII D1/GSAT-19 mission. +“Congratulations to the dedicated scientists of ISRO for the successful launch of GSLV – MKIII D1/GSAT-19 mission. +The GSLV – MKIII D1/GSAT-19 mission takes India closer to the next generation launch vehicle and satellite capability. +The nation is proud,” the Prime Minister said. +Remembering his versatility, values for humanity and affection for the people, PM said it will take hours and hours to talk about the goodness of Atal Ji. +PM stated that the Atal Behari Vajpayee jee spent a large part of his political career in opposition but continued raising issues of public interest and never deviated from his ideology. +Describing Shri Atal Ji’s communication skills as unparalleled, PM said he had a great sense of humour also. +Prime Minister said that Vajpayee jee’s silence was as powerful as his speeches. +“When to speak and when to keep quiet was his extraordinary quality”, he added. +About the legacy of Atal Behari Vajpayee jee, PM said we can take away a key message from him that in democracy there are no enemies but political rivals only. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO, on being conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2014. +“Congratulations to ISRO on being conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize. +This is a fitting tribute to the hard-work of generations of scientists. +Accomplishments of ISRO have contributed greatly towards peace and progress of humanity”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted people on the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan. +They had a wonderful interaction today. +H. E. Mr. Juha Sipila, Prime Minister of Finland, made a phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. +Prime Minister Sipila congratulated Prime Minister Modi for the historic and successful implementation of the Goods & Service Tax. +The two leaders also discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties. +India attaches high importance to the BRICS forum for promoting global economic growth, peace and stability. +In the course of the past five summits and several ministerial and official processes, BRICS has made major strides in pursuit of these goals. +The meeting in Brazil will usher in the second cycle of BRICS Summits. +We meet at a time of political turmoil, conflict and humanitarian crisis in several parts of the world, and persisting weakness and risks in the global economy. +Many emerging economies have experienced a slowdown, which has increased the challenge of pursuing inclusive and sustainable economic development. +I look at the BRICS Summit as an opportunity to discuss with my BRICS partners how we can contribute to international efforts to address regional crises, address security threats and restore a climate of peace and stability in the world. +I also look forward to our discussions to further advance intra-BRICS economic cooperation and our collective efforts to advance global economic stability and prosperity. +In particular, I look forward to the successful conclusion of major BRICS initiatives, like the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, which have seen significant progress since their launch in New Delhi in 2012. +These initiatives will support growth and stability in BRICS and also benefit other developing countries. +The Summit theme, “Inclusive Growth; Sustainable Development”, will enable us to shape the post-2015 Development Agenda being discussed in the United Nations. +The Summit will also be an occasion for my first meetings as Prime Minister with the leaders of our important global partners – Brazil, China, Russia and South Africa. +I look forward to meaningful meetings with them to intensify bilateral relations and exchange views on global and regional developments. +The Summit will also afford an opportunity to interact with a number of leaders of South American countries at a meeting being hosted by Brazil. +India has traditionally enjoyed close, cordial and mutually beneficial ties with these countries. +We share common aspirations and challenges. +The Indian Diaspora in these countries also serves as the continent`s enduring link with India. +South America`s all round progress makes it a potentially important pole of the global economy and a land of enormous opportunities for us. +My interactions would enable us to explore new ideas on further consolidating and expanding our ties with South America.” +I am happy to be here today, to address the Global Business Summit. +This is a good platform, for bringing together economists and industry leaders. +I compliment The Economic Times for organising this event. +Over the next two days, you will debate growth and inflation, manufacturing and infrastructure, missed chances and unlimited possibilities. +I assure you that your inputs shall receive my government’s highest attention. +मकर संक्रांति (Makar Sankranti) was celebrated on 14 January. +It is an important festival. +It is the beginning of उत्तरायण (Uttarayan), which is considered to be a पुण्य काल (Punya kaal). +The लोहड़ी (Lohri) festival also coincides with it. +On this day, the Sun begins its journey North. +This marks the transition from winter to spring. +The New Age India has also begun its transition; from a winter of subdued achievement lasting 3 to 4 years, to a new spring that beckons. +The country had fallen into deep despair, with two back-to-back years of below 5% growth, and governance at rock bottom. +A series of scams, from telecom to coal had paralysed the economy. +We deviated from the dream of India as a land of opportunity. +No longer can we afford the flight of capital and labour, for lack of opportunity. +We have to repair the damage that has happened. +Restoring growth momentum will be an uphill task. +It will take hard work, sustained commitment and strong administrative action. +It is in this context that all the steps we have taken must be seen. +Destiny has favoured me to serve this great nation. +Mahatma Gandhi said that we should not rest until we “wipe every tear from every eye”. +Elimination of poverty is fundamental to me. +This is at the core of my understanding of cohesive growth. +To translate this vision into the reality of a New Age India, we must be clear about our economic goals and objectives. +The government must nurture an eco-system: +• where the economy is primed for growth; and growth promotes all-round development; • where development is employment-generating; and employment is enabled by skills; • where skills are synced with production; and production is benchmarked to quality; • where quality meets global standards; and meeting global standards drives prosperity. +It is up to us to create conditions for the people of India to blossom and create this New Age India. +Let me outline what we are doing to usher in this new spring. +My government is moving fast in designing policies and laws to promote growth. +This is where I seek everybody’s cooperation. +First, we are committed to achieving the fiscal deficit target announced in the budget. +We have worked systematically in this direction. +Many of you practise Kaizen in your companies. +Reducing wastage means cutting excess and preventing misuse. +This requires self-discipline. +That is why we have the Expenditure Management Commission to suggest cuts in wasteful expenditure. +This way, we will make the Rupee more productive, and deliver maximum bang for the buck. +Second, the petroleum sector has seen major reforms. +Diesel prices have been deregulated. +This has opened up space for private players to enter into petroleum retail. +Gas prices have been linked to international prices. +This will bring a new wave of investment. +It will increase supplies. +It will resolve problems in the key power sector. +Over 80 million households receive subsidy directly as cash into their bank accounts. +This is one-third of all households in the country. +This will completely eliminate leakage. +Building on this, we plan to introduce direct cash transfers in other benefit schemes. +Third, inflation has been controlled through firm measures. +While falling oil prices helped, even non-oil inflation is at a very low level. +Food inflation has come down from over 15% a year ago to 3.1% last month. . +This set the stage for RBI to reduce interest rates, and push growth in a stable manner. +Fourth, the consensus we arrived with States for amending the Constitution to implement GST is a major breakthrough. +GST has been pending for over a decade. +Fifth, the poor have been included in the financial system. +In a short span of 4 months, over 100 million new bank accounts have been opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. +Soon, all accounts will be linked with Aadhaar. +Banking habits will become common across the country. +This now opens immense possibilities for the future. +People’s savings will rise. +They will invest in new financial instruments. +1.2 billion people can hope for pensions and insurance. +As the nation progresses, these bank accounts will drive demand and growth. +We have always debated about social unity, national unity and so on. +But we have never debated about financial unity. +About bringing everyone into the financial system. +This is one cause which both capitalists and socialists agree on. +Sixth, the energy sector has been reformed. +Coal blocks are now allocated transparently through auctions. +Mining laws have been changed to facilitate efficient mining. +Similar reforms are on the way in the Power sector. +We have revived long pending projects in Nepal and Bhutan, with the cooperation of their governments. +Steps are being taken to deliver 24 x 7 Power for All, using every possible source, including renewable energy. +Seventh, India is being made an attractive destination for investment. +FDI caps have been raised in Insurance and Real estate. +FDI and private investment are being promoted in Defense and Railways. +The Land Acquisition Act has been amended to smoothen the process and speed up matters. +This will give a thrust to infrastructure and manufacturing, while protecting the compensation to farmers. +Eighth, infrastructure is being given a boost. +Greater investment is planned in railways and roads. +New approaches and instruments are being put in place to unlock their potential. +Ninth, transparency and efficiency in governance, and institutional reforms are essential elements for rapid growth. +These, along with a positive regulatory framework, tax stability, and ease of doing business, are being pushed ahead at top speed. +For instance, I recently assured Public Sector Banks they will have total autonomy in taking business decisions, without any interference from Government on loans and their operations. +We need to use technology to deliver good governance. +The entire PDS supply chain, from the FCI godown to the ration shop and consumer will be computerised. +Technology will drive welfare and efficient food delivery. +The setting up of the National Institution for Transforming India, NITI Aayog, is a step in this direction. +This will take the country forward on the path of cooperative federalism, with a competitive zeal. +The NITI Aayog is our Mantra for creating trust and partnership between the Centre and States. +This list can be endless. +I can go on for days, but I do not think we have the time. +However, I have given you a sense of the immense activity we are engaged in. +Reforms are not an end in itself. +The objective must be to improve the welfare of the people. +Further, there is no contradiction between doing big tickets items and doing small things. +One approach is to have new policies, programmes, large projects and path breaking changes. +Another approach is to focus on the small things that matter, create a people’s movement and generate mass momentum, which then drives development. +We need to follow both paths. +Let me explain this a bit. +Generating 20,000 MW of power attracts a lot of attention. +That is important. +At the same time, 20,000 MW of power can be saved through a people’s movement for energy efficiency. +The end result is similar. +In the same way, improving a thousand primary schools is as important as opening a new university. +The new AIIMS we are setting up will improve public health in the same way as our promise of Health Assurance. +To me, Health Assurance is not a scheme. +It is about ensuring that every Rupee spent on health is well spent; that every citizen has access to proper healthcare. +Similarly, when we do Swachh Bharat, it has multiple impacts. +It is not just a fad or a slogan. +It changes people’s mindsets. +It changes our lifestyle. +Swachhata becomes a habit. +Waste management generates economic activity. +It can create lakhs of Swachhata entrepreneurs. +The nation gets identified with cleanliness. +And of course, it has a huge impact on health. +After all, Diarrhoea and other diseases cannot be defeated without Swachhata! +The mantra of independence was सत्याग्रह (Satyagraha). +The mantra of New Age India must be स्वच्छता-ग्रह (Swachhagraha). +Take the case of Tourism. +It is an untapped economic activity. +But tapping it requires a Swachh Bharat. +It needs improvement in infrastructure and telecom connectivity. +It requires better education and skill development. +Therefore, a simple goal can generate reforms in multiple sectors. +In addition, it preserves the environment! +Railways is another example. +There are thousands of railway stations in the country where not more than 1 or 2 trains stop in a day. +These facilities, created at a cost, remain unused for most of the day. +These stations can become growth points for the nearby villages. +They can be used for skill development. +Small indeed, is beautiful. +In agriculture too, our main goal is to raise productivity. +This will require using technology, increasing soil fertility, producing more crop per drop, and bringing the latest from Lab to Land. +Cost of cultivation will go down as efficiency rises. +This will make agriculture viable. +On the output side, the entire value chain in agriculture will be addressed through better storage, transport and food processing linkages. +We will link farmers to global markets. +I have often called for Minimum Government Maximum Governance. +This is not a slogan. +This is an important principle to transform India. +In life, people go on a चार धाम यात्रा (chaar dham yatra) to get मोक्ष (moksha). +In government, a file has to go to छत्तीस धाम (chattees dham), and yet not get मोक्ष (moksha)! +Our systems need to be made sharp, effective, fast and flexible. +There are many parts of the economy where the private sector will do better and deliver better. +In 20 years of liberalisation, we have not changed a command and control mindset. +We think it is okay for government to meddle in the working of firms. +First, we need to focus government upon the things that are required of the State. +Why do we need the State? +There are 5 main components: +• The first is public goods such as defence, police, and judiciary. • The second is externalities which hurt others, such as pollution. +For this, we need a regulatory system. • The third is market power; where monopolies need controls. • The fourth is information gaps; where you need someone to ensure that medicines are genuine and so on. • Last, we need a well designed welfare and subsidy mechanism to ensure that the bottom of society is protected from deprivation. +This specially includes education and healthcare. +These are five places where we require government. +In the five areas where we need government, we require competent, efficient and non-corrupt arms of government. +We in government, must constantly ask the question: How much money am I spending, and what outcomes am I getting in return? +For this, government agencies have to be improved to become competent. +This requires rewriting some laws. +Should we not create the environment for this to happen? +We are preparing the ground for it. +This is hard work. +Quick and easy reforms will not be enough for creating a fast growing economy. +That is our challenge and that is what we aim to do. +Digital India and Skill India are attempts in this direction. +Digital India will reform government systems, eliminate waste, increase access and empower citizens. +It will drive the next wave of growth, which will be knowledge-driven. +Broadband in every village, with a wide range of online services, will transform India in a manner we cannot foresee. +Skill India will harness the demographic dividend which everyone talks of. +Improvement in governance is a continuous process. +We are making changes wherever acts, rules and procedures are not in tune with needs. +We are cutting down on multiple clearances that choke investment. +Our complex tax system is crying for reform, which we have initiated. +I believe in speed. +I will push through change at a fast pace. +You will appreciate this in times to come. +At the same time, we need to take care of the poor, deprived and left behind sections of society. +I believe that subsidies are needed for them. +What we need is a well targeted system of subsidy delivery. +Wastage, as I said earlier, must be removed in subsidies. +The target group should be clearly identified and the subsidies should be well delivered. +The ultimate objective of subsidies should be to empower the poor, to break the cycle of poverty, and become foot-soldiers in our war on poverty. +At this point, I would also say that development has to result in jobs. +Reforms, economic growth, progress – all are empty words if they do not translate into jobs. +What we need is not just more production, but mass production and production by masses. +History is witness to the rise and fall of nations. +Even now, many countries have become rich in an economic sense, but are poor in a social sense. +Their family systems, value systems, social networks and other elements which hold a society together have broken. +That is the only way for a nation to go forward. +Further, development seems to have become the agenda only of government. +Development should be everyone`s agenda. +It should be a people`s movement. +Together, we will find a way to face these. +Not just for its size, but for its democracy, and its values. +This is a call for global welfare, global cooperation and balanced living. +For this, we need a workforce and economy which meet global needs and expectations. +We need to quickly improve social indicators. +India should no longer be bracketed with the least developed. +We can do this. +Swami Vivekananda had said “Arise, awake, do not stop until the goal has been attained”. +This should inspire us all to achieve the vision of a New Age India. +Together, we can! +Welcoming the delegates to the International Conference and Cultural Festival from India and abroad, the Prime Minister paid his respects to Dada Lekhraj, the founder of Prajapita Brahmakumari Ishvariya Vishvidyalaya. +He also praised Dadi Janki ji, describing her as a true Karma Yogi, who continues to serve society even at the age of 100 years. +The Prime Minister appreciated the work done by the Brahma Kumaris institution in many fields, including in solar energy. +He called for expanding the use of digital transactions to bring down corruption. +The Prime Minister also touched upon themes such as Swachh Bharat, and LED lighting, and spoke of their benefits. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the MoU between India and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland on the return of Illegal Migrants. +The MoU will facilitate that the Visa Free Agreement for holders of Diplomatic passports as well as liberalization of UK Visa Regime for those who are travelling to the UK legally, after conclusion of the MoU. +It will ensure the return of persons who have no lawful basis to be in the territory of the other Party after verification of nationality to its satisfaction. +It will help in streamlining the procedure of return of nationals who are caught to be staying illegally, belonging to the other party in a specified time-frame. +The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Ahmad bin Khalifa Al Thani called the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today over telephone. +He thanked His Highness the Emir of Qatar for his leadership and guidance to the rapid strengthening of bilateral relations, especially in the recent years. +The two leaders discussed the regional situation. +The Prime Minister underscored that terrorism continues to pose serious risk to peace and security in the region and beyond. +He stressed the importance of demonstrable and immediate action by the concerned for putting an end to all forms of terrorism and ending all support to it. +The leaders noted the historic significance of participation of India’s External Affairs Minister as Guest of Honour in the 46th Council of the Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Abu Dhabi yesterday. +Recalling his interactions with HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the PM said that Swamiji was a mentor to him and his service to society will always be remembered. +After his address from the Red Fort tomorrow morning, the Prime Minister will go to Sarangpur, Gujarat to pay his last respects to HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj. +“HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj, a stalwart among humans who embodied compassion & humility. +His service to society will always be remembered. +HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj was a mentor to me. +I will never forget my interactions with him. +Will miss his presence” , the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the constitution of a High Level Steering Committee for periodically reviewing and refining the National Indicator Framework (NIF) for monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with associated targets. +1. Measures to mainstream SDGs into on-going national policies, programmes and strategic action plans to address the developmental challenges. +2. Statistical indicators of NIF will be the backbone of monitoring of SDGs at the national and state level and will scientifically measure the outcomes of the policies to achieve the targets under different SDGs. +3. Based on statistical indicator, the MoSPI will bring out national reports on implementation of SDGs. +The Report will facilitate assessment of progress, identify challenges and give recommendations for follow up at the national level. +6. Advanced IT tools will be used for close and effective monitoring. +1. SDGs integrate economic, social and environmental dimensions of development. +It intends eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world with basic motto of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikash’. +2. SDGs with 17 Goals and 169 Targets intend for promotion of sustainable, inclusive and equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all, reducing inequalities, raising basic standards of living, fostering equitable social development and inclusion, promoting integrated and sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems. +3. NIF will help in outcome-based monitoring & reporting on progress on SDGs at National level. +There is no direct financial implication on implementation of the National Indicator Framework. +However, the respective Ministries will need to re-align and strengthen their data systems to facilitate monitoring of the SDG indicators. +SDGs are expected to bring change in the lives of people and the monitoring of progress of implementation of SDGs will benefit the entire nation. +The MDGs comprised eight Goals and addressed various development issues. +The MDGs targets were unevenly achieved across the countries and a need was felt to start fresh discussions to assess the usefulness of the MDGs and to explore possible successor to guide development cooperation in the world beyond 2015. +The UN General Assembly in its 70thSession considered and adopted the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) for the next 15 years. +Countries are expected to take ownership and establish a national framework for achieving these Goals. +Implementation and success will rely on countries’ own sustainable development policies, plans and programmes. +Countries would be responsible for follow-up and review at the national level, with regard to the progress made in implementing the Goals and targets. +Actions at the national level to monitor progress under SDGs will require quality, accessible and timely data. +The festival has been organized by the Art of Living Foundation, to commemorate 35 years of the organization’s service to mankind. +Welcoming people from across the world who have gathered in Delhi for the World Culture Festival, the Prime Minister complimented Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for the great work being done by the Art of Living Foundation in over 150 countries. +Shri Narendra Modi recalled a reception organized by the Art of Living Foundation in Mongolia, and said that India had a lot to contribute to the world, but in order to be able to do so, it was first necessary to appreciate the uniqueness and the breadth of Indian culture. +He said that through the Art of Living, the world has been able to appreciate India. +Speaking at length about “the art of living,” the Prime Minister said that the determination to achieve one’s goal, in the face of adversity, required, ‘the art of living.’ +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Telugu Poet, lyricist and writer Shri C Narayana Reddy. +“Demise of Shri C. Narayana Reddy is a major loss to the literary world. +His works struck a chord with people across generations. +My thoughts are with the family and well-wishers of Shri C. Narayana Reddy in these sad moments”, the Prime Minister said. +Shri Surendra Meher is a national and UNESCO awardee. +The portrait is a unique experiment in fusion of tradition and modernity in IKAT weaving. +The team consists of five civil servants, including 2 IPS, 2 IAS and one IFS officers. +It is led by Mr. Ravindra Kumar, an IAS officer of 2011 batch. +2015 marks the golden jubilee of the first-ever Indian expedition to Mt Everest in 1965. +The Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes for the success of the expedition. +H. E. U Wunna Maung Lwin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi fondly recalled his visit to Myanmar in November 2014 to attend the EAS/ASEAN Summits, and his meeting with President U Thein Sein at the time. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s position as a reliable partner in Myanmar’s development. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of Myanmar for peace and stability in the region, and for India’s connectivity with Southeast Asia. +U Wunna Maung Lwin briefed Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on progress in bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, health and development projects. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi called for greater bilateral collaboration in agricultural technology, research and energy sector. +Accepting the invitation extended by President U Thein Sein, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi said that he looked forward to an early visit to Myanmar. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has shared tweets in Russian from @narendramodi, welcoming President Putin. +“Delighted to welcome President Putin to India. +Looking forward to a productive visit that will take India-Russia ties to newer heights. +The bond between the people of Russia and India is very strong. +Our nations have stood by each other through thick and thin. +Times have changed, our friendship has not. +Now, we want to take this relation to the next level and this visit is a step in that direction”, said the Prime Minister. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Steinbeis GmbH Co. +KG for Technologietransfer, Germany on technology resourcing in manufacturing, including sub-sectors of Capital Goods. +The MoU was signed on 25th April, 2016 during the Industrial Exhibition Hannover Messe 2016 in Hannover, Germany. +Steinbeis GmbH is leading organization for applied industrial research in Europe. +It will act as a Technology Resource Partner for implementing identified projects in manufacturing. +The field of cooperation envisaged in the MoU are: +a) profiling of specific technologies; +b) technology road mapping for specified Capital Goods sub-sectors, +c) assessment of technology status of Capital Goods Cluster; +d) cooperation in events on technology; and +e) upgrading existing technology institutes / setting up Greenfield institutes in India and other technology related co-operation and collaboration. +The MoU is a framework instrument to facilitate industrial technology projects by Indian Capital Goods Sector. +The MoU will provide a platform to various public sector undertakings and Capital Goods Sector units to have easy access to capabilities and expertise of Steinbeis GmbH for identifying and plugging technology gaps. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met the Indian Community in Myanmar, at a reception hosted by the Indian Ambassador, at Nay Pyi Taw. +In his remarks on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the world had changed its way of looking at India and the Indian diaspora over the last few months. +He said the Indian community in Myanmar would also be proud of this. +He said that this brings added responsibility on the diaspora across the world. +He said the world was now keen to engage with India. +He exhorted the Indian community to work towards development of both India and Myanmar. +He spoke of the ancient cultural ties between the two countries. +He said it is India`s responsibility to work for the welfare of its neighbours. +He said the benefits of the SAARC satellite to be launched by India, would also be available to Myanmar. +He said India will work towards a polio free region in South Asia and Myanmar. +The Prime Minister also mentioned the Make in India programme launched by the Government. +President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka called Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on telephone a short while ago to condole the terror attack in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir. +President Sirisena strongly condemned the cross-border terrorist attack and offered condolences to the families of the victims. +The leaders spoke of the need for sustained cooperation among countries of the region to end the scourge of terrorism in the region. +I am very happy to be here for the North Eastern Council Plenary meeting. +I also take this opportunity of welcoming you all to this meeting. +I hope that the deliberations that have already taken place since yesterday and further deliberations that we have today, will help in faster development of this region. +I am also happy to note that the North Eastern Council has provided support in the development of the North East region. +It has been instrumental in establishment of a number of institutions and taking up infrastructure projects in the region. +The North Eastern Council was set up in 1972. +Since then it has contributed to the development of the North East region. +To meet the growing aspirations of the people, it is important that the North Eastern Council introspects and assesses the extent to which it has been able to achieve its objectives. +Perhaps, there is a need to re-orient and upgrade the North Eastern Council. +You may like to consider developing the North Eastern Council as a state-of-the-art resource centre for the North Eastern states with the necessary resources, knowledge and skills. +The resource centre may enable the states and the implementing agencies to properly plan and execute projects, promote research and innovations and provide strategic policy vision for the region. +The North Eastern Council may look into developing a specialised domain expertise either by itself or through an agency model to assist states and central ministries in their development planning as also problem solving needs. +This will enable the imbibing of good governance and best practices in the region. +The North Eastern Council should also consider focussing on issues in emerging areas of livelihood, entrepreneurship, venture funds, start-ups and skill development. +All this will help in generating jobs. +The government has been focussing on the development of the North East region through its pro-active “Act East Policy”. +As part of this policy, we are focussing on reducing the isolation of the region by improving all round connectivity through road, rail, telecom, power and waterways sectors. +If the western region of the country can develop, if other regions of the country can develop, I see no reason why the North East region of the country cannot develop. +I am also convinced that India can move forward if all the regions develop including the North East region. +The North East region is also very important to us for strategic reasons. +And it is my conviction that we have to bring this region at par with the other developed regions of the country. +In the current Budget, more than Rs.30,000 crores have been earmarked for the North East region. +It should be our endeavour to ensure that this money is spent well for the development of the region. +We believe in cooperative and competitive federalism. +States that are strong and want to grow further, need to be given adequate authority and resources. +And States that are not so strong, need to be given needful assistance. +It is in this regard that based on the report of the Committee of Chief Ministers, we have decided to continue to provide assistance in the ratio of 90:10 for core Central schemes and 80:20 for non-core schemes to the North Eastern States. +In the recent past, we have established two important projects in Assam – Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited and Numaligarh Refinery Limited’s wax unit. +These are big projects that would create huge employment opportunities in the North East region. +However, it has taken us many years to complete these projects. +The North East is the gateway to South East Asia and we need to take advantage of this. +We are opening up both road and rail routes to our neighbouring countries. +This should give a boost to the economic development of the region. +Since then it has set up its Branch Offices, one each in every North Eastern State. +As of today, it is implementing 34 projects in the North Eastern States covering a length of 1001 kilometres at a total cost of over Rs. 10,000 crore. +In the road sector, we need to keep in view the special land and weather conditions of this area. +Most of the North East areas get a lot of rainfall and are also prone to natural calamities and land-slides. +We thus need to be careful in using appropriate technologies in the construction of roads in this area. +We have recently implemented an improved internet connectivity project for the North East region in collaboration with Bangladesh. +This will make available 10 GB of seamless alternate bandwidth for the region. +This integration will benefit the North East region tremendously. +The Government is also making a heavy investment in power transmission projects covering all the eight North Eastern states at a cost of around Rs 10,000 crore. +This would ensure power to more areas. +The recent commissioning of Bishwanath-Chariyali-Agra transmission line has also brought 500 MegaWatt additional capacity to the region. +The railways have undertaken a major expansion in the region at a cost of around Rs 10,000 crore. +In November 2014, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya were put up on the rail map. +Agartala in Tripura has also been connected with broad gauge line. +We are on the way to ensure that all the North East states come on the rail map soon. +In addition, a 132 kilometre part of third alternative connectivity route to North East (that is New Maynaguri – Jogighopa) has also been commissioned. +There are a number of strengths of the North East which we need to harness for healthy growth of the region. +All the states of the North East region are blessed with natural scenic beauty, distinct historical cultural and ethnic heritage. +All this offers tremendous scope for tourism in the region. +There is also a great scope for mountaineering, trekking and adventure tourism in the region. +If developed and promoted well, this can emerge as the biggest employer in the region. +It can also add to the growth and income of the region. +I understand that the Ministry of Tourism has identified a thematic circuit for the North East region. +I hope that the North Eastern states will make the best use of the scheme to develop tourist circuits and attract tourists from all over the world. +The region can also look into combining a few popular destinations of the neighbouring countries with their tourism circuits. +This will be an added attraction for tourists. +The Government has approved North East BPO promotion scheme in the Digital India programme for creation of employment opportunities. +The North East States must avail facilities and get these BPOs operationalized in their respective States. +This will promote growth and provide jobs to our youth. +The North East is home to exotic fruits, flowers, vegetables, aromatic plants, and herbs. +Most of them are organic in origin. +If we focus our development strategy on organic farming, it would help the region greatly. +A few months ago, I was in Sikkim and participated in a function to declare Sikkim as the first organic state in the country. +Other States can take a lead from Sikkim and the North East Council can also play an important role in the development of organic farming in the region. +The North East can become the organic food basket for this country. +There is a large rural population in the North East region. +If we talk of Assam alone, 86% of the population lives in rural areas. +We have initiated the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Mission to bring in economic, social and basic development of the rural areas in a cluster model. +It should be the endeavour of the region’s states to make use of this mission for the development of the rural areas. +In the end, I would like to express my gratitude to the chairman and all the members of the North Eastern Council for successfully conducting the plenary meeting in Shillong. +My special thanks to the Governor and the Chief Minister of Meghalaya for hosting this meeting. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and United Kingdom on technical cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development in April, 2018. +The objective of this MoU is to facilitate and strengthen India-UK institutional cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development. +Implementation strategy +Under this MoU, an Indo-UK Joint Working Group (JWG) will be set up to strategize and implement programmes on cooperation under the framework of the MoU. +The MoU will promote strong, deep and long term bilateral cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development between the two countries. +The MoU is expected to create employment in the areas of smart cities development, solid waste management, green affordable housing, waste water management, skill development in urban areas, urban mobility, intelligent transport system and transit-oriented development. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for Allotment of land measuring 82 sq. mtrs. +Situated in South West of Plot No. 17/80A and 18/80A to Ramakrishna Mission Krishna Market, Paharganj, New Delhi to further expand their welfare activities at the prevailing rates. +The said land is lying vacant and is prone to encroachment and illegal activities. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the Krishi Unnati Mela at the IARI Mela Ground, Pusa Campus, in New Delhi. +He visited the theme pavilion, and the Jaivik Mela Kumbh. +He laid the Foundation Stone for 25 Krishi Vigyan Kendras. +He also launched an e-marketing portal for organic products. +He gave away the Krishi Karman Awards and the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Krishi Protsahan Puraskar. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that such Unnati Melas play a key role in paving the way for New India. +He said that today, he has the opportunity to simultaneously speak to two sentinels of New India – farmers and scientists. +He said farmers and scientists have to work together to transform agriculture. +The Prime Minister specially mentioned the State of Meghalaya, which received an award for its achievements in agriculture, in the period under review. +The Prime Minister appreciated the spirit and the hard work of our farmers, for their achievements in agriculture since independence. +He said that today, there is record production of foodgrains, pulses, fruits and vegetables, and milk. +He said that there are important challenges in agriculture today, which reduce the farmer’s income, and increase his losses and expenditure. +He said the Government is working with a holistic approach to deal with these challenges. +He said the aim remains to double farmers’ incomes, and make the farmers’ lives easier. +Speaking about the progress towards this resolve, the Prime Minister said that more than 11 crore soil health cards have been distributed so far. +100 percent neem coating of Urea has also resulted in lowering expenditure on fertilizer, apart from raising productivity. +He said that through the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, premiums have been lowered, capping on insurance removed, and claims amounts disbursed to farmers have gone up. +He said the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana envisions water for every farm. +80,000 crore rupees are being spent to complete pending irrigation projects. +He said the Kisan Sampada Yojana is helping strengthen the supply chain from the farm to the market, and creating modern agriculture infrastructure. +He said Operation Greens, announced in the recent budget, will be beneficial for farmers growing fruits and vegetables, especially Tomato, Onion and Potato. +He said several Model Acts related to farmers’ welfare have been prepared, and States have been urged to implement them. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is working to ensure that farmers get modern seeds, adequate power supply, and easy market access. +He said that the Union Government has decided that for all notified crops, MSP will be at least one and a half times the cost. +He said that for this purpose the cost will include elements such as labour, rent for machinery, cost of seeds and fertilizers, revenue being given to State Government, interest on working capital, and rent of leased land. +The Prime Minister said comprehensive steps are being taken for Agriculture Marketing Reforms. +It is important to connect Rural Retail Markets with wholesale and global markets. +He said that in the recent Union Budget, Grameen Retail Agriculture Markets have been envisaged. +22,000 rural haats will be upgraded with necessary infrastructure, and integrated with APMC and the e-NAM platform. +The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of Farmer Producer Organizations. +He said Farmer Producer Organizations, would be given relief on income tax, on the lines of cooperative societies. +He said a new chapter in Agriculture Marketing Reform is being added in this programme, with the e-marketing portal for organic products. +He said the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will play a key role in this regard. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is working to ensure that adequate Agriculture Credit is available. +Hon’ble Chairman, heartiest congratulations and good wishes on behalf of the House and on behalf of the countrymen! +Today, the 11th August, reminds us of a significant event in history. +On this day, a youngster aged 18 years, Khudiram Bose, was sent to the gallows. +It tells us about the struggle for independence and the sacrifices and reminds us of our responsibility towards the nation. +Respectable Shri Venkaiah Naidu has become the first Vice President of the country, who was born in independent India. +I think maybe he is the only Vice President who has been associated with this environment for so many years and knows the nuances of the House. +The Country has got a Vice President who is familiar with everybody and everything – from the members to the committees, to the proceedings of the House. +His public life started with the JP movement. +During his student days, Jayaprakash Narayan led a nationwide agitation for good governance; and he proved himself as a student leader in Andhra Pradesh. +Since then he started developing his personality, be it in the Vidhan Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, and had also expanded his field of work. +And today we all have elected him and handed him over the responsibility for this position. +Venkaiah ji is the son of a farmer. +I have had the privilege of working with him for many years. +Be it for a village, for the poor, or for the farmers, he had been providing his inputs all the time while studying these topics very closely. +He was the Urban Development Minister in the Cabinet too. +But I always felt that during the discussions in the cabinet he used to talk more about farmers and the problems of rural areas than the subjects related to urban areas. +This topic was close to his heart probably because of his family background and childhood which was associated with villages. +India’s democracy is very mature. +Indian constitution is very powerful. +The significance of the constitution that our great men had bequeathed to us is such that the people who have the constitutional posts in India today are those who were born in rural areas or had poverty stricken family background; they have not come from any rich family. +The presence of people from humble background in the highest posts of the country for the first time itself demonstrates the dignity of the constitution of India and the maturity of India’s democracy and this pride is the pride of the 1.25 Crore people of India. +Thus, I can clearly see the inheritance that our forefathers have given us. +Once again I would like to bow down those constitution makers. +Venkaiah ji is a great personality with austerity and great oratory skills. +He possesses these rich endowments in his personality and we are familiar with his debating skills. +And sometimes when he makes speeches in Telugu, it seems that he is running super-fast. +One such demand is for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in their respective areas. +It is a matter of pride for all the MPs that the idea of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana was envisaged by our very Vice-President, the Venerable Venkaiah Ji. +This can only happen when one can empathise with the poor, the farmer, and the oppressed and is determined to take them out of their problems. +Today, while Vankaiah ji is amongst us as the Vice President, we might face a little problem in adjusting in this House for some time because just like the lawyers in the Court feel strange when a lawyer from the Bar becomes a judge; a similar feeling may develop that he used to argue and debate with us in the House till recently, but now he is there as the Vice President! +So some of us, especially for the Members of this House, who have worked with him as a friend and a colleague for so many years, may feel odd but it is the uniqueness of our democratic system that we develop our style of working within the system. +I believe that a person like him who has come from within the system and has been in the Rajya Sabha for so many years shall show us the path and guide us in the House as the Chairman of the House. +I have full faith and I believe that a positive change is to come. +And today as Venkaiah ji is accepting this dignified post, I would quote a few lines: +And I would like to add – +• PM: Global awareness on climate change is an opportunity to improve quality of life of citizens +• PM calls for consortium of nations with greatest solar energy potential +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today called for a paradigm shift in global attitudes towards climate change, from “carbon credit”, towards “green credit.” +Chairing a meeting of the Prime Minister`s Council on Climate Change, Shri Narendra Modi said that instead of focusing on emissions and cuts alone, focus should shift on what we have done for clean energy generation, energy conservation and energy efficiency, and what more can be done in these areas. +Shri Narendra Modi called for a careful evaluation of all the initiatives that have been taken by India in this regard. +These include, to mention some: initiatives in solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, and transportation projects that have reduced distances or travel times. +The Prime Minister called for a consortium of all nations who have the greatest solar energy potential. +He called upon them to join hands with India for innovation and cutting-edge research that would reduce the cost of solar energy, making it more accessible to people. +The meeting was also attended by Shri R.K Pachauri, Shri Nitin Desai, Shri Ajay Mathur, Shri J.M. Mauskar, Shri Chandrashekhar Dasgupta and other members of the Council. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Bangladesh, on their Independence Day. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Macedonia on cooperation in the field of Health. +The MoU covers the following areas of cooperation:- +A Working Group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the lose of lives, in the attacks in France, Kuwait and Tunisia. +“My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the cowardly attacks in France, Kuwait and Tunisia. +The progress of humanity lies in peace, brotherhood and non-violence, not in hatred, terror and mindless violence against others”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of MP and former Union Minister, Shri Sanwar Lal Jat. +“Anguished by the demise of MP and former Union Minister, Shri Sanwar Lal Jat. +This is a big loss for the BJP & the nation. +Shri Sanwar Lal Jat worked extensively for wellbeing of villages and farmers. +My thoughts are with his family & supporters in this sad hour”, the Prime Minister said. +This has reference to reports appearing in a section of the media over the past several weeks, mentioning the Prime Minister, and referring to the conduct of some Union Ministers, and alleged misconduct of the Home Minister’s son. +These reports are strongly denied. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to amend the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015. +Changes in the provisions of the Act will facilitate farmers to get better compensation and rehabilitation and resettlement benefits in lieu of land compulsorily acquired by the appropriate Government. +The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement Act, 2013 came into effect from 01.01.2014. +However, it has been reported that many difficulties are being faced in the implementation of the Act. +In addition, procedural difficulties in the acquisition of lands required for important national projects required to be mitigated. +In order to remove them, certain amendments were made in the Act while further strengthening the provisions to protect the interests of the ‘affected families’. +In view of the urgency, these were brought about by an Ordinance on 3112.2014. +Subsequently, on 10.03.2015 the Lok Sabha passed the Amendment Bill to replace the Ordinance. +The Amendment Bill passed by the Lok Sabha includes some further changes to the Ordinance. +The important changes brought about by the amendment are as follows:- +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the Russian Federation on Expansion of Bilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation. +The MoU would expand more Bilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation between India and Russian Federation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today witnessed a demonstration of the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force at Pokhran, in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert. +The Exercise, named Iron Fist 2016, was conducted in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. +“Firepower of the Air Force and the skill of the Air Warriors fills our hearts with immense pride,” the Prime Minister tweeted. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has recalled the courage and compassion of Lord Christ on Good Friday. +“On Good Friday we recall the courage and compassion of Lord Christ. +He dedicated his life to serving others and removing injustice, pain as well as unhappiness from society”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of former Chancellor of Germany, Mr. Helmut Kohl. +“Our condolences at the demise of Mr. Helmut Kohl – statesman, architect of German unification and ardent believer in European integration. +Mr. Helmut Kohl visited India in 1986 and 1993. +We value his contribution in strengthening India-Germany ties”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his best wishes to the heads of SAARC Nations participating in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. +“Spoke to President @ashrafghani, PM Sheikh Hasina, PM Nawaz Sharif and President Sirisena. +Conveyed my best wishes for the Cricket World Cup. +5 SAARC Nations are playing and are excited about the World Cup. +Am sure WC will celebrate sportsman spirit and will be a treat for sports lovers. +Cricket connects people in our region and promotes goodwill. +Hope players from SAARC region play with passion and bring laurels to the region. +Would be sending our new Foreign Secretary on a SAARC Yatra soon to further strengthen our ties”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the Friends of India event, which featured performances of Indian art forms (classical and folk dances) by Russian artists. +The event showcased the popularity of Indian cultural traditions in Russia and its importance of Inter-cultural understanding. +The programme then had all artistes coming on stage for a musical enactment of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s poem “GeetNayaGataHoon.” +The Prime Minister said that it is a matter of pride that so many people in Russia express their fondness for India’s cultural heritage. +The Prime Minister greeted people on Eid-ul-Milad and Christmas, and added that tomorrow was also the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. +The Prime Minister said that a great effort has been made consistently in Russia to appreciate Indian culture. +He noted that International Yoga Day was celebrated in over 200 places in Russia. +The Prime Minister spoke about the old trade and scholarly ties between the two countries, and said Russia has stood by India through thick and thin. +He said Russia helped us when we faced war, and the Indian jawans were victorious. +He said this was a relationship of strength, but the strength was the strength of friendship. +Even in international fora, he added, Russia had always supported India. +The Prime Minister motivated Indian students studying in Russia, to encourage Russians to visit India for tourism. +He said today India is being praised globally for its economic performance. +The world was looking at India with hope, and investors were confident of investing in the country. +He said this investment would build world class infrastructure in India and also generate jobs for students. +He said the world now looked at India not just as a market, but as a potential manufacturing hub. +The Prime Minister described his visit to Russia as immensely successful, and said his talks with President Putin had been extremely successful. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, was apprised about the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Bangladesh in September, 2011 on bilateral cooperation in the field of Fisheries and aquaculture and allied activities. +The MoU has strengthened the friendly relations between India and Bangladesh and promote development of cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture and allied sectors through mutually agreed activities and procedures. +The MoU will remain in force for a period of five years unless either of the Parties give prior written notice of at least six months in advance to the other Party of its intention to terminate the MoU. +This MoU could be extended for further period as may be mutually agreed upon. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to notify inclusion/Amendments in the Central List of Other Backward Classes notified in respect of States of Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand. +The last such notification was issued till September, 2016. +Meanwhile more advices for inclusion of castes/communities and corrections in the existing list of OBCs for the State of Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand have been received from NCBC. +It is modelled on a similar SAARC agreement. +Initially, bus services will commence on the following three routes: +During the visit, Hon’ble PM flagged off the Kathmandu-Delhi Passenger Bus Service ‘Pashupatinath Express’. +Once all the necessary modalities are in place, the objective is to operate the bus service on either daily or on alternate day basis. +2. MOU on National Police Academy, Panauti +Under the MoU, GoI will fund the cost of about INR 550 crores towards construction of the Academy. +Earlier, the feasibility report of the Academy was completed with the assistance of National Police Academy, Hyderabad. +MHA, Government of Nepal will be the executing agency and exercise oversight in coordination with GoI nominated officials in a Joint Project monitoring Committee (JPMC). +Currently, GoI provides training courses in India to around 350 Nepal Police Officials every year. +The Academy will cater to training of 410 Nepalese police officers annually. +3. Line of Credit of US$ 1 Billion +It was announced by Hon’ble PM during his visit to Nepal in August 2014. +It will further strengthen the bilateral relationship and boost trade and commerce. +It also envisages mutual recognition of officially recognized traditional systems of medicine, mutual recognition of educational qualifications in traditional medicines, provision of scholarships in recognized institutions, recognition of traditional preparations on reciprocal basis as per existing laws of respective countries as well as permission to practice on a reciprocal basis by the qualified practitioners as per existing laws of the respective countries. +The MoU provides, inter alia, for:- +• promoting cooperation and direct communication between the stakeholders of tourism and hospitality industry +• exchanging information and data related to tourism +• encouraging cooperation between tourism stakeholders +• exchanging experience in the areas of promotion, marketing, etc. +• constituting a Joint Working Group +India and Nepal being neighbours can benefit from better cooperation in the tourism sector. +Joint efforts should be made to tap the full potential of opportunities available in the sector. +Besides holiday, adventure and mountaineering tourism, immense scope exists in developing spiritual tourist circuits, such as the Buddhist Circuit (Lumbini-Bodh Gaya-Sarnath-Kushinagar). +Establishment of a JWG after signing of the MOU will help in addressing and implementing the above packages. +MoU on Twinning arrangements between Kathmandu-Varanasi, Janakpur-Ayodhya and Lumbini-Bodh Gaya as sister cities +Janakpur-Ayodhya, Lumbini-Bodh Gaya and Kathmandu-Varanasi are proposed to be linked as sister cities owing to their deep cultural and historical linkages. +Kathmandu, where the Pashupatinath temple is located could become the sister-city of Varanasi, where Kashi Vishwanath temple is located. +Varanasi is often referred to as “the holy city of India”. +One of the largest residential universities of Asia, the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), is located there whereas, Nepal’s most sacred Hindu shrine and one of the greatest Shiva sites, Pashupatinath temple is located in Kathmandu. +The people of Kathmandu and Nepal have had religious, cultural and educational ties with Varanasi since ancient times. +Many eminent Nepalese are alumni of BHU. +Every five years a procession (Barat) from Ayodhya comes to Janakpur. +Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Budha could be a sister-city of Bodh Gaya, where Budhha is said to have attained enlightenment. +The sister-city relations among these cities will help in promoting cultural exchange, sharing of knowledge and expertise as well as develop stronger people-to-people relations among them. +The objective is exchange of programmes, experiences, skills, techniques, information and knowledge in the areas of youth affairs. +It is designed to meet the requirements of both military and civil operators. +With a twin-engine configuration, it allows continued flight virtually throughout the flight envelope. +Powered by Twin Turbo-shaft Engine, it has the capacity to take off 5,500 kgs. +13. Gifting of a sapling from the Bodhi Tree at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya +PM gifted a sapling from the Bodhi Tree at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya to be planted near the Ashoka Pillar at the Maya Devi Temple complex at Lumbini. +This had been an oft repeated request of the Nepalese side. +Lifting of this prohibition will facilitate remittances, movement of people across the border and facilitate tourism. +15. Gifting of one mobile soil testing van/lab +In the past, Nepali officials have visited and received training at the Static Soil testing laboratory, Farmer’s Training School (FTS) and Mobile soil testing laboratories in Odisha. +The Mobile Soil Testing Van will give a boost to the Soil health monitoring and adoption of best agricultural practices in Nepal. +PPL Chairman Mr. Saroj Kumar Poddar (Ex-President FICCI) will be present during the handing over. +The additional 70 MW power has been provided, and Nepal has started drawing additional power from the third week of November 2014. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the DGsP/IGsP Conference at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad. +Speaking on the occasion, he recalled that today is 26th November – the day that a deadly terror attack had struck Mumbai, and police had bravely fought against terrorists. +He also recalled the over 33,000 police personnel who have attained martyrdom. +The Prime Minister said that this annual conference has now undergone a transformation in the way it is conducted. +He said it has become a platform for sharing experiences, which leads to good inputs for policy planning. +The Prime Minister laid emphasis on concrete outcomes out of the actionable points that have been finalised. +On training, the Prime Minister said the development of soft skills is now essential, and should become a part of the training drill. +Aspects such as human psychology and behavioural psychology should be vital parts of training, he added. +The Prime Minister said leadership skills are important, and the onus lies on senior officers to inculcate these skills in the police personnel. +On the subject of law and order, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of foot patrolling and constabulary Intelligence. +Shri Narendra Modi called for a qualitative change in the police force through a collective training effort. +The Prime Minister said that technology and human interface are both important for the police force to keep progressing. +The Prime Minister launched a mobile app – Indian Police at Your Call. +He presented the President’s Police Medals for distinguished service to officers of the Intelligence Bureau. +Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister laid a wreath at the Martyrs Column at the National Police Academy. +He also offered floral tributes at the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and planted a sapling. +The details are as follows: +1. Radical Changes for promoting Food Products manufactured/produced in India +It has now been provided that 100% FDI under automatic route for trading, including through e-commerce, is permitted in respect of food products manufactured and/or produced in India. +2. Foreign Investment in Defence Sector up to 100% +Earlier FDI regime permitted 49% FDI participation in the equity of a company under automatic route. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today laid the foundation stone for three highway projects at Sonipat in Haryana. +Addressing a public meeting, the Prime Minister said that it is not money that builds roads, but it is roads which generate money. +The Prime Minister said infrastructure projects such as roads and power are the first pre-requisite of development. +He added that once infrastructure is in place, development and quality of life improves. +Shri Narendra Modi said these highways would give pace to Haryana’s growth. +The Prime Minister said the Union Government is working towards removing bottlenecks and simplifying procedures to speed up implementation of infrastructure projects. +Many of us remember the events unfolding of august 9 i.e. the august kranti. +In the same way it is our duty to ensure that this message reaches out to our new generations. +Every generation is responsible for bequeathing the legacy and the glorious history of their times generations, the atmospherics at that time, the sacrifices of our great men, the duty, the power, to the future generations. +When the August Kranti was commemorated in its 25th year and 50th year, it was celebrated by the people across the country. +As we commemorate the 75th year of this event today, it indeed a matter of pride for us. +There for I am grateful to the speaker mam for having provided this opportunity. +In the history of our freedom movement, the 9th August movement has been such an important, extensive and intense movement which even the Britishers could not imagine. +Mahatma Gandhi and all senior leaders were put behind the bars. +Such movement in the history of our nation should be seen as a new inspiration, new energy, new resolve and the spirit of innovation among the people. +India became a free country in 1947. +The period between 1857 to 1957 was a witness to different stages in our freedom movement as many people laid down their lives for the nation and there were several ups and downs. +All these events provided the momentum for the freedom and it was a situation of ‘now or never’. +The guiding forces were the words of Gandhi ji. +This was the movements where the slogan of ‘Quit India’ was on everyone’s lips. +One of the most striking features of this movement was that the sentiments which appeared in the minds of the people were altogether different from Gandhi ji’s thoughts, contemplation and ethics. +The key words of this great man were, ‘We shall do or die’. +These words from Gandhi ji were unique for the nation. +Gandhi had said, “From today onwards, everyone should consider himself as an independent woman or a man and should act accordingly. +I’m not going to be content with anything less than complete independence. +We will do or die”. +These were Bapu’s words and Bapu also clarified that he had not left the path of non-violence. +However the situation and the pressure was such that even Bapu, had to adapt to the people’s emotions while assuming the leadership. +Bapu tried to take this movement to such a height and the result of that was that India was liberated from the slavery of the British. +Every person became a leader and every crossroad became the office of ‘the Do or Die’ movement. +The country put itself inside the oven of revolution. +The flame of revolution was engulfing the country. +Bombay showed the way. +All means of transport were stopped. +The Court proceedings were stalled. +The news of the bravery of the people of India and the brutality of British government was reaching every corner. +The public had well placed the Gandhian mantra of ‘Do or Die’. +It was not only the freedom of India; after 1942 the way this flame erupted against the colonial rule across the world, India’s freedom became a source of inspiration for colonies in Africa and Asia. +But today’s time demands that we take the opportunity to free the country from some issues, whether it is poverty, hunger or illiteracy. +As a law abiding citizen, we must be dutiful. +Some vices have entered in our way of life, and we do not think that we are breaking the law and that is why it is the responsibility of the leadership and of the society to get rid of these faults that have crept into the society. +We should think of the mothers and sisters of our country who are under this burden. +The country should bear the burden of at least a class of people which includes women and sisters of this country. +Their strengths can give us strength. +In the freedom movements of Mahatma Gandhi many of these mothers and sisters used to lead and had made equal contribution during the freedom struggle. +Even today, they have as much contribution to the nation. +In order to take them forward, we should move forward with this duty. +It is true that from 1857 to 1942, we saw that the freedom movement had passed through different stages; there were ups and downs; different turning points, new leadership; sometimes it was violent, then non-violence. +Sometimes there was an atmosphere of confrontation between the two streams, sometimes both the streams complemented each other. +But we have witnessed this whole period from 1857 to 1942 which was incremental in a way. +Gradually growing, slowly spreading, people were slowly connecting. +There was an environment of disruption which forced the British to finish all the equations and give us freedom; to force them to go. +From 1857 to 1942, everything was proceeding slowly, but between 1942 and 1947 this was not so. +If we look at the history of the society of the last 100, 200 years, the journey of development was incremental. +Slowly the world was moving; gradually the world was changing itself. +We can feel a positive change with this disruption. +We will carry forward our resolve and move forward. +I believe that not only will our country progress, but due to the success of Forty two to Forty seven, many countries of the world have benefited, the ardour of freedom arose, the strength was re-gained. +We just saw the GST, and I repeatedly say that this is not my political statement, but my conviction. +The success of GST is not the success of any government; the success of GST is not the success of any party. +The success of GST is the result of the willpower of the people sitting in this House. +Whether sitting here or anywhere, it goes to all the states; goes to the general merchant of the country; And because of that, it was possible. +And as a representative of the 1.25 Crore people, with the resolution of 2022, I believe that we shall continue to bring those results. +Mahatma Gandhi had given the slogan of ‘do or die’; that was the formula of that time. +Today, in 2017, if we take this resolution that how will India become in 2022, then we will get rid of corruption from the country. +We will all get together the poor and give them their rights. +Together we will give young people more opportunities of self-employment. +Together we will end the problem of malnutrition from the country. +We will all end and eliminate the hindrances that stop women from moving ahead. +Together we will eradicate illiteracy from the country and will continue to do it. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his twenty-seventh interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +The 26 PRAGATI meetings so far have seen a cumulative review of projects with a total investment of over Rs. 11 lakh crore. +Resolution of Public Grievances has also been reviewed across a range of sectors. +Today, in the twenty-seventh meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress of eight infrastructure projects in the railway, road, and power sectors. +These projects are spread over several states including Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress in implementation of the scheme for establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals. +Mentioning that the Union Government is taking many initiatives in the health sector, he called for expeditious upgradation of health infrastructure. +The Prime Minister said that the first phase of the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, which ran from April 14th to May 5th 2018, had achieved great success in the implementation of seven key schemes of the Union Government in over 16,000 villages. +He said that the second phase of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is now underway in over 40,000 villages in the Aspirational Districts. +He called upon all officers, both from the State Governments and Union Government, involved with this effort to work towards achieving the best possible outcomes in this context, by the 15th of August. +The Prime Minister appreciated the progress made so far under the Saubhagya Yojana, and said that all efforts must be made to complete the ambitious target of providing 4 crore families an electricity connection within the stipulated timeline. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and ‘Transport for London’, a statutory body established under the Greater London Authority Act, 1999 (UK) to improve Public Transport in India. +The MoU will help to improve the overall public transport system in the country, improve passenger services and promote the use of high capacity buses in India. +It will go a long way in strengthening ties and promoting bilateral relations between India and United Kingdom. +The MoU will help in strengthening the integrated public transport for all. +This will help people from poorer strata of the society to have access to a quality public transport system. +Union Ministers Shri Rajnath Singh, Shri Manohar Parrikar, and Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Shri Arvind Panagariya were present. +After the presentation, several members of the audience gave their suggestions and observations on the subject. +So far, a total of four Groups of Secretaries have made presentations to the Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Rajghat tomorrow morning to pay his respects to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. +The Prime Minister will visit Jharkhand. +He will inaugurate a 180 KW rooftop solar plant for the District Court at Khunti. +He will later inaugurate a mega credit camp under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana at Dumka. +The Prime Minister will attend the “Safaigiri Awards” event organized by the “India Today” group in New Delhi, tomorrow evening. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed his grief and extended his condolences on loss of lives due to an accident in Gujarat. +PM said, “My condolences to all those who lost their loved ones due to an accident near Ranghola in Gujarat. +The accident was extremely unfortunate and anguishing. +May those who have been injured recover at the earliest.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the Civil Aviation Policy. +Areas covered in the Policy: +i. Regional connectivity ii. +Bilateral traffic rights vii. +Code-share agreements viii. +Airports developed by State Govt, Private sector or in PPP mode x. +Airports Authority of India xi. +Air Navigation Services xii. +Aviation security, Immigration and Customs xiii. +Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul xvi. +Aeronautical ‘Make in India’ xix. +Aviation education and skill development xx. +Salient features of the Policy +i. The Viability Gap Funding (VGF) will be funded by a small levy per departure on all domestic routes other than Cat II/ Cat IIA routes, RCS routes and small aircraft at a rate as decided by the Ministry from time to time. +A detailed scheme will be put up in the Public domain for stakeholders consultations. +ii. The 5/20 rule for commencement of international flight in operation since 2004 is replaced by a formulation which provides a level playing field and allows airlines, both new and old, to commence international operations provided they continue to meet some obligation for domestic operation. +iii. Necessary administrative and financial flexibility will be provided to Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for an effective aviation safety oversight system and for creating a transparent single-window system for all aviation safety related issues. +The criteria proposed for a Cat I route are a flying distance of more than 700 km, average seat factor of more than 70% and annual traffic of 5 lakh passengers. +The percentage for CAT III will be reduced in view of the Regional Connectivity Scheme coming into operation. +Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have been included as part of category II routes. +v. The regime of bilateral rights and code share agreements will be liberalised leading to greater ease of doing business and wider choice to passengers. +“Open skies” will be implemented on a reciprocal basis for SAARC countries and countries beyond 5000 kms from Delhi. +A method will be recommended by a Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary for the allotment of additional capacity entitlements wherever designated Indian carriers have not utilised 80% of their bilateral rights but the foreign airlines/countries have utilised their part and are pressing for increase in the capacity. +vi. The Ministry will continue to encourage development of airports by the State Government or the private sector or in PPP mode and endeavour to provide regulatory certainty. +Future greenfield and brownfield airports will have cost efficient functionality with no compromise on safety and security. +vii. Airport Authority of India (AAI) will continue to develop and modernise its airports and upgrade quality of services. +AAI will be suitably compensated in case a new greenfield airport is approved in future within 150 km radius of an existing operational AAI airport which is not yet saturated. +viii.Upgradation and modernisation of Air Navigation Services will continue in line with global trends. +AAI will provide a fully harmonised Air Navigation System considering International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Global Air Navigation Plan, Aviation system Block Upgrade and modern performance based technologies and procedures. +ix. The Government will promote helicopter usage by issuing separate regulations for helicopters and development of four heli-hubs initially. +Ministry of Civil Aviation will also coordinate with all the agencies and stakeholders concerned to facilitate Helicopter Emergency Medical Services. +x. In the budget for 2016-17, the customs duty for MRO’s has been rationalised and the procedure for clearance of goods simplified, in particular duty on tools and tool kits. +Further incentives have been proposed in the policy to give a push to this sector :- +xi. The existing ground handling policy is being replaced with a new framework to ensure fair competition. +The airport operator will ensure that there will be three Ground Handling Agencies (GHA) including Air India’s subsidiary/JV at all major airports as defined in AERA Act 2008. +At non-major airports, the airport operator to decide on the number of ground handling agencies, based on the traffic output, airside and terminal building capacity. +All domestic scheduled airline operators including helicopter operators will be free to carry out self-handling at all airports. +Hiring of employees through manpower supplier will not be permitted. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remembered Swami Vivekananda, on his Jayanti. +His belief in Yuva Shakti was unwavering. +The thoughts and ideals of SwamiVivekananda inspire and energise crores of Indians, particularly our youth. +It is from him that we draw the motivation of building an India that is strong, vibrant, inclusive and an India that takes global leadership in several areas”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Myanmar in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine. +The MoU will provide structured frame work for cooperation between the two countries for promotion of AYUSH/Traditional Systems of Medicine in Myanmar. +It will boost the importance of AYUSH systems of medicine and conservation, production and standardisation. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved Continuation of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), and for incurring expenditure up to Rs. 1000 crore till 2019-20 by Atal Innovation Mission for expanding Atal Tinkering Labs to 10,000 schools in view of their huge success at school level. +AIM has multiple programs to encourage and support innovation in the country. +Promotion of product development in areas of national relevance and social importance is being supported through Atal New India Challenges (ANICs). +Financial implications: +Each ATL receives a grant in aid of Rs. 12 lakhs in the first year, and upto 2 lakhs per year for subsequent 4 years, for maintenance of the ATL equipment and operational expenses. +Each selected AIC would be receiving grant in aid upto Rs 10 crore over 3-5 years in tranches per year, based on review and evidence of planned milestones reached. +Innovators will receive commercialization and technology deployment grants upto Rs. 1 crore under the ANICs. +Many Ministries/Departments of Government of India have initiated innovation related activities with the help and technical support of AIM. +Under the ATL program, more than 10,000 schools are expected to establish these labs by 2020. +More than 100 Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) are likely to established around the country, supporting at least 50-60 startups each over the first five years. +More than 100 innovators/startups are expected to receive some support for productizing their innovations. +Other programs being supported through Ministries will have even more beneficiaries. +Each incubator is expected to foster 50-60 technology driven innovative Startups every four years. +The 100+ Incubators set up would thus foster 5000-6000 innovative Startups and this will multiply with new incubators being set up. +The potential for employment generation from these innovations driven Startups is quite high. +Implementation Strategy and targets: +AIM selects each beneficiary through open, competitive, online applications, and disburses grants directly. +Furthermore, AIM leverages its experts and networks around the country to build capacity in ATLs, AICs, etc. connecting various kinds of populations. +Additionally, corporate and international partners are connected to AIM beneficiaries, to ensure flow of information and technology between academia, innovation, and the start-up ecosystem as well as provide mentoring support to ensure success of AIM’s initiatives. +Till date, 5441 Atal Tinkering Labs have been selected across the country, out of which 2171 ATLs from 623 districts have already received the first tranche of grant-in-aid for establishment of the labs in their respective schools. +101 Atal Incubation Centres have been selected nationwide, out of which 31 have received the first tranche of grants. +Twenty-four Atal New India Challenges (ANIC) have been launched and more than 800 applications have been received. +2-3 winners per ANIC would be selected and receive a grant of upto Rs 1.0 crore in 3 tranches based on review and evidence of planned milestones achieved. +AIM’s Mentor of Change Programme is mandated to ensure the success of the ATLs. +Through this programme, well-qualified mentors from different professional backgrounds are selected to provide pro-bono mentoring to ATL students over a range of skills. +Mentors also collaborate with the School administrators to ensure the ATLs operate in the manner, mandated by AIM. +As on date, more than 2,500 mentors are actively mentoring students in over 1,300 ATL schools. +AlM’s objectives are to create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country at school, university, research institutions, MSME and industry levels. +The Mission has been set up under NITI Aayog, in accordance with the Hon’ble Finance Minister’s declaration in the 2015 Budget Speech. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his eighth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +In course of his review today, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the road, railway, metro rail, power, and food processing sectors, spread over several states, including Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Telangana. +Reviewing the Hyderabad Metro Rail Project, the Prime Minister exhorted all concerned authorities to complete this PPP project at the earliest, and with the best possible quality. +Among the other significant projects reviewed today were the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor and the Delhi-Haryana-Uttar Pradesh Eastern Peripheral Highway. +Reviewing the Food Park Scheme, the Prime Minister called for a comprehensive evaluation of the benefits from the Parks that have already been completed. +The Prime Minister reviewed the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport and Rih-Tedim road project in Myanmar. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards Direct Benefit Transfer under MNREGA, and end-to-end computerization of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) operations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, on their Statehood Day. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of the Agreement signed between India and France in the field of Sustainable Urban Development in March, 2018. +The Agreement shall remain in force for a period of five years. +The objectives of the Agreement is to promote technical cooperation in the areas of smart cities development, development of urban mass transportation systems, urban settlements and utilities (water supply and sewerage systems), disposal and treatment of solid waste, landfill remediation, management of non-revenue water, water reuse & recycle, technology transfer, conservation of fresh water by artificial recharge of aquifer, circular economy, mass housing, green housing, urban planning, heritage, human resource development, capacity building and other related areas as mutually agreed by the Contracting Parties. +Implementation strategy +Under this Agreement, a Joint Working Group (JWG) will be set up to strategize and implement programmes on cooperation under the framework of the Agreement. +The Joint Working Group shall meet once in a year, alternately in India and France. +The Agreement will promote bilateral cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development between the two countries. +The Agreement is expected to create employment in the areas of smart cities development, urban mass transportation systems, urban settlements and utilities (Water supply and sewerage systems), disposal and treatment of solid waste, landfill remediation, affordable housing, waste management, urban environment and heritage preservation. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Jharkhand on their Statehood Day. +I pray that Jharkhand continues to scale new heights of progress and prosperity”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has invited suggestions and inputs for `Mann Ki Baat` Radio Programme of February 2015. +I urge students, parents and teachers to share exam experiences that would inspire youngsters and even motivate them in exam preparation. +Like always, I will share some of your thoughts, inputs and anecdotes during the programme. +Do share them here. http://mygov.in/groupissue/inputs-for-mann-ki-baat-february-2015/show”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the transfer of 56 kanals and 19 marlas (7.118 acres) of Defence land on lease on long term basis for 30 years renewable for two like terms of 30 years each to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) for construction of Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 at Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir at a nominal rent of one rupee per annum. +At present, Kendriya Vidyalaya Number 2, Dhar Road, Udhampur has been functioning in temporary buildings ever since its inception in 1985. +Presently, a total of 851 students are studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya Number 2, Dhar Road, Udhampur. +Construction of own permanent school building by KVS will enable the school authorities to build optimal infrastructure to meet the educational requirements of the children of serving personnel. +The Prime Minister today chaired a high-level meeting on infrastructure. +Besides a broad overview of the infrastructure scenario in the country, the meeting focused on the specific sectors of rural infrastructure, power, coal, renewable energy and petroleum and natural gas. +The Prime Minister reviewed the status of stalled projects in the infrastructure sector. +He was apprised of the steps being taken to enhance infrastructure creation in accordance with the Prime Minister’s vision for the 75th year of India’s independence. +The Prime Minister stressed on the need for Government departments to work towards initializing spending of the budget, in a focused manner right from the start of the financial year. +He was given a detailed overview of the plans of various Ministries for completion of pending projects within the current financial year. +The Prime Minister asked for specific data to be collected and presented on priority areas such as toilets, affordable housing and smart cities. +He said that in the urban areas, one of the priorities should be in creation of waste to wealth, and efficient systems for waste water disposal and solid waste management in 500 cities. +Reviewing rural infrastructure, the Prime Minister directed that the highest priority be accorded to the work envisaged under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. +He said irrigation potential of all reservoir projects should be realized to the extent possible. +In the power sector, the Prime Minister reiterated his emphasis on electrification of the unconnected villages at the earliest. +A roadmap on this was presented to the Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister inquired about the progress on renewable energy goals, and directed maximum focus on this area. +He said public spaces such as railway stations should be priority areas for adopting energy efficient technologies, and renewable energy. +Senior officers from NITI Aayog, various infrastructure Ministries and PMO were also present. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to Tsunami after the eruption of a volcano in Indonesia. +“Saddened by the loss of lives and destruction in Indonesia caused by the Tsunami after the eruption of a volcano. +Condolences to the bereaved families and wishing the injured an early recovery. +India is ready to assist our maritime neighbour and friend in relief work”, the Prime Minister said. +Today is a historic day for South Asia. +A day without precedence. +Two years ago, India made a promise. +A promise to extend the advanced space technology for the cause of growth and prosperity of our brothers and sisters in South Asia. +The successful launch of the South Asia Satellite marks the fulfilment of that. +With this launch we have started a journey to build the most advanced frontier of our partnership. +I am immensely grateful to my fellow leaders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka for joining me today to celebrate this launch. +I also deeply appreciate the strong and valuable support extended by your governments, without which this project would not have been possible. +Our coming together is a sign of our unshakeable resolve to place the needs of our peoples in the forefront. +It shows that our collective choices for our citizens will bring us together for: cooperation, not conflict; development, not destruction; and prosperity not poverty. +This is first of its kind project in South Asia. +Space technology will touch the lives of our people in the region. +The satellite would provide services specific to individual countries as per their own needs and priorities, as also common services. +In achieving this goal, I congratulate the space science fraternity of India, and in particular the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). +The ISRO team has led from the front in developing the South Asia Satellite as per the regions’ requirements, and flawlessly launching it. +As Goverments, our most important task is to secure growth, development and peace for our people and communities. +And, I am convinced that when we join hands and mutually share the fruits of knowledge, technology and growth, we can speed up our development and prosperity. +I thank you all for your presence. +And, congratulate you once again in our shared success! +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) – the Union Government’s flagship irrigation programme. +The meeting was attended by senior officials from various concerned Ministries, besides PMO and NITI Aayog. +Officials stated that out of 99 priority irrigation projects, 21 projects, with a total irrigation potential of 5.22 lakh hectares are likely to be completed by June 2017. +An additional 45 priority projects in the States of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, are progressing well, and are likely to be completed ahead of schedule. +The Prime Minister urged to officials to give maximum attention to drip and micro-irrigation, in these upcoming irrigation projects. +He called for synergy between various Government Departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Agricultural Universities to work out efficient cropping patterns and water-use mechanisms in the command areas of these projects. +The Prime Minister exhorted the officials to work with a comprehensive and holistic vision for PMKSY. +He also called for using latest available technology, including space applications, to monitor the progress of irrigation projects. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will be visiting Sri Lanka on 11th and 12th May, 2017. +This will be my second bilateral visit there in two years, a sign of our strong relationship. +During my visit, I will join the International Vesak Day celebrations in Colombo on 12th May, where I will interact with leading Buddhist spiritual leaders, scholars and theologians. +It is my honour to join these celebrations with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. +My visit brings to the fore one of the most abiding links between India and Sri Lanka- the shared heritage of Buddhism. +During my last visit in 2015, I had the opportunity to visit Anuradhapura, a UNESCO world heritage site and a leading centre of Buddhism for centuries. +This time, I will be privileged to pay respect at the revered Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, also known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. +My visit will commence in Colombo with a visit to the Seema Malaka at the Gangaramayya temple where I will take part in the traditional lamp lighting ceremony. +I will be meeting with President Sirisena, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and other eminent dignitaries. +I will also visit the up country region of Sri Lanka where I will inaugurate the Dickoya Hospital that has been built with Indian assistance, and have an interaction with the Indian-origin Tamil community. +I will be sharing more from Sri Lanka on social media. +You can watch all my programmes in Sri Lanka live on the ‘Narendra Modi Mobile App.’” +SAWEN, a Regional network is comprised of eight countries in South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. +It aims at working as a strong regional inter¬governmental body for combating wildlife crime by attempting common goals and approaches for combating illegal trade in the region. +Adoption of SAWEN statute envisions India being part of the regional inter¬governmental body in combating wildlife crime in the region and beyond. +Following objectives have been set to attain the goal: +• To take initiatives for bringing harmonization and standardization in laws and policies of member countries concerning conservation of fauna and flora; +• To document the trend of poaching and illegal trade, and related threats to the natural biodiversity within and across countries in the region; +• To strengthen institutional responses to combat wildlife crime by promoting research and information sharing, training and capacity building, technical support, sharing experiences and outreach; and +• To encourage member countries to prepare and implement their National Action Plans in curbing wildlife crime and to collaborate towards effective implementation. +The South Asia region is very vulnerable to illegal traffic and wildlife crimes due to presence of precious biodiversity and large markets as well as traffic routes for wildlife products in the south East Asian region. +The collaboration in harmonising as well as enforcing the wildlife protection in the region is considered very important for effective conservation of such precious biodiversity. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed pain over the loss of lives in road accident in Etah district of UP. +“Anguished by the tragic accident in UP’s Etah district. +I share the pain of the bereaved families and condole passing away of young children. +I pray that those injured in the accident in Etah recover at the earliest”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the Badami Bagh Army Cantonment in Srinagar. +He addressed the Army Jawans and officers. +Praising the valour and courage of the soldiers, the Prime Minister asserted that self-reliance in defence offset manufacturing was essential for the security (aatma-raksha) of the nation. +Praising the Indian defence forces, Prime Minister said that strong armed forces were necessary for an atmosphere of peace, amity, harmony and brotherhood in the country, and this was the foundation on which India would achieve new heights of development. +Therefore, Shri Modi said, he accorded highest priority to modernization of the defence forces. +He said today the world was looking at India with hope, and we could interact on equal terms with all developed countries. +Shri Modi said the spirit of sacrifice and selflessness of the defence forces was an inspiration for all Indians. +He added that this spirit would ensure them victory at all times. +He said the people of India trusted them and believed that no power on earth could defeat them. +The Prime Minister reiterated his Government`s commitment to building a National War Memorial, in memory of soldiers who had laid down their lives for the motherland. +He said the welfare of the armymen and their families was the concern and collective responsibility of all Indians, and his Government would take all good decisions in the interest of the jawans. +Earlier, the Prime Minister paid homage at the martyrs memorial at Badami Bagh cantonment. +He also wrote in the visitors` book at the memorial, and visited the nearby 1200 year old Shiva Temple. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India, and Ministry of the Presidency and of Administrative Modernization, Government of Portuguese Republic, for ‘Cooperation in the field of Public Administration and Governance Reforms’. +The MoU will help in understanding the system of customer oriented public service delivery in Portugal with reference to rapidly changing environments in the area of public service management and enable in replicating, adapting and innovating some of the best practices and processes in the Indian Public Service Delivery System, leading to improved public service delivery in India. +The areas of co-operation under this MoU may include, but shall not be limited to: +(a) Digital transformation of Government +(b) Administrative simplification and process re-engineering +(d) Building and developing staff capability +(e) Sharing good governance practices in public administration +(f) Public Grievance Redress Mechanism +The forms of co-operation under the MoU will be as under: +(a) organization of a senior consultative body and working sessions for ongoing discussions regarding cooperation and collaboration; +(b) exchange of knowledge and experiences and the holding of consultations in the above mentioned areas, in situ and online; +(c) exchange of invitations to events related to Public Administration and Governance Reforms and the dispatch of experts in this sector; +(d) exchange of publications, reports and various public materials related to Public Administration and Governance Reforms, which are published by the Sides; +(e) facilitating study visits and sharing of information and experience through workshops, seminars and conferences; +(f) any other forms of cooperation and collaboration that are of mutual interest in the area of Public Administration and Governance Reforms and are jointly decided upon by the Signatories. +A Joint Working Group on Public Administration and Governance Reforms will be responsible for implementation of the MoU. +Provision of Citizen-Centric Online Services is the foundation of an efficient public administration system. +It leads to transparency and accountability in the governance and fosters equitable growth. +Government of India has taken up a goal of quantum shift in Online delivery of Government Services across the country. +This aims to further Government’s efforts at revamping of Public Administration system, Public Grievance Redress Mechanism, ushering in e-Governance, Digital India, etc., more so in the context of the goal of ‘Minimum Government with Maximum Governance’ through e-Governance based Citizen Centric End-to-End On-line Services. +MOUs with China and Singapore are under renewal/consideration in consultation with Ministry of External Affairs. +The recent MoU with Portugal is a step in that direction. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the Air Force personnel, on Air Force Day. +“I salute our air force personnel on Air Force Day. +They have always served India with great courage and determination. +Contribution of our Air Force is monumental. +They are always at the forefront, be it in protecting skies or in times of disasters”, the Prime Minister said. +In his remarks at the CEO Conclave at Gandhinagar today, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi reiterated that India is witnessing a new era of development and the Union Government has set in motion policies and initiatives targeted at creating strong, vibrant and inclusive India. +The Prime Minister emphasized that the terrorism is a threat to the humanity and the time has come for all humanitarian forces to join together to resolve the problem of terrorism. +The Prime Minister said that we are living in India with boundless aspirations and we need to create an ecosystem that is able to translate these aspirations into reality. +The Prime Minister ended by quoting the poet Robert Frost’s lines +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has extended his greetings on World Radio Day to all those associated with the world of radio, which includes those working in the industry and the listeners. +On WorldRadioDay, I convey my greetings to all those associated with the world of radio, which includes those working in the industry and the listeners. +May this medium always remain a focal point of learning, discovering, entertaining and growing together. +The radio brings us closer and I am continuously experiencing this through MannKiBaat. +Here is where you can hear all the episodes. https://www.narendramodi.in/mann-ki-baat”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today initiated the drive towards a clean Ganga, as he participated in shramdaan to remove dirt on the banks of the River Ganga at Assi Ghat in Varanasi. +The Prime Minister later nominated nine eminent persons to carry forward the task. +He said social organizations in Varanasi have assured him that the work of cleaning the Ghats in the city shall be completed in one month. +Earlier, Shri Narendra Modi offered prayers and performed Aarti Pujan at Assi Ghat. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today announced a Rs. 80,000 crore rupee development package for Jammu and Kashmir. +Following are the highlights of the package. +The India Reserve Battalions will create 4000 jobs for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. +Pashmina Promotion Project – Rs. 50 crore +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Shyamji Krishna Varma on his birth anniversary and urged people to visit Kranti Teerth, a memorial that celebrates Shyamji Krishna Varma`s life and contribution. +“On his birth anniversary, I bow to Shyamji Krishna Varma. +A devout patriot, he inspired several nationalists, both in India and overseas. +Shyamji Krishna Varma was closely associated with India House, which was a very active hub for the nationalist movement in London. +In 2003, I had the honour to bring Shyamji Krishna Varma`s ashes back to India from Switzerland. +In 2010, we dedicated Kranti Teerth to the nation. +Kranti Teerth is a memorial that celebrates Shyamji Krishna Varma`s life and contribution. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United Arab Emirates on Development Cooperation in Africa. +The MoU entails setting up of a framework of cooperation between the two countries for implementing development partnership projects and programmes in Africa. +The proposal will help strengthen political and economic linkages between India and the countries of Africa and serve our broader strategic interests. +The Prime Minister today presented British Prime Minister David Cameron a specially handcrafted pair of bookends made of wood, marble and silver. +Each bell has one verse etched on it. +In addition, in view of Prime Minister Cameron’s fondness for Robert Graves’ work on World War I Goodbye to All That, the Prime Minister also presented to him David Omissi’s Indian Voices of the Great War. +For the First Lady, the Prime Minister presented Aranmula metal mirror, a unique GI protected handicraft from Kerala, and some pashmina stoles. +The MoU is expected to be signed during the Home Ministers upcoming visit to Bahrain in the first week of April 2016. +The following are the salient features of the Memorandum of Understanding between India and Kingdom of Bahrain: +i. To strengthen cooperation to prevent to all forms of human-trafficking, especially that of women and children and ensure speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organized crime syndicates in either country. +ii. Taking preventive measures that would eliminate human-trafficking in women and children and in protecting the rights off victims of trafficking. +v. The repatriation of victims would be done as expeditiously as possible and home country will undertake the safe and effective re-integration of the victims, +vi. A Joint Task Force with representatives from both sides would be constituted to monitor the working of the MoU. +Men and women from South Asia migrate voluntarily to Bahrain to work as domestic workers or as unskilled laborers in the construction and service industries. +However, some face conditions of forced labor after arriving in Bahrain, through use of such practices as unlawful withholding of passport, restrictions on movement, contract substitution, non¬payment of wages, threats, and physical or sexual abuse. +The reinforcement of anti-trafficking efforts at all levels between the Kingdom of Bahrain and India is essential for prevention and protection of victims. +For this purpose, it is proposed to sign an MoU with the Kingdom of Bahrain. +India has already signed one MoU to prevent trafficking with Bangladesh. +US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today afternoon. +Prime Minister welcomed Secretary Tillerson on his maiden visit to India in his current capacity. +Prime Minister noted with appreciation the firm upward trajectory in the bilateral strategic partnership following the positive and far-reaching talks with President Trump in June this year. +Prime Minister shared the resolve expressed by Secretary Tillerson on taking further steps in the direction of accelerating and strengthening the content, pace and scope of the bilateral engagement. +They affirmed that a strengthened India-US partnership is not just of mutual benefit to both countries, but has significant positive impact on the prospects for regional and global stability and prosperity. +In the context of President Trump’s new South Asia Policy, Prime Minister noted the commonality in the objectives of eradicating terrorism, terrorist infrastructure, safe havens, and support, while bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan. +In this regard, Secretary Tillerson exchanged views on his recent travels in the region with Prime Minister. +They further discussed stepping up effective cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms and promoting regional stability and security. +Earlier in the day, Secretary Tillerson also had detailed discussions with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted all citizens and voters, on National Voters’ Day. +“Greetings to all citizens and voters on National Voters’ Day. +Congrats to EC for their stupendous efforts, that make our democracy stronger. +This year’s theme of ‘Inclusive and Qualitative Participation’ will inspire more citizens to enrich our democracy through active participation”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said the time is right for India to emerge as a global manufacturing hub. +In his remarks at the Community Reception in Berlin, the Prime Minister said that the Information Technology revolution had made the world take notice of India’s youth power. +He urged young professionals in Germany to act as a bridge between India and Germany, especially since Germany was a world leader in manufacturing. +The Prime Minister said India needs the right environment for young talent to prosper. +He said events like the Hannover Fair, where India is a partner country this year, are opportunities for India to both showcase its capabilities, and to learn from the work others were doing. +He added that such events help us gear up to face new challenges. +He said India must aim to become a “zero-defect, zero effect” low-cost manufacturing hub. +On the subject of global warming, the Prime Minister said India must set the agenda for the forthcoming UN climate change conference in Paris. +He said respect for nature is inherent in the Indian ethos. +The Prime Minister called for balanced growth in the Indian economy, with equal emphasis on agriculture, manufacturing and services. +Following is the text of Prime Minister’s message on National Handloom Day: +“On National Handloom Day, let us affirm that we will give an impetus to the handloom sector and use more handloom products in our daily lives. +Our handloom sector is diverse, eco friendly and is a source of employment for countless weavers, who will be very encouraged by our support. +Since there are many women associated with the handloom sector, growth of the handloom sector is an important means of women empowerment also.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with young innovators and Start-Up entrepreneurs from across the country, through video bridge. +This is the fourth interaction by the Prime Minister through video bridge series with various beneficiaries of Government schemes. +Delighted at India’s youngsters becoming job creators, Prime Minister said that the Government is committed towards harnessing the demographic dividend. +The Prime Minister further said that adequate capital, courage and connecting with people are required for excelling in the start- up sector. +Prime Minister said that things have changed from the time where start-ups meant only digital and technology innovation. +He said that now there are start-up entrepreneurs in many fields. +Start-Ups are filed in 28 States, 6 Union Territories and 419 districts. +Out of these, 44% of start-ups registered are from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities as Start-Up India is focussing on encouraging local innovations from their areas. +In addition, 45% of the start-up are set up by women. +Shri Narendra Modi also explained how filing patents and trademarks have become easy under the government. +During the interaction with young entrepreneurs, Prime Minister said that the government has created Rs.10000 Crore ‘Fund of Funds’ to ensure that young entrepreneurs may not face shortage of funds for their start-ups and to facilitate youngsters to innovate. +Through the ‘Fund of Funds’, Rs.1285 Crore funding has been committed, leveraging a total of Rs.6980 Crore in venture funds so far. +Explaining the steps taken by the government to make India’s start-up ecosystem robust, Prime Minister said that the Government-e– Market Place (GEM) has been linked to Start-Up India portal so that start-ups can sell their products to government. +Start-Ups have been given income tax exemption for three years. +Six labour laws and three environmental laws have been changed so that young entrepreneurs need to provide only self-certification. +Government has also started a one-stop digital platform called Start-Up India Hub where all information regarding start-ups and its ecosystem is available for entrepreneurs. +Interacting with the participants, Narendra Modi said that in order to foster innovation and competition amongst youngsters, Government has started various competitions like Atal New India Challenge, Smart India Hackathon and Agriculture Grand Challenge. +Prime Minister also mentioned his discussion with Prime Minister of Singapore, on holding a Smart India Hackathon like challenge between innovators from Singapore and India. +Prime Minister also reiterated the Governments’ commitment in encouraging innovation in India. +Eight Research Parks and 2500 Atal Tinkering Labs are being established all over the country to encourage youngsters to take up research and innovation. +Addressing the innovators, Narendra Modi invited youngsters to ideate on how to transform agricultural sector. +He said that ‘Design in India’ is essential along with ‘Make in India’. +Prime Minister also encouraged youngsters to continue innovating and gave the mantra of ‘Innovate or Stagnate’. +Interacting with the Prime Minister, young innovators explained how the various government schemes under Start-Up India initiative have helped set up the new start-ups. +Entrepreneurs and innovators also explained their innovations to Prime Minister ranging from agricultural innovations to Block chain technology. +Schoolchildren from various Atal Tinkering Labs shared their innovations with the Prime Minister. +Prime complemented the schoolchildren for their scientific skills and encouraged them to come up with more such inventions. +Prime Minister gave a clarion call to nation to make ‘Innovate India’, a mass movement. +He encouraged the citizens to share their ideas and innovations through the hashtag #InnovateIndia. +First instalment of Rs 2,000 to selected small and marginal farmers to be transferred directly in their accounts Around 12 crore small and marginal farmers to be benefitted PM to unveil Several Development Projects in Gorakhpur +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh tomorrow on 24 February 2019. +At Gorakhpur, Prime Minister will launch the PM-KISAN scheme. +At Fertilizer Corporation of India ground in Gorakhpur, Prime Minister will mark the launch of the PM-KISAN scheme, through press of button, to electronically transfer the first instalment of Rs 2,000 to selected farmers. +This will mark the official launch of the PM KISAN scheme. +PM will also distribute certificates to select farmers under PM-KISAN scheme. +PM will also interact with select beneficiaries of PM-KISAN through video conference. +The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) was announced in the interim Budget 2019-20 on February 1, 2019. +Under the Scheme, Rs 6,000 will be given per year to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of upto 2 hectares. +The amount will be given in three installments of Rs.2000 each. +The amount will be transferred directly to the bank account of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer. +DBT will ensure transparency in the entire process and will save time for the farmers. +The Scheme was introduced to augment the income of the Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs). +It is estimated to benefit more than 12 crore small and marginal farmers. +The PM-KISAN scheme aims to supplement the financial needs of the SMFs in procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm income at the end of the each crop cycle. +This would also protect them from falling in the clutches of moneylenders for meeting such expenses and ensure their continuance in the farming activities. +PM KISAN is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from Government of India. +The Scheme becomes effective from1.12.2018 for transfer of benefit to eligible beneficiaries. +State Government and UT Administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines. +PM KISAN is a revolutionary scheme which aims to transform the lives of small and marginal farmers in India, by providing them assured monetary support in three instalments every year. +The scheme implemented through DBT, will transfer the amount directly to the bank account of the beneficiary, thereby eliminating middlemen and corruption. +As against the onetime loan waivers, PM KISAN is truly an empowering project designed for ensuring dignified life for small scale farmers. +In the long run, the scheme is expected to address farmer migration and improve crop intensity. +PM will also lay foundation stone/ dedicate to nation, various development projects in Gorakhpur. +He will also address a gathering. +These development projects ranging from gas infrastructure to health, will be launched at Gorakhpur by the Prime Minister. +The projects are expected to immensely benefit the people of Uttar Pradesh. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Former Delhi Chief Minister Shri Madan Lal Khurana. +The Prime Minister said, “Anguished by the passing away of Shri Madan Lal Khurana Ji. +He worked tirelessly for the progress of Delhi, particularly towards ensuring better infrastructure. +He distinguished himself as a hardworking and people-friendly administrator, both in the Delhi government and Centre. +Shri Madan Lal KhuranaJi will always be remembered for the manner in which he strengthened the BJP in Delhi. +He made unwavering efforts towards serving the post-partition refugees in Delhi. +My thoughts and solidarity with his family and supporters”. +Mrs. Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, made a courtesy call on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +Mrs. Melinda Gates appreciated the Prime Minister’s pro-poor initiatives, especially with regard to Swachh Bharat and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Meghalaya on their Statehood Day. +“On the special occasion of their Statehood Day, greetings to the people of Meghalaya. +People from Meghalaya have made a notable contribution to our country. +I pray for the state’s continuous progress”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the soldiers and veterans of Armed Forces, on Armed Forces Flag Day. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid homage to Bhagwan Birsa Munda, on his birth anniversary. +“I pay homage to Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his birth anniversary and recall his courage and efforts towards empowerment of tribal communities”, the Prime Minister said. +Business representatives from India and Sri Lanka, +Distinguished guests, +I am delighted to be here at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. +Thank you for coming here in such large numbers. +It is a real honour to visit Sri Lanka. +Over the course of these two days, I will meet people from all walks of life. +For me, this is one of the most important meetings in Sri Lanka. +This is because no matter how old and strong the relationship is, economic cooperation is often the locomotive that gives it momentum. +It is also important because for all of us in our region, the most important priority is transforming the lives of our people. +Our path will be determined by our economic choices and the quality of governance. +But, business enterprises will remain critical for our success. +I often say that a Nation’s fortunes are linked to its neighbourhood. +There are many in India who would argue that India is too large to need her neighbours. +There are many in our region who worry that India’s economic size will hurt them. +I disagree with both views. +For one, we all need a stable and peaceful neighbourhood to concentrate on National development. +I also believe that countries do better when the entire region moves together. +I said at the SAARC Summit that barriers of boundaries inhibit progress; international partnerships give it speed. +That is why we see a rising tide of regional integration and cooperation across the world. +We should move forward with greater belief in our own strengths; more trust in each other; and, with more confidence in the fruits of our partnership. +As I was saying before, Sri Lanka has the potential to be our most important economic partner in the region. +We count on your support to make it happen. +Thank you and wish you all the best. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding between India and Norway for undertaking non-intrusive Geological Surveys and Investigations. +The MoU was signed on 6th September 2018. +The proposal is innovative in terms of extensive geological investigations for introduction of non-intrusive remote sensing techniques like Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey in conjunction with intrusive technique like Horizontal Directional Coring so as to mitigate the risks associated with geological surprises during construction. +It is the most efficient and latest employed technology for geophysical investigation in some major countries of the world in challenging terrain. +This non-intrusive method of Geophysical Survey is being used for the first time in India. +The technology is provided by very few companies/organizations worldwide, the NGI being one of them. +The NGI, Oslo has expertise in Geotechnical Investigation and Geophysical Mapping and its being a premier Geotechnical organization primarily engaged in the R&D in Geotechnical Investigations can be of immense help in the construction of mega tunneling projects. +It also has expertise in R&D of avalanche protection and slope protection works and other related fields and has knowledge to help save lives and reduce material and environmental damage from natural hazards. +The MoU with NGI will enable preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) in respect of several on-going projects for construction of strategic tunnels. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 for introduction in the Parliament. +The Bill broadly has the following features:- +Addresses the issue of trafficking from the point of view of prevention, rescue and rehabilitation. +Aggravated forms of trafficking, which includes trafficking for the purpose of forced labour, begging, trafficking by administering chemical substance or hormones on a personfor the purpose of early sexual maturity, trafficking of a woman or child for the purpose of marriage or under the pretext of marriage or after marriage etc. +Punishment for promoting or facilitating trafficking of person which includesproducing, printing, issuing or distributing unissued, tampered or fake certificates, registration or stickers as proof of compliance with Government requirements; orcommits fraudfor procuring or facilitating the acquisition ofclearances and necessary documents from Government agencies. +The confidentiality ofvictims/ witnesses and complainants by not disclosing their identity. +Time bound trial and repatriation of the victims – within a period of one year from taking into cognizance. +Immediate protection of rescued victims and their rehabilitation. +The Victims are entitled to interim relief immediately within 30 days to address their physical, mental trauma etc. and further appropriate relief within 60 days from the date of filing of charge sheet. +Rehabilitation of the victim which is not contingent upon criminal proceedings being initiated against the accused or the outcome thereof. +Rehabilitation Fund created for the first time. +Designated courts in each district for the speedy trial of the cases. +The Bill creates dedicated institutional mechanisms at District, State and CentralLevel. +These will be responsible for prevention, protection, investigation and rehabilitation work related to trafficking. +National Investigation Agency (NIA) will perform the tasks of Anti-Trafficking Bureau at the national level present under theMHA. +Punishment ranges from rigorous minimum 10 years to life and fine not less than Rs. 1 lakh. +In order to break the organized nexus, both at the national and international level, the Bill provides for the attachment & forfeiture of property and also theproceeds for crime. +The Bill comprehensively addresses the transnational nature of the crime. +The National Anti-Trafficking Bureau will perform the functions of international coordination with authorities in foreign countries and international organizations; international assistance in investigation; facilitate inter-State and trans-border transfer of evidence and materials, witnesses and others for expeditingprosecution; facilitate inter-state and international video conferencing in judicial proceedings etc. +Trafficking in human beings is the third largest organized crime violating basic human rights. +There is.no specific law so far to deal with this crime. +Accordingly, the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 has been prepared. +The Bill addresses one of the most pervasive yet invisible crimes affecting the most vulnerable persons especially women and children. +The new law will make India a leader among South Asian countries to combat trafficking. +Trafficking is a global concern also affecting a number of South Asian nations. +Amongst them, India is now a pioneer in formulating a comprehensive legislation. +UNODC and SAARC nations are looking forward to India to take lead by enacting this law. +The Bill has been prepared in consultation with line Ministries, Departments, State Governments, NGOs and domain experts. +A large number of suggestions received by the Ministry of WCD in hundreds of petitions have been incorporated in the Bill. +The Draft Bill discussedin regional consultations held in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bombay with various stakeholdersincluding over 60 NGOs. +The Bill was examined and discussed by Group bf Ministers also. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh. +He inaugurated and briefly visited the Jungle Safari in the city. +He unveiled a statue of Pt. +Deendayal Upadhyay, dedicated the Central Boulevard as Ekatma Path, and launched the Naya Raipur BRTS project. +The Prime Minister met the participants of “Hammar Chhattisgarh Yojana.” +Inaugurating the Rajyotsav, the Prime Minister distributed certificates to functionaries of two districts and fifteen blocks to mark good performance in ODF campaign. +He also distributed LPG connections under the Ujjwala scheme and solar pumps to mark the launch of Saur Ujala Yojana, to select beneficiaries. +The Prime Minister recalled that it was former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had ensured the creation of three new states, including Chhattisgarh, in a peaceful and harmonious manner. +He complimented the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Dr. Raman Singh, and the State for showing how a relatively small State could scale new heights of development. +The impact of the development initiatives will benefit generations to come in Chhattisgarh, he added. +The Prime Minister said he sees great potential for tourism in the State, which can bring fresh economic opportunities for the poorest of the poor. +The Prime Minister also complimented the State of Chhattisgarh for taking initiatives that enable value addition for farmers. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the promulgation of the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Value Added Tax (Amendment) Regulation, 2005 by the President under article 240 of the Constitution. +This will substitute the clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Value Added Tax Regulation, 2005 with the amendment, namely “(b) in respect of goods specified in the Third Schedule, at the rate of five percent.” +This will help the Union territory to generate additional gross revenue and net tax generation that is estimated to be Rs.120 crore and Rs. seven crore per annum respectively. +BHIM App has made transactions faster & easier, thus making it popular among the youth. +The App is also beneficial for traders. +The BHIM App is a fine example of Make in India & how technology is being effectively used to end the menace of corruption & black money”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Second Protocol amending the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between India and Singapore. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the Institute for Stem Cell Research at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, in Bengaluru. +He visited the Stem Cell Laboratory where scientists explained the research being conducted there. +Later, the Prime Minister interacted with young scientists for over half an hour. +The subjects discussed included research on traditional Indian medicine, progress being made towards finding a cure for sickle cell anaemia using gene therapy, wildlife conservation through gene banks, and the ‘Make in India’ initiative. +The Prime Minister urged the scientists to interact with school children and motivate them to build careers in this field. +Union Ministers Shri D V Sadananda Gowda and Shri Ananth Kumar were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel today co-chaired the 4th India Germany Inter-Govermental Consultations in Berlin. +Addressing the media after the meeting, Prime Minister Modi appreciated Chancellor Merkel’s vision for Europe and for the world. +He said outcome oriented momentum is perceptible in relations between the two countries. +The Prime Minister said foreign investment from Germany to India is rising, especially for the Make in India initiative. +The Prime Minister said German partnership is important for the Skill India Mission, with German parameters being “global benchmarks” which are crucial for India. +The Prime Minister said cooperation is also envisaged in the sports arena, particularly in football. +The Prime Minister spoke of themes such as climate protection and smart cities, which came up for discussion. +He said German innovation and Indian youth could together add great dynamism in the start-up space. +The Prime Minister said a global order based on democracy is the need of the hour, in an interconnected and interdependent world. +Responding to a question, he said Germany and India are “made for each other.” +He explained the huge synergy that exists between German capabilities and Indian requirements. +He spoke of India’s pursuit of excellence in areas such as engineering, infrastructure and skill development. +Describing the values of innovation and democracy, as a blessing for mankind, he said India and Germany share these values. +In response to a question on climate change, the Prime Minister reiterated India’s timeless values of nurturing and protecting nature. +He recalled India’s commitment to generate 175 GigaWatts of energy from renewable sources by 2022. +Emphasizing the importance of protecting nature, the Prime Minister said “playing with the well-being of future generations would be an immoral and criminal act.” +Earlier, during the IGC, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the big role that the European Union has to play in nurturing a rule-based global order. +Both leaders shared deep concern over the global menace of terrorism, and decided to strengthen mutual counter-terrorism initiatives. +The Prime Minister thanked Germany for support of Indian membership of export control regimes. +Themes such as clean coal, electric mobility, science and technology cooperation, cyber-security and aviation security came up for discussion. +The consultations also touched upon Afghanistan and other global matters. +Both countries signed 12 agreements. +A comprehensive joint statement was also issued, covering various aspects of the negotiations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said the Constitution of India had ensured “dignity of Indians, and unity of India.” +He was speaking in the Lok Sabha, on the occasion of the special sitting to commemorate Constitution Day, and the 125th birth anniversary of the architect of constitution, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. +The Prime Minister said that in a diverse country such as India, we need to actively take the provisions of the Constitution to the people. +Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s thoughts and teachings have been valid, true, and applicable to all generations, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that citizens should pay equal attention to their rights and duties. +The Prime Minister described his “Idea of India” as “Satyameva Jayate” and “Sarva Panth Sambhav.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for transfer of land measuring 89.72 ha in Sector 25, Dwarka, New Delhi, free from all encumbrances, to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion for creation of a World class State-of-the-Art Exhibition-cum Convention Centre in Dwarka, New Delhi at a nominal sum of Re 1/- within six weeks of the decision by the Cabinet. +This is a special case so that directions can be granted to DDA under Section 21(1) of the DD Act, 1957 read alongwith Section 41(1) of the Act. +Project structuring, initial expenses of non-PPP trunk infrastructure costs will be borne by the Government. +This may be Central Government’s contribution by way of equity in the project. +Cabinet has also approved the constitution of a Committee comprising Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs and CEO, NITI Aayog to steer the project including project structuring and development options in a transparent, competitive manner. +The project will be developed in Public-Private Partnership, utilizing if necessary viability gap funding of Gol. +Permission is also granted to DIPP to lease/sub-lease the land and grant concession to the private entities for development and operation of various facilities. +Permission for mixed land use in the project site will be accorded by DDA/ MoUD expeditiously. +The development of the ECC and supporting components is expected to help increase the share of Asia in terms of number of events to around 15% by 2021. +It is estimated that the proposed ECC facility will infuse a demand for more than 100 international and local exhibition events annually. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Pakyong Airport in Sikkim. +This is the first airport in the Himalayan State, and the 100th airport in the country. +Addressing a large public gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister described the day as a historic one for Sikkim, and an important one for India. +He said that with Pakyong Airport, the country has hit a century of airports. +The Prime Minister also mentioned the young cricketer from Sikkim, Nilesh Lamichanay, who recently became the first cricketer from the State to score a century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. +The Prime Minister said that Pakyong Airport would greatly ease connectivity to Sikkim. +He said that in order to ensure that it is useful to the common man, this airport is part of the UDAN scheme. +The Prime Minister said that emphasis is being given to enhance both infrastructural and emotional connectivity in the entire North Eastern region, at a rapid rate. +He said the results of this are visible on the ground. +He mentioned enhanced air and rail connectivity, better roads, big bridges etc. +He mentioned that the Union Government has initiated the “Mission Organic Value Development for North Eastern Region.” +Prime Minster, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated tennis players Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis, on winning Wimbledon women’s doubles title. +“Well played Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza. +“I am deeply saddened to learn about the sudden and untimely demise of your worthy son, His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum. +With his passing away, a promising public career has been tragically cut short. +“I bow to the epitome of courage and bravery and the pride of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on Shivaji Jayanti. +Shivaji Maharaj shone on the battle field and left a mark in administration. +He touched several lives through his good governance. +Chhatrapati Shivaji inspires us greatly. +Here is a speech of mine in Raigad last year in which I pay tributes to him. http://nm4.in/1iF9gEw“, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called on the President of Nepal, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav. +The Nepal President congratulated the Prime Minister for having won the hearts of the people of Nepal during his two-day visit. +He also congratulated the Prime Minister on his recent election victory, saying there was now new hope, even among neighbouring countries of India. +He said there was expectation that the pace of development would increase not just in India, but in all countries of the SAARC region. +President Ram Baran Yadav also complimented the Prime Minister for his speech in the Constituent Assembly, as well as the speech during the banquet hosted by the Prime Minister of Nepal, Shri Sushil Koirala. +He said both speeches were extra-ordinary, and signify a new era of friendship between India and Nepal. +The Nepal President said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had won the hearts of the people of Nepal. +With this visit, there is new hope of development in Nepal, he added. +He said the Nepal Government is hopeful of India`s assistance for the country`s development. +President Yadav said Nepal is a sovereign democratic nation, which is now writing its own Constitution. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was overwhelmed by the love and affection that he had received from the people of Nepal in the last two days. +He asserted that India respected the sovereignty of Nepal, and was keen to assist in its development. +The Prime Minister thanked the people of Nepal for the love they had given him during the visit. +President Ram Baran Yadav later hosted a lunch for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian delegation. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, and Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation (MEDRF) in the field of social, economic, industrial and regional development programs. +The objective of the MoU is to explore the potential of cooperation in the framework of preparation and implementation of strategies and programs of social, economic, industrial and regional development. +It provides a framework and enabling environment to understand each other’s strengths, market, technologies, policies, etc. +The MoU covers the following areas of cooperation: +1. Conducting and execution of joint research projects related to issues of mutual interest; +2. Exchange of information and research works related to issues of mutual interest between the two sides, including information on government strategies and development programs; +3. Visits of relevant specialists of both sides for participation in joint events; +4. Organization of seminars, conferences and other meetings on agreed agenda; and +5. Other forms of cooperation as per mutual consent of the Sides. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new building for National Museum of Indian Cinema tomorrow on January 19, 2018. +He will visit the National Museum, and address the gathering. +Located at Films Division Complex in South Mumbai, it is spread over two buildings, in the historic Gulshan Mahal and New Museum Building. +The New Museum Building consists of four levels: Level 1 – Gandhi & Cinema, Level 2 – Children’s Film Studio, Level 3 – Technology, Creativity and Indian Cinema and Level 4 – Cinema across India. +The New Museum Building will also have two Auditoriums, equipped with State-of-the-Art Digital Cinema Projectors and 7.1 surround sound system. +Mr. Kamal Thapa, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal, called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +The Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Kamal Thapa on assuming charge as the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal. +The Prime Minister also conveyed his greetings and best wishes to the new Government of Nepal. +Mr. Kamal Thapa briefed the Prime Minister about developments in Nepal. +Prime Minister reiterated that India’s only desire is to see a united, inclusive, stable and prosperous Nepal, and that India is committed to strengthening the traditional bonds of friendship and kinship with the people of Nepal. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru on their martyrdom day. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, India and the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology, Austria on Technology Cooperation in the Road Infrastructure Sector. +The MoU aims to create an effective framework for bilateral cooperation in the field of Road Transportation, Roads/Highways infrastructure development, management and administration, Road safety and Intelligent Transport Systems between both countries. +Minister of State (MoS) for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Vijay Sampla, today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and presented him drafts worth Rs. 1 Crore towards Prime Minister National Relief Fund (PMNRF). +The amount was contributed by the readers of the newspaper “Dainik Savera Times”. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s shared a message on World Tuberculosis Day. +“In the spirit of this year’s World Tuberculosis Day theme of ‘Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world’ I urge citizens and organisations to take the lead in the movement to end TB. +A TB-free world is a wonderful service to humanity. +Government of India is working in mission mode to make India TB-free. +While the world has set a target of 2030 for TB elimination, we in India want to become TB-free by 2025.” +A delegation of Members of Parliament from Bhutan, led by Mr. Jigme Zangpo, Speaker of the National Assembly of Bhutan and Dr. Sonam Kinga, Chairperson of the National Council of Bhutan, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Mr. Jigme Zangpo conveyed condolences on behalf of the government and the people of Bhutan on the passing away of former President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi welcomed the bipartisan Parliamentary delegation of Bhutan, and said that it is a testimony to the support for India-Bhutan ties across the political spectrum in Bhutan. +The Prime Minister appreciated the wisdom of successive Druk Gyalpos of Bhutan in successfully guiding Bhutan to democracy. +The Prime Minister added that Bhutan is an example to the world in establishment of democratic values. +Shri Narendra Modi fondly recalled his visit to Bhutan in June 2014, which was his first overseas visit as Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction at the progress in bilateral relations since his visit, including in the hydro-power sector. +Prime Minister reiterated that India will remain a committed partner in Bhutan’s development. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his greetings to the people on United Nations Day. +“Greetings to everyone on UN Day. +UN completes 70 years in service of humanity, committed to its goal of making the world a peaceful place. +India is at the forefront of various initiatives of the UN and is committed to doing our best in supporting UN in their endeavours. +On UN day iconic buildings worldwide will be illuminated in blue at night. +In India, Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad will be illuminated. +The ideals and path shown by Gandhi ji are extremely relevant today and they resonate with the UN charter and ideals of the UN,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister: Good Morning to everybody. +I am going to Ahmedabad today. +After becoming Prime Minister, this would be my first meeting in Gujarat. +The Honorable President of China is reaching there tomorrow. +It is a great thing for us to be able to welcome the Honorable Chinese President in Gujarat. +I think it is good that the Chinese President has decided to include Gujarat in his itinerary, during his visit to India- not just because Gujarat is the home state of Prime Minister Modi; but it also has enormous historical and cultural relevance for India-China relations and also Gujarat-China relations. +The state in China from where the Honorable Chinese President comes from, there is a small town in that state and with that town, the people of Gujarat have had old relations. +They were one of the first ones to go and set-up business in that town. +The monk Xuan Zang, who came to India from China in 600 AD, went to Gujarat and stayed in the village where I come from. +Through the medium of Buddhism, India and China, especially China and Gujarat have developed very close relations. +From this perspective also, his coming to Gujarat reminds us of a relationship that is of special historic and cultural significance. +Question: China regards India as a natural co-operative partner. +The Chinese government views China-India relations as one of its diplomatic priorities. +Hon’ble Prime Minister, I would like to hear from you, in the future, what can the two countries do to make the relationship an even closer one? +Prime Minister: Thank You very much for that question. +India and China both have rich traditions. +India and China today constitute almost 35% of the world’s population. +From a purely arithmetic point of view, the betterment of 35% of the world’s population and eradication of poverty; that they decide to work together will open big gates for progress and development in the world. +It will not take long for the rest 65% to rise as well. +Arithmetically, if 35% of the world’s population was to work together and to improve the economic conditions of its people through poverty alleviation method; then not only will 35% of the world’s population grow enormously, but this will also lift very speedily the rest 65% of the world’s population. +Not only from the perspective of arithmetic, India and China also have common chemistry. +Whenever India and China have worked and grown together, this has also led to the development and economic prosperity of the world. +You would have heard that in India, we call sugar in Hindi as ‘cheeni’. +It is not known as ‘cheeni’ for nothing. +There is a history of deep ties between our people and between our countries. +Question: China has launched new Silk Route initiative in recent years. +Will the New Silk Route be an opportunity or threat to India in future? +Prime Minister: The ancient trade routes in Asia included the Silk Route, the Spice Route and many other such routes. +These were the channels of vibrant trade in the region and beyond and anchor of Asia prosperity. +As important, these routes promoted the exchange of ideas, cultures, art, religion and spiritualism. +India, which was at the centre of several of these trade routes, shared its age-old wisdom with societies along these routes. +You are very well aware of the spread of message of peace of Lord Buddha through the ancient Silk Route. +It left a lasting impression on the Chinese civilisation. +India also benefited from Chinese technology such as sugar refining. +It is for this reason that sugar in India is called Cheeni. +Successful revival of the ancient trade routes require not only physical connectivity and requisite infrastructure, but even more important, a climate of peace, stability, mutual trust and respect, support for mutual prosperity and free flow of commerce and ideas. +I believe that the re-emergence of the natural trading routes would make a major contribution to building a prosperous Asia in this century. +Question: What do you think China and India can do together to promote peace and development in Asia and the world as a whole? +Prime Minister: India and China are two ancient civilisations that have contributed much to this world through the ages. +We can do this by further strengthening our strategic communication; enhancing mutual trust and confidence; showing sensitivity to each other`s concerns and interests; continuing to maintain a climate of peace, stability and tranquillity in our relations; and, seizing the opportunities for bilateral cooperation and international partnership. +Question: Mr. Prime Minister, Now the whole world recognizes you as a strong, practical, and decisive leader of India. +China has high expectations of improvement in relations with India since you took office in May. +Your government also attaches high importance to dealing with neighbouring countries. +How would you re-define the Indo-China relations in the 21st century, especially in current world situation? +What’s your blueprint or road map to develop the bilateral relations in your 5 years term? +In the election campaign, you have blamed the previous government for lacking the capacity to implement various promises; such as those on foreign policy. +How do you propose to make a difference on upgrading India-China relations to a higher plane? +Prime Minister: You have raised several important questions. +My government also attaches high priority to relations with China. +China is our largest neighbour. +Relations between neighbours are always of special importance to each country, because their destinies are inter-linked. +That is why I have also placed special emphasis on India`s neighbourhood. +But, I don`t see our relations with China only as a neighbour, with which we have had millennia old contacts. +China is important for the future of this region and the world. +There is a consensus that 21st century is Asia’s century. +If we look back in history, India and China had accounted for over 50% of global GDP about 300 years ago. +We were the main sources of technology and ideas in the world. +Our two civilisations have shown tremendous resilience and are now once again important centres of economic growth and innovation. +The centre of economic gravity is shifting towards Asia. +As I said, the transformation of the lives of 2.5 billion people is a phenomenon of great significance for the region and the world. +Besides, in our inter-connected and inter-dependent world, all countries stand to benefit through enhanced cooperation. +We seek a closer developmental partnership. +India can benefit from China’s strength in hardware such as creation of infrastructure and development of our manufacturing sector. +These are the areas where India wants to make rapid progress. +We can both benefit from a stronger regional and international partnership between our two countries. +I am also committed to realising India`s full potential as also the promise of our international partnerships through appropriate policies and timely implementation of our national and international commitments. +I want to create an enabling environment in India that unleashes the enterprise and energy of our people and fully harnesses the benefits of international partnerships. +Question: In the formal invitation presented to Chinese President Xi Jinping by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, you invited Mr. Xi to visit Gujarat. +The one reason we know is that Gujarat is your home state. +Are there other special reasons or meanings for visiting there? +Prime Minister: It is my effort that when foreign leaders visit India, they should also have opportunity to see places other than New Delhi. +It will give them a fuller idea of India and its diversity. +Relations between nations, especially large ones like India and China, should not be placed in the narrow confines of capital cities and major metropolitan centres. +China’s connection with Gujarat is very old. +In ancient days, there were vibrant trade relations between Gujarat and China. +Chinese Monk Xuan Zang had spent a long time in Gujarat. +In present day, many Chinese businesses have established manufacturing units in Gujarat and vice-versa. +Chinese leaders have expressed interest in visiting Gujarat as they wish to understand the “Gujarat Model” of economic and social development. +I just wanted to say one final thing. +I would like to give a new terminology to my tomorrow’s meeting with the Chinese President. +I call it “Inch towards Miles”. +INCH that is “India-China”; towards MILES that is- “Millennium of Exceptional Synergy”. +I believe that tomorrow’s meeting will mark a happy beginning towards this goal of “Inch towards Miles”. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Canada for cooperation in the field of Science & Technology. +The MoU will provide a mechanism and help to foster scientific cooperation between R&D and academic institutions of India and Canada. +• An innovative model of R&D cooperation between India and Canada will be implemented under a MoU concluded by the Department of Science and Technology with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada. +• Under this MoU, the India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnership to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability (IC-IMPACTS) programme will be supported to promote India-Canada multidisciplinary research partnerships. +• The R&D projects will be aimed at accelerating social transformation by providing solutions through application of science and technology. +• The participants will include researchers from scientific organizations, academia and R&D laboratories from India and Canada. +• Identified areas of mutual cooperation include safe and sustainable infrastructure and integrated water management. +• This will help to develop institutional networking and support the establishment of connections between scientific organizations, scientists and specialists of India and Canada. +The MoU was concluded in pursuance to the inter-governmental Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the India and Canada concluded in November 2005. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Odisha on 24th December, 2018. +At the IIT Bhubaneswar campus, the Prime Minister released a commemorative stamp and coin on the Paika Rebellion. +The Paika Rebellion (Paika Bidroha) was fought against British rule, in Odisha in 1817. +The setting up of a Chair on the Paika Rebellion, in Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, was announced. +Shri Narendra Modi dedicated the IIT Bhubaneswar campus, to the nation. +He also inaugurated the new ESIC Hospital at Bhubaneswar. +He laid the Foundation Stone for pipeline and road projects. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the total worth of projects which were either inaugurated, or for which the Foundation Stone was laid today, is over Rs. 14,000 crore. +He said the Union Government aims to develop eastern India as the gateway to South-East Asia. +The Prime Minister said that IIT Bhubaneswar would spur the industrial development of Odisha, and work towards technology to improve the lives of the people. +The Prime Minister mentioned the plans to expand the healthcare infrastructure, road network, and oil and gas pipeline infrastructure in the State. +The Prime Minister reiterated the Union Government’s commitment towards the all-round development of Odisha. +During the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lisbon, the two sides signed MoUs for creation of an India Portugal Space Alliance and for advancing collaborative research. +These agreements will promote India’s science and technology partnership with Portugal, towards the establishment of a unique Centre on the Azores Archipelago – the Atlantic International Research Centre. +This Centre will act as a research, innovation and knowledge hub for trans-atlantic and north-south cooperation. +An international network of research and academic organizations will be created. +The goal is to provide a shared environment to support research and foster new climate, earth, space and marine research. +With respect to space, cooperation is expected to include development and cooperation of next generation nano and micro satellites. +On marine sciences, the project would enable India to study the atmospheric and ocean behaviour of the Atlantic and its linkages with weather patterns including the Monsoon. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today granted ex-post facto approval for establishment of NIT, Andhra Pradesh which has been registered as a Society under the Andhra Pradesh Societies Registration Act, 2001 with effect from 20th August 2015. +The Cabinet also approved introduction of a Bill namely the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2016 for inclusion of the NIT, Andhra Pradesh in its First Schedule. +The post- facto approval of the Cabinet for establishment of NIT, Andhra Pradesh as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 2001 would give a legal entity to NIT, Andhra Pradesh. +The proposed amendments to the NITSER Act, 2007 will ensure a high levels of public accountability and increased participation of the. stakeholders in the administration and academic activities of the Institute. +This Institute is being funded by the Government of India. +It is being run and managed by their respective Society registered under the Andhra Pradesh Societies Registration Act, 2001 till such time this Institute is brought under the National Institutes of Technology Science Education and Research Act (NITSER) 2007. +The accounts will be audited by the C & AG of India and will be laid in both the Houses of the Parliament. +NIT, Andhra Pradesh will specifically be benefitted the State of Andhra Pradesh and the whole country in general. +NIT, Andhra Pradesh was established at temporary campus of West Godavari District: of Andhra Pradesh. +The State Government of Andhra Pradesh has also provided a land for NIT-Andhra Pradesh at West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. +As per policy of Government, 50% of the seats in NITs are earmarked for the eligible domicile students of States / tits where the NITs are situated. +NIT, Andhra Pradesh will ensure that the students of State of Andhra Pradesh will get adequate opportunities to pursue research at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels, in an inter-disciplinary knowledge regime and research environment. +As per Schedule 13 (Education) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014 according to which the Government of India shall take steps to establish ‘Institutions of National Importance’ in the 12th and 13th Plan periods in the successor State of Andhra Pradesh. +The permanent site of NIT, Andhra Pradesh has already been finalized at Air-Field lands of Tadepalligudem Mandal in West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Yonsei University in Seoul. +The President of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Moon Jae-in, First Lady of the Republic of Korea, Kim Jung-sook, and former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, were present on the occasion. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described it as an honour to unveil the bust of Bapu at Yonsei University. +This becomes even more special because we are doing so at a time when we mark the 150th birth anniversary of Bapu, the Prime Minister said. +The thoughts and ideals of Bapu have the power to help us overcome the menace of terrorism and climate change, two challenges humanity faces in these times, said the Prime Minister. +Through his lifestyle, Bapu showed what living in harmony with nature is, and how one can minimize one’s carbon footprint. +He also showed that it is important to leave a clean and green planet for the future generations, the Prime Minister added. +Yonsei University is among the most prestigious universities in South Korea. +Mahatma Gandhi is revered in South Korea as an icon of world peace. +The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of regulation of medical products for human use amongst the medicine regulatory agencies of the BRICS countries. +The MoU would facilitate better understanding about the regulatory aspects between the parties and could help in increasing India’s export of medical products to BRICS countries. +Many of you are from Tamil Nadu, +Tamil Nadu’s role in India’s growth is important. +I am delighted to visit Malaysia. +And, to be with you, here in this huge arena is a true pleasure. +For me, India is not confined to its territory. +India also exists in every Indian in every part of the world. +India is in you. +As I stand before you, I am reminded of the words of the great Tamil saint Thiruvalluvar: +“Friendship is not just a smile on the face. +It is what is felt deep within a smiling heart.” +Mahatma Gandhi had once said that he wanted to learn Tamil to study Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukurral in its original form, as there was no one who had given such treasures of wisdom as he had. +The saint’s words on friendship capture the feeling that I get each time I come to Malaysia. +It does not matter, whether I came here without office or I come now as a Prime Minister of India. +I have felt the same embrace of friendship and welcome. +The love and friendship of the Malaya-Indians has always had a special place in my heart. +Generations ago, many of your ancestors came to an unknown land. +Many of you came here more recently in the mobility of our globalised world. +Whenever you came here, whatever be the circumstance in which you came, time or distance has not reduced your love for India. +I see this in the light and colour of the festivals. +They are as bright as they have always been. +I see this in the pure strains of music, the grace of the dancer, the bells of devotion and the call to prayer. +And, Malaya-Indians are the largest contingent to the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas in India. +And, Malay Indians make Vibrant Gujarat Summit more vibrant. +India and Malaysia were once under the same colonial power. +We both became free within a decade of each other. +And, Independent India owes a debt of gratitude to Malaya-Indians. +The glory of India’s freedom struggle was written, in part, by the struggles and sacrifices of Malaya-Indians. +Thousands of your forefathers came forward to join Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army. +Women poured out in large numbers from the comfort of their homes to march shoulder to shoulder with Netaji Subhash Bose. +Today I pay special tribute to Puan Sri Capt. Janaky Athi Nahappan, who served as deputy to Capt. Lakshmi Sehgal. +That was in the regiment named after yet another icon of India’s war of Independence, Rani of Jhansi. +On behalf of every Indian, I also honour all the unnamed and unknown Malaya-Indians, who laid down their lives so that a free India could rise. +To their children and grand-children, I say a big thank you. +And, here in Kuala Lumpur, we will name our Indian Cultural Centre after Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. +70 years ago a tragic and deadly World War came to an end. +I also pay homage to the countless Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the battle fields of Malaysia. +A majority of those who laid down their lives were Sikhs. +Their blood is permanently mixed with the soil of Malaysia. +It was a war that mattered for both our countries. +And, their blood in the Malaysian soil now forms a bond between our two countries that can never be erased. +And, the valour and duty they stood for is alive in the spirit of the Punjab Regiment, the Sikh Regiment, the Jat Regiment and the Dogra Regiment in India. +We are prepared to work with the Government of Malaysia to build a War Memorial to our fallen soldiers at the site of Battle of Kampar in Perak. +While Malaya-Indians were responding with courage and passion to the call of Netaji, they were also inspired by the life and mission of Mahatma Gandhi. +To the Indian community in Sungai Petani, I salute you for the Gandhi Memorial Hall that you built within a few years of his martyrdom. +You had not met him. +Gandhiji did not manage to visit Malaysia. +There are few things that can be as moving as this: a homage in silence, expressed in action, and built into a living memorial. +And it is my proud privilege to announce that we will install a Bust of Gandhiji at the Gandhi Memorial Hall. +Your spirit of service remains strong. +And, in 2001, when the earthquake hit my state of Gujarat, Malay Indians came together on their own to raise funds to help victims reclaim life. +From your moving contribution to the freedom struggle to the thriving richness of your culture, India lives in your heart. +You always have a special place in our thoughts. +My dear brothers and sisters, +The spirit of India speaks in your deeds. +You reflect India’s diversity of languages, religions and cultures. +Your achievements have done us proud. +You have toiled with your hands. +With pride and dignity, you made your life here. +And, with every generation, you have achieved more success in politics, public life, government and professional services. +You prosper in trade and you make the plantation produce more. +You have contributed to build Malaysia into a vibrant modern nation and an economic power house. +And, you are helping relations between India and Malaysia become stronger and stronger. +I see this in the work of Dr. Subramaniam, Malaysia’s Cabinet Minister for Health. +It is right that a Malay Indian holds this post, since Malay Indians love to become doctors! +And I am pleased that a distinguished Malay Indian, Datu Samy Vellu, is Malaysia’s special Envoy for Cooperation in Infrastructure between India and South Asia. +You are the living bonds of friendship between our two nations. +You reflect a link between India and Malaysia that is ancient as our lands. +From the coast of Coromandal and Kalinga, the ocean carried trade, commerce and culture to the Malaya Peninsula. +If there is trade, Gujarat cannot be far behind. +So, Gujaratis also joined the trade. +In the ruins of the Bujang valley in the State of Kedah, we see the glory of the great Pallava and Chola dynasties in Tamil Nadu. +And the spice route that connected us brought the same flavours to our food. +Our ties are seen in the footprints of the monks, who spread the message of peace from the land of Buddha to the Southeast Asia. +This is the richness of our heritage. +This is the ancient foundation of our modern links. +Today, I had the honour of visiting the Ramakrishna Mission and unveiling the statue of Swami Vivekananda. +This is not only a deeply spiritual moment for me personally. +It also recalls the great journey he undertook more than a century ago, through this region to America. +There he drew upon India’s ancient wisdom to make a passionate call for unity in the world. +He spoke for Asian spirit that is needed today when we dream of an Asian century. +And at a time of great challenges in the world, this statue on the soil of Malaysia is a reminder to the world of the values we so deeply need to repair the fault-lines that are tearing our societies apart. +And, tomorrow Prime Minister Najib and I will jointly inaugurate the Torana Gate at Little India in Brickfields. +Above all, the statue and the gate will be a tribute to Malaysia’s diversity and harmony. +Malaysia’s achievements are enormous. +Just six decades after Malaysia gained independence, this nation of 30 million people has much to be proud of. +It has nearly eliminated poverty. +It has placed basic needs within the reach of its entire population. +It has achieved nearly 100 percent literacy. +And, it is providing jobs to everyone who needs it or wants it. +Its tourism sector is flourishing. +And, it has preserved its beautiful gifts of Nature. +Its infrastructure is world class. +It ranks very high on the “ease of doing business”. +And, for five decades, it has averaged a growth rate of over 6 per cent per year. +And this is a truly extraordinary achievement for any country. +One of the famous tourism slogans of Malaysia is – “Malaysia, Truly Asia”. +Malaysia truly lives up to that image: living in harmony across diversity; blending tradition with modernity; innovation and hard work; and, pursuit of peace in the region. +India, the land of your heritage, has remarkable achievements since Independence. +This was a nation made weaker by colonialism; torn by Partition at its birth as Independent country. +It is a land of unparalleled diversity and vast social and political challenges. +There were questions whether the infant nation will even reach its teen years. +There were somewho did not want it to. +Today, India is not just united, but draws strength from its diversity. +There are many countries, where the high hopes of democracy at birth have faded along the way. +It is a young country, with 800 million youth under the age of 35 years. +It is nation, where every citizen belongs; where everyone has equal rights that the constitution guarantees, the courts protect and the government defends. +We have many achievements to our credit. +We are a leading producer of food grain, fruits, vegetables and milk. +We have mastered the boundless power of the atom for energy and medicine. +We are developing vaccines and drugs that puts healthcare within the reach of the poorest. +We produce the best information technology specialists in the world. +We produce doctors and engineers who serve the world. +And, we are making products that are finding their way into the global market. +Our external relations advances peace in the world. +The Indian Armed Forces contribute to region’s security and stability. +They assist all in humanitarian disasters, without asking their nationality. +And, our forces participate in peacekeeping missions around the world. +We have generations of our leaders to thank for bringing us this far. +But, we know that we have a long way to go. +The challenges we face and the goals we must pursue, are evident in villages and cities. +And, my government has come into office to change that: +Where in the world will 190 million bank accounts be opened in a few months? +We are empowering them with skills and education. +We are creating an environment in which enterprise flourishes and people have opportunities to raise their income levels. +We are creating infrastructure that gives people their basic needs of roof, water, sanitation, electricity, schools, and medical help within the reach and means. +We are facilitating business. +And, we are creating a national digital infrastructure that allows ideas, information, communication, business and innovation to flow freely on the cyber space. +We are making our railways the engine of a new economic revolution in the country. +And, we are turning our ports and airports into gateways to prosperity. +And, we have pledged to make our cities clean and healthy; restore our rivers; and transform our villages. +And, we will preserve the treasures of Nature for the tourists to enjoy and our future generations to see. +And, all this is not easy. +After all, we are talking of 1.25 billion people, more than 500 major cities and six hundred thousand villages. +But, we have faith in the talent and enterprise of Indians. +We have confidence in the strength of the joined hands of our people. +So, it is happening. +The wheels of change have begun to move. +And, they are gathering speed now. +And, it is showing in numbers. +India is today the fastest growing major economy in the world. +I know you feel proud about it. +We are running at 7.5% per year, but will grow even faster in the coming years. +Every major global institution has placed its bets on India growing strongly. +This is at a time when the rest of the world, including parts of this region, is experiencing a slowdown. +There is change in the cities. +There is momentum in the villages. +And, there is confidence in our citizens, especially our youth. +And, there is change in the way government is working. +We are making government transparent and accountable. +We are eliminating corruption at all levels. +We are making governance driven by policies and systems, not by discretion of individuals. +We are changing the way government and citizens interact with each other. +And, Central and State Governments work with each other. +States compete with each other now. +That is healthy. +My dear friends, +We live in an inter-dependent world. +What happens in a far off country can affect the livelihood of workers in another place. +The decision that may be taken in a conference roomin the UN or WTO can affect the life of a farmer in a village in India. +The lifestyle in one part of the world affects climate and agriculture in another part of the world. +We need each other’s markets and resources. +So, our national progress will depend on the strength and success of our international partnerships. +We don’t have to look far to find friends and partners. +Southeast Asia is our neighbour on land and sea. +This is one of the most dynamic and peaceful regions of the world. +This is a region of culture, talent, enterprise and hard work. +India has excellent relations with all Southeast Asian countries. +We have a strong partnership with ASEAN. +I have just completed the India-ASEAN Summit. +This is the region, where our economic relations are growing rapidly. +And, it attracts the maximum number of Indian tourists. +I am happy to say that Malaysia is one of our strongest partners and among our closest friends in the region. +Malaysian companies are excellent in infrastructure. +Their largest presence outside Malaysia is in India. +Malaysian investors are present in the world’s second largest telecom market – that is India. +Indian company, IRCON, is helping improve the rail infrastructure in Malaysia. +There are over 150 Indian companies in Malaysia. +There are over 50 Indian IT companies here. +Malaysia is one of our biggest trading partners in ASEAN, but we need to raise it further. +India is one of the biggest sources of tourists in Malaysia. +And, 170 flights connect India and Malaysia every week. +One of our best partnerships in traditional medicine, such as Ayurveda and Unani, is with Malaysia. +We also work closely to keep our citizens safe. +We have strong defence relations. +Indian Air Force helped train their partners in Malaysian Air Force for two years. +We exercise together in air and on land and sea Jal thal aur nabh. +Our security agencies work together against terrorism. +I want to thank Malaysian Government for our strong security cooperation. +Terrorism is the biggest threat to the world today. +It knows no boundary. +It uses the name of religion to draw people to its cause. +But, it is false. +And, it kills people of all faith. +We have to delink religion from terror. +The only distinction is between those who believe in humanity and those who do not. +I have said it before and I will say it here. +The world must come together to combat the biggest challenge of our times. +We can strengthen intelligence cooperation. +We can use military force. +We can make the international legal system for cooperation stronger. +But, when I say that the world must come together, it is not just about more security cooperation. +It also means ensuring that no country uses or promotes terrorism. +There are no sanctuaries. +There are no funds. +There are no arms. +But, we also have to work within our societies and with our youth. +We need the support of parents, communities and religions scholars. +And, we have to make sure that internet does not become a recruiting ground.. +We have to promote peaceful relations, mutual understanding and cooperation in our region. +Peace is the only foundation for a prosperous future. +We have many common interests and challenges. +So, all nations in the region, big and small, should work together to ensure that our nations remain safe, our seas secure and free for commerce, and our economies prosperous. +I will meet His Excellency, Prime Minister Najib tomorrow to take our relationship forward. +India and Malaysia have much to benefit from a closer relationship. +Whatever we choose to do, you will be a part of it. +You will breathe more life and strength into relations between India and Malaysia. +We will always seek your partnership in India’s march to progress and in taking this special relationship forward. +But, what we value even more, is the love and affection that binds us together. +For, this is priceless and beyond any measure of value. +You have remained connected with us despite the difficulties of distances and regulations. +You are the window to our heritage and the mirror to our progress. +You are the bridge between India and your country. +You support families and communities in India. +Many of you help a child find her way to a school and a mother access to healthcare. +You do this without seeking an award or getting a headline. +So we must do what we can for you. +We have merged the OCI and PIO cards and we have made the visas life-long. +Besides, Indian origin up to 4th generation is enough to register for OCI now. +This is especially helpful for people like Malay Indians, whose ancestors came here generations ago. +Minor children, who are foreign nationals, and foreign spouses can also get OCI status now. +We have introduced e-visa that has made travel simpler. +Here, in Malaysia, we have opened nine visa collection centres. +There is an eMigrate portal to make it easier and safer for workers to go to certain countries. +It also alerts officials about foreign employers with cases pending against them. +We have an Indian Community Welfare Fund and a fund to help distressed Indian women abroad. +There are times when workers from India get into difficulties here. +Their welfare and security are at the top of our concerns. +Last year, we assisted more than 8000 Indian workers to return home safely. +In Malaysia an India-students Trust Fund was set up in 1954 to give financial assistance to Malaysian-Indian children who lacked the means for education. +This Fund is still needed by a section of the Indian community in Malaysia. +We are happy to announce grant of about 1 million US dollars in additional funds to the corpus of the Trust Fund. +Thousands of your children go to India to become doctors. +While doctors are a critical need for our societies, I hope that you will take the opportunity to get education in other areas as well. +Malaysia and India should immediately recognize the degrees conferred by both our countries. +This is something I intend to take up with Prime Minister Najib. +In conclusion, let me say how proud we are of what you stand for, how you live in this society and what you have achieved. +There are always challenges, but there are also dreams. +And each succeeding generation has been defined more by their successes than by their challenges. +So I ask you to continue to pursue your dreams for yourself, for Malaysia and for our two great nations. +I want to leave with you the words of a great son of India, a great symbol of humanity, who also came from the shores of Tamil Nadu. +The late former President APJ Abdul Kalam, one of the makers of modern India, came here in 2008. +He wanted to be here again with you, but God had other plans. +But, his life, his message and his dreams remain forever a source of inspiration. +courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, +So in your success, remember that you will have the joy and pride, not just of fellow Malaysians, but also of the 1.25 billion Indians. +God bless you. +It is a great pleasure and privilege to welcome President Maithripala Sirisena and Mrs. Sirisena to India. +We are honoured that you have chosen India as your first overseas destination. +Let me congratulate you on behalf of the people of India for your historic victory. +The election reflects the strength of democracy in Sri Lanka. +Your mandate carries the collective voice of Sri Lanka. +It represents the aspirations of your people for a united, inclusive peaceful and prosperous nation. +India is Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour and friend. +The goodwill and support of the people of India will always be with you. +The timeless links of history, religion and culture provide a solid foundation of our partnership. +We also share a broad range of interests – economic development for our countries; peace and prosperity in South Asia; maritime security in the region. +Indeed, I believe that our destinies are inter-linked. +Our security and prosperity are indivisible. +President Sirisena and I had excellent discussions today on our bilateral relations and international issues. +President and I are committed to unlock the vast potential of our economic cooperation. +We are pleased to be Sri Lanka`s largest trading partner. +I know that India enjoys a huge trade surplus. +I expressed my support for a more balanced growth in trade in both directions. +I conveyed our readiness to promote greater flow of Indian investments and tourists into Sri Lanka. +We discussed expansion of cooperation in energy sector, both conventional and renewable. +Our Commerce Secretaries will meet soon to review our bilateral commercial relations. +We also intend to further improve air and sea connectivity between India and Sri Lanka. +The bilateral agreement on civil nuclear cooperation is yet another demonstration of our mutual trust. +This is the first such agreement Sri Lanka has signed. +It opens new avenues for cooperation, including in areas like agriculture and healthcare. +President and I also agreed to expand our defence and security cooperation. +We welcomed the progress in our maritime security cooperation, including in the trilateral format with Maldives. +The Indian assisted projects for Internally Displaced Persons in Sri Lanka have made excellent progress. +This includes the Housing Project, under which more than 27,000 houses have already been constructed. +President and I expressed satisfaction with the progress. +I assured President Sirisena of India`s commitment to its development partnership with Sri Lanka. +This will continue to cover a broad range of areas, including infrastructure. +In this context, I am also pleased with the MoU on cooperation in agriculture. +President and I attach the highest importance to the fishermen`s issue. +It affects livelihood on both sides. +We agreed that there must be a constructive and humanitarian approach to the issue. +We will encourage the fishermen`s associations on both sides to meet again soon. +They should find a solution that can be taken forward by both governments. +Like cricket, culture provides a strong bond between us. +The Programme of Cultural Cooperation signed today will nurture those ties and promote contacts between people. +I am also delighted that Sri Lanka is now part of the Nalanda University Project. +Sri Lankan nationals visit the National Museum in New Delhi in large numbers to pay homage to the Kapilavastu relics. +We have decided to reduce the fees for them. +I thanked the President for his invitation to me to visit Sri Lanka. +I am eagerly looking forward to visiting his beautiful country in March. +I would like to once again welcome President Sirisena to India. +We are at a moment of an unprecedented opportunity to take our bilateral relations to a new level. +His visit today has set us firmly in that direction. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Arpinder Singh on winning Gold in Men’s Triple Jump event at the 18th Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta – Palembang, Indonesia. +Mr. Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +Recalling his meeting with President Hollande on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Brisbane last year, Prime Minister Modi said that he is looking forward to his visit to France in April. +Prime Minister Modi invited French companies to take advantage of India’s “Make in India” programme in various sectors, especially in view of the liberalized FDI regime in India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Himachal Pradesh, on their Statehood Day. +“Wishing people of Himachal Pradesh on their Statehood Day. +May the state scale new heights of progress in the years to come”, the Prime Minister said. +My dear countrymen, Namaskar! +All of us know that in a few days time, the world’s largest sports event, the biggest sports carnival will take place. +RIO is going to resound in our ears time and again. +The entire world will be at play… every country in the world will keep a close watch on the performance of its sportspersons; you too will be doing the same. +All of us harbour a lot of hopes and expectations, but keeping the morale of our sports contingent at RIO high is also the solemn duty of us 1.25 billion countrymen. +In Delhi this morning, the Government of India had organised a very good event, ‘Run for RIO’, ‘Play and Live’, ‘Play and Blossom’. +In the days to come, wherever we are, let us do our bit to encourage our sportspersons. +A sportsperson, who makes it to this stage, does so after putting in a lot of hard work. +It’s a kind of severe and dedicated ‘tapasya’. +However much one cherishes all kinds of food, one has to sacrifice that. +Victory and defeat are certainly important, but what is even more important is reaching this level in a game or sports discipline and, therefore, let all of us Indians join hands in wishing our RIO contingent the very best. +Come, over the next few days, let us try to the fullest extent possible to make each one of our sportspersons feel proud, to reward them for their endeavours and exertions; and today, as I speak on the Rio Olympics, I would like to mention the name of a poetry lover, Suraj Prakash Upadhyay a student of the Punjab Central University, who has sent me a poem. +A young man Mr. Ankit has reminded me of the death anniversary of President Abdul Kalamji, which was observed last week. +You are right. +In the absence of research and innovation, technology will become a burden, just as still water stagnates and even stinks. +Wherever such Tinkering Labs are established in schools, those would be given 10 Lakh rupees and further 10 Lakh rupees will be provided for maintenance during the period of five years. +Similarly, innovations are directly connected to Incubation Centres. +If we have strong and well-equipped Incubation Centres, a system comes into place for innovations, for start-ups, for experimentation and to bring these efforts to a certain level. +Creation of new Incubation Centres is essential just as it is necessary to strengthen the older Incubation Centres. +And when I talk of Atal Incubation Centres, the government has considered allocating the huge sum of 10 crore rupees for this also. +India is grappling with diverse challenges. +We see problems in daily life. +Through the ‘Atal Grand Challenges’ we have exhorted the young generation of the country that if they see problems, they should search for solutions taking the path of technology, doing research, applying innovations and bring those on board. +The Government of India wants to specially reward technology developed to find solutions to our problems. +My dear countrymen, while some time ago, we were concerned about a drought like situation, these days, on the one hand, we are enjoying the rains, but on the other, reports of floods are also coming in. +Central government and State Governments are working hand in hand with their utmost efforts to provide relief and assistance to the flood-affected. +Despite causing some hardships, rains make every human heart rejoice since rains, and agriculture, are the focal point of our entire sphere of economic activities. +There are times when one has to face an illness that leaves a scar for a lifetime. +But if we are aware, alert and active, the prevention is also very easy. +Take the case of Dengue. +It is preventable. +Dengue first enters affluent localities and we should try and understand it. +You must be watching advertisements on TV but there are times when we neglect taking proactive and informed action on it. +The government, hospitals, doctors will of course do their job, but I urge that we should also be alert in ensuring that Dengue doesn’t enter our homes, locality, family, for that matter, any illness connected with stagnant water. +I would like to draw the attention of my dear countrymen to another menace. +In today’s fast paced, rat race of life, at times we don’t have time to think about ourselves. +When we fall sick, we want to get well as soon as possible and as a result pop in just any antibiotic that we can lay our hands on. +It may give you instant relief, but my dear countrymen, this random pill popping habit can land you in deep trouble. +It may give you temporary succor, but we should completely stop taking antibiotics without the advice of a doctor. +While we are on the subject of health, I would like to talk about one more issue. +I feel very concerned about the lives of pregnant women of our country. +It is true that in the last decade there has been a decline in maternal mortality rates but even now, we are not able to save the lives of a large number of pregnant women. +Anemia during or after pregnancy, pregnancy related infections, high BP, any such complication can have devastating effect. +Keeping in view these issues, in the last few months, the Government of India has launched a new campaign ‘Prime Minister Safe Motherhood Campaign’. +I do believe that you will indeed do so. +My dear countrymen, today, the whole world is concerned deeply about climate change, global warming and the environment. +These are discussed collectively in the country and across the world. +In India, this has been accorded great importance for centuries. +It is proclaimed in Shukracharya Neeti that ‘naastimulam anaushadham’ meaning that there is no plant that does not have medicinal values; the Anushasan Parv of the Mahabharta elaborates this concept at greater length. +That picture really touches one’s heart. +And such experiments are done by many people. +It can easily grow into a people’s movement for planting trees. +I repeatedly tell my farmer brethren that instead of wasting our land in building fences around our fields, why don’t we start planting timber trees there. +Today India has to spend billions and trillions of rupees to import timber wood from abroad for construction of houses and furniture. +Some days ago, a few states taking advantage of this weather have started many campaigns in this direction and the Government of India has also passed CAMPA law, under which about 40 thousand crores rupees will go to the states for planting trees. +I have been told that the Maharashtra government planted about 2 crores sapling in the entire state on 1st July and next year they have taken a pledge to plant about 3 crores trees. +The Maharashtra government has transformed this activity into a people’s movement. +Rajasthan, desert area, has celebrated Van Mahotsav in a very big way and pledged to plant 25 lakhs trees. +To plant 25 lakhs of sapling in Rajasthan is not a small matter! +Those who know the soil conditions of Rajasthan would know how mammoth this task is going to be. +Andhra Pradesh, too has decided to increase its green cover by 50% by the year 2029. +Under the central government’s ongoing ‘Green India Mission’, Railways too have joined in this endeavour. +Gujarat too has an illustrious tradition of observing Van Mahotsav. +This year Gujarat has undertaken many projects like ‘Aamra Van’, ‘Ekata Van’ and ‘Shaheed Van’ as a part of Van Mahotsav and launched a campaign to plant crores of trees. +I am not able to mention every state but all deserve to be appreciated. +My dear countrymen, I had the opportunity to visit South Africa for the first time some time back. +During a foreign visit, diplomacy is practiced, there are trade deliberations, discussions about security and as is customary, many MoUs are concluded. +But for me the visit to South Africa was more like a pilgrimage. +When we think of South Africa, it is very natural to remember Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. +Whenever we hear the words – non-violence, love and forgiveness, the inspiring faces of Gandhi and Mandela appear before us. +During my South Africa tour, I visited Phoenix settlement where Mahatma Gandhi’s home is known as ‘Sarvodaya’. +I also had the good fortune of traveling from Pietermaritzburg station in the train in which Mahatma Gandhi had travelled, and which was the site of the incidence that sowed the seed of the transformation of a Mohandas into Mahatma Gandhi. +There was not a single trace of desire, to get something, to become somebody even after living such a great life of ‘Tapasaya’. +The essence of performing one’s duty as explained in Gita was embodied in their persona. +I will remember that meeting forever. +Equality and equal opportunity are the two biggest ‘mantras’ for any society and government. +Everybody has different needs and different priorities but there is one common path of development, equality, compassion and fraternity. +Come, let us be proud about these Indians who have lived their lives in South Africa embodying our highest and fundamental ideals. +Being a woman, I feel an empathy with her family. +What is your opinion about such cheat and fraud emails.” +And this new means of fraud is digital fraud. +I believe that we must be aware against such lure, must remain cautious and if such false communications come to our notice, then we must share them with our friends and make them aware also. +My dear countrymen these days, the Parliament Session is going on, and during the Parliament Session, I get to meet many people from across our nation. +Our MPs also bring people from their constituencies and introduce them to me; they tell me many things, their difficulties also. +But recently I had a pleasant experience, real pleasant experience! +Student from Aligarh had come to meet me. +You should have seen the enthusiasm of those boys and girls. +These were artistic painting done on the station. +What is more, they had searched for and collected the plastic bottles and oil cans lying in the garbage in the villages and by filling those with soil and planting saplings, they have transformed those pots into a vertical garden. +And by creating this vertical garden on the site of railway station, they have given it a new look. +If you go to Aligarh, do visit the railway station. +They have brought about a refreshing feeling. +This is a prime example of the great transformation, which can be brought about through people’s participation. +I felicitate all such citizens involved in these kinds of activities and especially congratulate friends from Aligarh. +My dear countrymen, with the onset of rainy season, there is also an onset of festival season in our country. +There would be fairs everywhere, festivities would be observed in temples and places of worship. +You too will become a participant at home and outside during the festive celebrations. +The festival of Raksha Bandhan is a festival of special significance. +Just like last year, can’t you gift on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojna or Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojna to mothers and sisters of our country. +Think about it, we should gift such a present to our sisters, which really provides her security in future. +The 75th year of Quit India and 70th year of Independence can be source of new inspiration, source of new enthusiasm and an occasion to take a pledge to do something for our nation. +The whole nation should be imbued with the spirit of those great patriots and we should once again experience anew the fragrance of freedom. +Let us all create such an atmosphere. +Independence Day should not be a government event, it should be the celebration of the entire people. +Just like Diwali, it should be our own festival. +I hope that you too become inspired with the spirit of patriotism and do something good in that vein. +Do send a picture of it on ‘Narendra Modi app. +Let us create such an atmosphere in the nation. +Dear countrymen, I have the good fortune to talk to the nation from ramparts of Red Fort on 15thAugust, it is a tradition. +You too must be having certain thoughts that you wish were proclaimed from Red Fort. +I invite you to write to me about your thoughts that I, as your representative, as your Pradhan Sevak should talk about from the Red Fort. +Send me suggestions, your advice and new thoughts, I will try to convey your thoughts to rest of the countrymen. +I do not wish that whatever I speak from the ramparts of Red Fort should just be the opinion of the Prime Minister; it should be the collective voice of 125 crores countrymen. +PMKVY will impart fresh training to 60 lakh youths and certify skills of 40 lakh persons acquired non-formally under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). +The target allocation between fresh trainings and RPL will be flexible and interchangeable depending on functional and operational requirements. +Financial support to trainees will be given in the form of travel allowance, boarding and lodging costs. +Post placement support would be given directly to the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). +Disbursement of training cost to training partners will be linked to Aadhaar and biometrics for better transparency and targeting. +Skill training would be done based on industry led standards aligned to the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). +The financial amount/budget for achieving 25% of the total training targets of next phase of PMKVY would be directly allocated to the States. +Mobilisation, monitoring and post training placement of trainees will be done through Rozgar Melas (placement camps) and Kaushal Shivirs (mobilization camps). +There will be special focus on placement of trainees with incentives/disincentives linked to placement as envisaged in the Common Norms. +A project based approach for Non formal training for traditional jobs is also proposed. +PMKVY will, in addition to catering to domestic skill needs, also focus on skill training aligned to international standards for overseas employment in Gulf countries, Europe and other overseas destinations. +There will be scholarship for student undergoing training in high end job roles under the Scheme. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his condolences to the families of those on Flight QZ8501. +“Our thoughts are with the families of those on Flight QZ8501. +We offer our condolences and stand firmly with them in this hour of grief”, said the Prime Minister. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between India and Iran in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine. +The MoU will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of Traditional Systems of Medicine. +This will be of immense importance to both countries considering their shared cultural heritage. +India and Iran share several common features in their language. culture and traditions and also share a common legacy of using herbal medicines. +Another MoU is proposed to be signed with Sri Lanka. +Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi today called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at his residence and blessed him. +Sri Mata Amritanandamayi showed keen interest in Namami Gange. +The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to her for her great contribution to the Swachha Bharat Abhiyan and requested her to initiate a toilet construction project in the villages of five states of Ganga river basin, to which she agreed. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today urged Panchayat members to work with a five-year vision with concrete development plans to bring about positive changes in their village. +In his remarks at a function in New Delhi to mark National Panchayati Raj Day, the Prime Minister hailed the contribution of women in the functioning of Panchayats across the country, and called for an end to the practice of “husbands of female Sarpanches” – “Sarpanch Pati” – exercising undue influence. +The Prime Minister urged Panchayat members to instil pride about the village. +He said this required a firm resolve, rather than any budgetary provision. +He said issues such as education of children in the village, and vaccination for children, should be paid special attention to, by Panchayat members. +The Prime Minister urged Panchayat members to motivate all Government officials in their village to spend at least one hour a week with schoolchildren of the village. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remembered former Prime Minister Shri I K Gujral on his birth anniversary. +“We remember Shri I K Gujral on his birth anniversary. +His scholarly and warm nature won him several admirers across the political spectrum”, the Prime Minister said. +Excellency, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, +Excellency, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, +Honourable Ministers, +Professor Tan Tai Yong, +Distinguished guests, +Thank you for the honour and privilege of delivering the Singapore Lecture. +I am conscious that I walk in the footsteps of leaders who have shaped modern India and our relationship with this region –President Shri APJ Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Shri P.V. Narsimha Rao, and former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. +Mr. Prime Minister, I am deeply honoured that you have joined us here. +We have been on the road together in the past few weeks – for the G20 and the ASEAN and East Asia Summits. +This tells you how deeply linked the destinies of our two nations are . +To the people of Singapore, on 50 years of Independence, I extend the greetings and the good wishes of 1.25 billion friends and admirers. +In the life of humans and nations, milestones of time are natural. +But, few countries can celebrate the first fifty years of existence with a sense of pride and satisfaction that Singapore deserves to. +And, I can do no better than to begin with homage to one of the tallest leaders of our time and the architect of modern Singapore – Lee Kuan Yew. +To capture his mission in own words, he gave his life to see a successful Singapore. +And, it was with his well known steely determination that he saw Singapore through to its golden jubilee year. +His impact was global. +And, in him, India had a well wisher, who spoke with the honesty of true friendship. +He believed in India’s potential at home and her role abroad more than many in India. +For me, he was a personal inspiration. +From his Singapore Stories, I drew many lessons. +The most profound, yet simple, idea was that transformation of a nation begins with a change in the way we are. +And, that it was as important to keep your city and surroundings clean as it was to build modern infrastructure. +For me, too, in India, the Swachh Bharat campaign, is not just a programme to clean our environment, but to transform the way we think, live and work. +For quality, efficiency, and productivity are not just technical measures, but also a state of mind and a way of life. +So, in my visit to Singapore this March and in the observance of a day’s mourning in India, we wanted to honour a true friend and a very special relationship. +Singapore is a Nation that has become a metaphor for the reality of dreams. +Singapore teaches us many things. +The size of a Nation is no barrier to the scale of its achievements. +And, the lack of resources is no constraint for inspiration, imagination, and innovation. +When a Nation embraces diversity, it can unite behind a common purpose. +And, international leadership flows from the power of thought, not just from the orthodox measures of strength. +Singapore has done more than just lift a nation into the highest levels of prosperity within a generation. +It has inspired this region’s progress and led in its integration. +Singapore’s success flows not from the aggregate of numbers and the size of investments. +Distinguished members of the audience, +It is with the same vision that we are pursuing the transformation of India. +People are the purpose of our efforts; and, they will be the power behind change. +I do not judge the success of our efforts from the cold statistics of number, but from the warm glow of smile on human faces. +So, one set of our policies are to empower our people. +The other set to create the conditions in which enterprise flourishes, opportunities expand and the potential of our citizens are unlocked. +And, it is spreading across the nation, as the most distant village and the farthest citizen begin to join the mainstream of national economy. +India and Singapore have been together at many crossroads of time. +Our relationship is written in the pages of history, the footprints of culture, the ties of kinship and the old connection of commerce. +We stood together in friendship at the dawn of freedom; and, we reached out to each other in a partnership of shared hopes. +As India opened itself, Singapore became India’s springboard to the world and gateway to the East. +No one worked harder for it and no one deserves more credit for it than Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. +He re-connected India to Singapore and the region. +He also opened my eyes to its vast prospects. +Today, Singapore is one of our most important partners in the world. +It is a relationship that is as strategic as it is wide-ranging. +We have comprehensive defence and security relations. +It flows out of shared interests and a common vision. +Singapore holds regular exercises with and in India. +Now, as we build the India of our dreams, Singapore is already a major partner in that enterprise: world class human resources, smart cities, clean rivers, clean energy, or next generation sustainable infrastructure. +Starting from the first IT Park in Bengaluru, it now includes the newest state capital in India, Amravati in Andhra Pradesh. +Our partnership will expand as our economies grow and the framework of trade and investment improves further. +But, I have always seen Singapore in loftier terms. +Singapore’s success in overcoming odds leads me to seek a partnership that addresses the challenges of 21st century – from food and water to clean energy and sustainable habitats. +And, in many ways, Singapore will also influence the course of our region in this century. +Mr. Prime Minister, Distinguished members, +This area covers the arc of Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions. +This is a region of expanding freedom and prosperity. +It is home to two of the most populous nations; some of the world’s largest economies; and, the world’s most talented and hard working people. +Asia’s re-emergence is the greatest phenomenon of our era. +From the darkness of the middle of the last century, Japan led Asia’s rise. +But, this is also a region with many unsettled questions and unresolved disputes; of competing claims and contested norms; of expanding military power and extending shadow of terrorism; and, uncertainties on seas and vulnerability in cyber space. +The region is not an island in a vast ocean, but deeply connected and influenced by the world beyond. +And, Asia is still finding a path through its multiple transitions to a peaceful, stable and prosperous future. +It is a journey that must succeed. +And, Singapore and India must work together to realize it. +India’s history has been inseparable from Asia. +There were times when we turned inwards. +And now, as we reintegrate more closely with Asia, we are returning to history. +We are retracing our ancient maritime and land routes with the natural instincts of an ancient relationship. +And, in the course of last eighteen months, my government has engaged more with this region than any other in the world. +India and China share a boundary and five millennia of continuous engagement. +Monks and merchants have nurtured our ties and enriched our societies. +We see it in religious texts written in Sanskrit, Pali, and Chinese; in the letters of the past, exchanged with warmth and grace; in India’s famous tanchoi sarees; and, in Cinapatta, the Sanskrit name for silk. +Today, we constitute two-fifth of humanity and two of the world’s fastest growing major economies. +China’s economic transformation is an inspiration for us. +And, as it rebalances its economy, and as India steps up the pace of its growth, we can both reinforce each other’s progress. +And, we can advance stability and prosperity in our region. +And, together, we can be more effective in addressing our common global challenges, from trade to climate change. +And, we have agreed to strengthen strategic communication and expand convergences. +We explore shared economic opportunities while addressing common threats like terrorism. +India and China will engage constructively across the complexity of their relationship as two self-assured and confident nations, aware of their interests and responsibilities. +India and Japan may have discovered each other somewhat later. +But, my friend, Prime Minister Abe, showed me in the magnificent shrines of Kyoto the symbols of our much longer spiritual engagement. +And, more than a hundred years ago , as Swami Vivekananda reached the shores of Japan, he exhorted the Indian youth to go east to Japan. +Independent India took that advice seriously. +There are few partnerships that enjoy so much goodwill in India as our relations with Japan. +And, no partner is likely to play as big a role in India’s transformation as Japan. +We do more together now. +We see this as a strategic partnership that is vital for securing a peaceful and stable Asia, Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions. +With Korea and Australia, our relationships started with strong economic foundations, and have become strategic in content. +And, ASEAN is the anchor of our Act East Policy. +We are linked by geography and history, united against many common challenges and bound by many shared aspirations. +With almost the entire region, India has frameworks of economic cooperation. +We want to be more deeply integrated with the regional economy. +And, we will upgrade our partnership agreements and work for an early conclusion of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. +In the flux and transition of our times, the most critical need in this region is to uphold and strengthen the rules and norms that must define our collective behaviour. +India will work with countries in the region and beyond, including the United States and Russia, our East Asia Summit partners, to ensure that our commons – ocean, space and cyber – remain avenues of shared prosperity, not become new theatres of contests. +India will lend its strength to keep the seas safe, secure and free for the benefit of all. +This is an age of inter-dependence when nations must come together, to realize the promise of this century. +We must also do so because our pressing challenges are not from one another, but common to each of us. +It does not just take a toll of lives, but can derail economies. +The world must speak in one voice and act in unison. +Countries also must be held accountable for sanctuaries, support, arms and funds. +Nations must cooperate more with each other. +Societies must reach out within and to each other. +We must delink terrorism from religion, and assert the human values that define every faith. +We are a few days away from Paris, where we must achieve concrete outcome, in accordance with the principles of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. +This is especially important for our region, particularly the small island states. +So, we must work hard to realize our vision of an Asian Century. +Asia has the wisdom of its ancient cultures and all the great religions of the world. +It also has the energy and drive of youth. +As Asia’s first Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore predicted on a visit to this region nearly a century ago, Asia is regaining its self-consciousness for realization of its own self. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Netherlands on technical cooperation in the field of Spatial Planning, Water Management and Mobility Management in April, 2018. +The objectives of this MoU are to promote and strengthen the collaboration between the signatories in the areas of Spatial Planning, Water Management and Mobility Management on the basis of equivalence, affordable housing, smart city development, geographical information system (GIS) for water supply & sewerage system, waste water reuse and recycle, conservation of fresh water by artificial recharge of aquifer, integrated solid waste management and heritage conservation and mutual benefit, taking into account the practical needs of both the countries. +Implementation strategy +Under this MoU, a Joint Working Group (JWG) will be set up to strategize and implement programmes on cooperation under the framework of the MoU. +The Joint Working Group will meet once in a year, alternately in the Netherlands and in India. +The MoU will promote bilateral cooperation in the field of Spatial Planning, Water Management and Mobility Management between the two countries. +The MoU is expected to create employment in the areas of Spatial Planning, Water Management and Mobility Management, smart cities development, affordable housing, waste management, urban environment and heritage preservation. +Following is the text of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s message on World Toilet Day. +“On World Toilet Day we reaffirm our commitment towards improving sanitation facilities across our nation. +I compliment all those individuals and organisations working towards building more toilets in various parts of India. +Their invaluable contribution adds solid momentum to Swachh Bharat Mission.” +The MoU will help to establish inter-institutional coopera¬tion and relations between the two Parties in order to promote cooperation in the field of ICT. +It will also result in active cooperation and exchanges between the private entities, capacity building institutions, Governments and other public organizations of the two countries in the field of ICT. +PM emphasizes need for cooperative federalism, favours healthy competition for development among states +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with eminent economists at NITI Aayog. +This was the Prime Minister`s first visit to NITI Aayog. +In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister noted that one of the objectives of NITI Aayog was to establish a dynamic institutional mechanism where eminent individuals outside the Government system could contribute to policy making. +The Prime Minister said India must develop fast, taking advantage of current global environment, to meet the aspirations of the people. +The Prime Minister said he looked forward to the interaction and suggestions from the eminent gathering. +The Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley and the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Shri Arvind Panagariya also made brief opening remarks. +The economists emphasized on the need for the Government to work towards high growth, predictable tax regime, fiscal prudence and rapid infrastructure development. +A large number of other suggestions were also made on various sectors of the economy. +Shri Bibek Debroy and Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Members and CEO, NITI Aayog attended the meeting. +Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of Ministry of Finance, Chief Economic Adviser and other senior officers of the PMO and NITI Aayog were also present. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved holding negotiations for Trade Agreement with Peru on trade in goods, services and investment. +A Joint Study Group (JSG) between India and Peru was constituted in order to explore the possibility for entering into trade agreement with Peru on 15th January, 2015. +Both sides concluded the Joint Study Group Report on 20th October, 2016 and agreed to carry forward the discussions on trade in goods, trade in services and investment. +Peru ranks 3rd amongst export destinations for India in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region during 2015-16. +India’s bilateral trade with Peru was US$ 107.32 million during 2005-06 which registered a growth of 1319.45% during 2015-16. +During 2015-16, bilateral trade stood at US$ 1,523.35 million with exports at US$ 703.12 million and imports US$ 820.22 million respectively. +India has friendly relations with Peru. +Peru has been cooperating with India at the International fora and the trade agreement will enhance the trade and economic relations between the two countries. +The trade agreement would be an important landmark in India-Peru relations and consolidate the traditional fraternal relation that have existed between India and LAC countries. +PM terms corruption a disease worse than cancer; says he will uproot it from the country with the support of the people. +“Mera Kya, Mujhe Kya” attitude must end. +PM hints at harsh measures to curb corruption. +PM: Network of roads is essential to take development to every nook and corner, just as a network of veins is essential to take blood to all parts of the body. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today described corruption as a disease worse than cancer, and said he was determined to remove corruption from the nation, with the support of the people. +The Prime Minister was addressing a large gathering at Kaithal, Haryana, after laying the Foundation Stone for the four-laning of “Kaithal-Narwana-Hisar-Rajasthan Border” Highway. +Amid applause, he declared that he would rid the country of corruption, with the support of the people. +He said the “Mera Kya, Mujhe Kya” attitude had taken the country on the path of destruction, and it had to be ended immediately. +The nation is not willing to bear these ills much longer, he added. +Highlighting the importance of infrastructure in the development of nations, the Prime Minister said Haryana provided a good example of this. +The stretch of land on both sides of National Highway-1 (which runs through Haryana) has developed well, but beyond that, one can see lack of development in the state. +He said a network of roads was essential for development, in the same way as a network of veins in the body provides blood to every part of it. +The Prime Minister outlined his Government`s vision of modern infrastructure development, which included world class roads, optical fibre networks, power, gas and water grids. +The Prime Minister said youth needed employment opportunities, and development was essential for generating employment. +He said the large gathering at the function venue is proof that the people are interested and keen for development. +They want to join the whole world on the path of development, he added. +Speaks to Home Minister; Says stern action will be taken against those found guilty +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the reported incidents of vandalism in certain parts of country and said stern action will be taken against those found guilty. +Incidents of toppling of statues have been reported from certain parts of the country. +The Prime Minister spoke to Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh in this regard and expressed his strong disapproval of such incidents. +Ministry of Home Affairs has taken serious note of such incidents of vandalism. +Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the states that they must take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents. +Persons indulging in such acts must be sternly dealt with and booked under relevant provisions of law. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Xi Jinping of China on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tashkent today. +President Xi welcomed India’s accession to the SCO and said it would strengthen it. +Prime Minister Modi thanked President Xi for China’s support to India’s membership of the SCO. +Prime Minister Modi then spoke of the NSG Plenary Meeting in Seoul which is to discuss India’s membership of the NSG. +The Prime Minister urged China to make a fair and objective assessment of India’s application and judge it on its own merit. +He said China should contribute to the emerging consensus in Seoul. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on General Cooperation with New Development Bank (NDB) through the BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism by Government at the level of Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs/ Export Import Bank of India. +The proposal will enhance trade and economic relations among the BRICS countries. +There is no financial implication involved with signing of the MoU. +The participating institutions from the BRICS nations will be benefitted by this MoU. +Five banks from the BRIC nations had established the BRICS Interbank Co-operation Mechanism to enhance trade and economic relations amongst the BRIC countries, and enterprises. +The BRICS Interbank Co-operation Mechanism now proposes to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on General Co-operation with the New Development Bank. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, had a telephone conversation today with Mr. Tony Abbott, Prime Minister of Australia, at the request of the Australian side. +Mr Abbott thanked the PM for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to him during his recent visit to India. +Prime Minister Modi said that during his visit, Prime Minister Abbott had touched the heart of every Indian. +The visit had resulted in concrete outcomes and added new dimensions to the strategic partnership between India and Australia. +Both the Prime Ministers agreed to actively follow up the decisions reached in the summit. +Prime Minister Abbott conveyed that a warm welcome awaits Prime Minister Modi for his bilateral visit to Australia in November 2014 after the G-20 Summit. +Prime Minister Abbott conveyed sympathy and solidarity in connection with the floods in Jammu & Kashmir. +Both Prime Ministers also exchanged views on regional and international developments. +The episode will be aired on All India Radio, Doordarshan National, Doordarshan News, and Doordarshan Bharti. +It will also be streamed on the AIR (http://allindiaradio.gov.in/gold.htm) and PM India (http://pmindiawebcast.nic.in) websites. +Regional language / North-Eastern versions of this broadcast will be aired in respective regions at 9am IST tomorrow, 28 January 2015. +Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today at the Prime Minister’s official residence, 7 Race Course Road(RCR). +“Very happy to meet Dr. Manmohan Singh ji and welcome him back to 7RCR. +We had a great meeting”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the rates for Spectrum Usage Charge (SUC) for various bands of spectrum for which auction are going to be conducted shortly. +With this decision the path is clear for issuance of the Notice Inviting Application for spectrum auction by the Department of Telecommunications. +As per the decision of the cabinet, the Spectrum Usage Charge is to be prescribed as given below: +(i) Spectrum acquired in forthcoming auction in 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300 & 2500 MHz band is to be charged at the rate of 3% of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) excluding the revenue from wire-line services. +(ii) The weighted average of SUC rates across all spectrum assigned to an operator (whether assigned administratively or through auction or through trading) in all access spectrum bands including BWA spectrum obtained in 2010 auction shall be applied for charging SUC subject to a minimum of 3% of AGR excluding revenues from wire-line services. +The weighted average is to be derived by sum of product of spectrum holdings and applicable SUC rate divided by total spectrum holding. +The Weighted Average Rate shall be determined operator wise for each service area. +(iii) The amount of SUC payable by the operators during 2015-16 at weighted average derived after taking into consideration the spectrum acquired in the coming auction and excluding the spectrum in 2300 MHz/2500 MHz band acquired/ allocated prior to 2015-16, shall be treated as the floor amount of the SUC to be paid by the operators. +Further, in case there is a reduction in AGR of the service provider, the floor amount of SUC shall be reduced proportionately. +This will facilitate to move to a simple, transparent and flat ad-valorem SUC regime in accordance with the law and avoid creative accounting to bypass the revenues. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) between Germany and India regarding cooperation in the sector of alternative medicine. +The signing of the JDl will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of traditional/alternative medicine. +Initiation of collaborative research, training and scientific capacity building in the field of alternative medicine under the JDI between the two countries would contribute to the enhanced employment opportunities in the AYUSH sector. +There are no additional financial implications involved. +The financial resources necessary to conduct research, training courses, conferences / meetings will be met from the existing allocated budget and existing plan schemes of Ministry of AYUSH. +India is blessed with well-developed systems of traditional medicine which hold tremendous potential in the global health scenario. +Germany has considerable interest in Traditional Systems of Medicine. +The Ministry of AYUSH as a part of its mandate to propagate Indian systems of Medicine globally has taken effective steps by entering into MoU with China, Malaysia, Trinidad & Tobago Hungary, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mauritius, Mongolia and Myanmar. +The Ministry has taken many initiatives for promotion of Ayurveda in Germany with the recommendation and cooperation of the Indian Embassy in Berlin. +One of the major initiatives is the collaborative research Project between the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and Charite University, Berlin on Osteoarthritis of the knee. +The results of the trial are encouraging and the clinical trial demonstrates significant improvement in patients. +The study has been completed successfully and is under publication. +The Congress was supported by the Ministry of AYUSH. +During the visit a bilateral meeting was held between Hon’ble MoS(IC), AYUSH with the Parliamentary State Secretary Ms. Ingrid Fischbach during which both sides had unanimously agreed to begin the process of drafting and negotiating a JDl in the field of AYUSH and Natural medicine. +It is expected that the JDI would give a boost to India-Germany ties and enhance cooperation between the two countries. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the loss of lives due to a stampede in Jharkhand. +“Pained at loss of lives due to the stampede in Jharkhand. +My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased in this hour of grief. +I pray that the injured recover quickly. +I spoke to Chief Minister Raghubar Das ji on the incident.,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi on his birthday. +“Birthday greetings to Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi. +His scholarly zeal and contribution to public life are immense. +I wish him a long and healthy life, ” the Prime Minister said. +India stands firmly with our sisters & brothers of Bangladesh in this hour of grief. +My thoughts are with the bereaved families. +I pray that those who are injured recover quickly”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of the Tripartite Agreement among India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA), on the IBSA Fund for the Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger. +The decision will help in strengthening the IBSA Fund which is a unique vehicle in the context of South-South cooperation. +The IBSA countries contribute US$ 1 million each annually to the Fund, which till January 2015 has accumulated to US$ 28.2 million, with total implemented/approved projects commitment of US$ 26.2 million, and remaining US$ 2.09 million available for programming. +India on its part has contributed US$ 9.1 million so far to the Fund. +The IBSA Fund undertakes development projects in third countries. +The first project to be financed by the IBSA Fund was in support of agriculture and livestock development. +The IBSA Fund was conferred the South-South Partnership Award at the 2006 UN Day event held in New York in December 2006. +This indicates the importance and recognition of the IBSA Fund in the context of South-South developmental cooperation. +The IBSA Fund for the Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger was set up in 2004 as one of the three pillars of cooperation under the IBSA Dialogue Forum. +The other two pillars are consultation and coordination on global political issues and trilateral collaboration in concrete areas and projects. +The IBSA Dialogue Forum launched in June 2003, was conceived as a forum for cooperation among three vibrant democracies of the South that are recognized as having global relevance and impact. +All three are developing nations with pluralistic, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious societies. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, delivered an address in the Lok Sabha, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement. +He said that the recollection of movements such as the Quit India Movement, is a source of inspiration, and added that the current generation has a responsibility of passing on the legacy of such movements, to the future generations. +The Prime Minister recalled that even as many senior leaders like Mahatma Gandhi were jailed at the beginning of the Quit India Movement, a new generation of leaders emerged to fill the vacuum and take the movement forward. +The Prime Minister noted that the freedom struggle went through several phases, and recalled various leaders and movements that emerged at various points since 1857. +He added that the Quit India Movement that began in 1942, was a decisive movement. +Quoting Gandhiji, the Prime Minister said that all sections of people joined in, responding to Mahatma Gandhi’s clarion call of “Do or Die.” +He said that from political leaders to the common man, everyone was imbued with this spirit. +Five years was all it took to achieve the objective of independence, once the entire country shared this common resolve, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister quoted the writer Ramvriksha Benipuri, and the poet Sohanlal Dwivedi to describe the mood that prevailed at that time. +The Prime Minister noted that corruption, poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition are challenges that India now needs to overcome. +He said that a positive transformation, and a common resolve is required for this. +He also mentioned the role played by women in the freedom struggle, and said that women can add immense strength to our common objectives, even today. +Speaking about rights and duties, the Prime Minister said that while we are well aware of our rights, we cannot forget our duties, and these too, must become part of our way of life. +The Prime Minister said that colonialism began in India, and its end too, began with India’s independence, which was soon followed by the fall of colonialism across Asia and Africa. +He said, that from 1857 to 1942, the move towards freedom was incremental, but the years from 1942 to 1947, were transformative, and delivered on the objective. +The Prime Minister said that if in 1942, the clarion call was “Karenge Ya Marenge,” today the call should be “Karenge aur Karke Rahenge.” +He said that the next five years should also be about “Sankalp se Siddhi” – a resolve which will lead us to accomplishment. +Even otherwise, Uttarakhand has been the main centre for Yoga for several decades. +These mountains of Uttarakhand spontaneously inspire us for Yoga and Ayurveda. +Even a common man gets a unique diving feeling when he visits this place. +There is an incredible spirit, vibrations and magnetic power in this holy land. +It’s a matter of pride for all Indians that today as the rising sun will progress on its journey, as the sunrays will reach the earth and light is spread, in all those places people will welcome the sun with Yoga. +From Dehradun to Dublin, from Shanghai to Chicago, from Jakarta to Johannesburg, everywhere, there is Yoga all around. +Whether it is thousands of feet high mountains of Himalaya or be it desert area singed by sunlight, Yoga is flourishing the life in every situation. +When divisive powers gain prominence then it leads to disintegration. +It leads to division among the people, division among the societies and division among the countries. +When there is a division in the society then it leads todiscord within the family and the person breaks down from inside and tension in life continuesto grow. +Yoga helps to maintain balance amidst this disintegration. +It does the job of uniting us. +Yoga brings about peace in this modern fast paced life by combining the body, mind, spirit and soul. +It brings about peace in the family by uniting the person with the family. +It brings about a harmony in the society by making the family sensitive towards society. +Societies become the links for national integration. +And this kind of countries bring about peace and harmony in the world. +And humanity flourishes and gainstrength from this feeling of brotherhood. +It means Yoga unites individuals, families, societies, countries and the world and it unites the entire humanity. +When the proposal for Yoga Day was moved in the United Nations then it is a record in the United Nations that this was the first such motion that was co-sponsored by the maximum number of countries in the world. +If we start taking pride in our legacy and if we abandon those things which are out of sync with the time, and that kind of thing doesn’t last either. +However, what is appropriate as per the time and which is useful in making of the future, if we take pride in our great legacy of this kind then the world too will never hesitate in taking pride in that. +But if we don’t have any trust in our own strength and capabilities then no one will accept it. +If a family itself continues to demoralise a child in the family and if that family expects that the kid will be respected in the locality then it is not possible. +When parents, when family, when brothers and sisters, all of them accept a child as it is only then the neighbours also start accepting the child. +Today, Yoga has proved this thing that as India has once again attached itself to the power of Yoga, similarly, the world too has started attaching itself with the Yoga. +Today, Yoga has become one of the most powerful unifying forces in the world. +I can say it with full sense of confidence that today if we gather the number of people doing Yoga in the entire world then incredible facts will be revealed to the world. +People gathering for Yoga, people like you gathering for Yoga in different countries, in parks, in open grounds, on the sides of the roads, in offices and homes, in hospitals, in schools and colleges, in the historic buildings, have been providing further energy to the feeling of this universal brotherhood and global friendship. +Friends, Yoga has shown the path of wellness to the world from the path of illness. +This is the reason because of which the acceptance for Yoga throughout the world has been increasing so rapidly. +It has revealed in the studies conducted by Coventry University and Radboud University that Yoga not only provides relief to our bodies but it can also reverse those molecular reactions taking place in our DNA that cause illness and depression. +We can protect ourselves from several diseases in addition to having a good heath if we daily practice the poses and breathing exercise of Yoga. +Regular practice of Yoga has a direct bearing on the medical expenses of any family. +It is essential for us to stay healthy to join in the every activity, every process of the nation building and Yoga certainly has a big role in this thing too. +Therefore, today, I urge you people that those who have been practicing Yoga please make it regular, and those who could not start doing Yoga so far they must make an effort once. +Friends, the increasing spread of Yoga has brought the world to India and India to the world even closer. +The position that Yoga has got in the world due to constant efforts made by us that position will be further strengthened with the time. +It is our responsibility to further develop the understanding about Yoga for a healthy and happy humanity. +Please come forward, let us further intensify our efforts by keeping our responsibility in the mind. +From this holy land, I once again convey my best wishes to the Yoga enthusiast all over the world. +I convey my sincere regards to the government of Uttarakhand for organising this event. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Former President of Singapore Mr. S.R.Nathan. +“Saddened by the demise of former Singapore President SR Nathan. +Singapore has lost a distinguished leader who was widely admired. +We in India join the people of Singapore in deeply mourning the passing away of former President Nathan. +Condolences to his family”, the Prime Minister said. +The Policy has multiple objectives of maximizing indigenous urea production and promoting energy efficiency in urea units to reduce the subsidy burden on the Government. +Savings in energy shall reduce the carbon-footprint and would thus be more environment friendly. +It will enable the domestic urea sector having 30 urea producing units, to become more energy efficient, would rationalize the subsidy burden and incentivize urea units to maximize their production at the same time. +The policy will ensure timely supply of urea to farmers at same Maximum Retail Price (MRP) with lesser financial burden on the exchequer. +It will also reduce import dependency in the urea sector. +Urea units would adopt best available technology in the world and will become globally more competitive. +Farmers, the urea industry and Government of India would benefit from the New Urea Policy. +Earlier the Government had approved gas pooling policy under which all urea units would get gas at a uniform price. +Government had also already decided in January to allow urea producers to produce neem coated urea upto 100 percent of production and making it mandatory to produce a minimum of 75 percent of domestic urea as neem coated, so that farmers are benefitted. +Neem coated urea is required less in quantity with same plot size and gives higher crop yields. +Underground water contamination due to leaching of urea also gets reduced with neem coating since nitrogen in the neem coated urea gets released to plants very slowly. +Neem coated urea is not fit for industrial use, so chances of its illegal diversion to industries will also be lesser. +The MRP of urea for the farmers has been kept the same at Rs. 268/- per bag of 50 kgs. excluding local taxes. +Farmers have to pay an additional price of only Rs. 14/- per bag of neem coated urea. +The movement plan for urea would continue to be given by the Government every month to urea suppliers, to ensure its timely and adequate availability, in all parts of the country. +Earlier the Government had also decided to revive closed urea units at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh and Barauni in Bihar to produce and additional 26 lakh tonnes. +Joint venture agreements among various stakeholders were signed in December, 2014 and January, 2015 for revival of the closed Talcher urea unit in Odisha and Ramagundam in Telangana. +These two units shall also increase domestic production of urea by 26 lakh tonnes. +By all these measures, import dependency of India for urea is likely to reduce drastically. +Presently, India is importing about 80 lakh metric tonnes of urea out of total demand of 310 lakh metric tonnes. +Government today also decided to continue the existing subsidy rates for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers (22 grades including DAP, Single Super Phosphate (SSP), Muriate of Potash (MOP), etc.) under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) policy for the current year. +Subsidy rate for DAP remains same at Rs. 12350/- per metric tonne while it is Rs. 9300/- for MOP. +Separate subsidy for boron and zinc coated fertilizers has also been continued. +Movement plan for P&K fertilizers has also been freed to reduce monopoly of few companies in a particular area so that any company can sell any P&K fertilizer in any part of the country. +Rail freight subsidy has been decided to be given on a lump sum basis so that the companies economise on transport. +This will help farmers and reduce pressure on the railway network. +The Government continues to have legal tools to direct fertilizer suppliers to supply fertilizers in any part of the country where there would be any shortage. +There are 19 units producing phosphatic fertilizers and 103 units making SSP. +The entire requirement (approximately 30 lakh Metric Tonnes) of MOP is met from imports, since there is no resource of potash in India. +About 90 percent of the phosphates are imported. +Subsidy would be payable to suppliers only after fertilizers are received in the districts and final settlement of subsidy claims will continue to be done only after acknowledgement of receipt of fertilizers by retailers. +Quality certificates are to be given by the respective State Governments within six months from the receipt of fertilizers. +If quality is sub-standard, subsidy will not be given to fertilizer suppliers. +The present provision of the SEZs Act, 2005 do not permit ‘trusts’ to set up units in SEZs. +The amendment will enable a trust to be considered for grant of permission to set up a unit in SEZs. +The amendment will also provide flexibility to the Central Government to include in this definition of a person, any entity that the Central Government may notify from time to time. +This will facilitate investments in Special Economic Zones. +Your Excellency Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohammad Najib, +And, I congratulate you for your excellent review of the processes of East Asia Summit. +This is a historic summit. +We applaud the ASEAN members for realizing the vision of the ASEAN Community and charting the path to 2025. +We expect ASEAN to continue to play a leading and central role in realizing the vision of broader regional integration and cooperation. +In this forum, we often thought of terrorism as a peripheral problem for this region. +We must build new global resolve and new strategies for combating terrorism, without balancing it against political considerations. +No country should use or supports terrorism. +There is no distinction between groups. +There are no sanctuaries. +There are no funds. +There is no access to arms. +But, we also have to work within our societies and with our youth. +I welcome the commitment to delink religion from terrorism and the efforts to promote human values that define every faith. +We are also days away from the summit on climate change in Paris. +Yet, our region is also navigating its way through multiple transitions to a stable, peaceful and prosperous future. +The East Asia Summit is the key forum for shaping the collective future of the region. +First, East Asia Summit must continue to support the evolution of an inclusive, balanced, transparent and open regional architecture for security and cooperation. +Second, the oceans remain the pathway to our prosperity and security. +India shares with ASEAN a commitment to freedom of navigation, over flight and unimpeded commerce, in accordance with accepted principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. +Territorial disputes must be settled through peaceful means. +India and Bangladesh recently settled their maritime boundary using the mechanism of UNCLOS. +India hopes that all parties to the disputes in the South China Sea will abide by the Declaration on the Conduct on South China Sea and the guidelines on the implementation. +Parties must also redouble efforts for early adoption of a Code of Conduct on the basis of consensus. +Third, we need stronger commitment and closer cooperation on cyber security. +We will also have to work on certain norms of behavior in this area. +Outer space is also emerging as a major area of security concern. +We must also continue to strengthen cooperation on non-proliferation. +India shares both land and maritime boundaries with ASEAN. +India will continue to deepen bilateral security partnerships in ASEAN and with other EAS partners. +We will remain active participants in the ASEAN-led security dialogue and cooperation forums. +Four, We must also work towards early conclusion of a balanced and broad-based Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. +Trans Pacific Partnership is also a major development. +These, I hope, will eventually not become competing regimes, but the foundations of an integrated economic community in the region. +Finally, development cooperation is at the heart of the East Asia Summit. +India will continue to support the efforts of our partner countries. +And, we are taking the lead in establishing EAS Virtual Knowledge Portals on Disaster Management and Trauma Care & Nursing. +The Nalanda University is shaping up as a world class centre of knowledge and learning. +I share the vision of East Asia Summit focusing on strategic political, economic and security concerns in the region. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the MoU between India and Afghanistan on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. +The MoU envisages cooperation between the two countries for application of space technologies in education, agriculture, weather forecasting, telecommunications, rural health, sanitation, urban development, resource mapping navigation, remote sensing and any other areas mutually agreed upon. +The MoU will benefit both countries in the following manner: +Development of space sector in Afghanistan; Burnish India’s credentials as a nation with advanced space technology, one that can also assist other countries; Afghanistan will move towards self-reliance in the space sector; Help deepen bilateral ties and mutual understanding and trust between India and Afghanistan; Provide India with a foothold in Afghanistan’s strategic space and communication sector. +Further, the MoU will boost high-tech jobs in the two countries in both core Science & Technology and R&D fields, and also the field of implementation. +With ushering in of the era of mobile and internet-based applications and commerce, better communication and internet connectivity will boost creation of jobs in diverse fields. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his twenty-first interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +The first twenty meetings of PRAGATI have seen a cumulative review of 183 projects with a total investment of Rs. 8.79 lakh crore. +Resolution of Public Grievances has also been reviewed in 17 sectors. +Today, in the twenty-first meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to patents and trademarks. +He noted the improvement in performance, asked the concerned officers to work towards further expediting the processing of patent and trademark applications. +Officials explained the steps taken towards speeding up the grant of patents and trademarks, including enhanced manpower. +The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of using latest available technology, to streamline the process, and reach global standards in this regard. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of nine vital infrastructure projects worth over Rs. 56,000 crore in the railway, road, power and oil pipeline and health sectors, spread over several states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, and Kerala. +The projects reviewed today, include the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor, and construction of four new AIIMS at Manglagiri in Andhra Pradesh, Kalyani in West Bengal, Nagpur in Maharashtra, and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. +The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of the Smart Cities Mission. +He appreciated the participation of cities in the challenge route. +He said the challenge before everyone is now to ensure implementation and expeditious completion of the work in the 90 identified cities, with high quality. +Reviewing the progress of the Forest Rights Act, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of using space technology to determine the rights of tribal communities, and settle claims expeditiously. +The Prime Minister said that the apprehensions with regard to GST have been proven to be unfounded, and a smooth transition has happened. +He asked all Chief Secretaries to further boost efforts to increase registration under GST, and to achieve a quantum jump in this regard within a month. +On Government e-Marketplace (GeM), he said the portal has improved transparency, and has reduced wasteful expenditure. +He asked the Chief Secretaries of all States to give priority to GeM in government procurements. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Rajya Sabha MP Shri Kalpataru Das. +May his soul rest in peace. +Shri Kalpataru Das was actively involved in social work and was extremely passionate about Odisha’s progress”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released the IMPRINT India brochure at the Visitors’ Conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan. +‘IMPRINT India’ is a Pan-IIT and IISc joint initiative to develop a roadmap for research to solve major engineering and technology challenges in ten technology domains relevant to India. +In his remarks on the occasion, the Prime Minister laid stress on the importance of innovation and technology for the progress and development of the nation. +He said institutions of higher education should give primacy to innovation in learning. +He said finding solutions to challenges like global warming and converting waste to wealth, were key to rise of India. +He exhorted institutions of higher learning to focus on areas such as defence manufacturing. +“Science is universal but technology must be local,” the Prime Minister said. +He called for enhanced industry-academia partnerships. +The Prime Minister praised the President as an ocean of knowledge, and appreciated his initiatives towards higher education. +“I wish Lalu ji a speedy recovery and pray for his good health,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved conferment of Central Group ‘A’ Service and Cadre. +Review of Group ‘A’ Executive Officers of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) with net creation of 19 posts of various ranks from Assistant Commandant to Inspector General ranks to enhance the operational and administrative capabilities of SSB. +1. Increase of 2 posts of Inspector General (SAG level). +2. Net increase of 11 posts of DIG /Commandant (JAG level) +3. Increase of 2 posts of DC (STS level). +4. Increase of 4 posts of AC (JTS level). +The SSB was set up in 1963 to inculcate a sense of security, promoting national awareness and security consciousness in the border population. +SSB also deployed in LWE affected areas and Counter Intelligence/Operations duties in Jammu & Kashmir and Assam. +Earlier augmentation-cum-structuring exercises were taken in 2005, 2010 and 2011. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today presented the National Bravery Awards to 18 children. +Three of these awards were presented posthumously. +Interacting with the awardees, the Prime Minister said their deeds of bravery are discussed extensively, and also highlighted by the media. +Therefore, he added, they inspire other children, and often engender a sense of self-confidence among other children. +The Prime Minister remarked that most of the awardees are from rural and humble backgrounds. +He said that perhaps their daily struggles had helped instil resilience in them, to deal courageously in adverse situations. +The Prime Minister congratulated all the award winners, their parents and schoolteachers. +He also appreciated those, who recorded their instances of bravery, and helped draw attention to them. +Shri Narendra Modi said that after such recognition, future expectations from the awardees become higher than usual. +He wished them well in their future endeavours. +The Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Gandhi, was present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for signing of a shipping agreement between India and Jordan. +Signing of the Agreement will help both countries in encouraging and facilitating development of their maritime relationship and cooperation in the task of enhancing and stimulating steady growth of maritime traffic. +The agreement will also help in exchange and training of staff and students from various maritime establishments, exchange of information necessary for accelerating and facilitating flow of commercial goods at sea and at ports, establishment of joint ventures in maritime transportation, shipbuilding and repairs, maritime training, information technology, including development of simulators, port facilities and related activities. +Their job entails complex set of tasks requiring very high level of knowledge and expertise, as well as the practical application of specific skills pertaining to cognitive domains (e.g. spatial perception, information processing, logical reasoning, decision-making) communicative aspects and human relations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released two commemorative coins, as part of the 125th birth anniversary year celebrations of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. +The coins, which are of “ten-rupee” and “one hundred and twenty-five rupee” denomination, were issued on the Mahaparinirvan Divas of Babasaheb Ambedkar. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that there were only a few individuals who remain alive in public consciousness, even 60 years after their death. +He said the more we recall Dr. Ambedkar’s thought, in the context of issues currently faced by India, the more we come to respect his vision and his approach to inclusiveness. +The Prime Minister said that while his contributions towards social justice have been recognized, his economic thought and vision is still not fully understood, and it needs to be appreciated. +The Prime Minister said Dr. Ambedkar and the Constitution of India should always be discussed and talked about in this country, and the observance of Constitution Day on November 26th, was a step in this direction. +The Prime Minister appreciated Dr. Ambedkar’s vision on subjects such as women empowerment, India’s federal structure, finance and education. +Union Ministers Shri Arun Jaitley and Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his condolences to the people of Israel, on the demise of former Israel President Mr. Shimon Peres. +Our condolences to people of Israel”, the Prime Minister said. +My dear countrymen, Namaskar. +Today is the holy day of Ram Navami. +My heartiest greetings to countrymen on this pious, festive occasion. +This signifies that Ram & Ramayan continues to inspire and have a positive impact, not just in India, but in that part of the world too. +Once again, my best wishes to all of you on the occasion of Ramnavami. +My dear countrymen, just like every time earlier, I have received a rather large number of letters, e mails, phone calls and comments from you. +I shall also request listeners of Mann Ki Baat who are engaged in the field of Sanskrit, to ponder over ways & means to take Komalji’s suggestion forward. +Shriman Ghanshyam Kumar ji of Village Baraakar, District Nalanda, Bihar – I read your comments written on the Narendra Modi App. +The concerns you have raised on the depleting ground water levels is indeed of great importance. +Shriman Yogesh Bhadresha Ji has asked me to speak to the youth concerning their health. +He feels that our youth are physically weak, compared to those of other Asian countries. +Yogesh ji, I feel I should speak in detail to all of you on ‘Fit India’. +In fact, all you young people can come together to launch a movement of Fit India. +Anagha, Jayesh and many other children from Chennai have written & posted to me their heartfelt thoughts on the gratitude cards, the post script to the book ‘Exam Warriors’. +Let me tell Anagha, Jayesh & other children that these letters enliven me up after a hard day’s work. +Now, if I start including all those phone calls, comments, whatever I could read or hear, many of which touched my heart; if I exclusively speak about them, perhaps I’ll require a few months to respond to them in some way or the other. +This time, maximum number of letters are from children who have written about exams. +Ever since we have begun conversing with each other in ‘Mann Ki Baat�� through the medium of radio, I have noticed a pattern that in the sweltering heat of this season, most letters focus around topic pertaining to summer time. +In utterances of yours, in your experiences, in the examples that you quote, there exists immense inspiration, unfathomable energy, unparalleled warmth; a resolve to bring about something new for the country. +In a way, this is endowed with the might to transform the entire season-cycle of the country. +My dear countrymen, the coming months are very crucial for our farming brothers and sisters. +That is why a large number of letters on agriculture have been received. +This time, I requisitioned and viewed videos of discussions with our farmers on DD Kisan Channel of Doordarshan and I feel that each farmer should get connected to this DD Kisan Channel of Doordarshan, view it and adopt those practices in his/ her own farm. +From Mahatma Gandhi to Shastri ji, Lohia ji, Chaudhari Charan Singh ji, Chaudhari Devi Lal ji – they all recognized agriculture and the farmer as vital aspects of the nation’s economy and also for the common man’s life. +Dr. Ram Manohar Lal ji had talked of creating a mass awakening on an extensive scale about the necessary measures to ensure a better income for our farmers and provide better irrigation facilities and to increase food and milk production. +Chaudhari Charan Singh in his speech in 1979 had urged our farmers to use new technology and to adopt new innovations and underlined their vital significance. +I recently visited the Krishi Unnati Mela organized in New Delhi. +Our farmers in Meghalaya, in the year 2015-16, achieved record production as compared to the last five years. +They have showed that if once the targets are set, spirits are high and with a strong resolve, the set targets can most certainly be attained. +Today, the farmers have technology to help them while they work hard in their fields. +Brothers and sisters, in this year’s budget a big decision has been taken to ensure that farmers get a fair price for their produce. +It has been decided that the MSP of notified crops will be fixed at least one and a half times of their cost. +If I may elaborate on this, MSP will include labour cost of other workers employed, expenses incurred on own animals and cost of animals and machinery taken on rent, cost of seeds, cost of each type of fertilizer used, irrigation cost, land revenue paid to the State Government, interest paid on working capital, ground rent in case of leased land and not only this but also the cost of labour of the farmer himself or any other person of his family who contributes his or her labour in agricultural work will also be added to the cost of production. +Moreover, an extensive exercise on agricultural reforms is being undertaken across the country in order to ensure that our farmers get a fair price for their crop. +Efforts are on to connect local village mandis to wholesale market and then on with the global market. +Twenty- two thousand rural haats in the country will be upgraded by creating the necessary infrastructure and these will be integrated with APMC and e-NAM platform- so that the farmers would not have to go to distant places for selling their produce. +In other words, such a system is being set up where in farms in any part of the country will have a market-connect. +Swachch Bharat is already our resolve; besides this, how can our 125 crore countrymen pay the best tribute to Gandhiji by working in close harmony? +Which newer programmes can be initiated? +What new practices or procedures can be adopted? +Thanks, you have rightly said it and I believe that Swachch Bharat and Swasth Bharat are supplementary to each other. +In the health sector the nation has now moved ahead from the conventional approach. +The first necessity for a healthy life is cleanliness. +All of us took up the responsibility and the result is that in the last four years or so, sanitation coverage has almost doubled and risen to around 80 percent. +Yoga is a guarantee of both fitness and wellness. +It is the result of our concerted efforts and commitment that Yoga has now become a mass movement and reached every house. +Less than a hundred days are now left for the International Yoga Day on 21st June. +On the previous three International Yoga Days, people in our country and people all over the world participated with great zeal and enthusiasm. +This time too, we need to ensure that we do yoga ourselves and motivate our family, friends and all others from now itself to do yoga. +My dear countrymen, I am not a Yoga teacher. +But yes, I surely am a Yoga practitioner and yet some people, through their creativity, have made me a Yoga teacher as well and 3-D animated videos of my yoga practice sessions have been prepared. +I appeal to the listeners of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ to provide this information about Jan Anshadhi Kendras to the needy ones – it will cut their expense on medicines. +This will be a big help to them. +Under ‘Ayushman Bharat Yojana ‘, the Government of India and insurance companies will jointly provide 5 lakh repees for treatment to about 10 crore families or say 50 crore citizens per year. +In the present 479 medical colleges, MBBS seats have been increased to about 68 thousand. +New AIIMS are being opened in various states with a view to providing better treatment and health facilities to people across the country. +One new medical college will be set up for every three districts. +Today, the campaign of Make in India is progressing successfully in consonance with Dr. Ambedkarji’s dream of India as an industrial super power-that vision of his has become our inspiration today. +Today India has emerged as a bright spot in the global economy and today the highest foreign direct investment or FDI in the world, is flowing to India. +The whole world is looking at India as a hub for investment innovation and development. +That the development of industries could only be possible in the cities, was the kernel of the idea of Dr. Baba Sahib Ambedkar and that was the reason he banked upon urbanization of India. +He also believed that poverty cannot be ameliorated by mere distribution of capital among the impoverished. +Today our monetary policy, Start Up India, Stand Up India initiative have become seedbed for our young innovators and young entrepreneurs. +Today there are landmark efforts, being embarked upon for waterways and ports in our country. +New seaports are being constructed on a number of seaways of India and infrastructure is being strengthened at old ports. +In the era of 40s, while most of the discussions were centred around the Second World War, the looming Cold war and the partition –it was during those times Dr. Ambedkar had laid the foundation of Team India’s spirit in a way. +He had talked about the importance of federalism, federal system and stressed on Center and states working together for the upliftment of the country. +Today, we have adopted in all aspects of governance the mantra of co-operative federalism and going a step further, we have adopted competitive cooperative federalism but most importantly, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar is an inspiration for millions of people like me, who belong to backward classes. +He showed us that to succeed it is not necessary for the person to be born in an illustrious or rich family, but even those who are born to poor families in India can also dare to dream their dreams and realize those dreams by achieving success. +On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar from April 14 to May 5 ‘Gram-Swaraj Abhiyan,’ is being organized. +Under the aegis of this campaign, separate programmes on village development, poverty amelioration and social justice will be held throughout India. +I urge you all to be a part of this campaign. +The day of Bhagwan Mahavir’s birth anniversary is a day to remember his sacrifice and penance. +The life and philosophy of Lord Mahavirji, the apostle of non-violence will inspire us all. +I extend felicitations to all on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti. +The very mention of Easter reminds us of the inspirational preaching of Lord Jesus Christ which has always impressed on mankind the message of peace, harmony, justice, mercy and compassion. +Vaisakhi will be celebrated in Punjab and in parts of western India in April; simultaneously, the twin festive connects of Jud -Sheetal and Satuwain in Bihar, and Poila Vaisakh in West Bengal will envelop everyone with joy and delight. +All of these festivals are connected in one way or another to our fields and granaries, and through these festivals, we thank nature for the priceless gifts we receive as produce. +Once again, my best wishes to you all on the occasion of the festivals coming our way. +Mr. Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of Oman called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister and Mr. Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah exchanged views on the close relations between India and Oman that are making progress in diverse areas. +Mr. Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah carried the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said. +Prime Minister in turn conveyed his esteemed greetings to His Majesty. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has launched a new website today to honour all the gallantry award winners since Independence. +Announcing the launch of the website http://gallantryawards.gov.in/ in a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said the portal will preserve and tell the stories of our bravest men and women, civilians as well as armed forces personnel. +“In remembrance of our heroes who have been awarded gallantry awards since Independence, launched the site http://gallantryawards.gov.in/ +The portal http://gallantryawards.gov.in/ will preserve & tell the stories of our bravest men & women, civilians as well as armed forces personnel. +If you have any information/photo that is missing and can be added to the portal, please share it through the feedback link on the site.”, the Prime Minister said. +To reduce energy cost, PM makes a strong case for partnership between producers and consumers in the oil market +CEOs and Experts from the Oil and Gas sector, from both India and abroad, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Union Ministers Shri Arun Jaitley and Shri Dharmendra Pradhan; Vice-Chairman NITI Aayog Dr. Rajiv Kumar and senior officials from the Union Government and NITI Aayog were also present at the interaction. +During the interaction global CEOs and Experts appreciated the steps taken by the Union Government over the last four years, for ease of doing business, and specifically in the energy sector in India. +The experts made a special mention of India’s competitive ranking from the upstream investment point of view which has gone up from 56 to 44. +Subjects such as expansion of oil and gas infrastructure in India; enhancing exploration and production; potential in solar energy and biofuels; and the Union Government’s holistic approach to the energy sector came up for discussion. +The experts appreciated the unique initiative of this kind of a dialogue, which brings various stakeholders together on policy matters. +Interacting with the global leaders of the energy sector, Prime Minister highlighted the significant positioning of India in the oil and gas market. +He noted that the oil market is producer driven; and both the quantity and prices are determined by the oil producing countries. +Though there is enough production, the unique features of marketing in the oil sector have pushed up the oil prices. +Prime Minister Modi made a strong case for a partnership between the producers and consumers, in the oil market, as it exists in other markets. +This will help stabilise the global economy which is on path of recovery. +Mr. Modi drew attention of the experts on certain key policy issues relevant to India. +Firstly, he highlighted that the consuming countries, due to rising crude oil prices, face many other economic challenges including serious resource crunch. +The cooperation of the oil producing countries would be very critical to bridge this gap. +He appealed to oil producing countries to channel their investible surplus to pursue commercial exploitation in oil sector in the developing countries. +Secondly, he spoke of higher acreage under exploration and sought cooperation of the developed countries both in terms of technology and extension of coverage. +Thirdly, he sought the role of private participation in the distribution of gas sector. +Talking of technology, he appealed for assistance in areas where high pressure and high temperature technology applications are relevant to commercial exploitation of natural gas. +Lastly and importantly, he requested for review of payment terms so as to provide temporary relief to the local currency. +Prime Minister also spoke about the various policy initiatives and developmental measures undertaken by his Government in the sector. +He highlighted the liberalisation in gas pricing and marketing which has been particularly in deep waters and requiring technology for high pressure high temperature exploitation. +He made a mention of open acreage licensing policy, early monetisation of coal bed methane, incentives for discovery of small fields and seismic survey at a national level. +Talking of ongoing commercial exploitation, he made a special mention of extension of production sharing contracts. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to the first President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad on his birth anniversary today. +“Tributes to Dr. Rajendra Prasad on his birth anniversary. +We remember his exemplary service to our Nation”, the Prime Minister said. +It is a great pleasure to visit this beautiful country. +I am deeply touched by the warmth and the hospitality. +Close ties over centuries creates a special kind of closeness and goodwill that adds a lot of charm and interest to the visit. +Kyrgystan and India are also united by the bonds of shared democratic values. +We see an important place for Central Asia in India’s future. +We can reinforce each other’s economic progress. +Sustainable development is important for both. +We can contribute to cooperation and integration across the different regions of Asia. +My visit to all five countries in the region demonstrates the importance that we attach to a new level of relationship with Central Asia. +Kyrgystan is a key part of that vision. +I was pleased to meet President Atambaev. +His contribution to democracy and development is admirable. +I am delighted that our Election Commissions have signed an agreement on cooperation. +We also look forward to the visit of a Kyrgyz Parliamentary delegation to India after the parliamentary elections in the Kyrgyz Republic. +I had very enriching discussion with President Atambaev. +I deeply appreciate his commitment to the relationship. +We spoke at length about strengthening our relations in trade, investment, tourism, culture and human resource development. +I welcome the agreements on Standards and on Culture today. +Collective initiative between India and Central Asia will boost our economic ties. +I look forward to the launch of the tele-medicine link with India. +We will also initiate the second Phase of the Kyrgyz-India Mountain Bio-Medical Research Center. +We will enhance our engagement in capacity building and increase the training offers for Kyrgystan to 100 this year. +I am pleased that we have established a India-Kyrgyz Centre for Information Technology in the Kyrgyz State University in Bishkek. +Information technology is critical for success today and for creating opportunities for the youth. +We will be pleased to set up similar Centres in other major cities in Kyrgystan. +Agriculture is an important sector in both India and the Kyrgyz Republic. +We will shortly hold a round table in Bishkek to explore possible avenues for cooperation and identify concrete projects in the agriculture sector. +Later today, I will have the privilege of unveiling the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the street that bears his name. +I thank the people of Kyrgystan for this honour. +His life and message are universal and timeless. +This statue will also remind the residents of our shared values. +I will have the pleasure of handing over a small contribution of field medical equipment to Kyrgyz Armed Forces. +Our defence ties are strong. +We have just completed a joint exercise Khanjar 2015. +We have decided to hold joint military exercises on an annual basis. +The IT Centre in the Kyrgyz Military Academy is an example of innovative cooperation that is important to both countries. +Our new agreement on defence cooperation would provide a framework to broaden our engagement. +This will include the defence technology. +I congratulated President Atambaev on Kyrgyzstan joining the Eurasian Economic Union. +We agree that this will make Kyrgyzstan a base for India’s economic engagement in the region. +We also looked forward to our engagement in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. +I am grateful for Kyrgystan’s strong support to India’s candidature for permanent membership of an expanded United Nations Security Council. +I sought his support for early completion of the reforms of the United Nations and its Security Council. +Finally, I thank President Atambaev and Kyrgystan for the support in the International Day of Yoga on June 21 a huge global success. +I look forward to my meetings with Speaker Jeenbekov and Prime Minister Sariyev later today. +I am confident that the visit will take our bilateral cooperation to new heights. +I look forward to an early opportunity to receive President Atembaev in India. +Today, the people of Nepal have shown how much love they have for me and the people of India. +I also felt that Nepal is moving ahead on the path of development with new hope and energy. +The process of Constitution-making is also moving forward. +Mr. Sushil Koirala’s struggle for democracy is an inspiration for all. +My doors are open, I invite you to bring any suggestions to review the 1950 Treaty, if you so want. +The book has been written by Shri Nochur Venkataraman. +It is a matter of great happiness for an Indian Prime Minister to come to Ramallah for his first ever visit. +President Abbas, I would like to thank you for the words that you said in my honor and also for the very warm and grand welcome extended to me and my delegation. +Excellency, you have very cordially bestowed me with the highest honor of Palestine. +The old and strong historical relations between India and Palestine have stood the test of time. +I was privileged to welcome him during his New Delhi visit last May. +I am happy to renew our friendship and India’s support. +During this visit I got the opportunity to pay my tributes at the tomb of Abu Omar. +He was among the top leaders of his time. +His role in Palestinian struggle is unprecedented. +Abu Omar was also a distinguished friend of India. +Visiting the museum dedicated to him has also been an unforgettable experience for me. +Once again I offer my heartfelt tributes to Abu Omar. +Remarkable courage and perseverance has been displayed by the people of Palestine in the face of constant challenges and crises. +The difficulties and challenges against which you have moved ahead is really commendable. +We appreciate your spirit and your faith in your efforts for a better tomorrow. +India is a very old ally in Palestine’s nation-building efforts. +We have cooperation in the areas of training, technology, infrastructure development, project assistance and budgetary support. +As a part of our new initiative, we have started a Technology Park project here in Ramallah which is currently under construction. +After its creation, we hope that this institution will work as a center which enhances employment skills and services. +India is also collaborating to set up an Institute of Diplomacy in Ramallah. +We believe that this institute will emerge as a world-class training institute for the young diplomats of Palestine. +Our capacity building cooperation involves mutual training for long and short-term courses. +Training and scholarship slots for Palestine in leading Indian educational institutions of different sectors such as finance, management, rural development and information technology were recently extended. +I am happy that during this visit we are extending our development cooperation. +India will continue to invest in Palestine in the projects of health, educational infrastructure and women empowerment center and also in a printing press. +We consider this contribution as building blocks for the creation of an energetic Palestine State. +At the bilateral level, we have agreed to make our relations deeper through the Ministerial level Joint Commission Meeting. +Last year, for the first time, there was an exchange between the youth delegations of India and Palestine. +Investing in our youth and cooperating in their skill development and relationships is a shared priority. +India is also a young country like Palestine. +Our aspirations for the Palestinian youth are the same which we have for Indian youths and which offers opportunities for progress, prosperity and self-reliance. +They are our future and inheritors of our friendship. +I am happy to announce that we will increase the exchange of young persons from 50 to 100 from this year. +In our discussion today, I once again assured President Abbas that India is committed to take care of the interests of the Palestinian people. +India hopes that Palestine soon becomes a sovereign and independent country in a peaceful atmosphere. +President Abbas and I had discussions on recent regional and global developments related to the peace and security of Palestine and its peace process. +India greatly hopes for peace and stability in this region. +We believe that permanent solution to the issue of Palestine is ultimately contained in negotiations and understanding through which a path to a peaceful coexistence can be obtained. +Intense diplomacy and judiciousness alone can help to achieve freedom from this cycle of violence and from the burden of the history. +We know it is not easy. +But we must constantly keep on trying because there is so much at stake. +Your Excellency, I express my heartfelt gratitude for your wonderful hospitality. +I, on behalf of 1.25 billion Indians, also extend warm greetings for the progress and prosperity of the people of Palestine. +The Prime Minister today interacted with Young CEOs at the “Champions of Change – Transforming India through G2B partnership” initiative organised by NITI Aayog at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra. +Today was the Prime Minister’s second address in this series, following his interaction with young entrepreneurs last week. +Six groups of young CEOs made presentations before the PM on themes such as Make in India; Doubling Farmers’ Income; World Class Infrastructure; Cities of Tomorrow; Reforming the Financial Sector; and New India by 2022. +Appreciating the new ideas and innovations envisaged in the presentations made by the CEOs, the Prime Minister thanked them for the valuable inputs and time devoted to ideation for the benefit of the country. +He said the key decision making team of the Government has listened carefully to the presentations, and will surely benefit in their policy-making, from the 360 degree view of issues that have been presented. +The Prime Minister said people’s participation is an important element of governance. +Similarly, he said, this attempt at CEOs partnership with Government is aimed at enhancing their participation towards welfare of the people, and the nation. +Recalling India’s freedom struggle, he said Mahatma Gandhi made all Indians, soldiers for freedom, even as they continued to do their own work. +Hence, he helped the freedom struggle become a mass movement. +The Prime Minister said that today, development too, must become a mass movement. +He said that a spirit should be created, whereby we all set targets for our contribution to India, by 2022. +You are my team, and we need to work together to take India forward, the Prime Minister told the CEOs. +Giving the example of value addition in agriculture, the Prime Minister said a multi-pronged approach is essential for achieving desired objectives such as doubling of agriculture incomes. +Emphasizing the importance of food processing, the Prime Minister said lack of infrastructure is leading to huge losses in the agriculture sector. +The Prime Minister said the Union Government has taken a number of decisions that have brought about fundamental transformation. +He gave the illustration of decisions taken for urea availability and production – such as gas price pooling; remuneration for excess production etc. +This led to additional production of 20 lakh tonnes of urea. +He said Neem-coating of urea ended its large scale diversion. +He said that the Government wants to move towards making India a less-cash society. +He asked CEOs to partner with Government to build momentum in this regard. +Similarly, he said that on occasions such as festivals, Khadi could be promoted through gifting etc – and this would greatly help the poor. +He said an atmosphere must be created to take the poor along in every sphere of life. +The Prime Minister gave the example of Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to show how small traders are competing successfully in provision of supplies to the Government. +He said 1000 crore rupees have been transacted through GeM so far and 28,000 suppliers have contributed to this platform. +The Prime Minister said Indians must take pride in their own country. +He said each one should develop a temperament to promote tourist destinations within India, spontaneously among their contacts. +Giving the example of “waste to wealth” entrepreneurs, the Prime Minister said that this can help achieve the objectives of Swachh Bharat and clean environment. +He said the aim of entrepreneurs and business should be to provide products which solve simple problems faced by people in the country. +Several Union Ministers and senior Government officials were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has welcomed the Union Budget. +“Union Budget 2015 is a Budget with a clear vision. +It is a Budget that is progressive, positive, practical, pragmatic and prudent. +Budget 2015 has a distinct focus on farmers, youth, poor, neo-middle class and the Aam Nagrik. +It delivers on growth, equity and job creation. +Budget is investment friendly and removes all doubts on tax issues. +It assures investors that we have a stable, predictable and fair tax system. +From housing for all, jobs, health, education and total electrification, FM laid down goals to be achieved by 2022, India`s Amrut Mahotsav. +I congratulate FM for doing an excellent job in respecting aspirations of the States and at the same time delivering on National priorities. +Budget indicates our commitment to ensure that development of Eastern and North-Eastern parts of India gets an impetus and drives future growth. +Details of the Black Money law being introduced demonstrates our firm commitment to bring back every Rupee of Black Money stashed abroad. +Success of Jan Dhan Yojana is gladdening. +Building on that, key schemes are announced that will comprehensively transform lives of the poor. +Suraksha Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Vidya Lakshmi Karyakram mark a shift from Jan Dhan to Jan Kalyan. +Atal Innovation Mission and SETU underline our commitment to enable innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups to grow and shine in India. +FM @arunjaitley must be congratulated for this pro-poor, pro-growth, pro-middle class, pro-youth and paradigm shifting Budget. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted Gujaratis across the world, on the beginning of New Year. +Gujaratis mark the start of a New Year a day after the Diwali. +“Today, a day after Diwali, Gujaratis mark the start of a New Year. +Saal Mubarak to Gujaratis across the world. +May this be a joy filled year”, the Prime Minister said. +The above four Bills have been earlier approved by the GST Council after thorough, clause by clause, discussion over 12 meetings of the Council held in the last six months. +The CGST Bill makes provisions for levy and collection of tax on intra-state supply of goods or services for both by the Central Government. +On the other hand, IGST Bill makes provisions for levy and collection of tax on inter-state supply of goods or services or both by the Central Government. +The UTGST Bill makes provisions for levy on collection of tax on intra-UT supply of goods and services in the Union Territories without legislature. +Union Territory GST is akin to States Goods and Services Tax (SGST) which shall be levied and collected by the States/Union Territories on intra-state supply of goods or services or both. +The Compensation Bill provides for compensation to the states for loss of revenue arising on account of implementation of the goods and services tax for a period of five years as per section 18 of the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016. +The Government is committed to early introduction of GST, one of the biggest reforms, in the country as early as possible. +GST Council has decided 1st July as the date of commencement of GST. +The Finance Minister in his Budget Speech has mentioned that country-wide outreach efforts will be made to explain the provisions of GST to Trade and Industry. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated all poets on World Poetry Day. +“ On World Poetry Day I congratulate all poets, budding and established, for their efforts to popularise this splendid medium of expression. +Poetry is at the heart of the oral tradition, giving voice to countless people across the world and bringing out their magnificent creativity.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the revised cost estimate for Rs. 3727.30 crore for the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRIP). +This approval ensures completion of the projects under NATRIP which is an important Initiative by the Government of India for the establishment of the global test centres in India. +This will address the R&D requirements of the automotive industry, full-fledged testing and homologation centres. +The places are within the Northern auto-cluster at ICAT-Manesar, Haryana and Southern auto-cluster at GARC-Oragadam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and up-gradation of existing centers at ARAI- Pune and VRDE-Ahmednagar in Maharashtra for Western auto-cluster. +The NATRIP project is required: +• To adopt global best practices to ensure road safety, environmental protection etc. in design, manufacture, testing and operation of motor vehicles in India since India is signatory to UN Regulation on Harmonisation of Vehicle Specifications under WP-29 of 1998. +• To support Automotive Mission Plan 2016-26 sets the Indian automotive & component manufacturers for becoming globally competitive for export with aim to scale up exports to the extent of 35-40% of its overall output over the next 10 years +• To make Indian vehicles comply with global standard of safety (in line with UN Brasilia resolution) to reduce the high number of casualities and road accidents (i.e. 1.46 and 5.01 lakhs respectively in the year 2015). +• To help the MSMEs for development and certification of auto-components, both for OEMs and after sale parts. +The essential components include world class labs for Powertrain, Passive Safety Tests l (including crash tests), Tracks for proving technology (including the High Speed Track at Indore), fatigue and certification, Electro-magnetic Compatibility tests, Noise Vibration & Harshness tests, CAD & CME and Infotronics. +Many of the labs are already operational. +(a) Categories of customers served: +Four wheeler manufacturers/Commercial vehicle manufacturers/ Three wheeler Manufacturers/ Two wheeler Manufacturers/Construction equipment vehicle manufacturers/ Agriculture equipment (Tractors) manufacturers/E-Rickshaw manufacturers/ Bus body Manufacturers/ CNG-LPG kit retrofitters/Automotive & Non-Automotive engine Manufacturers/DG set manufacturers/Automotive Component Manufacturers. +i. Certification of various vehicle categories, including HEV/EV/Diesel/Gasoline/CNG/LPG etc. as per CMVR-1989. +ii. Certification of notified components of vehicle as per CMVR-1989 and related IS/AIS. +iii.Export certification for vehicles and components for Europe/South Africa/Malaysia/ Indonesia/Brazil etc. for Indian manufacturers, in collaboration with other authorized agencies. +iv. Developmental testing for the automotive industry, OEMs and components both, for their product development needs. +v. Execution of specific product development projects for the automotive industry. +vi. Developmental vehicle/fleet testing, performance evaluation and endurance testing. +vii. Technology development and R&D projects +viii.Data collection for new regulations framing. +Constitution of an Empowered Group of Secretaries headed by CEO, NITI Aayog with Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs and Secretary, Department of Expenditure to decide on any issue falling beyond the scope of PPPAC. +PPP in infrastructure projects brings efficiency in service delivery, expertise, enterprise and professionalism apart from harnessing the needed investments in the public sector. +The PPP in airport infrastructure projects has brought World class infrastructure at airports, delivery of efficient and timely services to the airport passengers, augmenting revenue stream to the Airports Authority of India without making any investment, etc. of these, for development of Greenfield Airports at Hyderabad and Bengaluru. +Presently, the airports being managed under the PPP model include Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Cochin. +The PPP airports in India have been ranked among the top 5 in their respective categories by the Airports Council International (ACI) in terms of Airport Service Quality (ASQ). +The increase in domestic and international air travel in India combined with congestion at most airports, and the strong traffic growth at the 5 airports which were privatized over a decade ago has attracted the attention of several international operators and investors. +The airport sector is the top contender among infrastructure sectors in terms of international interest. +International operators and investors prefer brownfield airport expansion opportunities with having more than 3-4 million passenger capacity. +The airport sector may provide an immediate opportunity to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) by adoption of a PPP approach. +This is expected to enhance the revenue to AAI and increased economic development in these areas in terms of job creation and related infrastructure. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed Civil Servants on the occasion of Civil Services Day. +He said the occasion is one of Appreciation, Evaluation and Introspection. +He said the awards also indicate the priorities of the Government. +He also mentioned the two books on Prime Minister’s Awards, and on Initiatives in Aspirational Districts, which were released today. +Speaking on the subject of Aspirational Districts, the Prime Minister said that these 115 districts could become growth engines for their entire States. +He stressed on the importance of Jan Bhagidaari, or public participation, in development. +He said 2022, the seventy-fifth anniversary of independence, can become an inspiration for working towards achieving the India of the dreams of our freedom fighters. +The Prime Minister asserted that all available technology, including space technology, should be used for improving governance. +He said it is important for civil servants to keep pace with emerging technologies worldwide. +He described civil servants as people with great capability and said that these capabilities can contribute in a big way, for the benefit of the nation. +The MOU will help the Academy to disseminate some of its experience in running a training institution for higher civil services in the country to NIPAM. +It will also help the two sides to engage in collaborative activities in the sphere of public administration and capacity building. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Imphal today. +At a large public meeting, he inaugurated the Integrated Check Post at Moreh. +He also inaugurated the Dolaithabi Barrage Project, the FCI Food Storage Godown at Sawombung, and projects related to water supply and tourism. +He also laid the foundation stone for sports projects. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister paid homage to the brave freedom fighters, especially the women freedom fighters of Manipur. +He recalled that undivided India’s first interim government had been established at Moirang in Manipur. +He also recalled the support that the Azad Hind Fauj had received from people in the North East. +He said Manipur has an important role to play in New India’s growth story. +The Prime Minister said that projects worth over Rs. 1500 crore have either been inaugurated, or the foundation stone has been laid for them, at today’s event. +He said these projects are going to improve “ease of living” for the people of the State. +He said he has himself visited the North-East, about thirty times in the last four and a half years. +He said the North East is being transformed, and projects stuck for decades are being completed. +He said the Integrated Check Post at Moreh will facilitate custom clearance, foreign currency exchange, immigration clearance etc. +He said that the projects being inaugurated today reflect the Union Government’s commitment to development. +He also mentioned the tourism projects being inaugurated today. +Elaborating on the more energetic and purposeful approach to project completion in the Union Government, the Prime Minister explained how the PRAGATI system set up in the Prime Minister’s Office enables monitoring of stalled projects through video conferencing. +He said that these PRAGATI meetings have so far resolved issues related to stalled projects worth nearly 12 lakh crore rupees. +He said that work on the FCI godown in Sawombung had begun in December 2016, and it has been completed already. +He gave similar illustrations for various water supply projects. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government and the State Government of Manipur are both working with the vision of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. +He praised the “Go to hills, go to villages” programme of the State Government. +The Prime Minister explained how better road rail and air connectivity is being provided to the North East, with the overall vision of “Transformation through Transportation.” +The Prime Minister mentioned the progress made by Manipur in other sectors such as Swachh Bharat, sanitation, and development of the aspirational district of Chandel. +The Prime Minister said Manipur has also been a front-runner in the field of women empowerment. +Mentioning the sporting icon Marykom, who hails from Manipur, the Prime Minister said that the North-East has a key role to play in making India a sports superpower. +He said transparency in training and selection of athletes is reflecting in better performances by India in international sporting competitions. +PM addresses farmers at the pilot launch of e-NAM – National Agriculture Market +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a gathering of farmers at the pilot launch of e-NAM – the e-trading platform for the National Agriculture Market. +21 mandis from 8 States have joined e-NAM from today. +He said this initiative will usher in transparency which will greatly benefit the farmers. +Shri Narendra Modi said this is a turning point for the agriculture community. +He said the agriculture sector has to be looked at holistically, and it is only then that maximum benefit of the farmer can be ensured. +The Prime Minister explained to the farmers, various initiatives that have been taken, and what more can be done to raise agricultural incomes. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Aids to Navigation (AtoNs) between the Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships (DGLL), Ministry of Shipping, Government of India and the Department of Shipping, Government of Bangladesh. +The MoU envisages cooperation between Bangladesh and India: +The MoU will also help in greater cooperation in capacity building in the field of AtoN training in the South Asian region. +This will give a boost to imparting training on the management of marine aids to navigation based on IALA Model Course E-141/1 and accordingly facilitate the delivery of a professional training course as per the IALA guidelines. +India and Bangladesh are two important developing nations in the South Asian region. +Both countries maintain a long tradition of friendly and cordial relations which has been manifested in the several bilateral visits of dignitaries from both sides during recent years. +As per International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO’s) requirement, authorities in various countries, provide appropriate Aids to Navigation in their waters as per international recommendations and guidelines. +Marine aids to navigation such as lighthouses, beacons, DGPS, navigational and mooring buoys are operated to enhance the safe and efficient navigation of vessels and/or vessel traffic. +Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships establishes and maintains Aids to Navigation in India, for safe navigation in Indian waters. +DGLL having expertise in lighthouse engineering maintains large inventory of Aids to navigation which includes 193 lighthouses, 64 Racons, 22 Deep Sea lighted buoys, 23 DGPS stations, 01 Lightship, 04 tender vessels, National AlS Network, Vessel Traffic Service in Gulf of Kutch. +IALA is the international body coordinating and harmonizing the use of all Aids to Navigation. +India represented through DGLL, is a member of IALA Council. +As a step towards regional cooperation, India and Bangladesh have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on AtoN. +As per the MoU, the DGLL on behalf of Ministry of Shipping, Government of India shall advise its counterpart Department of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, Bangladesh on AtoNs including Vessel Traffic Service, Chain of Automatic Identification System. +In order to train AtoN personnel of Bangladesh, DGLL shall organize training as per IALA training module to AtoN Managers and Technicians, organize Workshops/Conferences. +This will help in capacity building of Bangladesh AtoN Personnel. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the amendment to Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. +This will ensure that all teachers, in position as on 31st March, 2015, acquire the minimum qualifications prescribed by the academic authority to extend the period for such training for four years up to 31st March, 2019. +This will enable the in-service untrained elementary teachers to complete their training and ensure that all teachers at the elementary level in the country have a certain minimum standard of qualifications. +This would also ensure that all Teachers would attain minimum qualifications as considered necessary to maintain the standard of teaching quality. +This will reinforce the Government’s emphasis on improvement of quality of elementary education. +The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, is effective from 1st April, 2010. +It envisages free and compulsory elementary education to every child in the age group of 6-14 years. +The Proviso to Section 23(2) of the Act specifies that all teachers at elementary level who, at the commencement of this Act, did not possess the minimum qualifications as laid down under the RTE Act, need to acquire these within a period of five years i.e., 31st March, 2015. +However, several State governments have reported that out of a total number of 66.41 lakh teachers at the elementary level, 11.00 lakh are still untrained (of this, 5.12 lakh are in Government and Aided Schools and 5.98 lakh are in private schools). +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex post facto approval to the revised Office Memorandum (OM) pertaining to the Cabinet Note on “Amendment of Constitution to provide for reservation for Economically Weaker Sections”. +The OM was approved by the Cabinet on 8th January 2019. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has extended his condolences over loss of lives in stampede incident in Mumbai. +Rail Minister Piyush Goyal is in Mumbai taking stock of the situation & ensuring all assistance.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the textiles, clothing and fashion sectors between the Ministry of Textiles and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia. +The MoU will facilitate cooperation in relation to matters within the textiles and fashion sectors that may be of mutual interest and benefit to the participants. +The weavers including ancillary workers will be benefited from activities to be taken under MOU. +For overall development of handloom sector, the initiative aims to increase the handloom fabric production by way of establishing market linkages, to encourage innovation in designs and techniques for improvement in design capability, diversification of product lines and value addition, better access to domestic and export markets so that weavers are able to get continuous employment and improve their living standards. +Ministry of Textiles, Government of India is responsible for holistic development of this sector by implementing various innovations in handloom sector. +It has been an endeavour of the Ministry to popularize the handloom products among younger generation. +The Australian fashion designers, producing garments using Indian woven and other textiles of Indian for India and Australian market have evinced interest to work with stakeholders in India which includes cooperation with textiles, handloom sector with a view to provide state of art, designing of textiles and handloom products and market them in India as well as international market. +The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (Government of Australia) had proposed to sign an MOU with Ministry of Textiles in this regard. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Lithuania for cooperation in the field of agriculture. +The MoU provides for cooperation in the fields of agriculture production including horticulture, post-harvest management, organic farming, cold chain development and agro processing industry, animal husbandry, dairying and aquaculture etc. +The cooperation between the two countries shall be undertaken through biennial work plan to be drawn up mutually to give effect to the objectives of the instant MoU. +It is expected that the MoU would help in capacity building, knowledge exchange between scientists and technicians, exchange of genetic resources, development of appropriate technologies and farm practices for enhancing agriculture productivity at farmer’s field. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched development projects at Sahebganj in Jharkhand. +He laid the Foundation Stone of a 4-lane bridge over the River Ganga, and a multi-modal terminal. +The multi-modal terminal is an important component of the development of the National-Waterway 1 from Varanasi to Haldia. +The Prime Minister inaugurated the 311 kilometre Govindpur-Jamtara-Dumka-Sahebganj highway; and dedicated to the nation, a solar power facility at Sahebganj District Court Premises and Sahebganj District Hospital. +The Prime Minister also symbolically distributed certificates of appointment to constables of the Paharia Special India Reserve Battalion; and Smartphones to women entrepreneurs of Self-Help Groups. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that these development projects will benefit the Santhal Pargana area, and lead to greater empowerment of the tribal communities. +He said that the poor in India wish to lead a life of dignity, and seek opportunities to prove themselves. +He said that he had full faith in their capability. +The Prime Minister said that an era of honesty has begun in India. +He sought the people’s blessings in his endeavour to ensure that the poor get their due. +Lays foundation stone for Nagpur metro and Pardi grade separator and flyover on NH-6. +PM outlines vision of solid waste management and waste water management in 500 urban centres across India. +“People should resolve to work together for development and cleanliness.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today outlined a vision for solid waste management and waste water management in 500 urban centres across India, through the PPP model. +He said this would enable cleanliness in towns and cities, while facilitating ample water supply for agriculture to the nearby rural hinterland. +The Prime Minister said India is urbanizing rapidly, and he sees this not as a challenge but as an opportunity for economic development. +The Prime Minister was addressing a gathering in Nagpur after laying the foundation stone for Nagpur metro and Pardi grade separator and flyover on NH-6. +The Prime Minister said that it should be a matter of concern for every Indian that we have got left behind in the quest for development compared to many other nations. +The Prime Minister also spoke strongly against corruption, and said he has resolved to curb it. +The Prime Minister referred to Mahatma Gandhi`s commitment for cleanliness. +He said keeping a city clean was the responsibility of its citizens. +He exhorted the people of Nagpur to work towards a clean city. +The Governor of Maharashtra Shri K. Sankaranarayanan, Minister for Urban Development Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari, and MoS(I/c) for Power Shri Piyush Goyal were present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved a proposal for setting up of a Commission under article 340 of the Constitution to examine the issue of sub-categorization of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). +The Commission shall submit its report within 12 weeks from the date of appointment of the Chairperson of the Commission. +The Commission shall be known as the Commission to examine the sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes. +The proposed terms of references of the Commission are as follows: +(i) To examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes/ communities included in the broad category of OBCs, with reference to the OBCs included in the Central list. +(ii) To work out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters, in a scientific approach, for sub-categorization within such OBCs, and, +(iii) To take up the exercise of identifying the respective castes/communities/ sub-castes/ synonyms in the Central List of OBCs and classifying them into their respective sub-categories. +Nine States of the country viz., Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Karnataka, Haryana, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have already carried out sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Kalaignar Karunanidhi. +“Deeply saddened by the passing away of Kalaignar Karunanidhi. +He was one of the senior most leaders of India. +We have lost a deep-rooted mass leader, prolific thinker, accomplished writer and a stalwart whose life was devoted to the welfare of the poor and the marginalised. +Kalaignar Karunanidhi stood for regional aspirations as well as national progress. +He was steadfastly committed to the welfare of Tamils and ensured that Tamil Nadu’s voice was effectively heard. +My thoughts are with the family and the countless supporters of Karunanidhi Ji in this hour of grief. +India and particularly Tamil Nadu will miss him immensely. +May his soul rest in peace”, the Prime Minister said. +During the presentation, Mr. Kadokawa said that he was impressed with the Prime Minister’s vision of development. +The Mayor explained how Kyoto, a city with 1200 years of history, had been able to conserve its heritage. +The Prime Minister said India and Japan should work together to develop cultural heritage cities. +“I would like to devote myself for the promotion of interaction between India and Japan,” Mr. Kadokawa said. +The Prime Minister also met the Governor of Kyoto Prefecture, Mr. Keiji Yamada. +The Prime Minister arrived in Tokyo this evening. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Shri M Venkaiah Naidu on being elected the 13th Vice President of India. +The Prime Minister said, ” Congratulations to M Venkaiah Naidu Garu on being elected India’s Vice President. +My best wishes for a fruitful & motivating tenure. +My mind is filled with memories of working with M Venkaiah Naidu Garu, in the Party & Government. +Will cherish this aspect of our association. +I am confident M Venkaiah Naidu will serve the nation as a diligent & dedicated Vice President, committed to the goal of nation building.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today unveiled a plaque for the foundation stone of a new helicopter manufacturing unit of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Tumkur district in Karnataka. +He said that in the last fifty years, a lot of progress had been made in agriculture, and the country is now self-sufficient in food grains. +Shri Narendra Modi said the Union Government has decided to lay stress on manufacturing of defence equipment. +He said the helicopters manufactured in Tumkur will serve soldiers stationed in remote locations. +The Prime Minister said that the first helicopter built in this unit should take flight by 2018. +He added that 4000 families will directly or indirectly get livelihood due to this factory. +The Prime Minister began the meeting with a review of the situation arising out of flood and other natural calamities in the North-Eastern States. +He assured the States of all possible help from the Centre. +The Prime Minister urged all Chief Secretaries to work expeditiously towards ensuring that all traders register under the GST regime, and this task is completed before August 15th. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to CPWD, and Directorate of Estates. +He asked the Ministry of Urban Development to proactively monitor the same, with sensitivity. +He urged CPWD to encourage all vendors to come aboard the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of vital and long-pending infrastructure projects in the railway, road and petroleum sectors, spread over several states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh. +The projects reviewed today, include the Chennai Beach-Korukkupet third line and the Chennai Beach-Attippattu fourth line; the Howrah-Amta-Champadanga new Broad Gauge line; and four-laning of Varanasi bypass; four-laning of Muzaffarnagar-Haridwar section of NH-58. +Noting that several of the projects reviewed today have been pending for decades, and in one case, over four decades, the Prime Minister urged all Chief Secretaries to take all possible steps to avoid delays, and resulting cost escalations. +He emphasized on speedy implementation of such infrastructure projects. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). +He urged the concerned departments to accelerate the adoption of new construction technologies at the earliest. +A group of 24 school children from the Mawar Valley in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +The students, who are from Classes 6th to 8th, are currently on a tour to various parts of the country, as part of the Indian Army’s Operation Sadbhavna. +The Prime Minister interacted with the students, on various subjects such as their studies, and their interest in sports. +The students were thrilled when the Prime Minister mentioned the names of cricketer Parvez Rasool, and recent UPSC topper and IAS Officer Shah Faisal. +The Prime Minister said he looked forward to meeting these youth icons from the state of Jammu and Kashmir soon. +In a reply to a question from a student, the Prime Minister said the state of Jammu and Kashmir had a lot of potential in sectors such as tourism and horticulture. +The Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Dalbir Singh, was also present. +•The spirit of Swachh Bharat reverberated through the city of Delhi today. +•The Prime Minister was welcomed by five thousand children with loud cheer. +Children were enthusiastically waving flags and placards in support of cleanliness drive. +•Film on Swachhta Mission was watched with rapt attention by everyone present. +•Before administrating the oath, renowned actor and social activists, Shri Aamir Khan was called on the stage and then the pledge was administrated by the Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister asked everyone to raise their hands and think of Mahatma Gandhi while taking the oath. +•To the utter delight of the children the Prime Minister started walked with them for some distance, despite being on fast, after flagging off the Walkathon. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for the following +Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a call this afternoon from Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif regarding the terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase. +Prime Minister Modi strongly emphasized the need for Pakistan to take firm and immediate action against the organizations and individuals responsible for and linked to the Pathankot terrorist attack. +Specific and actionable information in this regard has been provided to Pakistan. +Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif assured Prime Minister Modi that his government would take prompt and decisive action against the terrorists. +Foundation stone of the new AIIMS at Vijaipur , Samba in Jammu laid by PM +500 more seats to added in J&K Medical colleges soon, says PM +624 MW Kiru Hydroelectric project and 850 Megawatt Ratle Hydro Electric project in Kishtwar inaugurated +New power projects in J&K region will provide employment to youth: PM +Multiple development projects in Jammu region unveiled today +In the second leg of his visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visited Jammu today. +He unveiled a series of development projects to give a boost to infrastructure in the state. +PM is on a day long visit to Leh, Jammu and Srinagar today. +Jammu visit was marked by the PM laying the foundation stone of AIIMS at Vijaypur, Samba. +Mr. Modi said that the setting up of AIIMS will provide quality healthcare to the people and address the shortfall of healthcare professionals in the region. +PM announced that another 500 seats in the state medical colleges would be added soon. +While inaugurating University Institute of Engineering & Technology, Kathua today , PM expressed his happiness that the youths from Jammu will benefit from the 10% EWS Quota. +He also laid the foundation stone for the construction of Northern Regional Centre Campus of Indian Institute of Mass Communication at Jammu. +The campus Tmat Jammu was setup in the academic year 2012-13 and is working from a temporary building since then. +PM laid foundation stone for 624 MW Kiru Hydroelectric project and 850 Megawatt Ratle Hydro Electric project in Kishtwar, Jammu. +He said, “New power projects in region will provide employment to youth”. +PM also declared 100% electrification of households in the Jammu and Kashmir under SAUBHAGYA Scheme. +The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for construction of Transit accomodation for Kashmiri migrant employees in Kashmir valley. +He announced that the work is afoot to employ displaced Kashmiris in 3000 posts. +He said “India will not forget the circumstances in which the Pandits had to leave their homes.” +The country must stand with those being persecuted in the neighbouring countries, he added. +PM laid foundation stone of the project aimed at reducing pollution of Rivers Devika & Tawi under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). +This project is scheduled for completion by March 2021. +PM told that 14000 bunkers have been built along the border for the safety of our soldiers. +He added that while the previous Government tried to hoodwink OROP with a grant of Rs.500 Crore, we have allotted Rs.35000 Crore. +Had former rulers been proactive Kartarpur Sahib would have been part of India, he added. +Another highlight of visit to Jammu today was PM laying the foundation stone of 1640 m span double lane bridge over River Chenab at Sajwal. +It will provide an alternative route for the population of Sajwal and Indri Pattian which will reduce the commuting distance from 47kms to 5kms between the two. +During the event PM said that Rs.40000 Crore has been sanctioned to improve the connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved creation of the post of Vice Chancellor for India’s first rail and transportation university, National Rail & Transport Institute (NRTI). +The Vice-Chancellor shall be the Principal Executive Officer of the institution and shall exercise general supervision and control over the affairs of the institution and shall be mainly responsible for implementation of the decisions of all the authorities of the Institution deemed to be University. +NRTI seeks to forge collaboration with leading international institutions in the areas of Joint research and faculty and student exchange. +Memoranda of Agreement have been signed by NRTI with Cornell University, USA; University of California, Berkeley; MIIT, Moscow and St. Petersburg Transport University, Russia so far. +A vision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NRTI is focused on transport-related education, multidisciplinary research and training. +It was established as a Deemed to be University under the de Novo category in 2018 to create a resource pool of best-in-class professionals for the railway and transportation sector. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remembered brave soldiers who fought in 1971, on the occasion of Vijay Diwas. +“Today on Vijay Diwas, we remember the indomitable spirit of the brave soldiers who fought in 1971. +Their unwavering courage and patriotism ensured our country is safe. +Their service will always inspire every Indian”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today made an aerial survey of flood affected areas of Gujarat. +The Prime Minister also reviewed the flood relief operations at a high level meeting at Ahmedabad Airport. +The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, other senior ministers and top officials of the State Government, disaster response agencies and PMO. +The Prime Minister was given an overview of the extent of damage caused by floods, and the relief operations being undertaken. +The Prime Minister instructed all agencies involved in relief operations, including the Indian Air Force, to put in their best possible effort for immediate rescue and relief. +He emphasized the importance of cleanliness, hygiene and health, and said these aspects should also be accorded the highest priority. +The Prime Minister said insurance companies including those dealing with crop insurance may be advised to organise assessment of damage to assets, crops etc quickly, and take steps for early settlement of claims, so as to provide immediate relief to affected people. +The Prime Minister also called for immediate restoration of water supply, electricity and communication links. +The Prime Minister suggested that special teams be set up for repair of damaged roads, restoration of power infrastructure, and for health related assistance. +Addressing the media at Ahmedabad Airport, the Prime Minister said Gujarat had faced heavy rains for the past week. +He said extent of damage would be assessed in both rural and urban areas, and both short and long term measures would be put in place. +The Prime Minister appreciated the State Government, and all other agencies for the response to the flood situation so far. +He announced an immediate additional assistance of 500 crore rupees under the SDRF. +He expressed confidence that the people and the State of Gujarat would emerge even stronger and successfully tackle the challenge posed by the floods. +He assured the people of the State that the Union Government stands shoulder to shoulder with them at this difficult time. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives in the fire in a GAIL pipeline in Andhra Pradesh today. +He has spoken to the Petroleum Minister, Cabinet Secretary and GAIL Chairman and asked them to ensure immediate relief at the accident site. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s tweets: +I have spoken to the Petroleum Minister, Cabinet Secretary & GAIL Chairman and asked them to ensure immediate relief at the accident site.” +Subsequently, a delegation of MPs from the Trinamool Congress along with the Chief Minister met the Prime Minister. +This debt burden, leading to high interest payments, was affecting development expenditure in West Bengal. +She asked for debt relief and relief from interest payments. +She was also concerned about pending releases. +The Prime Minister explained that he is a firm believer in Cooperative Federalism. +West Bengal and Kolkata have to develop, for their own sake, and for the benefit of the region. +That is why we have the “Act East” policy. +The region has talented people and a lot of resources. +The Prime Minister stated that he is fully committed for West Bengal’s and Kolkata’s development. +It is with this in view that the Central Government has agreed to devolve 42% of the divisible pool of taxes to states for the next five years. +This is unprecedented and a rise from 32% which is the current share. +In addition, the Central Government has accepted other recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission relating to Revenue Deficit Grants and other Grants. +Among the large states, West Bengal is one the most important beneficiaries of this decision. +The major benefits that come to West Bengal are: +This is an increase of ~ Rs.1,80,000 crore, i.e., 174%. +b. West Bengal’s share of taxes has been increased from 7.264% to 7.324%. +c. Most importantly, West Bengal is getting a Revenue Deficit Grant of Rs. 8,449 crore in 2015-16 and a total Revenue Deficit Grant of Rs. 11,760 crore. +The only other non-special category states getting this grant are Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. +The Revenue Deficit Grant takes into account the interest burden on the state because of debt. +d. Therefore, the total Additional Resources going to West Bengal over the next five years [tax devolution and FC grants] will rise by Rs. 2,05,900 crore, an increase of 174% compared to the last five years. +They will rise from Rs. 1.18 lakh crores to Rs. 3.24 lakh crores. +f. West Bengal is getting a Revenue Deficit Grant of Rs. 8,449 crore in 2015-16. +There are also grants to Local Bodies which have almost doubled. +On the problem of debt, the Prime Minister said that you have inherited a large burden. +We too have inherited a large burden. +The Centre and States have to collectively find a solution to this. +Therefore, interest burden should not affect development activities any more in future. +The additional financial resources being made available by the Central Government from the current fiscal onwards will substantially improve the position of the State to discharge interest liability and free up funds for developmental activities to boost growth. +The Prime Minister also pointed out that, the Union Government has decided to give West Bengal the royalty on coal and other minerals. +This will provide a benefit of ~ Rs. 1,600 crore to the state annually. +In addition, West Bengal will get Rs. 11,200 crore from the coal blocks that have been auctioned so far and there will even more revenue in future. +In this scenario, West Bengal is better placed as compared to the past and has adequate funds to meet its development needs fully. +The Prime Minister said that no stone will be left unturned for the development of West Bengal. +Members gave their suggestions on how the celebration should be organized throughout the year. +The Prime Minister thanked the members for their suggestions. +He said efforts should be made to raise even greater global awareness about Babasaheb Ambedkar and his great contributions for the welfare of society and humanity. +He said this could be accomplished through initiatives such as annual quiz competitions for schoolchildren. +He said greater awareness should also be generated about Dr. Ambedkar’s vision for India’s industrialization, and its necessity in order to generate employment for the poor and deprived sections of Indian society. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Kenya on bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. +The MoU covers various activities in these fields which include agricultural research, animal husbandry and dairy, livestock and fisheries horticulture, natural resource management, post-harvest management and marketing, soil and conservation, water management, irrigation farming systems development and integrated watershed development integrated pest management, agricultural plant, machinery and implements, sanitary and phytosanitary issues. +The MoU provides for constitution of a Joint Working Group comprising of representatives from both countries, the task of which would be to develop detailed cooperation programmes and monitorimplementation of the MoU. +The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation between India and the United Kingdom for exchange of knowledge and experience in detection, resolution and prevention of security-related incidents. +Cyber Security was one of the agenda items for discussion during Hon’ble Prime Minister’s visit to UK in November, 2015. +They can also exchange information on prevalent cyber security policies and best practices. +Earlier CERT-In signed MoUs with counterpart/similar organizations in about seven countries – Korea, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Uzbekistan. +Ministry of External Affairs has also signed MoU with Cyber Security as one of the areas of cooperation with Shanghai Cooperation Organization. +The Prime Minister exhorted DAE to present the human face of India’s capabilities in nuclear science throughout the world. +Prime Minister was apprised of the safety and security measures adopted by the DAE and India`s excellent record in this regard. +During the visit, which lasted four hours, Prime Minister was also shown some of DAE`s most advanced facilities at BARC, including the Dhruva Research Reactor. +Prime Minister expressed his strong appreciation for the extraordinary achievements of Indian scientific community in one of the most complex and challenging fields of science and technology. +Prime Minister reiterated his belief that energy security, which was increasingly based on clean and reliable sources of energy, was the critical driver of India`s rapid and sustained long term development. +He saw an essential role for nuclear energy in India`s energy strategy, given the scale of demand in India. +Prime Minister assured the DAE of his full support in the implementation of DAE`s ambitious expansion programme and expressed hope that DAE would meet the target of increasing the capacity by three times from the present level of 5780 MW by 2023-24 within the projected cost. +He underlined the importance of ensuring that nuclear energy remained commercially viable and competitive with other sources of clean energy in the long run. +He also asked DAE to continually upgrade technology, both with regard to our long term plans and international trends. +DAE, he said, must also plan for ensuring adequate availability of skilled human resources in the country. +He also asked DAE to pay special attention to the local communities in planning and implementing nuclear power projects. +He noted that we would need to tap additional sources of investments for our ambitious expansion programme. +He welcomed India`s growing international partnership in the nuclear energy and hoped for timely implementation of the ongoing projects in a manner that they met the requirements of techno-economic viability and safety standards. +Technology transfer to India, he observed, was a vital element of his vision for international partnership in India. +Prime Minister lauded the contribution of DAE scientists in the critical area of cancer research and treatment through the Tata Memorial Hospital. +He hoped that DAE would soon implement the planned projects in Chandigarh and Vishakapatnam and would take one of the most advanced standards of cancer treatment in Asia to other parts of India. +He also directed DAE to make special efforts to expand its research and extension on a national scale applications of atomic science in areas like healthcare, waste management, water treatment, agriculture and food preservation. +Prime Minister congratulated DAE on the important milestone of Diamond Jubilee and wished the DAE community continued success in the future. +The National Security Advisor, Shri Ajit Doval, the Director, BARC and the Secretary AERC, Joint Secretary in the PMO, Shri Jawed Ashraf, and Private Secretaries to the PM, Shri Vikram Misri and Shri Sanjiv Singla were also present. +The total project cost would be Rs.7,330 Crore. +This network would be used by the security personnel deployed in LWE affected areas. +It will give impetus to the e-Governance activities in the backward and LWE affected area with the availability of digital mobile connectivity. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has welcomed and conveyed best wishes to all teams taking part in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. +“A warm welcome and best wishes to all teams taking part in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. +I am sure FIFA U-17 World Cup will be a treat for football lovers”, the Prime Minister said. +Implementation strategy and Targets +The Central Hospital along with its land and building will be transferred to the Jharkhand Government within 3 months. +An MoU will be signed between the Ministry of Labour & Employment and the State Government outlining the modalities including transfer/absorption of Staff etc. +The proposal shall lead to enhancement of number of doctors being trained per year in the country. +It will help in the improvement of the health care infrastructure in the region resulting in better health care services available to the common people. +It will benefit all people residing in and around Karma, Jharkhand who will be provided better health care facilities. +The Ministry of Labour & Employment provides health care facilities to certain categories of workers and their dependents in the unorganized sector through its Hospitals and Dispensaries. +A 150 bedded Hospital (including a 50 bedded TB Hospital in same premises) was established by the Ministry of Labour & Employment at Karma, Jharkhand to cater to the needs of Mica mine/ Beedi workers. +The Government of Jharkhand submitted a proposal to transfer the Central Hospital at Karma along with its land and buildings free of cost for setting up a new Medical College in the area. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today gave its approval for signing the Paris Agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of Parties held in Paris in December 2015. +Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, will sign the agreement on behalf of India on 22 April 2016 at the high level signature ceremony convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon. +The Paris Agreement on climate change is a milestone in global climate cooperation. +It is meant to enhance the implementation of the Convention and recognizes the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances. +The salient features of the Paris Agreement are as follows: +a) The Paris Agreement acknowledges the development imperatives of developing countries. +The Agreement recognizes the developing countries’ right to development and their efforts to harmonize development with environment, while protecting the interests of the most vulnerable. +b) The Paris Agreement recognizes the importance of sustainable lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption with developed countries taking the lead, and notes the importance of ‘climate justice’ in its preamble. +c) The Agreement seeks to enhance the ‘implementation of the Convention’ whilst reflecting the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances. +d) The objective of the Agreement further ensures that it is not mitigation-centric and includes other important elements such as adaptation, loss and damage, finance, technology, capacity building and transparency of action and support. +e) Pre-2020 actions are also part of the decisions. +The developed country parties are urged to scale up their level of financial support with a complete road map to achieve the goal of jointly providing US $ 100 billion by 2020 for mitigation and adaptation by significantly increasing adaptation finance from current levels and to further provide appropriate technology and capacity building support. +India had advocated a strong and durable climate agreement based on the principles and provisions of the Convention. +The Paris Agreement addresses all the important concerns and expectations of India. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura on their Statehood Day. +“Greetings to people of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura on their Statehood Day. +I wish these states the very best in their development journey,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has shared a post on his Facebook page, regarding his upcoming visit to Bangladesh. +Following is the text of Prime Minister’s post: +“On 6th June I will begin my 2-day visit to Bangladesh. +It is with a great sense of enthusiasm and delight that I visit a nation with which India’s ties have been very strong. +In Bangladesh I will attend several programmes, which include meeting with PM Sheikh Hasina, who has played an important role in strong India-Bangladesh ties. +There will be delegation level talks and signing of agreements. +I will join the programme to unveil the plaques for various Grant-in-Aid projects. +At the Prime Minister’s Office, plaques of railway, cultural and road projects will be unveiled. +Similarly, plaques for various development projects will be unveiled at the New Chancery. +I will pay tributes to martyrs of the 1971 liberation war at the National Martyrs’ Memorial. +I am eager to visit Bangabandhu National Museum and pay tributes to the great Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a friend of India and a pillar of strength and democracy in the South Asian region. +It will be my privilege to receive the Award of Liberation War Honour on behalf of Atal ji. +Atal ji, as Foreign Minister and as PM, placed great emphasis on strong ties with Bangladesh and had visited Bangladesh in 1999. +A few weeks ago, the Indian Parliament unanimously approved a Constitution amendment bill to give full effect to our Land Boundary Agreement of 1974 with Bangladesh and the related 2011 Protocol. +I must highlight the support of political parties as well as CMs of various states that led to the smooth passage of this amendment bill. +The ratification marks a watershed moment in our ties with Bangladesh. +Further, to promote greater people-to-people ties and connectivity, I, along with PM Hasina and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, will flag off bus services on Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati routes. +I will be visiting the Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka. +It was founded by devotees of the Belur Math in 1899. +I will also visit the famous Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka. +I am certain my visit will be beneficial for the people of both our nations and in the larger good of the South Asian neighbourhood.” +The Government has replaced Planning Commission with a new institution named NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India). +The institution will serve as ‘Think Tank’ of the Government-a directional and policy dynamo. +The Planning Commission was set up on the 15th of March, 1950 through a Cabinet Resolution. +Nearly 65 years later, the country has transformed from an under-developed economy to an emergent global nation with one of the world’s largest economies. +From being preoccupied with survival, our aspirations have soared and today we seek elimination, rather than alleviation, of poverty. +The people of India have great expectations for progress and improvement in governance, through their participation. +Indeed, the ‘destiny’ of our country, from the time we achieved Independence, is now on a higher trajectory. +The past few decades have also witnessed a strengthening of Indian nationhood. +India is a diverse country with distinct languages, faiths and cultural ecosystems. +This diversity has enriched the totality of the Indian experience. +Politically too, India has embraced a greater measure of pluralism which has reshaped the federal consensus. +The States of the Union do not want to be mere appendages of the Centre. +They seek a decisive say in determining the architecture of economic growth and development. +The one-size-fits-all approach, often inherent in central planning, has the potential of creating needless tensions and undermining the harmony needed for national effort. +Dr. Ambedkar had said with foresight that it is “unreasonable to centralise powers where central control and uniformity is not clearly essential or is impracticable”. +At the heart of the dynamics of transforming India lies a technology revolution and increased access to and sharing of information. +In the course of this transformation, while some changes are anticipated and planned, many are a consequence of market forces and larger global shifts. +The evolution and maturing of our institutions and polity also entail a diminished role for centralised planning, which itself needs to be redefined. +The forces transforming India are many and include:- +a. The industry and service sectors have developed and are operating on a global scale now. +To build on this foundation, new India needs an administration paradigm in which the government is an “enabler” rather than a “provider of first and last resort”. +The role of the government as a “player” in the industrial and service sectors has to be reduced. +Instead, government has to focus on enabling legislation, policy making and regulation. +We need to continue to improve, and move from pure food security to a focus on a mix of agricultural production as well as the actual returns that farmers get from their produce. +As India ‘contributes’ to global endeavours, it is also influenced by happenings far removed from our borders. +Global economics and geo-politics are getting increasingly integrated, and the private sector is growing in importance as a constituent within that. +India needs to be an active player in the debates and deliberations on the global commons, especially in relatively uncharted areas. +This formidable group is increasing with the entry of the neo-middle class. +Our continuing challenge is to ensure that this economically vibrant group remains engaged and its potential is fully realised. +This is a significant geo-economic and geo-political strength. +Future national policies must incorporate this strength in order to broaden their participation in the new India beyond just their financial support. +Rather than viewing it as an evil, we have to make it an integral part of our policy for development. +We are in a digital age where the tools and modes of communication, like social media, are powerful instruments to share and explain the thoughts and actions of the government. +Technology and information access have accentuated the unity in diversity that defines us. +They have helped integrate different capabilities of our regions, states and eco-systems towards an interlinked national economy. +Indeed, Indian nationhood has been greatly strengthened on their account. +To reap the benefits of the creative energy that emerges from the Indian kaleidoscope, our development model has to become more consensual and co-operative. +It must embrace the specific demands of states, regions and localities. +The challenges we face as a country have also become more complex:- +India’s demographic dividend has to be leveraged fruitfully over the next few decades. +The potential of our youth, men and women, has to be realized through education, skill development, elimination of gender bias, and employment. +We have to strive to provide our youth productive opportunities to work on the frontiers of science, technology and knowledge economy. +Every Indian must be given an opportunity to live a life of dignity and self respect. +Inequalities based on gender biases as well as economic disparities have to be redressed. +We need to create an environment and support system that encourages women to play their rightful role in nation-building. +Equality of opportunity goes hand in hand with an inclusiveness agenda. +Rather than pushing everyone on to a pre-determined path, we have to give every element of society – especially weaker segments like the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes – the ability to influence the choices the country and government make in setting the national agenda. +In fact, inclusion has to be predicated on a belief in the ability of each member of society to contribute. +As Sankar Dev wrote centuries ago in the Kirtan Ghosh: “To see every being as equivalent to one’s own soul is the supreme means (of attaining deliverance)”. +Villages (Gram) continue to be the bedrock of our ethos, culture and sustenance. +They need to be fully integrated institutionally into the development process so that we draw on their vitality and energy. +India has more than 50 million small businesses, which are a major source of employment creation. +These businesses are particularly important in creating opportunities for the backward and disadvantaged sections of the society. +Policy making must focus on providing necessary support to this sector in terms of skill and knowledge upgrades and access to financial capital and relevant technology. +Responsible development implies environmentally sound development. +India is one of the mega-diverse countries. +The country’s legacy of respect for environment is reflected in our reverence for trees and animals. +Our legacy to future generations must be sustainable progress. +Each element of our environment (paryavaran) and resources, namely water, land and forest (Jal, Jameen evam Jungle) must be protected; and this must be done in a manner that takes into account their inter-linkages with climate (jal vayu) and people (jan). +Our development agenda has to ensure that development does not sully the quality of life of the present and future generations. +The role of the government in achieving ‘national objectives’ may change with time, but will always remain significant. +Governance, across the public and private domains, is the concern of society as a whole. +Everyone has a stake in ensuring good governance and effective delivery of services. +Creating Jan Chetna, therefore, becomes crucial for people’s initiative. +In the past, governance may have been rather narrowly construed as public governance. +In today’s changed dynamics – with ‘public’ services often being delivered by ‘private’ entities, and the greater scope for ‘participative citizenry’, governance encompasses and involves everyone. +The institutional framework of government has developed and matured over the years. +This has allowed the development of domain expertise which allows us the chance to increase the specificity of functions given to institutions. +Specific to the planning process, there is a need to separate as well as energize the distinct ‘process’ of governance from the ‘strategy’ of governance. +In the context of governance structures, the changed requirements of our country, point to the need for setting up an institution that serves as a Think Tank of the government – a directional and policy dynamo. +The proposed institution has to provide governments at the central and state levels with relevant strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of key elements of policy. +This includes matters of national and international import on the economic front, dissemination of best practices from within the country as well as from other nations, the infusion of new policy ideas and specific issue-based support. +The institution has to be able to respond to the changing and more integrated world that India is part of. +An important evolutionary change from the past will be replacing a centre-to-state one-way flow of policy by a genuine and continuing partnership with the states. +The institution must have the necessary resources, knowledge, skills and, ability to act with speed to provide the strategic policy vision for the government as well as deal with contingent issues. +Perhaps most importantly, the institution must adhere to the tenet that while incorporating positive influences from the world, no single model can be transplanted from outside into the Indian scenario. +We need to find our own strategy for growth. +This is being proposed after extensive consultation across the spectrum of stakeholders including inter alia state governments, domain experts and relevant institutions. +The NITI Aayog will work towards the following objectives: +To evolve a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors and strategies with the active involvement of States in the light of national objectives. +The vision of the NITI Aayog will then provide a framework ‘national agenda’ for the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers to provide impetus to. +To foster cooperative federalism through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on a continuous basis, recognizing that strong States make a strong nation. +To develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans at the village level and aggregate these progressively at higher levels of government. +To ensure, on areas that are specifically referred to it, that the interests of national security are incorporated in economic strategy and policy. +To pay special attention to the sections of our society that may be at risk of not benefitting adequately from economic progress. +To provide advice and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and international like-minded Think Tanks, as well as educational and policy research institutions. +To create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative community of national and international experts, practitioners and other partners. +To offer a platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues in order to accelerate the implementation of the development agenda. +To maintain a state-of-the-art Resource Centre, be a repository of research on good governance and best practices in sustainable and equitable development as well as help their dissemination to stake-holders. +To focus on technology upgradation and capacity building for implementation of programmes and initiatives. +To undertake other activities as may be necessary in order to further the execution of the national development agenda, and the objectives mentioned above. +The NITI Aayog will comprise the following:- +These will be formed for a specified tenure. +Swami Vivekananda said “Take up one idea. +This is the way to success.” +Through its commitment to a cooperative federalism, promotion of citizen engagement, egalitarian access to opportunity, participative and adaptive governance and increasing use of technology, the NITI Aayog will seek to provide a critical directional and strategic input into the governance process. +This, along with being the incubator of ideas for effective governance, will be the core mission of NITI Aayog. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed two important events, via video-conference, on the occasion of National Youth Day. +Addressing the Inaugural Ceremony of National Youth Festival 2018 at the Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, the Prime Minister began by congratulating ISRO on the successful launch of PSLV-C40. +Our strides in space will help our citizens and will enhance our development journey, the Prime Minister said. +He recalled that during Mann Ki Baat in December 2017, he had called for organising Mock Parliaments in the districts. +Such Mock Parliaments will further the spirit of discussion among our youth, he added. +The Prime Minister said that we are born after 1947 and thus, we did not have the honour to take part in the freedom struggle. +But, he added, we have the opportunity to fulfil the dreams of the great men and women who devoted their lives for our freedom. +We have to create the India that our freedom fighters dreamt of, Shri Narendra Modi asserted. +The Prime Minister said that we want to make our youth job creators. +They should be youngsters who innovate, he added. +The Prime Minister observed that some people say that today’s youth does not have ‘Dhairya’ or patience. +However, he feels, that in a way, this is what ignites an innovative zeal in our youth. +It enables our youngsters to think out of the box and do new things, he added. +The Prime Minister urged the youth to make sports a part of their lives. +Addressing a programme to mark National Youth Day and Sarva Dharma Sabha at Belagavi, Karnataka, the Prime Minister said that Swami Vivekananda emphasised on brotherhood. +He believed that our well-being lies in the development of India, the Prime Minister added. +Shri Narendra Modi said that there was a lot of propaganda against India in the Western world that Swami Vivekananda proved wrong. +He also raised a voice against social evils, he added. +Some people are trying to divide the nation and the youth of this country are giving a fitting answer to such elements, the Prime Minister said. +Our youth will never be misled, the Prime Minister added. +It is India’s youth that is taking the Swachh Bharat Mission to new heights, the Prime Minister said. +India has been home to several saints, seers who have served society and reformed it, he added. +The Prime Minister said Seva Bhav is a part of our culture. +All over India, there are several individuals and organisations selflessly serving society, he added. +The Prime Minister exhorted everyone to work towards making our nation ODF. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will interact with over 100 MUDRA beneficiaries from across the country at a function in the capital tomorrow. +The total amount disbursed under this scheme is Rs. 220596.05 Crore +The scheme was launched on 8th April 2015 to promote and ensure access of financial facilities to Non –Corporate Small Business Sector (NCSBS). +The loans provided are easily accessible and in three categories- Shishu, Kishore and Tarun. +Under the scheme all loans upto Rs.10 lakh for income generating activities will be extended as PMMY loans. +Loan of upto Rs. 50000 is given under sub-scheme ‘Shishu’ between Rs. 50,000 to 5 Lakhs under sub-scheme ‘Kishore’ and between Rs. 5 Lakhs to Rs.10 Lakhs under sub-scheme ‘Tarun’. +Activities allied to Agriculture (excluding crop loans, land improvement such as canals, irrigation, wells) and services supporting these, which promote livelihood or are income generating, have also been included under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojanafrom April, 2016 onwards. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Morocco on cooperation in the area of Cyber Security. +The MoU was signed on 25th September 2018. +The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation for exchange of knowledge and experience in detection, resolution and prevention of security-related incidents between India and Morocco. +Implementation of the MoU will result in significant mutual benefits in the Cyber Security sector, through institutional and capacity building with Morocco in the field of Cyber Security. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary. +“I bow to Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary. +His contribution towards preserving India’s democratic ideals is invaluable.,” the Prime Minister said. +(a) Reduction of the total strength of the cadre from 420 to 376. +(b) Creation of one Apex level post of Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA). +(d) Creation of two additional HAG level posts taking the grade strength from 6 to 8. +(e) Creation of 18 additional SAG level posts taking the grade strength from 37 to 55. +(f) Reduction in JAG level posts from 111 to 90. +(g) Reduction in STS level posts from 198 to 86. +(i) Creation of 46 Posts to be operated as Reserves +In Department of Telecommunications, the IP&TAFS performs the functions of assessment and collection of license fee/ spectrum usage charges, spectrum auction, USO scheme monitoring and subsidy management, exchequer control, budgeting, accounting, pension disbursement, internal audit and finance advice. +In the Department of Posts, the IP&TAFS is entrusted with the functions of finance advice, budgeting, tariff and costing, accounting and internal audit. +There has been a paradigm shift in the role of Department of Telecommunications as well as the Department of Posts in recent years. +Receipts from Department of Telecommunications, primarily License Fee, Spectrum Usage Charges and Spectrum Auction Value constitute one of the largest source of non-tax revenue for the Government of India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released the coffee table book “Timeless Laxman”, based on the famous cartoonist RK Laxman. +Speaking on the occasion, he said he is happy to be a part of this timeless journey. +He expressed happiness that an insight into the vast treasure of Laxman’s work is now available in this way. +He remarked that studying Laxman’s work through the decades is a nice way to understand sociology, and the socio-economic milieu of the times. +This effort is not just for Laxman, or his memory, the Prime Minister said, adding that a small part of Laxman, lives within crores of people. +The Prime Minister said that Laxman’s common man was timeless and pan-Indian. +All Indians, and all generations of people could identify with him, he added. +The Prime Minister mentioned how the process of Padma awards has been changed to bring into focus the common man. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. +The function was witnessed at over 3000 locations across the country, which were connected to the main event in Delhi. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that through the India Post Payments Bank, banking services will conveniently reach the remotest places in the country, and the people living there. +He recalled that the Union Government had earlier rolled out the Jan Dhan Yojana to establish financial inclusion. +He said that today’s launch of IPPB is one more step to achieve this objective. +He said IPPB branches have opened across 650 districts today. +The Prime Minister said that the postman has long been a respected and accepted person in the villages. +He said the trust on the postman remains, despite the advent of modern technology. +He said that the Government’s approach is to reform existing frameworks and structures, and hence, transform them in accordance with the changing times. +He said that there are over 1.5 lakh post offices and over three lakh postmen or “grameen dak sevaks” who are connected to the people of the country. +Now they shall be empowered with smartphones and digital devices to provide financial services. +Enumerating the benefits of IPPB, he said it will enable money transfer, transfer of government benefits, bill payments and other services such as investment and insurance. +He added that postmen would deliver these services at the doorstep. +He said that IPPB will also facilitate digital transactions, and help deliver the benefits of schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, which provide assistance to farmers. +The Prime Minister said that since 2014, the Union Government has been dealing firmly with the distortions and problems that had arisen in India’s banking sector due to indiscriminate loan advances. +He said existing loans have been reviewed and a professional approach has been taken with regard to the banking sector. +He mentioned other measures such as the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, which have been taken to ensure that the guilty are punished. +The Prime Minister said that now Mudra loans worth over 13 lakh crore rupees have been given to the poor and middle class, for creating self-employment opportunities. +He said that today, as India achieves its best ever Asian Games performance, and the economy shows excellent growth numbers, the entire country is full of new self-confidence. +He said this is the result of the collective efforts of the people. +He said today India is not just the fastest growing economy in the world, but also the country that is eradicating poverty the fastest. +The Prime Minister said that 3 lakh “dak sevaks” would be the key to provide financial services to every home, every farmer and every small enterprise in the villages. +He mentioned that in recent months, several steps have been taken for the welfare of “dak sevaks” and to meet their long pending demand. +These have led to a substantial increase in their salary, he added. +He expressed confidence that IPPB shall reach over 1.5 lakh post offices across the country within the next few months. +I am delighted to be present at the seventh centenary celebrations of Jagadguru Sri Madhavacharya Ji, India’s one of the greatest philosophers of the Bhakti Aandolan era. +I could not reach Udupi due to busy work schedule. +I have returned from Aligarh, just a little while ago. +It is a great pleasure for me to have an opportunity today to get your blessings. +I welcome all Acharyas, Saints for spreading the messages of Sant Sri Madhavacharya for moral and spiritual upliftment of human being. +I also salute the holy land of Karnataka, where saint like Madhavacharya emerged in one hand and in other hand spiritual souls like Acharya Shankar and Acharya Ramanuj gave it special affection. +Udupi has been Sri Madhavacharya Ji’s birth place and work place also. +Sri Madhavacharya had written his renowned Geetabhashya on this holy land of Udupi only. +Sri Madhavacharya was also the founder of the Krishna Temple here. +I have special relationship with the Krishna idol installed in this temple. +I have special attachment with Udupi. +I have got several opportunities to come to Udupi. +From 1968 the Bharatiya Janata Party and Bharatiya Jansangh had been accomplishing the responsibility of Udupi Municipal Corporation for more than four decades. +In 1968, Udupi become the first such Municipal Corporation, which had put a ban on manual scavenging. +Udupi was honoured for cleanliness twice in 1984 and 1989. +On the basis of cleanliness, this town has been a live example of our human values. +I am happy that Sri Vishwesh Tirth Swami Ji is himself present here in these celebrations. +After attaining Sannyas, in a very little age of 8 years, he dedicated 80 years of his life to strengthen his country and his society. +He campaigned across the country against illiteracy, cow slaughter and cast feeling. +It is only the influence of Swamiji’s good works that he has got the opportunity to become the fifth Paryay. +I salute such great Saint. +Our country’s history is thousands years old. +Motivated by thousands years old history, our country has been witnessing changes from time to time. +There have been changes among people and society. +But, sometimes, some evils find their place in society several times. +Our society has such characteristic that whenever any evil emerges, somebody from the society itself, start reformatory works. +There was such a period also, when its leadership was in the hands of Saints of the country. +This is unique capability of the Indian society that we have been blessed with such god-like great men from time to time, who identified these evils and shown the path for liberation. +Madhavacharya was also such a saint, social reformer and above all, a forerunner of his time. +There are several examples, when he had expressed his views against the evils and shown the society a new direction. +The social reforms to end the evil of animal slaughter during Yajnasis also a gift from saints like Sri Madhavacharya. +Hundreds years back, our history has such example that our saints had started people’s movement to bring reforms against evils in the society. +They had connected this people’s movement with devotion (Bhakti). +This Bhakti Aandolan had reached north India from south India via Maharashtra and Gujarat. +In that Bhakti Yuga, in that period, our saints had come out of Temples and Mutts and had moved across every part of India, whether it is east, west, north or south or areas associated with any language, they tried to bring awareness and made efforts to awaken the soul of India. +In south- Madhavacharya, Nimbakacharya, Vallabhacharya, Ramanujacharya, in West-Meerabai, Eknath, Tukaram, Ramdas, Narsi Mehta, in north-Ramanand, Kabirdas, Goswami Tulsidas, Surdas, Guru Nanakdev, Sant Raidas, in East-Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Shankar Dev like saints’ ideology had strengthened Bhakti Aandolan. +In that phase, with the influence of these saints, these great men, India was able to move forward and save itself, despite a lot of adversities. +He had also shown the path that one can find God, if he comes out of cast boundary. +He said, God could be found only through Karma (duty), Jnan (enlightenment) and Bhakti (devotion). +Following the path shown by him, Sant Ramanand had boldly attacked cast system by making people from all casts and religions his followers. +Sant Kabir had also tirelessly worked to liberate the society from cast system and karmakand. +Guru Nanak Dev said- Manav ki jat sabho ek pahchanbo (Identify all human being as one cast). +Sant Vallabhacharya had shown the path of liberation by following the path of affection and love. +Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had also shown new direction against untouchability. +Such a chain of India’s saints is reflection and result of the living society. +Solutions emerge in spiritual forms for all challenges emerging in the society. +Throughout entire country, there is perhaps any such rare district or taluka, where any saint’s birth has not taken place. +The foundation of religion, philosophy and literature established during the Bhakti Aandolan, inspires us even today. +During this span of Bhaktikaal, many great souls like Raskhan, Surdas, Malik Mohammad Jaysi, Keshavdas, Vidyapati had emerged, who had not only shown the society its truth, but also made efforts to reform it through their speeches and literature. +Our saints kept the importance of karma (action) in human life, human character, at highest of all. +This thought has become very much relevant at this moment, when the country has such a big fight against the black money and corruption. +A great social reformer, Vaseshwar, who gave the world the ideology of Anubhav Mantap or the first Parliament, said that human lives could only be enlightened through selfless Karma yoga. +Involvement of self interest in social and personal conduct is the first cause of corruption. +As much the selfless Karma yoga is encouraged, the corrupt conduct will come down in the society. +He said that paying tax to the Government and serving the humanity are parallel to paying tax to the God. +Our saints inspired the whole society to move: +They started people’s movement against evil traditions of the society. +They left the indelible marks on peoples’ opinion from ending cast feeling to people’s awareness, from devotion to peoples’ power, from ending Sati Kupratha to enhancing cleanliness, from social harmony to education and from health to literature and brought changes there. +The great stalwart like them have given such strength to the country, which is unique and incomparable. +Due to such a great saint tradition of continuous efforts to end social evils, we have been able to keep our cultural heritage intact for centuries. +Due to such a great saint tradition, we have been continuously realising the concept of national unification and nation building. +Such saints are not limited to any particular era, but they have been influencing from era to era. +The saints of our country have always inspired the society that if any religion is superior to any other religion, that is human religion. +Our country, our society is facing challenges even today. +Saint community and Mutts are giving huge contribution in meeting these challenges. +When the saint society says that the cleanliness is God, it has more impact in comparison with any Government campaign. +This inspires towards economic cleanliness also. +If the malpractice is a challenge before the society, the modern saint community can also provide its solution. +The saint community plays a very important role with regard to environment protection. +In our culture, the trees have been considered as sensitive and alive. +Subsequently, a India’s son and great scientist Dr Jagdish Chandra Bose had also proved it before the world. +Otherwise, the world had no belief in it and they used to make fun of us. +For us, the nature is mother, it is not for exploitation, but it is for service. +At our land, there has been tradition to sacrifice own life for the sake of trees, people perform prayer prior to break even a single branch from a tree. +We are being taught from childhood to be sensitive towards flora and fauna. +After performing daily Aarati, we chant peace mantra- vanaspatayah shanti aapah shanti. +But it is also a truth that this tradition has been adversely affected gradually with times. +Today, the saint community will have to come forward towards this end also. +The challenges of climate change can be tackled by adopting the solutions in our conduct, which have been mentioned in our epics and those are the parts of our traditions. +Today also, you can observe that whenever the countries across the whole world find any kind of obstruction in path of the life, they ultimately look towards India’s culture and civilisation. +In one way, the Indian culture possesses every answer to entire problems of the world. +In India, it is easily acceptable that one God could be worshiped in various forms. +It has been told in Rig-Veda- ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti…one super truth is being called in different names. +We not only accept diversity, but celebrate it. +We believe in ‘Vasudhaiv kutumbakam’- entire world as one family. +We say- sahnavastu-sah nau bhunaktu…all are nourished, all are having power, no one has enmity to anyone. +It is the only solution to radicalism. +The radicalism is the root cause of terrorism, claiming its path to be only right. +While in India, people of various faiths have been living for centuries, not only in principles but in practical also. +We are the people who believe in equal value for all beliefs. +I believe that if we are living together in this age of today, if we are trying to end the evils of the society, if we are making efforts towards country’s growth, its major cause is our saints’ inspiration of enlightenment, works and devotion. +It is the need of today’s time that we must talk about the God of worship and nation God together; during worship we should remember our God of worship and Mother India together. +I wish the saint community may continue showing the path to liberate our country from the evils, like illiteracy, unawareness, mal-nutrition, black money, corruption, which have gripped our Mother India. +With these words, I express my gratitude to all of you. +Thanks a lot !!! +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will be visiting Nagpur tomorrow, on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti. +In a series of tweets from his Twitter Account the Prime Minister said, “I am extremely honoured to be visiting Nagpur tomorrow, on the very special occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti +In Nagpur, I will pray at Deekshabhoomi, a holy spot that is very closely associated with Dr. Ambedkar. +A series of development projects are going to be inaugurated in Nagpur tomorrow, which will have a positive impact on people’s lives. +The development projects include IIIT, IIM and AIIMS and launch of Koradi Thermal Power Station. +Will also address a public meeting. +Will join culmination of the DigiDhan Mela, where I will present awards to Mega Draw winners of Lucky Grahak Yojana and DigiDhan Vyapar Yojna. +We are unwavering in our efforts towards creating a strong, prosperous and inclusive India of Dr. Ambedkar’s dreams.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the first extension of Concessional Financing Scheme(CFS) to support Indian Entities bidding for strategically important infrastructure projects abroad. +Under the CFS, the Govt. of India has been supporting Indian Entities bidding for strategically important infrastructure projects abroad since 2015-16. +Since the objectives of the Scheme continue to be relevant, it is proposed to extend the Scheme for another five years from 2018 to 2023. +Financial implication is towards payment of Interest Equalization Support (IES) to the lending Bank for which budgetary provision will be made by the Department of Economic Affairs every year, as follows:- +IES Amount (In US$ million) +IES Amount (In INR crore) +Note: The estimated IES is in respect of existing project only. +Also, by having projects of strategic interest to India executed by Indian entities, the CFS enables India to generate substantial backward linkage induced jobs, demand for material and machinery in India and also a lot of goodwill for India. +Implementation Strategy and Targets: +Under the Scheme, MEA selects the specific projects keeping in view strategic interest of India and sends the same to Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). +The Deputy National Security Adviser is also a member of this Committee. +Once approved by the Committee, DEA issues a formal letter to EXIM Bank conveying approval for financing of the project under CFS. +The Scheme is presently being operated through the Export-Import Bank of India, which raises resources from the market to provide concessional finance. +Government of India (GoI) provides counter guarantee and interest equalization support of 2% to the EXIM Bank. +The scheme envisages Government of India to provide counter guarantee and interest equalization of 2 % to EXIM Bank to offer concessional finance to any foreign Govt. or foreign Govt. owned or controlled entity, if any Indian entity, succeeds in getting contract for the execution of a project. +Under the Scheme, EXIM Bank extends credit at a rate not exceeding LIBOR (avg. of six months) + 100 bps. +The repayment of the loan is guaranteed by the foreign govt. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, gave its ex-post facto approval to the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of the Interior Germany and the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India for carriage of In-flight Security Officers (IFCOs) on board the flight. +The signing of MoU between India and Germany would provide compliance of international obligation as well as enhance safety of travelling public between India and Germany. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with H. E. Mrs. Kim Jung-sook, First Lady of the Republic of Korea today. +First Lady Kim is visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. +In their meeting today, the Prime Minister and First Lady Kim discussed the deep civilizational and spiritual links between India and Korea, and exchanged views on promoting people-to-people exchanges. +First Lady Kim congratulated the Prime Minister on being awarded the Seoul Peace Prize. +The Prime Minister said that this honour truly belongs to the people of India. +The Prime Minister also warmly recalled the successful visit of President Moon Jae-in to India in July 2018, which imparted fresh momentum to India-Republic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership. +The total financial implication will be Rs. 1092 crore with DBT and WT contributing Rs.728 crore and Rs.364 crore respectively. +Over its 10 years of funding in a 1:1partnership, the Programme has fulfilled its objectives of building and nurturing talent of highest global standards in cutting-edge biomedical research in India, which has led to important scientific breakthroughs and applications to meet societal needs. +In the extending phase, the Programme would continue to build this capacity as also strengthen clinical research and work towards addressing important health challenges for India. +Continuation of the Programme with increased stake from the Government of India is important to bring about these returns. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the loss of lives due to a fire at Karol Bagh in Delhi. +“Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a fire at Karol Bagh in Delhi. +I convey my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. +May the injured recover soon”, the PM said. +A meeting of the Somnath Trust was held in Delhi today under the Chairmanship of Shri Keshubhai Patel. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Shri L. K. Advani, Shri Harshavardhan Neotia and Shri P. K. Laheri as the trustees, also attended the meeting. +The Trust reappointed Shri Keshubhai Patel as Chairman for the year 2016 and Shri Amit Shah was appointed as the Trustee in place of Late Shri Prasanvadan Mehta while Shri Rajan Kilachand resigned. +Prime Minister stressed on the need for establishing Somnath Temple as a premier religious tourist destination. +He also suggested to build a state of the art virtual museum and auditorium. +In this regard, the Prime Minister also suggested that a tourist circuit should be created connecting Somnath, Diu and Gir Lion Safari. +The Trust decided to add many more tourist attractions. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his good wishes to the fellow Indians on the various festivals being celebrated across India. +“Good wishes to my fellow Indians on the various festivals being celebrated across India. +It gives me great pleasure to be here on the occasion of the inauguration of reading month celebration. +I thank and congratulate the P.N. Panicker foundation for organising this. +There can be no joy greater than reading and no strength greater than knowledge. +Kerala has been a torch-bearer and inspiration to the whole nation in the field of literacy. +The first 100 percent literate city and first 100 percent literate district have been from Kerala. +Kerala was also the first state to attain 100 percent primary education. +Some of the oldest colleges, schools and libraries of the country are also situated in Kerala. +This could not have been achieved by Government alone. +Citizens and social organizations have played an active role in this remarkable achievement. +Kerala has set an example in people’s participation in this regard. +I admire the work of people like late Shri P.N. Panicker and his foundation. +Shri P.N. Panicker was also the driving spirit behind the library network in Kerala. +He did this through Kerala Grandhasala Sangham set up by him in 1945 with 47 rural libraries. +I believe that reading and knowledge should not be limited only to work related aspects. +It should help develop habits of social responsibility, service to the nation and service to humanity. +It should cure the evils in society and nation. +It should spread the idea of peace along with respect for unity and integrity of the nation. +It is said that one literate woman can educate two families. +Kerala has set an example worthy of emulation in this regard. +I learn that PN Panicker Foundation together with a number of Government agencies, private sector entities and civil society organisations, is leading an initiative of reading. +Their target is to reach 300 million under-privileged people by 2022. +The main objective of this mission is to promote reading as a means to grow and prosper. +Reading can help broaden one’s thinking. +A well-read population will help India excel globally. +With the same spirit, I had started a similar movement by name of VANCHE GUJARAT when I was Chief Minister of the State. +It means “Gujarat Reads”. +I had visited a public library to motivate people to read. +The movement targeted the young generation, in particular. +I also requested citizens to think about building a ‘Granth-Mandir’ – a temple of books – in their village. +This could be started with 50 or 100 books. +I appealed to people to give a book instead of bouquet as a greeting. +Such a move can make a big difference. +From the time of the Upanishads persons with knowledge have been respected through the ages. +We are now in the information age. +Even today, knowledge is the best guiding light. +I am told that as a pilot project of Digital Libraries, Panicker Foundation is working with 18 public libraries in the state in collaboration with Indian Public Library Movement, New Delhi. +I would like to see such a reading and library movement in the entire country. +The movement should not be limited to make people literate. +It should try to achieve the real goal of bringing social and economic change. +The foundation of good knowledge should be followed by a super-structure of a better society. +I am happy to note that the State Government has announced 19th June as the reading day. +Obviously, a lot of effort will converge to make this a popular activity. +The Government of India has also provided support to the activities of the foundation. +I am told that about 1.20 crore rupees have been given to the foundation in the last two years. +I am also happy to see that the foundation is now focusing on digital literacy. +This is the need of the hour. +I believe in people’s power. +It has the capacity to make a better society and nation. +I urge every young person in the audience to take a pledge of reading. +And enable everyone to do so. +Together, we can once again make India a land of wisdom and knowledge. +Rt. Hon. Theresa May, British Prime Minister made a telephone call to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The two Prime Ministers exchanged greetings on the occasion of the festival of Diwali, celebrated recently. +Both leaders agreed that there is substantial scope for further strengthening bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors, including Science & Technology, Finance, Trade & Investment, and Defence & Security. +The Prime Minister said that he is looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister May in India next week, which will be her first substantive bilateral visit outside Europe. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has thanked Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Nawaz Sharif, for assistance by Pakistan in evacuation of Indian Citizens from Yemen. +“I welcome our 11 citizens who’ve returned from Yemen with assistance from Pakistan. +Thank you PM Nawaz Sharif for your humanitarian gesture. +The help India extended included help to our neighbours Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka”, the Prime Minister said. +I congratulate President Ramaphosa on the success of BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in July and hosting this meeting. +In BRICS we represent 42% of the world’s population. +Since last few years BRICS has been the engine of Global Growth. +However, there are still many possibilities of increasing our share in world GDP (23%) and trade (16%). +They are not in line with our population. +Globalization has brought millions of people out of poverty. +However, we have challenges of equal distribution of benefits of globalization before us. +There has been a streak of continuous difficulties in the path of multilateralism and rule-based world order and protectionism is increasing. +Currency devaluation and sharp increase in oil prices are challenging the profits earned over the past few years. +BRICS countries have been contributing to global sustainability and development. +We have played an important role in shaping the economic and political structure of the world. +We have made significant contributions in making the architecture of global economic governance more representative and democratic and we will continue to work further in this direction. +We must speak unanimously about providing more representation to the developing countries in United Nations, its Security Council and other multilateral institutions. +This is the purpose for which we have come together in the BRICS. +To ensure a rule-based world order we have to work together with multilateral institutions like UN, WTO, UNFCC, World Bank, so as to maintain their relevance and they also reflect the realities of current time. +In this regard, I have suggested ‘Reformed Multilateralism’ in my meeting in Johannesburg. +Inclusion of topics like the New Industrial Revolution, future of work, etc. in the G20 agenda has enriched the discussion of global development. +We, BRICS countries, are eager to cooperate in the new Industrial Revolution. +In this context, the topics of globalization and migration must be addressed through better multilateral coordination and cooperation. +Managing labor issues in the Global Supply Chain will be necessary to ensure excellent work in the entire value chain. +Portability of social security schemes of workers and smooth movement of laborers worldwide is very important. +Social-economic issues like women’s empowerment and sustainable food future will be raised in the G20 Summit. +On sustainable development and infrastructure, earlier I had suggested the need for disaster resilient infrastructure. +We have to work together to take it forward. +India values and appreciates the progress made in enhancing BRICS political exchanges. +In this regard, meetings between our Foreign Ministers, NSAs and special messengers from Middle East have made important contributions. +We all agree that terrorism and radicalization are the biggest threats that the whole world is facing today. +It is not only a threat to the peace and security, it is also a threat to economic development. +We have urged all countries for the implementation of FATF standards. +BRICS and G20 countries have to work together to strengthen the UN Counter Terrorism Framework to stop terrorist networks, their financing and their movement. +We need to work together against economic offenders and fugitives. +This problem can be a serious threat to the world’s economic stability. +Our support base in the G20 has started to become strong. +Our BRICS Sherpas have been consulting and cooperating in G20 areas. +G20 Summit is being headed by a developing country. +It is a good opportunity that the focus of the G20 agenda and its results should be brought to the priorities of the developing countries. +In the end, once again I thank President Ramaphosa for the successful hosting of the Johannesburg Summit and for organizing this meeting. +I also confirm full support and cooperation of India to Brazil and its leadership for the forthcoming BRICS Chairmanship. +I am confident that BRICS cooperation will scale new heights under the Chairmanship of Brazil. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ‘in principle’ approval to the Implementation of Master Plan to convert All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi into a world class Medical University. +The Master Plan envisages freeing up adequate space through redevelopment, vertical expansion and reorganizing the land usage, thus optimizing the infrastructure of the Institute for the next 20 years. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. +India grieves the demise of our beloved Atal Ji. +His passing away marks the end of an era. +He lived for the nation and served it assiduously for decades. +My thoughts are with his family, BJP Karyakartas and millions of admirers in this hour of sadness. +It was Atal Ji’s exemplary leadership that set the foundations for a strong, prosperous and inclusive India in the 21st century. +His futuristic policies across various sectors touched the lives of each and every citizen of India. +Atal Ji’s passing away is a personal and irreplaceable loss for me. +I have countless fond memories with him. +He was an inspiration to Karyakartas like me. +I will particularly remember his sharp intellect and outstanding wit. +It was due to the perseverance and struggles of Atal Ji that the BJP was built brick by brick. +He travelled across the length and breadth of India to spread the BJP’s message, which led to the BJP becoming a strong force in our national polity and in several states”, the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets. +Earlier All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi issued a Press Release informing that the Former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away at 05:05pm today. +“Today we remember all those people who lost their lives in Hiroshima. +I hope humankind never sees such a day ever again. +Let us all work together and further the cause of world peace and make the world a happier and more peaceful place in the years to come,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister was also present in the Lok Sabha, when the House paid homage to the victims of Hiroshima, today. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its ex-post facto approval for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among BRICS countries on BRICS Network University. +The negotiations were held on this during the 3rd BRICS Education Ministers meeting and Senior Officials meeting in November, 2015 at Mosco, Russia. +The MoU will help in developing pro-active cooperation among the BRICS nations for the purpose of enhancement of scientific research, higher education, information exchange, analysis and implementation of best practices, joint research programmes, and mobility of students, researchers and educators. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of country on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya. +My prayers for a rich harvest to the farmers and a happy and prosperous life to the fellow citizens”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the progress of the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY). +Senior Government officials briefed him on aspects such as addressing of debt, monitoring frameworks, improvement in financial parameters, operational achievements, and consumer empowerment. +During a presentation on coal mine and mineral block auctions made by senior Government officials, the Prime Minister emphasized on a roadmap for faster operationalization of mines, post-auction. +He also called for greater coordination between all mineral-related departments during the survey and mapping of geological potential regions. +Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, and senior officials from PMO, NITI Aayog and other Ministries were present during the meeting. +He is never worried; sometimes some names are left. +You heard the speech of Venkaiah Ji like super fast express. +A short while ago, Raman Singh Ji was describing that Modi ji has started on Sunday which is a holiday. +For me it is holiday in real sense. +About holiday, I say its holy day. +We should do all the work that is possible on that day. +When I go to bed at night I would have completed my visit to five states today. +When ‘Janta Janardan’ assigns you some responsibility then you should try to complete it whole heartedly. +And everyone should try. +Today, I had the opportunity to unveil the statue of Sai Baba. +I salute the great social works of Sai Baba. +Today the draft of a new policy was presented before you on innovation and Entrepreneurship. +They brought about many new things. +They came out with several new ideas which wer later accepted by the world. +That innovation became beneficial for the society and became the reason behind economic progress of that country. +If there is no innovation, the nation comes to a halt. +It causes interruption. +The very nature of the life should be ever changing with times. +The tradition of innovation should be maintained. +We should work for new innovations which are useful to the society and community. +However, if we continue to just recite the rosary of demographic division that our 65 percent population is below 35 years of age, then it is not going to work. +This 65 percent of population should be skilled. +There should be economic management for displaying skill. +The Government policies should be encouraging these small entrepreneurs. +This could be the environment in the country. +The environment of my country should be conducive to help realize the dreams of life for my youth. +The Government has taken steps one after another in this direction to fulfill their dreams and ambitions. +Skill Development provides skilling opportunities to the youth of the country. +‘Mudra Yojna’ is financing scheme for new entrepreneurs and even for the old who want to expand. +Remember this doesn’t require any guarantee for such people who couldn’t even go to the banks. +Money lenders fleeced them. +The interest was enormous. +Some time he had to flee from his village and at times to leave the world. +Mudra scheme has been formulated to save him from the clutches of money lenders. +Under the scheme, arrangements have been made to provide funds worth Rs.50,000 to 10 lakh without guarantee. +The idea here is that they expand their businesses and provide employment to poor people. +There is prevailing belief in the world that for economic growth the push will come from the private sector and the public sector entities like government PSUs or corporate houses. +When Central and State Governments power unite, the development comes very rapidly. +And I believe that the youth of Chhattisgarh will be benefited. +‘Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojna’ is also being launched today. +Neither do they have land nor the money. +Systems sometime play a big role for development. +Poorest of the poor find a way of living. +He lives in the slums, goes out in the day time and comes back in night to sleep. +There is no environment for the family nor he has the dreams. +But if he is given a small house, he is willing to pay back. +If government and banks extend help, this model of public private partnership can move forward. +Once he has the house, second thing comes to his mind. +If guests come, there should be something at the entrance to wipe the feet. +Then he saves 10 rupees and gets a doormat. +Then he starts thinking for their education. +Once the roof over the head comes, the walls come there, it breathes in a new life to his dreams and he starts doing new things. +Hence I would like to point out that the ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana’ is not an Infrastructure. +It is not meant to create walls or to provide land. +It is a big program to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of the people. +He also wants to give them something. +This should be resolve of every citizen of the country. +We should think what kind should be the nation of our dreams. +We should have a dream that on 75 years of independence, even the poorest of the poor of India should have a house of their own. +Lots of human resources will be required. +But it will also increase the employment opportunities. +Cement, iron, brick, clay all will be sold more. +There will be more work for the workers. +We will be a witness to a major economic trend in coming days for the young generation. +Life is going to change and that program starts here. +States governments across the country need to act fast and decide what would be the location of the land to build such housing units. +Center is ready to pursue this work. +State and Central Government will do this work together and provide shelter to poorest of poor of this country. +His dreams will get a new life with this shelter. +And with those dreams the country will scale new heights in 2022. +With this belief I once again convey my greetings to Raman Singh Ji and his team. +Your Majesties, Chairperson of the African Union, His Excellency Robert Mugabe Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Madam Dlamini-Zuma, Excellencies, +To the 41 Heads of State and Government and the other eminent leaders; to the hundreds of senior officials, business leaders and journalists from Africa, I say this: we are deeply, deeply honoured by your presence today. +To our visitors from the land where history began, humanity grew and new hope rises; +From the deserts of the north, where the glory of human civilization shines through the shifting sands of time; +From the south, where the conscience of our age has been forged – from Mahatma Gandhi to Albert Luthuli to Nelson Mandela; +From the shores of Atlantic that has been at history’s tragic crossroads and now at the frontiers of many successes; From our neighbours on the resurgent east coast; From Africa’s heart, where Nature is generous and culture is rich; And, from the sparkling gems of island states; +A very warm embrace of welcome and friendship from India. +Today, it is not just a meeting of India and Africa. +Today, the dreams of one-third of humanity have come together under one roof. +Today, the heart beat of 1.25 billion Indians and 1.25 billion Africans are in rhythm. +We are among the world’s oldest civilisations. +We are each a vibrant mosaic of languages, religions and cultures. +Our histories have intersected since ages. +Once united by geography, we are now linked by the Indian Ocean. +The currents of the mighty ocean have nurtured the ties of kinship, commerce, and culture through centuries. +Generations of Indians and Africans have travelled to each other’s land in search of their destiny or by the force of circumstances. +Either way, we have enriched each other and strengthened our ties. +We have spoken in one voice in the world; and, we have formed a partnership for prosperity among ourselves. +We have stood together under blue helmets to keep peace. +And, we have fought together against hunger and disease. +And, as we look to the future, there is something precious that unites us: it is our youth. +Two-thirds of India and two-thirds of Africa is under the age of 35 years. +And, if the future belongs to the youth, then this century is ours to shape and build. +Africa is already on that path. +We are all familiar with Africa’s ancient achievements. +Now, its modern strides are catching the attention of the world. +The continent is more settled and stable. +African nations are coming together to take responsibility for their development, peace and security. +African struggles and sacrifices are upholding democracy, combating extremism and empowering women. +Women now constitute around 20% of the elected Members of Parliament in Africa. +To one who has played a role in that, President Sirleaf, I extend our best wishes on your birthday today. +Africa’s economic growth has gathered momentum and has a more diversified base. +African initiatives are replacing old fault lines with new bridges of regional economic integration. +We see many successful examples of economic reforms, infrastructure development and sustainable use of resources. +They are turning adrift economies into dynamic ones. +Four hundred thousand new businesses were registered in Africa in 2013; and, mobile telephone now reaches 95% of the population in many places. +Africa is now joining the global mainstream of innovation. +The mobile banking of M-Pesa, the healthcare innovation of MedAfrica, or the agriculture innovation of AgriManagr and Kilimo Salama, are using mobile and digital technology to transform lives in Africa. +We see strong measures that are radically improving healthcare, education and agriculture. +Africa’s sports, art and music delight the entire world. +But, I have confidence in African leadership and the African people to rise to those challenges. +for the past six decades, so much of our independent journeys have been together. +Now, so much of India’s development priorities and Africa’s lofty vision for its future are aligned. +Today, Africa and India are two bright spots of hope and opportunities in the global economy. +India is honoured to be a development partner for Africa. +It is a partnership beyond strategic concerns and economic benefits. +It is formed from the emotional bonds we share and the solidarity we feel for each other. +In less than a decade, our trade has more than doubled to over 70 billion dollars. +India is now a major source of business investments in Africa. +Today, 34 African countries enjoy duty free access to the Indian market. +African energy helps run the engine of the Indian economy; its resources are powering our industries; and, African prosperity offers growing market for Indian products. +India has committed 7.4 billion dollars in concessional credit and 1.2 billion dollars in grant since the first India-Africa Summit in 2008. +It is creating 100 capacity building institutions, and developing infrastructure, public transport, clean energy, irrigation, agriculture and manufacturing capacity across Africa. +In the last three years alone, nearly 25,000 young Africans have been trained and educated in India. +They are the 25,000 new links between us. +There are times when we have not done as well as you have wanted us to. +There have been occasions when we have not been as attentive as we should be. +There are commitments we have not fulfilled as quickly as we should have. +But, you have always embraced India with warmth, and without judgement. +You have rejoiced in our success, and taken pride in our achievements. +And, you have stood for us in the world. +This is the strength of our partnership and our friendship. +And, as we travel on the road ahead, we will do so with the wisdom of our experience and the benefit of your guidance. +We will raise the level of our support for your vision of a prosperous,integrated, and united Africa that is a major partner for the world. +We will help connect Africa from Cairo to Cape Town, from Marakesh to Mombassa; help develop your infrastructure, power and irrigation; help add value to your resources in Africa; and, set up industrial and information technology parks. +As the great Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka insisted, human entity remains the primary asset in overall development. +It also opens doors to opportunities for the youth. +So, development of human capital in every walk of life will be at the heart of our partnership. +We will open our doors more;we will expand tele-education; and we will continue to build institutions in Africa. +The Egyptian Nobel Prize winning writer Naguib Mahfouz said, “Science brings people together with the light of its ideas…and prods us towards a better future.” +There can be no better expression of the ability of science to unify people and advance progress. +So, technology will be a strong foundation of our partnership. +It will help develop Africa’s agriculture sector. +Africa has 60% of the world’s arable land reserves, and just 10% of the global output. +Agriculture in Africa can drive the continent’s march to prosperity, and also support global food security. +India’s expertise in healthcare and affordable medicines can offer new hope in the fight against many diseases; and give a newborn a better chance to survive. +We will also collaborate to develop Indian and African treasures of traditional knowledge and medicines. +We will make available our space assets and technology. +We will use the possibilities of digital technology to transform development, public services, governance, disaster response, resource management and quality of life. +We will expand and extend the Pan Africa E-Network, conceived by late President APJ Abdul Kalam, which links 48 African countries to India and to each other. +This will alsohelp set up your Pan Africa Virtual University. +We will work to reduce digital divide within Africa and between Africa and rest of the world. +We will cooperate for sustainable development of Blue Economy that will become important future drivers of our prosperity. +For me, Blue Economy is part of a larger Blue Revolution to reclaim our blue skies and blue waters, as we move on the path of clean development. +When the sun sets, tens of millions of homes in India and Africa become dark. +We want to light up lives of our people and power their future. +But, we want to do it in a way that the snow on Kilimanjaro does not disappear, the glacier that feeds the River Ganges does not retreat and our islands are not doomed. +No one has done less to contribute to global warming than India and Africa. +No one can be more conscious of climate change than Indians and Africans. +This is because we are the inheritors of Nature’s most precious gifts, and of traditions that respect them the most; and, our lives remain most connected to Mother Earth. +We are each making enormous efforts with our modest resources to combat climate change. +For India, 175 Gigawatts of additional renewable energy capacity by 2022 and reduction in emission intensity by 33-35% by 2030 are just two aspects of our efforts. +We will also deepen India-Africa partnership on clean energy, sustainable habitats, public transport and climate resilient agriculture. +But, it is also true that the excess of few cannot become the burden of many. +So, when the world meets in Paris in December, we look to see a comprehensive and concrete outcome that is based on the well established principles in the UN Convention on Climate Change. +I also invite you to join an alliance of solar-rich countries that I have proposed to launch in Paris on November 30 at the time of COP-21 meeting. +Our goal is to make solar energy an integral part of our life and reach it to the most unconnected villages and communities. +India and Africa seek also seek a global trading regime that serves our development goals and improves our trade prospects. +When we meet at Nairobi Ministerial of the WTO in December, we must ensure that the Doha Development Agenda of 2001 is not closed without achieving these fundamental objectives. +We should also achieve a permanent solution on public stock holding for food security and special safeguard mechanism in agriculture for the developing countries. +This is a milestone year when we are setting the agenda for our future and celebrating the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. +The world is undergoing political, economic, technological and security transition on a scale and speed rarely seen in recent history. +Yet our global institutions reflect the circumstances of the century that we left behind, not the one we are in today. +These institutions have served us well, but unless they adjust to the changing world, they risk becoming irrelevant. +We cannot say what will replace them in an uncertain future. +But, we might have a more fragmented world that is less capable of dealing with the challenges of our era. +That is why India advocates reforms in global institutions. +This is a world of free nations and awakened aspirations. +Our institutions cannot be representative of our world, if they do not give voice to Africa, with more than a quarter of UN members, or the world’s largest democracy with one-sixth of humanity. +That is why India and Africa must speak in one voice for reforms of the United Nations, including its Security Council. +Today, in many parts of the world, the light of a bright future flickers in the storm of violence and instability. +When terror snuffs out life on the streets and beaches, and in malls and schools of Africa, we feel your pain as our own. +And, we see the links that unite us against this threat. +We also see that when our oceans are no longer safe for trade, we all suffer together. +And, when Nations are caught in conflict within, no one around remains untouched. +And, we know that our cyber networks bring opportunities, but also carry huge risks. +So, when it comes to security, distance no longer insulates us from each other. +That is why we wish to deepen our cooperation in maritime security and hydrography, and countering terrorism and extremism; and, why we must have a UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. +We will also provide support for Africa Union’s peacekeeping efforts. +And, we will train African peacekeepers here and in Africa. +We must also have a stronger voice in decisions on UN Peacekeeping Missions. +From connecting lives to collaborating for our prosperity, from keeping our people safe to advancing our global interests, the agenda of our partnership stretches across the vast territory of our linked aspirations. +To add strength to our partnership, India will offer concessional credit of 10 billion U.S. dollars over the next five years. +This will be in addition to our ongoing credit programme. +We will also offer a grant assistance of 600 million U.S. dollars. +This will include an India-Africa Development Fund of 100 million U.S. dollars and an India-Africa Health Fund of 10 million U.S. dollars. +If this century is going to be one in which all humans have a life of opportunity, equality and dignity; stand in peace with each other; and live in balance with nature, then India and Africa must rise together. +We will work together: +From the memory of our common struggles; and, the tide of our collective hopes; +From the richness of our heritage; and, the commitment to our planet; +From the pledge to our people; and, the faith in our future; +From the generosity of the African saying that a small home can hold hundred friends; +From the spirit of India’s ancient belief: सन्तः स्वयं परहिते निहिताभियोगाः that great souls are always taking the initiatives to do good to others; +From the inspiration of Mandela’s call to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. +Today, we pledge to walk together, with our steps in rhythm and our voices in harmony. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry of Railways, Government of India and the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications of Swiss Confederation on Technical Cooperation in Rail Sector. +The MoU was signed on on 31st August, 2017. +The identified areas of cooperation include high-speed corridors, speed raising of existing routes, development of world-class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure, etc. +The cooperation is achieved through exchange of information on developments in areas of railways technology & operations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training & seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest. +The MoUs provide a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector. +The MoUs facilitate exchange of technical experts, reports and technical documents, training and seminars/workshops focusing on specific technology areas and other interactions for knowledge sharing. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his best wishes to the people of Brazil, on their Independence Day. +“Best wishes to the people of Brazil on their Independence Day. +India and Brazil have strong and long-standing cooperation in many areas. +I see great potential for India-Brazil ties to grow even further, which will benefit the people of both our Nations”, the Prime Minister said. +Deletion of ‘Abor’ in serial No. 1, as it is the same as ‘Adi’ in Serial No. 16. +Replace Tai Khamti’ instead of ‘Khampti’ at serial No. 6. +Inclusion of ‘Mishmi-Kaman’ (Miju Mishmi), Idu (Mishmi) and Taraon (Digaru Mishmi) in serial No. 8. +Inclusion of Monpa, Memba, Sartang, Sajolong (Miji) in serial No. 9 in lieu of ‘Momba’. +Inclusion of ‘Nocte’, “Tangsa’, Tutsa’, ‘Wancho’ in lieu of ‘Any Naga Tribes’ in serial No. 10 in list of Scheduled Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. +There is reportedly no such community. +Inclusion of Monpa, Memba, Sartang, Wancho – Existing entry is of ‘Any Naga Tribes’. +These are reportedly the only Naga tribes in the State. +Inclusion of Nocte, Tangsa, Tutsa, Wancho – Existing entry is of ‘Any Naga Tribes’. +After the Bill becomes an Act, member of the communities newly listed in the revised list of Scheduled Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh will also be able to derive benefits meant for STs under the existing schemes of the Government. +Some of the major schemes of this kind include Post Matric Scholarship, National Overseas Scholarship, National Fellowship, Top Class Education, Concessional Loans from National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation, Hostels for ST boys and girls etc. +In addition to above, they will also be entitled to benefits of reservation in services and admission to educational institutions as per Government policy. +PM: The time for incremental change is long over +Interacting with members of the NITI Aayog, the Prime Minister said the time for incremental change, that was the norm across the world for quite some time, is now over. +He said the current age is one that requires transformational change. +He highlighted the importance of technology as an emerging driver of change over the last three decades, and asserted that this pace of change would not slacken. +The Prime Minister asserted that the Union Government has the courage and the ability to deliver transformational change for bettering the lives of the people. +He pointed out that, historically, Indian policy-makers had tended to lament its constraints rather than play to its strengths. +Laying out the broad contours of India’s development path, the Prime Minister said that judicious and intelligent application of India’s natural resources and human resources, would be at the heart of this change. +Giving several illustrations of this theme, he mentioned use of available land, the country’s mineral wealth, and vast untapped solar energy potential. +In a similar way, he said India has made sub-optimal use so far of its vast coastline. +Talking about human resource development, the Prime Minister said focused skill development is vital, as India has the potential to fulfil the global requirement of human resources in the future. +The Prime Minister stressed on the need to develop India’s tourism potential. +He said partnership with States for promoting development and boosting exports is not just an element of cooperative federalism, but also the need of the hour. +Turning to Agriculture, the Prime Minister said the focus cannot be on increasing agricultural productivity alone, but should be on the overall development of a vibrant rural economy. +He emphasized the importance of the food processing sector, warehouse development, and technology inputs, in this sector. +The Prime Minister said that the intentions (niyat) of the policy-makers are even more important than the policies (niti) themselves. +Stressing on the need to build capacities for good governance, he highlighted the importance of real-time data availability. +He urged the NITI Aayog to take inspiration from events such as the success of the Give-it-Up campaign, and the widespread positive response from the people to the Swachhta Abhiyan. +The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Planning, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, the Vice Chairman of the NITI Aayog Shri Arvind Panagariya, and Members of the NITI Aayog, besides senior officers from the NITI Aayog, PMO and Cabinet Secretariat. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed condolences on the passing away of Mr. George Fernandes. +The Prime Minister said, “George Sahab represented the best of India’s political leadership. +Frank and fearless, forthright and farsighted, he made a valuable contribution to our country. +He was among the most effective voices for the rights of the poor and marginalised. +Saddened by his passing away. +When we think of Mr. George Fernandes, we remember most notably the fiery trade union leader who fought for justice, the leader who could humble the mightiest of politicians at the hustings, a visionary Railway Minister and a great Defence Minister who made India safe and strong. +During his long years in public life, George Sahab never deviated from his political ideology. +He resisted the Emergency tooth and nail. +His simplicity and humility were noteworthy. +My thoughts are with his family, friends and lakhs of people grieving. +May his soul rest in peace.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the progress towards holistic development of islands. +The Union Government had constituted the Islands Development Agency on June 1st, 2017. +26 islands have been listed for holistic development. +NITI Aayog made a presentation on the elements of holistic development, including key infrastructure projects, digital connectivity, green energy, desalination plants, waste management, promotion of fisheries, and tourism-based projects. +Reviewing the work done in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Prime Minister emphasized on the need for developing an integrated tourism-centric ecosystem, in the areas identified for tourism development. +He called for expeditious pursuit of energy self-sufficiency in the islands, which could be based on solar energy. +The Prime Minister was also briefed on the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs, to dispense with the requirement of Restricted Area Permit for foreigners visiting the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. +Greater connectivity of these islands with South East Asia was also discussed. +During the review of development work in Lakshadweep, the Prime Minister was apprised of the steps taken to boost Tuna fishing, and the promotion of “Lakshadweep Tuna” as a brand. +The Prime Minister appreciated Lakshadweep’s initiatives on cleanliness. +Development of vital infrastructure in both Andaman and Nicobar islands, as well as in Lakshadweep was discussed. +The Prime Minister asked the concerned officials to explore the possibility of seaweed cultivation, and other initiatives which could be of help for the agriculture sector. +The meeting was attended by Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, the Lt. Governors of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, CEO NITI Aayog, and senior officials from the Union Government. +Proposal of Sualgiri, Swalgiri caste, as per approved Modalities, was found to be eligible for its inclusion as a synonym of Sabakhia caste at SI. +No. 79 in the list of Scheduled Castes of Odisha. +Further, the name of Union territory of Pondicherry has been changed to Puducherry vide the Pondicherry (Alteration of name) Act, 2006 w.e.f. +Accordingly, an amendment is needed in the Constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964 to this effect. +First list of Scheduled Castes in relation to a State or Union Territory is to be issued by a notified Order of the President after having consultation with the State Government concerned. +Any subsequent inclusion in or exclusion from the list of Scheduled Castes can be effected through an Act of Parliament as envisaged under clause (2) of Article 341. +Six Presidential Orders were issued between 1950 and 1978 for specifying Scheduled Castes in respect of various States/Union territories. +These Orders have been amended from time to time by Acts of Parliament enacted as per Article 341(2) of the Constitution between 1956 and 2016. +After the Bill becomes an Act, members of the community included in the list of Scheduled Castes will be able to derive benefits meant for Scheduled Castes under the existing schemes. +Some of the major schemes of this kind include Post Matric Scholarship, National Overseas Scholarship, Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship, Top Class Education, Concessional Loans from National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation, Hostels for SC Boys and Girls etc. +In addition to above, they are also entitled to the benefits of reservation in services and admission to educational institutions. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between India and Saudi Arabia on cooperation and mutual assistance in Customs Matters. +The Agreement will help in making available, reliable, quick and cost effective information and intelligence for the prevention and investigation of Customs offences and apprehending of Customs offenders. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Dr. Raman Singh on the unfortunate tragedy in Bilaspur. +“The PM spoke to Chhattisgarh CM Dr. Raman Singh on the unfortunate tragedy in Bilaspur. +The PM expressed concern over the tragedy. +The PM has asked Dr. Raman Singh to ensure a thorough investigation & action in the entire issue.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a gathering at Bhopal, and inaugurated the Shaurya Smarak. +Ex-servicemen were present in large numbers at the public meeting. +The Prime Minister said India’s soldiers are a symbol of humanity. +He recalled how the jawans of the Indian Armed Forces put their lives on the line whenever there is a natural disaster. +He said the Indian Armed Forces rank among the best in the world on parameters such as discipline and conduct. +India is one of the foremost contributors to peace keeping forces worldwide, he added. +He recalled that during the recent crisis in Yemen, the Indian Armed Forces had evacuated not just thousands of Indian citizens, but citizens of other nations as well. +Noting that Indians had never coveted territories of other nations, the Prime Minister emphasized that when the time came to protect human values, the Indian Armed Forces never failed to rise to the occasion. +He recalled that the World Wars were not India’s wars, but so many Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives defending foreign lands. +He said we must not forget, and we should also make sure that the world does not forget, these sacrifices made by the jawans. +He said the strength of the Indian Armed Forces is the morale of its jawans, which comes from the support of 125 crore Indians. +Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, the Prime Minister said, appreciating the valour of the jawans guarding the nation’s borders. +The Prime Minister quoted Hindi poets Makhanlal Chaturvedi and Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, praising the glorious traditions of sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces. +The Prime Minister said the Union Government had fulfilled its promise of One Rank, One Pension, and outlined other measures being taken for the welfare of ex-servicemen. +Fellow citizens, Namaskar to all. +This will be the last edition of Mann ki Baat in 2015. +The next edition of Mann ki Baat will be in 2016. +We celebrated Christmas and preparations are now on to ring in the New Year. +India is land of diversities.. +We celebrate a whole lot of festivals. +One is not done with one festival, in the mean time the second one comes along. +In a way one festival leaves us waiting for another. +At times it feels India is one such country which has a ‘festival driven economy’. +It becomes a source of the economic activities for even the poor sections of the society. +Greetings from my end for a Merry Christmas to all Indians and I also wish you all a Happy New Year. +May 2016 usher in lots of joys in your lives. +I hope that new zeal, new excitement and new pledges may take you to new heights. +May the world be free of crises, be it from terrorism, from global warming or from natural calamities or manmade tragedies. +There can be no greater happiness than the humanity having a peaceful existence. +You are aware that I use a lot of technology which provides me lots of information. +Mr. Ganesh V. Savleshwarkar has written to me from Pune that this season is a tourist season. +A large number of foreign and domestic tourists travel across the country. +People also travel to celebrate Christmas vacations. +He says most of the facilities related to tourism are catered to but special emphasis should be laid on cleanliness at all places which are tourist destinations or famed tourist places, religious destinations or stay over’s. +India’s image will be enhanced if the tourist destinations are clean. +In a similar manner, the onus is on us to maintain our tourist destinations and pilgrim tourism sites neat and clean. +I am very happy that a lot of news stories related to cleanliness keep appearing in the media space. +From day one, I have thanked our media friends since they have brought many such small and good success stories before the people. +Dileep Singh Malviya is an elderly artisan from Bhojpura village in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh. +He is a mason by profession to earn his livelihood. +He did something so different that the newspapers printed his story. +And when it came to my notice, I wanted to share this story with you. +Hailing from a small village, Dileep Singh Malviya decided that if anyone provides materials for toilet in the village, he will render his labour services free of cost. +And hats off to him, he has constructed 100 toilets in Bhojpura village so far taking it as a divine cause and providing his labour services without charging a penny. +My heartfelt congratulations to Dileep Singh Malviya for his earnest efforts. +Sometimes we hear disappointing news about our nation. +But there are thousands of people like Dileep Singh who are doing something good for the nation on their own. +This is the power of the nation. +This is the hope of the nation and these are the things which carry the nation forward and it is natural that we applaud Dileep Singh and his efforts in Mann ki Baat. +Due to tireless efforts of many people the nation is making rapid progress. +125 crores Indians are not only marching together but they are taking the country forward too. +Better education, best talent and new opportunities of employment are being created. +Such emotions arise when we see the enormity of our nation. +No one can forget the story of Krishna and Yashoda where he opened his mouth and the mother was able to see the entire universe, and then only his power could be realized. +The Yoga incident was a similar reminder. +The concept of cleanliness is being echoed in every household. +The participation of citizens is also increasing. +Be it the farmers, poor, young or women, should such things reach them or not? +Such news should reach them not to highlight any government’s achievement, but to make them aware of their rights. +They should not let go if it is their right. +People should get information in order to avail their rights. +We should all make efforts that right information, good information and information useful to the common man should reach as many people as possible. +This is also a kind of service. +I too have tried to do this work from my end. +I cannot do everything alone by myself. +But if I am saying then I should at least do something. +Even a common man can download the Narendra Modi App and get connected to me. +And I can share these small things with you through the app. +And it is a matter of happiness for me that people share all the things with me. +You too get connected with this initiative, we have to reach 125 crore Indians. +How will I reach without your help? +Come, let us collectively do such things of interest for the common man in their language and inspire them to avail things which are their rights. +My dear young friends, I had some preliminary discussions about “Start-up India, Stand-up India” in my speech on 15th August from the Red Fort. +After that all government departments started discussing it. +Can India become a “Start-up Capital’? +Everything should be new, new ways and new thinking – after all the world does not move ahead without innovation. +“Start-up India, Stand-up India” brings in a huge opportunity for the young generation. +You will be presented with a structure. +In this program all the IIT’s, IIM’s, Central Universities, NIT’s, wherever there is young generation, they will be brought together via live connectivity. +This is not true at all; we need to modify it according to the needs of India. +I will ask the bank to help such an individual and I will tell him to move ahead with courage. +You will get the Market. +Similarly is the intellectual wealth limited to a few selected cities or what? +This thinking is wrong. +The Indian youth all over the country has talent, all they need is opportunities. +And I will request the state governments to take this forward. +Dear young friends, 12th January is the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. +There are thousands like me who draw inspiration from him. +Since 1995, 12th January, the birth Anniversary of Vivekananda is celebrated as the National Youth Festival. +This year it will be organized from 12-16th January in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. +This is a theme based event and I have got the information that this time they have a very good theme and that is “Indian Youth on Development Skill and Harmony”. +Can you give me suggestions regarding this youth festival? +So I will wait dear friends for your suggestions on the youth festival on the “Narendra Modi App”. +Dilip Chauhan, from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, who is a visually challenged teacher, celebrated ‘Accessible India Day’ in his school. +You are yourself working in this field. +You understand everything and you must have faced a lot of difficulties too. +Sometimes when we meet someone with different ability in the society then a lot of things come to our mind. +We express our perception of him based on our thinking. +There are some people who lose a limb or body part in an accident. +Some people are born with some defects. +And for these people different terms are used and a lot of thought goes on behind the usage of these terms. +All the time people feel that this kind of identification does not sound nice and respectable. +However, since I had to attend that program some thoughts kept coming in my mind. +That time, I thought that we call or know those people as handicapped since they are lacking in some ways in terms of their body structure or whose organs do not function properly. +However, at times when we interact with them, we realize that we see only the deficits with our eyes but God has certainly bestowed them with some extra powers. +Look how he works. +So I thought that upon looking at them with our eyes we feel that they are handicapped, but experiences tell us that they have some extra power. +So I thought why not use the term ‘Divyang’ instead of ‘viklang’ in our country. +They are those people who have one or more such organs which have divinity, where divine power flows which we normal bodied people do not have. +I like this term. +My dear countrymen can we make it a habit to use the word ‘Divyang’ and make it popular. +I hope that you will take this forward. +That day we started the ‘Sugamya Bharat’ campaign. +Under this campaign we will improve both the physical and virtual infrastructure and make it accessible for the ‘Divyang’ people. +Be it schools, hospitals, government offices, bus depots, railway stations, everywhere ramps, accessible parking, accessible lifts, Braille, many amenities will be made available. +People like it. +You too can join in the manner you deem fit. +My dear countrymen, the government schemes will continue exist and run, but it is necessary that these schemes always remain operational. +The schemes should be operational till the last mile individual has benefitted from them. +They should not have a dead existence in government files. +After all, these schemes are meant for common man, the poor people. +In the past few days the government has made an effort to ensure that the benefits of schemes reach out to the rightful owners. +In our country, we give subsidy for the gas cylinders. +I am happy to share with the countrymen that this scheme has earned a place in Guinness Book of World Records as the largest Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme which has been implemented successfully. +This scheme is known as ‘Pahal’ and this experiment has been very successful. +No middlemen nor any recommendation, nor any possibility of corruption. +That was connected to account and Aadhar. +This work is still in progress. +In many places the wages of the labourers is now being directly transferred into their accounts. +Till now around 40,000 crore rupees are directly reaching the beneficiaries through various schemes. +According to my rough estimate, around 35-40 schemes are now under ‘Direct Benefit Transfer.’ +My dear countrymen, 26th January is the golden moment in the life of Indian democracy. +This is a beautiful co-incidence that Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the maker of the Indian Constitution, his 125th birth anniversary will be celebrated this year. +We organized a two day special discussion on the constitution and it was a very good experience. +But constitution equally emphasizes on duty also. +But it is seen that duties are hardly discussed. +At the most, whenever there are elections, then we see advertisement all around us, they write on the walls and hoardings are put to tell that to vote is our sacred duty. +There is a lot of talk about duties during elections, but why not discuss our duties in general life too. +This year when we are celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar then can we make 26th January a medium to organize debates, poetry, slogan competition regarding duties in our own schools, colleges, villages, cities and various organizations and societies. +If 125 crore Indians take dutiful steps one after the other, they can make history. +But at least let’s start with discussions. +I have an idea – Send me an essay or poem before 26th January about duty in Hindi or English or your native language. +Can you send me? +I want to know your views. +I would like to know what my young generation thinks about their duties. +I want to give a small suggestion. +And I am not saying this on government lines. +Dear Countrymen, greetings to you for a Happy New Year 2016. +Thank You Very Much! +Medipark will be developed in phases, spread over seven years for completion. +In the first phase, physical infrastructure will be developed and plots will be leased from third year onwards. +HLL will sublease the land to investors, through a transparent bidding process to investors desirous to set up manufacturing units for Medical equipment and devices. +The Prime Minister also shared handwritten papers by ‘Punjab Kesari’ Lala Lajpat Rai on his Twitter Account. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to Revised Cost Estimate (RCE) of Rs. 4020.63 crore for the ongoing 720 MW Mangadechhu Hydroelectric Project (HEP) in Bhutan. +The total cost escalation for the project, at this stage, is Rs.1124.359 crore. +The factors behind cost escalation to the RCE are due to inflation from March 2008 to March 2014, construction of cut-off wall against permeation grouting upstream coffer dam, exchange rate variations and other causes, etc. +The delegation led by Major Ajeet Kumar Mehta, is on a tour to Delhi and Agra, for “Sair-e-Watan,” as part of `Operation Sadbhavna` of the Army. +Interacting with the Prime Minister, the youth shared their experiences and the difficulties faced by their communities due to lack of basic infrastructure and employment opportunities. +They also conveyed the difficulties they face due to the absence of mobile network connectivity. +The Prime Minister shared his own experiences of lok-sampark (public contact) in the districts of Poonch and Rajouri. +He said he understood the developmental needs and aspirations of the Gujjar-Bakkarwal youth, and assured them that the Government would spare no effort to ensure that these are met. +He appreciated their spirit and said the Gujjar-Bakkarwal youth would get their due share in the progress and development of the Nation. +PM launches ‘Narendra Modi Mobile App’ +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the ‘Narendra Modi Mobile App’. +The application provides updates on the day-to-day activities of Shri Narendra Modi. +It presents an opportunity to receive messages and emails directly from Shri Narendra Modi. +There is also an option to contribute and earn ‘badges’ through to-do tasks. +Using the app, one can tune-in and listen to the various ‘Mann ki Baat’ editions of Prime Minister Modi, read his blogs, and get to know more about him from the Biography section. +The app provides comprehensive information on initiatives and achievements of the Union Government, including an ‘infographics’ section. +The app can be downloaded on an Android device from Google’s PlayStore at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.narendramodiapp . +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has expressed his delight on the successful maiden test firing of Brahmos ALCM (Air Launched Cruise Missile) from Su-30MKI fighter aircraft. +The Prime Minister also congratulated all those who were associated with this remarkable feat. +“Delighted on the successful maiden test firing of Brahmos ALCM from Su-30MKI. +Congratulations to all those associated with this remarkable feat”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has sanctioned an ex-gratia relief @ Rs.2 lakh each to the next of kin of the persons deceased and @ Rs.50,000/- each to the persons, who got seriously injured in the fire accident that occurred in the Bhubaneswar SUM hospital, Odisha on 17.10.2016, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. +As part of their Valedictory Session as Assistant Secretaries, IAS officers of the 2015 batch today made presentations before the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +8 selected presentations on various themes of governance were made by the officers, on themes such as rapid response for accident victims, tracking individual carbon footprints, financial inclusion, improving rural incomes, data driven rural prosperity, heritage tourism, railway safety, and central armed police forces. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that it was indeed significant that the junior-most and senior-most officers are spending such a lot of time communicating with each other. +He urged all officers to speed up the adoption of Government e- Marketplace (GeM) in their respective departments. +He said this would eliminate middlemen, and result in savings for the government. +Giving examples of ODF targets and rural electrification, the Prime Minister urged the officers to work towards 100 per cent achievement of targets. +He urged the officers to work towards creating the India of the dreams of freedom fighters, by 2022. +He said that officers who have risen from humble backgrounds, should meet young students, and motivate them. +Communication leads to compassion, the Prime Minister added. +He said that the key aim of officers today is the welfare of the nation and its citizens. +He urged the officers work with team spirit, and make teams wherever they go. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with farmers across the country, through video bridge. +Over 2 lakh Common Service Centres (CSC) and 600 Krishim Vigyan Kendras (KVK) were connected through the video dialogue. +This is the seventh interaction in the series by the Prime Minister through video conference with various beneficiaries of Government schemes. +Expressing happiness in interacting with farmers from over 600 districts, Prime Minister said that farmers are the ‘Annadatas’ (food providers) of our nation. +He said that the entire credit for nation’s food security should go to the farmers. +Prime Minister’s interaction with the farmers covered wide range of agriculturaland allied sectors like Organic Farming, Blue Revolution, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Floriculture etc. +Outlining his vision for farmers overall welfare in the country, Prime Minister said that government is working towards doubling the farmer’s income by 2022 and to provide farmers maximum price of their produce. +He said that the Government is committed that farmers should feel that from ‘Beej Se Bazaar’ (Seed to Market), how various initiatives helped the farmers to improve traditional farming. +Talking about the transformationof the farming sector, Shri Narendra Modi said that the agriculture sector has developed rapidly in the last 48 months. +He added that there has been record production of milk, fruits and vegetables in the country during the period. +Government has also almost doubled the budget provision for agricultural sector (2014-2019) to Rs. 2,12,000crore compared to Rs. 1,21,000 during thepast five years of the previous government. +Similarly, food grain production has increased to more than 279 million tonnes in 2017-2018 compared to average of 255 million tonnes during 2010-2014. +The period also saw 26 % increase in fish farming due to Blue Revolution and 24% increase in Animal Husbandry and milk production. +Interacting with the famers’, Prime Minister said that to ensure the overall welfare of the farmer, government has provided Soil Health Cards;credit through Kisan Credit Cards; quality fertilizers through the provision ofNeem coated Urea, crop insurance through FasalBimaYojana and irrigation through Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. +Under the PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana , about 100 irrigation projects are being completed across the country today and around 29 lakh hectare land has been brought under irrigation. +Government also started the e-NAM, an online platform, enabling farmers to sell their produce at the right price. +Government also plans to promote North-East as the hub of Organic Farming. +During the interaction, Prime Minister expressed delight in the collective strength displayed by the farmers through the formation ofFarmer Producer Group and FPO (Farmer Producer Organisation), enabling them to get agricultural inputs at low cost and marketing their produce effectively. +In the past 4 years, 517 Farmer Producer Organizations have been created and income tax exemption has been granted to Farmer Producer Companies, to encourage cooperatives amongst farmers. +Interacting with the Prime Minister, beneficiaries of various agricultural schemes explained howvarious government schemes helped improve production. +Beneficiariesalso highlighted the importance of Soil Health Card and shared their experiences of cooperative movement. +PM calls upon the Indian diaspora across the world to unite as a positive global force in the cause of humanity. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called upon the Indian diaspora across the world to unite as a positive global force in the cause of humanity. +He said that in the past, Indians had travelled across the world in search of opportunity, or to gain knowledge and exposure. +“Today, opportunities beckon you in India,” he asserted, adding that today, the world looks at India with hope. +He said times are changing quickly, and India is rising with great strength. +The Prime Minister exhorted the Indian diaspora to contribute to India’s success in any way possible, including knowledge, expertise or skills. +The Prime Minister mentioned in particular, the Namaami Gange project to clean the River Ganga, and make it a source of economic empowerment for 40 percent of India’s population. +He said he was sure all NRIs would be inspired to contribute to this cause. +The Prime Minister welcomed the dignitaries from Guyana, South Africa and Mauritius. +He recalled how Indian festivals such as Holi and Diwali are enthusiastically celebrated in Guyana. +He recalled that today – January 8th – was the founding day of the African National Congress in South Africa. +He mentioned that Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary – October 2 – is observed in Mauritius with even greater vigour than it is observed in India. +The Prime Minister called upon NRIs across the world to forge and take pride in a common identity and heritage, and to use this strength collectively. +He said even if a solitary NRI is present anywhere in the world, India is alive and present in that corner of the world through him. +The Prime Minister said he had met representatives of 50 countries since assuming office, and he could say with confidence that rich or poor, all nations across the world, today feel that their goals and objectives can be met in partnership with India. +He said this was a rare opportunity, and it was now upto everyone to use this opportunity for the benefit of humanity, and for India’s benefit. +The Prime Minister said the world was showering affection on India, as was evident from the fact that a record 177 nations out of 193, had co-sponsored India’s resolution on International Day of Yoga at the United Nations. +The Prime Minister said he firmly believes that NRIs are a big strength of India, and India can make a global impact by reaching out to them. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Saudi Arabia on their National Day. +“Best wishes to the people of Saudi Arabia on their National Day. +I am sure the cooperation between our Nations will grow in the years to come,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which has been signed between the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), India and Commissariat a l energieatomique et aux energies alternatives (CEA), French state-owned research entity and BlueStorage SAS, a French Company. +The MoU was signed on 3rd October, 2018 in New Delhi. +The MoU was signed in three originals each in Hindi, English and French language. +The Memorandum of Understanding will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between India and France. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Papua New Guinea on cooperation in the field of Healthcare and Medical Science. +The bilateral MoU will encourage cooperation between the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare of India and the Ministry of Health and HIV/AIDS of the Papua New Guinea through joint initiatives in the health sector. +It will strengthen bilateral ties between India and Papua New Guinea. +The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Sao Tome and Principe on cooperation in the field of Medicinal Plants. +The MoU was signed on 14.03.2018. +India is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of biodiversity, having 15 agro-climatic zones. +Out of the 17000-18000 species of flowering plants, more than 7000 are estimated to have medicinal usage in folk and documented systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy (AYUSH System of Medicine). +About 1178 species of medicinal plants are estimated to be in trade of which 242 species have annual consumption levels in excess of 100 metric tonnes/year. +Medicinal plants are not only a major resource base for the traditional medicine & herbal industry but also provide livelihood and health security to a large segment of Indian population. +There is global resurgence in traditional and alternative health care systems resulting in world herbal trade which stands at US$ 120 billion and is expected to reach US$ 7 trillion by 2050. +Moreover, there are a large number of medicinal plants, particularly those found in tropical region, which are common to the two countries given similar geo-climatic factors. +Keeping in view the need for promotion and propagation of AYUSH systems, of medicine and Medicinal Plants Sector in Sao Tome and Principe, our standard draft MoU for country to country cooperation in field of Medicinal Plants was shared with the concerned authorities of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe. +This time the level of engagement has been scaled up significantly and we have invited Leaders from all 54 African countries and the African Union. +The Summit is going to be one of the biggest gatherings of African countries outside Africa, which is a reflection of the desire on part of both Africa and India to engage more intensively in our quest for a better future. +India and Africa have a historic relationship based on mutual respect, trust and solidarity. +In recent times, our relationship has witnessed progress and has grown into a mutually beneficial partnership. +India is a major investor in Africa and Indian investments, close to US$ 30 billion, have contributed immensely to job creation in Africa. +As minds meet and hands work together, the IAFS-III could be a landmark event in our journey towards further cementing strong ties between India and Africa. +In the run up to the India Africa Forum Summit, many side events are being organised. +Trade Ministers of India and Africa, accompanied by business delegations, will meet on 23 October 2015. +A business exhibition will be organised at the Summit venue on 27 and 29 October 2015 by leading Indian chambers of commerce and industry. +More than 16000 schools are participating in various competitions organised by CBSE on themes related to India-Africa cooperation. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the creation of one post of Director with basic pay of Rs. 75,000/- + a special allowance of Rs,5000/- and three non-teaching posts (Registrar, Librarian and Principal Students Activity & Sports (SAS) Officer) with Grade Pay of Rs.10,000/- for National institute of Technology (NIT), Andhra Pradesh. +NITs are Institutions of National Importance known to be among the best teaching Institutions in the field of engineering and technology which have made a remarkable presence with their high quality technical education. +The job opportunities will be for the post of Director and three Non Faculty posts i.e. Registrar, Librarian and Principal Students Activity & Sports (SAS) Officer. +They will be responsible for running of NIT Andhra Pradesh which will produce high quality, technical manpower which will fuel entrepreneurship and generation of job opportunities throughout the country. +Consequent upon the assent of the President of India on 1st March, 2014 to the bifurcation of the State of Andhra Pradesh, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has established NIT at the successor State of Andhra Pradesh as per Schedule 13 (Education) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014. +Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the people of Singapore on the sad demise of former President S. R. Nathan. +The Prime Minister said that Singapore has lost one of its great sons. +Mr. Shanmugaratnam briefed the Prime Minister on the status of various bilateral cooperation initiatives, especially in the areas of Skill Development and Smart Cities. +The Prime Minister recalled his successful visit to Singapore in November 2015, during which the bilateral relationship was upgraded to a “strategic partnership”, and said that he is keenly looking forward to the visit of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to India in the near future. +It is indeed a matter of happiness and privilege that I am amidst you on such a historical day. +Let me tell, you have significantly contributed as Chartered Accountants over the past decades and you all have been given a solemn right by the government. +Its only your fraternity which is authorized to Certify and Audit the entries in Account books and confirm whether they are correct or manipulated. +Chartered Accountants of India have earned laurels across the globe for their dexterity in Financial Skills. +Today, I got the opportunity to launch the new Chartered Accountancy Course Curriculum. +This is the identity of your Dynamic Course and the Credibility of Examinations. +I am hopeful that this new course will further consolidate the financial skills of new aspirants joining this profession. +But, let us face some harsh realities! +These often set you thinking. +You might have heard from the experienced in the society that in case a house is engulfed in fire and there is complete loss of property, it is said that the family can get back on its own with its will power and perseverance. +They cope up with the trauma but begin afresh with the same fervour. +Within no time they bounce back. +Even if one family member treads the wrong path, the family is shattered once and for all. +Dear friends, you are engaged in setting the accounts right If we are righteous, the country can be salvaged from the biggest of crises. +During the worst of the natural calamities like floods and earthquakes, the citizens have shown their capabilities to take care of the cause of the nation while supporting the administration. +However, if some of the citizens of the country are into the habit of stealing and pilferage, it leads to an irreparable damage to the family and the nation. +Dreams are shattered and it causes road blocks in the development of the nation. +Government has cracked down heavily to nab such pilferers over the past three years. +While new laws have been formulated, older laws have been made more stringent now. +The latest statistics from Swiss bank accounts stand a testimony to the strict measures by the government on the Black Money issue. +As reported by the Swiss Bank Authorities, the black money deposits of Indian Nationals have a hit a record all time low. +Three decades back in 1987, these officials from Swiss Banks had started declaring how much deposits were being made by nationals of a country. +According to the reports released for the last financial year, there has been a reduction of 45% in the deposits made by Indians in the Swiss banks.. +Ever since 2014, the day you all entrusted us with the reins of the nation, we have put brakes on the trends. +Well, was it in the interest of the nation or your clients? +But you did burn the midnight oil in those days! +My dear friends, I have already said that your patriotism is no less than mine. +Some serious things have come to light after this process began. +The names of those companies have been removed from the Registrar of Companies. +The power to eliminate one lakh companies with the stroke of a pen can come only from the inspiration of patriotism. +Those who have looted the poor will have to return that to the poor. +Apart from this, the government has already identified more than 37 thousand Shell companies who are engaged in hiding black money and hawala transactions. +Stern actions shall be taken against them. +More stringent actions are in store for the companies who will break the law in future. +And I am fully aware of the fact that eliminating fake companies and taking action against black money can be politically incorrect and pose a risk to any political party. +But someone has to take such tough decisions for the sake of the country. +My Chartered Accountant friends, I have come here on the occasion of the Foundation day of your institute. +I want to ask you a light question. +The power to keep the account right lies with you. +After demonetization, someone definitely might have helped those companies. +These thieves and robbers must have gone to some economic doctor. +I know very well that those companies might not have come to any of you for this purpose. +But they have definitely taken the help of someone who needs to be identified. +Don’t you feel the need to identify such people, who are sitting among you, who supported these companies? +You also have ‘articled assistants’ and their number is also close to two lakhs. +And if we add all those chartered accountants and ‘articled assistants’ and all your staff then roughly these numbers will be more than eight lakhs. +Your family is more than 8 lakhs in this field, I mean, in your profession. +I would place some more facts for you since you grasp things quickly from the figures. +It is estimated that there are more than crore engineers and management graduates in our country. +There are more than 8 lakh doctors. +These professions are perceived to be the cream professions or are highly respectable jobs. +There are crores of people in such professions in our country. +Moreover, there are crores of palatial houses built in the cities of our country. +Also, about two crore 18 lakh people had travelled abroad last year. +These figures may astonish you; yet only 32 lakh people in our country say that their income is more than ten lakhs while filing tax returns. +Can any one of you believe it? +Are there only 32 lakh people in this country who earn more than 10 lakhs? +This is the bitter truth of our country, my beloved companions. +These numbers show that only 32 lakh people in the country reveal their income to be more than ten lakh rupees. +I believe that most of the people in the country are salaried class, where people have fixed income and most of the salary is drawn from the government. +Besides this, what is the actual situation in the country? +And so brothers I do not want to project data further. +But by this you will understand that crores of vehicles are purchased every year in the country. +And yet the responsibilities towards the country are not getting fulfilled; it is a matter of grave concern. +Instead of referring to more data, I want to put my thoughts before you. +CA brothers, a person or a client pays taxes only when the environment around him is conducive which motivates him to pay the taxes honestly. +If he sees that the advisor himself is asking him to hide the truth then he will boldly traverse the wrong path. +Thus it is equally important to identify such wrong advisors and take strict actions against them. +And for that you also have to take tough steps. +Now the question arises that the temple of democracy i.e. the Parliament of India, which is the voice of 125 crore countrymen, has given you so much authority, then why is it that in the last 11 years, only 25 Charted Accountants have been prosecuted. +Did only 25 people make a mess? +And I have heard that more than 1400 cases are still pending for many years now. +A single case takes years to settle. +Tell me my friends, is it a matter of concern or not, for such highly Qualified Professionals? +They knew the law. +They were aware of the consequences of fighting against the law. +Despite this, all the lawyers of that era who had well flourishing law profession left their advocacy for this country. +Many of them played a decisive role in framing of our constitution. +And brothers and sisters, we cannot forget that these great men are indispensable part of our country’s history. +Friends, today our country is at another crucial juncture of history. +After the country’s political integration in 1947, today the country is getting economically integrated. +Our country is beginning a new journey this year, 2017, when the dream of ‘One Nation, One tax, One market’ has become a reality. +On this historic occasion the most important role is that of the Chartered Accountants. +Today, I am not asking you all to put your lives at stake. +You do not have to go behind the bars. +This country is yours; also the future of this country is your children’s. +And you can see that no one but you can make this road to the greater economic development stronger. +Friends, Chartered Accountants are like ambassadors of any country’s economic system. +Your work is like that of an interface between the government and the tax-paying companies and individuals. +Your signature is more powerful than that of a Prime Minister. +Your signature is a testimony to the trust in the truth. +Companies may be small or big, however, if you certify their books of account then the government believes in that, people of the country believe in that. +And have you ever thought that once you have signed a balance sheet then no one questions the balance sheet of that company; files are not held up after that. +Friends, a new chapter begins after that. +Today, I’ve come here to showcase that new life to you people. +If you certify the account books of a company then the government officers trust in your assessment. +They invest their lifetime savings only on the basis of just one signature of yours. +I invite you, I have come here to invite you people to join in this festival to celebrate integrity. +Please look at the importance of your work and then choose your path. +Friends, there are different definitions for the term ‘tax return’. +It plays an important role in curbing inflation. +This money is being used in providing affordable medicines to those poor people who don’t have money for their treatment, who can’t afford to take a break from their work despite illness lest their children should go to bed without a meal. +What could be a greater service than helping the country’s poor in providing what is due to them. +You could have never imagined that how just one signature of yours can help the poor people of this country. +You have huge responsibility in fulfilling the dreams of a common man of this country; you can play an important role in it. +And once you decide then I’m confident that the 1st of July 2017 will certainly become a turning point in the history of ICAI. +And, friends, once you take a vow then I can say with confidence that nobody will try to evade taxes. +People only break laws when they know that there is someone to protect them. +Friends, GST is going to become a medium for you to contribute in nation building; I urge you to reach out to the people. +When I was on the way to this place, Neelesh told me that you people are going to help the traders to understand GST. +I congratulate him, I offer my gratitude. +You please reach out to the people, enlighten them. +Encourage them to join the mainstream of integrity. +In a way, the government has provided a fresh opportunity to the people in the field of chartered accountancy. +Please prepare yourself for this; I specifically urge the young professionals in this field. +Please come forward, Chartered Accountants have an extremely important role in the success and proper implementation of the laws recently passed by the government, particularly the insolvency and bankruptcy code. +Under this code when a company has been declared bankrupt then its control will be passed on to an insolvency practitioner. +Chartered accountants can start a new career in this field by becoming insolvency practitioners. +This is a new avenue opened by the government for you people. +However, whichever path you people choose today, in that path, the term CA should mean Charter and Accuracy, Compliance and Authenticity. +Friends, our country is going to complete 75 years of its independence in 2022. +The country has set some targets for the year 2022. +New India has been expecting hard work and industry from all of us. +What kind of India we want to see when it completes 75 years of its independence as an institute, as a chartered accountant, as an individual and also as a citizen and play our role, contribute in making the country like that. +The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India will complete 75 years of its existence two years after India completes 75 years of its independence in 2022. +You people should prepare the programme on the occasion of 75 years of your existence from today itself. +You should prepare a roadmap for that historic occasion from today itself to scale new heights for the institution and its character. +Can’t you help in providing a transparent and corruption free system for the country? +Or will you look at the number of people that were encouraged by you to lead honest lives by paying taxes? +You will have to decide on this. +You set a target for yourself that how many people you will bring in the mainstream by honestly paying the taxes. +Who can be a better judge than you yourself to set a target for this task? +Please also think how you can expand the role of technology in your profession. +We are nowhere in these big four. +You are capable of it and there is no dearth of talent either. +And out of those big eight, four big firms will belong to the people who are sitting here before me. +Friends this is our dream. +And it’s not difficult given the reputation and professionalism of our firms. +My friends you people must be respected world over in the field of chartered accountancy. +Therefore don’t let your time go in vain. +It is a rare opportunity for you people as well. +Don’t let this opportunity go past you. +I’ve come to invite you to associate yourself with the mainstream of India’s development. +Please don’t lose sight of the fact this profession has the capacity to protect, to sustain the entire economy. +I once again convey my best wishes to the entire faculty of the institute, to all the chartered accountants present here on the occasion of the foundation day of ICAI. +I also thank the people who are watching this programme through the video link and also to those chartered accountants of our country who are watching this programme in other countries. +Many thanks my friends, many thanks. +Boost to Energy Security +BPCL Coastal Installation Project and ONGC’s S1 Vasishta unveiled +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Guntur, in Andhra Pradesh and unveiled three major projects today. +Shri E. S. L. Narasimhan, Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and Shri Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation were also present on the occasion. +In a boost to energy security of the country, PM dedicated to the nation, 1.33 MMT Visakhapatnam Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) facility of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL). +The cost of the Project is Rs. 1125 crore. +The Facility has the largest underground storage compartment in the country. +He laid the foundation stone for setting up Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) Coastal Installation Project at Krishnapatnam. +The estimated cost of the project, spread over 100 acres is Rs. 580 crore. +Project will be commissioned by November 2020. +Fully automated and State of the art Coastal Installation Project will ensure security of the petroleum products for Andhra Pradesh. +Giving major push to the Gas Based Economy, PM also dedicated to the nation, ONGC’s S1 Vasishta development project located in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Offshore Basin in Andhra Pradesh. +The cost of the Project is about Rs.5,700 crore. +This project will contribute significantly in realising PM’s vision of reducing oil imports by 10% by 2020. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the National Legislators Conference in Central Hall of Parliament. +The Prime Minister said, ” In every state there are a few districts where development parameters are strong. +We can learn from them and work on weaker districts. +A spirit of competitive and cooperative federalism is very good for country. +Public participation always helps. +Wherever officials have worked with people and involved them with the development process, the results are transformative. +Essential to identify the areas where districts need improvement and then address the shortcomings. +Once we decide to change even one aspect in the districts, we will get the momentum to work on the other shortcomings. +Our aim is social justice. +Working on the aspirational districts will improve India’s standing in the HDI. +This conference of Legislators is a commendable initiative by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan Ji. +It is good to have Legislators from various states coming together to discuss important issues.” +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of the Republic of Maldives on the 50th Anniversary of their Independence. +“Greetings to the wonderful people of the Republic of Maldives as they celebrate 50th Anniversary of their Independence. +Maldives is a valued partner in the Indian Ocean neighbourhood & our ties are built on a very strong foundation,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for the negotiating position for the 20th Conference of Parties (COP-20) on climate change scheduled to be held from 1 to 12 December, 2014 at Lima, Peru. +CoP-20 is expected to focus on the elements of 2015 Agreement and Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). +The approach seeks to protect the interests of the country in climate change negotiations based on the principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and it’s Kyoto Protocol (KP). +It would also enhance the solidarity among the developing countries on these issues. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, interacted with the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana and store owners of Jan Aushadi Kendras, through video conference. +The Union Government had decided to celebrate 7th March 2019 as ‘Jan Aushadhi Diwas’ across India, for creating awareness and providing impetus onthe use of generic medicines. +Interacting with beneficiaries and store owners from over 5000 locations, the Prime Minister said that in order to ensure the availability of high quality medicines at lower prices, Government had taken two major steps. +First, the cost of 850 essential medicines were regulated and the prices of heart stent and equipment for knee surgery were reduced. +Second, a series of Jan Aushadi Kendras were started throughout the country. +These steps have greatly benefitted not only the poor, but also the middle class, PM said. +The Prime Minister said that medicines are available at fifty to ninety percent lower price than the market rates at Jan Aushadi Kendras. +He added that more than five thousand Jan Aushadi Kendras have been opened in the past four and half years. +The Kendras provide not only good quality medicines but also provide self-employment and create new employment opportunities, PM said. +Speaking about the vision of holistic transformation of health sector, Prime Minister said that the approach of the Government is ‘No Silos- Only Solutions’. +All the stake holders related to health sector are working together to transform the sector, PM said. +Interacting with the Prime Minister, the beneficiaries expressed happiness with the good quality of medicines available at Jan Aushadi Kendras. +The beneficiaries mentioned that the low cost of the medicines have enabled them to save money while getting proper medication. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has remembered Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on his death anniversary. +The PM said, “Remembering Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Ji on his Punya Tithi. +His commitment to serving the poor, marginalised and our villages continues to inspire us.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved today the signing of a Protocol amending the Agreement between India and Belgium for avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. +The amendment in the Protocol will broaden the scope of the existing framework of exchange of tax related information between the two countries, which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance. +The Protocol will also revise the existing treaty provisions on mutual assistance in collection of taxes. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of “Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC)” between India and Japan on the “Technical Intern Training Program (TITP)”. +This MoC is expected to be signed during the forthcoming visit of Hon’ble Minister for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship during October, 16-18, 2017 at Tokyo. +The Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) is an ambitious program to send Indian technical interns to Japan for on the job training for a period of three to five years. +It is expected that the MoC will pave the way for bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the area of skill development. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore. +“A far-sighted statesman and a lion among leaders, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s life teaches valuable lessons to everyone. +News of his demise is saddening. +In this hour of bereavement, our prayers are with Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s family and the people of Singapore. +May his soul rest in peace”, the Prime Minister said. +Their contribution towards India’s freedom movement and after was extremely beneficial in the building of our nation.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today gave its ex-post facto approval for completion of the Afghan Parliament Building in Kabul by 31st December, 2015 at a revised project cost of Rs.969 crore. +The project provides for completion of a new Parliament Building for Afghanistan, keeping in view the traditions and values of Afghanistan. +It is part of India’s efforts in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan. +The project is a visible symbol of India’s contribution to strengthening and rebuilding democracy in Afghanistan. +The project was inaugurated and dedicated jointly by Prime Minister of India and President of Afghanistan on 25th December 2015. +Addressing the Members of Meshrano Jirga (Upper House) and Wolesi Jirga (House of the People) on the occasion in the newly inaugurated premises, the Prime Minister complimented the people of Afghanistan and their elected representatives on consolidation of democracy in the country. +In order to push major policy reforms in the fertilizer sector, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved the proposal for removing the minimum capacity utilization criteria for the Single Super Phosphate (SSP) units to be eligible for the subsidy under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme with immediate effect. +This is in continuation of other policy reforms made recently which include New Urea Policy, 2015 and Gas Pooling for urea production. +Due to the emphasis on promoting energy efficiency and rationalization of gas pricing mechanism, highest ever urea production in the period so far has been achieved this year. +It is expected that there will be an additional production of 17 lakh MT of urea this year as compared to last year. +Moreover, to prevent diversion to non-agricultural use and to enhance productivity, 100% of urea is now neem coated. +Further, policy on promotion of City Compost is a major initiative which aims at the twin objectives of making cities cleaner and utilizing the city garbage as compost for improving soil health. +Under this policy, for the first time market development assistance of Rs.1500 per MT will be provided to scale up production and consumption of the product. +SSP is a phosphatic multi-nutrient fertilizer, which contains 16% phosphate, 11% sulphur, 16% calcium and some other essential micro-nutrients. +Because of the simple production technique, it is one of the cheapest chemical fertilizer available. +It is more suited for crops like oil-seeds, pulses, horticulture, vegetables, sugarcane, etc. +The Union Cabinet in its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Israel on National Campaign for Water Conservation in India. +This will benefit the country in conserving water for future generations. +The two countries shall work to enhance cooperation at the national, regional and international level to design, implement and monitor a professionally-designed National Water Conservation campaign in India. +The Ministries agree to jointly work on the water conservation campaign to achieve the following objectives: +a. Put water conservation on the national agenda in India +b. Encouraging every citizen to save water in everyday life +c. Generating awareness about water +d. Promoting Re-use, Recharge and Recycling of water +e. Development of digital tools such as websites, mobile applications on the subject of water conservation. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated our scientists on the successful test fire of Prithvi-II missile. +“I congratulate the hardwork of our scientists that has been instrumental in the successful test fire of Prithvi-II missile”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid his last respects to HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Sarangpur, Gujarat. +(i). Any non-bank entity intending to set up WLAs should have a minimum net worth of Rs. 100 crore as per the latest financial year’s audited balance sheet, which is to be maintained at all times. +(ii). In case the entity is also engaged in any other 18 Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFC) activities, then the foreign investment in the company setting up WLA, shall also have to comply with minimum capitalization norms for foreign investments in NBFC activities, as provided in Para 6.2.18.8.2 of the Consolidated FDI Policy Circular 2015. +(iii). FDI in the WLAO will be subject to specific criteria and guidelines issued by RBI vide Circular No. +This decision, will ease and expedite foreign investment inflows in the activity and thus give a fillip to the Government’s effort to promote financial inclusion in the country, including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. +It is expected that consequent to ease of investing in India, adequate investments would be available in WLA Operations. +This would help in the government’s objective of enhancing ATM networks in semi-urban and rural areas (mainly in Tier III to VI areas). +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the progress of eight major infrastructure sectors: Civil Aviation, Ports and Inland Waterways, Railways, Roads, Telecom, Power, Coal, and New and Renewable Energy. +This was part of the regular series of reviews on infrastructure which the Prime Minister takes every month. +He stated that accelerated infrastructure development was his top priority, and also stressed the need for creating world-class infrastructure in India. +Shri Narendra Modi emphasized the importance for monitoring the progress of infrastructure development through efficiency parameters which have been identified for each of the sectors. +He said that Ministries should monitor them on electronic reporting formats. +The Prime Minister said initiatives undertaken by State Governments as well as PSUs with other countries, including SAARC countries, should also be taken into account while monitoring the progress of infrastructure sectors. +The Prime Minister said the Sagarmala project should lead to port-led development, and become a major link element for his “Make in India” vision, which envisaged a quantum jump in India’s global trade. +The Prime Minister said that Railways has been granted clearance for 100 percent FDI, and therefore the Railways should come up with a comprehensive plan for facilitating FDI in the sector. +The Prime Minister reiterated his emphasis on renewable energy, including solar energy. +He called for a solar-powered corridor along the India-Pakistan border, in the desert regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat. +Two pilot projects of 5 MW each are being initiated in this regard. +Referring to his vision of solid waste management and waste water management in 500 towns through the PPP model, the Prime Minister said bio-energy would be a vital element of this vision. +The Prime Minister called for provision of world-class utility facilities along new road projects to bring about a paradigm shift in India’s global perception. +All the sectors broadly reported significant improvement in performance over the last four months, as compared to the previous year. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Maharashtra on December 18, 2018. +He will address the ‘Republic’ Summit, organized by Republic TV, in Mumbai. +At a public meeting in Kalyan, the Prime Minister will lay the Foundation Stone of two important metro corridors. +These are the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan Metro; and the Dahisar-Mira-Bhayander Metro. +The two corridors, once completed, will greatly facilitate public transport in the area. +He will launch the 90,000 units’ EWS and LIG Housing scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. +Shri Narendra Modi will also address the gathering. +The Prime Minister will then proceed to Pune. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the MoU between the India-Taipei Association (ITA) in Taipei and Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in India. +The MoU is on cooperation in the field of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. +The objective of the MoU is to promote the cooperation between the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises between the two Parties. +It provides a structured framework and enabling environment to the MSME sector of the two Parties to understand each other’s strengths, markets, technologies, policies etc. +It also contains an agreement between the two Parties to enable their respective MSMEs to participate in each other’s trade fairs/exhibitions and to exchange business delegations with the other Party, to understand the policy and explore markets so that joint ventures, tie-ups, technology transfer etc. could take place. +This type of cooperation opens up doors of new opportunities for the Indian MSME sector by way of new markets, joint ventures, sharing of best practices and technology collaborations +The MoU does not contain or involve any financial, legal or political commitment on the part of either Party. +In no case does it attract any financial liability on the Parties. +The MSME sector has consistently registered higher growth rate as compared to the overall industrial sector. +With its agility and dynamism, the sector has shown admirable innovativeness and adaptability to survive the recent economic crisis. +However, maintain and increasing its share in the total export as also in GDP of the country is a big challenge in the era of globalization and liberalization. +Prime Minister thanked President Obama for the invitation and looked forward to a result-oriented visit with concrete outcomes that imparts new momentum and energy to India-U.S. strategic partnership. +The Prime Minister was of the view that re-energizing the partnership between India and the United States would send an important message to the region and beyond. +Articulating his vision for India-U.S. relations, Prime Minister stated that the relationship between the world`s oldest and largest democracies should not only be for the benefit of the two countries, but should emerge as a powerful force of good for peace, stability and prosperity in the world. +Mr. Burns conveyed President Obama`s desire to strengthen economic relations, including in next-generation technologies and manufacturing sector; cooperate in enhancing energy security; deepen security cooperation, including in maritime security, counter-terrorism and intelligence exchange; expand consultation and coordination on Afghanistan; and, work more broadly for security and prosperity in Asia. +The Prime Minister reiterated his desire to strengthen relations with all neighbours. +Shri Narendra Modi recalled President Obama`s telephone call soon after the election and expressed his appreciation for President Obama`s detailed and thoughtful letter. +He saw immense opportunities for deepening cooperation across the full spectrum of the relationship and laid special emphasis on involving youth in creating new avenues of promoting cooperation between our two countries. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the transfer on lease of 6.5628 acres of Defence land to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan(KVS) at Air Force Station Kanpur (AFS Kanpur). +It will be used for construction of school building and other associated infrastructure in partial modification of its earlier decision on 16.06.2011 wherein it had approved transfer 8.90 acres of defence land to KVS at AFS, Kanpur. +The defence land is being transferred on lease basis at a nominal rent of Rs. 1/- per annum without any premium in terms of existing Government policy on the subject. +The infrastructure for the school will be built by the KVS as per their norms and with their own funds. +Kendriya Vidyalaya at AFS Kanpur is functioning since August 1985 from a temporary barrack-type accommodation which does not fully meet the requirements of a school as per laid down specifications. +The existing accommodation has become inadequate to accommodate the increased number of students and required facilities. +The transfer of land would enable KVS to construct its own school building with all the required facilities and amenities for both students and teachers. +The formalities relating to transfer of land to KVS would be within a period of two months. +KVS will thereupon construct school buildings etc. on the leased land as per their own specifications and at their own cost. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to transfer of 14.86 hectares of land from Farakka Barrage Project under the Ministry of Water Resources to Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Shipping for construction of a new navigational lock parallel to the existing navigational lock at Farakka. +The details are as follows:- +(i). Transfer of 14.86 hectares of land from Farakka Barrage Project (FBP), Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR) to Ministry of Shipping for construction of the new navigational lock at Farakka. +The new lock will ensure smooth and seamless movement of vessels on NW-1. +The advantage of construction of new navigation lock at Farakka are given below:- +a) The existing lock is unable to handle the number of vessels currently passing through it efficiently and effectively. +At present, considerable time is taken for the vessels to pass the existing navigational lock. +Therefore, need for construction of an additional lock to facilitate easy passage of vessels through the lock, given the anticipated increase in the number of vessels and volume of cargo that are expected to pass through it in future after implementation of the Jal Marg Vikas Project; +b) The process of modernization/up-gradation/repair of the existing navigational lock is time consuming and will put it out of operation during the period of repair. +Construction of the new navigational lock therefore is an inescapable option for uninterrupted movement of vessels. +c) IWAI, a statutory body under the Ministry of Shipping, is the nodal authority responsible for regulation and development of inland waterways for the purposes of shipping and navigation. +It is, therefore, within its mandate to build, maintain, operate and manage the navigational locks. +The works shall be planned/executed in such a manner that the existing arrangements about sharing of Ganga water at Farakka, as per Ganga Water Treaty-1996 between India and Bangladesh, are not affected. +(ii). A navigational Lock is already in operation at Farakka under the control of Farakka Barrage Project (FBP) since 1987. +This lock needs modernization. +(iii). The first Scooping Mission of World Bank (August 2014) had recommended maintenance and up-gradation works at the existing navigational lock, along with construction of a new lock. +The objectives of Jal Marg Vikas Project can be fully achieved if the navigation upstream of the Farakka navigational lock is synchronized to match that downstream of the navigational lock. +This is possible only if the second navigational lock is in position at Farakka. +To connect, propel and secure India Universal broadband connectivity at 50 Mbps to every citizen Provide 1 Gbps connectivity to all Gram Panchayats Ensure connectivity to all uncovered areas Attract investments of USD 100 Billion in the Digital Communications Sector +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the National Digital Communications Policy-2018 (NDCP-2018) and re-designation of the Telecom Commission as the “Digital Communications Commission”. +The ‘Customer focused’ and ‘application driven’ NDCP-2018 shall lead to new ideas and innovations, after the launch of advanced technology such as 5G, IOT, M2M, etc. which shall govern the telecom sector of India. +The policy aims to +The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri O. Panneerselvam, called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The ban imposed on Jallikattu by the Supreme Court came up for discussion. +While appreciating the cultural significance of Jallikattu, the Prime Minister observed that the matter is presently sub-judice. +The Centre would be supportive of steps taken by the State Government. +The Prime Minister also assured the Chief Minister that all possible assistance would be provided to the State to address the drought situation, and a central team would be deputed to the State shortly. +The second edition of “Samvad”- Global Initiative on Conflict Avoidance and Environment Consciousness, is being organised in Yangon today and tomorrow. +The Vivekananda Kendra had, in September 2015, hosted the first edition of this unique conference,representing various religions and traditions, in New Delhi, which had been addressed by the Prime Minister. +In a video message to the second edition of Samvad, the Prime Minister said that societies across the world are facing several questions today, such as: +How to avoid conflict? +How to address a global challenge like climate change? +How to live in peace and harmony and secure our lives? +He said that it is only natural that the search for answers be led by the humanity’s longest traditions of thought, rooted in various religions, civilizations, and multiple streams of spirituality. +Giving illustrations from Indian mythology such as Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Buddha and Bhakta Prahlada, the Prime Minister said that the purpose of each of their actions was to uphold Dharma, which has sustained Indians from ancient to modern times. +The Prime Minister said “Samvad” or “dialogue” is the only way to cut through deep rooted religious stereotypes and prejudices that divide communities across the world and sow seeds of conflict between nations and societies. +The Prime Minister said that if man does not nurture nature, then nature reacts in the form of climate change. +Environmental laws and regulations, while essential in any modern society, afford only an inferior protection to nature, he added, calling for “harmonious environmental consciousness.” +Man must relate to nature, man must revere nature, not merely consider it a resource to be exploited, the Prime Minister asserted. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted people on the occasion of Guru Purnima. +Ours is a society that holds teachers in very high esteem. +We thank our teachers, who always inspire and bring out the best in us”, the Prime Minister said. +At the invitation of Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Lofven, Prime Minister of India visited Sweden on 16-17 April 2018. +This was Prime Minister’s first visit to Sweden as well as a visit to Sweden by Indian Prime Minister after three decades. +On arrival in Stockholm on 16 April, Prime Minister was received by PM Lofven. +On 17 April, Prime Minister had an audience with His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf. +King Carl XVI Gustaf visited India earlier in 1993 and 2005. +Prime Minister had a meeting with PM Lofven. +They met earlier when PM Lofven visited India in February 2016 and participated in the ‘Make in India’ Week in Mumbai with a strong business delegation. +In October 2017, PM Lofven participated in ‘Make in India: Sweden 2017’ event organized in Stockholm. +Prime Minister’s discussions with PM Lofven focused on strengthening bilateral ties with special emphasis on building closer economic relations as well as important global and regional issues. +The visit took place at a time when India- Sweden economic ties have strengthened considerably. +In the evening, Prime Minister will meet the vibrant Indian community in Sweden, before his departure for London. +PM Lofven is also expected to attend the community event as well. +Sweden is home to more than 20000 members of Indian diaspora, including around 2000 Indian students studying in various institutions. +India – Nordic Council Summit +During the visit, India and Sweden also hosted an India-Nordic Summit, entitled ‘India-Nordic Summit : Shared Values, Mutual Prosperity’. +His Excellency President Islam Karimov, President of Uzbekistan, Members of the Media, +I am delighted to be in the historic and beautiful city of Tashkent. +It carries the warmth of familiarity that comes from sights and stories we grow up with. +I thank President Karimov and the people of Uzbekistan for their very warm welcome and hospitality. +It is a pleasure to meet President Karimov. +He has led with great vision and wisdom to steer Uzbekistan’s progress and advance peace and prosperity in the region. +Today, I have embarked on a five-nation tour of Central Asia. +It reflects our resolve to start a new era in our relations with Central Asian Republics. +Our relationship with the region has ancient roots and has left a strong imprint on both. +It now occupies a significant place in India’s future. +I have begun my journey in Uzbekistan. +This underlines this nation’s importance for India, not just in the context of this region, but also more broadly in Asia. +In recent years, India and Uzbekistan have built a strategic partnership on the foundation of mutual respect and shared interests. +This includes expanding economic cooperation, combating terrorism, advancing stability in the region and promoting regional integration. +President Karimov and I had very cordial and productive discussions. +His perspectives will be of immense benefit to me in the days ahead. +I share President Karimov’s desire to raise the level of our economic engagement. +I conveyed to him that there is a strong interest in Indian business to invest in Uzbekistan. +There is immense potential in a broad range of areas in Uzbekistan. +I have urged him to make the process and the policies for Indian investments here smoother. +President responded positively to my suggestion. +President was also supportive of strengthening our ongoing cooperation in the areas of agriculture, Information Technology and energy. +President Karimov and I discussed various initiatives to further enhance connectivity between India and Uzbekistan. +I briefed him about the International North South Transport Corridor and proposed that Uzbekistan consider becoming a member. +I sought his support for India joining the Ashgabat Agreement. +I am pleased with the agreements in the areas of Culture and Tourism, because they will bring our people closer. +Few countries can match Uzbekistan in nurturing Hindi and Indian culture. +Tomorrow, I look forward to meeting a vibrant group of Indologists and Hindi linguists. +India will expand cooperation in capacity building through increase in the number of training offers in India. +Consistent with our commitment, the Uzbekistan-India Information Technology Centre has been upgraded this year. +I welcome President Karimov’s assurance to ensure speedy completion of the Entrepreneurship Development Centre being set up in Tashkent. +We also discussed regional and international issues, including the situation in Afghanistan. +We also have shared concerns on the rising threat of extremism and terrorism in our extended neighbourhood. +We agreed to intensify security cooperation and exchanges. +The bilateral Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism will meet later this year. +We also agreed to strenghen cooperation in defence and cyber security. +We look forward to working together within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. +This has been a very rewarding visit. +It has sown the seeds of a rich harvest in the years ahead. +I look forward to the opportunity of receiving President Karimov in India. +Thank you again for your hospitality and a wonderful meeting. +The two dignitaries agreed to further strengthen these ties. +Governor Abbott expressed appreciation for the contribution of people of Indian origin living in Texas to his State and to the United States. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has given its approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Sweden on cooperation in the field of Intellectual Property (IPRs). +The MoU establishes a wide ranging and flexible mechanism through which both countries can exchange best practices and work together on training programs and technical exchanges to raise awareness on IPRs and better protect intellectual property rights. +The MoU will enable India to exchange experiences in the innovation and IP ecosystems that will substantially benefit entrepreneurs, investors and businesses on both sides. +It will be a landmark step forward in India’s journey towards becoming a major player in global Innovation and will further the objectives of National IPR Policy, 2016. +A Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) with members from both sides will be formed to decide cooperation activities to be taken under the MoU in following areas: +a)Exchange of best practices, experiences and knowledge on IP awareness among the public, businesses and educational institutions of both countries; +b)Collaboration in training programmes, exchange of experts, technical exchanges and outreach activities; +c)Exchange and dissemination of best practices, experiences and knowledge on IP with the industry, universities, R & D organisations and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through participation in programs and events in the matter, organized singly or jointly by the Parties; +d)Exchange of information and best practices for disposal of applications for patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyrights and Geographical Indications, as also the protection, enforcement and use of IP rights; +e)Cooperation in the development of automation and implementation of modernization projects, new documentation and information systems in IP and procedures for management of IP; +f)Cooperation to understand how Traditional Knowledge is protected; and the exchange of best practices, including traditional knowledge related databases and awareness raising of existing IP systems; +g)Exchange of information and best practices regarding Intellectual Property law infringements in the digital environment, especially regarding Copyright issues; and +h)Other cooperation activities as may he decided by the Parties with mutual understanding. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the loss of lives due to the accident of the Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express. +Shri Narendra Modi today assumed office as the Fifteenth Prime Minister of India. +Shri Narendra Modi offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi in his office at South Block, and assumed charge of the office of Prime Minister. +Shri Narendra Modi as an able administrator, has focused on good governance initiatives as well as development to bring about qualitative change in the lives of the people. +He has adopted the guiding principle of “Minimum Government and Maximum Governance” and also rationalization with a commitment to bring a change in the work culture and style of governance. +He held a short briefing with the Principal Secretary to PM Shri Nripendra Mishra and senior officers in PMO. +Senior PMO officials welcomed and received Shri Narendra Modi, when he arrived at the Prime Minister’s Office in South Block. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to ratify the Second Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol on containing the emission of Green House Gases (GHGs). +The second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 2012. +So far, 65 countries have ratified the Second Commitment Period. +In view of the critical role played by India in securing international consensus on climate change issues, this decision further underlines India’s leadership in the comity of nations committed to global cause of environmental protection and climate justice. +Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by India will encourage other developing countries also to undertake this exercise. +Implementation of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects under this commitment period in accordance with Suslainable Development priorities will attract some investments in India as well. +The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) seeks to stabilise Green House Gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would minimize interference with the climate system. +Recognizing that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of Greenhouse Gas (GHGs) in the atmosphere, the Kyoto Protocol places commitments on developed nations to undertake mitigation targets and to provide financial resources and transfer of technology to the developing nations. +Developing countries like India have no mandatory mitigation obligations or targets under the Kyoto Protocol. +The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997 and the 1st commitment period was from 2008-2012. +At Doha in 2012, the amendments to Kyoto Protocol for the 2nd commitment period (the Doha Amendment) were successfully adopted for the period 2013- 2020. +Developed countries have already started implementing their commitments under the ‘opt-in’ provisions of the Doha Amendment. +India has always emphasized the importance of climate actions by developed country Parties in the pre-2020 period. +Besides, it has advocated climate actions based on the principles and provisions of the Convention, such as the principle of Equity and Common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR & RC). +Mr. Pierre Gattaz, President of MEDEF (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister fondly recalled his visit to France in April 2015 during which he interacted with a number of French business leaders, and appreciated the invaluable contribution of business leaders from both countries in strengthening the bilateral ties between India and France over the years. +Mr. Gattaz briefed the Prime Minister about growing trade and investment relations between India and France. +The Prime Minister noted that France is one of India’s Top 10 sources of Foreign Direct Investment, and invited French companies to take advantage of the improving business climate and growing investment opportunities in India. +It provides for enhancement of funding allocation from 2 million Euros per year to a maximum of 4 million Euros per year by each side. +The committed funding will be based on the principles of activity matching funding for supporting collaborative research partnerships of industrial relevance. +The joint research projects involving academia and industry from both countries will aim towards creation of new scientific knowledge base and the application of research results for technology development and application. +This new declaration will enable IGSTC to further enhance, strengthen and improve research and technology cooperation of industrial relevance through cooperation between laboratories, academia and industry of both the countries. +IGSTC will support and fund selected R&D projects linking research laboratories and industry (2+2 scheme) from India and Germany and assist in mobilizing resources to carry out collaborative industrial R&D projects. +The IGSTC was established under an agreement between the two Governments in October 2007 and started operation in 2011. +Presently IGSTC is supporting joint industrial R&D projects in areas such as (a) advanced manufacturing (b) biomedical devices & healthcare (c) nanotechnology (d) automobile engineering (e) water sensors (f) clean energy technology and (g) information and computing technology. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will take part in an interaction with young innovators and start up entrepreneurs tomorrow. +PM said, “Tomorrow at 9:30 AM, I will take part in an exciting interaction with youngsters from the world of start-ups & innovation. +The interaction offers a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from pioneering young innovators who have excelled as start-up entrepreneurs. +India has emerged a hub for start-ups and innovation. +Indian youngsters have distinguished themselves due to their futuristic and out-of-the-box thinking. +During tomorrow’s interaction youngsters from leading incubation centres and tinkering labs will be taking part as well. +I would particularly urge my young friends to join tomorrow’s interaction. +It is a wonderful way to learn, grow & get inspired. +Inspired by the call of JP, several men and women across India selflessly immersed themselves in the movement to safeguard our democracy. +We are very proud of the lakhs of people, who resisted the Emergency and whose efforts ensured that our democratic fabric is preserved. +Personally, the Emergency brings back many memories. +As youngsters, we learnt a lot during the anti-Emergency movement. +Emergency was a great opportunity to work with a wide spectrum of leaders and organisations fighting for the same goal- return of democracy. +A vibrant liberal democracy is the key to progress. +Let us do everything possible to further strengthen our democratic ideals and ethos.” +I want to sincerely thank Chancellor Merkel and Germany for the very warm welcome that my delegation and I have received. +I am especially grateful that in the first year of my Government, India was chosen as a partner country for the largest industrial trade fair in the world. +Chancellor Merkel was generous with her time for me, my delegation and the CEOs of several Indian companies in Hannover. +Today, my delegation and I have once again been heartily welcomed in Berlin. +I also thank her for the very open, constructive and perceptive discussions on relations between India and Germany. +This is a reflection of her deep concern for Germany’s interests and her commitment to India – Germany relations. +Yesterday in Hannover, she accepted the invitation of India’s Lion to raise the level of Germany’s engagement in India and assured me of a strong response by Germany’s Eagle. +I believe that there will be a strong partnership between the King of the Earth, Lion and the King of the Skies, the Eagle. +When I last came to Berlin, Germany was successful in winning the World Cup Final. +This time in Berlin, I feel that we will also be successful in taking the strategic partnership between India and Germany to new heights. +Whenever anyone in India talks about technology, manufacturing or high quality, Germany is the first country that comes to the mind. +So, it is natural that when India has embarked on a new journey for ‘Make in India’ for economic development and employment, we look forward to Germany’s strong partnership. +Whatever objectives we think of in terms of economic transformation and improvement in quality of life of ordinary citizens, technology, skills, innovation and investment will play an important role in it. +I feel deeply encouraged by the enthusiasm and interest that I have seen in Chancellor Merkel and Germany. +Equally, the feedback that I have got will be of great benefit to me in framing our policies. +I have also decided that we will establish a mechanism for German companies to facilitate their investment and business in India. +Our goal of ‘Make in India’ and creating employment for our youth depends on skill development in our country. +Germany is a world leader in this field. +India will have to pursue its skill development programme in accordance with its own circumstances. +Similarly, we intend to further strengthen our close cooperation in the areas of science, technology and education. +An area that has great priority for me personally and for my country is renewable energy and energy efficiency. +As I have already said, we intend to add 175 Giga Watts of renewable energy during the next seven years. +Germany is a strong partner in the development of clean energy. +Development of India as a manufacturing hub and expansion of infrastructure of India would also be beneficial for trade. +Our imports would also grow. +And, it is natural that German companies would benefit a lot from it. +In this context, I would also like to state that negotiations between India and European Union on a Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement have remained stalled for two years. +We would also like to enhance our cooperation in the area of advanced technology and defence manufacturing. +I hope that the German companies would participate enthusiastically in this and that your government would support them fully. +Chancellor Merkel and I had also discussed international developments. +We in India believe that economic momentum in Europe is important for the global economy and European stability for global peace. +The world looks to Germany for leadership in addressing both challenges. +I also congratulate her on the successful outcome of talks with Iran. +This will be beneficial for the entire region. +Instability and violence in West Asia affects the security of our citizens at home. +Peaceful and democratic development of Afghanistan is important for both of us. +Equally, in the coming days, maritime cyber and space security would be a matter of concern to everyone and we should increase our cooperation in this area as well. +We both would like to see tangible progress in the United Nations Security Council reforms during the 70th Anniversary year of the United Nations. +We also look forward to a successful outcome of COP-21 in Paris this year. +The Union Cabinet chaired by chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Colombia on establishing cooperation on Traditional Systems of Medicine of India. +It will lead to promotion and propagation of Traditional Systems of Medicines of India in Colombia. +As a consequence of this MoU, exchange of experts for training the practitioners, conducting collaborative research in Traditional Systems of Medicine is expected to lead to new innovations in drug development and traditional medical practice. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, was apprised of the decision taken by the Empowered Apex Steering Committee (EASC) that Princess Park Complex would be the suitable site for construction of the National War Museum. +As regards the National War Memorial the same would be constructed at ‘C’ Hexagon of India Gate as approved by the Cabinet in its meeting held in October, 2015. +He congratulated Prime Minister May on the assumption of her new responsibility. +Prime Minister May thanked Prime Minister. +She looked forward to working closely with Prime Minister for developing stronger bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation in tackling pressing global challenges. +PM-AASHA will provide MSP assurance to farmers A reflection of Government’s commitment to the “Annadata” +Giving a major boost to the pro-farmer initiatives of the Government and in keeping with its commitment and dedication for the Annadata, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a new Umbrella Scheme “Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan’ (PM-AASHA). +The Scheme is aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce as announced in the Union Budget for 2018. +This is an unprecedented step taken by Govt. of India to protect the farmers’ income which is expected to go a long way towards the welfare of farmers. +Government has already increased the MSP of kharif crops by following the principle of 1.5 times the cost of production. +It is expected that the increase in MSP will be translated to farmer’s income by way of robust procurement mechanism in coordination with the State Governments. +Components of PM-AASHA: +The new Umbrella Scheme includes the mechanism of ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers and is comprised of +The other existing schemes of Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) for procurement of paddy, wheat and nutri-cereals/coarse grains and of Ministry of Textile for cotton and jute will be continued for providing MSP to farmers for these crops. +Cabinet has also decided that participation of private sector in procurement operation needs to piloted so that on the basis of learnings the ambit of private participation in procurement operations may be increased. +Therefore in addition to PDPS. +It has been decided that for oilseeds, states have the option to roll out Private Procurement Stockist Scheme (PPSS) on pilot basis in selected district/APMC(s) of district involving the participation of private stockiest. +The pilot district/selected APMC(s) of district will cover one or more crop of oilseeds for which MSP is notified. +Since this is akin to PSS, in that in involves physical procurement of the notified commodity, it shall substitute PSS/PDPS in the pilot districts. +The Cabinet has decided to give additional government guarantee of Rs.16,550 crore making it Rs. 45,550 crore in total. +In addition to this, budget provision for procurement operations has also been increased and Rs. 15,053 crore is sanctioned for PM-AASHA implementation. +The scheme henceforth is a reflection of Government’s commitment and dedication to our ‘Annadata’. +Procurement over the years: +During financial years 2010-14 total procurement was Rs. 3500 crore only whereas during financial years 2014-18, it has risen 10 times and reached to Rs. 34,000 crore. +Government of India is working with the holistic approach of solving any issue rather than in fragments. +Increasing MSP is not adequate and it is more important that farmers should get full benefit of the announced MSP. +For this, government realizes that it is essential that if price of the agriculture produce market is less than MSP, then in that case State Government and Central Government should purchase either at MSP or work in a manner to provide MSP for the farmers through some other mechanism. +In Price Support Scheme (PSS), physical procurement of pulses, oilseeds and Copra will be done by Central Nodal Agencies with proactive role of State governments. +It is also decided that in addition to NAFED, Food Cooperation of India (FCI) will take up PSS operations in states /districts. +The procurement expenditure and losses due to procurement will be borne by Central Government as per norms. +In this direct payment of the difference between the MSP and the selling/modal price will be made to pre-registered farmers selling his produce in the notified market yard through a transparent auction process. +All payment will be done directly into registered bank account of the farmer. +This scheme does not involve any physical procurement of crops as farmers are paid the difference between the MSP price and Sale/modal price on disposal in notified market. +The support of central government for PDPS will be given as per norms. +Pro-farmer initiatives of the Government: +The Government is committed to realizing the vision of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. +The emphasis is on enhancing productivity, reducing cost of cultivation and strengthening post-harvesting management, including market structure. +Several market reforms have been initiated. +These include Model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Act, 2017 and Model Contract Farming and Services Act, 2018. +Many States have taken steps to adopt these through legislation. +Efforts are on for a new market architecture, so as to ensure that farmers get remunerative prices on their produce. +Besides, several other pro-farmers’ initiatives such as implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri KrishiSinchai Yojana, ParamparagatKrishi Vikas Yojana and distribution of Soil Health Cards have been undertaken. +The commitment for farmer welfare is also reflected by unprecedented decision of announcing minimum support price based on the formula of 1.5 times the cost of cultivation. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated scientists of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for the successful launch of the navigation satellite “IRNSS 1C” +“Congrats to the scientists at ISRO for the successful launch of navigation satellite IRNSS 1C. +It is a matter of immense pride and joy,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Air Services Agreement between India-Taipei Association in Taipei (India’s representative office in Taiwan) and Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India (Taiwan’s representative office in India). +Presently there is no formal Air Services Agreement between India and Taiwan and the Air Services are governed by an MoU exchanged between Air India Charters Limited (AIRL) and Taipei Airlines Associations (TAA). +The Air Services Agreement signifies an important landmark in the civil aviation relations between India and Taiwan, and has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two parties. +(i) Sale of surplus and vacant land of about 87.70 acres of HAL (actual area of land to be sold would depend upon the rates received in bids, as per guidelines of BIFR) to meet the net liabilities of Rs. 821.17 crore after waiver and deferment, through an open competitive bid from Central /State Government Departments, Govt. +Agencies, Central/State PSUs, Autonomous Bodies, Urban Development Authorities etc. +The loan will be repaid to the Government from sale proceeds of the HAL land. +The approval will help the Government in optimum utilization of the Company’s assets and to take further decisions in respect of the Company for: +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, today jointly dedicated via video-conferencing, the second cross border transmission interconnection system between India and Bangladesh. +This will link Surjyamaninagar in Tripura with South Comilla in Bangladesh. +The two leaders also dedicated the transmission of 10 GBPS internet connectivity between Cox Bazaar in Bangladesh, and Agartala. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister hailed this as a historic moment in India-Bangladesh ties. +He recalled the warm association that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman shared with India. +He welcomed the many avenues of cooperation that have opened up between the two countries in recent times, and praised the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, for taking forward Bangabandhu’s vision and thoughts. +The Prime Minister offered all support to Bangladesh, for the launch of the Bangabandhu satellite. +He extended best wishes to the cricket teams of both countries for the T-20 cricket match today. +The signing of the agreement will help in deepening the educational ties between India and France and will go a long way in boosting the educational relationship between the two countries. +Cabinet approves creation of a Credit Guarantee Fund for MUDRA loans – A boost to refinance operations +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the creation of a Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units Development Refinance Agency (MUDRA) loans and to convert MUDRA Ltd. into MUDRA Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) Bank as a wholly owned subsidiary of SIDBI. +The Fund is expected to guarantee more than Rs 1,00,000 crore worth of loans to micro and small units in the first instance. +The salient features of the scheme are as follows: +The MUDRA (SIDBI) Bank will undertake refinance operations and provide support services with focus on portal management; data analysis etc. apart from any other activity entrusted/ advised by Government of India. +MUDRA Bank and a Credit Guarantee Fund was proposed to be set up with a refinance corpus of Rs. 20,000 crore and a corpus of Rs.3,000 crore respectively as per the Budget Speech for 2015-16. +As a precursor to the launch of the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) in April, 2015, MUDRA Ltd. was set up as a corporate subsidiary of SIDBI in March, 2015. +The RBI has allocated Rs 20,000 crore and the first tranche’ of Rs 5000 crore has been received by MUDRA as refinance. +Woman power in this state has always been a source of inspiration for the country. +Today on this occasion, I salute the great revolutionary and daughter of the nation Rani Gaidinliu. +I am also privileged to inaugurate today a park dedicated in her name. +Girls’ education is the foundation for women empowerment. +Only sometime back the Central Government launched nationwide ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ Program. +The Program has elicited nationwide positive results. +I am happy that the State government is working to reduce the problems faced by the girls in Hill and Tribal areas for their education. +The state government has undertaken construction of a new hostel for girls in the tribal areas. +I am fortunate to inaugurate one such hostel today. +Women in Manipur are proactively involved in areas ranging from farming to handicrafts. +An all Women Market was envisaged so that women do not face any hardship in selling their products. +Manipur Government led by Shri Biren ji is getting such markets constructed in the entire state. +I have just inaugurated one such market. +I would request Shri Birenji to also popularize government e-market place in the state. +This is a platform through which you can sell products to the government. +Women in Manipur can get huge benefit from this. +Today I also inaugurated 1000 Anganwadi Centers in the State. +These centers will work as a medium for improving the health of thousands of Mothers and their babies. +They will also benefit from the recently launched National Nutrition Mission on Women’s Day. +The objective of the Mission is to have a targeted approach on providing nutritious food, cleanliness, and vaccination. +Doctors, Teachers and Nurses posted in remote and far flung areas of Hill Districts face many hardships due to lack of proper accomodation at their respective places of posting. +To address this problem, I have laid the foundation stone for construction of acomodation for teachers, Doctors and Nurses at 19 specified locations in hill and remote areas. +I am sure this will go a long way in motivating medical personnel to render dedicated services to the people of these areas. +Our Government’s vision for the North East has been ‘Transformation by Transportation.’ +Our focus is on connectivity. +Work is also in progress for connecting remote areas of Manipur by helicopter service. +Government is also working on various road projects. +I have also laid the foundation of an important road project today. +Manipur has a lot to offer on the tourism front: Forests and wildlife, blue hills, lush green valleys, picturesque tea gardens, and diverse culture. +Highly educated English speaking youth in the region make for a perfect case for developing Manipur as a model tourist destination. +If tapped well, the sector can emerge as the biggest employer in the region. +I also laid the foundation stone for eco-tourism at CheiraoChing, which is a popular hill near Imphal. +The foundation stone for a Cave Tourism project has also been laid. +I have always maintained that India’s growth story shall never be complete until the eastern part of our country progresses at par with the western part. +The North-East can be the New Engine of India’s growth. +We are addressing the special needs of the North East Region to enable growth parity with the rest of the country. +Various Ministries have been providing special dispensation for the North East under their ongoing schemes. +All Union Ministries are mandated to spend 10% of their budget in the region and the full utilization of this entitlement is the endeavour of my Government. +I have visited the North East more than 25 times in the last 4 years. +The Central Government has given a huge thrust on improving the infrastructure in the region. +In the last three years, on an average Rs.5,300 crore have been spent annually for development of Rail Network in the North East Region, which is two and half times of average spending in the previous 5 years. +The Jiribam Station in Manipur was connected by the broad gauge rail network in 2016. +I had flagged off the first passenger train to Jiribam in May 2016. +Today, seven out of eight States of North Eastern India are connected by Rail Network. +Projects are going on to connect the remaining State capitals including Imphal in North East to broad gauge network. +One of the highest bridges in the world having Pier height of 141 meter is being built on Jiribam-Imphal New Line Project. +A tunnel of 11.55 km length on the same route will be another milestone feature of this project. +In next 3 to 4 years, the Central Government is going to invest about Rs.30,000 Crores for development of National Highways and other important roads in Manipur State. +Apart from constructing National Highways, we are also focusing on connecting rural habitations with main roads under Prime Minister Grameen Sadak Yojana. +The Central Government has released more than Rs.1000 Crores in the last 4 years under this scheme to the state. +We have connected 150 habitations during this period. +All these efforts are reflection of our commitment for developing road connectivity in the State. +The Union Government has approved a new Central Sector Scheme of “North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme.” +This will fill up gaps in creation of infrastructure in specified sectors. +I had urged all the Directors General of Police during their 2014 Annual Conference held in Guwahati to broad base police recruitment. +Accordingly, in order to maintain cosmopolitan character of Delhi Police, we have taken steps to increase the number of Police Personnel from the North East Region. +I am happy to share that 438 candidates including 136 female candidates from North East States have joined Delhi Police in 2016. +Of these, 49 candidates are from Manipur State. +Recently, Government of India has sanctioned ten India Reserve Battalions for North Eastern States which include two battalions for Manipur. +These two battalions will directly provide job opportunities to about 2,000 youth in the State. +We have established an administration that is citizen-centric and, we have started the process of regular and structured interaction with the public. +These interactions were unheard of in the history of Manipur. +“Meeyamgi Numit” and “Hill Leaders’ Day” are efforts in this direction. +I am told, 24 such interactions have happened in which more than 19 thousand people have met the Chief Minister. +I am told, that the State Government is taking public grievances very seriously. +A Grievance Cell has also been set up in the Chief Minister’s Office with a toll free number. +The ‘Go to Hills’ initiative of the Government is a welcome step. +The Chief Minister with his entire cabinet has also travelled to all the hill districts to take the Government closer to the people. +Once Manipur decides something, no force can prevent it from happening. +In April 1944, it was in this land of Manipur that Netaji Bose’s INA gave the clarion call for freedom. +It energised the nation and gave much needed strength to the freedom struggle. +Today, Manipur has decided to play a important role in the rise of a New India. +In the last one year, Manipur has demonstrated what politics of development and good governance truly is. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the Ananda Temple, at Bagan in Myanmar. +This is a Buddhist temple built in the early 12th century. +It is the second largest temple in the entire Bagan region. +The Archaeological Survey of India has carried out structural conservation and chemical preservation work of this temple. +Restoration work is being carried out after damage during the earthquake last year. +The Prime Minister was shown a photo exhibit depicting the ongoing restoration work at the temple. +The Prime Minister signed the visitors’ book at the Temple, and unveiled a plaque signifying the contribution of India, in the restoration of the Ananda Temple. +The ASI has undertaken several major conservation works across various countries of Asia. +Besides the Ananda Temple, these include the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan, the Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Ta Prohm Temple in Cambodia, the Vat Phou Temple in Laos, and the My Son Temple in Vietnam. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, arrived in Berlin on Monday for the fourth India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations. +This is Prime Minister Modi’s second bilateral visit to Germany. +Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted an informal dinner for Prime Minister Modi at the Schloss Meseberg, outside Berlin. +The interaction lasted nearly three hours, and covered various areas of mutual interest including smart cities, skill development, clean energy etc. +There was appreciation for India’s economic reform agenda, including GST. +The leaders reviewed regional and global issues. +Prime Minister Modi reiterated the importance of cohesiveness in the European Union, and its significance as a force of stability in the world. +On Afghanistan, both leaders reiterated the importance of an Afghan-led Afghan-owned reconciliation process. +Issues such as deradicalization and terrorism figured in the discussions. +China’s belt and road initiative, and climate change, also figured in the discussions. +Earlier, on arrival at the Schloss Meseberg, Prime Minister Modi signed the visitor’s book. +The two leaders took a stroll on the lawns of the country residence. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Progress and new initiatives under National Health Mission (NHM) and the Decisions of the Empowered Programme Committee and Mission Steering Group of NHM. +he outcomes achieved under the NHM during the last five years and during the year 2017-18 are: +The annual rate of decline of IMR between 2015 and 2018 was 8.1%; +Decline in the Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) to 39 in 2016 from 55 in 2011. +The U5MR annual rate of decline during 2015-16 was 9.3%; +Decline in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to 2.3% in 2016, from 2.3% in 2011. +The percentage annual compound rate of decline in TFR during 2011-16 has been observed as 1.7%; and +In respect of Malaria, the Annual Parasite Incidence (API) declined to 0.84 in 2016 from 1.10 in 2011. +In 2017 malaria incidence went down by 30% and deaths due to malaria decreased by 70%; +The incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) per 1 lakh population has been reduced to 204 in 2017, from 234 in 2013. +Incidence of TB per lakh population has been reduced to 204 in 2017 from 211 in 2016. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Tejaswini Sawant for the Gold in the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event. +The Prime Minister said, “Two medals in two days! +Congratulations Tejaswini Sawant for the Gold in the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event. +We are even happier because she set a CWG record in the finals”. +The legislation is also intended to effectively prohibit benami transactions and consequently prevent circumvention of law through unfair practices. +It empowers the Government to confiscate benami property by following due procedure. +It therefore promotes equity across all citizens. +However, those who declare their benami properties under income declaration scheme will get immunity under the Benami Act. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the incorporation of the Official Amendments to the Major Port Authorities Bill 2016, which is pending in the Parliament. +The Amendments are based on the recommendations of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee. +Following changes are being incorporated: +(i) The number of the Labour representatives to be appointed in the Port Authority Board among the serving employees of the Port has been increased from one to two. +(iii) The number of Independent Members in the Port Authority Board would be minimum two to maximum four. +(iv) Every person who was receiving any retirement benefit from the Board of Trustees under the Major Port Trust Act, 1963 immediately before such date, shall continue to receive the same benefit from the Board. +(v) The Board of each Major Port shall be entitled to create specific master plan in respect of any development or infrastructure established or proposed to be established within the port limits and the land appurtenant thereto and such master plan shall be independent of any local or State Government regulations of any authority whatsoever. +(vi) After commencement of the Act, for PPP projects, the concessionaire shall be free to fix the tariff based on market conditions. +(vii) All moneys received by or on behalf of the Board under the provision of this Act shall be credited to such general account or accounts of the Ports which the Board may from time to time generally open with any Nationalised Bank or any Scheduled Bank as per the guidelines of Ministry of Finance, Government of India. +(viii) Presiding Officer and Members of the Adjudicatory Board shall be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendations of the Selection Committee. +(ix) Central Government shall have the power to remove the Presiding Officer or any member of the Adjudicatory Board from the office following the prescribed manner. +(x) A saving clause has been kept under repeal and saving so that the existing benefit enjoyed by Mumbai and Kolkata Port in respect of municipal assessment of property under the Bombay Port Trust Act, 1879 and the Calcutta Port Trust Act, 1890 would continue. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the Kutchi community on Ashadhi Bij, the Kutchi New Year. +“On Ashadhi Bij, the Kutchi New Year, my greetings to the Kutchi community. +May the coming year be one filled with prosperity and well-being,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved an Agreement between India and France on the Prevention of the Illicit Consumption and Reduction of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Chemical Precursors, and related offences. +Establishment of effective institutional interaction and curbing transnational narcotics trafficking including disruption of terrorist financing structures is also envisaged through this Agreement. +It will also help in developing international perspective among the Youth and expanding their knowledge and expertise in the areas of Youth Affairs and Sports. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today has given its ex-post facto approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Cambodia for cooperation in the field of tourism with an aim to promoting bilateral tourism between the two countries. +The MoU was signed during the visit of the Vice President of India to Cambodia on 16th September, 2015. +The main objectives of this Agreement are:- +(i). Expansion of bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector. +(ii). Exchange of information and data related to tourism. +(iii). Encouraging Cooperation between tourism stakeholders including hotels and tour operators. +(iv). Establishing exchange of programmes for cooperation in Human Resources Development. +(v). Investment in the tourism and hospitality sectors. +(vi). Exchange of visits of tour operators/media/opinion makers for promotion of two way tourism. +(vii). Exchange of experience in areas of promotion, marketing, destination development and management. +(viii). Participation in travel fairs/exhibitions in each other’s country. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke on telephone to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan and President Dr. Ashraf Ghani. +He conveyed the good wishes for the holy month of Ramadan to them and their people. +He expressed hope for peace, tranquility and harmony in their countries and in the region during this month of piety and prayers. +He thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for his successful visit to Bangladesh and the extraordinary hospitality, friendship and goodwill that he received from the people and government of Bangladesh. +He expressed confidence that the visit has set the stage for a new era in bilateral cooperation and regional partnership between the two countries. +He reiterated to Prime Minister Sharif his message of peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries. +Prime Minister assured President Ghani of India’s steadfast commitment to support Afghanistan in its efforts to build a peaceful, stable, secure and prosperous Nation. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the protocol amending the Agreement between India and Kuwait for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. +It is further provided that the information received from Kuwait in respect of a resident of India can be shared with other law enforcement agencies with authorization of the competent authority of Kuwait and vice versa. +India and Kuwait signed the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) signed in 2006 for the avoidance of double taxation and for the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, through the Protocol. +1. At the invitation of H.E. U Htin Kyaw, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, is paying his first bilateral State visit to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar from 5th to 7th September 2017. +The visit is part of the continuing high level interaction between the leaders of the two countries and follows successive State visits to India last year by H.E. President U Htin Kyaw and H.E. State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. +2. Prime Minister Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace in Nay Pyi Taw on 5th September 2017. +He paid a courtesy call on the President of Myanmar, who hosted a State Banquet in his honour. +On 6th September 2017, the Indian delegation led by Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with the Myanmar delegation led by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. +The talks were held in a warm, cordial and constructive atmosphere as befits the close and friendly relations between the two countries. +Thereafter, the State Counsellor and the Indian Prime Minister witnessed the signing and exchange of various documents between Myanmar and India in the areas of health, culture, capacity building, maritime security and collaboration between key institutions and held a Joint Press Conference. +3. Apart from his official engagements in Nay Pyi Taw, Prime Minister Modi will visit places of historical and cultural importance at Bagan and Yangon. +In Bagan, he will visit the holy and historic Ananda Temple, where restoration work is being carried out by Indian and Myanmar archaeologists under the expert guidance of the Archaeological Survey of India. +In Yangon, he will pay his respects to the memory of General Aung San at the Martyrs’ Mausoleum and also visit the Bogyoke Aung San Museum as well as other prominent sites. +He will interact with the Indian origin and expatriate Indian community of Myanmar during his stay in Yangon. +During the talks, the two leaders reviewed developments since the very successful State visits of the President and the State Counsellor of Myanmar to India in August and October 2016 respectively. +They reviewed ongoing official exchanges, economic, trade and cultural ties, as well as people-to-people exchanges that reflect the harmony between Myanmar’s independent, active and non-aligned foreign policy and India’s pragmatic Act East and Neighbourhood First policies. +They pledged to pursue new opportunities to further deepen and broaden bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of the people of both countries. +They reaffirmed their common aspirations for peace, collective prosperity and development of the region and beyond. +4. The Prime Minister of India appreciated the measures taken by the Government of Myanmar towards peace and national reconciliation and commended the on-going peace process of the Government of Myanmar. +He noted that peace and stability in Myanmar are of the highest priority to India and reiterated India’s continued support to the Government of Myanmar in consolidating democratic institutions in Myanmar and for the emergence of a democratic Federal Republic. +5. The two leaders discussed the security situation prevailing along their borders and expressed concern at various incidents of terrorism and extremist-inspired violence that have taken place in their respective territories. +Recognizing that terrorism remains one of the most significant threats to peace and stability in the region, both sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and agreed that the fight against terrorism should target not only terrorists, terror organisations and networks, but also identify, hold accountable and take strong measures against States and entities that encourage, support or finance terrorism, provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups, and falsely extol their virtues. +Myanmar condemned the recent barbaric terror attacks during the Amarnath Yatra in India as also various acts of terror perpetrated by terrorists from across the borders. +India condemned the recent terrorist attacks in northern Rakhine State, wherein several members of the Myanmar security forces lost their lives. +Both sides agreed that terrorism violates human rights and there should, therefore, be no glorification of terrorists as martyrs. +They called on the international community to end selective and partial approaches to combating terrorism and, in this regard, jointly called for the expeditious finalization and adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism by the United Nations General Assembly. +Recognising that maintenance of security and stability along the common border is essential for the socio-economic development of the peoples of the border areas, Myanmar reaffirmed its respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India and steadfastly upheld the policy of not allowing any insurgent group to utilise Myanmar’s soil to undertake hostile acts against the Indian Government. +Myanmar also appreciated Government of India for upholding the same principle. +6. Both sides reiterated their mutual respect for the already demarcated boundary between the two countries and emphasised the need to resolve outstanding boundary demarcation issues as fast as possible through existing bilateral mechanisms and consultations. +7. Both sides reviewed the security situation in their immediate neighborhood and agreed upon the special need for enhancing closer bilateral cooperation in maritime security. +They also agreed to foster mutually beneficial and deeper defence cooperation between the two countries and, in this context, noted with satisfaction the recent successful visit of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of Myanmar to India. +Besides institutionalized cooperation through regular coordinated patrolling initiatives, they agreed to focus on bilateral maritime cooperation in non-traditional security domains, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, which are critical for safeguarding the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean as global commons. +8. Both sides pledged that Myanmar and India will maintain the already-achieved mutual understanding and growing bilateral relations between the two countries and that they will stand by each other as good and trustworthy neighbours in the years ahead in the interest of both peoples and the region. +9. The two sides noted with satisfaction the continued exchange of high-level visits that has fostered better mutual understanding of outstanding bilateral issues. +They appreciated the regular holding of sector specific institutional mechanisms in the areas of security and defence, trade and commerce, power and energy, border management and connectivity etc. for effective follow-up of decisions taken at the highest political levels. +They also noted with pleasure the excellent exchanges between Indian and Myanmar Parliamentarians and encouraged them to further enhance such interaction. +10. The Myanmar side expressed its heartfelt appreciation to Government of India for all the assistance rendered to Myanmar in support of its endeavour for socio-economic development. +Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s abiding commitment to supporting Myanmar in its efforts to build infrastructure and develop human resources capacity. +Alluding to the positive experience of the Industrial Training Centres set up with Indian assistance in Pakokku and Myingyan, the Myanmar side thanked India for the support being extended to develop two more Centres at Monywa and Thaton respectively as well as the assistance for a five year comprehensive maintenance plan for ITC, Myingyan. +They also expressed appreciation for the support offered by India to upgrade the Myanmar-India Entrepreneurship Development Centre and the Centre for English Language Training at Yangon. +The two sides also agreed to continue discussion towards the establishment of a Planetarium at a suitable location in Myanmar, recognizing that this would be a valuable institution that would nurture a scientific temper amongst the Myanmar youth. +11. The two sides shared the view that the situation in Rakhine State had a developmental as well as a security dimension. +In this context, they agreed to bring about overall socio-economic development in the State by undertaking both infrastructure and socio-economic projects, particularly in the spheres of education, health, agriculture and allied activities, agro-processing, community development, construction of small bridges, upgradation of roads, small power projects, livelihood activity, setting up of training centres, promotion of household crafts, conservation of environment and cultural heritage. +Myanmar welcomed India’s offer of assistance under the Rakhine State Development Programme and the two sides agreed to finalize the implementation modalities within the next few months +12. The two sides noted with satisfaction the cooperation in the field of agricultural research and education, especially through the rapid progress in operationalizing the Advanced Centre for Agricultural Research and Education set up at the Yezin Agricultural University and the Rice Bio Park set up at the Department of Agricultural Research. +It also appreciated India’s assistance for facilitating post graduation and doctoral education in agricultural sciences for candidates from Myanmar. +13. The two sides expressed satisfaction at the ongoing capacity building programmes for Myanmar judicial officers, military personnel and police. +Myanmar thanked India for the extended period of support to the Myanmar Institute of Information Technology and the India-Myanmar Centre for Enhancement of IT Skills. +They agreed that India would extend regular training to Myanmar diplomats at the Foreign Service Institute, New Delhi. +Myanmar welcomed India’s offer to enrol two Myanmar diplomats every year for training at the Kendriya Hindi Sansthan while 150 Myanmar civil servants would undergo training in English language at Indian training institutes every year for a period of five years. +14. Recognizing the need to further upgrade the training infrastructure and capacity building of Myanmar Police, the two leaders welcomed the signing of the Memorandum on Upgradation of the Women’s Police Training Center at Yamethin in Myanmar with technical and financial assistance of Government of India. +Myanmar welcomed India’s offer to help set up a training centre for police officers in Yangon and it was decided that modalities would be jointly worked out. +15. Myanmar thanked India for supporting various projects in Myanmar that enhance bilateral as well as regional connectivity like the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project and other road and bridge construction projects as fully funded grant-in-aid projects. +Myanmar appreciated the substantial progress made on the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project with the completion of works on the Sittwe Port and the Paletwa Inland Water Transport Terminal and the handing over of six cargo barges to the Myanmar Port Authority and Inland Water Transport. +The two sides agreed to enter into an MoU on appointing a port operator that may include both sides to be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the port in keeping with the practice that has been adopted at other international ports in Myanmar. +This would enable the Port and IWT infrastructure to be used commercially and promote development of the surrounding areas even as the final component of the project, the road from Paletwa to Zorinpui, is under construction. +Both sides noted with satisfaction that work on the road was already underway and agreed to facilitate movement of project personnel, construction material and equipment across the border through Zorinpui and Paletwa. +They also noted that construction work would shortly begin on reconstruction of bridges on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa Road and on the Kalewa-Yargyi sector of the Trilateral Highway. +The two sides have agreed upon the alignment of the Rih-Tedim road and the DPR for its construction. +Further steps on construction of the Putao-Myitkyina and Alethankyaw-Ahungmaw roads under available LOC would be taken after DPRs are made available by Myanmar. +In response to Myanmar’s request, India agreed to undertake preparation of DPRs for the Rihkhawdar-Zowkhathar bridge and the Bwaynu bridge. +16. The two sides also reviewed projects in the field of health and noted with satisfaction that work on the upgradation of Yangon Childrens’ Hospital and Sittwe General Hospital and on construction of Monywa General Hospital had been completed. +They agreed to start consultations to establish and operate a state-of-the-art hospital in Nay Pyi Taw in association with one of the leading Indian hospital groups, based on modalities to be mutually decided. +17. Both sides deliberated on the progress made in utilization of US$ 500 million concessional Line of Credit extended by India to Myanmar in 2012. +Noting that the projects to be implemented under the Line of Credit would help augment the physical infrastructure in vital areas and enhance capacities in agriculture and transport, they resolved to implement mutually agreed projects expeditiously. +Both sides expressed that, in order to derive full value from these infrastructure projects, the institutional arrangements related to connectivity needed to be put in place on priority. +In this regard, they noted the importance of concluding a bilateral agreement that would enable motor vehicle traffic, both passenger and cargo, to cross the border. +18. Both sides underlined the need for bringing about greater integration of power and energy supply networks between India and Myanmar. +Myanmar welcomed India’s participation in its energy sector both in exploration and production and invited Indian companies to participate in tenders for petrochemicals and petroleum products, marketing infrastructure and setting up of LPG terminals. +India informed that leading Indian oil and gas companies are in the process of opening their offices in Myanmar. +The two sides applauded the agreement reached by Numaligarh Refinery of India and Parami Energy Group of Myanmar on supply of diesel to Myanmar across the land border, noting that this will give the people of north Myanmar cheaper and more reliable access to petroleum products, and also encouraged both sides to collaborate in storage and retail marketing of petroleum products in Myanmar. +The first consignment of the high speed diesel reached Myanmar on 4th September 2017. +19. India also expressed its readiness to extend technical as well as project-specific assistance to conventional as well as renewable energy-based power development projects identified by Government of Myanmar. +In addition to the earlier offer to conduct a feasibility study for development of solar parks in Myanmar, India offered to conduct a solar radiation resource assessment in Myanmar. +The two sides discussed ways to cooperate in the field of energy efficiency between the two countries. +India shared its experiences in power trade and expressed its interest in examining possible cooperation in this area with Myanmar. +It was agreed that these and other relevant issues would be taken up at an early meeting of the Joint Steering Committee on Power and other forums. +In view of the immense benefits that would accrue to participating countries, Myanmar promised to give careful consideration to India’s suggestion to join the Framework Agreement for the establishment of the International Solar Alliance. +20. The two sides noted the current level of bilateral trade and investment and agreed that, while robust, it has potential for growth. +In this regard, they emphasized the need to improve market access by removing all trade barriers with a view to facilitate trade between the two countries. +They expressed satisfaction with the conclusions reached at the 6th meeting of Myanmar-India Joint Trade Committee held in New Delhi, India in June, 2017 and agreed to continue holding of meetings on Border Trade Committee and Border Haats Committee. +India welcomed Myanmar’s desire to seek cooperation with it to develop Myanmar’s textile sector covering standardization, inspection and quality recommendations, research & development, human resource development and capacity building . +21. The two sides acknowledged the importance of pulses in the bilateral trade basket, and the implications this trade has for the Myanmar farmers and Indian consumers. +In this context, the State Counsellor expressed grave concern at the recent notification issued by India imposing quantitative restrictions on various categories of pulses and requested Prime Minister of India to lift all restrictions on imports from Myanmar in view of the bonds of friendship and long term interests of the two peoples and nations. +The Indian Prime Minister responded that it was important to work out long term arrangements whereby the interests of both the peoples could be safeguarded in future. +22. The two sides welcomed the successful negotiations and finalization of the agreement on border crossing which will help in regulating and harmonizing movement of people across the common land border and thus promote bilateral trade and tourism and directed their senior officials to expeditiously conclude the formalities for its signature. +Leaders of both countries agreed to negotiate and swiftly conclude an agreement on commencing a coordinated bus service between the two countries from Imphal in India to Mandalay in Myanmar. +23. They shared the view that enhanced air connectivity between the two countries will boost people-to-people contacts as well as promote greater tourism, trade and investment flows. +The leaders also agreed that a DPR would be prepared by Airports Authority of India through the close cooperation with Department of Civil Aviation(DCA) of Myanmar for development of Pakokku Airport or Kalay Airport with financial and technical assistance from India. +They also welcomed Government of India’s offer of customized training and capacity building programmes for Air Traffic Controllers of Myanmar in India. +The leaders directed their respective officials to also explore the feasibility of construction of a rail link between Tamu and Mandalay in Myanmar. +It was agreed that a team from India would be deputed to study and prepare a DPR for the rail link between Tamu and Mandalay. +24. Both sides recognized the importance of establishing mutually agreed procedures for the rescue and rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking. +In this context, they welcomed the finalization of the MoU on Cooperation for Prevention of Human Trafficking and conveyed their intent to conclude it at the earliest. +25. The two leaders emphasized the centrality of culture in further deepening the close bonds between the peoples of India and Myanmar and expressed satisfaction with the signature of the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) for the period 2017-20. +They expressed confidence that the CEP would also promote cultural exchanges between the North Eastern States of India and the bordering areas of Myanmar. +India also confirmed that 2 slots would be made available annually for Myanmar archaeologists for advanced studies at the Indian Institute of Archaeology, New Delhi. +The Indian side conveyed that the project being undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India to preserve and conserve stone inscriptions and temples of King Mindon and King Bagyidaw of Myanmar in Bodh Gaya is at an advanced stage and would be completed by December 2017. +The Myanmar side welcomed this information noting that these temples constitute an important aspect of India-Myanmar cultural heritage. +26. Myanmar welcomed India’s assistance in the socio-economic development of Bagan while preserving and conserving its heritage. +Prime amongst these is the project to restore and conserve 92 ancient pagodas and structures in Bagan through the Archaeological Survey of India. +The two sides welcomed the finalization of an MoU in this regard. +Other projects proposed to be undertaken as India-Myanmar cooperation projects are those of setting up of “Bagan Haat” as a hub of Myanmar craft, food and cultural activities, LED-based street lighting, rain water harvesting for sustainable water management, training for alternative income generation for the people of Bagan and upgradation of identified schools. +27. Myanmar expressed deep appreciation to India for the decision taken by the Government of India to give Myanmar nationals gratis visa in all categories, except e-visa. +28. The Government of Myanmar thanked India for its decision to grant special pardon to 40 Myanmar nationals who are currently undergoing imprisonment in India for various crimes. +This gesture was deeply appreciated by both the Government and the people of Myanmar, especially by the families of those who will be released from Indian jails. +Recognising the importance of the role played by the media in fostering and supporting democracy, both sides welcomed the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Press Council of India and the Myanmar Press Council. +Activities under this framework will encourage exchanges between journalists and promote better understanding of political and economic developments in India and Myanmar. +29. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepen regional cooperation to maximize the mutuality of interests and to ensure equitable share of mutual benefits in all areas, including trade, transport and energy. +They recognized the importance of various regional/sub-regional collaborative initiatives to improve the lives and livelihoods of all people across the two countries. +30. India and Myanmar reaffirmed their commitment to work closely in the UN and other multilateral organizations. +They underscored the importance of coordinating their positions on multilateral issues of common interest. +Both sides reiterated the importance of a strong United Nations and emphasized the need for an early reform of the Security Council. +They reaffirmed their commitment to support the Inter-Governmental Negotiations for comprehensive reforms of the Security Council. +Myanmar reiterated its support for India’s efforts to become permanent member of an expanded and reformed UN Security Council. +The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to work together particularly in the international arena to strengthen the means of implementation as enshrined in the SDGs 2030. +The two sides stressed the importance of objectivity and impartiality of the United Nations and its specialized agencies in pursuing their work. +31. Both sides underscored the need for strengthening and reform of multilateral financial institutions and enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries in international economic decision-making. +India and Myanmar expressed firm commitment to set an example of good neighbourliness in the region. +They emphasized that they must continue to progress together. +They therefore agreed to promote shared interests of the peoples of the two countries so as to live together harmoniously and in a mutually beneficial inter-dependent environment. +32. Prime Minister Modi thanked the President of Myanmar for the warm and gracious hospitality extended to him and his delegation during their stay in Myanmar. +33. Prime Minister Modi also invited State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to visit India at a mutually convenient time. +The State Counsellor of Myanmar expressed her deep appreciation for the invitation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to First Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on his birth anniversary. +“Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s life was spent in giving India freedom and leading India as the 1st PM. +As part of their Valedictory Session as Assistant Secretaries, IAS officers of the 2016 batch today made presentations before the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister noted that the Assistant Secretaries programme offers the junior-most and senior-most officers the opportunity to interact with each other. +The Prime Minister encouraged the young officers to imbibe the best from the experiences that they would have had, during their attachment to various Ministries as part of this programme. +He exhorted the young officers to keep in mind the expectations that people have from Government, and to do their best to fulfil those expectations, in whatever positions they serve in, during their career. +The Prime Minister encouraged the officers to develop a connect, with the people around them, and with the people they serve, in course of their duties. +He said that developing a close rapport with people, is one of the keys to achieving success in their tasks and objectives. +The Prime Minister appreciated the presentations made by the young officers. +The event also marked the culmination of the Gramoday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan, which began on the 125th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, at Mhow, on April 14th. +Shri Narendra Modi emphasized that facilities and services in rural areas, should be at par with the cities. +The Prime Minister exhorted the Panchayat Representatives to use their tenure to work towards serving the people by aiming to bring about transformative change in the villages. +In particular, he said women members can play a leadership role in areas such as toilet construction. +He urged the Panchayats to pay special attention to children’s education, and said if children stop attending schools, it should worry the Panchayat members. +The Prime Minister encouraged Panchayats to think beyond budgets, and focus on Jan Suvidha. +After the event, the Prime Minister came down from the stage and met some of the Panchayat Representatives from across the country who had gathered in Jamshedpur. +He also met the wife and daughter of one of the victims of the Patna bomb blasts, which had occurred during his rally there in 2013. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today flagged off the Tejas Express between Madurai and Chennai. +At a large public function in Kanyakumari, he also laid the Foundation Stone for the restoration of rail connectivity between Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi, and the restoration of the Pamban bridge. +The Prime Minister inaugurated some road projects as well. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that every Indian is proud that the brave Wing Commander Abhinandan belongs to Tamil Nadu. +He also congratulated the Vivekananda Kendra on being conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize a few days ago. +He said the Tejas Express is one of the most modern trains and is a great example of ‘Make in India.’ +He said that the Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi rail line got damaged after the disaster of 1964 but for over fifty years, no attention was paid to this line. +Better late than never, he added. +The Prime Minister said as part of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, over 1.1 crore farmers have already got their first instalment in their bank accounts. +He said a scheme announced on 1st February has become a reality in the same month itself. +We worked 24 hours non-stop to ensure the scheme is rolled out in 24 days, he added. +He said in ten years, about 7.5 lakh crore rupees would have been received by hard-working farmers. +The Prime Minister said that people want honesty, development, progress, opportunities and security from the Government. +Talking about defence and security, the Prime Minister said that India has been facing the menace of terrorism for years. +He said that the big difference now is that India will no longer be helpless in the wake of terror. +He said that this is a New India that will return the damage done by terrorists with interest. +In matters of defence and national security, we are Indians first and Indians only, the Prime Minister asserted. +The Prime Minister also elaborated upon the steps taken by the Union Government against corruption. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Tourism, Government of the Republic of India and Ministry of Cultural, Information & Tourism of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism. +Considering the mutual benefits, signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of tourism would enable both parties to enter into a constructive dialogue for development and promotion of tourism in each other’s country for the economic development of two nations. +The signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the Kyrgyz Republic will be instrumental in increasing arrival from this important source market. +The main objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding include: +a) To expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector +b) To exchange information and data related to tourism +c) To encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders including Hotels and Tour operators. +d) To establish exchange programme for cooperation in Human Resource Development. +h) To participate in travel fairs /exhibitions in each other’s country and +i) To promote safe & honourable and sustainable tourism. +Kyrgyzstan is a part of CIS countries and is bordered by countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. +India and Kyrgyzstan have enjoyed a strong diplomatic and long economic relationship. +Tourist arrivals from Kyrgystan during the last five years are as follows:- +Prime Minister Modi conveyed his good wishes for the progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Malaysia. +He stated that the close and mutually beneficial India-Malaysia ties are based on the strong foundation of shared values, interests and vibrant people-to-people relations. +The Prime Minister said that he looked forward to working with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to further strengthen India-Malaysia strategic partnership. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the signing of MoU between India and European Union in the field of water resources. +It provides technical exchange on water issues, including on integrated water resource management plans within river basins and through study visits. +The MoU aims to identify key environmental issues and approaches to sustainable development where exchange of experiences and cooperation could be mutually beneficial to strengthen and further develop cooperation between India and the European Union in the field of water management. +It envisions a more sustainable management of water resources in India with an objective of tackling the challenges posed by water management in the context of growing population, competing water demands and a changing climate. +A Joint Working Group shall be formed to monitor the activities to be carried out in fulfillment of the MoU. +Keeping in view the success of the European Union in distribution of water resources, water pricing, water use efficiency by encouraging the changes in agricultural practices necessary to protect water resources and quality, such as switching to less water-demanding crops, etc., it has been decided to have an agreement with Israel to benefit from their experience and expertise. +The EU States have adopted water pricing policies to provide adequate incentives for users to use water resources efficiently thereby contributing to environmental objectives. +I. National Highways. +TPC (in Rs. Cr.) +Biharsharif – Barbigha – Mokama section of NH-82,NHDP Phase-IV +4- laning of Patna-Koilawar section of NH 30 +4- laning of Koilawar- Bhojpur section of NH-30 and NH-84 +4 laning of Bhojpur-Baxar section of NH-84 +4 laning of Bakhtiyarpur-Mokama section of NH-31 +New 4-laned bridge across river Ganga at Mokama on NH-31 +4lane of Simaria – Khagaria on NH-31,NHDP Phase-III +km 0.0-km 69.6 of Fatua-Harnaut-Barh section of NH-30A +Upgradation of Sheohar-Sitamarhi-Jaynagar-Narahiya (km 40-217) of NH 104 in three packages +Upgradation of Birpur-Bihpur (km 0-106) section of NH-106 +2-laning with paved shoulder of Gopalganj – Chhapra section +Widening and strengthening to 2-lane with paved shoulder & geometric improvement Betiah -Khushinagar Section from km 25.00 to km 40.00 on EPC mode +Strengthening and Widening to 2 Lane with Paved Shoulder from km 65 to 97 on EPC mode +2-laning with paved shoulder of Chhapra – Rewaghat – Muzaffarpur +4 laning of Forbesganj-Jogbani section of NH-57A +4 laning of Patna – Gaya – Dobi section of NH 83 with JICA ODA loan assistance +Construction of Bhagalpur Bypass +4 laning of Mokama-Khagariya section of NH-31 +Bridge at Munger +Development to 2-laned with paved shoulder of Maheshughat-Saharsa-Purnia section of NH-107 +Development of Manjholi-Chirkot section +4/6 laning of Patna Ring Road +4 laning of Kishanganj Bypass at NH-31 +4-laning of Munger-Mirzachowki section of Nh-80 +Development to 2-lane with paved shoulder of sections on NH-2C, NH80, NH81, NH99 and NH527 A. +Construction of MG Setu with JICA assistance +Construction of bridge across Kosi river an Km 136 of NH-106 +Ensuring Connectivity Across Major Rivers +Bridge on river Ganga connecting Manihari in Bihar to Sahibganj in Jharkhand +Bridge over river Sone connecting Panduka(Nauhata) on NH-2C in Bihar and Shrinagar(Garhwa District) in Jharkhand +A new 4-laned bridge on river Ganga parallel to existing MG Setu +Improving Connectivity- Declaration of New National Highway and its development +New National Highway connecting Buxar on NH-84-Chausa-Ramgarh-Mohania on NH-2 +Projects under “Bharatmala Programme” +Roads connecting Raxaul and Sonbarsa (Parallel to Indo-Nepal Border) +Chakia- Bargainia connectivity +Projects For Improving Connectivity Of Places Of Religious Interest +Development of Rampur -Khajuriya -Kesariya end of NH-722 to 4 lane standard +Development of Umgaon-Basopatti-Benipatti-Rahua-Madhubani-Rampatti-Awam-Laufa-Bheja-Supaul-Mehsi-Saharsa which connects Uchchait Bhagwati Sthan to Mehsi Taraesthan to 2 lane with paved shoulder or 4-lane standard with a bridge over river Kosi +Grand Total for NH +RURAL DEVELOPMENT +To complete about 22,500 km of PMGSY roads in Bihar +Petroleum and Natural Gas +The Barauni Refinery would be expanded from 6 million tons to 9 million tons +A Polyproplene Recovery Plant for petro-chemical products would also be set up. +The implementation of the 617 Kms pipeline relating to Bihar in Jagdishpur-Haldia pipeline +Extension of Paradip-Haldia- Durgapur LPG pipeline +New LPG Plant at Muzaffarpur +Creation of additional capacity for LPG plant at Patna +Augumentation of Patna LPG Plant from 60 to 120 TMTPA +Upgradation of Purnea LPG Plant +Construction of a Greenfield Airport at Patna +Development of Gaya Airport for Airbus 321-200 type of aircraft operations with new terminal building and apron, runway extension, CAT-I approach lighting +Development of Raxual Airport for ATR-72 / Q-400 type of aircrafts for VFR operations +Development of Civil Enclave at Purnea Airport for Airbus 321-200 type of aircraft +V. HIGHER EDUCATION +Establishment of a Central University near Bhagalpur at the historic site of Vikramshila University +Establishment of IIM, Bodh Gaya +25,000 youth to be trained in Power sector +Mega Skill University in Bihar +Upgradation of PUSA (Bihar) to the level of a Central Agricultural University +Development of fisheries +Farm Water Management (Micro irrigation, creation of water resources) +Development of Storage Capacity +Farm Mechanization +Seed production systems +National Research Centre on Integrated Farming System, Motihari, Bihar +Construction of new godowns at Supaul, Madhepura, Hazipur and Chakia Bazar +Rampur Dumra – Tal – Rajendrapul Addl Bridge and doubling – 14 Km length +Hajipur – Bachwara – 72 kms +3rd line between Dhanbad – Sonnagar (partly in Bihar ) – 429 kms +Kiul – Tilaiya 87 kms +Valmikinagar – Narkatiaganj-Sugauli-Muzaffarpur including Sugauli-Raxaul 240 kms +Ammapali Halt – Kiul including Tinpahar-Rajmahal (Part of Bonidanga link cabin/Bonidanga-Barharwa- Sahibgang-Kiul section incl Tinpahar-Rajmahal) Length 247 kms +Construction of 1300 MW Power plant at Buxar {PIB has recently appraised the project and recommended Rs. 437 cr as pre-investment activity to kick start the project.} +Under Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS). +X. TELECOMMUNICATION – DIGITAL BIHAR +1000 new BTS (towers) to be installed in Bihar +Setting up of 2 new STPI centres (Software Technology Park of India) in Darbhanga and Bhagalpur and Rural BPO scheme for small towns and rural areas. +This will help in promoting the IT entrepreneurs and start ups in Bihar. +Setting up 2 new NIELIT Centres in Muzaffarpur and Buxar apart from upgrading the existing centre in Patna, Medical Incubator at IIT Patna, Electronics and ICT Academy at NIT Patna. +30 WiFi hotspots will be rolled out in Bihar, by BSNL at prominent tourist places such as Rajgir, Vaishali, Gaya, Nalanda and Patna +Vaishali and Bodhgaya development alongwith other places in buddhist circuit including Vikramshla +Sultanganj to Deoghar project +Patna Sahib under Prasad +Mahatma Gandhi Circuit +Jain Circuit including Champa puri +circuit for Mandar Hills and Ang Pradesh +IITTM chapter in Bihar +Upgradation of 3 Medical colleges at Patna, Bhagalpur & Gaya under PMMSY in Bihar +Grand Total of the Package +-Income Tax Relief on new capital investment in the form of Additional Investment Allowance and Higher Additional Depreciation for investment in backward areas of Bihar. +Other Investments: Rs. 40,657 crore +1. Unspent amount of 2013 Special Plan (of Rs. 12,000 crore): Rs. 8,282 crore +2. Ongoing works of National Highways: Rs. 12,375 crore +3. Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) in Banka under PPP: Rs. 20,000 crore +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with the awardees of National Teachers’ Awards, 2017 at Lok Kalyan Marg, on the eve of Teachers’ Day. +The Union Minister for Human Resource Development Shri Prakash Javadekar, was also present on the occasion. +Prime Minister congratulated the awardees for their efforts towards improving the quality of education in the country. +He commended their dedication towards education and for making it their life mantra. +He said that a teacher remains a teacher throughout life. +During the interaction, Prime Minister urged the awardees to mobilize the community and to make them an integral part of school development. +He also exhorted the teachers to work towards bringing out the inherent strength of students, especially those from poor and rural background. +Prime Minister said that the educators should work towards removing the disconnect between the teachers and the students, so that teachers are remembered by the students throughout their life. +He also encouraged the teachers to digitally transform their schools and its neighbourhood. +Interacting with the Prime Minister, the awardees narrated their inspirational stories in transforming their schools into centres of learning and excellence. +They also thanked the Prime Minister for the new online nomination process and for schemes like Digital India, which is bringing a big qualitative change in school education throughout the country. +This year, the Ministry of Human Resource Development had revised the guidelines for the selection of Teachers for National Awards. +The new scheme envisages self-nomination and was inspired by recent innovations in major national awards. +The scheme is transparent, fair, and rewards demonstrated excellence and performance. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Telangana and congratulated the state`s first Chief Minister, Shri K. Chandrasekhar Rao, on the creation of the new state of Telangana. +The Prime Minister has tweeted as follows: +We welcome Telangana as our 29th state. +Telangana will add strength to our development journey in the coming years. +Telangana`s birth comes after years of struggle and sacrifices by several people. +We pay our respects to them today. +Congrats to K Chandrasekhar Rao Garu on taking oath as Telangana`s 1st CM. +My best wishes to people for the state`s development journey. +Centre assures complete support to the people & Government of Telangana in taking the state to newer heights of progress.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Indonesia on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. +The MoU was signed by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Science, Technology and Earth Sciences at New Delhi in May 2018 and Mr. Mohamad Nasir, Minister for Research, Technology and Higher Education, Indonesia on the Indonesian side at Jakarta in May 2018. +The objective of the MoU is to promote cooperation in the fields of science and technology between India and Indonesia on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. +The stake-holders will include researchers from scientific organizations, academia, R&D laboratories and companies from India and Indonesia. +Information and Communication Technology; Marine Science & Technology; Life Sciences (including Biotechnology, Agriculture and Biomedical Sciences); Energy Research; Water Technologies; Disaster Management; Space Sciences, Technology and Applications; Geospatial Information and Applied Chemistry were identified as potential areas for immediate collaboration. +The Prime Minister will visit Jammu, Srinagar and Leh on Feb 03, 2019. +He will inaugurate / lay foundation stones for various development projects there. +He will also inspect Dal Lake in Srinagar. +The Prime Minister will unveil the plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of AIIMS, Vijaypur and AIIMS, Awantipora. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had approved setting up of AIIMS at Vijaypur in Jammu and AIIMS at Awantipora in Pulwama, Kashmir. +Setting up of new AIIMS would transform the health care facilities, health education and training in the region. +PM will also lay the foundation stone for the construction of Northern Regional Centre Campus of Indian Institute of Mass Communication at Jammu through the unveiling of plaque +University of Ladakh will be launched by the Prime Minister. +It will be the first ever University in Ladakh region, established under University of Ladakh Act 2018. +It will be a cluster University comprising of degree colleges of Leh, Kargil, Nubra, Zanskar, Drass and Khaltsi. +The university will have administrative offices at Leh and Kargil. +University Institute of Engineering & Technology, Kathua will be dedicated to the nation by the PM. +He will then lay the foundation stone for construction of Transit accomodation for Kashmiri migrant employees in Kashmir valley through the unveiling of plaque. +PM will declare 100% electrification of households in the State Of Jammu And Kashmir under SAUBHAGYA Scheme. +PM will lay foundation stone of 624 MW Kiru Hydroelectric project in Kishtwar, Jammu Kashmir. +The foundation stone of this prestigious project was also laid by him in August 2014. +400 KV D/C Jalandhar-Samba-Rajouri- Shopian-Amargarh(Sopore) transmission lane will be dedicated to the nation by PM. +The project has augmented the grid connectivity in Jammu & Kashmir. +Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of 1640 m span double lane bridge over River Chenab at Sajwal. +The project will provide an alternative route for the population of Sajwal and Indri Pattian. +With the completion of this bridge, the distance between Sajwal and Indri Pattian shall be reduced to 5 kms from 47 kms earlier. +PM will lay the foundation of the project aimed at reducing pollution of Rivers Devika&Tawi under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). +Upon completion, the project will have a significant and direct beneficial impact in terms of reduction of pollution load in the two rivers and improvement in their water quality. +PM will lay foundation stone of the new terminal building of KushokBakulaRimpochee (KBR) Airport in Leh by unveiling the plaque. +The new terminal will be a modular, energy efficient and self-sustaining building of 18,985 sq.m +PM will then open new tourist and trekking routes in Ladakh. +This will offer diverse tourist activities in Ladakh and will result in more tourist flow. +It will also open better livelihood opportunities to many villages. +Facilities for launch of Rural BPO, Bandipora will be inaugurated by the PM. +This will enhance employment opportunities for the youth in Bandipora and neighbouring districts. +PM will inaugurate Multipurpose Indoor Sports Facility at Sephora, Ganderbal. +The indoor sports facility will be an invaluable asset for the youth of the district Ganderbal, where they will get the chance to play indoor games. +In Srinagar, Prime Minister will interact with students from the states of Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Odisha, Maharashtra and Telangana. +He will also hold an interaction with the newly elected Sarpanches. +PM earlier visited Jammu, Srinagar and Leh on May 19, 2018 to lay the foundation stone for various infrastructure projects in the state. +Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana a boost for farmers: PM +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has hailed the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana as a boost to the farmers across the country. +In a major policy initiative to protect the savings of the investors, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to introduce the following bills in the Parliament:- +(a) Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018 in parliament & +(b) Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018 +The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018 +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval to introduce the banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018 in Parliament. +The bill is aimed at tackling the menace of illicit deposit taking activities in the country. +Companies/ institutions running such schemes exploit existing regulatory gaps and lack of strict administrative measures to dupe poor and gullible people of their hard-earned savings. +The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018 will provide a comprehensive legislation to deal with the menace of illicit deposit schemes in the country through, +1. complete prohibition of unregulated deposit taking activity; +2. deterrent punishment for promoting or operating an unregulated deposit taking scheme; +3. stringent punishment for fraudulent default in repayment to depositors; +4. designation of a Competent Authority by the State Government to ensure repayment of deposits in the event of default by a deposit taking establishment; +5. powers and functions of the competent authority including the power to attach assets of a defaulting establishment; +6. designation of Courts to oversee repayment of depositors and to try offences under the Act; and +7. listing of Regulated Deposit Schemes in the Bill, with a clause enabling the Central Government to expand or prune the list. +The salient features of the Bill are as follows: +• The Bill contains a substantive banning clause which bans Deposit Takers from promoting, operating, issuing advertisements or accepting deposits in any Unregulated Deposit Scheme. +The principle is that the Bill would ban unregulated deposit taking activities altogether, by making them an offence ex-ante, rather than the existing legislative-cum-regulatory framework which only comes into effect ex-post with considerable time lags. +• The Bill creates three different types of offences, namely, running of Unregulated Deposit Schemes, fraudulent default in Regulated Deposit Schemes, and wrongful inducement in relation to Unregulated Deposit Schemes. +• The Bill provides for severe punishment and heavy pecuniary fines to act as deterrent. +• The Bill has adequate provisions for disgorgement or repayment of deposits in cases where such schemes nonetheless manage to raise deposits illegally. +• The Bill provides for attachment of properties/ assets by the Competent Authority, and subsequent realization of assets for repayment to depositors. +• Clear-cut time lines have been provided for attachment of property and restitution to depositors. +• The Bill enables creation of an online central database, for collection and sharing of information on deposit taking activities in the country. +• The Bill defines “Deposit Taker” and “Deposit” comprehensively. +• “Deposit” is defined in such a manner that deposit takers are restricted from camouflaging public deposits as receipts, and at the same time not to curb or hinder acceptance of money by an establishment in the ordinary course of its business. +• Being a comprehensive Union law, the Bill adopts best practices from State laws, while entrusting the primary responsibility of implementing the provisions of the legislation to the State Governments. +The worst victims of these schemes are the poor and the financially illiterate, and the operations of such schemes are oftenspread over many States. +Subsequently, Finance Minister in the Budget Speech 2017-18 had announced that the draft bill to curtail the menace of illicit deposit schemes had been placed in the public domain and would be introduced shortly after its finalization. +The Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018 +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to introduce the Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018 in Parliament. +In order to facilitate orderly growth of the Chit Funds sector and remove bottlenecks being faced by the Chit Funds industry, thereby enabling greater financial access of people to other financial products, the following amendments to the Chit Funds Act, 1982 have been proposed: +• Use of the words “Fraternity Fund” for chit business under Sections 2(b) and 11(1) of the Chit Funds Act, 1982, to signify its inherent nature, and distinguish its working from “Prize Chits” which are banned under a separate legislation; +• While retaining the requirement of a minimum of two subscribers for the conduct of the draw of the Chit and for the preparation of the minutes of the proceedings, the Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018 proposes to allow the two minimum required subscribers to join through video conferencing duly recorded by the foreman, as physical presence of the subscribers towards the final stages of a Chit may not be forthcoming easily. +The foreman shall have the minutes of the proceedings signed by such subscribers within a period of two days following the proceedings; +• Increasing the ceiling of foreman’s commission from a maximum of 5% to 7%, as the rate has remained static since the commencement of the Act while overheads and other costs have increased manifold; +• Allowing the foreman a right to lien for the dues from subscribers, so that set-off is allowed by the Chit company for subscribers who have already drawn funds, so as to discourage default by them; and +• Amending Section 85 (b) of the Chit Funds Act, 1982 to remove the ceiling of one hundred rupees set in 1982 at the time of framing the Chit Funds Act, which has lost its relevance. +The State Governments are proposed to be allowed to prescribe the ceiling and to increase it from time to time. +I will leave today on a visit to Nepal to attend the 18th SAARC Summit, being hosted by the Government of Nepal in Kathmandu on 26-27 November 2014. +Although this is my first SAARC Summit, during the last six months, I have interacted extensively with leaders of SAARC countries beginning with their auspicious presence at my swearing in ceremony. +Development of close relations with our neighbours is a key priority for my Government. +The 18th SAARC Summit will focus on the theme of “Deeper Regional Integration for Peace and Prosperity”. +India has always emphasized the importance of greater regional integration at all levels for the socio-economic development of the South Asian region. +We have undertaken several initiatives in this regard on bilateral, sub-regional and regional basis, and will continue to do more. +We hope that the Summit will lead to concrete outcomes, particularly in regard to various initiatives on enhancing connectivity that have been under discussion for a long time. +I also look forward to holding bilateral discussions with other South Asian Heads of State and Government on the margins of the SAARC Summit. +This will be my second visit to Nepal within four months, which reflects the importance we attach to our unique and special relations with Nepal. +There has been significant progress in the implementation of the decisions taken during my visit to Nepal in August 2014. +I look forward to reviewing the progress in our relations with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and other Nepalese leaders. +We also hope to conclude some concrete agreements in the areas of connectivity and development cooperation. +During the interaction, the Prime Minister encouraged the Pradhans to work towards total vaccination, zero school dropouts and Swacchta in their respective villages. +The Prime Minister also urged the group to eliminate any discrimination between daughters and sons. +The Group expressed their willingness to celebrate the birth of a girl child by planting a tree as a celebratory gesture. +The Prime Minister also asked the Pradhans to share the experience of their visit to the Parliament and the Capital with the residents of Varanasi. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the Dashamah Soundarya Lahari Parayanotsava Mahasamarpane at Bengaluru. +The Soundarya Lahari is a set of shlokas composed by Adi Shankaracharya. +At the event, there was mass chanting of Soundarya Lahari. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said he feels a special energy in the environment from this mass chanting. +The Prime Minister recalled his visit to Kedarnath a few days ago, and said he is filled with awe at the work done by Adi Shankara, in that remote location, as well as at other places across India, in his relatively short life-span. +He said Adi Shankara had united India, through the Vedas and Upanishads. +The Prime Minister said the common man could relate to Adi Shankara’s composition – Soundarya Lahari. +He said Adi Shankaracharya removed evils from the society, and prevented them from reaching future generations. +He said Adi Shankara had imbibed the best of practices from different ideologies and thought. +This culture is the foundation of New India – and follows the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that in a way, India’s cultural heritage holds the answers to all global problems. +He said that in India, the stress has always been on preventing the exploitation of nature. +The Prime Minister said that LED bulbs which earlier cost more than 350 rupees, are now available for 40 to 45 rupees under the Ujala scheme. +He said more than 27 crore LED bulbs have been distributed so far. +This has resulted in savings in the electricity bill as well, he added. +The Prime Minister mentioned that over 3 crore LPG connections have been distributed through the Ujjwala Yojana. +This has not only made a positive difference in the lives of rural women, but also contributed to a cleaner environment, he said. +The Prime Minister said that the need of the hour is that efforts be made to free India from evils such as illiteracy, ignorance, malnutrition, black money and corruption. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Saturday made a strong pitch for India’s permanent membership at the United Nations Security Council, and expressed confidence that the world would soon recognize and accept India’s capabilities. +“Vishv Bharat ko jaanega bhi aur maanega bhi,” the Prime Minister asserted, in remarks at the Community Reception at the Carrousel de Louvre in Paris. +The Prime Minister spoke of his engagements in France over the last two days, emphasizing his visit to the World War-1 memorial at Neuve Chapelle earlier in the day. +He said he felt an immense pride at the memorial, which is a testament to the bravery of Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during the First World War. +The Prime Minister said that the world should recognize the spirit of sacrifice that is unique to India. +He said these soldiers had sacrificed their lives, not defending their own country, but fighting shoulder to shoulder with the French. +He said that by visiting the memorial, he wanted to send out a message that the world should change its perception about India – a country which can make sacrifices for others. +The Prime Minister expressed happiness that his remarks were being beamed live, with French translation, in island territories in various parts of the world, including Reunion Island and Guadaloupe. +He said 2.5 lakh people of Indian origin live on these islands too. +He said there are many people of Indian origin in France, who now have little or no trace of their ancestral roots in India. +He added that India still cared for them, because of their common DNA – irrespective of the colour of their passport. +The Prime Minister said he was confident, based on his experience of ten months of his Government, that the hopes and expectations of all Indians would be fulfilled. +He spoke of some initiatives of the new Government, including the success of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, direct cash transfer of LPG subsidy, and coal block auctions. +He said the “Make in India” initiative had aroused tremendous interest in France. +He said that at the crux of all policies of his Government, was the vision to generate jobs for India’s youth. +He said India’s demographic dividend was its biggest strength. +Distinguished members of the Business Council +Ladies and Gentlemen, +I believe, economic forces are becoming increasingly important in global relationships. +Domains like Trade, Technology, Tourism, Talent and Tradition have the power to redefine existing paradigms. +I am thus pleased, that we established, the BRICS Business Council, in Durban, last year. +It is important, that our business leaders lead the effort in promoting trade, investment and manufacturing ties, among our countries. +I appreciate the work done by the Council. +Various enabling agreements, and MoUs; have already been signed between BRICS Development Banks, to promote intra-BRICS trade and investment. +I would suggest the Business Council work in close coordination with the Development Banks, and, the Contact Group on Trade and Investment Issues. +The suggestions presented in the Annual Report are important. +The Council should work closely with BRICS Sherpas to see how these suggestions can be taken forward. +I am also happy to note that the Council has gone beyond BRICS to make concrete proposals for contributing to the growth, and development of the larger African region. +India remains committed to partnering with African countries in their developmental initiatives. +I once again, express my appreciation for the good work that has been done. +Foundation stone for New Greenfield Airport in Itanagar and Sela Tunnel laid +DD Arun Prabha Channel launched by PM +Development projects worth Rs. 4000 crores unveiled for Arunachal Pradesh +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Itanagar as a part of his visit to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Tripura. +He laid foundation stone for Greenfield Airport at Itanagar and Sela Tunnel. +He launched DD Arun Prabha Channel. +He also unveiled several other development projects in the state from IG Park in Itanagar. +PM also inspected Loin Loom operations there. +PM said, “Today I got opportunity to unveil projects worth more than Rs 4000 crore”. +Additional projects worth Rs. 13000 crore is in progress in the state, he added. +PM asked people to compare 55 months of his Government with 55 years of the previous Governments with respect to developmental activities in Arunachal Pradesh and other North Eastern states also. +PM said that development did not happen at the pace it should have. +PM said, “Previous government neglected Arunachal and we are here to change that”. +He emphasized that New India can only built when North East India can be developed. +Development is for uniting the regions and people, he added. +He also informed that in the last 55 months there has been no dearth of funds for development. +He said, “Our government allocated Rs. 44000 crore funds to Arunachal which is double the amount provided by the previous governments.” +PM laid the foundation stone for the construction of Greenfield Airport at Hollongi and inaugurated retrofitted Tezu airport. +During the occasion he said that from today connectivity of the state will improve. +At present, only way to reach Itanagar by air is to get down at Guwahati Airport and travel either by road or by Helicopter service. +We expanded the airport by spending around Rs 125 crore for this small airport”. +Udan scheme will benefit people through cheaper flights. +Not just airports, the lives of people in Arunachal Pradesh will improve vastly with new and improved rail and road facilities,” says PM. +Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. +It will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore. +Prime Minister said that rail and road dual use bridge at bogibeel has brought Arunachal more closer to the mainland. +Government is working on almost Rs1000 crore worth of projects for improving connectivity of the state. +He informed that in the last 2 years around 1000 villages have been connected through roads. +The work on Trans Arunachal highway is also under progress, he added. +In an effort to connect all state capitals of North East states, Itanagar has also been connected with the Railways. +Arunachal Express is running weekly twice from Naharlagun. +There is also plan to connect Tawang by rail. +Prime Minister declared 100% household electrification in Arunachal Pradesh under Saubhagya scheme. +PM also dedicated 110 MW Pare Hydroelectric Plant in Arunachal Pradesh to the nation. +“We are emphasizing on power generation. +He recalled, “Yesterday I requested people to share their photos of north east visit. +Within few seconds 1000s of photos were tweeted by the people including foreigners. +50 health and wellness centers in Arunachal Pradesh was inaugurated by PM. +He said that through Ayushman Bharat scheme we are creating health and wellness center. +Health services will improve through these centers. +Through Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), within 150 days almost 11 lakh poor people have benefitted, he added. +PM said that through PM Kisan Saman Nidhi announced in the budget, those with less than 5 acre will get Rs 6000 every year in their bank accounts in three installments. +He said that his government will also support the efforts of Arunachal Pradesh Government in promoting Organic agriculture in every possible way. +A New dedicated DD Channel, for Arunachal Pradesh – DD Arun Prabha was launched by PM at IG Park, Itanagar. +The channel will be the 24th channel operated by Doordarshan. +He said that through this channel news of even remote places in the state will reach the people. +He also laid Foundation stone for a permanent campus of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) at Jote, Arunachal Pradesh on this occasion. +He summed it up by saying, “Arunachal Pradesh is India’s pride. +It is India’s gateway, and I assure you all that we will not just ensure its safety and security, but also put in on a fast-track to development”. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high level meeting on the drought and water scarcity situation in parts of Madhya Pradesh. +The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, was present in the meeting. +Senior officials from the Government of India, and the State of Madhya Pradesh, were also present. +An amount of Rs. 1875.80 crore has been released to the State under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), after adjustments of the State balances. +This is in addition to Rs 657.75 crore released as central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2015-16 to the State. +A further amount of Rs. 345.375 crore has been released as first instalment of SDRF for 2016-17. +The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister for his initiative to hold meetings with all drought-affected States. +This is the highest ever in the State of Madhya Pradesh. +The Chief Minister further said that due to preparatory steps taken over the last ten years, the State was relatively well placed to tackle the drought. +These steps included creation of water storage structures. +He said that despite the second successive year of deficient monsoon, transportation of water is required only in 113 villages. +Even if it does not rain till the end of June, this number will be only around 400 villages out of approximately 50,000 villages. +He also said that the State is giving highest priority to the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. +The Chief Minister also outlined the preparations for implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. +The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister discussed strategies to increase awareness about water conservation and storage, and involving the youth organizations such as NCC, NSS, NYKS, and Scouts and Guides, in these activities. +They discussed enhanced steps for tree plantation and protection in the catchment area of the River Narmada. +The meeting ended with a resolve on the part of the Centre and State to work together. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated to the nation, the Vadodara City Command Control Centre; the Waghodiya Regional Water Supply Scheme; and the New Head Office Building of the Bank of Baroda, at a public meeting in Vadodara. +The Prime Minister handed over keys of houses to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban, as well as Rural). +He laid the Foundation Stones of several infrastructure and development projects, including an integrated transport hub, regional water supply schemes, housing projects, and a flyover. +He also laid the foundation stone for the capacity expansion of the Mundra-Delhi petroleum product pipeline, and a greenfield marketing terminal project of HPCL, at Vadodara. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that the scale of development works being launched in Vadodara today is unprecedented. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is clear about its priority being development, and resources being used for the well-being of the citizens. +The Prime Minister said that since he was a child, he had been hearing about a ferry service from Ghogha to Dahej. +He said that the Government is now focused on all-round development and the ferry has been made operational today. +The Prime Minister said that as in previous years, “Run For Unity,” will be organised to mark the Jayanti of Sardar Patel on October 31st. +He urged people to take part in this enthusiastically. +PM: World is taking note of India’s economic growth; Government is working towards predictability in policies and laws. +PM: Global technology and talent of Indian youth can together create a win-win situation. +PM: Government working to improve ease of doing business. +He said that he expects this to rise even further, and that the 21st century would be Asia’s century, with India playing a key role in it. +Inaugurating GE’s multi-modal manufacturing facility at Chakan, Pune, the Prime Minister said there were immense possibilities for manufacturing in India. +He said India’s demographic dividend was a magnet to attract investment. +He said the Government was working towards creating a skilled talented workforce which would attract the world to India. +He said global technology (Vishwa Dhan) and the talent of Indian youth (Yuva Dhan) could together result in a win-win situation for all. +The Prime Minister said the Government was working towards predictability in policies and laws, that would boost confidence of investors. +The Prime Minister said his Government is working towards improving “ease of doing business.” +The Prime Minister congratulated GE for the state of the art manufacturing facility they had set up, and welcomed GE’s announcement for further investment. +He invited GE, which is already present in land and sky, to also invest in water – implying shipbuilding. +He invited GE to invest in defence manufacturing, where FDI has been raised to 49 percent. +The Prime Minister said Pune – which was now being called the “Detroit of India” – had immense potential to emerge as a hub of defence production. +He also emphasized that the Railway sector could become an engine of economic growth, and offered huge possibilities. +The Governor of Maharashtra Shri Vidyasagar Rao, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis, and Union Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar were present on the occasion. +Redevelopment of railway stations will pave the way for large scale modernisation and ensure world class infrastructure Railways to provide state-of-the-art amenities for passengers by allowing commercial development of its land and air space in and around stations Improvised and simpler program design including longer lease period upto 99 years, multiple sub leasing, simplified bid procedures Redevelopment will lead to creation of State-of-the-art smart stations that will function as mini smart cities Redevelopment of railway stations will have a multiplier effect in the economy with increased job creation and improved economic growth +Thus, paving the way for large scale modernisation and ensure world class infrastructure. +Redevelopment of major stations across the country is planned by leveraging commercial development of land and air space in and around the station. +This program will help provide state-of-the-art amenities for passengers, generate additional revenues and will be overall at least cost neutral to Ministry of Railways (MoR) over a basket of stations. +Furthermore, redevelopment of railway stations across the country will have a multiplier effect in the economy with increased job creation and improved economic growth. +IRSDC being the Nodal agency will prepare the overall strategic plan and business plans for individual or a group of stations ensuring cost neutrality of this program. +Upon approval of business plans by MoR, IRSDC or other Project Development Agencies will take up the work of station redevelopment. +This would enable Ministry of Railways to accelerate the redevelopment of major stations across the country on an overall cost neutral basis. +These redevelopment efforts will lead to creation of State-of-the-art smart stations that will function as mini smart cities. +Railway passengers and Industry shall be benefited at large. +However, insufficient interest was visible amongst the prospective bidders. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today presented awards and addressed civil servants on the occasion of the eleventh Civil Services Day. +Describing this day as one of “rededication,” the Prime Minister said that civil servants are well aware of their strengths and capabilities, challenges and responsibilities. +He said conditions prevailing today are quite different from about two decades ago, and would evolve much further over the next few years. +Elaborating on this, the Prime Minister said that earlier, Government was almost the sole provider of goods and services, which left a lot of scope for ignoring one’s shortcomings. +However, now, very often, people perceive that the private sector offers better services than Government. +The Prime Minister said that with alternatives now being available in several areas, the responsibilities of Government officers have increased. +He added that this increase is not in terms of scope of work, but in terms of the challenge. +The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of competition, which brings qualitative change. +He said that the sooner the attitude of Government can change from regulator to enabler, the faster this challenge of competition will become an opportunity. +The Prime Minister said that while the absence of Government in a sphere of activity should be perceptible, its presence in a sphere of activity should not become a burden. +He asked civil servants to strive towards such arrangements. +The Prime Minister urged senior officers to ensure that experience does not become a burden that stifles innovation of younger officers. +Shri Narendra Modi said that anonymity is one of the greatest strengths of the civil services. +He cautioned officers that the use of social media should not lead to a decline in this strength, even as social media and mobile governance are leveraged for connecting people to benefits and government schemes. +Speaking in the context of “reform, perform and transform”, the Prime Minister said that political will is needed for reform, but the “perform” part of this formulation must come from civil servants, while transformation is enabled by people’s participation. +The Prime Minister said that civil servants must ensure that every decision is taken keeping national interest in mind, and this should be their touchstone for taking a decision. +Recalling that the year 2022 would mark 75 years of independence, he urged civil servants to play the role of catalytic agents in fulfilling the dreams of freedom fighters. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the inaugural session of Advantage Assam – Global Investors Summit 2018, in Guwahati. +Welcoming delegates to the Summit, the Prime Minister said that the North-East is at the heart of the Union Government’s Act East Policy. +The Act East Policy envisions increased people to people contact, trade ties and other relations with ASEAN countries, he added. +The Prime Minister recalled the recent ASEAN India Commemorative Summit celebrating 25 years of partnership between ASEAN and India. +He added that ties between India and the ASEAN countries go back thousands of years. +He said it was a privilege for India to host Heads of 10 ASEAN countries as honoured guests at the Republic Day function in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister emphasized that India’s growth story would be further energised through balanced and fast-paced growth of the North-Eastern region. +He said all the schemes of the Union Government are oriented towards bringing about a qualitative change in the lives of the people. +He said the aim is to improve “Ease of Living.” +The Prime Minister said that the “Ayushman Bharat” scheme announced in the Union Budget is the largest scheme of its kind in the world. +He said this healthcare scheme would benefit about 45 to 50 crore people. +He also mentioned other steps for healthcare for the poor, that have been taken by the Union Government. +Shri Narendra Modi said that the Union Government is working towards the target of doubling farmers’ incomes, by lowering input costs and enabling appropriate price for their produce. +He outlined other steps being taken by the Union Government for the welfare of farmers. +The Prime Minister mentioned the steps taken to provide affordable housing to people. +He spoke of the UjalaYojana for distribution of LED bulbs, which is resulting in significant savings on household electricity bills. +The Prime Minister said that a revamp of administrative structures within the Union Government has greatly speeded up the implementation of projects. +The Prime Minister spoke of steps taken for providing collateral free loans to entrepreneurs, under the Mudra Yojana. +He spoke of steps taken in the Union Budget to provide tax relief to MSMEs. +The Prime Minister reiterated the commitment of the Union Government to curb corruption and black money. +He said the Union Government has taken up many path breaking economic reforms in last three years, which have simplified procedures for doing business. +It is a result of these reforms that India today ranks 100 among 190 countries in the Doing Business Report of the World Bank, after climbing up 42 ranks, he added. +Quoting the great Assamese musician Bhupen Hazarika, the Prime Minister said it is our collective responsibility to achieve the vision and dreams of our freedom fighters, and create a New India by 2022. +The Prime Minister outlined the work done to create new transportation infrastructure in the North-East. +He congratulated the Chief Minister of Assam, Shri SarbanandaSonowal for creating a business friendly and development friendly environment in Assam. +“Successful test firing of Agni V makes every Indian very proud. +It will add tremendous strength to our strategic defence. +The successful test firing of Agni V is the result of the hardwork of DRDO and its scientists. +I congratulate them “, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief on loss of lives due to bus accident in Udaipur. +The Prime Minister extended condolences to the families of the deceased. +He also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the accident in Udaipur. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi spoke on phone today to H. E. Mr. Hamid Karzai, Former President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. +The Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Karzai for his leadership in ensuring a historic and peaceful political transition and formation of a National Unity Government in Afghanistan. +This, Prime Minister said, would not have been possible without the wisdom, courage and foresight of Mr. Karzai. +Prime Minister noted that under President Karzai, Afghanistan had achieved huge progress in its quest to build a strong, peaceful, inclusive, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan. +The way President Karzai had successfully steered Afghanistan on the path of peace, prosperity and stability during a very difficult period, would never be forgotten. +The Prime Minister also warmly recalled President Karzai’s contribution to the strengthening of India-Afghanistan relations. +He said that both India and Afghanistan had new governments in place which look to Mr. Karzai as a mentor for guidance in furtherance of bilateral relations. +Mr. Karzai said that he deeply cherishes his long association with India. +He was confident that the new Government in Afghanistan will continue to attach the highest priority to strengthening of India-Afghanistan relations. +Prime Minister said Mr. Karzai will always remain a special friend for India which was like a second home to him. +He invited Mr. Karzai to undertake an early visit to India. +Mr. Karzai said that he looks forward to visiting India soon. +When the people decide they want to achieve something, no force can stop them. +This is the power of the people. +No country is made by leaders or governments. +It is the strength of the people that builds a nation +We have to build a New India, which is free from politics of caste, communalism and corruption. +We want create an India where every citizen is empowered. +The city of Surat is blessed with remarkable determination. +This is a city which believes in harmony. +I urge the citizens of Surat to actively take part in this year’s Yoga Day in June and the ‘Run for Unity’ in October. +Such marathons augur well for the health of people. +I appeal to people to embrace sports. +It brings good health and furthers a spirit of teamwork. +To build a New India is our mission. +It is the best tribute to the great women and men who gave their lives for India’s freedom. +India has secured the release of Jesuit Priest Father Alexis Prem Kumar, after eight months in captivity in Afghanistan. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released a two-part book series on the eminent agricultural scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan. +The series is titled – M.S. Swaminathan: The Quest for a world without hunger. +Several Union Ministers and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister recalled how the Soil Health Card initiative had been started in consultation with Prof. Swaminathan, during the Prime Minister’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister. +Praising the dedication and commitment of Prof. Swaminathan, the Prime Minister described him as a “Kisan Vaigyanik” – Farmers’ Scientist; rather than just a “Krishi Vaigyanik” – Agricultural Scientist. +The Prime Minister said that Prof. Swaminathan’s speciality is that his work has been grounded in practical reality. +He also appreciated the simplicity of Prof. Swaminathan. +Talking about challenges in the agricultural sector today, the Prime Minister said that the success in agriculture needs to be extended to eastern India; and scientific and technological interventions are required to make this a reality. +The Prime Minister said a combination of modern scientific methods and traditional agricultural knowledge would bring about the best possible results. +Giving examples from some States, he said each district in India should have its own “Agri-Identity.” +He said this can boost the marketing process, and help develop agri-clusters, on the lines of industrial clusters. +The Prime Minister spoke of the target of doubling farm incomes by 2022, and said this requires a targeted approach in several key areas. +He noted with satisfaction that the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is finding much higher acceptance among farmers, than previous agricultural insurance schemes. +He said this will help increase the risk-taking ability of farmers, and facilitate the process of taking innovation from “Lab to Land.” +Dr. M.S. Swaminathan thanked the Prime Minister for his words, and appreciated his vision. +He emphasized the importance of synergy between technology and public policy. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Mumbai tomorrow. +He will inaugurate the third annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia and beyond. +The theme for this year’s meeting is “Mobilizing Finance for Infrastructure: Innovation and Collaboration.” +Leaders from varied organizations and levels of government will be sharing ideas and experiences for creating a sustainable future through sound infrastructure investment. +Later, the Prime Minister will meet business leaders and captains of industry, for a discussion on issues such as economic growth, infrastructure development, policy initiatives, investment, innovation and job creation. +Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Hasina welcomed the signing of the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement, and agreed to strengthen measures to increase regional connectivity. +Prime Minister Modi invited Prime Minister Hasina to visit India for an official visit at the earliest. +Prime Minister Hasina accepted the invitation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Indian columnist, humorist and playwright Shri Taarak Mehta. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people, on occasion of various festivals across India. +“Today people across India are celebrating various festivals. +My greetings to everyone celebrating these auspicious festivals! +May these festivals bring abundance of happiness and prosperity in the lives of our hardworking farmers”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on his Punya Tithi. +“Pandit Deendayal Ji remains our inspiration. +Selfless service came naturally to him. +His life was devoted to serving the nation and the poor. +Our Government remains committed to Pandit Deendayal ji’s idea of Antyodaya or serving the very last person in the society. +I also remember Pandit Deendayal ji’s exemplary skills as a political organiser. +He groomed several Karyakartas, who went on to give their lives to the nation. +My humble tributes to this great personality”, The Prime Minister tweeted. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Wednesday met and interacted with a group of over 80 Additional Secretaries and Joint Secretaries serving in the Government of India. +This was the fourth of five such interactions. +During the interaction, officers shared their experiences on subjects such as innovation and teamwork in governance, healthcare, health education, agriculture, water resources, e-governance, tax administration and GST, ease of doing business, grievance redressal, and child rights. +Highlighting the current positive global environment in favour of India, the Prime Minister asked officers to work with clear objectives towards creating a New India by 2022. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Cadre Review of Indian Telecommunications Service, Group Á’. +The proposal has the following salient features: +The approval would result in strengthening of the cadre structure both at the DoT headquarters and in the field units on the basis of functional requirement. +It will also meet the requirement of skilled manpower in BSNL/MTNL. +This will reduce the existing stagnation of ITS officers. +Indian Telecom Service Group ‘A” was constituted in 1965 to meet the policy, technical and managerial functions of the government in areas related to telecommunications. +Since the time of last Cadre review, telecom service provision functions have been hived off from DoT, but newer functions related to telecom licensing, monitoring, enforcement of license conditions, network security, interoperability, standardization, lawful interception and universal service obligation etc. have been added. +In addition, a host of other functions, which were earlier embedded in operations, have increased significantly both in volumes as well as criticality. +Robust Telecom infrastructure is the backbone of a Digital Society. +Paradigm shifts are taking place in the Sector – bringing to fore complex issues of regulation, enforcement and security – requiring higher levels of technical supervision in the Department of telecommunications. +Hence, a cadre structure of ITS officers has been proposed, which is considered essential for discharge of the role & obligations of the Department of Telecommunications. +In addition, the role of ITS officers in revival of BSNL & MTNL has also been kept in view. +These facts coupled with the stagnation in various grades of the service necessitated a review of the structure of ITS. +The Cadre Strength has been restricted to the present working strength of the cadre, and the cadre review would entail no fresh financial commitment for Government. +Mr. Joey Concepcion +Chairman, ASEAN Business Advisory Council; +Ladies and Gentlemen! +At the onset, I apologise for the delay. +In business, like in politics, both time and timing are very important. +But sometimes despite our best efforts we cannot help it. +I am delighted to be here in Manila, on my very first visit to the Philippines. +There is a lot that India and the Philippines share in common: +• We have large, young and aspiring populations that are innovative and enterprising. +• The Philippines is a services power house just as India is. +And, just as in India, here in Philippines also, the government wants to see change, bring about inclusive growth, Develop infrastructure, and fight corruption. +No wonder so many of our top IT companies have invested here. +They are creating thousands of jobs and promoting the Philippines services sector world-wide. +This morning we witnessed a brilliant performance of the dance drama ‘Rama Hari’ based on the Ramayana at the Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN Summit. +It depicts the way historically the people of India and ASEAN have been bound together. +These are not only historical bonds. +This is a living shared heritage. +The Act East policy of my government puts this region at the centre of our engagement. +We have exceptionally good political and people-to-people relations with each and every country in the ASEAN region. +We wish to bring our economic and business relations up to the same level. +The task of transforming India is proceeding on an unprcedented scale. +We are working day and night to ensure Good Governance which includes easy, effective and transparent Governance. +To give you an example: we have started open auction for natural resources including telecom spectrum, coal mines and other minerals and even private radio channels. +This has together contributed about 75 billion US dollars in revenue. +Using technology, we are enhancing responsibility and reducing discretion and corruption. +We are using our Unique ID system in financial transactions and taxation for this purpose and the results are already visible. +These steps, coupled with demonetization of high value notes has resulted in formalizing a large part of our economy. +The number of new tax payers filing income tax returns has more than doubled. +Digital transactions have increased by 34 per cent in one year, as we march towards a less-cash economy. +We have used technology to reach out to people. +An online citizen engagement platform, MyGov has harnessed ideas, suggestions and inputs on policies and programmes from 2 million pro-active citizens. +In keeping with our emphasis on minimum government and maximum governance, 1200 out-dated laws have been repealed in three years. +New laws and institutions for Bankruptcy and Insolvency as well as IPR and Arbitration are now in place. +36 white industries have been taken out from the requirement of environmental clearance. +Incorporating a company is now just a one day affair. +We have simplified industrial licensing, and introduced online application process for environmental and forest clearances. +India has climbed 30 places in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index this year. +Most of the sectors of our economy are now open for FDI. +Compared to last three years, we have received 67 per cent more FDI in this year. +Now, we are a globally integrated economy. +Moreover, these mile-stones have been achieved even before some of the major recent reforms. +This year in July, we have implemented the highly complex task of migrating to a uniform Goods and Services Tax for the whole country. +This has done away with a vast range of State level and central level taxes through-out India. +This is no small achievement given the vastness and diversity of our country and the federal nature of our polity. +At the same time, we strongly believe that this is not enough. +Friends, A very large part of India’s population had no access to banking services. +This deprived them of the opportunities for savings as well as access to institutional credit. +With the Jan Dhan Yojana, within a matter of months, the lives of millions of Indians were transformed. +197 million bank accounts were opened in one year. +Till August this year, 290 million such accounts have been opened in Indian banks. +Nearly 200 million Ru-pay cards were issued for easy cash-less transactions. +Access to banking services by the poor has also played a major role in tackling corruption in government. +More than 146 million people are receiving direct cash subsidies through bank accounts on cooking gas alone. +Today, the government is using Direct Benefit Transfers for 59 different schemes. +Subsidies worth nearly 10 billion US dollars are being directly transferred to the bank accounts of the intended beneficiaries. +Through this initiative, we are committed to transform India as a major player in the global value chain. +We want to make India a global manufacturing hub. +At the same time, we want our youth to be job creators; not just job seekers. +For the first time in India, collateral-free loans have been dis-bursed to more than 90 million small entrepreneurs under the Mudra scheme. +I see the importance being given to entrepreneur- -ship in the Philippines and in ASEAN region. +The ASEAN Mentor-ship for Entrepreneurs launched at this Summit is a commendable initiative that addresses another felt need of entrepreneurs. +We wish to build land, sea and air connectivity to this dynamic region. +Work is already on in the construction of the tri-lateral highway through Myanmar and Thailand to connect to other countries in South East Asia. +Out-bound tourism from India is growing at one of the fastest rates in the world. +While some of you are already deeply involved in India, others are just discovering the possibilities that remain to be tapped. +To co-incide with the ASEAN –India Comme–morative Summit of ASEAN leaders in January next year, we are also organising the ASEAN-India Business and Investment Meet and Expo. +India wishes to participate in your growth story and we invite all of ASEAN to participate in ours. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Madiba, Mr. Nelson Mandela, on Nelson Mandela Day. +“Remembering the apostle of peace, a shining beacon of democracy and a champion of equality, the beloved Madiba on Nelson Mandela Day,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited Sivagiri Mutt at Varkala in Kerala. +He paid homage to the great social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. +The Prime Minister was greeted enthusiastically by people as he arrived to pay homage, first at the Maha Samadhi Mandir, and then at Vaidika Mutt. +Addressing the gathering there, the Prime Minister said he is fortunate to have received the blessings of Sree Narayana Guru. +He said Sree Narayana Guru is his inspiration to work for the poor, deprived and downtrodden sections of society. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the horrific attack in Nice, France. +“Appalled by the horrific attack in Nice. +I strongly condemn such mindless acts of violence. +A group of 50 women motorbike riders from Gujarat – the Biking Queens – today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. +The group says they have driven over 10,000 km, covering 13 States/UTs, and interacted with people on social themes, such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao; and Swachh Bharat. +On 15th August, 2017, they unfurled the tricolour at Khardungla, in Ladakh. +The Prime Minister appreciated their efforts and wished them the best for their future endeavours. +Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, former President of France, met Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Mr. Sarkozy congratulated the Prime Minister for the success of “demonetization”, as well as on his party’s success in the recent Assembly elections in several States. +The Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Sarkozy on the publication and success of his latest book, “Tout pour la France”. +The two leaders discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the citizens of Qatar on their National Day. +“On Qatar National Day, my greetings to the citizens of Qatar. +I am very optimistic about stronger cooperation with Qatar in the coming years”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for making suitable amendments in the Central List of OBCs by way of inclusion/correction/deletion of castes/communities applicable to the State of Andhra Pradesh and the newly formed State of Telangana as per the advice received from the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). +A total of 35 changes recommended by NCBC in respect of Andhra Pradesh and 86 New Entries in respect of Telangana State will be notified. +The changes will enable the persons belonging to these castes/ communities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to avail the benefits of reservation in Government services and posts as well as in Central Educational Institutions as per extant policy. +They will also become eligible for benefit under the various welfare schemes, scholarships etc. being administered by the Central Government, which are at present available to the persons belonging to the Other Backward Classes. +Background: +The last such notification was issued on 26.5.2016. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of former US President George H. W. Bush. +“Condolences to the Bush family and the people of USA on the passing away of former President George H. W. Bush. +He was a leading statesman at a critical period of world history. +Former President George H. W. Bush was passionate about strong relations between India and USA. +His presence will be sorely missed. +May he rest in peace”, the Prime Minister said. +Speaking on the occasion, Swami Avdheshananda ji described the Prime Minister as a “Vikas Avatar” and said that the Prime Minister has inspired immense public awareness towards the cause of water conservation. +Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the Narmada will be made one of the cleanest rivers in the world through people’s participation. +He said water treatment plants would be set up in all 18 cities in Madhya Pradesh which fall along the banks of the Narmada. +He added that the movement will not stop here, but will be extended to other rivers as well. +He expressed confidence that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India will become a Vishvaguru. +He also congratulated the Prime Minister on the upcoming third anniversary of the formation of the Union Government. +The Prime Minister released Narmada Pravah – the Mission Work Plan for the river Narmada. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that he bows to the travellers of the Narmada Seva Yatra – and hoped that their efforts would bear fruit that serves India, and the poorest of the poor. +Stating that the River Narmada has been a life-giver for centuries, the Prime Minister said that in recent times, the Narmada has been brutally exploited, and that is what had led to the need for a Narmada Seva Yatra. +He added that if we do not protect and nurture our rivers, mankind will be the loser. +The Prime Minister said that the Narmada Seva Yatra of nearly 150 days, is extraordinary, even by global standards. +On behalf of the people and the farmers of Gujarat and Maharashtra, who benefit from the Narmada, the Prime Minister thanked the people and the Government of Madhya Pradesh, for the Narmada Seva Yatra. +The Prime Minister complimented the Madhya Pradesh Government for the State’s performance in the Swachh Bharat Mission, where out of the 100 top ranked cities, 22 are from Madhya Pradesh. +The Prime Minister described the document of the Narmada Seva Mission, presented by the State Government, as futuristic, with an appropriate vision for protecting natural resources. +The Prime Minister thanked Swami Avdheshananda for his words of praise and appreciation. +In conclusion, the Prime Minister exhorted the people to be ready to make a contribution and sacrifice for the River Narmada, saying that while the Yatra may have ended, the Yagya has just begun. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today spoke to the Emir of the State of Qatar, H. H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who had called and invited PM to pay a visit to Qatar. +Prime Minister recalled the State visit of the Emir of Qatar to India in March 2015 that has provided new vigour and momentum to bilateral relations. +He emphasized that India attached high importance to its relations with Qatar. +He appreciated the steps taken by the Emir and the Government of Qatar for protecting the interests and ensuring continued well-being and safety of Indian community staying there. +The Emir of the State of Qatar reiterated Qatar’s interest in partnering in India’s economic growth. +PM appreciated the role being played by Qatar for regional peace and stability. +Prime Minister accepted the invitation to visit Qatar at mutually convenient dates. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. +Addressing media after the meeting, the Prime Minister thanked President Macron for the warm welcome and congratulated him for the election victory. +The Prime Minister spoke of the service to humanity and human values that France-India relations have rendered successfully over the years. +He expressed confidence that relations will go forward even faster. +In this context, the Prime Minister mentioned the International Solar Alliance, and the joint effort of India and France to this cause. +The Prime Minister described the Paris Climate agreement as a shared heritage of the whole world, and this generation’s contribution to the hope of future generations of mankind. +He said it is our collective responsibility to save Mother Earth. +Describing the city of Paris as an important part of his political journey, the Prime Minister said India and France had worked shoulder to shoulder for this agreement. +The Prime Minister described protection of environment as an article of faith for Indians, and a centuries old tradition. +The Prime Minister said both leaders also discussed ways to counter terrorism and radicalization. +He said India is in favour of a united progressive European Union. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, today jointly unveiled e-plaques for development projects in Bangladesh, through video conference. +Both leaders unveiled e-plaques for supply of buses and trucks, inauguration of 36 community clinics, 11 water treatment plants, and extension of National Knowledge Network to Bangladesh. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister noted that this is his sixth video conference with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. +He said that PM Sheikh Hasina’s vision is the biggest inspiration for stronger connectivity between India and Bangladesh. +He said today’s unveilings will boost not just transport connectivity, but also knowledge connectivity. +He said the National Knowledge Network will connect scholars and research institutes in Bangladesh, to India and the world. +He said the buses and trucks would assist the efforts towards affordable public transportation; water treatment plants will help supply clean water; and community clinics will benefit about 2 lakh people, in Bangladesh. +He said these projects show that India-Bangladesh relations are playing a key role in improving the quality of life of people. +Prime Minister Modi was appreciative of, and reiterated India’s support for the ambitious development targets set by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for Bangladesh. +He expressed confidence that bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh would continue to grow even further. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Kazakhstan. +“I will travel to Astana, Kazakhstan for two days on 8-9 June for the Summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). +At this meeting, on completion of the process, India will become a full Member of the SCO upon which SCO will represent over 40% of humanity and nearly 20% of global GDP. +We launched the process of full membership in Tashkent meeting of the SCO last year. +I look forward to deepening India’s association with the SCO which will help us in economic, connectivity and counter-terrorism cooperation, among other things. +We have long-standing relations with SCO members and look forward to progressing them further through the SCO for mutual betterment and growth of our countries and our people. +Together, we will harvest new opportunities for beneficial engagement and redouble efforts to address common challenges that may come in the way of realizing our full potential. +On evening of June 9, I will also attend the inauguration of the Astana Expo with the theme of “Future Energy”.” +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high-level meeting on various energy sectors. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards targets in power and coal sectors. +He specifically reviewed the progress made in rural electrification, and called for speeding up the process, so as to achieve 100 percent electrification, state-wise, progressively, in a well-defined time frame. +The Prime Minister called for stern action against power theft. +The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to renewable energy, and called for accelerating the implementation of renewable energy projects. +Senior officials from the concerned Ministries, NITI Aayog and PMO were present at the meeting. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Renewable Energy between India and Portugal. +The MoU was signed on 6th January, 2017 in New Delhi. +The MoU will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. +Both sides aim to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable issues on the basis of mutual benefit equality and reciprocity. +The MoU envisages constitution of a Joint Working Group which can co-opt other members from Scientific Institutions, Research Centers, Universities, or any other entity, as and when considered essential. +The Prime Minister has sanctioned ex- gratia of rupees 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the persons deceased and rupees 50,000 each to those seriously injured in the landslide in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund(PMNRF). +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated P. V. Sindhu on winning Silver medal in Badminton at Rio Olympics. +“Congrats for the Silver, P V Sindhu. +Very well fought. +Your accomplishment at Rio 2016 is historic and will be remembered for years. ”, the Prime Minister said. +25 Officer Trainees of the 2013 batch of Indian Foreign Service, called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +Interacting with the probationers, the Prime Minister exhorted them to learn as much as possible about India, so that they can highlight the strengths of our country, in the right context, in the place of their postings. +He urged them to become especially well-versed in matters related to the economy and energy security, while also developing a good knowledge of history and culture. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to Raising of Bonds of Rs. 2360 crores for Renewable Energy. +The Bonds will be raised by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) through the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) during the 2017-18. +These funds will be used by MNRE in the approved programmes/schemes for solar park, green energy corridor, generation-based incentives for wind projects, CPSU and defence solar projects, viability gap funding for solar projects, roof-top solar, off-grid/grid-distributed and decentralized renewable power, investment in corporations and autonomous bodies etc. +The resources raised would be used for developing additional capacity in renewable energy sector which would result in generation of additional employment. +The Government had declared additional finance mobilization of Rs. 31,300 crore bonds through NHAI, PFC, REC, IREDA and IWAI in the budget for FYT 2016-17. +The MNRE subsequently approached the Cabinet, to approve raising of the balance Rs. 2360 crores in the year 2016-17. +“The Kigali Agreement to the Montreal Protocol reached this morning is a historic occasion, which will have a lasting impact on our planet. +Agreement will lead to a reduction of 0.5 degree in global temp by the end of the century and enable us to achieve the goals set in Paris. +The flexibility and cooperation shown by India as well as other countries has created this fair, equitable and ambitious HFC agreement. +This will also provide a mechanism for countries like India to access and develop technologies that leave a low carbon footprint. +I congratulate all countries for having come together on this critical issue, which will contribute to a greener Earth”, the Prime Minister said. +“Spoke to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and wished him on his birthday. +Looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today afternoon, where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +I welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu and members of the Israeli Delegation on behalf of all my countrymen. +It is an added pleasure to be with the CEOs of both countries. +Prime Minister Netanyahu and I have just completed a fruitful interaction with Indian and Israeli business leaders through the bilateral CEOs Forum. +I have high hopes from this interaction and partnership of CEOs, which started last year. +I have always had a deep regard for Israel and its people. +I visited Israel in 2006 as Chief Minister of Gujarat. +Again last year in July, I visited Israel, the first such visit from India. +It was a very special visit. +I experienced at close quarters the remarkable spirit of innovation, enterprise and perseverance that drives Israel. +There is new energy and purpose that has in-vigorated our ties over the last few years. +It will help take our cooperation to greater heights. +We stand on the cusp of a bright new chapter in India-Israel relations driven by our people and the mutual opportunities for betterment of their lives. +The role of business and industry is crucial in the transformation of our ties. +It is your combined efforts that will add real value to our interaction and produce concrete successes. +Given the scale of the Indian economy and the relevance of cutting-edge Israeli technologies for us, even sky is not the limit for what we may achieve together! +I am delighted that today we have launched the maiden call for joint R&D projects under the ‘India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (i4F)’ which was announced during my visit to Israel last July. +This Fund, to be utilized over a period of 5 years, is a welcome opportunity to combine the talent pool of the two countries in pursuit of path-breaking technological solutions that can be commercially exploited. +I strongly encourage enterprises in both countries to utilize this platform. +Equally exciting is the pick up in science and technology exchanges through joint R&D projects such as in areas like “Data Analytics” and “Cyber Space security”. +I am happy to note that the India-Israel Innovation and Technology Conclave is going to be held in India in July 2018. +I hope this Conclave will spur co–development of new technologies. +In fact, the ground-work for this will be started from iCREATE day after tomorrow. +We are both going to Gujarat to inaugurate this campus, which is being developed as a leading innovation hub. +I am taking Prime Minister Netanyahu to rural areas of Gujarat because the real power of technology and innovation lies in the benefit it brings to the common man. +Israel is universally known as the Start-up nation with a unique eco-system for innovation and incubation. +The credit for this goes to the Israeli entrepreneurs. +You have made Israel a strong, stable and innovative economy. +You have made a country of 8 million people, shine as a global power-house of technology. +Whether it is Water Tech; or Agri-Tech; whether it is food production, its processing or conservation; Israel has been a shining example with new breakthru and advances. +Whether it is physical or virtual security; whether it is on land, water or space; your technology has won admiration. +In fact, hailing from a water deficient state in India, I have particularly admired Israel’s water efficiency. +In India, we have been taking steady steps over three years at both macro as well as micro-level, to make a difference. +Our motto is: Reform, Perform and Transform. +The results are two-fold. +On the one hand, our procedures, processes and systems are getting aligned with the best in the world. +Secondly, we are able to maintain the pace of faster growth. +In spite of deep structural reforms, we are among the fastest growing major economies. +FDI inflows are at an all-time high, with 40% rise. +Tremendous work is being done to skill and employ the youth. +65% of our population is below 35 years of age and is hungry for technology-enabled growth. +This is our greatest opportunity as well as challenge. +For this purpose, we have started the Start-up India campaign. +There is vast potential for India-Israel partnership in this area. +The India-Israel Innovation Bridge will act as a link between the Start-ups of the two sides. +I have been saying that Indian Industries, start-ups and the academic institutions must collaborate with their Israeli counterparts to access the huge reservoir of knowledge. +• India has size and scale. • Israel has sharpness and edge. +There would be many ideas and technologies that can be useful for or can be commercially scaled up in India. +Today, we have emerged as one of the largest manufacturing nations. +But we are not done yet. +We are positioning India as a global manufacturing hub leveraging the energy of our youth. +The ‘Make in India’ initiative is designed to help achieve this. +Through these initiatives, combined with the new eco-system of a formal economy and a unified tax regime, we are trying to create a NEW INDIA. +We are particularly keen to develop India into a knowledge-based, skill-supported and technology-driven society. +A grand beginning has already been made through Digital India and Skill India. +To enable this transformation, in the last few years, my Government has undertaken substantial reforms. +We have resolved a number of regulatory and policy issues facing the businesses and companies. +We have worked sincerely on ‘ease of doing business’ in India. +The results are there to see: +To enable entry of capital and technology, most of the sectors including defence, have been opened for FDI. +More than 90 percent of the FDI approvals have been put on automatic route. +We are now among the most open economies. +Just a few days ago, we have allowed 100% automatic route FDI in single brand retail and construction development. +We also opened up our national carrier, Air India, to foreign investors. +Every day we are making it easier to do business in India. +In taxation, we have carried out a number of historic reforms. +The path breaking GST reform has been introduced successfully and smoothly. +It is by far the biggest business and economic reform India has ever done. +With introduction of GST and of Financial Technologies and digital transactions, we have really moved towards a modern tax regime, which is also transparent, stable and predictable. +Several Israeli companies have joined hands with Indian companies for Making in India. +Many others, especially those with advanced water technologies and agri techniques, defence and security systems, and pharma knowledge have a foot-hold in India. +Similarly, Indian companies have significant presence in several sectors in Israel like IT, Irrigation and Pharma. +Diamond remains a strong link in our trade. +There are more business joint ventures today than before. +However, this is just the beginning. +I welcome your suggestions on how to unlock our combined potential. +The spirit of innovation, adaptation and problem solving is inherent in both countries. +Similar is the case with water. +We have situations of plenty as well as scarcity of water. +We have situations of food being thrown away even as there are many who go hungry. +India’s development agenda is huge. +It presents a vast economic opportunity for Israeli companies. +I invite more and more Israeli people, businesses and companies to come and work in India. +Along with the Government and people, the business community of India too is keen to join hands. +I wish your companies and ventures all success. +I assure you of my support and that of my Government wherever it is required. +And I thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for his continuous support in fast-tracking India-Israel trade and economic collaboration. +I am confident many successes lie ahead for our partnership. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the new building of the Central Information Commission (CIC) in New Delhi. +He noted that the building had been completed before the due date, and congratulated all agencies involved in the construction. +He said the environment friendly Griha-IV rating would ensure energy savings, and help conserve the environment. +The Prime Minister expressed hope that the new building would help in better coordination and integration in the working of CIC. +Talking about the launch of the mobile App of the CIC, the Prime Minister said this would enable citizens to file appeals with ease, and enable them to easily access information being made available by the Commission. +The Prime Minister said democratic and participative governance requires transparency and accountability. +He said CIC plays a key role in this regard. +He said such institutes work as catalysts for trust-based governance. +The Prime Minister said that an “empowered citizen” is the strongest pillar of our democracy. +He said the first pillar is to ask questions (Sawaal). +In this context, he mentioned the MyGov citizen engagement platform. +The second pillar is listening to suggestions (Sujhaav). +He said the Government is receptive and open to suggestions received from CPGRAMS or on social media. +The third pillar is interaction (Sanvaad). +He said this establishes a connect between the citizens and the government. +The fourth pillar is activity (Sakreeyta). +The Prime Minister said that during the implementation of GST, there was active follow up on complaints and suggestions. +The fifth pillar is information (Soochna). +The Prime Minister said that it is the Government’s duty to inform citizens about its actions. +He said the Government has begun a new practice of providing information through real-time updated, online dashboards. +Information on progress of schemes such as Saubhagya and Ujala has been made available, he said. +The Prime Minister said information commonly asked for is being uploaded on web portals of the concerned departments and Ministries. +He said digital technology is being used to improve transparency and quality of citizen services. +Similarly, projects are being tracked in real-time. +He said that in a meeting of PRAGATI last week, the progress of reconstruction works at Kedarnath was monitored through a drone camera. +He said the PRAGATI meetings have helped speed up projects worth over 9 lakh crore rupees. +The Prime Minister gave the example of the closing down of the Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals. +He said that public procurement is now being done through the Government e Market, or GeM platform. +This is helping end corruption and bring transparency in government procurement, he added. +He also spoke of minimizing human interface in government-people interactions. +A Committee comprising of Secretary Department of Financial Services, Secretary Ministry of Electronics & I.T. and the CEO, National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) will look into the industry cost structure of such transactions which will form the basis to determine the levels of reimbursement. +Since such transactions account for sizeable percentage of transaction volume, it will help to move towards a less cash economy. +It is estimated that the MDR to be reimbursed to the banks in respect of transactions less than Rs.2000 in value would be Rs.1,050 crore in FY 2018-19 and Rs.1,462 crore in FY 2019-20. +Similarly, MDR is charged on payments made to merchants through BHIM UPI platform and AePS. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed students at the Grand Finale of the Smart India Hackathon, via Video Conference. +He interacted with several groups of students participating in the Hackathon, at various institutes across the country. +The interaction with students covered themes such as agriculture, finance, malnutrition, and education. +He described the Smart India Hackathon as the biggest Open Innovation Model at the national level. +He said the Indian economy is growing rapidly, and the country is setting new benchmarks in innovation. +He said India is today, the third biggest Start-Up Nation. +Your Excellency, Prime Minister & my friend, Mark Rutte, Distinguished Delegates, Members of the Media, +Heartiest welcome to Prime Minister Mark and his delegation in India. +I am particularly pleased that with Prime Minister Mark, his four Cabinet colleagues, the Mayor of the Hague and more than 200 business representatives have also come to India. +This is the largest business delegation to have come to India from Netherlands. +And it clearly shows how much dynamism is there in our trade and investment relationship. +So many possibilities are there. +Prime Minister Rutte first came to India in 2015. +There are very few such countries, with whom we have this kind of momentum of high level visits in our relationships. +And for this momentum and for giving personal priority to the relations with India, I congratulate my friend Mark from the bottom of my heart. +Today, both of us reviewed the progress in our bilateral relations. +And shared our own assessments of regional and global developments. +And we also met the prominent CEOs of both the countries. +Last year when I went to Netherlands, I had urged my friend Mark to think positively on becoming a member of the International Solar Alliance. +The expertise, the technology and the experience which Netherlands has in the field of solar power, whole world should benefit from it. +And I am happy that today Netherlands has become a member of the International Solar Alliance. +I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Rutte for this decision. +From UN Security Council to Multilateral Export Control Regimes, India and Netherlands have had very good and close cooperation and coordination. +And now International Solar Alliance will be a new dimension of our strong cooperation in international forums. +India is not new to Dutch companies. +Hundreds of Dutch companies have been working in India for many years. +Similarly, Netherlands is also a very attractive destination for investment by Indian companies. +And therefore, meeting with the CEOs of both the countries is very useful. +I am happy that the business community in Netherlands is enthusiastic about opportunities being created in India. +I have also assured them of my strong commitment towards economic reforms in India. +Areas related to agriculture and food processing are particularly important for India. +Netherlands has expertise in these areas. +Last year Netherlands participated as the Focus Country in World Food India Summit. +And I believe that in its next edition in 2019, participation of the Netherlands will be even more. +I am happy that the first Indo-Dutch Center of Excellence for vegetables has started in Baramati. +We are working together on other similar types of centers as well. +Similarly, our cooperation in urban development is also very dynamic. +Waste Water Management projects in Vadodara and Delhi are making good progress. +We are completing 10 years of cooperation in Science & Technology, and this successful partnership will be further strengthened by participation of Netherlands as a Partner Country in the Tech Summit, which will be held in India in 2019. +Providing special attention to the issues of Indian society living abroad has been a major priority of my government’s foreign policy. +I specifically thank Prime Minister Rutte and the Government of Netherlands for the assistance in safe extraction of Indian nationals at the time of hurricane that came in Sint Maarten in September 2017. +Once again I very warmly welcome you and your delegation in India. +Greetings to everyone on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima. +To inaugurate 106th edition of Indian Science Congress in Jalandhar +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will visit Punjab on January 3, 2019. +He will inaugurate the 106th edition of Indian Science Congress (ISC)-2019 on January 3 in Jalandhar, Punjab. +He will also deliver the inaugural address on this occasion.Prime Minister will then proceed to Gurdaspur in Punjab, where he will address a Public Rally. +In keeping with the PM’s vision to give a boost to spirit of Science, Technology and Innovation across the country, it will be the fifth Indian Science Congress to be addressed by the Prime Minister Shri Modi since he assumed office . +In the Past, he has delivered Inaugural Address at 105th Edition of ISC in 2018, 104th Edition in 2017, 103rd Edition in 2016 and 102nd Edition in 2015. +This will empower the Major Ports to perform with greater efficiency on account of full autonomy in decision making and by modernizing the Institutional structure of Major Ports. +With a view to promote the expansion of port infrastructure and facilitate trade and commerce, the proposed bill aims at decentralizing decision making and to infuse professionalism in governance of ports. +The new Major Ports Authority Bill, 2016 would help to impart faster and transparent decision making benefiting the stakeholders and better project execution capability. +The Bill is aimed at reorienting the governance model in central Ports to landlord port model in line with the successful global practice. +This will also help in bringing transparency in operations of Major Ports. +The salient features of the Major Ports Authority Bill are as under: +a. The Bill is more compact in comparison to the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 as the number of sections has been reduced to 65 from 134 by eliminating overlapping and obsolete Sections. b. +The new Bill has proposed a simplified composition of the Board of Port Authority which will comprise of 11 members from the present 17 to 19 Members representing various interests. +A compact Board with professional independent members will strengthen decision making and strategic planning. +Provision has been made for inclusion of representative of the State Government in which the Major Port is situated, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Defence and Customs, Department of Revenue as Members in the Board apart from a Government Nominee Member and a Member representing the employees of the Major Ports Authority. c. +The role of Tariff Authority for Major Ports [TAMP] has been redefined. +Port Authority has now been given powers to fix tariff which will act as a reference tariff for purposes of bidding for PPP projects. +PPP operators will be free to fix tariff based on market conditions. +The Board of the Port Authority has been delegated the power to fix the scale of rates for other port services and assets including land. d. +In the present MPT Act, 1963 prior approval of the Central Government was required in 22 cases. f. +Empowers the Board to make its own Master Plan in respect of the area within the port limits and to construct within port limits Pipelines, Telephones, Communication towers, electricity supply or transmission equipment. +Provisions of CSR & development of infrastructure by Port Authority have been introduced. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will embark his visit to Portugal, USA and Netherlands tomorrow. +The PM said that this visit is aimed at enhancing the bilateral engagement in various areas. +“I will pay a working visit to Portugal on 24 June 2017. +I am looking forward to my meeting with PM Costa. +Building on our recent discussions, we will review the progress of various joint initiatives and decisions. +We will also discuss ways to further enhance the bilateral engagement, especially in the areas of economic cooperation, science & technology, space collaboration and people to people ties. +We will deliberate on means to intensify our cooperation in counter-terrorism and on other international issues of mutual interest. +I also see significant potential for deepening bilateral trade and investment ties. +I am also keen to interact with the Indian Community in Portugal during the visit”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister will be visiting Washington, D.C. on 24-26 June. +“I will be visiting Washington, D.C. on 24-26 June at the invitation of President Donald J. Trump. +President Trump and I have spoken on telephone prior to this. +Our conversations have touched upon our common intent to take forward our productive all round engagement for the mutual benefit of our people. +I look forward to this opportunity to have an in depth exchange of views on further consolidating the robust and wide ranging partnership between India and the United States. +India’s partnership with the United States is multi-layered and diverse, supported by not just Governments but all the stakeholders on both sides. +I look forward to building a forward looking vision for our partnership with the new Administration in the United States under President Trump. +Apart from official meetings with President Trump and his cabinet colleagues, I will be meeting some prominent American CEOs. +As in the past, I look forward to interacting with the Indian diaspora in the United States as well.” +The PM will also visit the Netherlands on 27 June 2017. +“I will be visiting the Netherlands on 27 June 2017. +We are celebrating 70 years of the establishment of Indo-Dutch diplomatic relations this year. +During the visit, I will have an official meeting with the Dutch Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Mark Rutte. +I will also call on King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and meet Queen Maxima. +I look forward to meeting Prime Minister Rutte and reviewing our bilateral relations. +I would be exchanging views with PM Rutte on important global issues including counter-terrorism and climate change. +Economic relations form the core of our bilateral relations. +The Netherlands is our 6th largest trading partner in the EU and 5th largest investment partner globally. +The Dutch expertise in areas such as water and waste management, agriculture and food processing, renewable energy and ports and shipping, matches with our development needs. +Indo-Dutch economic engagement is a win-win proposition. +I will discuss with PM Rutte as to how the two sides should work to further harness the synergies. +I will also be meeting with CEOs of major Dutch companies and will encourage them to join the Indian growth story. +There are strong people to people relations between the two countries with the presence of second largest Indian Diaspora in Europe in the Netherlands. +I look forward to engaging with the Indian community in the Netherlands”, the Prime Minster said. +Born in 1644 in Patna, Bedil was influenced by Sufism and wrote 16 books of poetry. +Bedil died in Delhi where his tomb, Bagh-e-Bedil is located. +The miniature painting has been done by national award-winning Delhi-based artist Jai Prakash. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for introduction of the comprehensive Anti-Hijacking Bill 2014. +The current law, the Anti-Hijacking Act, 1982, was last amended in 1994. +After the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 in December, 1999, it was felt necessary for providing the award of death penalty to perpetrators of the act of hijacking. +The incident of 9/11, where aircrafts were used as weapons, also created the need to further amend the existing Act. +The Anti-Hijacking (Amendment) Bill, 2010 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in August, 2010. +During the process of amendment, a global diplomatic Conference was held at Beijing in August-September, 2010. +India is a signatory to the Beijing Protocol signed at the Conference. +This Protocol brought out new principal offences combined with ancillary offences, enlarged the scope of ‘hijacking’, expanded jurisdiction and strengthened extradition and mutual assistance regimes. +The Bill provides death punishment for the offence of the highjacking, where such offence results in the death of a hostage or of a security personal; or with imprisonment for life and the moveable and immoveable property of such persons shall also be liable to be confiscated. +Keeping in view these facts, the Cabinet has given approval for:- +(i). Ratification of the Beijing Protocol, 2010; +(ii). Repealing of the Anti-Hijacking Act, 1982 as amended in 1994; +(iii). Withdrawal of the Anti-Hijacking Amendment Bill, 2010 and +(iv). Introduction of a new Anti-Hijacking Bill, 2014. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has paid tribute to Shri C. Rajagopalachari on his birth anniversary. +“Shri C. Rajagopalachari’s contribution to India is legendary. +I bow to this freedom fighter and profound thinker on his birth anniversary,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to sign the Agreement between India and Ethiopia on “”Cooperation in the field of Information, Communication and Media”. +It aims to harness the growing power of Information, Communication and Media for information dissemination and enhancing outreach between the two countries for inclusive development. +It will also enhance people to people contact through exchange programmes. +It would also provide an opportunity for both the nations to share best practices and new innovations in the field of Information, Communication & Media. +The Agreement will encourage cooperation between mass media tools such as radio, print media, TV, social media etc. to provide more opportunities to the people of both the nations and create public accountability. +The Agreement, through an institutional framework will facilitate exchange of delegations, personnel between the two nations, providing them opportunities to learn from each other’s best practices, bringing in equity and inclusiveness. +PM to jawans: I come to celebrate my first Diwali as PM with you. +Happy to be among my own. +“Your dreams and responsibilities are the responsibility of us all. +The entire Nation stands shoulder to shoulder with you.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today made a surprise visit to Siachen. +Shri Narendra Modi said that he comes to Siachen as a representative of the family members of the jawans who are busy serving Mother India on the borders. +He said he is privileged that his first Diwali as Prime Minister will be spent partly with the jawans of Siachen, and partly with those affected by the floods in Srinagar. +The Prime Minister said the Indian Armed Forces were unique – because while they spelt trouble for the enemy on the battlefield, they spelt life for all the countrymen affected by disasters or natural calamities. +He recalled the immense contribution made by the Armed Forces during the recent floods in Srinagar. +The Prime Minister also appreciated the fact that women too were now contributing to the Indian Armed Forces in a significant way. +He said their dreams and responsibilities are the entire country`s responsibility. +The Prime Minister later handed over a cheque for Rs. 5 lakh for the welfare of the jawans, and personally offered sweets to the jawans. +He wrote in the visitor’s book, saying that the soldiers in uniform who guarded the nation`s frontiers in such difficult conditions were no less than ‘rishis’ and sages. +The Prime Minister was at Siachen Base Camp for over an hour. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will today begin his two day official visit to Iran. +In a series of tweets on his Twitter Account, the Prime Minister said: +“I am looking forward to my visit to Iran today and tomorrow, at the invitation of President Rouhani. +India and Iran enjoy civilizational ties and have shared interest in the peace, security, stability and prosperity of the region. +My meetings with President Rouhani and Hon’ble Supreme Leader of Iran will provide an opportunity to advance our strategic partnership. +Enhancing connectivity, trade, investments, energy partnership, culture and people to people contacts would be our priority. +I also look forward to the conclusion of the Chahbahar Agreement during my visit. +I will visit Gurudwara in Tehran and inaugurate an International Conference on ‘retrospect and prospect’ of India and Iran relations.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has given its approval to the proposal to complete the balance works of the North Koel Reservoir Project in Jharkhand and Bihar at an estimated expenditure of Rs.1622.27 crore to be incurred during three financial years from the start of the project. +The Cabinet also approved storage of water in dam restricted at lower level than envisaged earlier to reduce the submergence and to protect Betla National Park and Palamau Tiger Reserve. +The project is situated on North Koel river which is a tributary of Sone river finally joining the river Ganga. +The North Koel Reservoir is located in the most backward tribal areas in Palamau and Garhwa districts of Jharkhand State. +The construction was originally started in the year 1972 and continued till 1993 when it was stopped by the Forest Department, Govt. of Bihar. +Since then, the work on dam is at a standstill. +With the new lowered elevation level (EL) of 341 metre, the Mandal dam will now have storage of 190 MCM. +The project aims to provide irrigation to 111,521 hectares of land annually in the most backward and drought prone areas of Palamu & Garhwa districts in Jharkhand and Aurangabad & Gaya districts in Bihar. +The irrigation potential through this Project in the two States would be as follows: +Total irrigation potential: 1,11, 521 hectares +Irrigation potential in Bihar: 91,917 hectares +Irrigation potential in Jharkhand: 19,604 hectares +The total cost of the project as assessed on date is Rs 2391.36 crore. +An expenditure amounting to Rs. 769.09 crore has been incurred on the project till date. +The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for completing the balance of the North-Koel reservoir project in Jharkhand & Bihar at an estimated cost of Rs 1622.27 crore during three financial years. +The common components amounting to Rs.1013.11 crore of balance works would be funded by the Central Government as a grant from PMKSY Fund. +This would include cost of Net Present Value (NPV) and Compensatory Afforestation (CA) which comes to Rs.607 crore and Rs.43 crore respectively. +The Central Government will also fund 60% of the cost of balance works amounting to Rs.365.5 crore (Bihar Rs.318.64 crore and Jharkhand Rs.46.86 crore) from Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) under PMKSY as grant from the States of Bihar and Jharkhand. +The States of Bihar and Jharkhand will arrange 40% of remaining cost of balance works amounting to Rs.243.66 crore (Bihar 212.43 crore and Jharkhand 31.23 crore) as loan from LTIF through NABARD at the rate which is not subsidised and is related to market borrowing cost with no interest subvention. +The Cabinet also approved execution of balance works of the project on turnkey basis by M/S WAPCOS Ltd., a CPSU under MoWR, RD & GR as Project Management Consultant (PMC). +The execution of the project will be monitored by an Empowered Committee of Government of India headed by CEO NITI Aayog. +The MoU will also provide for exchange of visits and dialogue for knowledge and experience sharing. +Upgradation and sharing of knowledge on agricultural practices for sustainable income is therefore, considered a valuable input for poverty alleviation and higher income generation. +DAY – NRLM recognizes the importance of achieving the post-2015 agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as other global priorities, that relate to rural poverty reduction, sustainable rural livelihoods, rural employment, social protection, good governance and gender equality. +FAO’s programme for rural poverty reduction supports governments and national stakeholders in overcoming the hurdles laced by the rural poor and by aligning agricultural sector and food security policies with broader rural development objectives. +Prime Minister Modi also conveyed a sense of concern being felt in India over the recent brutal killing of Mr. Manmeet Alisher, a person of Indian origin, in Australia. +Prime Minister Turnbull expressed shock at the killing and conveyed that the matter is being investigated. +Prime Minister Modi reiterated his invitation to Prime Minister Turnbull for a visit to India in 2017. +A meeting of the Board of Trusties of Somnath Trust was held at the Prime Minister’s residence in Delhi, today. +As the Chairman of the trust Shri Keshubhai Patel being unwell could not attend the meeting, Shri L.K. Advani chaired the meeting. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Harshavardhan Neotia, Shri P K Laheri and Shri J D Parmar as the trustees, also attended the meeting. +The newly appointed trustee Shri Amitbhai Shah was welcomed by the board. +The Prime Minister stressed the need to develop the Somnath as an ancient heritage pilgrimage as well as a tourist destination. +The Trust reviewed the progress of various Projects of continuous growth of devotees visiting Somnath. +The Trustees also said that as Somnath is about to witness one crore of Yatris, the state of the art infrastructure for the all-round development should be envisioned. +Somnath has more than 2 million followers on social media. +The Prime Minister also suggested excavations of areas to establish various missing historic links. +He said that high-tech marine attractions and virtual reality shows should be covered in the future plan. +He also suggested to bring maximum areas under CCTV surveillance network. +The Somnath Trust has also decided to deposit about 6 kg gold under Gold Monetisation Scheme of Government of India. +Today, the entire country is celebrating Rakshabandhan. +Heartiest greetings to all fellow citizens on this auspicious occasion. +The festival of Rakshabandhan symbolizes the bond of love & trust between a brother & a sister. +For centuries, this festival has proved to be a shining example of social harmony. +In the nation’s history, there are innumerable accounts of this sacred thread, binding together people of distant lands, different religions, around a spindle of trust. +In a few days from now, we shall celebrate the festive occasion of Janmashtami. +The whole atmosphere will reverberate to the sonorous chants & calls of ‘Hathi, Ghoda, Palki’, ‘Jai KanhaiyaLalki’ and ‘Govinda-Govinda’. +It is indeed an extremely joyous experience to imbue the essence of Bhagwan Krishna & revel blissfully. +I congratulate all those actively involved in preserving & conserving this glorious heritage, helping it to reach out to the masses. +Every language has its own significance, sanctity. +Sanskrit language & literature encompasses a storehouse of knowledge pertaining to every facet of life. +You will be pleased to know that even today, residents of village Mattur in Shivamoga district of Karnataka use Sanskrit as their lingua franca. +Thereby meaning, when a guru imparts even an iota of knowledge to the student, there is no material or wealth on the entire earth that the student can make use of, to repay the guru. +His birth anniversary is celebrated as Teacher’ Day across the country. +I felicitate all the teachers in the country on this occasion. +I also salute your sense of commitment towards science, education and students. +It provided much needed succor to the scorched trees & shrubs, and to parched water bodies; on the other hand excessive rainfall causes devastating floods. +It’s a vagary of Nature that some places have received higher rainfall compared to other places. +From Kutch to Kamrup, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, everyone is endeavoring to contribute in some way or the other so that wherever a disaster strikes, be it Kerala or any other part of India, human life returns to normalcy. +Irrespective of age group or area of work, people are contributing. +Everyone is trying to ensure speedy mitigation of the sufferings people in Kerala are going through, in fact sharing their pain. +We know that jawans of our armed forces are the vanguards of rescue & relief operations in Kerala. +They have left no stone unturned as saviors of those trapped in the floods. +The Air Force, Navy, Army, BSF, CISF, RAF, every agency has played an exemplary role in the rescue & relief operations. +I would like to specially mention the arduous endeavors of the NDRF daredevils. +At this moment of hardship&agony, their service stands out as a shining example. +The capability, commitment & controlling situation through rapid decisions of the NDRF have made them a cynosure of every Indian’s eye, worthy of respect & admiration. +Once again on behalf of all Indians, I would like to re assure each & everyone in Kerala and other affected places that at this moment of calamity, the entire country stands by them. +My dear countrymen ! +I was looking into the suggestions received for “Mann Ki Baat”. +The subject about which most of the people from across the country have written is “Our revered AtalBehari Vajpayee”. +Kirti from Ghaziabad, Swati Vats from Sonepat, brother Praveen from Kerala, Dr. Swapan Banerjee from West Bengal, Akhilesh Pandey from Katihar, Bihar and numerous others have written on Narendra Modi Mobile App and MyGov asking me to speak on various aspects of Atalji’s life. +As soon as the people in our country and abroad heard of the demise of Atalji on 16th August, everyone drowned in sadness. +He was a leader who gave up his position as Prime Minister fourteen years ago. +In a way, he was cut-off from active politics for the last 10 years. +He was neither seen in the news nor in public life. +Ten years is a huge gap but on 16th August our country and the whole world witnessed that there was not a gap of even a single moment in the commonman’s heart. +The wave of love and faith that spread across the nation is an indicator of his great personality. +During these last days, many great aspects of Atalji came up to the fore. +People remembered him as the best member of Parliament, sensitive writer, best orator and most popular Prime Minister and will continue to remember him. +This is certain. +India will remain ever grateful to Atalji for bringing the 91st Amendment Act, 2003. +This change brought about two important changes in India’s politics. +First one is that the size of the cabinet in states was restricted to 15% of the total seats in the state Assembly. +And the second one is that the limit under the Anti Defection Law was enhanced from one-thirds to two-thirds. +Besides, clear guidelines were defined to disqualify the defector. +For many years in India, the political culture of forming a very large cabinet was being misused to constitute jumbo cabinets not only to create a divide but also to appease political leaders. +Atalji changed it. +This effort of his resulted in saving of money as well as of resources. +This also helped in improving efficiency. +It could only be a visionary like Atalji who brought in this transformation and as a result of this, healthy traditions blossomed in our polity. +Atalji was a true patriot. +It was during his tenure that the timing of presenting the budget was changed. +Earlier, as was the British tradition, the Budget used to be presented at 5 pm because in London, Parliament used to start working at that time. +In the year 2001, Atalji changed the time of presenting the budget from 5 pm to 11 am. +One more freedom-the Indian Flag Code was framed in Atalji’s tenure and it came into effect in 2002. +A number of such rules have been included in this code which made it possible to unfurl the tricolor in public places. +This provided a chance to more and more of our countrymen to unfurl our national flag. +Thus, he brought our beloved tricolor closer to the commonman. +Similarly, you can see that presently efforts are afoot and discussions are being held about simultaneously holding the elections for Lok Sabha and for state assemblies. +The Government and the opposition – both are putting forth their view points. +This is a good development and a healthy sign for our democracy. +I must say that developing healthy traditions for a sound democracy, making constant efforts to strengthen democracy, encouraging open-minded debates would also be aappropriate tribute to Atalji. +Reiterating our resolve to fulfill his dream of a prosperous and developed India, I along with all of you pay tributes to Atalji. +My dear countrymen !whenever a discussion about Parliament is there nowadays, it is about hold-ups, noisy scenes and stalling the proceedings but when something good happens, it is not given much importance. +The monsoon session of Parliament ended just a few days back. +You will be glad to know that the productivity of Lok Sabha remained 118 percent and that of Rajya Sabha was 74 percent. +All the members rose above party interests to make the Monsoon session most productive and this is why Lok Sabha passed 21 bills and in Rajya Sabha fourteen bills were passed. +This Monsoon session of Parliament will always be remembered as a session for social justice and youth welfare. +A number of importantbills beneficial to the youth and the backward classes were passed during this session. +As you know, a demand to constitute an OBC Commission similar to SC/ST commission was long pending for decades. +The country fulfilled its resolve this time to make an OBC Commission and also granted it Constitutional powers. +This step will prove to be the one to move forward our march towards achieving the goal of social justice. +An amendment bill to secure the rights of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes also were passed in this session. +This Act will give more security to the interests of SC and ST communities. +This will also forbid criminals from indulging in atrocities and will instill confidence among the dalit communities. +No civil society can tolerate any kind of injustice towards the woman-power of the country. +Those guilty of rape will get a minimum sentence of ten years and those found guilty of raping girls below the age of 12 years will be awarded the death sentence. +Recently, you might have read in newspapers, that a court in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh, after a brief hearing of two months, pronounced the death sentence on two criminals found guilty of raping a minor girl. +Earlier, a court in Katni in Madhya Pradesh awarded the death sentence to the guilty after a hearing of just five days. +Courts in Rajasthan have also taken similar quick decisions. +This Act will play an effective role in curbing crimes against women and girls. +Economic growth will be incomplete without a social transformation. +When we move ahead in the national interest, a change in the lives of the poor, the backward, the exploited and the deprived ones can also be brought about. +In the Monsoon session, this time, everyone jointly presented an ideal approach. +Today, I publicly express my heartfelt gratitude to all MP’s. +My dear countrymen! +The attention of crores of Indians is focused on the Asian Games being held in Jakarta. +Every morning, first of all, people look for newspapers, Television, News and Social Media to check Indian playerswinning medals. +The Asian Games are going on. +I wish to congratulate all players who have won medals for the country. +I extend my best wishes to thoseplayers who are yet to compete. +Among those winning medals for our country are a large number of our daughters which is a very positive sign; so much so, that youngsters of only 15-16 years of age have brought honour to our country by winning medals. +This too is a very positive indication that most of the medal-winners hail from small towns and villages and these players have achieved this success by putting in sheer hard work. +We shall celebrate National Sports Day on 29th August and I extend my best wishes to all sport lovers and also pay my tributes to the legendary hockey wizard Shri Dhyanchandji. +I request every citizen to make it a point to play and take care of their fitness because only a healthy India will build a developed and prosperous India. +When India will be fit, only then India’s future will be bright. +Once again, I congratulate the medal winners at the Asian Games and also wish the remaining players perform well. +Many good wishes to you all on the National Sports Day. +Would you believe if someone tells you that about a thousand years ago, an over sixty metrestall pillar of granite was built and anothergranite rock weighing about 80 tonnes was placed over its top. +But, Brihdeshwar temple of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu is the place where this unbelievable combination of Engineering and Architecture can be seen. +Anybody will feel overawed on seeing Rani Ki Vaav of the 11th Century in Patan in Gujarat. +Our land has been an engineering laboratory. +There have been several engineers in India who made the unimaginable possible and presented such marvels of engineering before the world. +Lakhs of farmers and common people continue to benefit from the Krishna Raj Sagar Dam built by him. +He is greatly revered in that part of our country and the whole nation remembers him with great respect and regard. +In his memory, 15th September is observed as Engineers Day. +Following his footsteps, our engineers have created their own identity in the world. +When I talk of wonders in the Engineering world, I am reminded of an incident of 2001 when a devastating earth quake hit Kutch in Gujarat. +But, you did not find any damage anywhere. +These houses were built by our ancestors in sync with nature and surroundings of this place”.And she was saying all this with such a feeling of pride that it made me think that engineers in that era had constructed such structures according to the local situations which kept the commonman safe and secured. +While observing Engineers Day, we should think of the future as well. +Workshops should be held at different places. +What are the things we need to learn in the changing times? +What do we need to teach? +Nowadays, disaster management has assumed immense significance. +The world is facing natural calamities. +What then should be the new form of structural engineering? +All such points need to be pondered upon when we observe Engineers Day. +There is a mood of festivity and with this the preparations for Diwali also begin. +With these feelings, I extend my best wishes to you all. +He said the planning of activities and events on Yoga Day should aim to make Yoga a mass movement, all over the world. +Emphasizing that Yoga’s central theme is “synergy,” the Prime Minister called for a coordinated effort, not only from various Government Ministries and Departments, but also with people’s active participation, to enable a befitting celebration for the first International Yoga Day. +He called for the involvement of eminent yoga practitioners, spiritual leaders and other distinguished individuals from various walks of life, so as to make the event a success. +The Prime Minister was given an overview of the preparations for the various events being planned in India and across the world, to mark the first-ever International Yoga Day. +Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals: +i. Amendment to the Customs Act, 1962; ii. +The above proposals will result in the following benefits: +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the agreement between Republic of India and the Republic of Belarus on Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT) in Civil and Commercial Matters. +The Agreement after having come into force will promote Mutual Legal Assistance between the Contracting Parties in Civil and Commercial Matters. +The proposal aims to benefit the citizens of the respective Parties seeking Legal Assistance in Civil and Commercial Matters in the requested Party irrespective of any gender, class or income bias. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Chhattisgarh today. +At Janjgir-Champa, he visited an exhibition on traditional handloom and agriculture. +He laid the foundation stone for national highway projects, and the Pendra-Anuppur 3rd railway line. +The Prime Minister also handed over certificates etc to select beneficiaries of various welfare schemes of the Union and State Governments. +Addressing a large Kisan Sammelan, the Prime Minister recalled former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who, he said, had created three new States – Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. +It is due to his vision of development that all these states are progressing rapidly, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister asserted that the Union Government is devoted to development and wants to fulfil the aspirations of people. +We want to enhance ease of living for the people, the Prime Minister said. +Shri Narendra Modi said that the Government does not believe in making schemes for a vote-bank, or schemes to win elections. +He said that the aim is to create a new, modern Chhattisgarh. +We are moving ahead with the mission of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, the Prime Minister said, adding that the Union Government is working hard to ensure that farmers benefit through value addition. +Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana is helping farmers in this mission, the Prime Minister said. +Through technological interventions, the welfare of farmers is being ensured, the Prime Minister said, adding that measures like Soil Health Cards and Fasal Bima Yojana are benefiting the farmers immensely. +The Prime Minister recalled that there was once a time when only a select few got the benefits of welfare schemes, and corruption had ruined the governance system. +We are committed to development for all, the Prime Minister asserted, noting that the Union Government wants to ensure a roof over every head by 2022. +The Prime Minister said that the task of constructing toilets was undertaken in mission mode. +Cooking gas connections were given to the poor under Ujjwala Yojana, and now, through Saubhagya Yojana, electricity connections are being ensured in every home, he added. +The land is presently in possession of National Seeds Corporation (NSC), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. +The Solar Power Plant will be set up by a CPSE, which would be selected through negotiation. +The selected CPSE will have to do tariff based competitive bidding for the project. +The Project, by utilizing un-cultivable land for a Solar Power Project, will yield revenue for NSC and will also generate clean energy for the nation. +The newly started Andaman and Nicobar Institute of Medical Science completed the process of admission of students and classes for the first year MBBS course commenced on 1st September, 2015 . +It will facilitate smooth functioning of the office of the National Authority under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 so that the objectives of the Act are achieved. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released a commemorative postage stamp on former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Late Shri Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described Shri Bahuguna as a leader committed to democratic values. +He said that Shri Bahuguna was inspired by many different leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Acharya Narendra Dev, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Chandrashekhar Azad. +The Prime Minister also spoke at length about Shri Bahuguna’s contributions in the education sector, and development in the hilly areas of the country. +Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Communication, Shri Manoj Sinha, was present on the occasion. +Family members of Shri Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, including Shri Vijay Bahuguna and Dr. Rita Bahuguna were also present on the occasion. +My dear brothers and sisters present here in large numbers, +My regards to the people of Mokama. +I convey my regards to all of you on this holy land of Lord Parashuram. +I am blessed on coming here in Mokama. +The whole country is gearing up to celebrate Diwali. +Preparations for Chhath Puja are also underway. +I am grateful to Nitish Ji and his entire team for supporting all the government of India schemes in every possible manner. +When we had difficulties they came forward to solve our problems and in a way today both the central government and the state government have been working shoulder to shoulder with full dedication to realise the dreams of Bihar and you can see the results. +And I respect his feelings and I assure him that the government of India would walk with him shoulder to shoulder to realise the dreams of millions and millions of people of Bihar and it will take the journey of development to new heights. +Brothers and sisters, today I got the good opportunity to come to the land of Mokama, Nitish Ji showed me the design of the bridge from the above, the foundation stone for which is being laid here today, when we were coming here. +He showed me the model and I am confident this kind of bridge will become the centre of attraction for the entire Bihar. +And this bridge will connect Begusarai, the area of work of the first chief minister of Bihar Dr. Shri Krishna, with the state capital Patna. +Even today, I bow down to Shri Babu who made Begusarai the industrial capital of Bihar by establishing Refinery, Fertilizer, Thermal Power Plant and Barauni Dairy. +Today, I have come to that land which is just a few hundred meters away from that temple of education which imparted the values to the national poet Dinakar Ji during his childhood. +As one remembers Dinkar Ji his feelings inspire us even today. +They show us the path of liberty from the blind faith. +Be it an oppressed person or one who is persecuted or exploited, poor, deprived, villager, farmer, labourer, we feel an inspiration to respect them due to the emotions expressed by Dinakar Ji. +This is the land on which Dinakar Ji was raised. +Dinakar Ji had said: +Brothers and sisters, this land is also the land where lord Parashuram had meditated. +Nobody can forget the grand history of the holy Simaria Bank located on the banks of mother Ganga at the confluence of three great ancient states – Ang, Magadh and Mithila. +And when I have got the good opportunity to bow down to this holy Simaria Bank from this platform then I respectfully bow down to it. +This is the land of brave-heart Babha Chauharmal, a fair is being organised in his memory every year at some distance from here. +A large crowd gathers here and I also bow down to such a holy land. +My dear brothers and sisters of Bihar, as far as I can see, I see people everywhere. +There are two three times more people outside this tent than those who are inside it. +All those people are facing harsh sunlight outside. +And they have been facing the heat under the sun for quite some time and despite suffering this hardship they have turned up here in large numbers to bless me, I bow down to you as well. +I welcome you. +But my dear brothers and sisters of Bihar, I would like to assure you that the government of India and the state government will not allow the hardships faced by you people here to go waste. +Our country also had this kind of people whose thinking was responsible for the backwardness of the country. +I have read about this kind of politicians who used to talk like this if someone talked about constructing a road: ‘What is the need for a road, the roads are needed by those who have cars, do we poor people have cars, why do we need roads?’ +The people with this kind of negative mentality, we cannot even think about the way they have ruined the country. +If today you travel to a village where there is no road….MPs also come to meet me and they tell me that some roads under the Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojna have not been constructed in their area, they ask me to give priority to their area. +Whenever people from rural areas meet me they demand the roads under the Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojna. +Brothers and sisters, in the last three years we have increased the budget so much, we have ramped up the speed of the work so much that today we have succeeded in constructing the twice as much roads than what we used to construct earlier and that is why this work of constructing the roads is taking place to bring about a change in the rural life. +However, rural roads alone are not enough. +We should connect our large economic centres, economic centres are growth centres as well and those place where economy thrives; we also need to connect these places with interior areas through the road connectivity. +Today, those projects worth thousands of crores of rupees for which the foundation stones have been laid, these projects are not for merely running the vehicles on them. +The construction of road is meant for changing the economy of this place. +And it is our attempt to bring prosperity here through the roads and these are roads that pull the prosperity and contribute in the making the area prosperous. +Brothers and sisters, Ganga, our lives are dependent on her. +Today, if mother Ganga were not there then how terrible the situation would have been? +However, we never made any attempt to save that Ganga, we were indifferent. +Saving the Ganga is equal to saving our future generations. +A campaign has been launched to stop the drainage of polluted water, to stop the water polluted with chemicals going into Ganga. +Brothers and sisters, during the last few days, government of India’s Railway ministry has started an important train for the people of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and it is going to be of immense benefit during Diwali and Chhath Puja. +You can imagine what kind of comfort these basic facilities, these basic facilities of infrastructure will provide. +These issues of connectivity are related to poor people and even in these things a project of waterways has been launched under the leadership of our Gadkari Ji. +In the British era this waterway was there, at that time Mokama was known as Mini Calcutta. +It had become the centre of big economic and transportation activity. +The government of India has taken upon itself the task of restoring this reputation and I would like to assure you that in any case we will restore that reputation. +You must have seen that we have started a massive campaign to provide electricity to those villages where it was not available. +There were 18,000 villages without electricity. +We started with the dream to finish it within 1,000 days. +We still have some months left however we have electrified nearly 15,000 villages so far and we have been working at a fast pace to electrify those remaining 2.5 to 3,0000 villages. +Along with that we have recently launched Pradhanmantri Saubhagya Yojana. +This Pradhanmantri Saubhagya Yojana, I’d urge Bihar to take full advantage of it. +Under this Pradhanmantri Saubhagya Yojana, the government of India and the state government will work together to provide electricity to those houses which don’t have electricity connection. +Even if someone lives in a shanty he even then he will get the electric bulb. +Earlier if someone used to ask for electricity connection then the government used to tell that there is an electricity poll on that side and if we need to supply electricity then we will have to install 10 polls from there to here and it will cost nearly Rs. 30,000. +People did not used to take electricity connection. +Brothers and sisters, this is a unique feature of this government which even our critics have to admit after these three years. +It was a habit of previous governments to make announcements while keeping the elections in mind and then to forget the people and the schemes. +Today, there is this kind of government in Delhi that we prepare the road map of a scheme if we conceive it. +And the government completely dedicates itself in arranging those resources, in implementing those schemes in a time bound manner to finish them during its tenure. +You might have seen that the gas connections to more than 3 crore families, to the poor families, to the poorest of the poor families have been provided so far. +They have started cooking chapattis on gas stove. +We have a dream of providing gas connections to two crore more families in the next two years and we will accomplish that within the stipulated time and will bring about the change in poor person’s life. +We have started off with the cleanliness campaign. +What kind of adverse impact it will have on the health of my poor mothers and sisters? +Today, we have linked five crore families in the country with toilets. +We have been working in the direction of setting up a fertiliser plant in your area. +Our farmers are going to get benefit from that. +And with this single expectation that all of you will join this journey of development I call upon all of you to join me in saying this with your full strength: +(Bharat Mata Ki Jay) Victory for Mother India, +Boost to Metro connectivity +Gol liability will be Rs. 340.60 crore on account of Grant and Subordinate Debt. +1. Approval for Extension of Delhi Metro corridor from Noida City Centre to Sector-62, Noida, Uttar Pradesh covering a length of 6.675 k.m. +2. Total completion cost of the project is Rs.1,967 crore. +3. Project will be implemented by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC), the existing Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the Government of India and Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. +4. Project will be covered under the legal framework of Central Metro Acts, Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978 and the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, as amended from time to time. +As a result, more residential and commercial complexes will develop in this region. +With metro rail in place, there will be less vehicular traffic on roads leading to less congestion, less time and cost of journey, less consumption of fossil fuel and less environmental pollution. +The population of Noida and people of surrounding areas will be greatly benefitted by the extended line. +At the project site, approximately 800 staff including Engineers and other staff have been engaged. +Further, DMRC has started the procedure for recruitment of around 200 employees for Operation & Maintenance of this corridor. +About 81% progress of civil work and 55% of overall financial progress of the project have been achieved. +The Noida city, located in Gautam Buddha Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh State, was created under the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Area Development Act. +It possess all modern amenities and is considered to be one of the most modern suburbs of Delhi in the National Capital Region (NCR). +The population of Noida as per 2011 Census of India is about 6.42 lakhs. +Due to lush green and open area in the city, more and more people from Delhi and surrounding area are preferring NOIDA as their settling place. +The trend of urbanization of Noida is upward. +Number of Industrial and Institutional units is also being established in this city. +Noida mainly has road linkages with Delhi and the adjoining areas of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana State. +People come for work to Noida from other places and vice versa. +These factors will lead to increment of traffic demand and need for an efficient pollution-free mass rapid transport system. +Noida is connected by Metro rail and trains are running upto Noida City Centre (Sector 32 Noida). +It is proposed to extend the Metro Corridor from Noida City Centre to Noida Sector 62 by a length of 6.675 Km with six stations. +Noida does not have railway station and the nearest railway station is Hazarat Nizamuddin, New Delhi which is at a distance of about 15 km. +The nearest airport Delhi is at about 35 km from NOIDA. +The population is expected to grow exponentially in Noida region in the coming years. +President Vladimir Putin and members of the media, +It is truly a great pleasure to welcome President Putin to India. +We have met twice at the opposite ends of the world – in Brazil and Australia. +I am honoured to host him in Delhi for the annual Summit. +Since the turn of the century, he has been a key architect of our partnership. +President Putin and Prime Minister Vajpayee launched the annual Summit process in 2000. +When Prime Minister Vajpayee held the first of summits in Moscow in November 2001, I was there to sign the sister-state agreement between Gujarat and Astrakhan. +President Putin is a leader of a great Nation with which we have a friendship of unmatched mutual confidence, trust and goodwill. +We have a Strategic Partnership that is incomparable in content. +The steadfast support of the people of Russia for India has been there even at difficult moments in our history. +It has been a pillar of strength for India’s development, security and international relations. +India, too, has always stood with Russia through its own challenges. +The character of global politics and international relations is changing. +However, the importance of this relationship and its unique place in India’s foreign policy will not change. +In many ways, its significance to both countries will grow further in the future. +Russia has been India’s foremost defence partner through decades. +My first visit outside Delhi as Prime Minister was to our new aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya. +It sails our seas as a great symbol of our defence cooperation. +Even as India’s options have increased today, Russia will remain our most important defence partner. +We have conducted joint exercises across all three wings of the Armed Forces in the last six months. +President Putin and I discussed a broad range of new defence projects. +We also discussed how to align our defence relations to India’s own priorities, including Make in India. +I am pleased that Russia has offered to fully manufacture in India one of its most advanced helicopters. +It includes the possibility of exports from India. +It can be used for both military and civilian use. +We will follow up on this quickly. +I also proposed that Russia should locate manufacturing facilities in India for spares and components for Russian defence equipment in India. +He responded very positively to my request. +Energy security is critical for India’s economic development and creating jobs for our youth. +Russia is also a key partner in this area. +I am pleased that the first unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is on stream. +It has added 20% to the existing capacity for nuclear power in India. +We are on course for installing the next three units of 1000 MW each. +Today, we have outlined an ambitious vision for nuclear energy of at least ten more reactors. +It will have the highest standards of safety in the world. +It will also include manufacture of equipment and components in India. +This also supports our Make in India policy. +Russia is the world’s top source for hydrocarbon resources; and, India one of the world’s largest importers. +Yet, despite our close friendship, our collaboration in this sector has been disappointing. +Today, we have made a new start with a few important agreements. +But, we will set an ambitious agenda for partnership in oil and natural gas. +Today we have taken a number of decisions and signed several agreements. +They also reflect our shared belief that in today’s world, vibrant economic relations constitute a key pillar of a strong strategic partnership. +Similarly, closer contacts between people and in areas like education, culture and tourism are important. +I thank President Putin for his support for India’s closer relations with Eurasian Economic Union. +This highlights our new innovative approaches to strengthening economic relations. +President Putin and I agreed that this is a challenging moment in the world. +Our partnership and the strong sensitivity that we have always had for each other’s interests will be a source of strength to both countries. +I conveyed my deepest condolences for the loss of lives in the terrorist attack in Chechnya. +This also reflects our many shared challenges. +Our areas of priority for our cooperation include combating terrorism and extremism; advancing peace and stability in Afghanistan; working together for a stable, balanced, peaceful and prosperous Asia Pacific; and, cooperating for development in other countries. +Institutions like BRICS, East Asia Summit and G 20 have also widened our framework of engagement. +This is President Putin’s eleventh Annual Summit and my first. +This Summit reinforced my conviction in the extraordinary value and strength of this partnership. +I am confident that our bilateral cooperation and international partnership will acquire new vigour and scale new heights in the years ahead. +The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N Chandrababu Naidu, was present in the meeting. +Senior officials from the Government of India, and the State of Andhra Pradesh, were also present. +An amount of Rs. 315.95 crore has been released to the State under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), after adjustments of the State balances. +This is in addition to Rs 330 crore released as central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2015-16 to the State. +A further amount of Rs. 173.25 crore has been released as first instalment of SDRF for 2016-17. +The Chief Minister described the State’s efforts in building check dams, reviving lift irrigation schemes, and deploying mobile sprinkler units (rain guns) as part of the drought mitigation effort. +He mentioned the State’s progress in micro-irrigation. +The State has a target of 20 lakh hectares for micro-irrigation by 2022. +Global best practices and research in the field came up for discussion. +Appreciating the State’s efforts in micro-irrigation, the Prime Minister directed setting up of a task force to comprehensively study the economic impact of drip irrigation in the States of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, on various parameters such as water saving, enhanced productivity, and savings in terms of reduced input costs of fertiliser, pesticide and labour. +The Chief Minister, praising the Prime Minister for his initiatives of neem-coating of urea and the assistance of Rs. 1500 per tonne offered for compost made from municipal solid waste, stated that these will go a long way in improving soil health and checking the diversion of urea. +The Chief Minister also made a brief presentation on how the State Government is using technology to get real-time updates on water and agriculture from the field. +Appreciating these innovations, the Prime Minister urged the NITI Aayog to set up a task force in consultation with the State that could come up with a model on how to use technology for crop insurance. +The meeting ended with a resolve on the part of the Centre and State to work together. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Capt. Amarinder Singh on taking oath as Chief Minister of Punjab. +“Congratulations Capt. Amarinder Singh on taking oath as CM. +Wishing you the very best in working for Punjab’s development.,” the Prime Minister said. +The President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena called Prime Minister Modi on telephone today. +The President of Sri Lanka stated that he categorically rejected the reports in sections of media about him alluding to the involvement of India in any manner whatsoever in an alleged plot to assassinate the President and a former Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka. +He mentioned that the mischievous and malafide reports were utterly baseless and false, and seemed intended to create misunderstanding between the two leaders as well as damage the cordial relations between the two friendly neighbours. +The President apprised the Prime Minister of the urgent steps taken by him personally and the Government of Sri Lanka to publicly reject these reports. +In this context, he also recalled his meeting with the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka today morning. +The President also stated that he regards the Prime Minister as a true friend of Sri Lanka, as also a close personal friend. +He stressed that he greatly valued the mutually beneficial ties between India and Sri Lanka, and remained steadfast to work with the Prime Minister for futher strengtheing them. +The Prime Minister appreciated the prompt steps taken by the President and his Government to firmly refute the malicious reports by publicly clarifying the matters. +He also reiterated India’s emphasis on ‘neighbourhood first’ policy and the priority the Government of India and he personally attach to developing even stronger all-round cooperation between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today wished the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Ms. Sumitra Mahajan, on her birthday. +“My best wishes to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Sumitra Mahajan ji on her birthday. +I pray for her long life and good health,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will launch the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on September 1st, 2018. +IPPB has been envisioned as an accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man, to help speedily achieve the financial inclusion objectives of the Union Government. +It will leverage the vast network of the Department of Posts, which covers every corner of the country with more than 300,000 Postmen and Grameen Dak Sewaks. +IPPB will hence significantly augment the reach of the banking sector in India. +The launch of IPPB marks another significant milestone in the Union Government’s endeavour to take the benefits of a rapidly developing India to the remotest corners of our country. +All the 1.55 lakh Post Offices in the country will be linked to the IPPB system by December 31, 2018. +IPPB will offer a range of products such as savings and current accounts, money transfer, direct benefit transfers, bill and utility payments, and enterprise and merchant payments. +These products, and related services, will be offered across multiple channels (counter services, micro-ATM, mobile banking app, SMS and IVR), using the bank’s state-of-the-art technology platform. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the appointment of Adjudicating Authority and establishment of Appellate Tribunal under Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act(PBPT), 1988. +1. Appointment of an Adjudicating Authority, along with the three additional Benches and to establish the Appellate Tribunal under the PBPT Act; +3. The Adjudicating Authority and Appellate Tribunal shall sit in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD). +The approval will result in effective and better administration of cases referred to the Adjudicating Authority and speedy disposal of appeals filed against the order of the Adjudicating Authority before the Appellate Tribunal. +Appointment of the Adjudicating Authority would provide first stage review of administrative action under the PBPT Act. +In May last year, in what was the largest elections in the history of mankind, the people of India voted my Government into office. +For the first time in three decades Indian voters gave a clear majority mandate to a government. +The verdict was for change and for good and effective governance. +It was also a call for development reflective of growing aspirations of India’s youthful millions. +In the last 11 months, we have come a long way in keeping this promise. +We have re-energised the Indian growth engine. +The credibility of our economy has been restored. +India is once again poised for rapid growth and development. +It is the only emerging economy where growth rate is rising. +The prospects are even better. +This has not happened by chance. +My government has earnestly taken up the challenge of development and economic transformation of India. +For us, development is not a mere political agenda; it is an article of faith. +We have initiated specific policies and actions to realise our vision for New Age India with a clear set of economic goals and objectives. +Our focus is not merely economic growth but an inclusive development. +This requires creating jobs, upgrading skills, raising productivity, benchmarking quality with global standards. +Our aim is to completely eliminate poverty and to propel all Indians into a life of purpose and dignity within a generation. +My own life-experience and belief in the role of good governance in India’s economic development has convinced me that this noble objective can be achieved. +Generating jobs for India’s youthful population is a key to harnessing India’s demographic advantage. +This can be achieved only when we significantly and quickly ramp up our manufacturing capabilities. +To meet this objective my Government has unveiled the “Make in India” initiative. +This is a win-win for all. +The employment opportunities that new manufacturing will generate will enhance the purchasing power of our people. +This in turn will create a market for more trade and investment. +With 65% of our population below the age of 35, the possibilities that India’s growth presents for global economic prosperity are immense. +Through our “Act East” and “Link West” policy, India has the potential of becoming the middle ground for East and West as a manufacturing hub that serves both our vast domestic market and becomes a base for global exports and general well-being. +Our strategy for “Make in India” requires urgent creation of new infrastructure. +The substantial enhancement in financing in the federal budget for highways, railways and energy is a step in this direction. +Work has begun on the development of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. +My Government has pledged a stable and transparent tax regime, reducing corporate taxes and implementing a single Goods & Services Tax in 2016. +We recognize that the availability of a skilled work-force is a prerequisite for manufacturing growth. +My Government is giving the highest priority to the Skills India programme. +We will focus on promoting models of vocational training according to specific needs of local industry, and to adopt best practices from abroad. +We are aware that all development must be environmentally sustainable. +India has always cherished its environment. +This is deeply ingrained in our age-old culture and civilization. +Our revised target for renewable energy capacity of 175,000 MW by 2022 is a reflection of our commitment. +Growing urbanization in India is one of our greatest challenges. +The population in our cities is projected to double in 10 years. +Our focus on development of Smart Cities is aimed at providing the basic necessities of affordable housing, clean water and a safe environment for our people. +As a former Chief Minister of the State of Gujarat, I recognise that these ambitious objectives can be realized only through cooperation between the federal Government and our twenty nine States. +We are creating structures to enable them to become partners of our exports and investment strategy. +We have also adopted a strategy of cooperative and competitive federalism where states spur each other into greater effort through a healthy competition for economic growth and prosperity. +International support and collaboration is equally critical to achieving our objectives. +I have therefore sought to build a foreign policy which is an integral part of our national development strategy. +My interactions with leaders of USA, Russia, France, Japan and China have all aimed at creating enduring partnerships with shared stakes in global development and well-being. +Germany enjoys a special place in this context. +We share a strategic partnership based on our common values. +India desires a mutually beneficial partnership for growth and prosperity with Germany. +Our priorities fit well with Germany’s expertise. +India’s development needs can become business opportunities for German industry. +Higher levels of investments are possible and indeed desirable. +Germany is globally renowned for its engineering, innovation and skills. +The capacities of your Mittelstand and family-owned businesses are well known. +I invite them to come to India. +My visit to Germany and India’s participation at the Hannover Messe as a Partner Country is aimed at realising the immense possibilities that exist between us. +In my discussions with Chancellor Merkel and with captains of German industry, I intend to share our sense of optimism and confidence in our future plans. +I will also listen carefully to learn what more we can do to address concerns of German entrepreneurs with regard to investment and manufacturing in India. +We see Germany as our preferred partner in developing skills of young Indians. +We also want to learn from Germany’s path-breaking experiences in renewable energy. +We wish to replicate your success in solar roof-top projects and off-grid solar and wind power solutions, as well as your expertise in grid integration and management. +You are also our natural ally in my Government’s “Clean India” initiative. +We also want to benefit from Germany’s experience in cleaning the River Ganga. +We invite your transport companies, including your railways, to assist us in the modernization of our transport networks. +Your logistics and infrastructure companies can contribute to ongoing development of industrial corridors in India. +I visualize India as a key engine of global growth. +Our democratic principles and practices are guarantors of stability. +We have a free media and an independent judiciary that allows all opinions to be aired without fear. +We believe in “Rahein Saath Badhe Saath” (stay together-grow together). +There is no other way forward. +Mankind’s progress in this century depends on cooperation and collaboration. +If we can take all Indians together into a better socio-economic future, I believe that the world we share will be a better place for all. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved measures to increase oil palm area and production in India. +These include: +i. Relaxation of land ceiling limit for oil palm cultivation under NMOOP (National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm). +The Cabinet approved relaxation in restrictions for providing assistance to more than 25 hectare area also under NMOOP to attract corporate bodies towards oil palm and derive maximum benefit of 100% FDI. +Revision of norms of assistance under Mini Mission-II of NMOOP. +The measures will yield following results: +· To encourage oil palm plantation on large scale by corporate bodies and to utilize wastelands. +By relaxing restrictions under NMOOP, private entrepreneurs/cooperative bodies/joint ventures will show their interest in investment in oil palm plantation and availing the NMOOP support. +· To encourage farmers for oil palm cultivation in a bigger way. +The revision of cost norms will motivate fanners for oil palm plantation. +Annual Action Plan (AAP) of the State / Agencies will be approved by Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare on revised cost norms. +The private entrepreneurs/ cooperative bodies/ joint ventures will be invited by the respective state Governments for oil palm plantation in their state. +At present, the programme is being implemented in 12 States, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu. +There will be some financial implication in relaxing restrictions of area and up-scaling the norms of subsidies but the same would be accommodated within NMOOP fund. +Therefore, no additional funds would be required. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the passing away of noted architect, Mr. Charles Correa. +“My deepest condolences on the passing away of the noted architect, Mr. Charles Correa. +May his soul rest in peace. +Mr. Charles Correa’s architectural marvels are widely cherished, reflecting his brilliance, innovative zeal & wonderful aesthetic sense,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Lok Sabha MP and former Union Minister Shri Sultan Ahmed. +“Saddened on the demise of LS MP and former Union Minister Shri Sultan Ahmed. +My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this sad hour”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for signing of the MoU for cooperation in the legal field between India and Morocco, in order to share their experience and expertise in the field of law and legislation. +The MoU will give an opportunity to the Lawyers, Law Officers and law students to discuss issues in the field of law and justice in seminars, symposiums and workshops arranged by authorities of India and Morocco. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, was apprised about an MoU signed in February, 2019 between India and Morocco to promote exchange of information and technical cooperation in the field of Housing and Human Settlement. +Implementation of the MoU would strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of Housing & Human Settlement. +Both countries will cooperate to address the challenges faced by cities, with the aim of promoting sustainable inclusive urban growth, whilst improving commercial and trade relations between the two countries. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today jointly laid the foundation stone for India’s first high speed rail project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. +Speaking on the occasion, at a large public meeting in Ahmedabad, the Prime Minister spoke of the high ambition and willpower of “New India.” +He congratulated the people of India on the occasion, and said that the bullet train project will provide speed and progress, and deliver results quickly. +He said the Government’s focus is on increasing productivity through high speed connectivity. +The Prime Minister thanked Japan for the technical and financial help given to India, for this project. +He praised Prime Minister Abe for the fact that this project is being launched within such a short time. +The Prime Minister said that this high speed railway would not only bring two cities closer, but also bring the people living hundreds of kilometers away, closer to each other. +He said a new economic system is being developed along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, and the entire area would become a single economic zone. +The Prime Minister said technology is useful only if it provides benefit to the common man. +He said the technology transfer envisaged in this project will benefit Indian Railways, and boost the “Make in India” initiative. +He said the project would be eco-friendly as well as human-friendly. +He said “high-speed corridors” would be regions for rapid growth in the future. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is working to ensure that infrastructure is developed keeping in mind futuristic requirements. +He expressed confidence that everyone would work together to complete this project in the shortest possible time. +Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that the India-Japan partnership is special, strategic and global. +He said that he hopes to see the beauty of India through the windows of the Bullet Train, a few years hence. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Spain on cooperation in Port matters. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Rashtriya Gramin Swaraj Abhiyan today, at a public meeting, in Mandla in Madhya Pradesh. +He unveiled a Road Map for overall development of tribals during the next five years. +He laid the foundation stone of an LPG bottling plant of Indian Oil Corporation at Maneri, Mandla District. +He also launched a Local Government Directory. +The Prime Minister felicitated the Sarpanches of villages which have achieved 100 percent smokeless kitchens, 100 percent vaccination under Mission Indradhanush, and 100 percent electrification under Saubhagya Scheme. +Addressing Panchayati Raj representatives across the country, from Mandla, the Prime Minister recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s call for Gramoday to Rashtroday, and Gram Swaraj. +He said he is delighted to be in Madhya Pradesh on National Panchayati Raj Day. +He added that Mahatma Gandhi always highlighted the importance of villages and spoke about ‘Gram Swaraj’. +He called upon everyone to reaffirm the commitment to serving our villages. +People are now talking about the need to ensure that money allocated for a project is utilised and it is done in a timely as well as transparent manner, he said. +He urged people to focus on the education of their children, and added that this is essential for the child’s future. +The Prime Minister underscored the efforts towards self-reliance in the agriculture sector. +He urged the Panchayat representatives to pay attention to water conservation, and to ensure that every drop of water is conserved. +Shri Narendra Modi spoke of the importance of Jan Dhan Yojana for financial inclusion; Van Dhan Yojana for empowering tribal communities; and Gobar-Dhan Yojana for making farmers more self reliant, besides converting waste into energy. +He said that a transformation of villages would ensure a transformation of India. +The Prime Minister also said that the recent steps taken by the Union Government will be beneficial in furthering the safety of women. +The MoU envisages to promote information exchanges in the areas of Renewable Energy integration regulations and balancing using gas, storage, and demand-side approaches, energy imbalance markets. +It will enhance the efforts of India’s power system for better management of large-scale integration of Renewable Energy into the power grid. +In the past, in order to work on areas such as Demand Side Management and Energy Efficiency, Forum of Regulators had signed an MoU with The California Energy Commission, The California Public Utilities Commission and the University of California (as Management and Operating Contractor for Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory) on Electricity Demand and Supply Efficiency Improvement to explore potential future collaboration in the field of energy sector planning. +The proposed MoU is under the larger bilateral agreement on Energy Efficiency Commercialization and Innovation agreement signed between United States and India. +It is being pursued as a component of ‘Greening the Grid’ project, launched under U.S-India ‘Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Deployment’ (PACE-D). +Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Nepal. +This will be my third visit to Nepal as Prime Minister. +It reflects the high priority India, and personally I attach to our age-old, close and friendly ties with Nepal. +My visit closely follows the State Visit of Prime Minister Oli to India last month. +These high-level and regular interactions reflect my government’s commitment to the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, in consonance with the motto of ‘SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas’. +Together, our two countries have completed several bilateral connectivity and development projects in the last few years, and have initiated transformational initiatives for the benefit of our two peoples. +Prime Minister Oli and I will have the opportunity to take forward our recent wide-ranging discussions in New Delhi on issues of mutual interest, and to advance our cooperative partnership across diverse sectors. +In addition to Kathmandu, I am also looking forward to visiting Janakpur and Muktinath. +Both these places attract a large number of pilgrims every year. +They are living testimony to the ancient and strong cultural and religious ties between the peoples of India and Nepal. +As Nepal enters a new era of consolidating gains of democracy and achieving rapid economic growth and development, India will continue to remain a steadfast partner of Government of Nepal to implement its vision of ‘Samriddha Nepal, Sukhi Nepali’. +I am looking forward to meeting the political leaders and friends in Nepal. +I am confident that my visit will further cement our people-centric partnership with Nepal on the basis of mutual benefit, goodwill and understanding.’’ +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the cadre restructuring of the Indian Information Service (IIS) Group ‘A’. +The restructuring will address the problem of existing stagnation in the IIS Cadre and will improve the career prospects of IIS officers. +The Cadre review exercise will result in better functioning of media and communication arms of the government. +The Cadre review comes in the backdrop of ongoing efforts to expand the outreach of pro-people policies of the government and the need to disseminate the information of such measures which have grown manifold in the recent years. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today lit the eternal flame, to mark the dedication of the National War Memorial in New Delhi, to the nation. +He visited the various sections of the Memorial. +Earlier, addressing a large rally of Ex-Servicemen, the Prime Minister said that it is the result of the valour and dedication of lakhs of soldiers that the Indian Army is today considered among the strongest in the world. +The Prime Minister said that the soldiers have been the first line of defence, both against enemies, and against natural disasters. +He said that today New India is growing in stature globally, and this is due in large measure to its Armed Forces. +He expressed happiness that the National War Memorial, or Rashtriya Samar Smaarak, is being dedicated today. +The Prime Minister recalled that the Union Government had also fulfilled its pledge of providing One Rank, One Pension to the soldiers and ex-servicemen. +He said OROP has resulted in an increase in pension of upto 40 percent, and an increase in salaries of soldiers of upto 55 percent, compared to 2014. +Giving some more illustrations of the Government’s approach towards the Armed Forces, the Prime Minister mentioned the encouragement being given to innovations by soldiers during Army Day, Navy Day and Air Force Day events. +He also mentioned the Gallantry Awards Portal launched on 15 August, 2017. +He said women have now got the opportunity to become fighter pilots. +He said that women officers in short service commission are being given opportunities for permanent commission at par with their male counterparts. +The Prime Minister said that change has been initiated in the entire ecosystem of defence procurement. +He said transparency and level playing field are the hallmarks of the Government’s approach. +He stressed on the encouragement being given to “Make in India.” +He said the navies of 50 countries were part of the International Fleet Review organized by the Indian Navy in 2016. +He also said that our Armed Forces conduct an average of ten big joint exercises with Armed Forces of friendly countries, every year. +He said that the huge reduction in piracy in the Indian Ocean, is due, to a large extent, to the military might of India, and our international partnerships. +The Prime Minister referred to the long-pending demand from the Indian Army for 1.86 lakh bullet-proof jackets, and said the Union Government has procured over 2.30 lakh bullet-proof jackets over the last four and a half years. +He said the Union Government is equipping the Indian Army with modern aircraft, helicopters, submarines, ships and weaponry. +He said decisions pending for a long time, are being taken in national interest. +The Prime Minister said that besides the National War Memorial, the National Police Memorial has also been established. +The Union Government has recognized great national leaders including Sardar Patel, Babasahed Ambedkar, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, he added. +He said the Union Government would continue to take decisions, keeping national interest supreme. +The Official Website of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Office, www.pmindia.gov.in is now multi-lingual. +The website can now be accessed in six regional languages namely Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu in addition to English and Hindi. +She hoped that this initiative would further enhance the interaction between people from all parts of the country and the Prime Minister on various issues concerning their welfare and development. +The Minister further said that other regional language versions of the website will be available in a phased manner. +The six regional language websites can be accessed at the following links: +Shri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today. +Swamiji briefed the Prime Minister about the proposed programme to celebrate the 1000th birth anniversary of Ramanuja Charya Swami in the year 2017, and installation of 216 foot metal statue of Ramanuja Charya Swami in Hyderabad on the occasion. +Ramanuja Charya Swami was a great spiritual icon born in 1017 AD. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met a group of ten tribal students from Maharashtra. +The students were a part of a team of the “Mission Shaurya” initiative of the Adivasi Vikas Vibhag of the Maharashtra State Government. +The Prime Minister congratulated the students on their achievements. +He exhorted them to take up a sport, and pursue it regularly. +He felicitated all the members of the group. +Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, and Union MoS for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Ahir, were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Weightlifter K Sanjita Chanu on winning the Gold Medal at Commonwealth Games. +PM said, “A second Gold for India! +Congratulations to K Sanjita Chanu on winning the Gold Medal in the Women’s 53 kg weightlifting event. +The nation is overjoyed by this exemplary performance.” +Weightlifter Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu delivered India its second gold medal of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold CoastCity, Australia today. +• Use the current global environment to position India in leading role • “You are vibrant representatives of a glorious heritage” • India has a great responsibility to help the world counter new threats to global peace • India must lead the fight against climate change; love for nature is part of Indian culture +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that the present global environment represents a rare opportunity, when the world is keen to embrace India, and India is moving forward with confidence. +Emphasizing the role of “Heads of Missions” in projecting India to the world, the Prime Minister described them as “shining vibrant representatives” (tejasvi, jeevant anshpunj) of India`s glorious heritage. +He urged them to work ceaselessly and with a clear mind, on India`s development priorities, and to advance India`s interests abroad. +Speaking of conflicts in the twenty-first century, the Prime Minister said there were new “actors” and new “threats” to global peace and prosperity, and added that India, which always stood for “Vishva-Bandhutva” and peace – the brotherhood of the world – had a great responsibility in helping the world counter these challenges to peace. +On the challenge of climate change, the Prime Minister said protecting the environment is part of India`s cultural heritage, and therefore, India must take the lead in countering this challenge, and also work towards a change in global attitudes towards the challenges of climate change. +He said Indian culture was replete with illustrations which indicated “prakriti-prem” – “love for nature.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today laid the foundation stone of various projects of the Government of India and Government of Jharkhand, at an event in Sindri. +These include: +He also witnessed the Exchange of MoUs for Jan AushadhiKendras. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister paid homage to BhagwanBirsa Munda. +He said that the State Government and the Union Government are working together for the rapid development of Jharkhand. +He said the total cost of the projects, for which foundation stones have been laid today, is Rs. 27,000 crore. +He said these development projects will give opportunities to the youth of Jharkhand. +He said that when he assumed office, there were 18,000 villages lacking access to electricity. +We worked to brighten the lives of people in these villages and took electricity there, he added. +Now, we have gone a step further and we are ensuring every household in India has access to electricity, he said. +He said fertiliser plants which had stopped working are in the process of being revived. +Eastern India will gain the most from this, he added. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government has made air-travel accessible and affordable. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed joy, on PM Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries crossing 2 crore in number in less than a year. +“Matter of immense joy and pride that the number of beneficiaries of PM Ujjwala Yojana has crossed 2 crore in less than a year! +Ujjwala Yojana is guided by a strong commitment to bring about a qualitative change in the lives of poor women. +I congratulate all beneficiaries of Ujjwala Yojana and those who are working round the clock to ensure its success”, the Prime Minister said. +In his message the Prime Minister said: +“On National Panchayati Raj Day I salute all the hardworking individuals serving people through Panchayati Raj institutions across India. +Panchayats are effective ways to fulfil aspirations of people in rural India. +They are playing a vital role in India’s transformation. +Through all-round progress and grassroots level participation, our Government is working towards making ‘Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday’ a reality.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the loss of lives in the States of Meghalaya and Assam. +He added that the officers should ensure that all people-friendly initiatives of the Government reach the people on priority. +Replying to a series of questions from the young officer-trainees, the Prime Minister said that officers must feel that each and every citizen of this country is a part of his family. +He said that if this spirit prevails, the officers will be able to work with vigour and enthusiasm, and even the question of exhaustion will not arise. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness at the passing away of Mr. Nobutaka Machimura, former Speaker of the Japanese Parliament. +“Saddened at the passing away of Mr. Nobutaka Machimura, former Speaker of the Japanese Parliament. +He was a friend of India. +Mr. Machimura served as Chairman of India-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League and worked extensively towards strong India-Japan ties. +I have fond memories of meeting Mr. Machimura in Tokyo during my last visit. +Our thoughts and prayers are with his family”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today exhorted civil servants to become “agents of change” in their respective organizations and departments. +The Prime Minister urged civil servants to build teams. +He said that his mantra of “Reform to Transform”, should be interpreted by civil servants as “Reform to Perform to Transform.” +He said if civil servants were able to perform, the transformation on the ground would be evident. +He therefore urged civil servants to engage with the people, so that the Government’s schemes and initiatives can be better implemented on the ground. +The Prime Minister described Civil Services Day as an occasion to reflect and undertake a critical evaluation of the journey so far, and resolve to move ahead with fresh determination. +Congratulating the awardees for their successful initiatives, he said their success could prove inspirational for other civil servants. +The Prime Minister noted that 74 success stories were shortlisted for consideration for awards this year, which represents a substantial jump over previous years. +Nevertheless, he added, this represents only about 10 per cent of India’s districts. +He urged all districts to become more proactive in this regard. +The Prime Minister urged civil servants to be bold enough to experiment and look at new ways of achieving objectives in the interest of the people. +Recalling the recent Committees of Secretaries which had been formed at his initiative to look into key areas of governance, he said that officers worked on these tasks voluntarily, after office hours and on holidays. +He said these teams had successfully broken silos, and presented fresh ideas and suggestions. +They had devoted 10,000 manhours to this work, he added. +Through ‘Mann Ki Baat’, I once again have been blessed with the opportunity to be face-to-face with you. +I am sure you distinctly remember that for the last many months, a naval team comprising six women Commanders was on a voyage. +I want to tell you something about the ‘Naavika Saagar Parikrama’. +They traversed a multitude of oceans, many a sea, over a distance of almost twenty two thousand nautical miles. +This was a first of its kind event in the entire world. +Last Wednesday, I got an opportunity to meet these daughters and listen to their experiences. +Once again, I congratulate these daughters and their spirit of adventure for bringing laurels to the country, for raising the glory of the Navy and significantly so, for conveying to the world that India’s daughters are no less. +Who does not know of the sense of adventure? +I congratulate these young friends and members of the school in Chandrapur, from the core of my heart. +Just a while ago, 16 year old Shivangi Pathak became the youngest Indian woman to scale Everest from the Nepal side. +Heartiest congratulations, Beti Shivangi. +Ajit Bajaj and his daughter became the first ever father-daughter duo to ascend Everest. +And it’s not that only the young are climbing Everest. +On the 19th of May, Sangeeta Bahal, aged more than 50, scaled the Everest. +There are some mountaineers who have shown that apart from possessing skills, they are sensitive too. +A few days ago, under the ‘Clean Ganga Campaign’, a group from the BSF Scaled the Everest and while returning, removed loads of trash littered there and brought it down. +This deed is commendable indeed; it also displays their commitment towards cleanliness and the environment. +People have been ascending the Everest for years & many have managed to reach the peak successfully. +I congratulate these daredevils, especially the daughters from the core of my heart. +Everybody is now getting connected with this Fit India Campaign. +People from the film fraternity, from the world of Sports, common citizens of the country, members of the armed forces, school teachers or even those toiling in fields and farms, their rising notes are building up a crescendo ‘Hum Fit toh India Fit’… ‘If we are fit, India is fit’. +For me, it’s heartwarming that the captain of the Indian Cricket team Virat Kohli ji has included me in his challenge… and I too have accepted his challenge. +And in the last episode, our heroes of the Commonwealth Games shared with us their ‘Mann Ki Baat’, matters close to their hearts through this programme. +Chhavi Yadav ji, thank you very much for your phone call. +It is true that sports & games that were once a part & parcel of every child’s life, in every lane in the neighbourhood, are fading into oblivion. +These games used to be a special feature of summer holidays. +Some called it Lagori, at other places it was Satoriya, Saat Pathar, Dikori, Satodiya… one game with many names! +Traditional sports and games comprise both varieties… outdoor and indoor as well. +The unity, intrinsic to our country’s diversity can be witnessed in these games. +A single game is known by distinct names at different places. +It is played with cowries or tamarind seeds or dice on an eight by eight square board. +It used to be played in almost every state. +Known as Chowkabara in Karnataka, Attoo in Madhya Pradesh, Pakidakaali in Kerala, Champal in Maharashtra, Daayaam and Thaayaam in Tamilnadu, Changaa Po in Rajasthan, it had innumerable names. +One realizes after playing, despite not knowing the language of a particular state, “Oh! +We used to play this game in our state as well!” +Who amongst us would not have enjoyed playing Gilli-Danda in our childhood? +This is a game that is played across villages and cities. +It is also known by different names. +Some games are seasonal. +There is a season for flying kites. +While flying a kite or playing a game, one freely expresses one’s inherent unique qualities. +You must have seen many a child, shy by nature, leap up with zest, the moment a game begins. +Even children with a seemingly serious countenance start expressing themselves; while playing, the innate child within them comes to the fore. +Traditional sports and games are structured in such a manner that along with physical ability, they enhance our logical thinking, concentration, alertness and energy levels. +From tiny tots to Grandfather-Grandmother, when we all play these games together then the term ‘Generation Gap’ disappears on its own. +At the same time, we also come to know about our culture and traditions. +Many games also make us aware about our society, environment and other spheres. +But do return the monsoon that drenched me as a child +The puddles & my paper boats, the magic of my rains. +This is a very important achievement for India and it is also an acknowledgement as well as recognition of India’s growing leadership in the direction of tackling climate change. +I appeal to all of you, that while trying to understand the importance of this theme, we should all ensure that we do not use low grade polythene and low grade plastics and try to curb the negative impact of plastic pollution on our environment, on our wild life and our health. +On this environment day, let all of us give it a good thought as to what can we do to make our planet cleaner and greener? +How can we progress in this direction? +The rainy season is fast approaching; we can set a target of achieving record plantation of trees this time and not only plant trees but also nurture and maintain the saplings till they grow. +The 21stof June has been mandated and is celebrated as the International Yoga Day in the entire world and people start preparing for it months in advance. +The news being received these days is that there are preparations afoot in the whole world to celebrate 21st June as International Yoga Day. +Yoga for unity and a harmonious society conveys a message that has permeated the world over. +Centuries ago, the great Sanskrit Poet Bhartahari had written in his ‘Shataktrayam’. +The practice of yoga leads to building up of courage, which always protects us like a father. +The practice of yoga leads to germination of a sense of forgiveness in the same manner as a mother has for her children and mental peace becomes our permanent friend. +Bhartahari has said that with regular yogic exercise, truth becomes our child, mercy becomes our sister, self restraint our brother, earth turns in to our bed and knowledge satiates our hunger. +When so many attributes become one’s partner, then that yogi conquers all forms of fear. +Once again, I appeal to all the citizens to adopt their legacy of yoga and create a healthy, happy and harmonious nation. +I render my pranam to Pandit ji. +Memories of this month are also linked with Veer Savarkar. +This was the very month, the month of May 1857, when Indians had displayed their strength against the British. +In many parts of the country, our youth and farmers demonstrated their bravery whilst standing up against the injustice. +It is indeed sad that we kept on calling the events of 1857 only as a rebellion or a soldiers’ mutiny for a very long time. +In fact, May 1857 was not only evaluated as a minor historical incident but was also an attempt to dent our self-respect. +It was Veer Savarkar who boldly expostulated by writing that whatever happened in 1857 was not a revolt but was indeed the First War of Independence. +Savarkaralong with his band of brave hearts celebrated the 50thanniversary of the First War of Independence with great fanfare at India house in London. +It is also an amazing coincidence that the month which witnessed the First Struggle for Independence was the month in which Veer Savarkar ji was born. +Savarkar ji’s personality was full of special qualities; he was a worshipper of both weapons or shashtra and Knowledge or shaashtras. +A wonderful account about Savarkarji has been given by our dear honorable Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji. +Savarkar marched alongwith both poetry and revolution. +Our daughters, who were forced to sift through garbage and beg from home to home in order to earn a living – today they are learning sewing and stitching clothes to cover the impoverished. +This is an example where the daughters are stitching ordinary to good quality clothes for themselves and other families. +Along with this, they are undergoing a training course in skill development. +I wish all these daughters, brimming with hope and trust, a very bright future. +If you observe in your neighbourhood, then you will witness for yourselves how people overcome the difficulties in their lives! +You must have realized that whenever we go to a tea shop, and enjoy tea there, a discussion with some of the customers automatically ensues. +Shriman D. Prakash Rao has been a tea vendor in the city of Cuttack forthe past five decades. +A meagre tea vendor; today you will be surprised to know that the lives of more than 70 children are being illuminated through education due to his efforts. +He ensures education, health and meals for all the children coming to this school. +I congratulate D. Prakash Rao for his hard work, his persistence and for providing a new direction to the lives of those poor children attending his school. +He has banished the darkness from their lives.Who amongst us does not know the Vedic shloka ‘Tamso Ma Jyotirgamaya’! +However, it has been put intopractice by D. Prakash Rao. +His life is an inspiration to us, our society and the whole country. +Your surroundings too must be full of such inspiring happenings. +There must be innumerable incidents. +Come, let us take positivity forward. +The month of June is so hot that people anxiously wait for the rains, gazing towards the sky for the clouds to appear. +After an entire month of fasting during Ramzan, the festival of Eid is a harbinger of celebrations. +I hope that the festival of Eid will further strengthen the bonds of harmony in our society. +Heartiest felicitations to all of you. +We shall meet once again in another episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ next month. +Saamarthya aur Sambhaavnaayein: Capabilities and Possibilities +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today had extensive interactions with Canada’s business community in Toronto. +In his remarks during a meeting with 30 influential members of the business community, the Prime Minister described the relationship between Canada and India, as a bonding of capabilities and possibilities – saamarthya aur sambhaavnaayein. +He said if capabilities and possibilities came together, they could together scale new heights. +He urged Canadian businesses to explore new avenues in India, and spoke about the range of decisions taken by the Indian Government over the last ten months, to boost investment. +These include raising FDI caps in Railways and Insurance, the Smart Cities initiative, the Clean Ganga initiative, and solid waste management and waste water treatment in 500 cities and towns. +The Prime Minister said that the combination of democracy, demography and demand make India the most suitable location for Canadian companies to expand their businesses. +Earlier, the Prime Minister interacted over breakfast with major Pension Fund Managers of Canada. +He assured investors of a predictable and stable tax regime. +He also had a separate meeting with Mr. Tim Wiseman, CEO, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. +The Prime Minister said, “Today, when we observe 100 years of the horrific Jallianwala Bagh massacre, India pays tributes to all those martyred on that fateful day. +Their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. +Their memory inspires us to work even harder to build an India they would be proud of. ” +The Union Cabinet has expressed profound sorrow at the sad demise of former President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. +In a resolution passed at a special Cabinet Meeting this morning, it said, “in his passing away the country has lost a visionary scientist, a true nationalist and a great son”. +The Cabinet met under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and extended its heart-felt condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of the Government and the entire Nation. +The former President breathed his last at Bethany Hospital, Shillong, Meghalaya on 27th July, 2015. +The following is the text of the Resolution:- +“Born on 15th October, 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, specialized in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology. +Dr. Kalam made significant contribution in developing India’s first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle and made India an exclusive member of Space Club. +Popularly known as the “Missile Man of India’, Dr. Kalam was responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles. +He gave thrust to self-reliance in defence systems by introducing Light Combat Aircraft. +Dr. Kalam was the Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) during 1992-99. +During this period, strategic missile systems were developed and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests were conducted. +Dr. Kalam had served as the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, from 1999 to 2001 and was responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many development applications and piloted India Millennium Mission 2020. +In his literary pursuit, Dr. Kalam’s books – “Wings of Fire”, “India 2020 -A Vision for the New Millennium”, “My journey” and “Ignited Minds -Unleashing the power within India” became household names in India and abroad. +Dr. Kalam was passionate about transforming society through technology, in particular by inspiring the youth of India to harness science and technology for human welfare. +Dr. Kalam was the recipient of many national and international awards including honorary doctorates from 48 Universities from India and abroad. +He received the country’s highest civilian Award “Bharat Ratna” in the year 1997. +Eventually, from a very humble beginning, he rose to the highest office of the Country and served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. +During his tenure, he was affectionately known as the People’s President.” +Cabinet approves Agra Metro Rail Project 6 Elevated and 7 Underground Stations along 14 KmTaj East Gate corridor 14 Stations all elevated along 15.40 Km KalindiVihar Corridor Rs. 8,379.62 Crore project to be completed in 5 years +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Agra Metro Rail Project having two corridors. +These corridors will connect major public nodes, tourist places and city cluster areas of Agra. +The Metro Rail System will also promote transit oriented development which will lead to development of more residential and commercial complexes along the corridors. +Agra Metro Rail Project will have 2 corridors which will pass through heart of the city and will connect prominent tourist places including Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Sikandra as well as ISBT, Raja Ki Mandi Railway Station, Medical College, Agra Cant Railway Station, Collectorate, Sanjay Place and surrounding densely populated residential areas. +Highlights of these corridors include +2. The length of Agra Cantt to KalindiVihar corridor is 15.40 km comprising of 14 stations all elevated. +About 20 Lakh population of the city is expected to be benefited by Agra Metro Rail Project directly and indirectly ai the time of commencement of commercial operations. +The Project will have non-fare box revenue from rental & advertisement as well as Value Capture Financing (VCF) through mechanism of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and Transfer of Development Rights (TDR). +Connectivity Highlights: +Sikandra to Taj East Gate corridor will pass through heart of the city and will connect prominent tourist places including Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Sikandra as well as ISBT, Raja Ki Mandi Railway Station, Medical College etc. +Agra Cantt to KalindiVihar corridor will connect Agra Cantt Railway Station, Collectorate, Sanjay Place and surrounding densely populated residential areas. +The Metro will provide eco friendly and sustainable public transport to residents, commuters, industrial workers, visitors and travelers. +‘Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation’, a 50:50 jointly owned Company of Govt of India and Govt. of Uttar Pradesh will be reconstituted as ‘Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC)’ for implementation of project. +The financing of Agra Metro Rail Project will be partly from Government of India and Govt. of Uttar Pradesh on equal equity basis and partly as soft loan from Bilateral/Multilateral international funding agency/agencies. +Govt. of Uttar Pradesh has already allocated Rs. 175 Cr. for this period during the financial year 2019-20. +The proposal aims to secure: +The First Year Tariff for import of power from the 720 MW MHEP in Bhutan at Indian Rupees 4.12 per unit. +Certainty ot supply of surplus power to India by Bhutan from MHEP. +Strengthening India-Bhutan economic relations and inter-linkages especially in the field of hydro-power co-operation and overall deepening of India-Bhutan relations. +Twin Projects to curb waterlogging in Muktsar, Faridkot and Ferozpur in Punjab +1. Implementation of these twin projects would help in addressing the problem of water-logging in 84800 Ha of land in Muktsar, Faridkot and Ferozpur districts in South-West Punjab. +2. Implementation of these projects would address the problem of water logging in South-West Punjab and enhance the flows/ water availability in the two canals. +3. Farmers in the area would be benefitted due to stabilisation / improved irrigation in 98,739 Ha of land due to relining of Rajasthan Feeder and 69,086 Ha due to relining of Sirhind Feeder. +• Funding for CA to the Rajasthan Feeder and Sirhind feeder shall be made through NABARD under existing system for funding of 99 PMKSY-AIBP projects under LTIF. +• In addition to existing monitoring mechanism for projects by Central Water Commission, an Expert Project Review Committee may be constituted to oversee the overall implementation of these projects. +• The approved cost of relining of Sirhind Feeder Canal is Rs. 671.478 Cr and that of relining of Rajasthan Feeder Canal is Rs. 1305.267 Cr, at 2015 PL. +Of the total estimated cost, Rs. 826.168 Cr would be provided as Central Assistance (Rs. 205.758 Cr for Sirhind Feeder and Rs. 620.41 Cr for Rajasthan Feeder). +• Investment Clearance of Revised Cost Estimates amounting to Rs.671.478 crore and Rs.1305.267 crore for Relining of Sirhind Feeder and Relining of Rajasthan Feeder respectively have been accorded on 6th April, 2016. +• The projects were visited by a team under Chairman CWC during 2016 and by another team under Sh. +A. B. Pandya, former Chairman, CWC during 2017. +They recommended remedial works to be taken up. +The Punjab Government also conveyed its financial concurrence on 26.04.2018. +Sirhind and Rajasthan Feeders take off upstream of Harike Head works and flow through Punjab before crossing over to Rajasthan. +The Government of Punjab has reported considerable seepage loss due to damages in the lining of both Sirhind and Rajasthan Feeders. +The project would mitigate water logging problem and enhance the flows/ water availability in the two canals. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, made a brief stopover in Chennai this afternoon, on the way to Sriharikota. +He was received by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri K. Rosaiah, and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Ms. J. Jayalalithaa. +The Prime Minister later had a courtesy meeting with Ms. Jayalalithaa, before leaving for Sriharikota. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his Punya Tithi. +He remembered Sardar Patel for his exemplary service to the nation and his message of unity and integaration. +“On his Punya Tithi, salutations to Sardar Patel. +We remember his exemplary service and are inspired by his message of unity and integration,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives and property in Sri Lanka due to flooding and landslides. +“India condoles the loss of lives and property in Sri Lanka due to flooding and landslides. +We stand with our Sri Lankan brothers and sisters in their hour of need. +Our ships are being dispatched with relief material. +The first ship will reach Colombo tomorrow morning. +The Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Minister for Law of the Republic of Singapore, Mr. K. Shanmugam, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +He conveyed the message of the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, that the relations between the two countries, which are based on mutual trust, should be made even stronger through a series of concrete steps. +During the meeting, it was planned that an year-long series of events be held to mark the completion of fifty years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and India. +Both Prime Ministers are keen that the occasion should be celebrated in a way that further expands the canvas of the relationship. +Mutual cooperation in the fields of skill development, development of smart cities, water management, shipping, port management and coastal development was discussed in depth. +Shri Narendra Modi said that his Government plans a major thrust in low-cost and affordable housing, and sought Singapore`s assistance in construction technology for this purpose. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will pay a State Visit to Republic of Rwanda (23-24 July), Republic of Uganda (24-25 July) and Republic of South Africa (25-27 July). +This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Rwanda and the first visit by our Prime Minister to Uganda in over 20 years. +The visit to South Africa is in the context of BRICS Summit. +Prime Minister’s official engagement in Rwanda and Uganda include bilateral meetings with the Presidents, delegation level talks and meetings with the business and the Indian communities. +In Rwanda, Prime Minister will visit the Genocide Memorial and participate in an event on “Girinka” (one cow per family), a national social protection scheme of Rwanda personally initiated by President Paul Kagame. +In Uganda, Prime Minister will deliver a Keynote address at the Parliament of Uganda – the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Ugandan Parliament. +In South Africa, the Prime Minister will have bilateral meeting with the South African President and will attend the BRICS Summit and other BRICS related meetings. +Bilateral meetings with participating countries on the sidelines of BRICS meetings are also planned. +India shares close, warm and friendly relations with Africa which are cemented by robust development partnership and a large presence of the Indian Diaspora. +A number of agreements and MoUs in the areas of Defence, trade, culture, Agriculture and Dairy cooperation are scheduled to be signed during the visit. +Over the last few years, there has been a significant intensification of our engagement in various fields with African countries and there have been as many as 23 outgoing visits to Africa at the level of President, Vice President and Prime Minister in the last four years. +Africa has been the top priority of India’s Foreign Policy. +The visit of Prime Minister to Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa will further strengthen our relations with the African continent. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated building of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, dedicated 400KV Lucknow-Kanpur D/C transmission line and distributed sanction letters to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Lucknow. +Speaking at the event, Shri Modi spoke at length about connecting India’s youth to latest technology. +He said, “Our youth can think about start ups and innovation in the health sector, particularly in healthcare equipment.” +The Prime Minister congratulated the UP government for ensuring electricity in all districts. +He added, “Power and energy matter immensely in the development journey of a nation. +Today solar energy is gaining popularity in India.” +The Prime Minister also spoke at length about the implementation of GST on July 1st and said that it demonstrated the strength of democracy. +He said, “Credit for implementation of GST goes to 125 crore people of India.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has strongly condemned the terrorist blast in Kabul. +“We strongly condemn the terrorist blast in Kabul. +Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with the injured. +India stands with Afghanistan in fighting all types of terrorism. +Forces supporting terrorism need to be defeated,” the Prime Minister said. +His Excellency Mr Jacob Zuma, +President of the Republic of South Africa, +Hon’ble Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, +Hon’ble Minister of Trade and Industry, +Captains of South African and Indian Industry, +Ladies and Gentlemen! +I am happy to be with you today. +India-South Africa relations are built on a strong foundation of history. +• We were directed together by destiny; +• We are driven together by dreams. +Our history had many common chapters. +With struggle and sacrifice, we changed the course of history. +Now, it is the time to work for economic freedom. +Thus, our relations rest upon our common desire to fulfil the aspirations of our people. +• We have been friends in adversities ; +• Now we should franchise in opportunities +With the blessings of our great leaders, both the countries have marched on the path of development. +Both South Africa and India are important players in the BRICS economies. +Our people at home and the world at large are looking at us with great expectations. +We can join handsto fulfil these twin expectations. +It is heartening that we have had very active and fruitful engagement on all possible fronts. +However, President Zuma and I have met several times in last two years. +South Africa is India’s key trade and investment partner. +In the last ten years, bilateral trade has grown almost 380%. +The story of investments also continues to be bright. +There is continuous flow of investments both ways. +More than 150 Indian companies are operating in South Africa. +The potential is increasing day by day. +This is because both countries are strengthening their economic fundamentals. +Therefore, we must look at ways to diversify our trade basket, to complement our needs and to serve the people. +Many leading Indian companies have a foot-print here. +They are engaged in a wide range of activities. +Many Indian CEOs are here with us. +My advice to them is to see that their business results into socio–economic transformation of this great country. +I have been advocating three Ps for India. +(Public Sector, Private Sector and People’s Partnership). +I have been emphasising on the Personal Sector. +The same applies here. +Skill development and community empowerment should be central to your business plans. +The spirit of African humanism , UBUNTU , should reflect in your business ethos. +This is what Mahatma Gandhi stood for. +We have always believed in nurturing and nourishing not in exploiting. +Encouraging fact is that our business engagement is not one way. +South African companies are also active in India. +Many of them have presence on ground. +We have learnt from your knowledge and benefited from your innovative products. +South African business excellence and Indian capacities must leverage each other; for growth and development in our two countries. +In last two years we have worked very hard on all fronts to set the economy right. +We have got very encouraging results of our sincerity and hard work. +Today, India is a bright star in the global economy. +We are being seen as the engine of global growth. +India has become the fastest growing large economy in the world. +At a time of global slowdown, we have registered 7.6% growth in GDP. +World Bank, IMF and other institutions have projected even better growth in the coming days. +Not only that, in 2014-15, India contributed 12.5% of global growth. +Its contribution to global growth is 68% higher than its share of the world economy. +The FDI in this year has been the highest ever. +The ratings agency Moody’s has said that FDI inflows were all-time high in 2016, highlighting the success of our ‘Make in India’ initiative. +Make in India has become the biggest brand that India has ever had. +Both within and outside the country, it has captured the imagination of people, institutions, industries, businesses, media and the political leadership. +As part of the Make in India exercise, we have given emphasis on Ease of Doing Business. +We have taken decisive steps to ease the licensing processes and rationalize the provisions relating to clearances, returns, and inspections. +If I talk of some other indicators: +• India has consistently been ranked as the most attractive investment destination by several global agencies and institutions. +• We have jumped 12 ranks in the latest global ranking by the World Bank on ease of doing business. +• India has also improved its UNCTAD ranking of investment attractiveness. +• Against 15th so far, now we are at 9th place. +• India has also jumped 16 places on the World Economic Forum’s global competitive index. +Due to positive impact of our policies and practices, our confidence has gone up. +This also gives us motivation to further simplify our processes to become an easier place to do business. +An innovative Start-up India programme has also been launched to incubate ideas and develop them into enterprises. +All this is having a good impact on expansion of job market and rise in purchasing power of the people. +This finally leads to India becoming a place with better quality of life and higher living standards. +We have ensured that our growth is inclusive and embraces both rural and urban communities. +We are taking a leap towards next generation infrastructure in both core areas and social sectors. +Socio-economic challenges of both our countries are more or less same. +My advice is that the wheels of development should not be re-invented. +Our two countries are very uniquely positioned to complement each other. +• Nature has been kind on both of us. +We have immense natural resources. +The need is to properly harness them and to use them sustainably for welfare of the common man. +We can learn a lot from each other in this. +• We particularly want to engage with your world class mining companies. +Some of them are already active in India. +But we want strategic engagements on this front. +We are both committed to clean and green pathways to progress. +At the same time, we need energy resources. +• With the help of a number of countries, we have formed the International Solar Alliance. +I hope that we will enrich and take advantage of this forum. +• Our two countries have the unique benefit of opposite seasons +When it is summer or mango season in India, it is winter here, and vice versa. +We can leverage this geographic advantage to market each other’s fruits, vegetables and other perishables +• India with its huge domestic market offers massive opportunities for your food processing industry. +Our collaboration in this sector will bring value for our farmers and our villages. +• We in India are working on very ambitious plans of infrastructure. +The task which is pending from the days of independence has to be completed fast now. +Together, we can do a lot to fill these gaps. +• India is best suited to help you in technology and skills. +Efforts are already underway in these areas. +At the India Africa Forum Summit held in New Delhi last year, we under-took to educate and train 50,000 Africans in India over the next five years. +These are just a few examples. +We can work together in a number of areas. +• From Defence to Dairy; +• From Hardware to Software; +• From Medicines to Medical Tourism; +• From Soft Skills to Science and Technology. +There are opportunities for us. +India today is among the most open economies. +We have liberalised our FDI regime in most of the areas and in all possible ways. +We have rationalised our norms and made it simple for businesses to establish and grow. +To conclude, I would like to say that we have added institutional depth to our partnership. +Our BRICS business engagement and CEOs Forum have helped to expand and enrich our partnership. +Today, we have successfully held the 3rd Meeting of the India-South Africa CEOs Forum. +We value your recommen- -dations and look forward to putting them into practice. +We are thankful to the South African government for introducing 10 year BRICS (ब्रिक्स) visa for regular business travellers. +The Indian Industry is quite encouraged by the move. +In February this year, we launched our e-Visa programme for South Africa. +This is valid for short term tourist and business travellers. +You can now get your visa for India sitting at home in your email, and that too free of cost! +• Let us join hands once more; +• Let us commit ourselves together once again; +• This is necessary to fight the enemy of poverty; +• This is perhaps much more challenging; +• But we have to succeed; +• And this only can be our real tribute to our great leaders. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Rani Lakshmibai on her Jayanti. +“Rani Lakshmibai is a source of inspiration for every Indian. +Her fortitude in the face of adversity and steadfast opposition to colonialism will never be forgotten. +It is due to greats like her that India won freedom. +Remembering her on her Jayanti”, the Prime Minister said. +The cultural shows will display the popularity of Indian cultural traditions in Russia and its importance of Inter-cultural understanding. +Unique gesture by Russian artists to perform Indian art forms to welcome PM Modi. +Artistes will perform a musical enactment of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s poem “Geet Naya Gata Hoon” rendered by Lata Mangeshkar. +PM Narendra Modi will be greeted with twin cultural programs, Abhinandan and Abhivyakti on 24th December. +‘Abhinandan’ event envisages performance of Indian art forms (classical and folk dances) by Russian artists. +It will display the popularity of Indian cultural traditions in Russia and its importance of Inter-cultural understanding. +‘Abhinandan’ seeks to portray the assimilation of India’s performing arts traditions by Russian artistes. +The programme will conclude with all artistes coming on stage for a musical enactment of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s poem “Geet Naya Gata Hoon” rendered by Lata Mangeshkar. +‘Abhinandan’ will contain performances by 52 artistes. +The significance of this performance is that it falls on the eve of Atal ji’s birthday. +‘Abhivyakti’ is an attempt to articulate and convey an authentic image of Indian traditions, history and culture by Russian artistes and enthusiasts, which resonates in the hearts, and minds of all Indians and well-wishers of India in foreign countries. +It is a reflection of the feeling of brotherhood and amity that exists between the people of India and Russia. +‘Abhivyakti’ is dedicated to the expression of goodwill, joy, and enthusiasm aptly represented by our philosophy of ‘Vasudheva Kutumbakam’ that characterizes our interaction with the rest of the world. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur, Dhaka for Cooperation concerning Military Education in the Field of Strategic and Operational Studies. +The MoU will enable establishment of a framework for enhanced cooperation in the field of military education concerning strategic and operational studies and promotion of closer and long-term cooperation between the two countries. +Given the geographical and cultural closeness between the two countries, there are many common challenges like countering terrorism that needs joint action. +Hence, there is a need for better coordination and cooperation among the armed forces. +The joint training and exercises will help to bring symmetry in capacities of the armed forces and contribute to countering and managing common threats and challenges much better. +The MoU enhances public accountability by way of exchange of information and technology between India and Bangladesh. +The amount was raised through the contribution from ITBP personnel. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted everyone, on the auspicious occasion of Gurupurab. +Gurupurab wishes to everyone. +The inspiring teachings of the venerable Guru Nanak guide us in creating a prosperous and harmonious society”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired the 41st AGM of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society. +The Prime Minister suggested that NMML should attempt to maximize the use of technology to achieve a global presence. +He said the work of NMML should also be expanded to various Indian languages, to better reflect the diversity of India. +He said the youth of India could take tremendous inspiration from the great leaders who made this Nation. +The Prime Minister thanked all the assembled members for their suggestions and inputs. +Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and Minister of State (Independent Charge) Culture, Shri Mahesh Sharma, were present at the meeting. +India signed a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with the MERCOSUR which came into effect from 1st June, 2009. +Trade between India and the Uruguay has been expanding gradually. +The draft text of the proposed Agreement has been finalized with the concurrence of the two Customs Administrations. +Launches several development projects and schemes +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, where he paid floral tributes to Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar on the occasion of his birth anniversary. +The Prime Minister visited Koradi Thermal Power Station, where he unveiled a plaque to mark the inauguration. +He also visited the Operations Control Room of the Power Station. +At the Mankapur Indoor Sports Complex, he unveiled digital plaques to mark the laying of foundation stones for IIIT, IIM and AIIMS at Nagpur. +The Prime Minister released a commemorative postage stamp on Deekshabhoomi of Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. +He presented awards to winners of the Mega Draw under Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi-dhan Vyapar Yojana. +The Prime Minister launched BHIM Aadhaar – a cashless payment mode based on biometric identification of thumb print. +Speaking on the occasion, Shri Narendra Modi said he was delighted to be in Nagpur on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti. +He said he was honoured to have got the opportunity to pray at Deekshabhoomi. +He said that Dr. Ambedkar did not have even a trace of bitterness or revenge in him. +He added that this was Babasaheb Ambedkar’s speciality. +In the context of the Koradi Power Station, the Prime Minister said that the energy sector is of great importance in the 21st century. +He said the Government is devoting significant effort to the renewable energy sector. +Recalling the sacrifices made by people so that India could attain freedom, the Prime Minister asserted that all Indians must have their own house, equipped with electricity, water and other basic facilities. +The Prime Minister said that the BHIM App is positively impacting several lives across the nation. +He said that the Digi-dhan movement is also a cleansing mission to fight the menace of corruption. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has saluted Babu Jagjivan Ram on his birth anniversary. +PM said, ” Self-made and industrious, the contribution of Babu Jagjivan Ram can never be forgotten. +As a freedom fighter and veteran administrator, his service to India was impeccable. +Babuji was a true democrat, refusing to bow to authoritarianism. +India remembers him on his Jayanti. “ +The delegation also consisted of members from Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. +The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for Union Government’s scheme ‘SevaBhojYojna’ , which will reimburse the Central Share of CGST and IGST on items for Langar and Prasad, offered free of cost by Charitable Religious Institutions including Gurdwaras. +The delegation also thanked the Prime Minister for the series of measures taken by the Union Government to ease the burden on Sugarcane farmers. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today delivered the inaugural address at the 103rd Indian Science Congress at the University of Mysore. +The theme of this year’s Congress is “Science and Technology for Indigenous Development in India.” +The Prime Minister released the 103rd ISC Plenary Proceedings, and the Technology Vision 2035 document. +He gave away the ISCA Awards for 2015-16. +Following is the text of the PM’s address:- +Governor of Karnataka Shri Vajubhai Vala, +Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah, +My cabinet colleagues, Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Shri Y. S. Chowdary, +Bharat Ratna Professor C. N. R. Rao, +Nobel Laureates and Field Medalist, +Distinguished scientists and delegates, +It is a great pleasure to begin the year in the company of leaders of science and technology from India and the world. +For our confidence about the future of India comes from our faith in you. +It is a huge honour and privilege to address the 103rd Science Congress in the centenary year of the University of Mysore. +Some of the tallest leaders of India have passed through the doors of this respected institution. +The history of the Science Congress and the University of Mysore began around the same time. +It was the time of a new awakening in India. +It sought not just freedom, but also human advancement in India. +It wanted not just an independent India, but an India that could stand independently on the strength of its human resources, scientific capabilities and industrial development. +This university is a testimony to the vision of a great generation of Indians. +Now, we have launched yet another revolution of empowerment and opportunities in India. +And, we are once again turning to our scientists and innovators to realize our goals of human welfare and economic development. +The world has progressed because of human instinct to enquire and explore for knowledge but also to address human challenges. +His was a life of outstanding scientific achievements; and, his was a heart of boundless compassion and concern for humanity. +For him, the highest purpose of science was the transformation of the life of the weak, the under-privileged and the youth. +And, his life’s mission was a self-reliant and a self-assured India that was strong and cared for its people. +Your theme for this Congress is a fitting tribute to his vision. +And, it is leaders like Professor Rao and President Kalam, and scientists like you, who have placed India at the forefront of science and technology in many areas. +Our success spans from the core of the tiny atom to the vast frontier of space. +We have enhanced food and health security; and, we have given hope for a better life to others in the world. +As we increase the level of our ambition for our people, we will also have to increase the scale of our efforts. +Our digital networks are expanding the quality and reach of public services and social benefits for the poor. +And, in the first ever National Space Conference, we identified 170 applications that touch almost every aspect of governance, development and conservation. +We are launching Startup India that will encourage innovation and enterprise. +We are creating technology incubators in academic institutions. +And, I have asked for a framework of Scientific Audit for scientific departments and institutions in the government. +It is with the same spirit of cooperative federalism that is shaping centre-state relations in every area, that I am encouraging greater scientific collaboration between Central and State institutions and agencies. +We will also try to increase the level of resources for science, and deploy them in accordance with our strategic priorities, +We will make it easier to do science and research in India, improve science administration, and expand the supply and improve the quality of science education and research in India. +At the same time, innovation must not be just the goal of our science. +Innovation must also drive the scientific process. +Frugal innovation and crowd sourcing are examples of efficient and effective scientific enterprise. +And, innovation in approach is not just the obligation of the government, but also the responsibility of the private sector and the academia. +In a world of resource constraints and competing claims, we have to be smart in defining our priorities. +And, it is especially important in India, where challenges are many and the scale is enormous – from health and hunger to energy and economy. +Today, I wanted to speak to you about one of the biggest challenges for the world, and one that dominated global attention last year –to define a path to a more prosperous future for our world and a more sustainable future for our planet. +In 2015, the world took two historic steps. +Last September, the United Nations adopted the Development Agenda for 2030. +It places elimination of poverty by the end of 2030 and economic development at the top of our priorities, but with equal emphasis on sustainability of our environment and our habitats. +And, last November in Paris, the world came together to craft a historic agreement to change the course of our planet. +But, we achieved something else that is equally important. +We succeeded in bringing innovation and technology to the heart of the climate change discourse. +We were consistent in our message that it is not enough to speak of targets and restraints. +It is essential to find solutions that help us transition easily to a future of clean energy. +I also said in Paris that innovation is important not just for combating climate change, but also for climate justice. +At Paris, President Hollande, President Obama and I joined a number of global leaders for an Innovation Summit. +We pledged to double national investments in innovation; and, build a global partnership that combines the responsibility of governments with the innovative capacity of the private sector. +I also suggested an international network of 30-40 universities and labs focusing for next ten years on transforming the way we produce, distribute and consume energy. +We will also pursue this in G20. +We need innovation to make renewable energy much cheaper; more reliable; and, easier to connect to transmission grids. +This is especially critical for India to achieve our target of adding 175 GW of renewable generation by 2022. +We must also make fossil fuel like coal cleaner and more efficient. +And, we should tap newer sources of renewable energy, from ocean waves to geothermal energy. +At a time when energy sources that fueled the industrial age have put our planet in peril, and, as the developing world now seeks to lift billions of people into prosperity, the world must turn to Sun to power our future. +So, at Paris, India launched an International Solar Alliance to forge a partnership between solar-rich countries. +We need science and technology not just to make clean energy an integral part of our existence, but also to combat the impact of climate change on our lives. +We have to develop climate resilient agriculture. +We must understand the impact of climate change on our weather, biodiversity, glaciers, and oceans; and, how to adjust to them. +We must strengthen our ability to forecast natural disasters. +We must also address the rising challenges of rapid urbanisation. +This will be critical for a sustainable world. +For the first time in human history, we are in an urban century. +By the middle of this century, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. +A little less than 3.0 billion people will join the existing 3.5 billion urban dwellers. +And, 90% of the increase will come from developing countries. +Many urban clusters in Asia will exceed the population of mid-sized countries elsewhere in the world. +Studies suggest that nearly 40% of the global urban population lives in informal settlements, or slums, where they face a range of health and nutritional challenges. +Cities are the major engines of economic growth, employment opportunities and prosperity. +But, cities account for more than two-thirds of global energy demand and result in up to 80% of global greenhouse gas emission. +We will need sound policies to achieve our goals, but we will rely on science and technology to provide creative solutions. +We must develop better scientific tools to improve city planning with sensitivity to local ecology and heritage; and, reduce the demand for transportation, improve mobility and reduce congestion. +Much of our urban infrastructure is yet to be built. +We must maximise the use of local material with scientific improvements; and, and make buildings more energy efficient. +We have to find affordable and practical solutions for solid waste management; converting waste into building material and energy; and, recycling waste water. +Urban agriculture and ecology should get more attention. +And, our children must breathe cleaner city air. +And, we need solutions that are comprehensive and rooted in science and innovation. +We need your inputs to make our cities more immune to the consequences of natural disasters and our homes more resilient. +This will also mean making retrofit of buildings affordable. +A sustainable future for this planet will depend not only on what we do on land, but also on how we treat our oceans. +Oceans occupy more than 70% of our planet; and, over 40% of humanity and 60% of the world’s largest cities are found within 100 kilometers of the coast. +We are at the cusp of a new era, where oceans will become important drivers of our economies. +Their sustainable use can bring prosperity; and, give us clean energy, new medicines and food security beyond just fisheries. +That is why I refer to the Small Island States as Large Ocean States. +Ocean is critical to India’s future, too, with over 1300 islands, a 7500 km coastline and 2.4 million square kilometers of Exclusive Economic Zone. +That is why, in the past year, we have increased our focus on ocean or blue economy. +We will raise the level of our scientific efforts in marine science. +We will set up an advanced centre of research in marine biology and biotechnology and establish a network of coastal and island research stations in India and abroad. +We have entered into agreements on marine science and ocean economy with several countries. +We will also hold an International Conference on “Ocean economy and Pacific Island Countries” in New Delhi in 2016. +Rivers have played as important a role in human history as oceans. +Civilisations have been nurtured by rivers. +And, rivers will remain critical for our future. +So, revival of rivers is an essential part of my commitment for a cleaner and healthier future for our society, economic opportunities for our people, and renewal of our heritage. +We need regulations, policy, investments and management to achieve our objective. +River is the soul of Nature. +Their renewal must be an element of a larger effort to sustain Nature. +In India, we see humanity as part of Nature, not outside or superior to it, and divinity manifested in Nature’s diverse forms. +So, conservation is rooted in the natural instincts of our culture and tradition, and in our commitment to the future. +India has a rich heritage of ecological knowledge. +And, if we wish to restore the harmony between human and Nature, we must also harness the full potential of traditional knowledge. +Societies across the world have developed this enormous wealth through wisdom gathered over the ages. +And, they hold the secrets to economic, efficient, and, environment friendly solutions to many of our problems. +But, today they are at risk of extinction in our globalised world. +Like traditional knowledge, science has also evolved through human experiences and exploration of Nature. +So, we must recognize that science, as we see it, does not constitute the only form of empirical knowledge about the world. +And, we must bridge the distance between traditional knowledge and modern science, so that we can craft local and more sustainable solutions for our challenges. +So, in agriculture, even as we seek to make our farms yield more, reduce the intensity of our water use, or increase the nutrient content of our farm output, +we should also integrate traditional techniques, local practices and organic farming to make our agriculture less resource intensive and more resilient. +And, in the area of health, modern medicines have transformed healthcare. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed via video conference, the 99th birthday celebrations of Dada Vaswani in Pune. +He recalled that he had first met Dada Vaswani 27 years ago at the World Religions Conference in the United Nations. +He also recalled their meeting in Pune in 2013. +The Prime Minister praised Dada Vaswani for his selfless service to humanity. +Appreciating Dada Vaswani’s thoughts on “Making the Right Choice,” the Prime Minister said that if people resolve to make the right choice, evils such as corruption, casteism, drug-abuse, crime etc., can be overcome. +He spoke of India’s 75th anniversary of independence in 2022, and said India must resolve today, to fulfil the dreams of the freedom fighters by then. +He urged the Sadhu Vaswani Mission to join this effort, in whatever ways it can. +Dada Vaswani thanked the Prime Minister, and described him as one of the greatest leaders of the world today. +He said that initiatives launched by the Prime Minister, such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Make in India, Swachh Bharat etc. are having a visible impact. +He said India has changed a lot in three years. +He also said that not politics, but right education at the right time, is the key to nation-building. +He said we should all strive to build a nation that all Indians can be proud of. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s address: +“On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I salute determination of our Divyang sisters and brothers and convey my best wishes to them. +Let us continue our ongoing efforts with renewed vigour and create a nation where both accessibility and equality prevail”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to Railways. +Noting that a large number of complaints were related to corrupt practices of officials, he directed strictest possible action against Railway officials found guilty of corruption. +He asked the Indian Railways to work towards a unified single telephone number for all grievances and queries, including helpline in the case of an accident. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the railway, road and power sectors, spread over several states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland. +Among the projects reviewed today are: the Mumbai Metro, the Tirupati-Chennai Highway, long-pending road projects in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Manipur, and important power transmission lines in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East. +Reviewing Mission Indradhanush for universal immunization of children, the Prime Minister asked for targeted attention in strict timeframes for the 100 worst performing districts in this regard. +He said youth organizations such as NCC and Nehru Yuva Kendra could be involved in the outreach effort to ensure that no child was left without the benefit of immunization. +Reviewing the implementation of Swachhta Action Plans, the Prime Minister said that events such as Swachhta fortnights should be converted into movements towards permanent solutions. +On the AMRUT Mission, the Prime Minister asked officials to quantify and document the gains achieved through the use of latest technology, such as LED bulbs, so that the benefits could be better appreciated by one and all. +The Prime Minister urged all Secretaries of the Government of India, and all Chief Secretaries of States, to come up with concrete plans and objectives for transformative change, to be achieved by the 75th anniversary of independence in 2022. +With regard to cleanliness, he urged for maximum efforts ahead of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary by 2019. +Dr. Abdullah Abdullah recalled positively the maiden and successful visit of the Prime Minister to Afghanistan in December 2015. +He said that the visit re-energised the strategic partnership between the two countries. +He deeply appreciated the support being extended by India for infrastructure development and capacity building in Afghanistan. +Prime Minister expressed deep gratitude towards the Government and the National Security Forces of Afghanistan for their bravery and sacrifice in order to protect the Indians, especially during the attack on the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif on January 4-5, 2016. +Prime Minister reiterated India’s commitment to extend all possible support to the efforts of the Afghan people in building a peaceful, stable, prosperous, inclusive and democratic country. +The two leaders shared views on further deepening the strategic partnership, both in the bilateral and regional context. +An Agreement for visa free travel for diplomatic passport holders of the two countries was exchanged in the presence of the two leaders. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today delivered the inaugural address at the 106th session of the Indian Science Congress. +Reflecting on the theme of the event this year – ‘Future India: Science and Technology’ – the Prime Minister said that India’s true strength will be in connecting its science, technology and innovation, with its people. +He recalled the great Indian scientists of the past, including Acharyas J.C. Bose, C.V. Raman, Meghnad Saha, and S.N. Bose, and said that they served the people through “minimum resources” and “maximum struggle.” +“The life and works of hundreds of Indian Scientists are a compelling testament of integration of deep fundamental insights with technology development and nation-building. +It is through our modern temples of science that India is transforming its present and working to secure its future,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister recalled our former Prime Ministers Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri ji and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji. +He said that Shastri ji gave us the slogan: “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” while Atal ji added “Jai Vigyan” to it. +He said that now the time has come to take a step further, by adding “Jai Anusandhan.” +The Prime Minister emphasized that the pursuit of science is fulfilled through the achievement of two objectives: generation of profound or disruptive knowledge; and use of that knowledge for socio-economic good. +As we boost our discovery science ecosystem, we must also focus on innovation and start-ups, the Prime Minister said. +He said that the Government has launched the Atal Innovation Mission to promote innovation among our scientists. +More Technology Business Incubators have been established in the last four years than in the forty years before that, he added. +“Our Scientists must commit themselves to addressing problems of affordable healthcare, housing, clean air, water and energy, agricultural productivity and food processing. +While Science is universal, technology must be local for providing solutions relevant to local needs and conditions,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that big data analysis, artificial intelligence, block-chain etc should be utilised in the agricultural sector, especially to help the farmers with relatively small farm-holdings. +He urged the scientists to work towards ease of living for the people. +In this context, he mentioned issues such as drought management in low rainfall areas; early disaster warning systems; tackling malnutrition; tackling diseases among children such as encephalitis; clean energy; clean drinking water; and cyber security. +He called for time-bound solutions through research, in these areas. +The Prime Minister mentioned major achievements of Indian science in 2018, including: +• production of aviation grade biofuel; +• Divya Nayan – a machine for visually impaired; +• inexpensive devices for diagnosis of cervical cancer, TB and dengue +• a real-time landslide warning system in the Sikkim-Darjeeling region. +He said that strong pathways to commercialization, are needed to leverage our Research & Development achievements, through industrial products. +The Prime Minister called for research, which is a fusion of Arts and Humanities, Social Science, Science and Technology. +Noting that our strengths in research and development are built on the backbone of our national laboratories, central universities, IITs, IISC, TIFR and IISERs, the Prime Minister said that a strong research ecosystem must be developed in the State Universities and Colleges, as well. +He announced that the Union Government has approved a National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems with an investment of over Rs. 3600 crore. +The Mission will cover in a seamless way, R&D, Technology Development, Human resources and Skills, Innovation, Start-up Ecosystem and strong Industry and International Collaborations, he added. +Speaking on achievements in the space sector, the Prime Minister mentioned the success of Cartosat 2 and other satellites. +He said preparations are underway for sending three Indians into space, through the Gaganyaan in 2022. +He expressed happiness that research has begun to find an effective solution for sickle cell anaemia. +He said that the ‘Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council’ will help formulate appropriate Science and Technology interventions, catalyze collaborations across stakeholder Ministries and implement multi-stakeholder policy initiatives. +We have launched the ‘Prime Minister’s Research Fellows’ Scheme under which, a thousand bright minds from the best Institutions in the country will be offered direct admission in Ph.D. Programs in IITs and IISc, the Prime Minister said. +The scheme will catalyze quality research and address shortage of faculty in the premier Educational Institutions, he added. +My fellow citizens, +In a few hours, we will be ushering in the new year of 2017. +125 crore Indians will join the rest of the world, in welcoming it with new hope, new energy and new dreams. +Since Diwali, our nation has been witness to a historic rite of purification. +The patience, discipline, and resolve displayed by 125 crore Indians, will play a critical role in shaping the future of the nation for years to come. +In God’s creation, humans are endowed with fundamental goodness. +With time, the distortions of badness creep in. +People feel suffocated in a bad environment, and struggle to come out of it. +Corruption, black money, and counterfeit notes had become so rampant in India’s social fabric, that even honest people were brought to their knees. +People were forced by circumstances, in defiance of their inherent goodness. +It seemed at times, that the evils and corruptions of society, +knowingly or un – knowingly, intentionally or un- intentionally, had become a part of our daily lives. +We have lived these ideals. +125 crore Indians have shown, in their fortitude, the importance we place in truth and goodness. +This has been written on the sands of time. +Usually, when people’s movements have arisen, the people and the government have been at loggerheads. +It is historic, that both the people and the government are on the same side in this battle against evil. +You have talked to me as one of your own. +In this fight against corruption and black money, it is clear that you wish to walk shoulder to shoulder with us. +For us in Government, this is a blessing. +My effort is to take the banking system to normalcy as fast as possible in the new year. +I have asked all concerned officers in the Government to focus their attention to this task. +They have especially been told to proactively resolve the problems in rural and remote areas. +There is no precedent globally, to what India has done. +In the past few weeks, there have been many gratifying instances – it would take weeks to list them. +If we look at any big city, it would have lakhs of people with annual income of more than 10 lakh. +Do you not feel, that for the good of the country, this movement for honesty, needs to be further strengthened? +The Law will take its own course, with its full force. +It is also a bitter truth, that people have complaints of bad experiences at the hands of Government machinery, and some government officers. +This reality cannot be wished away. +No one can deny that Government officers have a greater responsibility than common citizens. +Therefore, it is the responsibility of all of us in Government, at central, state and local levels, to protect the common man, help the honest, and isolate the dishonest. +These evils have become a festering sore on society and Governments. +Demonetistion has dealt a severe blow to these trades. +Today, youth who had turned to the wrong path, are returning to the mainstream in large numbers. +If we remain vigilant, we can now save our children from returning to those evil ways of violence and cruelty. +The fact that so much of the cash in circulation has been deposited in the banking system indicates the success of this mission. +Events of the last few days indicate that escape routes for the dishonest have all been sealed. +Technology has played a big role. +Female employees too, worked till late hours as part of this mission. +Post office staff, banking correspondents- all did exceptional work. +Amid this herculean effort, some grave crimes by some officers in some banks have come to light. +Some Government officers have also committed serious offences, and tried to take advantage of the situation. +They will not be spared. +History is witness that the Indian banking system has never received such a large amount of money, in such a short time. +While respecting the autonomy of the banks, I appeal to them to move beyond their traditional priorities, and keep the poor, the lower middle class, and the middle class at the focus of their activities. +India is celebrating the centenary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay as Garib Kalyan Varsh. +Banks should also not let this opportunity slip. +They should take appropriate decisions in public interest promptly. +When policies and programmes are made with clear objectives in mind, not only are beneficiaries empowered, but both short term, and long term benefits are achieved. +Spending is carefully scrutinized, and chances of good results are maximized. +Friends, to further the principle of Sabka Saath – Sabka Vikaas, on the eve of the new year, Government is bringing some new programmes for the people. +Even so many years after independence, millions of poor do not have their own home. +When black money increased in our economy, houses became out of reach of even the middle class. +The Government has taken some major decisions to ensure homes for the poor, the neo middle class and the middle class. +Two new middle income categories have been created under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana in urban areas. +In addition to this, another scheme is being put in place for the neo middle and middle class in rural areas. +Loans of up to 2 lakh rupees taken in 2017, for new housing, or extension of housing in rural areas, will receive an interest subvention of 3 per cent. +Friends in the last few weeks, an impression was sought to be created that the agriculture sector has been destroyed. +Farmers themselves have given a fitting reply to those who were doing so. +Rabi sowing is up by 6 per cent compared to last year. +Fertilizer offtake is up by 9 per cent. +During this period, the Government has taken care to ensure that farmers do not suffer for want of access to seeds, fertilisers and credit. +Now, we have taken some more decisions in the interest of farmers. +Arrangements are being made to provide farmers even better access to loans from cooperative banks and societies. +NABARD created a fund of 21,000 crore rupees last month. +Now, Government is adding 20,000 crore rupees more to this. +The loss that NABARD suffers by giving loans to cooperative banks and societies at low interest rates, shall be borne by the Government of India. +The Government has decided, that 3 crore farmers who have Kisan Credit Cards, will be given RuPay debit cards within three months. +Kisan Credit Cards were launched in 1998, but so far, it was essential to go to a bank, to use them. +Now, farmers will have RuPay Debit Cards, which they can use anywhere. +Just as agriculture is vital for the economy, so are the medium and small scale enterprises also called the MSME sector. +Government has taken some decisions in the interest of small and medium businesses, which will also boost employment. +Government of India underwrites loans given by banks to small businesses through a trust. +So far, loans were covered upto one crore rupees. +This limit is now being enhanced to 2 crore rupees. +Earlier the scheme only covered bank loans. +Hereafter it will cover loans given by NBFCs as well. +This decision will enable better access to credit for small shop-owners and small enterprises. +Banks and NBFCs will not levy high interest on these loans, as Government of India is bearing the cost of underwriting them. +Government has also asked banks to raise the credit limit for small industry from 20 per cent of turnover to 25 per cent. +Banks have also been asked to increase working capital loans from 20 per cent of turnover to 30 per cent, for enterprises that transact digitally. +Many people connected with this sector have made cash deposits in the last few weeks. +Banks have been asked to take this into account when deciding on working capital. +A few days back, Government announced a major tax relief for small businesses. +Income of businesses with turnover of up to Rs 2 crores was calculated at 8% of the turnover. +Now, for such businesses income from digital transactions will be calculated at 6%. +This will effectively reduce their tax liability by 25%. +The progress of the MUDRA Yojana has been very encouraging. +Last year, nearly 3 and a half crore people have benefited from this. +The Government now aims to double this, giving priority to Dalits, Tribals, Backward Classes and Women. +A new scheme is being launched for pregnant women. +So far, pregnant women in 53 districts were being given financial assistance of 4000 rupees, under a pilot project. +We are initiating a scheme for senior citizens. +Banks often reduce their deposit rates, when they receive a large volume of money. +The time has now come that all political leaders and parties respect the feelings of the nation’s honest citizens, and understand the anger of the people. +It is true that from time to time, political parties have made constructive efforts to improve the system. +This is to break the endless cycle of elections, reduce election expenditure, and minimize pressure on the administrative machinery. +The time has come for this to be seriously considered and debated. +Positive change has always found space in our country. +We can now see a positive momentum towards digital transactions in India. +More and more people are transacting digitally. +Yesterday, Government has launched a new, swadeshi platform for digital transactions – named BHIM after Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. +BHIM stands for Bharat Interface for Money. +I call upon the youth, the trading community, and farmers to connect with BHIM as much as possible. +In a short time, the new year of 2017 will begin. +Exactly 100 years ago, in 1917, Mahatma Gandhi initiated a Satyagraha in Champaran. +Now, a century later, we witness that the people of India continue to share that feeling towards truth and goodness. +As we begin the centenary year of the Satyagraha, let us recall the Mahatma and resolve to follow his message of truth and goodness. +We cannot allow this fight against black money and corruption to stop or slow down. +Firmness in truth is a guarantee for success. +A country of 125 crore, with 65 per cent below the age of 35, having the means, the resources, and the capability, has no reason to stay behind. +The new dawn of the New Year, comes with the resolve of new success. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Swami Dayananda Saraswati on his birth anniversary. +“Tributes to Swami Dayananda Saraswati on his Jayanti. +His noble efforts towards social reform & education continue to have a lasting impact,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Shri Bajrang Punia for securing the Gold in Asian Wrestling Championship. +“Congratulations to Bajrang Punia for securing the Gold in Asian Wrestling Championship. +India is very proud of his exemplary accomplishment.” , the Prime Minister said. +My ministerial colleagues, Distinguished participants and guests, +I am delighted to participate in the 10th edition of Aero India. +More than 250 Indian companies and more than 300 foreign firms are here. +There are defence ministers, senior officials and hundreds of business leaders from around the world. +A big welcome to each of you! +This is the largest ever Aero India. +This reflects a new level of confidence within our country and global interest in India. +To many of you, India is a major business opportunity. +We have the reputation as the largest importer of defence equipment in the world. +Our security challenges are well known. +Our international responsibilities are evident. +We do need to increase our defence preparedness. +We do have to modernize our defence forces. +As a nation of one billion people, we also have huge requirements for managing internal security. +We are increasingly integrating technology and systems into it. +These opportunities make Aero India an important international event. +For me, this is not just a trade fair for defence equipment. +This is a mega meeting of one of the largest global supply chains, with the most advanced technology and complex equipment +And, a platform to launch India’s defence manufacturing sector. +It can boost investment, expand manufacturing, support enterprise, raise the technology level and increase economic growth in the country. +In India, the defence industry in the government sector alone employs nearly 200,000 workers and thousands of engineers and scientists. +They produce an output of nearly 7 billion dollars annually. +It also supports a very large pool of small and medium enterprises. +This is despite the fact that nearly 60% of our defence equipment continues to be imported. +And, we are spending tens of billions of dollars on acquisitions from abroad. +There are studies that show that even a 20 to 25% reduction in imports could directly create an additional 100,000 to 120,000 highly skilled jobs in India. +If we could raise the percentage of domestic procurement from 40% to 70% in the next five years, we would double the output in our defence industry. +Imagine the impact in terms of jobs created directly and in the related manufacturing and services sector! +Think of the spin off benefits on other sectors in terms of advanced materials and technologies! +That is why we are focusing on developing India`s defence industry with a sense of mission. +This is why it is at the heart of our Make in India programme. +We are reforming our defence procurement policies and procedures. +There would be a clear preference for equipment manufactured in India. +Our procurement procedures will ensure simplicity, accountability and speedy decision making. +We have raised the permitted level of Foreign Direct Investment to 49%. +This can go higher, if the project brings state-of-the art technology. +Industrial licensing requirements have been eliminated for a number of items. +Where it is needed, the process has been simplified. +We are expanding the role of private sector, even for major platforms. +Our goal is to provide a level playing field for all. +We have introduced significant reforms in our offsets policy. +I am acutely aware that it still needs a lot of improvements. +We will pursue them in consultation with domestic industry and our foreign partners. +I want our offsets policy not as a means to export low-end products, but to acquire state-of-the art technology and skills in core areas of priority. +We are introducing a scheme to provide up to 80% of funding from the Government for development of a prototype in India. +And, we are also launching a Technology Development Fund. +For too long, our research and development has been confined to government laboratories. +We must involve our scientists, soldiers, academia, industry and independent experts more closely in research and development. +Finally, we have made our export policies clearer, simpler and predictable. +But, we will also abide by the highest standards of export controls and international responsibility. +We will expand our exports, but we will ensure that our equipment and technology do not fall into the wrong hands. +India’s record in this area has been impeccable and it will remain so. +I am pleased with the positive impact of our policies. +Indian private corporations have responded with enthusiasm. +There is new excitement in our small and medium scale sector. +Many of the biggest global firms are forming strategic partnerships in India. +Some of them have already begun using India as part of their global supply chains or engineering services. +I understand that it was a day after Make in India was launched. +I am pleased to learn that the first set of parts is ready for shipment today. +But, we still need to do more. +We have to further reform our acquisition and approval processes. +We must indicate a clear roadmap of our future needs. +This must take into account not only new technology trends, but also the nature of future challenges. +We must pay attention to developing supply chains, with emphasis on innovation. +We must bridge the gap between prototype development and quality of production. +We must develop a financing system suited to the special needs of this industry. +It is a market where buyers are mainly governments, the capital investments are large and the risks are high. +We must ensure that our tax system does not discriminate against domestic manufacture in comparison to imports. +More broadly, our defence industry will succeed more if we can transform the manufacturing sector in India. +We need great infrastructure, sound business climate, clear investment policies, ease of doing business, stable and predictable tax regime, and easy access to inputs. +We need a national industry that produces advanced materials, the most sophisticated electronics and the best engineering products. +Over the last eight months, we have worked hard to create that environment for you. +Above all, we need a vast pool of highly skilled and qualified human resources for the defence industry. +Our aerospace industry alone would need about 200,000 people in another ten years. +We will set up special universities and skill development centres to cater to our defence industry, just as we have done in atomic energy and space. +I have especially invited the State Governments to come here with package of facilities to attract investments in defence manufacturing. +Distinguished guests, +This is a new era for the defence industry in India. +It will be no longer enough to buy equipment and simply assemble them here. +We have been doing this in the past, without absorbing any technology or developing our own capabilities. +In some areas, we are where we were three decades ago. +Frankly, our public sector needs to do much better than they are doing now. +We have to exploit their huge assets and a vast potential. +At the same time, we have to make them accountable. +I am confident that India will emerge as a major global centre for defence industry. +We have the basic building blocks for it in India; and, a large nation requirement. +We will build an industry that will have room for everyone – public sector, private sector and foreign firms. +From sellers, foreign firms must turn into strategic partners. +We need their technology, skills, systems integration and manufacturing strength. +The nature of industry is such that imports will always be there. +In turn, they can use India as part of their global supply chain. +Defence budgets around the world are becoming tighter. +India`s frugal but sophisticated manufacturing and engineering services sectors can help reduce costs. +Aero India can be a catalyst in realizing our goals. +That is why I am here today. +So, as we look at these wonderful aircraft and enjoy the amazing fly pasts, I also hope we can get some business done. +And, sow the seeds of successful new ventures and partnerships – to give our people new opportunities, to make our nations safer, and the world more stable and peaceful. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has directed the Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, to rush to Pune to take stock of the situation, following the landslide in Pune district. +80 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force have reached the spot for relief and rescue operations. +The Prime Minister has condoled the loss of lives in the landslide, and directed all possible efforts to help the affected people. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called upon India’s banking sector to establish banks which rank among the top banks of the world. +He was speaking at Gyan Sangam – the Bankers’ Retreat in Pune. +He said it was perhaps the first time that banks had given tasks to the Prime Minister through a presentation. +He said the Gyan Sangam reflected team spirit and a collective will to address issues. +He described Gyan Sangam as a unique initiative. +He said the objective in this bankers’ retreat was to find solutions to problems, and this was the first step towards catalyzing transformation. +He said informal discussions helped achieve meeting of minds, which in turn enabled strategic goal setting. +The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the banks in successfully implementing Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. +He said this is going to have multiple effects. +He said the Jan Dhan Yojana would help redefine goal setting among banks, due to enhanced confidence levels following the success of the programme. +The Prime Minister said 7 crore families had benefited from direct cash transfers of LPG subsidy in just three days since January 1st. +He said this represented one-third of all families India. +He said such achievements should boost confidence. +The Prime Minister said the banking sector of a country mirrors its economic rise. +Japan and China had banks in the top ten banks of the world during their economic rise. +He said the Government had no vested interest, and public sector banks can derive strength from this fact. +However, the Prime Minister said India is a democracy. +He said he is against political interference, but supports political intervention, in the interest of the people. +He said political intervention will enable the voice of the common man to reach such institutions. +The Prime Minister said this also highlighted the issue of poor financial literacy in the country. +He said today even the common man needed financial literacy. +He called upon banks to take the lead in encouraging competitions on financial literacy in schools, much like mock Parliament competitions. +The Prime Minister said banks should develop dedicated teams to fight cyber crime. +The Prime Minister said that with 81% of branches and 77% of deposits, the net profits should improve from current levels of 45%. +The Prime Minister called for developing common strengths among the 27 public sector banks. +He suggested this could be done in areas such as software, and advertising. +He gave the example of number portability in the telecom sector in this regard. +He said this would improve the customer-centric focus of banks. +The Prime Minister said public sector banks, as a team, should also be conscious of the direction in which the country is moving, and work towards simplifying procedures to facilitate the common man. +The Prime Minister also called upon banks to trust the common man. +The Prime Minister said the Swachhta Abhiyan has caught the imagination of the younger generation. +He called upon each public sector bank to help develop 20,000 to 25,000 Swachhta entrepreneurs. +He also asked banks to prioritize loans to students as this would be a very productive investment for the country. +He said the country needs skill development for its youth in a big way, and banks need to take the lead in this. +The Prime Minister asked public sector banks to set goals for the 75th anniversary of independence in the country in 2022. +He said he had resolved to provide housing for all by 2022, and banks had a huge opportunity here, as 11 crore houses were required. +The Prime Minister said banks should redefine parameters for success. +For instance, let them prioritize loans to enterprises which will generate more employment, he said. +The Prime Minister called for an end to lazy banking, and asked banks to take on a proactive role in helping the common man. +The Prime Minister said that as part of Corporate Social Responsibility, banks should take up one sector each year to play a positive role. +Governor of Maharashtra Shri Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, MoS Finance Shri Jayant Sinha, RBI Governor Shri Raghuram Rajan, and Secretary Financial Services Shri Hasmukh Adhia were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Shri Balraj Madhok. +“Balraj Madhok ji’s ideological commitment was strong and clarity of thought immense. +He was selflessly devoted to the nation and society. +Had the good fortune of interacting with Balraj Madhok ji on many occasions. +His demise is saddening. +Condolences to his family. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the People’s Republic of China on cooperation in the field of mining and mineral sector. +The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will provide an institutional mechanism between India and the People’s Republic of China on cooperation in the field of mining and mineral sector. +The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will help in exchange of information on resources, laws and policy; organization of seminars to exchange views on development strategies; encouragement of transfer of technologies and promotion of value addition. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today expressed anger at self-styled “gau-rakshaks” (cow-protectors) who “run shops in the name of cow protection,” and urged action against criminals who masquerade as protectors of the cow. +Mentioning how cows were dying due to plastic consumption, he urged all those who were genuinely concerned about the welfare of cows to devote their efforts to ensuring that cows do not consume plastic. +The Prime Minister answered a range of questions on various subjects such as good governance, foreign policy, and participatory democracy. +He said that the spirit of democracy is incomplete if one thinks the citizen’s role stops at voting. +Participative democracy is essential, he emphasized. +He said ‘last mile delivery’ is as important as policies, and the benefits must reach the intended beneficiaries. +He said good governance means those processes that are redundant do not exist. +Grievance redressal systems are the biggest strengths of a democracy, he added. +Shri Narendra Modi said if there is one sector that can power the economy, it is agriculture. +Mentioning the Rurban Mission, the Prime Minister said that his vision was to provide modern amenities to the rural areas, while retaining the soul of villages. +On the subject of handloom, the Prime Minister described “Khadi for Nation, Khadi for Fashion” as one of the principles that could serve as a guide for the people. +The Prime Minister described “India First” as the central theme of his foreign policy. +He said the Indian diaspora has played a key role in connecting India with other nations. +The Prime Minister also touched upon the subjects of healthcare and tourism in the course of his interaction, which lasted for about 100 minutes. +The Prime Minister launched a new PMO App, and also met the young contributors who had helped develop this App. +PMO to monitor big projects +The Prime Minister today said big projects involving large investment would be monitored by the Prime Minister`s Office. +After listening to suggestions made by these business leaders, the Prime Minister said the solutions to most of the issues mentioned would be found through three things: +He mentioned the importance of investment in the infrastructure sector, especially in the Railways. +The Prime Minister also mentioned his mantra of skill, scale and speed, and said he keeps states on board while taking decisions. +Total completion cost of the project is Rs.5,503 crore. +Metro rail connection between NOIDA and Greater NOIDA will result into people being assured about their mobility and thus more people will like to move to these satellite towns of Delhi, thus decongesting Delhi. +As a result, more residential and commercial complexes will develop in this region. +With metro rail in place, there will be less vehicular traffic on roads leading to less congestion, less time and cost of journey, less consumption of fossil fuel and less environmental pollution. +Project will be implemented by Noida Metro Rail Corporation Limited, which will be a 50:50 jointly owned company of Govt. of India and Govt. of Uttar Pradesh. +The existing Noida Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL) which is a State owned Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be converted into a joint SPV of Government of India (Gol) and Government of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP), for implementation of the project. +The project would generate significant direct and indirect employment of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workforce. +Substantial indirect employment will also be generated during construction and operation phases. +The project is scheduled to be completed by April, 2018 as per the Detailed Project Report (DPR). +About 70% progress of civil work and 40% of overall financial progress of the project have been achieved. +Project will be covered under the legal framework of Central Metro Acts, Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978 and the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, as amended from time to time. +The Noida city, located in Gautam Buddha Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh State, was created under the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Area Development Act. +It possesses all modern amenities and is considered to be one of the most modern suburbs of Delhi in the National Capital Region (NCR). +The population of Noida and Greater Noida as per 2011 Census of India is about 7,50,000 and is projected to grow to 19,00,000 by the year 2021. +People from Delhi and surrounding area are preferring NOIDA for settlement. +Noida has a potential of about 10,000 industrial units and presently about 7,500 are developed and functional. +Noida provides employment to over 2,00,000 in the region with these industrial units. +Noida mainly has road linkages with Delhi and the adjoining areas of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana State. +While settlements have started coming up in Greater Noida, it is still in the developing stage and needs greater connectivity with Noida and Delhi. +Considering the relatively lower costs of housing at Greater Noida, people prefer staying in Greater Noida and commute to Noida / Delhi for employment. +Greater Noida also mainly depends on road linkages for intra city traffic and connection with Noida and Delhi. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended a function at Parliament House, for the unveiling and demonstration of a retrofit electric bus. +The bus has been converted from a diesel bus to a battery-operated electric bus. +This is an initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, to provide clean, pollution-free transport for Members of Parliament. +The Prime Minister briefly visited the bus, and handed over the key of the bus to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Smt. +The Prime Minister recalled the recent CoP-21 Summit at Paris, and talked about two significant initiatives taken there. +The other was the creation of the International Solar Alliance of countries blessed with abundant sunlight. +The Headquarters of this alliance will be in Delhi, the Prime Minister said. +In this context, the Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, in the launch of this bus. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has saluted the bravery of our policemen on Police Commemoration Day. +“On Police Commemoration Day we salute all the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives, putting service above themselves. +Words can never describe the valour and dedication of our policemen. +Their bravery, service and spirit of sacrifice will always inspire us,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for revision of pay scales for about 8 lakh teachers and other equivalent academic staff in higher educational institutions under the purview of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and in Centrally Funded Technical Institutions, following implementation of the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission for Central Government employees. +The decision will benefit 7.58 lakh teachers and equivalent academic staff in the 106 Universities / Colleges which are funded by the UGC/MHRD and also 329 Universities which are funded by State Governments and 12,912 Govt. and private aided colleges affiliated to State Public Universities. +The approved pay scales would be applicable from 1.1.2016. +The annual Central financial liability on account of this measure would be about Rs. 9,800 crore. +The implementation of this pay revision will enhance the teachers’ pay in the range of Rs. 10,400 and Rs. 49,800 as against the extant entry pay due to the implementation of the 6th Central Pay Commission for the pay of teachers. +This revision would register an entry pay growth in the range of 22% to 28 %. +For the State Govt. funded institutions, the revised pay scales will require adoption by the respective State Governments. +The Central Government will bear the additional burden of the States on account of revision of pay scales. +The measures proposed in the revised pay structure are expected to improve quality of higher education and also attract and retain talent. +Senior PMO officials welcomed and received Shri Narendra Modi, when he arrived at the Prime Minister’s Office in South Block. +PM Modi pays tribute to former President Kalam, calls him his marg darshak who epitomised values of self-restraint, sacrifice and compassion. +President Kalam’s vision for the Nation was anchored in freedom, development and strength: PM Modi +Dr. Kalam uniquely combined the honesty of a child with the energy of a teenager and the maturity of an adult: PM +His profound idealism was secure because it rested on a foundation of realism. +Every child of deprivation is a realist. +Poverty does not encourage illusions. +But Kalamji refused to be defeated by circumstances. +He said that he would not be presumptuous enough to say that his life could be a role model for anybody; but if some poor child living in an obscure and underprivileged social setting found some solace in the way his destiny had been shaped, it could perhaps help such children liberate themselves from the bondage of illusory backwardness and helplessness. +His character, commitment and inspirational vision shine through his life. +He was unencumbered by ego; flattery left him cold. +He was equally at ease before an audience of suave, globe-trotting ministers and a class of young students. +A man of deep faith, he epitomised the three great virtues of our civilization: dama, self-restraint; dana, sacrifice; and daya, compassion. +But this persona was powered by the fire of endeavour. +His vision for the Nation was anchored in freedom, development and strength. +He wanted India to leap out of the under-developed trough, and eliminate the curse of poverty through inclusive economic growth. +The third pillar, strength, was not born of aggression, but of understanding. +An insecure nation will rarely discover the route to prosperity. +Strength commands respect. +His contributions in our nuclear and space achievements have given India the muscle to be confident of her place in the region and the world. +His memory is best honoured by the creation of new institutions that nurture science and technology, and enable us to find a beneficial equation with the awesome power of nature. +Too often, greed makes us predators of our environment. +Kalamji saw poetry in a tree, and energy that could be harnessed in water, wind and sun. +We should learn to look at our world through his eyes, and with the same missionary zeal. +Human beings can shape their lives through will, persistence, ability and sheer courage. +But we have not been given the right to script where we are born, or how and when we die. +However, if Kalamji had been offered an option, this is how he would perhaps have chosen to say goodbye: on his feet, and in front of a classroom of his beloved students. +He saw the future, and showed the way. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated people of Chennai on inclusion of Chennai in UNESCO creative Cities Network. +The Prime Minister said, “Congratulations to the people of Chennai on the city’s inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for its rich musical tradition. +Chennai’s contribution to our rich culture is precious. +This is a proud moment for India.” +Policy opens a big window for private investments: PPP component must for getting Central assistance +The policy opens a big window for private investments across a range of metro operations making PPP component mandatory for availing central assistance for new metro projects. +Private investment and other innovative forms of financing of metro projects have been made compulsory to meet the huge resource demand for capital intensive high capacity metro projects. +States, proposing new metro projects will be required to indicate in project report the proposals and investments that would be made for such services. +Seeking to ensure that least cost mass transit mode is selected for public transport, the new policy mandates Alternate Analysis, requiring evaluation of other modes of mass transit like BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System), Light Rail Transit, Tramways, Metro Rail and Regional Rail in terms of demand, capacity, cost and ease of implementation. +Taking note of substantial social, economic and environmental gains of metro projects, the Policy stipulated a shift from the present ‘Financial Internal Rate of Return of 8%’ to ‘Economic Internal Rate of Return of 14%’ for approving metro projects, in line with global practices. +Noting that urban mass transit projects should not merely be seen as urban transport projects but more as urban transformation projects, the new policy mandates Transit Oriented Development (TOD) to promote compact and dense urban development along metro corridors since TOD reduces travel distances besides enabling efficient land use in urban areas. +Under the policy, States need to adopt innovative mechanisms like Value Capture Financing tools to mobilize resources for financing metro projects by capturing a share of increase in the asset values through ‘Betterment Levy’. +States would also be required to enable low cost debt capital through issuance of corporate bonds for metro projects. +States are also required to commit to accord all required permissions and approvals. +The new policy empowers States to make rules and regulations and set up permanent Fare Fixation Authority for timely revision of fares. +States can take up metro projects exercising any of the three options for availing central assistance. +These include; PPP with central assistance under the Viability Gap Funding scheme of the Ministry of Finance, Grant by Government of India under which 10% of the project cost will be given as lump sum central assistance and 50:50 Equity sharing model between central and state governments. +Under all these options, private participation, however, is mandatory. +1. Cost plus fee contract: Private operator is paid a monthly/annual payment for O&M of system. +This can have a fixed and variable component depending on the quality of service. +Operational and revenue risk is borne by the owner. +2. Gross Cost Contract: Private operator is paid a fixed sum for the duration of the contract. +Operator to bear the O&M risk while the owner bears the revenue risk. +3. Net Cost Contract: Operator collects the complete revenue generated for the services provided. +If revenue generation is below the O&M cost, the owner may agree to compensate. +Metro Projects with a total length of 537 kms are in progress in 13 cities including the eight mentioned above. +New cities acquiring metro services are; Hyderabad (71 kms), Nagpur (38 kms), Ahmedabad (36 kms), Pune (31.25 kms) and Lucknow (23 kms). +Metro projects with a total length of 595 kms in 13 cities including 10 new cities are at various stages of planning and appraisal. +These are; Delhi Metro Phase IV- 103.93 km, Delhi & NCR-21.10 km, Vijayawada-26.03 km, Visakhapatnam-42.55 km, Bhopal-27.87 km, Indore-31.55 km, Kochi Metro Phase II-11.20 km, Greater Chandigarh Region Metro Project-37.56 km, Patna-27.88 km, Guwahati-61 km, Varanasi-29.24 km, Thiruvananthapuram & Kozhikode (Light Rail Transport)-35.12 km and Chennai Phase II-107.50 km. +The President of Russia, Mr. Vladimir Putin hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a tete-e-tete at the Kremlin, on Wednesday evening. +President Putin presented to the Prime Minister a page from the diary of Mahatma Gandhi. +The page contains Gandhiji’s handwritten notes. +President Putin also gifted to the Prime Minister, a late-eighteenth century Indian sword from Bengal province. +The sword features intricate silver artwork. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today spent nearly ninety minutes in close interaction with young school children in his constituency, Varanasi. +At a primary school in Narur village, he was greeted enthusiastically by school children on arrival. +He too, greeted the children on Vishwakarma Jayanti, and said it is important to learn various skills. +As students, it is vital to ask questions, the Prime Minister said. +He exhorted the young students to never feel afraid to ask questions. +He exhorted them to study hard and develop a keen interest in sports as well. +Late in the evening, the Prime Minister drove through the streets of Varanasi, evaluating the development of the city. +He stopped at Kashi Vishwanath Temple for a few minutes to offer prayers. +He also made a surprise visit to the Manduadih Railway Station. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has accorded its approval today for creation of a non-lapsable pool in the Public Account for secondary and higher, education known as “Madhyamik and Uchchtar Shiksha Kosh” (MUSK) into which all proceeds of “Secondary and Higher Education Cess” will be credited. +The funds arising from the MUSK would be utilized for schemes in the education sector which would be available for the benefit of students of secondary and higher education, all over the country. +However, the Ministry of Human Resources Development can allocate funds for any future programme/scheme of secondary and higher education, based on the requirement, as per prescribed procedure, +(iii) In any financial year, the expenditure on ongoing schemes of the Department of School Education & Literacy and Department of Higher Education would be initially incurred from the gross budgetary support (GBS) and the expenditure would be financed from the MUSK only after the GBS is exhausted. +(iv) The MUSK would be maintained as a Reserve Fund in the non-interest bearing section of the Public Accounts of India. +The major benefit will be enhancing access to secondary and higher education through availability of adequate resources, while ensuring that the amount does not lapse at the end of financial year. +1. Accruals into the proposed non-lapsable fund will be made available for expansion of secondary education and higher education. +2. For Secondary Education:Presently, the Ministry of Human Resources Development envisages that the accruals from the Cess would be utilized in the secondary education for: +• ongoing Rashtriya Madhyamik Shlksha Abhiyan Scheme and other approved programmes including: +• National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme and +• National Scheme for Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education. +3. For Higher Education:the accruals would be utilized for: +• ongoing Schemes of Interest Subsidy and contribution for guarantee funds, Scholarship for College & University Students; +• Scholarship (from Block Grant to the institutions) and National Mission on Teachers and Training. +However, the Ministry of Human Resources Development can allocate funds for any programme/scheme of secondary and higher education, based on the requirement & prescribed procedure. +The purpose of levying cess for secondary and higher education is to provide adequate resources for secondary and higher education. +The fund would be operationalised as per the present arrangements under Prarambhik Shiksha Kosh (PSK) wherein the proceeds of cess are used for Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Schemes of the Department of School Education & Literacy. +A need was felt to give a similar fillip to the effort of the Central Government in universalizing access to secondary education and expanding the reach of the higher education sector. +(iii) In July, 2010, a draft cabinet note was circulated by the HRD Ministry wherein it was proposed to create a non-lapsable fund in the Public Account called “Madhyamik and Uchchatar Shiksha Kosh” (MUSK) as a receptacle for the proceeds of the Secondary and Higher Education Cess. +The views of concerned Ministries viz the then Planning Commission, Ministry of North Eastern Region, and Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance were sought in this regard. +The Department of Economic Affairs did not agree to the proposal on the grounds that the Budget allocations for the schemes of Secondary Education and Higher Education have been far more than the amount of 1% cess collected. +Therefore, the amount of the cess collected is deemed to have been fully allocated for the schemes of Secondary and Higher Education in the respective financial years. +Hence, funds on account of 1% cess for the past period are not available now for allocation. +(iv) Subsequently, the HRD Ministry sought the approval of the Department of Economic Affairs for revisiting the issue of creation of “Madhyamik and Uchchatar Shiksha Kosh” (MUSK) on 11th February, 2016. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has urged all eligible voters on the occasion of National Voters’ Day to register themselves and use their right to vote to strengthen the democracy. +“Greetings to everyone on National Voters’ Day. +Congratulations to the Election Commission of India, which was founded on this day. +I urge all the eligible voters, particularly youngsters, to register themselves and strengthen our democracy with their participation. +The power of a vote is immense”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi ji and Lal Bahadur Shastri ji, on their birth anniversary. +Gandhi ji’s thoughts and beliefs remain a great inspiration for us. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAESA) for cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. +The MoU would result in setting up a Joint Working Group with members from ISRO and UAESA, which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementing this MoU. +Promoting space cooperation between India and UAE was highlighted during the visit of Prime Minister of India to UAE in August 2015 and also at the 11th meeting of India-UAE Joint Commission for Economic and Technical Cooperation held at New Delhi in September 2015. +Subsequently, a delegation from UAESA visited ISRO technical facilities on September 16, 2015 and discussed on the avenues of building space cooperation including signing of a MoU. +Accordingly, ISRO and UAESA, considering their mutual interest in expanding the applications of space technology for peaceful purposes signed a MoU in New Delhi on February 11, 2016. +The Maternity Benefit Program will provide compensation for the wage loss in terms of cash incentives so that the women can take adequate rest before and after delivery and not be deprived of proper nutrition. +The total cost of the proposal for the period from 01.01.2017 to 31.03.2020 including Central and State Government share isRs.12,661crore. +Government of India’s share during the period 01.01.2017 to 31.03.2020 comes to around Rs. 7932 crore. +Objective of the Scheme +i) To provide partial compensation for the wage loss in terms of cash incentives so that the woman can take adequate rest before and after delivery of the first living child. +ii) The cash incentives provided would lead to improved health seeking behaviour amongst the Pregnant Women and Lactating Mother (PW&LM) to reduce the effects of under-nutrition namely stunting, wasting and other related problems. +All eligible Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW&LM), excluding the Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers who are in regular employment with the Central Government or State Government or Public Sector Undertakings or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being. +It has been decided to give the benefit of Rs.5000/- to PW&LM in three installment for the birth of the first live child by MWCD and the remaining cash incentive as per approved norms towards Maternity Benefit under existing programmes after institutional delivery so that on an average, a woman will get ₹ 6000/-. +Conditions and installments +Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers who are eligible will receive a cash benefit of Rs.5,000/- in three installment at the following stages as specified in the table given below: +· Early Registration of Pregnancy. +Second installment +· Received at least one antenatal Check-up (after 6 months of pregnancy) +· Child birth is registered. +· Child has received first cycle of BCG, OPV, DPT and Hepatitis-B or its equivalent/substitute. +The eligible beneficiaries would continue to receive the remaining cash incentive as per approved norms towards Maternity Benefit under existing programmes after institutional delivery so that on an average, a woman will get ₹ 6000/-. +Mode of cash transfer to the Beneficiaries +The conditional cash transfer scheme would be in DBT mode. +The Government of India is committed to ensure that every woman gets adequate support and health care during pregnancy and at the time of delivery and every newborn is immunized on time which is the foundation for better health of the mother and the newborn. +The improved health care seeking behaviour of the PW&LM would lead to better health status for the mother and the child. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Kabul. +The Prime Minister also expressed solidarity with the people and government of Afghanistan in their fight against terrorism. +“Strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Kabul. +My heart goes out to the victim’s families. +We stand in solidarity with people and government of Afghanistan in their fight against terrorism.” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, today visited the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. +The two leaders spent a few minutes at Hriday Kunj in the Ashram, where President Jinping operated the charkha. (spinning wheel) +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Nepal on Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and precursor chemicals and related matters. +The MoU lists out the areas of cooperation on drug matters between the two countries. +It also indicates the mechanism of information exchange and the competent authorities in the two countries who are responsible for the implementation of the MoU and exchange of any information. +Cooperation on drug matters is expected to curb the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals in the two countries. +The MoU provides that the Parties shall endeavour to: – +(i) develop mutual cooperation with a view to effectively resolving the issue of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, cooperate in drug demand reduction through prevention, awareness, education and community based programmes, treatment and rehabilitation; and +India has always supported global efforts to counter drug trafficking and is party to several multilateral and bilateral initiatives in this regard as also United Nations (UN) led initiatives. +In accordance with the spirit of UN Conventions on Narcotic Drugs, effort is made to enter into Bilateral Agreements/MoUs with neighbouring countries and the countries which have a direct bearing on the drug situation prevailing in our country. +Such Bilateral Agreements/ MoUs have already been executed with various countries. +The proposed MoU with Nepal is another such MoU which shall be entered for the purpose of bilateral cooperation on drug matters. +Every HIV infected or affected person below the age of 18 years has the right to reside in a shared household and enjoy the facilities of the household. +The Bill also prohibits any individual from publishing information or advocating feelings of hatred against HIV positive persons and those living with them. +The Bill also provides for Guardianship for minors. +A person between the age of 12 to 18 years who has sufficient maturity in understanding and managing the affairs of his HIV or AIDS affected family shall be competent to act as a guardian of another sibling below 18 years of age to be applicable in the matters relating to admission to educational establishments, operating bank accounts, managing property, care and treatment, amongst others. +Establishments keeping records of information of HIV positive persons shall adopt data protection measures. +According to the Bill, the Central and State governments shall take measures to: +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed in March, 2018 between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Institut National de la Santeet de la RechercheMedicale (INSERM), France. +The MoU aims at cooperation in areas of common interest within the medical, life sciences and health research fields. +Based on scientific excellence on both sides, the parties have agreed to have a specific focus upon: +The MoU will further strengthen relations between ICMR and INSERM within the framework of international scientific and technological cooperation in fields of mutual interest. +The scientific excellence on two sides will help to successfully work on health research in specified areas. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post-facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Italy on cooperation in the field of Health and Medical Sciences. +The MoU was signed on 29th November, 2017 in New Delhi. +The MoU covers the following areas of cooperation:- +1. Exchange & training of medical doctors, officials, other health professionals and experts; +2. Assistance in development of human resources and setting up of health care facilities; +3. Short term training of human resources in health; +4. Regulation of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics and exchange of information thereon; +5. Promotion of business development opportunities in pharmaceuticals; +6. Procurement of generic and essential drugs and assistance in sourcing of drug supplies; +7. Procurement of health equipment and pharmaceutical products; +10. Nutritional aspects of food intake, including malnutrition (over nutrition and undernutrition) in the light of the SDG2 and organization of nutritional services; +11. Safety of production, transformation, distribution and food delivery; +12. Research and training of food industry operators; +13. Information and communication to citizens on hygiene and food safety and healthy eating habits; and +14. Any other area of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon. +A Joint Working Group (JWG) will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). +Most Venerable Sayadaw Dr. Asin Nyanissara, Founder Chancellor, Sitagu International Buddhist Academy, Myanmar; +Her Excellency Mrs Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, former President of Sri Lanka; +Mr. Minoru Kiuchi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan; +My Ministerial colleague Dr Mahesh Sharma and Kiren Rijiju ji; +General N.C. Vij, Director Vivekananda International Foundation; +Distinguished religious and spiritual leaders, Venerables from the Maha Sangha, Dharma Gurus, +I am delighted to be here, at the inauguration of Samvad, the Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative on Conflict Avoidance and Environment Consciousness. +This is truly an esteemed gathering of spiritual leaders, scholars and leaders from several countries of the world where Buddhism is a prevalent way of life. +It is a matter of immense happiness that this conference is being held in India, including in Bodh Gaya. +India is the ideal venue to host a symposium of this nature. +We in India are proud of the fact that it was from this land that Gautama Buddha gave the world the tenets of Buddhism. +The life of Gautama Buddha illustrates the power of service, compassion and, most importantly, renunciation. +He was born into privilege. +The hardships he faced were relatively fewer. +Yet, with age grew a distinct consciousness about human suffering, about illness, about old age and about death. +He was convinced that material wealth is not the sole goal. +Human conflicts repulsed him. +And then, he set out, on the path to create a peaceful and compassionate society. +Gautam Buddha was a revolutionary. +He nurtured a faith where a human being is at the core, nothing else. +The innermost being of man manifests godliness. +In three words, Appa Deepo Bhavah (अप्प दीपो भव) or be your own light, Gautam Buddha gave humanity the greatest management lesson. +Nothing pained him more than mindless conflict that caused human suffering. +Non-violence was integral to his worldview. +The message and teachings of Gautama Buddha resonate loudly and clearly with the major themes chosen for this symposium– the themes of avoiding conflicts, moving towards environmental consciousness and a concept of free and frank dialogue. +The three themes may appear independent but they are not mutually exclusive. +Infact, they are mutually dependent and supportive. +The conflict in the first theme is among humans, religions, communities and nation-states, also between non-state actors and states, and even the world. +Intolerant non-state actors now control large territories where they are unleashing barbaric violence on innocent people. +The second conflict is between nature and man, between nature and development, and also between nature and science. +These types of conflicts call for dialogue to bring about conflict avoidance – not just ‘give and take’ conflict resolution negotiations as what is happening today. +Ethical values of personal restraint in consumption and environmental consciousness are deeply rooted in Asian philosophical traditions, especially in Hinduism and Buddhism. +Buddhism, along with other faiths, such as Confucianism, Taoism and Shintoism, has undertaken greater responsibility to protect the environment. +Hinduism and Buddhism with their well-defined treatises on Mother Earth can help examine the changes in approach that need to be made. +Climate change is a pressing global challenge. +It calls for a collective human action and a comprehensive response. +In India, faith and Nature have had a deep link since ancient times. +Buddhism and environment are deeply co-related. +The Buddhist tradition, in all of its historical and cultural manifestations, encourages greater identification with the Natural world because from a Buddhist perspective nothing has a separate existence. +The impurities in the environment affect the mind, and the impurities of mind also pollute the environment. +In order to purify the environment, we have to purify the mind. +The eco crisis, in fact, is a reflection of imbalance of mind. +The nature, forests, trees and the well-being of all beings play a great role in the teachings of Lord Buddha. +In my book I have shared my experiences of dealing with climate change as the Chief Minister. +Personally, it is my reading of Vedic literature that educated me about the strong bond between humans and Mother Nature. +We are all aware of Mahatma Gandhi’s Doctrine of Trusteeship. +In this context, I want to say that we, the present generation, have the responsibility to act as a trustee of the rich natural wealth for the future generations. +The issue is not merely about climate change; it is about climate justice. +Again I repeat is not the issue of climate change, it is about climate justice. +In my view, the most adversely affected by climate change are the poor and the downtrodden. +When a natural disaster strikes, they are hit the hardest. +We can’t let climate change keep affecting people in this manner. +Which is why I believe the discourse must shift focus from climate change to climate justice. +The third theme — promotion of dialogue – calls for a shift from ideological approach to a philosophic one. +Without proper dialogue, neither of the two themes of conflict avoidance is possible, or workable. +The severe limitations in our conflict resolution mechanisms are becoming more and more obvious. +We need significant, collective and strategic efforts to prevent bloodshed and violence. +It is, thus, no surprise that the world is taking note of Buddhism. +This is also a recognition of the historical Asian traditions and values, which can be used to shift the paradigm to conflict avoidance, to move from the path of ideology to philosophy. +It is necessary to inform the world about the need to shift from ideology — whether religious or secular — to philosophy. +When I spoke at the Unite Nations last year, I briefly mentioned that the world needs to shift from ideological approach to philosophic approach. +A day later when I addressed the Council for Foreign Relations, I expanded on this concept a little more. +Thus, Hindu and Buddhist religions are in that sense more philosophies and not just belief systems. +It is my firm belief that the solution to all problems lies in dialogue. +Earlier, it was believed that force indicates power. +Now, power must come through the strength of ideas and the effective dialogue. +We have seen the adverse effects of war. +The first half of the 20th century was witness to the horrors of two world wars. +Now, nature of warfare is changing and the dangers are increasing. +What took a hundred thousand men or a prolonged battle can now happen through the click of a button, in a span of minutes. +All of us here have a cardinal duty to ensure that our future generations lead a life of peace, dignity and mutual respect. +We need to sow the seeds of a conflict-free world and, in this endeavour, faiths of Buddhism and Hinduism have a great contribution. +When we talk about dialogue, what kind of dialogue should it be? +It is dialogue which produces no anger or retribution. +One of the greatest examples of such dialogue was the one between Adi Sankara and Mandana Mishra. +It is worth recalling and describing this ancient example for our modern times. +Adi Sankara, a vedantic who did not give high marks for rituals, was a young man, while Mandana Mishra was an elderly scholar and high ritualist who believed even in animal sacrifice. +Adi Sankara wanted to establish through dialogue and debate with the highest authority on ritualism and that rituals were not necessary for attaining Mukti, while Mandana Mishra wanted to prove that Sankara was wrong in dismissing rituals. +This was how, in ancient India, debates on sensitive issues between scholars avoided such issues being settled in streets. +Adi Sankara and Mandana Mishra held a debate and Sankara won. +But the more important point is not the debate itself but how was the debate was conducted. +It is a fascinating story that will ever remain one of the highest forms of debate for all times for humanity. +It was agreed that if Mandana Mishra lost, he would cease to be a householder (gruhasta) and accept sanyasa. +If Adi Sankara lost, he would give up his sanyasa and marry and settle down as householder or in gruhasta life. +Mandana Mishra, a high scholar, offered to Adi Sankara, who was young and therefore Mishra considered unequal, to choose a referee of his choice. +Adi Sankara chose Mandana Mishra’s wife, a scholar herself, as the referee! +If Mandana Mishra lost, she would lose her husband! +But see what she did! +Because if one gets angry, the body will develop heat, and, as a result, the garland flowers will lose their freshness in that heat. +Anger within is a sign of defeat. +On this logic, Mandana Mishra was declared as having lost the debate! +And he accepted sanyas and became a disciple of Sankara. +This demonstrates the vitality of dialogue and that too dialogue without anger or conflict. +Today, in this august gathering, we are people of different Nationalities, with different lifestyles, but what binds us is the fact that the roots of our civilisations are in our shared philosophies, history and heritage. +Buddhism and Buddhist heritage have been a uniting and binding factor. +They say that this century is going to be an Asian Century . +I am very clear that without embracing the path and ideals shown by Gautam Buddha, this century cannot be an Asian century! +I see Lord Buddha doing to our collective spiritual well-being what global trade did to our collective economic well-being and the digital internet did to our collective intellectual well-being. +I see Lord Buddha in the 21st Century across national borders, across faith systems, across political ideologies, playing the role of a bridge to promote understanding to counsel patience and to enlighten us with tolerance and empathy. +You are visiting a nation that is extremely proud of its Buddhist heritage. +My hometown of Vadnagar in Gujarat is one of the many sites where Buddhist relics were found and was one of the places visited by Chinese traveller and chronicler, Xuanzang. +The SAARC region is home to the holy sites of Buddhism; Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar. +These sites draw pilgrims from ASEAN Nations, as also from China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia and Russia. +My Government is doing everything possible to give an impetus to this Buddhist heritage across India, and India is taking the lead in boosting the Buddhist heritage across Asia. +This three-day meet is one such effort. +I hope the next three days are full of vibrant and rich discussions, and we are able to sit together and think about the way ahead towards peace, conflict resolution and a clean and green world. +I look forward to seeing you in Bodh Gaya the day after. +PM announces package of relief measures for cyclone affected States +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and interacted with people, including fishermen and farmers, affected by Cyclone Ockhi, during a visit to the cyclone affected areas of Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. +In the course of the day, the Prime Minister interacted with people in Kavaratti, and Kanyakumari. +He also visited Punthura village near Thiruvananthapuram, which is one of the villages that faced the impact of the cyclone. +People explained to him, the hardships faced by them on account of the cyclone. +The Prime Minister assured the people that all help will be provided to them and that the Union Government stands shoulder to shoulder with them in this hour of crisis. +The Prime Minister held separate detailed review meetings on the current situation and relief measures, at Kavaratti, Kanyakumari and Thiruvananthapuram. +The Governors, Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, and Administrator of Lakshadweep along with senior officials were present at the respective meetings. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government will support the cyclone-affected States through a package of relief measures. +· The Centre will dispatch immediate financial assistance worth Rs. 325 crore to cater to the requirements of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep. +· The financial assistance announced by the Prime Minister today, is over and above the assistance of Rs. 280 crore to Tamil Nadu, and Rs. 76 crore to Kerala, disbursed earlier this month, after Cyclone Ockhi hit the two States/UTs. +· The Government of India will support the reconstruction of approximately 1400 houses fully damaged due to Cyclone Ockhi, on priority, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). +Under this programme, each beneficiary will get upto Rs. 1.5 lakh as support for building a new house. +· Insurance companies have also been advised to pay the insurance claims of people affected by Ockhi cyclone expeditiously. +The Prime Minister was informed that the surveillance was carried out even beyond 700 nautical miles from the shore. +Mr. Bernhard Gerwert, CEO, Airbus Defence and Space, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +They discussed various projects in India, in the aerospace, defence and civil aviation sectors. +Mr. Gerwert recalled the Prime Minister’s visit to the Airbus manufacturing facility in Toulouse, in April, and the positive atmosphere and interest generated as a result of it. +He expressed Airbus’s keen interest in becoming a partner in the “Make in India” initiative, through a cluster approach with regional partners. +The Prime Minister welcomed the interest shown by Airbus, in India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will address the inaugural session of Advantage Assam – Global Investors Summit 2018, in Guwahati tomorrow. +The two-day Summit will be the largest ever investment promotion and facilitation initiative by the Government of Assam. +The Summit aims at highlighting the geo-strategic advantages offered to investors by Assam. +The event shall showcase the manufacturing prowess and the opportunities offered by the State in terms of export-oriented manufacturing and services to growing economies in South and South-East Asia. +The Summit will highlight investment opportunities in the State, focusing on: Power, Agriculture & Food Processing, IT & ITeS, River Transport & Port Townships, Plastics & Petrochemicals, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Equipment, Handloom, Textiles & Handicrafts, Tourism, Hospitality & Wellness, Civil Aviation and Petroleum and Natural Gas. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Shri Kalikho Pul. +“My thoughts are with the family and supporters of Kalikho Pul on his sad demise. +His service to Arunachal Pradesh will be remembered”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO on the successful launch of India’s communication satellite, GSAT-18. +“Congratulations to ISRO for successfully launching the communication satellite, GSAT-18. +This is another milestone for our space programme”, the Prime Minister said. +Distinguished members of the Russian and Indian delegations, +Excellency Putin, I am aware of your deep affection for India. +Ours is a truly privileged and unique relationship. +Since the last two Annual Summits, the journey of our partnership has seen renewed focus and drive. +President Putin and I have just concluded an extensive and useful conversation on the entire spectrum of our engagement. +They also help us achieve the objectives of Make in India. +We have also agreed to work on an annual military industrial conference that will allow stakeholders on both sides to institute and push collaboration. +These projects are new chapters in a long history of strong and diverse defence partnership that both sides can take much pride in. +We are also undertaking a joint study of a gas pipeline route between our two countries. +A combination of robust civil nuclear cooperation, LNG sourcing, partnership in the Oil and Gas sector, and engagement in renewables can construct a promising ‘Energy Bridge’ between our two countries. +With an eye on the future, we also agreed to set up a Science and Technology Commission. +Through this our societies will reap the benefits of joint development, transfer and sharing of cutting edge technologies in different fields. +The Green Corridor and the International North South Transport Corridor will serve to strengthen trade facilitation, logistical links and ensure better connectivity between our countries. +Our efforts for early setting up of the Investment Fund of US Dollars 1 billion between National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and Russia Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) will help advance our infrastructure partnership. +We also want our economic linkages to connect the regions and states in both countries. +The success of this Summit shines a spotlight on the abiding strength of India-Russia strategic partnership. +It also highlights our strong convergence of views and positions on pressing international and regional issues. +Russia’s clear stand on the need to combat terrorism mirrors our own. +As we approach the seventieth (70th) anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic ties next year, India and Russia are celebrating and building on the achievements of our past. +We are working to model a partnership that befits our common ambition and meets our shared goals for the twenty-first (21st) century. +As one would say it in Russian: +[India and Russia-together to a bright future.] +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for extension of the validity of the existing Central Orders dated 28.09.2015 in respect of edible oils and edible oilseeds and Central Order No. +The main objective of the decision is to enable the State Governments to issue control orders with the prior concurrence of Central Government, for fixing stock limits/licensing requirements in respect of pulses, oilseeds and edible oils, whenever need is felt by them. +This is expected to help in the efforts being taken to improve the availability of these commodities to general public especially the vulnerable sections and control the tendencies of hoarding and profiteering. +Vide Central Government’s Order dated 15.2.2002, certain categories of foodstuffs were removed from the licensing, stock limits and movement restrictions. +From time to time thereafter, Government has been issuing notifications with the approval of the Cabinet, amending/keeping in abeyance the operation of the 2002 Order, whenever there is any abnormal price rise in any of the specified food commodities, for certain period. +Restrictions regarding pulses were first imposed in August 2006 and are extended from time to time. +Oils and oilseeds were added later in April, 2008 and the same were extended from time to time. +The validity of the current Order is expiring on 30.9.2016 seeking further extension considering the prevailing current situation. +Name of MoUs/Agreements +MoU on Defence Cooperation +Purpose of the MoU is to promote cooperation between India and Jordan in the field of Defence by defining the scope of such cooperation and making provisions for implementation of the cooperation in some of the recognized areas like training; defence industry; counter-terrorism; military studies; cyber security; military medical services, peace-keeping etc. +Visa waiver for diplomatic and official passport holders +This Agreement provides for permitting the diplomats and Official passport holders of India and Jordan to enter into, exit and transit through the territory of each other without requirement of visa. +Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) +Manpower Cooperation Agreement +This MoU provides for cooperation between India and Jordan with a view to promote best practices in the administration of the cycle of contract employment of the Indian nationals in Jordan. +MoU for cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine between India and Jordan +MoU for setting up of the next generation Centre of Excellence (COE) in Jordan +Purpose is to set up next generation Centre of Excellence (COE) in Jordan for training of minimum 3000 Jordanian IT professionals over a period of 5 years, and setting up of resource centre in India for Training of Master trainers in IT field from Jordan. +MoU for long term supply of Rock Phosphate and Fertilizer/NPK +Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement +This Agreement provides for mutual assistance between India and Jordan to ensure proper application of the customs legislations in the two countries to prevent custom offences and for smooth exchange of accurate information regarding custom duties, taxes, fees and other charges levied by custom administration. +Twining Agreement between Agra and Petra (Jordan) +By this Agreement, the two municipalities of Agra and Petra pronounced to work jointly for promotion of social relations by identifying the activities for mutual cooperation in tourism, culture, sports and economic sectors. +Cooperation between Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and Jordan Media Institute (JMI) +The purpose of this MoU is development of joint projects between the two institutes; joint organization of academic and scientific activities, and; exchange of staff, students and materials of common interest. +MoU between PrasarBharati and Jordan TV +This MoU provides for cooperation between PrasarBharati and Jordan Radio and TV Corporation to cooperate in the fields of exchange and co-production of programs, training of personnel and further coordination. +MoU between University of Jordan (UJ) and ICCR regarding setting up of a Hindi Chair at the University +This MoU lays down the basis and other conditions for cooperation between ICCR and UJ in establishment and functioning of the ICCR Chair for Hindi language in UJ. +He will unveil several development projects there. +PM will flag off the first ever Diesel to Electric Converted Locomotive at Diesel Locomotive Works in Varanasi. +He will also inspect the locomotive and visit the exhibition. +Diesel Locomotive Works has converted two WDG3A Diesel Locos into a Twin Electric WAGC3 loco of 10,000 HP. +A complete ‘Make in India’ initiative, the conversion is an Indian R&D innovation for the entire world. +The converted locos will result in less Green House Gas emissions and better efficient locomotives for the Indian Railways. +He will also address the gathering. +PM will inaugurate the newly constructed Madan Mohan Malviya Cancer Centre of Banaras Hindu University. +The hospital will bring comprehensive yet affordable cancer care to patients in UP, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttarakhand and, even, neighbouring countries like Nepal. +Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital Lehartara will also be inaugurated by PM. +With the inauguration of both cancer hospitals, Varanasi is set to become an important centre for quality treatment and care in Cancer related ailments. +Prime Minister Modi will dedicate first new Bhabhatron with precision technology (Multi Leaf Collimator), to the nation. +He will unveil the statue of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and murals of Varanasi Ghats in BHU. +He will also interact with the beneficiaries of PM-JAY Ayushman Bharat at BHU. +Thereafter, At Aaure village in Varanasi, PM will inaugurate a number of development projects, aimed at boosting health and other sectors in Varanasi and nearby areas. +He will distribute certificates to beneficiaries of various schemes. +He will also distribute aid and assistive devices to Divyangans. +PM will later address the gathering. +• Launches Integrated Power Development Scheme. +• Lays Foundation Stone for road and power projects. +• Dedicates Trauma Centre, BHU to the Nation. +• Inaugurates Passenger Reservation Facility at Ramnagar Post Office. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) from Varanasi. +He also laid the Foundation Stone for road and power projects and dedicated to the nation (via remote) the Trauma Centre at Banaras Hindu University. +He inaugurated a Passenger Reservation Facility at Ramnagar Post Office (via remote). +The Prime Minister remarked that the city of Varanasi, which had for long, given the light of knowledge (Gyaan Prakash) to India was now symbolically giving the light of energy (Urja Prakash) to India, as IPDS was being launched nationwide today from Varanasi. +He said the various elements of today’s function including road, power, and health projects, were all aimed at development, and facilitating pilgrims and tourists. +The Prime Minister said the antiquated electricity network of Varanasi would be completely rejuvenated through IPDS, in keeping with the stature of this heritage city. +He said this issue would be resolved across urban India through the IPDS. +The Prime Minister spoke of the need to fulfil the dreams of the freedom fighters by the 75th year of independence in 2022. +He said one of the key elements towards fulfilling their vision of India would be to provide electricity for all, at all times, across India. +He asked the people of Varanasi to bless him for this mission. +The Prime Minister said the youth of Varanasi, including women, had responded to his call of Swachh Bharat, and it was beginning to reflect on the Ghats of the city. +Referring to the ongoing issues of Shiksha Mitras in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister urged them to keep courage, and added that once the relevant court order was available, he would himself discuss the matter with the Uttar Pradesh government in his capacity as an MP. +The Prime Minister said that in addition to the public sector and private sector, the ‘personal’ sector, including small and medium entrepreneurs, was an important engine of economic growth and employment, and therefore he was focusing on it through initiatives such as Mudra Bank and skill development. +The Governor of Uttar Pradesh Shri Ram Naik and Union MoS (Independent Charge) for Power Shri Piyush Goyal were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has expressed his grief over the loss of lives in the militant attacks on tribals in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts of Assam. +He has sanctioned ex-gratia of Rs.2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs.50000/- to seriously injured persons from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. +Rs.86 lakhs is being released to State Government from PMNRF. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of the Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Manohar Parrikar. +The Prime Minister said, “ Shri Manohar Parrikar was an unparalleled leader. +A true patriot and exceptional administrator, he was admired by all. +His impeccable service to the nation will be remembered by generations. +Deeply saddened by his demise. +Condolences to his family and supporters. +Shri Manohar Parrikar was the builder of modern Goa. +Thanks to his affable personality and accessible nature, he remained the preferred leader of the state for years. +His pro-people policies ensured Goa scales remarkable heights of progress. +India will be eternally grateful to Shri Manohar Parrikar for his tenure as our Defence Minister. +When he was RM, India witnessed a series of decisions that enhanced India’s security capacities, boosted indigenous defence production and bettered the lives of ex-servicemen”. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) with Capital Markets Authority (CMA), Kuwait for mutual co-operation and technical assistance. +The MoU is likely to promote further development of economic links and cooperation between the two regulators, and aims at creating conditions for an effective development of securities markets in the two countries. +It would also contribute towards strengthening the information sharing framework between the two. +It is expected to add value to overseas mutual cooperation and regulation activities of SEBI and CMA, Kuwait. +The President of the Russian Federation H.E. Mr. Vladimir V. Putin called Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on phone today. +The Prime Minister thanked President Putin for Russia’s steadfast support for India’s efforts to protect its interests against cross-border terror attacks, and renewed India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in countering terrorism as a pillar of privileged and special strategic partnership. +Both leaders agreed that the concerned should stop all support to terrorism. +Both the leaders also agreed that the growing cooperation between the two countries will take their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership from strength to strength. +President Putin reiterated the invitation to the Prime Minister to attend the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok later this year. +The Prime Minister welcomed the invitation and underscored the significance of growing economic cooperation, including in the Russian Far East, between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, spoke to the Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi, over telephone this evening, and reviewed the situation arising out of the stampede in Gandhi Maidan in Patna. +The Prime Minister has condoled the loss of lives in the incident. +He has sanctioned Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 for the critically injured, from the Prime Minister`s National Relief Fund. +Budget Session is very important. +Entire global community is very much optimistic about the Indian economy. +It comes at a time when the world is looking at us, be it the Global Credit rating agencies, World Bank, IMF which have been very positive in their opinion about the growth of India and the road ahead. +The past experience shows that in those deliberations the national interest is above the political interests. +Cutting across party line even the MPs from the ruling party highlights its short comings while the members of opposition highlight its salient feature. +In a way it provides for a healthy environment and atmosphere for debate and discussion. +In the all party meeting yesterday I have urged that we should take maximum help of the debate in the committees and to ensure that how we can ensure that the common man is benefited most from the Budget. +President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank +Other Dignitaries on the dais +Distinguished Delegates from India and abroad +Ladies and Gentlemen +I am happy to be here in Mumbai, for the Third Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. +We are happy to have this opportunity to deepen our engagement with the bank and its members. +AIIB started its financing operations in January 2016. +It is poised to play a critical role in Asia. +The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is a result of collaborative efforts of Asian countries to provide a better tomorrow to our people. +As developing countries, we share similar challenges. +One of them is to find resources for provision of infrastructure. +I am happy that the theme of this year’s Meeting is “Mobilizing Finance for Infrastructure: Innovation and Collaboration”. +Investments by AIIB in sustainable infrastructure can impact the lives of billions of people. +Asia still faces wide ranging disparities in access to education, healthcare, financial services and formal employment opportunities. +Regional multi-lateralism through institutions such as AIIB can play a central role in helping to raise resources. +Sectors such as energy and power, transportation, telecom, rural infrastructure, agriculture development, water supply and sanitation, environment protection, urban development, and logistics require long term funds. +The interest rates on these funds need to be affordable and sustainable. +In a short period, AIIB has approved 25 projects in a dozen countries with a total financing of over 4 billion US Dollars. +This is a good beginning. +With committed capital of 100 billion dollars and huge need for infrastructure in member countries, I take this opportunity to call upon AIIB to expand from financing 4 billion dollars, to 40 billion dollars by 2020 and 100 billion dollars by 2025. +This would require simpler processing, and faster approval. +It would also need high quality projects and robust project proposals. +I believe that India and AIIB are both strongly committed to making economic growth more inclusive and sustainable. +In India, we are applying novel Public Private Partnership models, Infrastructure Debt Funds, and Infrastructure Investment Trusts to fund infrastructure. +India is trying to develop brownfield assets as a separate asset class for infrastructure investment. +Such assets, having passed the stages of land acquisition and environment and forest clearances, are relatively de-risked. +Hence, for such assets, institutional investment from pension, insurance and sovereign wealth funds are likely to be more forthcoming. +Another initiative, is the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. +This aims to channel investments from both domestic and international sources into infrastructure. +This Fund has received a boost with AIIB committing 200 million US Dollars for investment. +India is one of the most investor-friendly economies in the world. +Investors look for growth and macro-economic stability. +They want political stability and a supportive regulatory framework to ensure protection of their investment. +From the point of larger scale of operations and higher value addition, an investor is also attracted by a large domestic market size, availability of skilled labour and good physical infrastructure. +On each of these parameters, India is well placed and has performed very well. +Let me share with you, some of our experiences and achievements. +India has emerged as a bright spot in the global economy which is driving global growth as well. +With a size of 2.8 trillion US Dollars, it is the seventh largest in the world. +It is the third largest in terms of purchasing power parity. +In the fourth quarter of 2017, we grew at 7.7 per cent. +In 2018, we are projected to grow at 7.4 per cent. +Our macro-economic fundamentals are strong with stable prices, a robust external sector and a fiscal situation firmly in control. +Despite rising oil prices, inflation is within the mandated range. +The Government is firmly committed to the path of fiscal consolidation. +Government debt as percentage of GDP is consistently declining. +India has achieved a rating upgrade after a long wait. +The external sector remains robust. +Our foreign exchange reserves of more than 400 billion US dollars provide us enough cushion. +As per UNCTAD’s World Investment Report, India continues to be one of the top FDI destinations in the world. +From the point of a foreign investor, India counts as an extremely low risk political economy. +The Government has taken a number of steps to boost investment. +We have simplified rules and regulations for businesses and undertaken bold reforms. +We have provided investors an environment which is efficient, transparent, reliable and predictable. +We have liberalized the FDI regime. +Today, most sectors are on automatic approval route. +The Goods and Services Tax is one of the most significant systemic reforms that our country has undergone. +It works on the One Nation – One Tax principle. +It reduces tax cascading, increases transparency, and adds to logistics efficiency. +All of this makes it easier for the investor to do business in India. +These and other changes have been noticed by the global fraternity. +India has jumped 42 places in three years to enter the top hundred in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report 2018. +The size and growth of the Indian market hold much potential. +India’s per capita income has doubled in the last ten years. +We have over 300 million middle class consumers. +This number is expected to double in the next ten years. +The size and scale of requirement in India gives the added advantage of economies of scale for investors. +For example, the housing programme in India targets ten million houses in urban areas. +This would be more than the total requirement of a lot of countries taken together. +Therefore the use of new technology in house construction would have added advantage, if tried in India. +Another example of scale would be the Renewable Energy Programme in India. +We have set a target to construct capacity of 175 Giga Watt of renewable energy by the year 2022. +We have added more capacity to renewable energy than conventional energy in 2017. +We are also making collaborative efforts to mainstream solar energy in the form of an International Solar Alliance. +The founding conference of the Alliance was held in New Delhi earlier this year. +The Alliance aims at a solar capacity of 1000 Giga Watt with an investment of one trillion US Dollars by 2030. +India is working on e-mobility. +The challenge before us is of technology, particularly with respect to storage. +We will be hosting a global mobility conference this year. +I hope that this will help us in moving forward. +In India, we are upgrading connectivity at all levels. +The Bharatmala scheme is aimed at improving road connectivity by constructing national corridors and highways. +The Sagarmala project has been undertaken for boosting port connectivity, port modernization and port-linked industries. +Dedicated Freight Corridors are being developed to mitigate the congestion of our railway network. +The Jal Marg Vikas project would augment capacity of navigation on National Waterways for internal trade carried through inland water transport. +Our UDAN scheme works towards regional airport development and improved air connectivity. +While we talk about the conventional concept of infrastructure, I must mention some of the modern day infrastructure on which India has worked. +Bharat Net is targeted at providing last mile internet connectivity in the country. +India has over 460 million internet users and 1.2 billion mobile phones in use. +We are promoting the use of digital payments. +Our United Payments Interface system or UPI along with BHIM App and RuPay Card has shown the true potential of digital economy in India. +Through the UMANG App, more than 100 public services have been made available to the citizens through their mobile phone. +Our Digital India Mission aims to bridge the rural-urban digital divide. +Agriculture is the lifeline of the Indian economy. +We are promoting investments in warehouses and cold chains, food processing, crop insurance and allied activities. +We are promoting micro-irrigation to ensure optimal use of water with increased productivity. +I would like AIIB to look into potential investment opportunities in this field and associate with us. +We aim to provide every poor and homeless household a house with toilet, water and electricity by the year 2022. +We are also looking at various strategies for effective waste management. +We have also recently launched Ayushman Bharat, our National Health Protection Mission. +This will provide a benefit cover of over 7000 dollars annually to more than 100 million poor and vulnerable families. +The resulting expansion of health care facilities will lead to the creation of a large number of jobs. +This will also promote the production of high quality medicines, consumables and other medical technology equipment. +Jobs will also be created for ancillary activities including call centres, research and evaluation and IEC activities. +The entire healthcare industry will receive a boost. +Moreover, with the Government assuring healthcare benefits, the savings of a family, can now be better used for other consumption and investment. +This increased disposable income in the hands of a poor family would lead to increased demand in the economy. +I see great untapped potential in this for investors. +The Indian story of economic resurgence closely mirrors that of many other parts of Asia. +Now, the continent finds itself at the centre of global economic activity. +It has become the main growth engine of the world. +In fact, we are now living through what many have termed the ‘Asian Century’. +A ‘New India’ is rising. +It is an India that stands on the pillars of economic opportunity for all, knowledge economy, holistic development, and futuristic, resilient and digital infrastructure. +We look forward to our continued engagement with our development partners including AIIB. +In conclusion, I hope that the interactions in this forum will be fruitful and enriching for all. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Revalidation of permission to raise Extra Budgetary Resource (EBRs) of Rs. 660 crore as Government of India Bonds by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in 2017-18. +The proceeds from the bonds will be utilized by IWAI for development and maintenance of National Waterways (NWs) under National Waterways Act, 2016 (effective from 12.4.2016). +Funds received through issue of bonds will be used exclusively for capital expenditure to improve infrastructure funding. +The investment to be undertaken for development of NWs on identified projects in 2017-18 is estimated to be approximately Rs. 2412.50 crore. +The World Bank has sanctioned a loan of USD 375 million for Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on 12.04.2017. +During 2017-18, out of estimated expenditure of Rs.1715 crore for JMVP, it is expected that the World Bank would remit a loan amount of Rs. 857.50 crore. +Accordingly, the total requirement of funds in 2017-18 is Rs. 2412.50 crore. +During the year 2016-17, IWAI was allocated a sum of Rs. 296.60 crore for creation of capital assets which has been reduced to Rs.228 crore in BE, 2017-18. +Raising bonds is intended to bridge this gap. +The principal and interest in respect of the EBRs worth Rs. 660 crore shall be financed by the Government of India by making suitable budgetary provisions in the Demand of the Ministry of Shipping to meet the bond servicing requirements as and when the need arises. +The interest payment will be on semi-annual basis and the principal on maturity. +The whole exercise would be undertaken by IWAI through appointment of lead managers and coordination with SEBI. +Funds will be released in 02 tranches keeping the size to get attractive yield from the borrowers. +Borrowing in the last quarter of the year 2017-18, especially during the last two months of the year 2017-18 would be avoided. +Gross budgetary support from the Government of India and external financial support for funding development and maintenance of 106 new National Waterways under National Waterway Act, 2016, is grossly inadequate. +There is, therefore, dire need for revalidation of permission to raise EBRs of balance amount of Rs 660 crore (Rs. 1000 cr – Rs. 340 crore raised and utilized during 2016-17). +In his budget speech, 2016-17, the Hon’ble Finance Minister announced as under: +In accordance with this announcement, IWAI was allowed to issue infrastructure bonds worth Rs.1000 crore for the first time during 2016-17. +As it was their maiden effort, they could succeed to raise Rs.340 crore on 01.03.2017 through e-bidding for development of inland waterways and shipping infrastructure during 2016-17 at coupon rate of 7.9 per cent. +Amendments to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its ex-post facto approval for amendments to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 by introducing the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Parliament. +The maternity benefit Act 1961 protects the employment of women during the time of her maternity and entitles her of a ‘maternity benefit’ – i.e. full paid absence from work – to take care for her child. +The act is applicable to all establishments employing 10 or more persons. +The amendments will help 1.8 million (approx.) women workforce in organised sector. +The amendments to Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 are as follows: +• Increase Maternity Benefit from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for two surviving children and 12 weeks for more than two childern. +• 12 weeks Maternity Benefit to a ‘Commissioning mother’ and ‘Adopting mother’. +• Maternal care to the Child during early childhood – crucial for growth and development of the child. +• The 44th, 45th and 46th Indian Labour Conference recommended enhancement of Maternity Benefits to 24 weeks. +• Ministry of Women & Child Development proposed to enhance Maternity Benefit to 8 months. +• In Tripartite consultations, all stake holders, in general supported the amendment proposal. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on the occasion of his birth anniversary. +He is truly the architect of Modern India,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Leander Paes and Martina Hingis, on winning the mixed doubles title at US Open. +“Well played again, Leander Paes and Martina Hingis. +Congrats on a great win. +We are all very delighted”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the setting up of Medical College at Silvassa in the Union Territory (UT) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. +The project will be completed by 2019-20 and the construction and capital expenditure will be incurred as per the norms of Medical Council of India (MCI) norms and extant guidelines of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. +The annual recurring expenditure for the Medical College shall be managed within the budget provision for the UT. +Creation of 21 regular posts of 14 (JS) level and above (including teaching and non-teaching) out of 357 regular posts which were recommended by the Committee on Establishment Expenditure (CEE). +The approval will increase the availability of doctors and address the issue of shortage of doctors.. +It will enhance medical education opportunities to students of the two UTs. +It will also result in optimal utilization of the existing infrastructure of district hospitals and improve tertiary care facilities for the people of the two UTs and adjoining areas. +The Medical College will benefit the students, especially those of tribal and rural areas of the two UTs, which will promote social equity. +Health equity will be promoted by provision of better services through improvement in the strength of doctors in the UTs. +President Hollande, Excellencies, industry leaders, +To my long cherished dream of an international alliance of solar-rich countries, President Hollande responded with keen interest and immediate and full offer of support. +This is the inaugural day of a defining global conference on climate change. +For his support at every step, and his decision to co-chair the launch, I am deeply grateful. +Just as positive was his response to the idea of a book of quotations on Nature from the world to remind us all of our timeless wisdom. +I am honoured to co-author the preface with him. +Since ancient times, different civilizations have given a special place to Sun. +In the Indian tradition, Sun is the source of all forms of energy. +As Rig Veda says, Sun God is the Soul of all beings, moving and non-moving. +Many in India begin their day with a prayer to the Sun. +It will mean advanced countries leaving enough carbon space for developing countries to grow. +That is natural climate justice. +It also means a growth path with lighter carbon footprint. +So, convergence between economy, ecology and energy should define our future. +The vast majority of humanity is blessed with generous sunlight round the year. +Yet, many are also without any source of power. +This is why this alliance is so important. +We want to bring solar energy into our lives and homes, by making it cheaper, more reliable and easier to connect to grid. +We will collaborate on research and innovation. +We will share knowledge and exchange best practices. +We will cooperate on training and building institutions. +We will discuss regulatory issues and promote common standards. +We will attract investments in the solar sector, encourage joint ventures and develop innovative financing mechanisms. +We will partner with other international initiatives on renewable energy. +There is already a revolution in solar energy. +Technology is evolving, costs are coming down and grid connectivity is improving. +It is making the dream of universal access to clean energy become more real. +India has a capacity of 4GW and we have set a target of adding 100 GW of solar power by 2022. +By the end of next year, we would have added another 12 GW. +I am delighted with the industry response. +As you put clean energy within the reach of all, it will create unlimited economic opportunities that will be the foundation of the new economy of this century. +This is an alliance that brings together developed and developing countries, governments and industries, laboratories and institutions, in a common enterprise. +India will be pleased to host this initiative at the premises of our National Institute of Solar Energy. +We will provide land and contribute approximately 30 million U.S. dollars to build the Secretariat infrastructure. +We will support operations for five years, and together we will raise long terms funds to achieve our prescribed goals. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), India and National Agency for Drug and Food Control (BPOM), Indonesia on cooperation in the field of pharmaceutical products, pharmaceutical substances, biological product and cosmetics regulatory functions. +The MoU was on signed on 29th May, 2018 in Jakarta. +The MoU is expected to forge better understanding about each other’s regulatory requirements and would be beneficial to both the countries. +It could also facilitate India’s export of pharmaceutical products. +It will also establish a framework for fruitful cooperation and exchange of information between the two countries in matters relating to Pharmaceutical products regulation on the basis for equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit. +Further, it will facilitate better understanding between the regulatory authorities of the two countries. +The BPOM regulates these products in Indonesia. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has wished all doctors and Chartered Accountants on Doctor’s Day and CA Day, respectively. +“Here’s wishing all doctors and CAs on Doctor’s Day and CA Day respectively. +Both have key role to play in societal wellbeing,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Environment Minister, Shri Anil Madhav Dave. +“Absolutely shocked by the sudden demise of my friend and a very respected colleague, Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave ji. +Anil Madhav Dave ji will be remembered as a devoted public servant. +He was tremendously passionate towards conserving the environment. +I was with Anil Madhav Dave ji till late last evening, discussing key policy issues. +This demise is a personal loss”, the Prime Minister said. +End financial untouchability for freedom from poverty. +“Vish-chakra se gareebon ki aazadi ka parv” – celebration of liberation of the poor from a poisonous cycle. +A record unprecedented in economic history – 1.5 crore bank accounts opened in one day. +Formally launching the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) at a function broadcast across the nation from Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, the Prime Minister described the occasion as a festival to celebrate the liberation of the poor from a poisonous cycle. +“Never before would insurance companies have issued 1.5 crore accident insurance policies in a single day. +Never before in economic history would 1.5 crore bank accounts have been opened in a single day. +Never before has the Government of India organized a programme of such scale – over 77,000 locations – with the participation of so many Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, Government and bank officials.” +He said the success is an inspiration for achieving new heights. +The Prime Minister said that though the initial target of PMJDY was to open bank accounts for 7.5 crore families in one year, he had exhorted the concerned officials to complete the task before the next Republic Day. +He said the account performance would be monitored and overdraft facility would be given. +The Prime Minister said he had sent 7.25 lakh bank employees, exhorting them to help reach the target of 7.5 crore bank accounts, and bring freedom from financial untouchability. +He said they knew that there could be no bigger festival than the opening of a bank account for empowering women. +The Prime Minister said when banks were nationalized in 1969, it was done with the objective of bringing people into the economic mainstream. +But that objective had not been achieved till date. +After 68 years of independence, not even 68% of India’s population had access to banking, he added. +Is it not the responsibility of the banking industry to provide banking access to the poor, the Prime Minister asked. +The Prime Minister illustrated his point through the example of a mother saving money and being forced to hide it somewhere within the house. +He said the bank officials who had opened an account for such a mother, had been blessed today. +He said a breakthrough was required to overcome the vicious cycle of poverty and debt, and that breakthrough had been achieved today. +He said there were similarities between the poor getting access to mobile telephones, and getting access to debit cards. +They both had the effect of instilling confidence and pride among the poor, he added. +“This Government has accepted this responsibility,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said Indians had a habit of saving, and thinking about the future of their children. +The Prime Minister also distributed awards to winners of the Name and Logo contest for this scheme. +He observed that those who won prizes were predominantly from non-Hindi speaking states, but had won prizes for coining a name and slogan in Hindi. +This is an example of national integration, he said. +Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister said PMJDY would be taken forward in Mission Mode, and the first target of reaching 7.5 crore unbanked families would be achieved by January 26th, 2015. +She said this scheme would touch the lives of everyone in a positive and constructive way. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved National Policy on Biofuels – 2018. +Taking this into account, the Policy allows use of surplus food grains for production of ethanol for blending with petrol with the approval of National Biofuel Coordination Committee. +5. The Policy encourages setting up of supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel production from non-edible oilseeds, Used Cooking Oil, short gestation crops. +Expected Benefits: +• Reduce Import Dependency: One crore lit of E10 saves Rs.28 crore of forex at current rates. +The ethanol supply year 2017-18 is likely to see a supply of around 150 crore litres of ethanol which will result in savings of over Rs.4000 crore of forex. +• Cleaner Environment: One crore lit of E-10 saves around 20,000 ton of CO2 emissions. +For the ethanol supply year 2017-18, there will be lesser emissions of CO2 to the tune of 30 lakh ton. +By reducing crop burning & conversion of agricultural residues/wastes to biofuels there will be further reduction in Green House Gas emissions. +• Health benefits: Prolonged reuse of Cooking Oil for preparing food, particularly in deep-frying is a potential health hazard and can lead to many diseases. +Used Cooking Oil is a potential feedstock for biodiesel and its use for making biodiesel will prevent diversion of used cooking oil in the food industry. +• MSW Management: It is estimated that, annually 62 MMT of Municipal Solid Waste gets generated in India. +There are technologies available which can convert waste/plastic, MSW to drop in fuels. +One ton of such waste has the potential to provide around 20% of drop in fuels. +• Infrastructural Investment in Rural Areas: It is estimated that, one 100klpd bio refinery will require around Rs.800 crore capital investment. +At present Oil Marketing Companies are in the process of setting up twelve 2G bio refineries with an investment of around Rs.10,000 crore. +Further addition of 2G bio refineries across the Country will spur infrastructural investment in the rural areas. +• Employment Generation: One 100klpd 2G bio refinery can contribute 1200 jobs in Plant Operations, Village Level Entrepreneurs and Supply Chain Management. +• Additional Income to Farmers: By adopting 2G technologies, agricultural residues/waste which otherwise are burnt by the farmers can be converted to ethanol and can fetch a price for these waste if a market is developed for the same. +Also, farmers are at a risk of not getting appropriate price for their produce during the surplus production phase. +Thus conversion of surplus grains and agricultural biomass can help in price stabilization. +In order to promote biofuels in the country, a National Policy on Biofuels was made by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy during the year 2009. +Biofuels in India are of strategic importance as it augers well with the ongoing initiatives of the Government such as Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill Development and offers great opportunity to integrate with the ambitious targets of doubling of Farmers Income, Import Reduction, Employment Generation, Waste to Wealth Creation. +Biofuels programme in India has been largely impacted due to the sustained and quantum non-availability of domestic feedstock for biofuel production which needs to be addressed. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and France in the field of energy efficiency / energy conservation. +The MoU was signed on 17th October 2018. +The MoUis a Science and Technology agreement, which involves knowledge exchange and cooperation in the nature of technical assistance only. +The MoU is expected to take forward information exchange on policies, programmes and technologies relating to enhanced energy efficiency and demand side management. +The MoU will lead to awareness creation on energy efficiency. +Development of tools for collection, use and analysis of CO2 emissions and GHG data for tracking global emissions for INDC. +It will promote Research and Development, and demonstration of energy efficient technologies. +Development of sustainable mobility with specific focus on electric transport. +Speaking on the occasion, he said that the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was an apt occasion for such an event. +He said Mahatma Gandhi had left India, but the call of the nation brought him back. +He said the Indian diaspora should be looked at, not just in terms of its numbers, but also in terms of its strength. +He said that for years the term “brain drain” has been in vogue. +But if we look at the diaspora as our strength we can convert it this to “brain gain.” +The Prime Minister said that at a time when the world is keen to engage with India, the “fear of the unknown” can be the biggest obstacle, which the Indian diaspora can help overcome. +Emphasizing the importance of connecting with the diaspora, he said former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had initiated the concept of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which has been continued by successive governments. +The Prime Minister said that India, and especially the Ministry of External Affairs, has done significant humanitarian work in the last two years. +He noted how not just Indians, but citizens of many other countries have been rescued from conflict and disaster situations. +The Prime Minister said that India has never attacked another nation. +He recalled the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers protecting foreign lands in the two world wars, and added that the world must recognize this sacrifice. +On the occasion, the Prime Minister also visited the exhibition on “Gandhi – Ek Pravasi.” +He launched a booklet on Yoga Protocol for Diabetes control, and distributed prizes to winners of the ‘Know India’ Quiz. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today stressed on the importance of “women-led development,” in his address at the valedictory session of the National Conference of Women Legislators, in the Central Hall of Parliament. +The Prime Minister said we must think beyond “women development,” and move towards “women-led development.” +The Prime Minister said multi-tasking, which is considered to be a very important element of modern-day management, comes naturally to women. +The Prime Minister urged the women legislators to engage with their constituents using technology. +He described his own experience in this regard, and spoke of the enriching thoughts and views he has been receiving through the MyGov platform and Narendra Modi App. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted BIMSTEC nations on the 20th anniversary of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). +“Today is a special day- we mark the 20th anniversary of BIMSTEC. +My greetings to all BIMSTEC nations. +BIMSTEC is a natural platform for regional cooperation. +The commitment to peace and development connects the BIMSTEC family”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval today for signing of an agreement between India and Egypt on Maritime Transport. +The Agreement would be signed on a mutually convenient date and venue. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today complimented and thanked all sections of the Lok Sabha, for the consensus which led to the unanimous election of Shri Thambi Durai as Deputy Speaker. +The Prime Minister also congratulated Shri Thambi Durai on his election as Deputy Speaker. +Appreciating the incumbent Deputy Speaker, Shri Thambi Durai, the Prime Minister described him as a highly experienced and active Parliamentarian. +He said Shri Thambi Durai had been Deputy Speaker earlier as well. +The Prime Minister also described Shri Thambi Durai as an academician, activist and agriculturist. +The Prime Minister assured Shri Thambi Durai full support for the functioning of the House, on behalf of the treasury benches. +He also expressed confidence that Shri Thambi Durai`s election as Deputy Speaker would further the spirit of dialogue that had prevailed in the ongoing session of Parliament. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, laid the foundation stone through video conferencing, to mark the commencement of work for City Gas Distribution(CGD), awarded under the 9th CGD bidding round, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. +He also launched the 10th CGD bidding round. +Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister said that the work for setting up City Gas Distribution network has started in 129 districts, under the 9th round of CGD bidding. +Stressing that the nation is now moving towards Gas Based Economy, Prime Minister said the Union Government is paying attention towards all dimensions of Gas Based Economy. +Shri Modi pointed out the various steps taken by the Union Government to strengthen the Gas infrastructure in the country,especially increasing the number of LNG terminals, creating nation-wide Gas Grid and creation of City Gas Distribution Network. +Explaining the role of Gas Based Economy in moving towards Clean Energy, Prime Minister said that CGD network will play a major role in achieving Clean Energy solutions. +He further added that the Union Government’s efforts towards Clean Energy are broad based. +In this context, he mentioned various Clean Energy initiatives of the Union Government like Ethanol Blending, Compressed Bio Gas plants, increased LPG coverage and introduction of BS-6 fuels for automobiles. +The Prime Minister said that more than twelve crore LPG connections were provided in the last four years. +He mentioned that Gas networks in cities create a new ecosystem, one that enables gas based industries, generates employment to youth and provides ease of living to citizens. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its ex-post facto approval to the Agreement on the facilitation of visa arrangements signed between India and Maldives signed in December, 2018. +The Agreement provides for 90-day visa free travel for tourism, medical and limited business purpose and also provides for easy conversion of such visa free entry to medical visa as well as visas for dependents of students and those pursuing employment in each other’s territories. +Fulfilling the Government’s commitment to improve spectral efficiency and quality of service, which is very essential to fulfill the dream of Digital India, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval to the guidelines on spectrum sharing, arising from the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). +Leasing of spectrum will not be permitted. +(i). where both sharing entities possess spectrum for which market price has been paid with clarification in respect of spectrum in 800 MHz acquired in the auction held in March 2013, sharing of spectrum shall be permitted only if differential of latest auction price and March 2013 auction price on pro-rata basis on the balance period of right to use the spectrum is paid. +(ii). where both sharing entities are having administratively allotted spectrum. +(iii). where one sharing entity has spectrum acquired through auction or liberalized spectrum and the other has spectrum allotted administratively, sharing shall be permitted only after spectrum charges for liberalizing the administratively allocated spectrum are paid. +g) Both licensees will be individually and collectively responsible for complying with sharing guidelines, including interference norms. +Guided by the principle of “ease of doing business”, the Cabinet also decided that both licensees sharing the spectrum shall jointly give a prior intimation for sharing the right to use the spectrum at least 45 days before the proposed effective date of the sharing. +Both the licensees shall also give an undertaking that they are in compliance with all terms and conditions of the guidelines for spectrum sharing and licence conditions, and will agree that in the event it is established at any stage in the future, that either of the licensee was not in conformance with the terms and conditions of the guidelines for spectrum sharing or/and of the licence, at the time of giving intimation for sharing of right to use the spectrum, the Government will have the right to take appropriate action which among other things may include annulment of sharing arrangement. +Historically, in most countries, the Government used to decide the procedure for allocation of spectrum. +The telecom sector being a capital intensive sector, normally such assignments are made for a long period. +In the last decade, a number of countries have adopted the market mechanism for spectrum assignment. +In India spectrum assignment, earlier by and large through administrative allocation procedure and from 2010 onwards through auction process, is made for a period of 20 years. +During this period of 20 years, some operators are able to acquire subscribers and grow at a faster rate as compared to other operators. +This results in spectrum lying unutilised with some of the players, while other operators face spectrum crunch as spectrum is a scare resource. +Thus, on the one hand spectrum, which is a limited natural resource, remains unutilised while on the other hand consumers suffer due to poor quality of services on account of spectrum crunch with other service providers. +In different cities and rural areas, service providers may have varying spectrum needs depending upon their customer profile. +Spectrum sharing allows operators to pool their respective spectrum for usage in a specific geographical area and thus complementing each other’s needs and ensuring more efficient utilisation of the spectrum. +Moreover, the pooling of the spectrum increases spectrum efficiency for both operators, as capacity to carry telecom traffic is not in linear proportion to the sum of their spectrum holding, but is much larger than the sum of the traffic capacities of individual service provider. +The issue was under active consideration of the present Government as this arrangement helps optimize resources and increases traffic capacity, which is beneficial for ensuring quality of service. +The Cabinet today approved payment of the face value of the subscribed share capital of Rs.1450 crore in National Housing Bank(NHB) to Reserve Bank of India (RBl) consequent to amendments made to the NHB Act, 1987 in 2018. +NHB is an apex agency established to operate as the principal agency to promote housing finance institutions in India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated to the nation, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Udhampur railway line. +The Prime Minister flagged off the first train to Udhampur, from Katra Railway Station, and spoke to schoolchildren on board the train. +The train was flagged off amid vociferous chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” by the children. +The Prime Minister also went around the Railway Station and suggested that solar energy be used to meet the energy requirements of the station. +Later addressing a public function at Katra, the Prime Minister observed that with the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, and the holy month of Ramzan, and now this new railway line that brings Shri Mata Vaishno Devi closer to her devotees, it has become an extremely pious occasion. +This railway line is not just a gift to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Modi said, but to the entire nation, to 125 crore Indians who wish to come to the shrine, and I am proud to be placing this gift before them, he said. +He added that he had suggested to the Railway Minister that this train be called Shri Shakti Express. +He also congratulated the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for facilities and technology used at the railway station for the benefit of the devotees. +The Prime Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir`s development will continue unhindered. +And even with the new railway station at Katra, it will in fact be a more qualitative development. +The Prime Minister said his Government would work towards a common development model for Himalayan states from Jammu and Kashmir to the north-east. +He said Katra is now coming to the centre-stage in J&K`s development, and will contribute as an engine of growth for the state. +He said his Government will continue to work towards fulfilling Shri Vajpayee`s dream, by extending the line to Banihal. +Shri Modi also highlighted the fact that rail and bus connectivity have been combined for the first time. +A passenger will be able to travel on both bus and train through a single ticket. +He described this as a hybrid model. +He also observed that Katra is being connected to the rest of the country through six pairs of trains. +The Prime Minister assured the people of India that modernization of railway stations in metro cities and important destinations like Jammu is a priority for his Government. +Speaking of the significance of the day, Shri Modi said “Today brings speed to the state of Jammu and Kashmir through this rail link, and energy through the Uri-II hydro-electric project, which I shall be inaugurating later in the day. +I am beginning my “Vikas Yatra” – development journey – for the country with the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi.” +He said that his Government will take this Vikas Yatra forward, establish new standards, and work for benefit of the common man. +He said the state of Jammu and Kashmir has passed through a difficult time; whether or not in power, it is our wish and our responsibility to improve the quality of life of the people, meet their aspirations, provide jobs to youth, and reach the last man in the line. +Speaking on the occasion, Shri Omar Abdullah said the credit for bringing Railways to the state should go, first of all, to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. +He also requested further expansion of the rail network in the state, and for the upgradation of Jammu Railway Station. +The Railway Minister Shri Sadananda Gowda said the wish of the devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi was being fulfilled after a long time. +MoS PMO Shri Jitendra Singh remarked that the wish of the devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi had been fulfilled by Shri Modi after becoming Prime Minister, in his first visit to the state. +The focus was on deepening the economic ties as the CEOs across several sectors joined the meeting. +A virtual who-is-who of the Swiss business including ABB, Lafarge, Novartis, Nestlé, Rieter, Roche etc. joined the Round Table with PM. +He told that he is glad that the economic linkages between the two nations are strong and vibrant. +The Prime Minister said that India is not just a market of 1.25 billion, we have skills and a government which is open to business. +He added that India wants to have manufacturing of global standards and hence the Swiss model of skill development is very relevant to it. +Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister reviewed the multifaceted bilateral ties between India and Switzerland with the Swiss President Schneider-Ammann. +Collaboration in trade, technology, skill development, renewable energy were discussed during the talks. +The Prime Minister shared the views that the common commitments, values, people-to-people and economic ties will take India-Switzerland relations to new heights. +A group of Indian scientists and students at CERN also met the Prime Minister in Geneva today. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has wished former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on his birthday. +Memorandum of Understanding between India and Republic of Mauritius in the field of Ocean Economy +This MoU will provide an extensive framework for cooperation in the field of Ocean Economy, a novel and critical area of sustainable development in the Indian Ocean Region. +It provides for mutually beneficial cooperation for exploration and capacity development in the field of marine resources, fisheries, green tourism, research and development of ocean technology, exchange of experts and other related activities +Mr. Navtej Sarna, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs +Mr. Sateeaved Seebaluck, Secretary to the Cabinet +Programme for Cultural Cooperation between the Republic of India and the Republic of Mauritius for the year 2015-18 +India and Mauritius share unique bonds based on our shared cultural heritage and traditions. +This programme will provide for enhanced bilateral cooperation in this field for the term 2015-2018. +The programme, inter alia, envisages exchange of cultural troupes, training in fine arts, organization of cultural exhibitions, preservation of cultural heritage, promotion of Indian languages, exchange of students, etc. +This programme will also enhance greater people-to-people participation between the two countries +Protocol between the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture of Republic of India and the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security of Republic of Mauritius for the importation of fresh mango from India +The aim of this Protocol is to facilitate importation of fresh mango fruits from India by Mauritius so that our Mauritian brethren can also relish the flavor of the world-renowned Indian mangoes. +Memorandum of Understanding for the Improvement in Sea and Air Transportation Facilities at Agalega Island of Mauritius +This MoU provides for setting up and upgradation of infrastructure for improving sea and air connectivity at the Outer Island of Mauritius which will go a long way in ameliorating the condition of the inhabitants of this remote Island. +These facilities will enhance the capabilities of the Mauritian Defence Forces in safeguarding their interests in the Outer Island. +MoU on Cooperation in the field of Traditional System of Medicine and Homeopathy +This MoU will promote cooperation in the field of traditional system of health and medicine between the two countries which already share these traditions due to our unique historical and cultural ties. +It envisages exchange of experts, supply of traditional medicinal substances, joint research and development and recognition of the traditional systems of health and medicine in both countries. +It also aims at promotion and popularization of the various Indian traditional systems which fall under AYUSH. +Mr. Sateeaved Seebaluck, Secretary to the Cabinet +A man ahead of his time, he devoted himself to nationalism and education”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the creation of three posts of Directors in the pre-revised scale of Rs.80,000 (fixed) {plus NPA Ceiling limit 85000} for the three new AIIMS at Mangalagiri near Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, Kalyani in West Bengal and Nagpur in Maharashtra. +: As per the AIIMS Act 1956 Amended vide AIIMS (Amendment) Act, 2012, there shall be a Chief Executive Officer of the Institute. +He shall be designated as the Director of the Institute and shall be appointed by the Institute provided that the first Director of the Institute shall be appointed by the Central Government. +The Director shall act as the Secretary to the Institute as well as the Governing Body and support proper functioning and governance of the three AIIMS. +The post will be immediately filled up following due procedures. +The post of Director is in the pre-revised scale of Rs 80,000(fixed) {plus NPA Ceiling limit 85000}. +The annual financial implication for each of the post of the Director will be around Rs.25 Lakhs, as per the 6th CPC. +The Union Finance Minister in his Budget speech for the Year 2014-15 had announced for setting up of four new AIIMS in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. +Cabinet had approved establishment of new AIIMS at Mangalagiri near Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, Kalyani in West Bengal and Nagpur in Maharashtra at a cost of Rs. 4949 Crore on 07.10.2015. +The three AIIMS are being set up as a part of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). +PMSSY has two components: (i) Setting up of AIIMS like institutions (ii) Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges/Institutions. +Under this scheme AIIMS have been established in Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Raipur, Jodhpur, Rishikesh and Patna while work of AIIMS Rae Bareli is in progress. +Also, three AIIMS in Nagpur(Maharashtra), Kalyani (West Bengal) and Mangalagiri in Guntur (A.P) have been sanctioned in 2015 and two AIIMS have been sanctioned in Bathinda and Gorakhpur in 2016 and Assam in 2017. +All necessary steps are being taken for creation of the physical infrastructure and creation of faculty and non-faculty position required for operationalization of these three new AIIMS in Nagpur(Maharashtra), Kalyani(West Bengal) and Mangalagiri in Guntur (A.P). +Design Consultant have been appointed for all the three AIIMS on the basis of Global bid as per mandate of the Cabinet. +The Master plan for these AIIMS has also been finalized. +Detailed designs are under preparation. +Proposal for creation of faculty and non-faculty position is under consideration/discussion with Department of Expenditure. +Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister for Food Processing Industries, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, and senior officials from the Union Government were also present. +Various CEOs complimented the Prime Minister on the massive improvement in India’s rank in the recent World Bank Doing Business Report. +Many CEOs said that they were inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision of doubling farm incomes, and the pace and progress of economic reforms over the last three years under his leadership. +They especially appreciated the structural reforms and bold initiatives such as GST and the liberalization of the FDI regime. +The participants stressed that the food processing sector is vital for raising farm productivity, food and nutrition security, creating jobs, and adding value to agricultural produce. +The CEOs presented an overview of their engagement and initiatives for inclusive growth in India’s food processing, agriculture, logistics, and retail sectors. +They showed keen interest in opportunities that exist, for strengthening the post-harvest infrastructure. +They reaffirmed their commitment to be a part of India’s growth story. +Thanking the CEOs for sharing their views, the Prime Minister said that their observations indicate tremendous enthusiasm, about India. +The Prime Minister appreciated the focused suggestions made by the CEOs. +The Prime Minister underlined the Union Government’s resolve to reduce input costs for the farmer, and eliminate losses due to wastage of farm produce. +He invited the global CEOs for a deeper and more productive engagement with India. +Earlier, Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal spoke briefly about Government policies to promote investments in the food processing sector. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi chaired the sixth meeting of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at New Delhi, today. +Prime Minister reviewed the activities of NDMA to effectively manage and respond to disasters affecting the country. +He also reviewed ongoing projects undertaken by NDMA. +Prime Minister emphasized on the need for better coordination between the various stakeholders and undertake more joint exercises to bring about effective response to save life and property. +He stressed upon the need to bring in global expertise in the field of disaster management. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Andhra Pradesh tomorrow (October 22nd, 2015). +The Prime Minister will attend the function for the laying of the Foundation Stone of the New Capital City of Andhra Pradesh, at Amravathi. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has invited views from the people, on the recent decision taken by the Union Government regarding currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000. +The ten questions in the Survey are as follows: +4. What do you think of the Modi Government’s efforts against corruption so far? +Scale of 1 to 5 – outstanding, very good, good, ok, useless +The Prime Minister’s core beliefs of direct engagement with people are yet again on full display in the survey. +• Spreading terror in the name of religion are anti-religious: PM Modi +• We must reject any link between terrorism and religion: PM Modi +• World Sufi Forum an assembly of those whose life itself is a message of peace, tolerance & love: PM +• For the Sufis, service of God meant service to humanity: PM Modi +• None of the 99 names of Allah stand for violence: PM Modi +• Sufism is the voice of peace, co-existence, compassion and equality; a call to universal brotherhood, says PM Modi +• When terrorism & extremism have become the most destructive force of our times, message of Sufism has global relevance: PM +• Message of Sufism not just confined to combating terrorism, but encompasses creed of “Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikaas”: PM +• The fight against terrorism is not a confrontation against any religion: PM Modi +• Fight against terrorism must be won through the strength of our values and the real message of religions: PM +On the evening of Thursday 17th March 2016, Prime Minister addressed the World Sufi Forum at New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhavan. +The four-day event, which has been organized by the All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board, brings together several international dignitaries from 20 countries. +The event witnessed the presence of spiritual leaders, scholars, academicians and theologists from Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, UK, USA, Canada, Pakistan and other nations. +PM Narendra Modi’s extensive address focussed on the rich and glorioius history of Sufism, the vitality of tolerance and compassion and on the need for all humanitarian forces to join ranks and challenge forces of terror and hatred. +The Prime Minister’s speech was widely appreciated by those at the programme and by eminent commentators. +The Prime Minister described the World Sufi Forum as an assembly of those, “whose life itself is a message of peace, tolerance and love.” +“At a time when the dark shadow of violence is becoming longer, you are the noor, or the light of hope. +When young laughter is silenced by guns on the streets, you are the voice that heals,” the Prime Minister told the assembled gathering of Sufi scholars and spiritual leaders. +Elaborating further, Prime Minister opined that for the Sufis, service of God meant service to humanity. +“In the words of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, of all the worships, the worship that pleases the Almighty God the most is the grant of relief to the humble and the oppressed,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister explained that the message of Sufism, is in harmony with the soul of the Bhakti saint’s saying in the Hindu tradition, “Into the bosom of the one great sea, Flow streams that come from hills on every side.” +Sufism is the voice of peace, co-existence, compassion and equality; a call to universal brotherhood, he added. +Shri Narendra Modi explained how Sufism has helped strengthen the inclusive culture that is India’s great contribution to the world’s cultural tapestry. +The Prime Minister said that India is moving forward on the strength of the struggles, the sacrifices, the bravery, the knowledge, the skill, the art and the pride of every member of every faith in our diverse and yet united nation. +Referring to the global challenge of terrorism, the Prime Minister said that “when the spiritual love of Sufism, not the violent force of terrorism, flows across the border, this region will be the paradise on earth that Amir Khusrau spoke about.” +When terrorism and extremism have become the most destructive force of our times, the message of Sufism has global relevance, he added. +Referring to the horrors unleashed across the world by terrorists, he said the impact of terrorism cannot be captured by statistics alone. +“There are forces and groups that are instruments of state policy and design. +There are others recruited to the cause in misguided belief”, the Prime Minister said. +Describing the battle that mankind must fight against terror, he said that this “is not a confrontation against any religion. +It cannot be. +It is a struggle between the values of humanism and the forces of inhumanity.” +He said that this is a battle “that must be won through the strength of our values and the real message of religions.” +He said that the message of Sufism is not just confined to combating terrorism, but also encompasses his creed of “Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikaas”. +Quoting extensively from holy scriptures and great mystics, the Prime Minister called for challenging “the forces of violence with the kindness of our love and universal human values.” +Earlier, delivering the open remarks to the gathering, Hazrat Syed Mohammad Ashraf, Founder President of the All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board, said that the Muslims of India, stand confident of their future in this country, and committed to upholding the unity, integrity and territorial sovereignty of the nation. +Cabinet Minister Najma Heptulla was present at the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Plenary Session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). +The theme of the Plenary was – “Achieving a New Balance on the Global Stage.” +India is a “guest country” at the SPIEF this year, and Prime Minister Modi is the “Guest of Honour.” +In his remarks, the Prime Minister thanked President Putin for the opportunity to be present at SPIEF, in the beautiful city of St. Petersburg. +Touching upon India-Russia relations, the Prime Minister said they are moving forward with good momentum. +He said there are very few relations between, where the basis of the relationship is mutual trust. +He said the India-Russia relationship of the last 70 years, has been based on trust, and deepened, even in a changing world. +The Prime Minister said he is at SPIEF as a representative of 1.25 billion people. +He said the world is focused on Asia, and therefore, naturally to India. +He said that over the last three years as Prime Minister, the Union Government is making progressive decisions on all fronts. +We have today an annual GDP growth rate of 7 per cent, he added. +“Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” and “Red carpet instead of Red tape” have been the basis of governance reforms in India, Prime Minister Modi said. +He said that political will and clear vision are necessary for reforms. +Bureaucracy too has to be vibrant and in tune with leadership, he added. +Noting that diversity is India’s strength, the Prime Minister said that the Goods and Services Tax will be implemented from July 1st, and this will herald a uniform tax system across the country. +Agreeing with President Putin, who spoke before him, the Prime Minister said technology is going to play a key role, and mentioned the Digital India initiative. +He said a “digital divide” cannot be allowed to take root in the society. +The Prime Minister mentioned the Government’s initiatives in financial inclusion – and the Jandhan, Aadhaar, Mobile (JAM) trinity. +He mentioned the scrapping of over 1200 laws by the Union Government. +The Prime Minister said India has made 7000 reforms targeting “Ease of Doing Business” – just at the Union Government level. +The Prime Minister mentioned initiatives taken for FDI and for competitiveness. +He said international rating agencies had identified India as one of the top three destinations for FDI. +Noting the importance of security for investors, the Prime Minister said that India’s vibrant democracy and use of English go a long way in ensuring a sense of security. +The Prime Minister said that with the vision of “New India” skill development is a top priority for India’s 800 million strong talented youth. +In this context he mentioned the success of India’s Mars Mission in the first attempt. +He said the New India would have youth that are not job seekers but job creators; and can fulfil the global requirements of skilled human resource. +He said rising urbanization in India requires most modern infrastructure including metro networks, waste management systems etc. +He spoke of expanding and modernizing the railway network. +The Prime Minister also spoke of the initiative to clean the Ganga. +He said all these represented great opportunities for investment. +Outlining initiatives in agriculture, the Prime Minister mentioned organic farming and food processing as areas for investment. +In the manufacturing sector, the Prime Minister mentioned medical device and defence equipment manufacturing as key areas for foreign investment. +In the services sector, the Prime Minister said the tourism and hospitality sector will receive high priority. +Stressing that one of the four Vedas- the Atharvaveda – encapsulates dedication to nature 5,000 years ago, the Prime Minister said India’s economic growth was based not on exploitation of nature – which is a crime- but on its use and preservation and on respecting it. +He pointed out that India has target of generating 175 Giga Watts of renewable energy by 2022, and added that India is setting up more power generation capacity in renewable energy sector than in thermal. +He asserted that India will be a responsible nation with regard to climate and work towards zero-defect, zero-effect manufacturing, entailing no detrimental effect on the environment. +He said programmes such as LED bulb distribution had already resulted in huge power savings. +The sky is the limit for investment opportunities in India, asserted the Prime Minister, making a strong pitch for global investors to invest in India. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the proposal to promulgate the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015. +The proposed amendments to the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (“The NI Act”) are focused on clarifying the jurisdiction related issues for filing cases for offence committed under section 138 of the NI Act. +The clarity on jurisdictional issues for trying cases of cheque bouncing would increase the credibility of the cheque as a financial instrument. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Status-cum-Progress Report by the Ministry of Water Resources related to the interlinking of rivers. +This is in compliance of the Supreme Court judgement dated 27.2.2012 in the matter of Writ Petition (Civil)-512 of 2002: Networking of Rivers along with Writ Petition No 668 of 2002. +This will help in monitoring of the interlinking of river projects to be carried out under National Perspective Plan. +The status-cum-progress report on Special Committee for interlinking of Rivers will be submitted bi-annually for the information of Cabinet. +The bi-annual report will ensure in taking final and appropriate decisions in the interest of the country as expeditiously as possible. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the recapitalization of EXIM Bank. +The details are as follows: +Issuance of Recapitalization Bonds by Government of India to the tune of Rs.6,000 crore for capital infusion in Export Import Bank of India (Exim Bank). +The equity will be infused in two tranches of Rs. 4,500 crore in FY 2018-19 and Rs.1,500 crore in FY 2019-20 respectively. +The Cabinet also approved an increase in the authorized capital of Exim Bank from Rs. 10,000 crore to Rs. 20,000 crore. +The recapitalisation bonds will be on the lines issued to Public Sector Banks. +Exim Bank is the principal export credit agency for India. +The infusion of capital into Exim Bank will enable it to augment capital adequacy and support Indian exports with enhanced ability. +The infusion will give an impetus to anticipate new initiatives like supporting Indian textile industries, likely changes in Concessional Finance Scheme (CFS), likelihood of new LoCs in future in view of India’s active foreign policy and strategic intent. +Exim Bank of India (Exim Bank) was established in 1982 under an Act of Parliament as the apex financial institution for financing, facilitating and promoting India’s international trade. +It is regulated by RBI. +The scheme has been launched by the State Government with an objective to provide safe drinking water to all. +The Prime Minister unveiled plaques to lay Foundation Stones for important development projects. +These included the 1600 MW Thermal Power station of NTPC at Ramagundam; revival of a Fertilizer Plant at Ramagundam; Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, Warangal; and Manoharabad-Kothapalli Railway line. +He also dedicated to the nation the 1200 MW Thermal Power Station of Singareni Collieries at Jaipur, in Adilabad district. +Addressing a large public meeting, the Prime Minister appreciated the State Government for the steps taken over the last two years to fulfil the aspirations of the people. +Noting the importance of cooperative federalism for the country’s development, the Prime Minister said the Centre and States are now working together for this objective. +Complimenting the State Government for the launch of Mission Bhagiratha to provide drinking water to the people of the State, the Prime Minister said that whenever the State Chief Minister Shri K. Chandrasekar Rao has met him, he has spoken about the State’s development and water related issues. +The Prime Minister spoke of the importance of water and the need for all citizens to conserve it. +In the context of the foundation stone for the new railway line, the Prime Minister said a long pending demand of the people would now be fulfilled. +He said the fertilizer plant would help the farmers of the State. +He spoke of power sector reforms, irrigation, and how economic progress is being linked to rail connectivity. +The Prime Minister asked people to beware of fake cow vigilantes, and urged State Governments to take action against them. +Government decides to allow States to impose and enforce stock limits to check the price rise in sugar +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to bring “sugar” under the purview of imposing stock holding limits on dealers of sugar, keeping in view the recent upward trend in sugar prices. +The Government has noticed that in spite of sufficient availability of sugar stocks with the Sugar Mills, the wholesale and retail prices have shown a spurt. +The Government has taken stock of the availability of sugar and different factors contributing to rise in market prices of sugar across the country. +In order to check the inflationary tendencies in sugar and to reduce hoarding by wholesalers and retailers, Government felt an immediate need to bring sugar within the purview of stock limits. +The Prime Minister visited Kerala to review the situation arising out of floods in the State. +After a review meeting, he made an aerial assessment of the damages caused due to floods in some of the affected areas of the State, as permitted by weather conditions. +During the aerial survey, the Prime Minister was accompanied by the Governor, the Chief Minister, Shri K.J. Alphons (Union Minister of State) and officials. +The Prime Minister expressed his grief and sorrow on the unfortunate deaths and damage caused to lives and property due to floods. +The Prime Minister reviewed the flood situation during a meeting with Shri PinarayiVijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala, and officials of the State Government. +After the review, the Prime Minister announced a financial assistance of Rs 500 crore to the State. +This is in addition to Rs. 100 Cr. announced by the Home Minister on 12.08.2018. +He also assured the State Government that relief materials including foodgrains, medicines etc would be provided, as requested. +PM also announced ex-gratia of @ Rs. 2 lakh per person to the next kin of the deceased and @ Rs. 50,000 to those seriously injured from PM’s National Relief Funds (PMNRF). +PM has directed Insurance Companies to hold special camps for assessment & timely release of compensation to the affected families/beneficiaries under Social Security Schemes. +The directions have also been issued for early clearance of claims under FasalBimaYojna to agriculturists. +PM has directed National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to repair main national highways damaged due to floods on priority. +The Central Public Sector like NTPC and PGCIL have also been directed to be available to render all possible assistance to the State Government in restoring power lines. +Villagers, whose kutcha houses have been destroyed in the devastating floods, would be provided Pradhan MantriAwasYojana-Gramin houses on priority irrespective of their priority in the Permanent Wait List of PMAY-G. +Under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme 5.5 Cr. person days have been sanctioned in the labour budget 2018-19. +Any further request for incurring the person days would be considered as per the requirement projected by the State. +Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, farmers would be provided assistance for replantation of damaged horticulture crops. +The flood situation in Kerala has been continuously and closely monitored by the Union Government. +All help is being provided to the State Government to deal with the adverse situation. +The Prime Minister has been in constant touch with the Chief Minister regarding the flood situation. +On the direction of the Prime Minister, Shri KirenRijiju, MoS (Home) accompanied by the Shri K.J. Alphons, MoS (I/C), and a high-level Central Team visited the flood affected districts of Alappuzha and Kottayam on 21.07.2018, reviewed the flood situation, relief measures and met affected people. +On 12th August, 2018, Shri Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister accompanied by Shri K.J. Alphons, MoS (I/C), Tourism and senior officers visited the flood/landslide affected areas of Kerala and carried out aerial survey of the affected areas and reviewed the search, rescue and relief measures taken by the State and Central Government agencies with CM, Kerala, and other Ministers and Officials. +The Home Minister also announced release of Rs. 100 Cr. in advance from the NDRF. +An Inter-Ministerial Centre Team (IMCT) has already visited the affected areas in the State for assessment of losses from 7-12 August, 2018 as per the Memorandum dated 21.07.2018 submitted by the State Government. +57 Teams of NDRF involving about 1300 personnel and 435 Boats are deployed for search and rescue operations. +Five (5) Companies of BSF, CISF and RAF’s have been deployed in the State to carry out rescue and relief measures. +The Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard are also deployed for assisting the State in search & rescue operations. +A total of 38 helicopters have been deployed for rescue and relief measures. +In addition, 20 Aircraft are also being used for ferrying resources. +Army has deployed 10 Columns and 10 Teams of Engineering Task Force (ETFs) involving around 790 trained personnel’s. +Navy is providing 82 teams. +The Coast Guard has provided 42 teams; 2 helicopters and 2 ships. +Since 9th August, the NDRF, Army and Navy together have rescued /evacuated 6714 persons and provided medical assistance to 891 persons. +The Prime Minister complimented the State Government for the efforts made in meeting the challenges of the unprecedented situation. +I am delighted to be here in Kanyakumari. +I begin by paying homage to respected Amma, Jayalalithaa Ji. +Her good work for the people of Tamil Nadu will be remembered for generations. +I am happy that the Tamil Nadu government is working hard to fulfill her development vision. +I am proud that India’s first woman Defence Minister Nirmala Ji is from Tamil Nadu. +Every Indian is proud that the brave Wing Commander Abhinandan belongs to Tamil Nadu. +I would also like to congratulate the Vivekananda Kendra on being conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize a few days ago. +The community service efforts of the Kendra are commendable and inspiring. +A short while ago, we inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several development works related to roads, railways and highways. +I have flagged off the fastest train, Tejas between Madurai and Chennai. +This is one of the most modern trains and is a great example of ‘Make in India’ having been manufactured in the Integral Coach Factory of Chennai itself. +The foundation stone of a railway line between Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi has also been laid today. +This line got damaged after the disaster of 1964 but for over fifty years, no attention was paid to this line. +But, better late than never! +You would be happy that the new Pamban rail bridge is going to be constructed now. +Today India is the fastest growing large economy in the world. +India is creating next generation infrastructure at a record pace. +We are among the nations with the largest start-up eco-system. +India is also home to the largest healthcare programme in the world- Ayushman Bharat. +India of the 21st century has to work with speed and scale, which is what the NDA Government is doing. +Just last Sunday, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi that was announced in this year’s Budget was launched. +Under this scheme, farmers having up to five acres of land would be given a monetary support of six thousand rupees per year from the Central Government in three instalments. +Over 1.1 crore farmers have already got their first instalment directly in their bank accounts. +Can you imagine, a scheme announced on first February has become a reality in the same month itself. +Like leap years and Football world cups come once in four years, incomplete loan waivers of the Congress come just before an election. +After doing nothing for farmers, they will come at the end and say- we will waive off your loans. +In reality, Congress loan waivers benefit few farmers. +NDA government’s Kisan Samman Nidhi is not a once in a few years scheme. +Benefits will be given every year and in ten years, about 7.5 lakh crore rupees would have gone to hard-working farmers. +When a government works with speed and scale, it clearly shows. +The great sage Tiruvalluvar said “When the rare chance comes, seize it to do the rare deed.” +In 2014, it was after thirty years that a Party got a full majority in the Parliament. +The people’s message was clear- they wanted a Government that takes the lead in taking and bold and tough decisions. +People wanted honesty, not dynasty. +People wanted development, not decay. +People wanted progress, not policy paralysis. +People wanted opportunities, not obstacles. +People wanted security, not stagnation +People wanted inclusive growth, not votebank politics. +Guided by ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ and with the active participation of 130 crore Indians, the NDA government has undertaken some of the most historic decisions in national interest. +Let me give you a few local and national examples. +Tamil Nadu is a coastal state, where the fisheries sector is vibrant. +Several of our fishermen brothers and sisters work hard to earn their living. +It is the NDA government that has had the honour of creating a new department for fisheries. +Previous governments came to take your votes but when it came to doing work for fishermen, they had nothing much to show. +The benefits of Kisan Credit Card have also been launched for our fishermen and women. +The Centre has released over Rupees three hundred crores towards construction of Deep Sea Fishing Vessels in Tamil Nadu. +Fishermen in the sea get help from space. +We have provided Navic devices developed with the help of Indian Space Research Organization. +This device provides information in local language. +This navigation device not only provides details of fishing zones but also provides weather related warnings to the fishermen. +We understand that if we want to increase the income of Fishermen brothers and sisters, then we have to develop infrastructure associated with fisheries. +The construction works of Mukayur Fishing Harbour in Ramanathapuram district and Pumpuhar Fishing Harbour in Nagapattinam are almost completed. +The Government of India is most sensitive to the safety and well-being of fishermen. +Due to sustained diplomatic efforts, since May 2014, more than nineteen hundred fishermen have been released by Sri Lankan authorities. +NDA government has put renewed focus on our coastal areas, with stress on connectivity and prosperity. +Going a step ahead of port development, we are working on port-led development. +More ports are being created. +The capacity and efficiency of existing ports are being improved. +The Sagarmala project is also a part of our vision. +Work is being carried out on this project keeping in view the needs of not only the present but also future generations. +Let me also talk about defence and security. +With the blessings of our ex-servicemen, we took the historic decision of making One Rank One Pension a reality. +It was the right thing to do. +Those who ruled the nation for so many years never even bothered to think about OROP properly. +India has been facing the menace of terrorism for years. +But, there is a big difference now- India will no longer be helpless in the wake of terror. +From 2004 to 2014 there were several terror attacks. +There were blasts in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and other places. +The nation expected those responsible for these acts of terror to be punished but nothing happened. +26/11 happened, India expected action against terrorists but nothing happened. +But, when Uri happened you saw what our brave soldiers did. +Pulwama happened and you saw what our brave air warriors did. +I salute all those who are serving the nation. +Their vigilance keeps our nation secure. +There was a time when the news reports would read- Air Force wanted to do surgical strike after 26/11 but UPA blocked it. +And today, we are in an era where the news reads- Armed forces have full freedom to do what they want. +Influence of terrorists and terrorism has been curtailed and it is going to be curtailed even more. +This is a New India. +This is an India that will return the damage done by terrorists with interest. +The events of the past few days have demonstrated yet again the strength of our armed forces. +It has also brought our nation closer. +The way the nation has supported our armed forces is extra-ordinary and I bow to every Indian for that. +Sadly, a few political parties, guided by Modi hatred have started hating India. +No wonder, while the entire nation supports our armed forces, they suspect the armed forces. +The world is supporting India’s fight against terror but a few parties suspect our fight against terror. +These are the same people whose statements are helping Pakistan and harming India. +They are the same people whose statements are being happily quoted in the Parliament of Pakistan and in the radio of Pakistan. +I want to ask them- do you support our armed forces or suspect them? +They should clarify- Do they believe our armed forces or they believe those forces who support terrorism on our soil? +I want to tell these parties- Modi will come and go, India will remain. +Please stop weakening India to strengthen your own politics. +In matters of defence and national security, we are Indians first and Indians only. +Your politics can wait, it is the safety of our nation that is at stake. +Let us talk about corruption and black money. +India has seen Prime Ministers who said- out of every Rupee, only fifteen paisa reaches the poor. +India has seen arrogant Cabinet Ministers who say, ‘Zero Loss’ to a scam worth lakhs of crores. +Some people say corruption as a way of life. +This would be acceptable to them but not to me. +The NDA government has taken historic steps against corruption. +Fake companies have been shut, fake beneficiaries removed. +The corrupt now have to answer for their misdeeds. +The famous re-counting minister, who took pride in treating people badly, insulting the middle class, he has to now apply for a family pack for bail just like his party’s First Family. +While we have come down heavily on corruption, we are at the same time rewarding the honest tax-payers. +During the budget exactly a month ago, it was announced that those earning upto Rupees Five Lakhs would not pay income tax! +Did those who ruled India for such long years think about the middle class or to give them tax relief? +For many years, the Congress promoted an economic culture that benefitted only the friends and family members of big dynasties. +The common man had no incentive or ability to economically prosper. +Today we are fulfilling the dreams of Rajaji by creating an economy that is reform oriented and people-friendly. +India’s ranking for ‘Ease of Doing Business’ has come risen by 65 places. +We are now placed 77th while we were placed 142 four years ago. +Central Government announced a series of benefits for the MSME sector last year. +Now, it is possible to get a loan up to Rupees one crore in 59 minutes! +That is faster than the time you will take to reach Chennai. +We are betting on India’s youth and their talent. +That is why, the Mudra Yojana was launched to give wings to the spirit of enterprise of young India. +Under Mudra, 15 crore people have got loans totaling worth over Rupees seven lakh crore. +Tamil Nadu is one of the top states under this scheme. +The Opposition has no commitment to social justice. +The worse atrocities against Dalits have happened under Congress rule. +Congress got Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar defeated not once but twice. +Congress did not give a Bharat Ratna to Dr. Ambedkar for forty years and nor did Congress put Dr. Ambedkar’s portrait in Central Hall of Parliament. +It was a BJP supported non-Congress Government that did both these things. +The current NDA government has made the strongest amendments to the SC ST Act. +Economic and social justice are articles of faith for us, not slogans to win votes. +The 2019 Lok Sabha elections have two distinct sides. +Our side offers strength and stability. +The other side offers weakness and vulnerability. +Our leadership and work culture is known across India. +The other side is a confused. +They have no name to offer as the nation’s next leader. +No aim or vision for India’s growth. +And no shame that prevents them from doing record corruption. +India remembers 2009, and how the DMK and Congress allotted portfolios after the elections. +Ministers were being picked not by the Prime Minister but by those who had nothing to do with public service. +There was telephone bargaining for minister posts. +The Maha Milaawat or adulteration government will remain hostage to individual egos and dynastic ambitions. +My only family is 130 crore Indians. +I will live for them, I will die for them. +I am not in public life to further a dynasty. +I am here to do whatever I can for the growth of India. +I seek your support and blessings to create an India where the dreams of the poorest of the poor are fulfilled. +Thank you for joining the rally in such large numbers. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Madhya Pradesh on the State’s Foundation Day. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his greetings on the occasion of the United Nations Day. +“I convey my greetings on @UN Day. +It is a day to celebrate the achievements of the UN & look at a roadmap for the future…. +Need of the hour is for all @UN member nations to work together & further the cause of world peace & prosperity in the years to come” Shri Narendra Modi said in his tweets. +An 11-member delegation from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry – FICCI called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +Members of the delegation appreciated various steps taken by the Union Government to improve ease of doing business, and for the “Make in India” initiative. +The Prime Minister was also informed of the launch of the India Sanitation Coalition, under the aegis of FICCI. +The Prime Minister urged Industry to be more proactive towards the cause of sanitation, as part of their CSR initiatives. +The Prime Minister urged FICCI to motivate Indian Industry to work towards growth in key sectors such as agro-products, textiles and defence related manufacturing. +He also urged Industry leaders to take advantage of the various initiatives being taken by the Union Government for the infrastructure sector, including railways. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Wednesday addressed the Indian Community in Israel, at a function in Tel Aviv. +He began by noting that this was the first time that an Indian Prime Minister had come to Israel, and it had taken a long period of 70 years after independence. +He thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the warm welcome and respect accorded to him throughout his visit. +He said that though diplomatic relations between the two countries are only 25 years old, yet ties between India and Israel go back several centuries. +He said that he has been told that in the 13th century, the Indian Sufi Saint Baba Farid had come to Jerusalem, and meditated in a cave. +The Prime Minister described the relationship between India and Israel as one of traditions, culture, trust and friendship. +He noted the similarity in festivals between India and Israel. +In this context, he mentioned Holi and Purim; and Diwali and Hanukkah. +The Prime Minister noted the impressive technological progress made by Israel, and its long traditions of bravery and martyrdom. +He recalled that Indian soldiers had played a key role in the liberation of Haifa during the first world war. +He noted the great contributions of the Indian Jewish community, both in India and Israel. +The Prime Minister gave an overview of reforms undertaken in India in the recent past. +He mentioned the roll-out of GST, auctioning of natural resources, insurance and banking sector reforms, and skill development, among others. +He said the Government aims to double income of farmers by 2022. +He said the partnership with Israel is key to ushering the second green revolution in India. +He said science, innovation and research would be the foundation of ties between India and Israel in the future. +He recalled his meeting with Moshe Holtzberg, survivor of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, earlier in the day. +He assured the Indian community in Israel that OCI cards would be given to them, even if they had done compulsory army service in Israel. +He said an Indian Cultural Centre would be set up in Israel. +He also said direct air connectivity would soon be established between Delhi, Mumbai and Tel Aviv. +Addressing the assembled workers, he said that his first engagement after arriving in Doha was to meet them. +The Prime Minister, who briefly visited a medical camp on the site, before arriving for the interaction, complimented the doctors for the good work they have been doing. +After concluding his address, the Prime Minister moved from table to table, interacting with groups of workers, and sat down to share a meal with some of them. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been appraised of the Implementing Arrangement (IA) for Pre-formulation Studies of a Maritime Domain Awareness Mission signed between India and France on 10th March 2018. +The proposed joint mission will be devoted to maritime domain awareness, with the objective to provide relevant data and services to both nations. +The objective is to monitor the maritime traffic and to identify the non-compliant ships at the maximum possible revisit frequency. +The monitoring system would provide an end to end solution for detection, identification, monitoring of vessels in the regions of interest for India and France. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with all officers of the Prime Minister’s Office at South Block, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the his Government. +The Prime Minister praised the officers, as “Team PMO,” for the hard work and dedication with which they are performing their duties. +He was also given an overview of the various reforms and changes that have been initiated in PMO over the last one year, under his leadership and guidance. +The Prime Minister said that his experience had been that Government functionaries and the common man, think alike, and if given the right atmosphere, the Government machinery can deliver results for the common man. +The Prime Minister was also felicitated by the officers, on the completion of one year in office. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for incurring an expenditure of Rs.3639.32 core for the 13 new Central Universities for recurring cost and creation of necessary infrastructure for completion of the campuses. +The work will be completed within a period of 36 months. +The Cabinet has also given ex-post facto approval for an amount of Rs.1474.65 crore, being the amount spent over and above the earlier Cabinet approval of Rs.3000 crore for these Central Universities. +The new Central Universities in the States of Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir (Two), Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu were established under Central Universities Act, 2009. +These include: +Central University of South Bihar, Gaya, Bihar +Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh +Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi +Central University of Kashmir, Srinagar +Central University of Karnataka, Gulbarga +Central University of Kerala, Kasargod +Central University of Orissa, Koraput +Central University of Punjab, Bhatinda +Central University of Rajasthan, Bandersindri, Rajasthan +Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur +Central University of Gujarat, Gujarat +Central University of Himachal Pradesh +This would increase access to higher education and set exemplary standards for other Universities to emulate. +It will also help in minimizing the regional imbalances in educational facilities. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his greetings to the people of Sweden, on their National Day. +Visiting Member of the U.S. Congress, Representative Tulsi Gabbard, called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi this evening. +She complimented Prime Minister on his domestic initiatives for accelerating growth, promoting inclusive economic development, providing basic necessities and promoting cleanliness. +She expressed keen interest in India’s spiritual and cultural traditions and spoke about her efforts to promote them in the United States. +India-Russia: an Enduring Partnership in a Changing World +1. Prime Minister of the Republic of India H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi and President of the Russian Federation H.E. Mr. Vladimir V. Putin met for the 19th edition of the Annual Bilateral Summit in New Delhi on October 4-5, 2018. +India-Russia cooperation is based on the solid foundations of the 1971 Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of India and the USSR, 1993 Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of India and the Russian Federation, 2000 Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of India and the Russian Federation and 2010 Joint Statement elevating the Partnership to a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. +Cooperation between India and Russia spans across the whole gamut of sectors and rests on the fundamental pillars of political and strategic cooperation, military and security cooperation, cooperation in the spheres of economy, energy, industry, science and technology, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation. +The Sochi Summit manifested the role of interaction and cooperation between India and Russia in building a multi-polar world order. +The two Sides agreed to continue the practice of such informal meetings and to maintain strategic communication at all levels on a regular basis. +3. The Sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia. +They reaffirmed that being multicultural, multilingual and multi-religious societies, India and Russia bring civilizational wisdom to address modern day challenges. +Together, they contribute to creating a more interconnected and diverse world. +5. The Sides called upon all states to work towards the lessening of global tensions and promoting the ideals of tolerance, cooperation, transparency and openness in inter-state relations. +They stressed that the primary challenge in large parts of the world remains ensuring rapid and environmentally sustainable economic development, removal of poverty, reducing inequality among and within states, and providing basic health care. +India and Russia pledged to cooperate with each other to achieve these goals. +Subsequent to the successful implementation of the Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations for the period 2017-18, the Sides agreed to extend the period of Consultations for five more years (2019-2023) and signed a Protocol to this effect. +The Indian Side acknowledged the Russian Side’s technical expertise in the field of disaster management and agreed to explore cooperation, including through training of trainers and development of emergency response structures. +8. The Sides noted that the successful conclusion of the 70th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Russia witnessed enthusiastic response among people of both countries and further consolidated people-to-people ties. +The Sides are satisfied with the implementation of the Cultural Exchange Programme for 2017-2019 signed in 2017. +They welcomed annual Russian Festivals in India and Indian Festivals in Russia and highly appreciated the ongoing youth exchange programme, exchange of writers and reciprocal support of the National Film Festivals. +The Sides welcomed mutual growth in tourism flows in the last two years, and agreed to facilitate this positive trend. +India complimented Russia for successful organization of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. +The Sides recognized the immense contribution made by the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, to the promotion of India-Russia relations over several decades. +Prime Minister Modi underlined that India would contribute to the success of the 200 year celebrations of the foundation of the Institute. +9. The Sides welcomed the outcomes of the 23rd meeting, co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Yuri I. Borisov and Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India SushmaSwaraj, of the India – Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economy, Science, Technology and Cultural Cooperation, held in Moscow on September 14, 2018. +10. The Sides reviewed the progress on the achievement of the goal to increase two-way investment to USD 30 billion by the year 2025 and noted with satisfaction that both countries were on the way to achieving this target. +The Sides expressed their support to promoting bilateral trade in national currencies. +11. The Sides noted that the first meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue between NITI Aayog of India and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation would be held later in 2018 in Russia. +12. The Sides welcomed the start of consultations on the Free Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and its member states, on one side, and the Republic of India – on the other,and supported the idea to expedite the negotiation process. +14. The Sides appreciated the work done by “Invest India’’ to facilitate Russian investors in India and the planned launch of a “Single Window Service” by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation for facilitating operation of Indian companies in Russia. +16. The Sides reviewed progress in the implementation of Priority Investment Projects in the spheres of mining, metallurgy, power, oil & gas, railways, pharmaceuticals, Information Technology, chemicals, infrastructure, automobile, aviation, space, shipbuilding and manufacturing of different equipment. +The Sides welcomed the establishment of a pharmaceutical plant by Advance Pharma Company in Russia. +The Indian Side conveyed its intention to increase import of fertilizers from Russia. +The Sides noted the importance of expansion of collaboration in aluminium sector. +17. They welcomed the signing of the MoU between National Small Industries Corporation of India and the Russian Small and Medium Business Corporation. +18. The Sides emphasized that infrastructure development is an important national priority for both countries offering immense opportunities for cooperation. +The Indian Side invited Russian companies to participate in the development of industrial corridors in India, including in areas of road and rail infrastructure, smart cities, construction of wagons and creation of a joint transportation logistics company. +The Russian Side offered its expertise in tax collection based on satellite navigation technologies for the realization of joint projects in India including in the framework of above mentioned industrial corridors. +The Russian Side expressed its interest in participating in the international competitive biddings as and when the Ministry of Railways of India decides to execute the railway speed raising projects. +The Sides noted the importance of cooperation in the area of transport education, personnel training and scientific support in the implementation of international transport corridors. +For these purposes the Sides maintain cooperation between the National Rail and Transportation Institute (Vadodara) of the Republic of India and the Russian University of Transport (MIIT). +19. The Sides underscored the vital importance of increasing connectivity between them. +They called for the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) through intensified efforts by finalizing pending issues related to Customs authorities, development of road and rail infrastructure and financial facilitation through bilateral discussions as well as discussions with other partner countries at the earliest. +The Sides welcomed the proposed trilateral meeting between the Republic of India, the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran on the sidelines of “Transport Week – 2018” in Moscow, on the issue of Indian goods transportation through the territory of Iran to Russia. +The Indian Side informed the Russian Side of its accession to the Customs Convention on International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR Carnets. +The Sides agreed to make efforts to convene the INSTC Ministerial and Coordination meeting on priority. +20. In order to promote trade, the Sides agreed to mutually share on best endeavour basis the mandatory inspections/regulations requirement to be fulfilled at the time of exporting/importing of any product so that any delay related to such inspection could be reduced. +21. The Sides agreed to share the list of their trade exhibitions and fairs as well as of institutions/export promotion councils and other export related institutions from where one can get the details of exporters/importers from both sides to facilitate their interaction. +They regarded this as an important step towards enhancing mutual trade. +After the start of the project Customs administrations of both countries will be committed to its further expansion. +23. The Sides appreciated the efforts to further cement and institutionalize cooperation between Indian States and Russian Regions. +To carry forward the momentum of cooperation between the States and Union Territories of the Republic of India and Subjects of the Russian Federation, both Sides directed further intensification of direct contacts between business, entrepreneurs and governmental bodies on both sides. +The Sides welcomed further efforts aimed at signing of agreements between Assam and Sakhalin, Haryana and Bashkortostan, Goa and Kaliningrad, Odisha and Irkutsk, Visakhapatnam and Vladivostok. +The Sides agreed to encourage participation by regional delegations in major events like Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, Eastern Economic Forum and Partnership/Investment Summits and also welcomed the intention to organize and hold the India-Russia inter-regional forum. +24. The Sides agreed to work together to explore joint projects for productive, efficient and economic use of natural resources in each other’s country through application of appropriate technologies while ensuring affordable environment friendly utilization of natural resources. +The Sides acknowledged the agriculture sector as an important area for cooperation and committed themselves to eliminating trade barriers, greater production and trade in agricultural products. +25. The Sides praised the level of cooperation achieved in diamond sector, including the signing of new long-term contracts for rough diamond supplies by PJSC ALROSA to Indian companies, opening of the ALROSA representative office in Mumbai and joint financing by the ALROSA and the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India of the International Diamonds Producers Association on the development of programmes of generic marketing of diamonds, including in the Indian market. +Both Sides noted recent investments by Indian companies in the diamond manufacturing in the Russian Far East. +The Sides agreed to explore opportunities of joint collaboration in precious metals, minerals, natural resources and forest produce, including timber, through joint investments, production, processing and skilled labour. +26. The Russian Side invited the Indian Side to invest in the Russian Far East. +The Indian Side welcomed the decision to open an office of the Far East Agency in Mumbai. +The Indian delegation, which was led by the Minister for Commerce & Industry, and Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu, participated in the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September 2018. +A high level Russian delegation would visit India to organize investment road-shows and promote greater Indian investments in the Far East. +27. The Sides agreed to actively promote joint projects in third countries in sectors such as railways, energy and others where there is a complementarity between them in terms of technology and resources. +SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY +The Sides also recognized with satisfaction the collaboration between the Department of Science and Technology of India and the Russian Science Foundation. +Both Sides agreed to revive cooperation under the Integrated Long Term Programme for cooperation in the field of Science, Technology and Innovations between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Russian Federation by drawing up a roadmap for further cooperation between different Laboratories, Academia, Universities, Institutions and Organizations in scientific and technology areas of mutual priority. +30. The Sides agreed to further enhance their cooperation in the field of Information and Communications Technology, particularly in Electronics System Design & Manufacturing, Software development, Supercomputing, E-Government, Public Services Delivery, Network Security, Security in the use of Information and Communication Technologies, Fin-tech, Internet of Things, standardization, radio control and regulation of radio frequency spectrum. +The Sides resolved to continue mutual support and synergies at various platforms including BRICS and ITU. +31. The Sides welcomed the signing of the Joint Declaration – “India-Russia Economic Cooperation: The Way Forward” by Minister of Commerce and Industry of India Suresh Prabhu and Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Oreshkin in March 2018 in New Delhi. +They highly appreciated the decision to hold the first ever India-Russia Start-Up Summit in December 2018 by the Confederation of Indian Industries and Skolkovo Foundation. +They welcomed the idea to launch an online portal that would enable startups, investors, incubators and aspiring entrepreneurs of both countries to interact and provide relevant resources to expand and enable globalization of start-ups. +32. The Sides stressed the importance of the longstanding and mutually beneficial India-Russia cooperation in outer space and welcomed the activity on setting up measurement data collection ground stations of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System NavIC and the Russian Navigation Satellite System GLONASS in the territory of the Russian Federation and the Republic of India respectively. +33. The Sides expressed interest in the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the Arctic, inter alia in the sphere of joint scientific research. +The Sides noted with satisfaction the longstanding cooperation of Indian and Russian scientists in the Antarctic. +34. The Sides noted the expansion of linkages between higher education institutions of two countries that became possible thanks to the activities of the India-Russia Network of Universities, which has already met thrice since its establishment in 2015, and whose total membership has reached 42. +36. The Sides acknowledged the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in the energy sector, and encouraged their companies to consider a wide range of opportunities for cooperation, including long-term contracts, joint ventures and acquisitions of energy assets in both countries as well as possible cooperation in third countries. +37. The Sides welcomed the ongoing cooperation between the Russian and Indian energy companies, including investments of Indian consortium in Vankorneft and Taas-YuryakhNeftegazodobycha in Russia and the participation of the PJSC Rosneft oil company in the Essar Oil capital. +The Sides noted with satisfaction the progress made by the companies in the development of comprehensive cooperation and expressed the hope for the completion of negotiations on the Vankor cluster at an early date. +38. The Sides acknowledged the interest of Russian and Indian companies in cooperation in the field of LNG and welcomed the commencement of supply of LNG under the long-term contract between Gazrpom Group and GAIL India Ltd. +39. The Sides expressed their support for continuing the expansion of the dialogue between PJSC NOVATEK and the energy companies of India and welcomed the joint intention to develop cooperation in the field of LNG. +40. The Sides expressed their support to companies from both sides for development of cooperation and exploring opportunities for joint development of oil fields in the Russian territory, including in the Arctic shelf of Russia and joint development of projects on the shelf of the Pechora and Okhotsk Seas. +41. Welcoming the joint-study conducted in 2017 on the gas pipeline supply routes from Russia and other countries to India, both Sides noted the ongoing consultations between the Indian and Russian ministries and companies to explore possibilities of constructing the gas pipeline to India and agreed to continue to consult each other on the possible conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two Ministries. +42. Civil nuclear cooperation between India and Russia is an important component of strategic partnership contributing to India’s energy-security and its commitments under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. +The Sides noted the progress achieved in the construction of the remainder of the six power units at Kudankulam NPP as well as the efforts being made in the components manufacturing for localization. +The Sides welcomed consultations on the new Russian designed NPP in India, as well as on the NPP equipment joint manufacturing of nuclear equipment; cooperation in third countries. +43. The Sides also decided to further explore possibilities of closer cooperation on hydel and renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, including in order to reduce the negative effects of climate change. +MILITARY-TECHNICAL COOPERATION +44. The Sides noted that Military and Military-Technical cooperation between the two countries is an important pillar of their strategic partnership. +They welcomed the forthcoming meeting of the Indian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical cooperation to be held in December 2018. +The Roadmap for Military Cooperation has paved way for greater interaction between the militaries of both countries, including in training, exchange of senior functionaries of the militaries, Staff talks and Exercises. +The Russian Side positively evaluated the Indian participation in the Army Games 2018, Army 2018 and Moscow Conference on International Security. +Both Sides commended the successful completion of the first ever Tri-Services Exercise INDRA 2017 and committed to continue their Joint Military Exercises – INDRA Navy, INDRA Army and Avia INDRA – in 2018. +45. The Sides welcomed the conclusion of the contract for the supply of the S-400 Long Range Surface to Air Missile System to India. +The Sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhance military technical cooperation between India and Russia, which has a long history of mutual trust and mutual benefit. +Both Sides expressed satisfaction at the significant progress made on the ongoing projects of military technical cooperation and recognized the positive shift towards joint research and joint production of military technical equipment between the two countries. +They highly evaluated the Military Industrial Conference process as an important mechanism to promote the “Make in India” policy of the Government of India. +The Sides positively evaluated the meeting of the High-Level Committee on Cooperation in High Technologies set up in November 2017 that identified concrete projects in areas of mutual interest for joint research and development. +INTERNATIONAL ISSUES +46. The sides affirmed “equality, mutual respect and non-interference as universally acknowledged norms of international law as reflected in the United Nations Charter and the 1970 Declaration on principles of international law concerning friendly relations and co-operation among states in accordance with the UN Charter.” +47. The Sides, mentioning the results of the 10th anniversary BRICS Summit in South Africa in July 2018, acknowledged the intention of India and Russia to continue productive interaction in order to enhance strategic partnership within the association, defending priorities of building fair, just, and multipolar world order on the basis of strict observance of international law and the UN Charter. +48. The Sides declared their support to Afghan government’s efforts towards the realization of an Afghan-led, and Afghan-owned national peace reconciliation process. +Concerned with the unabated violence and severely undermined security situation in Afghanistan and its adverse effect on the region, the Sides resolved to work through the Moscow Format, SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan, and all other recognized formats for an early resolution to the long-term conflict in Afghanistan, end to terrorist violence, external safe havens and sanctuaries for terrorists and the worsening drug problem in the country. +Both Sides called upon the international community to join efforts to thwart any external interference in Afghanistan, to restore its economy, contribute to sustaining peace and security, economic and political development of a stable, secure, united, prosperous and independent Afghanistan. +The two Sides will direct their activity to launch joint development and capacity building projects in Afghanistan. +49. The Sides reaffirmed the commitment of India and Russia for a political resolution of the conflict in Syria, through an inclusive Syrian-led, Syrian-owned political process which safeguards the state sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria in pursuance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015). +They reiterated their support for the Geneva process and the mediation offered by the UN, as well as the Astana process, and stressed the complementarity between the two initiatives. +Both Sides called upon all stake holders to actively engage in building a peaceful, stable and sovereign Syrian nation and support the intra-Syrian dialogue without preconditions or external interference. +Both Sides called for enhancing efforts to provide necessary humanitarian assistance to bring the long drawn suffering of the Syrian people to an end soon, bearing in mind urgent reconstruction needs and return of refugees and internally displaced persons. +50. The Sides underlined the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear programme in order to support international peace and security, to strengthen non-proliferation regime and to develop normal economic cooperation with Iran. +They called for all issues related to the Iranian nuclear programme to be resolved peacefully and through dialogue. +51. The Sides welcomed the positive developments in the Korean peninsula and conveyed their support for efforts to bring about lasting peace and stability in this sub-region through diplomacy and dialogue. +Both Sides agreed that while drawing-up the mechanism to resolve the Korean Peninsula issues it is necessary to take into account and address concerns related to its proliferation linkages. +52. The Sides expressed the serious concern about the possibility of an arms race in outer space and of outer space turning into an arena for military confrontation. +They reaffirmed that the prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS), would avert a grave danger for international peace and security. +53. The Sides reaffirmed their determination to support efforts and initiatives aimed at preserving the role of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, and preventing the politicization of the activities of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. +The Indian Side welcomed the Russian Federation’s early completion of destruction of its chemical weapons’ stockpiles, which represents a significant contribution to achieving the goal of creating a world free from chemical weapons. +54. The Sides denounced terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reiterated the need to combat international terrorism with decisive and collective response without any double standards. +The Sides agreed to converge their efforts to eradicate terrorist networks, their sources of financing, arms and fighters supply channels, to counter terrorist ideology, propaganda and recruitment. +То address the threats of chemical and biological terrorism, the Sides supported and emphasized the need for launching multilateral negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament on an international convention for the suppression of acts of chemical and biological terrorism. +55. The Sides reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of international law and the centrality of the United Nations in international relations. +Both Sides would continue to work together to promote a democratic world order based on global and shared interests. +56. The Sides reaffirmed the need to reform the UN Security Council to better reflect the current world order and make it more effective in dealing with emerging global challenges. +Russia reiterated its unwavering support to India for Permanent Membership in an expanded UNSC. +Both Sides resolved to work closely to ensure peace, security and equitable development both regionally and globally and to coordinate their efforts to address challenges to the stability of the world order. +57. The Sides reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. +Both Sides will pursue equitable, open, all-round, innovation-driven and inclusive development, to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental – in a balanced and integrated manner. +They reiterate the important role of the United Nations, including the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, in coordinating and reviewing global implementation of the 2030 Agenda. +They agree on the need to reform the UN Development System with a view to enhancing its capability in supporting Member States in implementing the 2030 Agenda. +Both Sides urged the developed countries to honor their Official Development Assistance commitments in time and in full and provide more development resources to developing countries. +58. The Sides committed to further promote green development and low-carbon economy, in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. +59. The Sides reiterated their commitment to further strengthen global non-proliferation. +Russia expressed its support for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. +In this regard the Sides underlined importance of adoption of relevant resolutions by the UN General Assembly during its 73rd session. +61. The Sides underlined common approaches to ensuring security in the use of ICTs and their willingness to strengthen bilateral inter-agency practical dialogue in furtherance of the intergovernmental Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Security in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies. +62. Both Sides supported the idea of the establishment of Regional Security Architecture, that provides equal and indivisible security to all countries in Asia and in the regions of Pacific and Indian Oceans. +The Sides emphasized the importance of the continuation of the multilateral dialogue on this theme within the framework of the East Asia Summits and other regional fora. +63. The Sides confirmed their determination to enhance interaction and coordination of efforts in the regional multilateral fora such as BRICS, G-20, SCO, RIC and East Asia Summits. +India expressed its aspiration to broaden cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union. +64. The Sides noted that the participation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi in the SCO Heads of State Council Meeting in Qingdao in June 2018 marked successful involvement of India in the work of the Organization as a full-fledged member. +The Sides, confirming their commitment to the SCO Charter, norms and principles of international law, will continue coordinated efforts to further realize the potential of the Organization in all directions of its activities. +Russia welcomed the participation of India in the counter-terror military exercise “Peace Mission – 2018”. +Both Sides consider the goal of developing an economic component of SCO as an important one, including realization of transportation and infrastructure projects aimed at providing interconnection within the SCO Organization and with observers, partner countries, as well as other interested states. +The Sides agreed to deepen cultural and humanitarian ties within the SCO. +65. The Sides stand for strengthening of open, inclusive, transparent, non-discriminatory and rules-based multilateral trade system and prevention of fragmentation of international trade relations and trade protectionism in all forms. +66. India welcomed the initiative of Russia to create a Larger Eurasian Partnership that stipulates conjugation of national development strategies and multilateral integration projects in the interests of building effective platform of constructive cooperation based on strict observance of the international law, principles of equality, mutual respect and taking in account each other national perspectives. +67. The Sides expressed their satisfaction on the progress in India – Russia relations, shared interests and similar positions on issues of bilateral and international importance and agreed to continue this trajectory of closer cooperation, coordination and consolidation of gains to surge ahead the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership of India and Russia for the mutual prosperity of people of both countries. +68. President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin thanked Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi for the hospitality extended and invited him to visit Russia for the 20th Annual Summit in 2019. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepted the invitation with great pleasure. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his best wishes all the participants of T20 World Cup for the Blind-2017 +A warm welcome & best wishes to all the teams & supporting staff who have come to participate in the T20 World Cup for the Blind 2017. +The T20 World Cup will showcase quality sporting talent among the players & will popularise cricket among blind persons. +Here is the Anthem of the T20 World Cup for the blind: “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0EN-zqS530” the Prime Minister said. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister began by congratulating the team which enabled India to successfully host the BRICS Summit in Goa a few weeks ago. +The Prime Minister appreciated the State of Goa, for its progress. +Talking about the Airport project, the Prime Minister said he is happy that the promise made by former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee is being fulfilled. +He said this will benefit Goa, and give an impetus to tourism. +He said the Union Government has taken a key step to help the honest citizens of India, in defeating the menace of black money. +The Prime Minister thanked all those who have been contributing to ensuring the success of the demonetization exercise. +He said he also feels the pain, and these steps taken were not a display of arrogance. +He said that he has seen poverty, and understands people’s problems. +He recalled that in 2014, people had voted to free the nation from corruption. +He also mentioned the various steps that have been taken by the Union Government to curb black money. +The Prime Minister said that if any money has been looted in India and has left Indian shores, it is our duty to find out about it. +As a follow-up to Prime Minister’s exhortation to Secretaries to come up with ideas for transformative change in various areas of governance, the first Group of Secretaries (out of eight groups) presented their ideas and suggestions on Energy Conservation and Efficiency to the Prime Minister. +During and after the presentation, several members of the audience, including the Prime Minister asked questions related to the theme of the presentation, and gave their suggestions. +The Prime Minister appreciated the presentation and said that the Secretaries had completed their assignment much the same way that he had envisaged. +He also appreciated the interjections and suggestions, and complimented all those involved in the presentation for the day. +Our thoughts are with the people of Saudi Arabia, who have lost a guiding force in King Abdullah, during this hour of grief. +A few days ago I spoke to Crown Prince Salman and enquired about King Abdullah`s health. +News of King Abdullah`s passing away is saddening”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratification of the Bay of Bengal Initiative on Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. +The Ministry of Home Affairs has been designated as the Central Authority under Article 15 of the Convention. +The BIMSTEC comprises of seven countries viz., Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. +The establishment of regional arrangements for mutual assistance in criminal matters will greatly contribute to more effective cooperation in the control of criminal activities. +The Convention aims to extend widest measures of assistance to each other through mutual cooperation for enhancing capability and effectiveness of the Member States in investigation and prosecution of crimes, including crimes related to terrorism, transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering and cyber-crimes. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with the Commonwealth Games 2018 medal winners in Table Tennis. +The sportspersons had called on the Prime Minister at Parliament House, New Delhi. +The Prime Minister congratulated the medal winners for their exemplary performance in the international arena. +He added that their performance have made the entire nation proud. +Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports, Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the students, who passed CBSE Class X exams. +“To all my young friends who passed the CBSE Class X exams- Congratulations and best wishes for the continuing academic journey”, the Prime Minister said. +In a determined bid to recast the urban landscape of the country to make urban areas more livable and inclusive besides driving the economic growth, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved Central Government spending of about one lakh crore on urban development under two new urban missions over the next five years. +Under the Smart Cities Mission, each selected city would get central assistance of Rs.100 crore per year for five years. +Smart City aspirants will be selected through a ‘City Challenge Competition’ intended to link financing with the ability of the cities to perform to achieve the mission objectives. +Each state will shortlist a certain number of smart city aspirants as per the norms to be indicated and they will prepare smart city proposals for further evaluation for extending Central support. +This Mission of building 100 smart cities intends to promote adoption of smart solutions for efficient use of available assets, resources and infrastructure with the objective of enhancing the quality of urban life and providing a clean and sustainable environment. +Special emphasis will be given to participation of citizens in prioritizing and planning urban interventions. +The two missions are interlinked. +Implementation of this Mission will be linked to promotion of urban reforms such as e-governance, constitution of professional municipal cadre, devolving funds and functions to urban local bodies, review of Building bye-laws, improvement in assessment and collection of municipal taxes, credit rating of urban local bodies, energy and water audit and citizen-centric urban planning. +This would also result in compliance of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its Order dated 8thOctober, 2013. +The idea of an additional layer of transparency for the satisfaction of voters in the form of a ‘voter verifiable paper trail’ was suggested by the political parties in a meeting taken by the ECI on 4th October, 2010. +Accordingly, introduction of the VVPAT was facilitated by amending the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 vide Notification dated 14th August, 2013. +Thereafter, 20,300 VVPAT Units were purchased by the ECI in 2013. +Since then, these units are being deployed in elections in select Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies. +Subsequently, order for 67,000 additional Units was placed in 2015, out of which 33,500 Units have been supplied by the manufacturers. +Requisite funds for purchase of the aforesaid number of VVPAT Units were provided by the Government as and when requested by the Election Commission. +VVPAT device functions like a printer to be attached to the ballot unit and kept inside the voting compartment. +When the voter presses the button against the name of the candidate of his choice on the Ballot Unit, the VVPAT unit generates a paper slip, called Ballot Slip. +This paper slip contains the name, serial number and symbol of the chosen candidate. +Civil Appeal No.9093/2013 was filed by Dr. Subramanian Swamy pleading for directions to the Election Commission to use VVPAT Units in all polling booths. +It wasalleged in the said Petition, that the Electronic Voting Machines are not reliable and that there should be some device by which the voter should get a confirmation that the vote cast by him has been recorded in favour of the candidate of his choice. +In deference to the plea of the petitioner in the aforesaid CA, the Election Commission submitted that it has no objection to the introduction of VVPAT Units for conduct of free, fair and transparent elections. +The Supreme Court in its Order dated 8th October, 2013 directed that for implementation of such a system of VVPAT in phased manner Government of India may provide required financial assistance for procurement of requisite number of VVPAT Units. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of former Kerala and Bihar Governor, Shri R S Gavai. +“Shri RS Gavai was a very experienced public figure, serving in the Maharashtra Legislative Council and as Governor of Bihar and Kerala. +We will always remember Shri R S Gavai’s contribution towards welfare of poor and marginalised. +My condolences to his family on his demise”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, had a fruitful telephonic conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on arrival in Frankfurt today, while returning to Delhi after the BRICS Summit in Brasilia. +The Prime Minister complimented the German Chancellor on the splendid victory of the German football team and also conveyed his good wishes to Chancellor Merkel on her 60th birthday which is today. +The Prime Minister conveyed that India regards Germany as a very important partner and that his Government will work closely with the German side to strengthen and deepen the bilateral strategic partnership. +The two leaders also briefly discussed areas of bilateral cooperation including through skill development. +The German Chancellor has invited India to be a partner country at the Hanover trade fair in 2015. +The two leaders agreed to meet at the earliest opportunity. +Chancellor Merkel extended a standing invitation to the Prime Minister for an official bilateral visit to Germany. +At the invitation of Prime Minister Löfven, Prime Minister Modi paid an official visit to Stockholm on 16-17 April 2018. +Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Löfven met on 17 April and recalled their Joint Statement issued in Mumbai in 2016, welcomed progress so far on its implementation and reconfirmed their commitment to the Joint Statement as the overall political framework for cooperation. +India and Sweden share values of democracy, rule of law, respect of human rights, pluralism and a rule-based international order. +Both sides agreed to continue security policy dialogue at the level of National Security Advisors, in line with the Joint Statement. +Both Prime Ministers agreed to close cooperation in the UN, and other multilateral fora. +Theytook note of the UN Secretary-General’s reform efforts to ensure a UN fit to support Member States to deliver on Agenda 2030. +They alsoreaffirmed the need for reform of the UN Security Council, including its expansion, to make it more representative, accountable, effective, and responsive to the realities of the 21st century. +Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Löfven for Sweden’s support to India’s candidature for non-permanent membership of United Nations Security Council (2021-22) and for Sweden’s support to India’s permanent membership of a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council. +Both Prime Ministers expressed their commitment to support and strengthen global export control, non-proliferation and disarmament objectives and looked forward to close cooperation in these areas. +Prime Minister Löfven welcomed India’s recent accession to the international export control regimes, including to Australia Group (AG), Wassenaar Arrangement (WA),Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR),and The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC), and expressed support for India’s membership of the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG). +Both Prime Ministers called for greater unity and stronger international partnership to counter terrorism, disrupt terrorist networks and financing, and to prevent violent extremism. +They emphasized that the global counter terrorism legal framework should be regularly updated to address the changing threat of terrorism with strength, and underscored that any measures taken to counter terrorism comply with international law. +In this regard both countries called for an early finalisation of the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). +• Initiate a multi-stake holder Innovation Partnership for a Sustainable Future, underpinning our mutual commitment todrive prosperity and growth and address societal challenges such as climate change and sustainable development through innovation. +• Carry out dialogue and cooperative activities in the field of intellectual property rights under the MoU signed between the Swedish Patent Registration Office and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion of India. +• Encourage trade and facilitate investment in both directions, such as Sweden’s investment in India through ‘Invest India’ and Indian investment in Sweden through ‘Business Sweden’. – +• Encourage the work of the India-Sweden Business Leaders Round Table (ISBLRT) to further strengthen India-Sweden business cooperation within inter alia smart cities, digitization, skills development and defence, and to move its relations, ideas, partnerships and recommendations forward. +Smart Cities and Next Generation Transport +• Exchange knowledge and explore cooperation on smart cities, including transit-oriented urban development, air pollution control, waste management, waste-to-energy, waste-water treatment, district cooling and circular economy, including through dialogue and capacity building. – +• Exchange know-how and explore cooperation in the areas of electro-mobility as well as renewable fuels. +• Exchange know-how and explore cooperation in the area of railways, such asrailway policy development, safety, training and operation and maintenance of railways. +Smart, sustainable and renewable energy +• Engage and seek mutual collaboration on the demonstration and development of smart grid technologies such as smart metering, demand response, power quality management, distribution automation, electric vehicle/charging infrastructure as well as renewable integration, through research, capacity building,policy cooperation and learning on market design prerequisites including business models. +• Expand research, innovation and business cooperation on new innovative energy technologies through the India-Sweden Innovations’ Accelerator, focusing on technologies to utilise renewable energy and energy efficiency. +Women’s skills development and empowerment +• Explore the finalization of a bilateral agreement on exchange and mutual protection of classified information for cooperation in the defence area. +• Enhance Indo-Swedish dialogue on defence cooperation. +Proceed with India-Sweden defence seminars in India and Sweden in 2018-19 and explore, together with the ISBLRT, opportunities for investment in Defence Production Corridors in India +• Encourage industry partners to develop supply chains for small and medium sized enterprises (SME) with major Defence & Aerospace Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) +Encourage the space agencies and other space entities to enhance space cooperation under the Memorandum of Understanding, particularly in Earth observation, planetary exploration and satellite ground station activities, through inter alia an Indo-Swedish Space Seminar and a visit by an Indian delegation to Swedish space establishments. +• Explore possible collaboration between the European Spallation Source (ESS), hosted by Sweden, and Indian partners. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will dedicate to the nation, the naval submarine INS Kalvari, at Mumbai on Thursday. +The INS Kalvari is a diesel-electric attack submarine that has been built for the Indian Navy by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. +The project has been undertaken with French collaboration. +The Prime Minister will dedicate the submarine at the Naval Dockyard, in the presence of the Defence Minister, important dignitaries of the Maharashtra Government, and senior Naval Officers. +He will address the gathering, and undertake a visit of the submarine. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited Bengaluru. +The Prime Minister received German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Bosch Engineering and Innovation in Bengaluru. +The two leaders were given an overview of the solutions being developed to serve the common man, in areas such as detection of eye disease, and immediate assistance to accident victims. +At the Bosch Vocational Centre, the two leaders were briefed on skill development programmes being run for school drop-outs. +The Prime Minister and the German Chancellor attended a business forum organized by NASSCOM and the Fraunhofer Institute. +In his address, the Prime Minister reiterated that at a time of global slowdown, India represents a bright spot for investments. +The Prime Minister gave an overview of the steps taken by the Government to address the long-pending concerns of investors. +He also talked about the various opportunities for investment that exist in India. +“We want your active involvement in translating our dreams into reality. +Our commitment and aggressiveness to achieve the goal in a faster and effective manner offers immense opportunities to German Companies. +These opportunities range from building 50 million houses to setting up 100 smart cities; modernization of our railway network and stations to setting up of new railway corridors; generation of 175 GW of renewable energy to construction of transmission and distribution networks, National Highways, bridges, and Metro rails. +Such a huge potential for creation and production will not be available in any one country. +More importantly, no one place on the earth can offer the potential for consumption on such a massive scale. +We are trying to power this potential through our campaigns like Digital India and Skill India. +To tap the energy fully, we have launched the Start up India Campaign,” the Prime Minister said. +Therefore, it makes strong business sense to be in India. +It makes even better business sense to Make in India,” the Prime Minister said. +“I laud Chancellor Merkel for her vision where German engineering and Indian IT fuse to create world class products. +As she leaves India, gratitude to Chancellor Merkel. +This has been a productive visit, which has taken India-Germany ties to newer heights,” the Prime Minister tweeted. +The collage was presented at the beginning of the bilateral talks between the two leaders at the Australian Parliament in Canberra. +Mr. John Lang had intervened on behalf of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, writing a memorandum dated June 08, 1854, to Governor General Lord Dalhousie on the Doctrine of Lapse. +Interestingly, Rani Lakshmibai originally hailed from Varanasi, the constituency now represented in the Lok Sabha by the Prime Minister. +A photograph and the related documents of the Memorandum were a part of this unique gift which Shri Narendra Modi presented to Mr. Tony Abbott. +The collage contains the following other significant photographs: +1. Photo of Marriage Certificate of John Lang with Margaret Wetter, Christ Church of Mussoorie, India, 11 May 1861 +2. Photo of John Lang`s final resting place, Camel`s Back Road Cemetery, Mussoorie, India +3. Photo of a Commemorative Plaque in memory of John Lang, Christ Church of Mussoorie, India +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will be on an official visit to Kutch district of Gujarat from December 18th to 20th, 2015. +The Prime Minister will arrive in Bhuj. +The Prime Minister had received this certificate in London during his visit to the United Kingdom in November 2015. +The Prime Minister will then proceed to Dhordo. +The Prime Minister will attend the Conference of Directors General of Police at Dhordo, from 18th to 20th December. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to enhance the age of superannuation of General Duty Medical Officers, Specialist Grade doctors and Teaching medical faculty working in Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre, Bhopal to sixty-five years at par with doctors of Central Health Services and doctors working under other Central government hospitals/institutes. +The age of superannuation in respect of General Duty Medical Officers and Specialists included in Teaching, Non-Teaching and Public Health sub-cadres of Central Health Services was increased to sixty-five years vide a Notification in January, 2018. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the progress under National Health Mission (NHM). +The Cabinet was also apprised of the decisions of the Empowered Programme Committee (EPC) and Mission Steering Group (MSG) of NHM. +National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched in April 2005 and it morphed into National Health Mission (NHM) with launch of National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) during 2013. +Thereafter, NRHM and NUHM became two sub-missions under the overarching NHM. +Cabinet noted the progress under NHM including accelerated decline in MMR, IMR, U5MR and TFR. +It also noted the progress in respect of various disease control programmes like TB, Malaria, Leprosy etc. +The Cabinet noted that: +• The rate of decline in U5MR during NHM period has nearly doubled. +• With the rate of decline achieved in MMR, India would have achieved the target of MDG 5. +• Millennium Development Goal 6 of halting and reversing the incidence of Malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS had been achieved. +To provide impetus for uptake of PPIUCD and Post-Abortion Intra-Uterine Contraceptive Device (PAIUCD) services, proposals for provision of incentives to the acceptor of PPIUCD services and incentives on the same pattern for PAIUCD were placed before the MSG. +• Achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable & quality healthcare services that are accountable and responsive to people’s needs. +• Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR): Declined from 59 in 2010 to 43 in 2015. +Percentage annual rate of decline during 2010-2015 has accelerated to 6.1% from 3.7% observed during 1990-2010. +Annual rate of decline in 2014-15 was 4.4%. +Subsequent data is yet to be notified by RGI. +Prevalence per 100000 population reduced from 465 in 1990 to 195 in 2014. +Similarly, incidence of TB per 100000 population also been reduced from 289 in 2000 to 247 in 2010 and to 217 in 2015. +• Filariasis – Till 31st March 2017, 94 districts achieved <1% Mf rate out of 256 endemic districts which was validated by Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) and successfully stopped Mass Drug Administration (MDA). +In the period from 2012-13 to 2016-17, the amount released to States and UTs was 88,353.59 crore (including kind grants) while Rs 18,436.03 crore (including kind grants) was released to States and UTs during the financial year 2016-17. +Public health facilities carried out 1.55 crore surgeries during 2016-17. +It will cover all States and Districts in the country. +Programmes already running: +National Health Mission (NHM), has two Sub-Missions, viz. the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). +While NRHM was launched in April 2005, launch of NUHM was approved by the Cabinet on 1stMay 2013. +NHM envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable & quality healthcare services that are accountable and responsive to people’s needs. +The main programmatic components include Health System Strengthening in rural and urban areas, Reproductive-Maternal-Neonatal-Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) interventions and control of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases. +Progress under NHM during 2016-17 is as under: +The following initiatives were also rolled out under NHM during 2016-17:- +New Vaccines roll out: +• Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccine: Rubella vaccine introduced in Universal Immunization Programme as Measles-Rubella combination vaccine to provide protection against congenital birth defects caused by Rubella infection. +The vaccine was introduced on 5th February 2017, initially in five states namely Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Puducherry & Lakshadweep though MR vaccination campaign for children aged between 9 months and 15 year. +Till 31st March 2017, 3.32 crore children were vaccinated in MR vaccination campaign in these States. +Mission Indradhanush (MI) +A total of 528 districts were covered in the four phases of Mission Indradhanush. +During the three phases and ongoing fourth phase of Mission Indradhanush, as on 31st March’ 2017, around 2.11 crore children were reached of which 55 lakhs children were fully immunized. +• During 2016-17, Mission Indradhanush Phase-3 was carried out in 216 districts during which around 61.84 lakh children were reached of which 16.28 lakh children were fully immunized. +Further, 17.78 lakh pregnant women were also vaccinated with Tetanus Toxoid. +Free Drugs Service Initiative: +Free Diagnostics Service Initiative: +Bio Medical Equipment Maintenance: +• Aim – reduce dysfunctional rate of bio-medical equipment in public health facilities valuing about Rs 11,000 crores (varies between 20% -60% in States) +Launch of Kayakalp- an initiative for Award to Public Health Facilities: +Kilkari & Mobile Academy: +• A 360o holistic Family Planning campaign with a new logo launched. +The Cabinet approvals of the NHM framework provided for setting up of the Mission Steering Group (MSG), chaired by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare with 10 Ministers of related Ministries, 16 Secretaries, 10 independent experts, 4 State Secretaries etc and the Empowered Programme Committee (EPC), chaired by the Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare. +Besides policy guidance and oversight, these bodies have been delegated powers to provide and approve/ modify financial norms in respect of all schemes and components that are part of NRHM. +The Cabinet approval further stipulates that exercise of these delegated powers would be subject to the condition that a progress report regarding N(R)HM, along with deviation in financial norms, modifications in ongoing schemes and details of new schemes be placed before the Cabinet for information on an annual basis. +Says the agreement demonstrates the collective wisdom of world leaders. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has said that climate justice has won at the recently concluded Paris Climate Change Conference. +The Prime Minister has said that the deliberations at COP 21 and Paris Agreement has demonstrated the collective wisdom of world leaders to mitigate climate change. +Sharing his sentiments in a series of tweets the Prime Minister observed that the outcome of Paris Agreement has no winners or losers. +“Deliberations at COP21 and Paris Agreement demonstrates the collective wisdom of world leaders to mitigate climate change. +Climate change remains a challenge but Paris Agreement demonstrates how every nation rose to the challenge, working towards a solution. +Outcome of Paris Agreement has no winners or losers. +Climate justice has won and we are all working towards a greener future,” the Prime Minister tweeted. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Karnataka tomorrow – 29-10-2017. +He will address three public meetings in the course of the day. +He will begin his visit to the State by offering prayers at the Shri Manjunatha Swamy Temple at Dharmasthala. +He will address a public meeting, and distribute RuPay cards to beneficiaries at the Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project, at Ujire. +This will enable the Self Help Groups to begin cashless digital transactions. +The Prime Minister will then travel to Bengaluru, where he will address the gathering at the Dashamah Soundarya Lahari Parayanotsava Mahasarmapane. +The Soundarya Lahari is a set of shlokas composed by Adi Shankaracharya. +The event has been organized for the mass chanting of these shlokas in unison. +Later in the day, at Bidar, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Bidar – Kalaburagi New Railway Line. +He will also address a public meeting. +Addressing the Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards function at the Balyogi Auditorium in Parliament Library today, the Prime Minister urged the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to convene a meeting of Speakers of all Vidhan Sabhas, so that the practice of awarding outstanding legislators could be extended to the states as well. +Complimenting the three award winners – Shri Arun Jaitley, Shri Karan Singh and Shri Sharad Yadav – for their contribution to Parliament, the Prime Minister hoped that younger MPs would learn from the examples set by them. +This may be an eye-opener, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister regretted the decline of the use of wit and humour in the proceedings of Parliament in recent years. +The Prime Minister said sharp comments can give us space for a short time – but cannot impact or inspire. +He said the time had come when every sentence said in Parliament should be an inspiration for the country. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to proposal for dissolution of Central Inland Water Transport Corporation Limited (CIWTC). +The Voluntary Retirement Scheme for CIWTC was implemented in the year 2015 as per decision of ‘the Cabinet on 24.12.2014. +Due to inherent limitation and infrastructure bottle necks, the operations of CIWTC could never become viable and company has been incurring losses since inception. +The Company has only five employees at present. +In line with the decision of the Government to revitalize sick CPSUs wherever possible or to wind up irretrievable cases, the dissolution of the CIWTC would be initiated after disposal of movable and immovable assets. +This would free up the assets for better utilization and for the benefit of the people. +A number of assets would be taken up by Inland Waterways Authority of India to provide services on Brahmputra River (NW-4). +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, was apprised about an MoU signed in February, 2019 between India and Argentine on Antarctic cooperation. +The MoU will help scientific cooperation on projects in the fields of Earth sciences, as well as those related to the protection and conservation of the natural environment of Antarctica and the Southern Oceans. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Bahadurgarh-Mundka Metro Line via video conference. +Congratulating the people of Haryana and Delhi on the commencement of this new section of the Delhi Metro, he said he was happy to see Bahadurgarh connected with the Delhi Metro. +This is the third place in Haryana, after Gurugram and Faridabad to be connected like this. +The Prime Minister spoke of how the Metro in Delhi has positively impacted the lives of citizens. +Noting that Bahadurgarh is witnessing tremendous economic growth, the Prime Minister said that there are several educational centres there, and students from there even travel to Delhi. +The Metro will make this more convenient, he added. +Shri Narendra Modi said that there is a direct link between connectivity and development. +He said the Metro will mean more employment opportunities for the people in the area. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government has brought out a policy relating to Metros, to bring uniformity and standardization in metro rail networks across the country. +He said the objective is to build convenient, comfortable and affordable urban transport systems in our cities. +There is focus on connectivity and on ensuring that development projects are completed on time, he added. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will leave for a two-Nation tour early tomorrow morning (September 23, 2015). +The Prime Minister will arrive in Dublin, Ireland where he will hold talks with Mr. Enda Kenny, the Taoiseach of Ireland. +The Prime Minister arrives in New York City tomorrow evening (local time). +I am pleased to be here today to mark twenty years of Bloomberg’s presence in India. +During that period, Bloomberg has provided intelligent commentary and incisive analysis of India’s economy. +It has become an essential part of the finance landscape. +Apart from that, I am grateful for the valuable advice that we have received from Mr. Michael Bloomberg in the design of our Smart Cities programme. +As Mayor of one of the world’s great cities, Mr. Bloomberg has personal insight into what makes a city tick. +His ideas have enriched the design of our Smart Cities programme. +Under this programme, we hope to create one hundred cities which will become role models for urban development throughout the country. +The world expects much from India, in terms of contributing to global growth. +To the extent that time permits, I would like to place before you my thoughts on how India intends to meet the challenge. +I will touch upon three major areas. +Firstly, I will discuss India’s economic growth. +Secondly, I will outline some of the administrative and policy reforms that have created and will sustain that growth. +Thirdly, I will elaborate on an aspect of economic development which is of particular importance to me, namely job creation. +Experts are unanimous that India is one of the world economy’s brightest spots. +We have low inflation, a low balance of payments current account deficit, and a high rate of growth. +This is the result of good policy, not good fortune. +This was a steeper fall than between 2014 and 2015. +But in 2015-16, all three have improved, from a lower base. +• Many other emerging economies also depend on imported oil. +If oil prices were the driver of success, those countries would all be showing similar results. +But they are not. +• We have not been lucky with global trade or growth. +Both are low, and have not helped us in terms of export stimulus. +• We have not been lucky with monsoons or weather. +2015 and 2014 have both been drought years. +Drought was compounded by unseasonal hail storms. +Yet food grain production has remained much higher, and inflation much lower, than in the last comparable drought year, which was 2009-10. +The fact is that India’s economic success is the hard-won result of prudence, sound policy and effective management. +I will elaborate on some of our policies later, but for now let me emphasize just one; fiscal consolidation. +We have met ambitious fiscal targets in each of the previous two fiscal years. +We have reduced the deficit even while increasing capital expenditure. +And the reduction has come despite an unprecedented steep cut in the Centre’s share of tax revenues, in the award of the fourteenth Finance Commission. +For 2016-17, we have targeted a fiscal deficit of 3.5 per cent of GDP. +This will be the second lowest level in the last 40 years. +Our growth rate is acknowledged as the highest among major economies. +There are some who remain confused and have said that the growth rate does not ‘feel’ right. +Perhaps I can be of some assistance to them in reducing the confusion, by stating facts in place of feelings. +Let us first look at credit. +There has been a smart pick-up in credit growth after September 2015. +Credit off-take between February 2015 and February 2016 increased by 11.5 per cent. +The overall fund flow to the corporate sector through equity and borrowings of various kinds, domestic and foreign, has increased in the first three quarters of 2015-16 by over 30 per cent. +There are some very interesting figures on credit ratings. +In 2013 and 2014, the number of firms whose credit rating was downgraded was much higher than those who were upgraded. +That has now changed decisively. +Upgrades are up and downgrades are down. +In the first half of fiscal year 2015-16, for every company getting a downgrade, there were more than two companies which received upgrades, the best level in recent years. +Among firms with low levels of leverage, the situation is even better. +Upgrades exceed downgrades by a huge margin. +The number of upgrades is 6.8 times the number of downgrades for large firms with low leverage; for medium-sized firms the ratio is 3.9; and for small firms it is 6.3. +These are exceptionally robust numbers. +The only segment showing an increase in downgrades is highly leveraged large firms. +The Government and Reserve Bank have taken tough action to recover dues from large corporate defaulters. +Perhaps the noise from this segment has influenced media perceptions. +Moving from credit to investment, net foreign direct investment in the third quarter of the current financial year was an all-time record. +But to me, more interesting is the dramatic increase in certain important sectors. +These are sectors that are closely connected with the rural economy. +I am thrilled to see that foreign investment is flowing into them. +In the year to September 2015, FDI in construction activities showed 316 per cent growth. +Computer software and hardware had 285 per cent growth. +FDI in the automobile industry grew 71 per cent. +This is concrete evidence that the Make in India policy is having effect in employment intensive sectors. +In a difficult global environment for exports, manufacturing output has fluctuated. +However, several key sub-sectors of manufacturing are growing rapidly. +Motor vehicle production, which is a strong indicator of consumer purchasing power and economic activity, has grown at 7.6 per cent. +The employment-intensive wearing apparel sector has grown at 8.7 per cent. +Manufacturing of furniture has grown by 57 per cent, suggesting a pick-up in sales of flats and houses. +Looking towards the future, let me turn to agriculture. +In the past, the emphasis has been on agricultural output, rather than on farmers’ incomes. +I have set the objective of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. +I have laid this out as a challenge, but it is not merely a challenge. +With a good strategy, well-designed programmes, adequate resources and good governance in implementation, this target is achievable. +And, as a large share of our population depends on agriculture, a doubling of farmers’ incomes will have strong benefits for other sectors of the economy. +Let me outline our strategy. +• First, we have introduced a big focus on irrigation with a large increase in budgets. +We are taking a holistic approach which combines irrigation with water conservation. +The aim is ‘per drop, more crop’. +• Second, we are focusing on provision of quality seeds and on efficiency of nutrient use. +The provision of soil health cards enables accurate selection of inputs according to the requirements of each field. +These will lower costs of production and increase net income. +• Third, a large portion of the harvest is lost before it reaches the consumer. +We are reducing post-harvest losses through big investments in warehousing infrastructure and cold chain. +We have greatly increased the outlay for agricultural infrastructure. +• Fourth, we are promoting value addition through food processing. +As an example, in response to a call from me, Coca Cola has recently started adding fruit juice to some of its aerated drinks. +• Fifth, we are creating a national agricultural market and removing distortions. +A common electronic market platform is being introduced across 585 regulated wholesale markets. +We want to ensure that a higher share of the final price goes to the farmer, with less going to middlemen. +The introduction of FDI in marketing of domestic food products in this budget is with the same objective. +• Sixth, we have introduced the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. +It is a comprehensive nationwide crop insurance programme which offers farmers protection from risks beyond their control, at an affordable cost. +This scheme will ensure that their incomes are protected in times of adverse weather. +• Seventh, we will increase income from ancillary activities. +Partly this will be through poultry, honey bees, farm ponds and fisheries. +We are also encouraging farmers to use uncultivated portions of their land, especially boundaries between fields, for growing timber and placing solar cells. +Through a combination of +• growth in production, • more efficient input use, • reduction in post-harvest losses, • higher value addition, • reduced marketing margins, • risk mitigation • and ancillary activities, +I am confident we will achieve the targeted doubling of farmers’ income. +I am happy to note that Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, the doyen of Indian agriculture, seems to agree. +He wrote to me after the budget expressing gratitude for the farmer-centric budget. +Seeds have been sown for agricultural transformation and for attracting and retaining youth in farming. +The dawn of a new era in farming is in sight.” +Let me now turn to some of the programmes and policies that underpin our growth. +As I have said before, my goal is ‘Reform to Transform’: the aim of reform is to transform the lives of ordinary people. +Let me start with administrative reforms and our focus on execution. +In a country like India, resources are scarce, while problems are abundant. +An intelligent strategy is to optimize use of resources through efficiency in implementation. +Mere announcement of policies, or so-called policies, achieves little. +Even more than reformed policies, we need transformed execution. +Let me illustrate. +The National Food Security Act was passed in 2013 but remained without implementation in most states. +In the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, much of the expenditure was leaking out to touts, middlemen and the non-poor, though expenditure was recorded in the books. +We are now implementing the Food Security Act nationwide. +We have drastically reduced leakages in the Employment Guarantee scheme and ensured that money reaches those for whom it is intended. +We have focused on creating durable assets that benefit the population, rather than the touts. +And instead of talking about the virtues of financial inclusion, we have actually completed the task and brought over 200 million people into the banking system. +Our record on implementation in general, and reduction in corruption in particular, is now well understood. +So I will be brief. +Coal, minerals and spectrum have been auctioned transparently raising large amounts. +Managerial improvements have resulted in elimination of the power shortage, a record high in highway construction per day and record port through-put. +We have launched a number of new programmes across various sectors. +Many legacy issues have been solved. +The number of stalled projects has declined. +The long-closed Dabhol power plant is operational again thanks to our coordinated efforts, and is generating power, saving jobs and avoiding bad debts for the banks. +Let me now turn to policy reforms. +I have referred to the durable reduction in inflation since this Government took office. +This is partly attributable to bold measures taken to strengthen monetary policy. +Last year, we entered into a Monetary Framework Agreement with the Reserve Bank of India. +This year we have introduced in the Finance Bill, amendments to the Reserve Bank of India Act. +Under these amendments, the RBI will have an inflation target and will set monetary policy through a Monetary Policy Committee. +The committee will have no members from the Government. +Through this reform, monetary policy will acquire an inflation focus and a level of institutional autonomy unprecedented in major emerging markets, and greater than several developed countries. +Together with our adherence to the path of fiscal consolidation, this is a testimony to our strong commitment to macro-economic prudence and stability. +Another major policy reform is in the petroleum sector. +Under the new Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy, there will be pricing and marketing freedom and a transparent revenue-sharing methodology. +This will eliminate many layers of bureaucratic controls. +For on-going projects which have not been developed, we have also given marketing and pricing freedom, subject to a transparent ceiling based on published import parity prices. +For renewal of existing Production Sharing Contracts, we have introduced a transparent method involving a flat percentage increase in Government profit share. +This removes discretion and uncertainty. +Parliament has passed the Real Estate Regulation Act which will go a long way in transforming the real estate market, protecting buyers and promoting honest and healthy practices. +Along with the passing of this long pending bill, we have introduced tax incentives for developers and buyers of housing for the neo-middle class and the poor. +The UDAY scheme in the power sector has permanently changed the incentive structure for State Governments. +Ambitious operational targets are backed by credible incentives to perform. +Under this scheme, in a phased manner, State Governments will have to take over losses of distribution companies and count them against their fiscal deficit targets. +This imposes a hard budget constraint on the states. +It creates a powerful incentive for states to manage the electricity sector efficiently. +Already nine states accounting for over forty per cent of the total debt of distribution companies, have entered into Memoranda of Understanding with the Central Government. +Another nine have agreed to do so. +You are probably aware of this government’s sweeping policy reforms in renewable energy. +Yet, this month the International Energy Agency has reported that a surge in renewables has already halted global growth in energy-related carbon emissions. +Parliament has recently passed a new law on inland waterways which will enable the rapid development of this efficient mode of transport. +This will increase the number of navigable waterways from 5 to 106. +Foreign Direct Investment policy has been transformed by allowing investment in hitherto closed sectors like Railways and Defence, and enhancing investment limits in insurance and many other sectors. +These reforms are already bearing fruit. +Two new locomotive factories involving an investment of over 5 billion dollars are being built in Bihar, by GE and Alstom. +In insurance, 9600 crore rupees, approximately 1500 million dollars of FDI, in 12 companies, from leading global insurers has already been approved. +We have enhanced the limits for foreign investment in stock exchanges and allowed them to be listed. +I am sure, you are aware, of the reforms we have undertaken to promote private equity venture capital, and an eco-system for start-ups. +I note that this ‘new economy’ is the focus of your panel discussions. +Finally, let me turn to the major steps we have taken in the area of generating employment. +This is one of my highest priorities. +India is a capital scarce, labour abundant country. +Yet, the corporate tax structure has favoured capital intensive production. +Tax benefits like accelerated depreciation, and investment allowance have created an artificial bias against labour. +Labour regulations have also tended to promote informal employment without social protection, rather than formal employment. +We have taken two important steps to change this. +Firstly, if any firm subject to tax audit increases its work force, it will get a 30 per cent weighted tax deduction on the extra wage cost for three years. +Earlier, such a benefit was available only to very few industrial employers and had so many restrictions that it was practically ineffective. +It will now cover all sectors including services, for employees with a salary up to 25,000 rupees per month. +Secondly, the Government has taken the responsibility for paying pension contributions for three years for all new persons enrolling in the Employee Provident Fund. +This will apply to those with wages up to 15,000 rupees per month. +We expect lakhs of the unemployed, and the informally employed, to benefit from these steps. +In a reform to eliminate corruption in government recruitments, we have abolished interviews for lower and middle level positions. +They will now be filled on the basis of transparent examination results. +You are aware that results of Government entrance examinations for engineering and medical colleges are being used by private colleges also. +I am happy to announce one more measure to improve the labour market and benefit the unemployed. +The Government and Public Sector Undertakings conduct a number of recruitment examinations. +So far, the scores in these examinations have been retained by the Government. +Hereafter, we will make available the results and the candidate information openly to all employers, wherever consent is given by the candidate. +This will create a positive externality. +It will provide a rich data base which can be used by private sector employers as a ready-made and objective sourcing and screening mechanism. +It will reduce search costs in the labour market for both employers and employees. +It will enable better matching of candidates from labour surplus areas with jobs in other regions. +You may be aware of the spectacular progress of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. +Over 31 million loans have been sanctioned to entrepreneurs for a total value of nearly 19 billion dollars this year. +You will be pleased to know that 77 per cent of these entrepreneurs are women and 22 per cent of them are from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. +Even if we assume conservatively that on average, each enterprise creates just one sustainable job, this initiative itself amounts to 31 million in new employment. +The Stand-Up India scheme will also provide 250,000 entrepreneurship loans to women and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. +My government’s measures on skill development are well known. +In the Budget, we also announced two path-breaking reforms in the education sector, which I want to elaborate upon. +Our aim is to empower higher educational institutions to help them attain the highest standards. +To start with, we will provide an enabling regulatory architecture to ten public and ten private institutions, so that they emerge as world-class teaching and research institutions. +Their regulatory framework will be separate from existing structures like the University Grants Commission and All India Council for Technical Education. +This will eventually allow ordinary Indians affordable access to world-class degree courses. +This initiative is the beginning of a journey to restore the original mandate of higher education regulators. +They should be facilitators and guides, driven by norms of self-disclosure and transparency, instead of top-down command and control. +Eventually, through regulatory reform, we aspire to world-class standards in all colleges and universities. +Another initiative is in school education. +We have achieved much quantitative progress in access and pupil-teacher ratios. +The foundation of today’s knowledge economy is the quality of its school leavers. +We have now decided that the quality of learning outcomes will be the Government’s primary objective. +Accordingly, we will allocate an increasing share of resources under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan to quality. +These funds will be used to promote local initiatives and innovations to improve learning outcomes. +I am sure, all of you who are parents and all of you who are employers, will welcome these steps in higher and school education respectively. +In conclusion, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have initiated many steps. +Many more lie ahead. +Some have begun bearing fruit. +What we have achieved so far, gives me the confidence that, with the support of the people, we can transform India. +I know it will be difficult. +But I am sure it is do-able. +And I am confident, it will be done. +The Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Sarkozy on the publication and success of his recent book, “La France pour la vie”. +The Prime Minister and Mr. Sarkozy condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Pathankot, Brussels and other parts of the world, and called for concrete action by the global community against the threat of terrorism. +Mr. Sarkozy congratulated Prime Minister Modi for the positive role played by India for the success of COP-21 Summit in Paris last year. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for an MoU between India and the the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) and with Electoral Tribunal of Panama (ETP) on cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration. +This MoU contains standard articles/clauses which broadly express promotion of cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration including promotion of exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of organizational and technical development of electoral process; support in exchanging information, institutional strengthening and capacity building, training of personnel, holding regular consultations etc. +It envisages cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration and providing a leg-up to it in conducting elections in their respective countries. +This would also result in bolstering India’s international relations. +The Election Commission (EC) has been participating in promoting cooperation in the field ofelection matters and electoral processes across the world with certain foreign countries and agenciesby adopting the mode of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the concerned parties. +TheElection Commission is a constitutional body which conducts the largest electoral exercise in the world. +It isthe responsibility of the EC to organise free and fair election in the country of about85 crore voters with diverse socio-political and economic backgrounds. +The success of democracy in Indiahas attracted the attention of almost every political system around the world. +In its pursuit of excellence, the Election Commission has been receiving various proposalsfrom foreign electoral bodies for developing bilateral relations in the field of election and matters connected therewith. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will attend the award ceremony for the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, on 28 February 2019. +The Prime Minister will confer the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes for 2016, 2017 and 2018 to the awardees. +He will also address the gathering. +The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is named after the founder Director of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar. +The Prize is given each year to recognize outstanding Indian work in various disciplines of Science and Technology. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to bus accident in Mandya, Karnataka. +“Deeply pained by the bus accident in Karnataka’s Mandya. +My thoughts are with the families of the deceased. +May God give them strength in this hour of sadness”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister will meet UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon at the United Nations. +The Prime Minister will meet Mr. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank. +In the course of the day, the Prime Minister will hold several important bilateral meetings, including with the King of Jordan, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, the President of Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister of Sweden, the President of Egypt, the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, and the President of Cyprus. +Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United Nations Entity of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women). +The proposal seeks to provide technical support to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in strengthening capacities of governance institutions including Panchayati Raj Institutions(PRIs) to better leverage opportunities created for gender equality through legislation, policies and programmes. +Given the past gains, the two parties will now work together towards participatory design of governance processes and effective implementation of laws, policies and programmes to promote gender responsive governance. +The parties agree that engendering the initiatives of MoPR, including capacity development efforts, will be of mutual benefit, and will further their shared mission of good governance, gender equality and women’s empowerment. +The proposed MoU will facilitate the achievement of time-bound results in the implementation of specific activities identified jointly by MoPR and UN Women within the broader framework for cooperation under the United Nations Development Assistance Framework ((UNDAF). +This MoU would thus facilitate operationalizing this important partnership. +• Education should become a force for the Nation’s character building. +• We must restore respect for the teacher in our society. +• Can’t India dream of exporting good teachers? +• Children can contribute to nation-building through cleanliness, saving electricity and water. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called for education to be made a force for national character building. +In a unique interaction with students from across the country on Teachers’ Day, the Prime Minister said the relevance of Teachers` Day on the birthday of Dr. Radhakrishnan needs to be reinterpreted in a changed world. +The Prime Minister said there was a huge demand for good teachers worldwide. +Can India not dream of exporting good teachers to the world, the Prime Minister asked. +Highlighting the need for educating the girl child, the Prime Minister referred to his Independence Day address and said he had spoken of building a separate toilet for girls in every school within a year. +He said this was essential to reduce the drop-out rate among girls. +The Prime Minister also expressed happiness at being asked about initiatives for education of the girl child by a female student from Dantewada, Chhattisgarh. +He said, such a question, coming from a girl in Bastar, where Maoism has shed so much blood, should awaken the country. +Interacting with students and answering a range of questions posed by them, the Prime Minister referred to his recent visit to Japan, and how he was impressed by their education system. +He said in Japan, the teachers and students together keep the school clean – this is part of their character building. +Can we not make it a part of our national character building, the Prime Minister asked. +The Prime Minister also mentioned the emphasis on discipline, technology and scientific temperament, in Japan’s education system. +In response to a question on whether he would launch a programme on the lines of “Vaanche Gujarat” (Read Gujarat) at the National level, the Prime Minister referred to the Digital India mission, and said he hoped everyone would be able to get connectivity and access to knowledge that they needed. +In response to another question, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of skill development. +The Prime Minister also suggested to eminent citizens that they should try to teach at least one period a week in a nearby school. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Nepal. +“I will be in Kathmandu on a two-day visit on 30-31 August, to participate in the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit. +My participation in the Summit symbolises India’s highest priority to our neighbourhood and our strong commitment to continue deepening our relationship with the extended neighbourhood in South-East Asia. +During the Summit, I will have interactions with all the leaders of BIMSTEC to further enrich our regional cooperation, enhance our trade ties and advance our collective efforts to build a peaceful and prosperous Bay of Bengal region. +I am confident that the Fourth BISMTEC Summit will further consolidate the progress made thus far under BIMSTEC, and will chart the course for building a peaceful and prosperous Bay of Bengal Region. +On the margins of the BIMSTEC Summit, I will have the opportunity to interact with the leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand. +I also look forward to meeting Prime Minister of Nepal, Rt. Hon. K.P. Sharma Oli and reviewing the progress we have made in our bilateral ties since my last visit to Nepal in May 2018. +Prime Minister Oli and I will have the honour and privilege to inaugurate the Nepal Bharat Maitri Dharmashala at the Pashupatinath temple complex.” +General Ngo Xuan Lich, Defence Minister of Vietnam, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister fondly recalled his visit to Vietnam in September 2016, during which the bilateral relationship was upgraded to the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. +He added that Vietnam is a key pillar of India’s “Act East” policy. +General Ngo Xuan Lich briefed the Prime Minister on the progress achieved in bilateral defence cooperation. +The Prime Minister said that closer cooperation between India and Vietnam in all sectors will contribute to the stability, security and prosperity of the entire region. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people, on the occasion of festival of Lohri. +May this festival bring happiness, good health and prosperity in everyone’s lives. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in November, 2015 between India, and United Kingdom for Cooperation in Public Administration and Governance Reforms. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee on his birthday and has wished for his good health and long life. +“Pranab Da has given his life to India. +Few people can match his political experience and stature. +We are honoured to have a President like him. +It takes just one interaction with Pranab Da to marvel at his intellect, sharp mind, deep knowledge and insight on a wide range of issues. +Warmest birthday greetings to our dear Rashtrapati ji, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. +May he remain in the best of health and lead a long life”, the Prime Minister said. +Following is the text of English rendering of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement to media outside Parliament House: +“The people of India have voted in unprecedented numbers, blessed their representatives and elected the sixteenth Lok Sabha. +Today is its first day. +I assure the people of this country that in this temple of democracy, every effort will be made to meet the hopes and aspirations of the common man of India. +My best wishes to fellow Indians.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, met with Dr. Seth Berkley, Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to discuss innovation in vaccines and implementation of childhood immunisation in India. +Dr. Berkley was appreciative of the new innovative Government initiatives, such as ‘Mission Indradhanush’ and ‘Make in India’, both of which are improving childhood immunisation in India. +Mission Indradhanush reaches the unvaccinated children and Make in India ensures that vaccines are affordable for the poor across the world. +During the meeting, Gavi’s proposed new strategic partnership with India for 2016-2021 was discussed. +This will see further fund support of up to US$ 500 million from Gavi to accelerate the introduction of modern and highly effective childhood vaccines for all children in India. +This includes India’s forthcoming rollout of vaccines that will protect children against causes of the biggest childhood killers, pneumonia and diarrhoea, as well as others such as measles-rubella and cervical cancer vaccines. +The Prime Minister and Dr. Berkley also discussed affordability, quality assurance and sustainability as well as using environmentally sustainable technologies such as solar to improve the vaccine cold chain, not just in India but in all developing countries. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Turkey on occasion of their National Day. +“On their National Day, my greetings and best wishes to the people of Turkey. +We are committed to making our ties with Turkey stronger,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Assam tomorrow. +The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge across River Brahmaputra in Tinsukia District. +The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for two key development projects – AIIMS, Guwahati and IARI, Gogamukh. +In the evening, the Prime Minister will address a public meeting at Khanapara. +The Prime Minister announced his engagements in Assam through a series of tweets in which he said that he is eagerly awaiting this opportunity to interact with the people of Assam. +Both projects will quicken the development of Assam and the Northeast. +The Dhola-Sadiya Bridge will be inaugurated tomorrow. +This is one of the most important infrastructure projects in our nation. +In the evening, I will address a public meeting at Khanapara. +You can watch it on your mobiles. http://nm4.in/dnldapp ”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the signing of the treaty on transfer of sentenced persons between India and Qatar. +Negotiations have also been concluded with the Governments of Canada, Hong Kong, Nigeria and Spain. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, had on 14th October, 2015 welcomed with great warmth and pride to his home in 7-RCR, the extended family of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. +Conveying the honour he felt in being the first Prime Minister to do so, he had assured the family members that the emotions and aspirations they had expressed were fully shared by him and his government. +Emphasizing that history cannot be created by those who forget their own history, the Prime Minister had categorically stated that his government did not believe in constraining or strangulating history in any way, and was committed to opening up information on Netaji to the people of India. +He had assured Netaji’s family that all possible effort towards the same would be made, from the declassification of Netaji files to taking up the matter with other nations. +He had further promised that the declassification and public release of the files would begin on 23rd January, 2016, the Birth Anniversary of Netaji. +Working towards this commitment, the government has been undertaking the process of due diligence stipulated under declassification procedures and guidelines. +The Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs are separately taking action for release of files under their custody. +This marks an important milestone in fulfilling the long pending demand of the people of India, for the declassification of files related to Netaji. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, todayinteracted with citizens fromvillages across the country which has been electrified since 2014. +The interaction covered the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – ‘Saubhagya’ scheme, through video bridge. +This is the tenth interaction in the series by the Prime Minister through video conference with the beneficiaries of various Government schemes. +Prime Minister during the interaction said that thousands of villages have been electrified since NDA government has taken over. +He added that unlike the false promises given by the previous government, the present government has walked the talk of electrifying every village. +The Government not only focused on electrification, but also reformed the distribution systems across the country, Prime Minister added. +Narendra Modi said that it was difficult to electrify the last 18000 villages, as most were in remote areas, hilly areas and areas with poor connectivity. +He added that despite all the difficulties, a dedicated team of people worked hard to ensure that the dream of electrifying every village is achieved. +Prime Minister pointed out that the government has changed the situation in Eastern India which had 14,582non- electrified villages out of 18,000 and out of which 5790 villages were in the North East. +He added that the Government accords priority to the development of Eastern India and with complete electrification, now Eastern India can play an even bigger role in India’s development journey. +The Yojana is in mission mode and will ensure electric connection to around four crore households. +Interacting with the Prime Minister, beneficiaries from far away villages explained electricity has transformed their lives forever. +From completing work before the sunset and forcing children to study with kerosene lamps, electrification has made life very easily. +Most beneficiaries said that the there has been an overall improvement in the quality of life. +Beneficiaries also thanked the Prime Minister for bringing light into their houses. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Nagaland on their Statehood Day. +“On the occasion of their Statehood Day, I convey my greetings to the people of Nagaland. +This state is blessed with immense natural beauty and industrious citizens. +I pray that the state scales new heights of development in the times to come.”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, on his birth anniversary. +“I bow to Dr. Rajendra Prasad on his birth anniversary. +Our nation owes a lot to him for his inspiring leadership at a crucial time”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Indian Boxer Mary Kom on her gold at Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships. +Prime Minister said, “Congratulations Mary Kom for clinching the gold at the ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships. +India is elated at your accomplishment.” +The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, will visit Himachal Pradesh on December 27, 2018. +He will join in the celebrations to mark one-year of the State Government. +He will release a document highlighting the achievements of the Government. +The Prime Minister will address a public rally in Dharamshala in Kangra district. +He will also interact with the beneficiaries of various Government schemes on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved constitution of an organized Group ‘A’ Engineering Service, namely Indian Naval Material Management Service (INMMS) and consequent changes in cadre structure of existing Group ‘A’ cadre of Naval Store Officers of the Indian Navy. +Constitution of an Organized Group ‘A’ Service would attract the best talents available and bring in technically qualified Material Managers. +It will improve the functional efficiency of Material Management of Naval Stores and ensure operational readiness of the Navy at all times. +The proposed INMMS would attract the best talents available and will provide a reservoir of technically qualified Material Managers for handling the Materials Management functions of Indian Navy. +It will improve the functional efficiency of Material Management of Naval Stores and ensure operational readiness of the Navy at all times as well as provide better career prospects for the incumbents. +President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan spoke on telephone today with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to condole the terror attack in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir. +President Ghani strongly condemned the cross-border terror attack and conveyed Afghanistan’s solidarity and support with India against all actions to eliminate the threat of terrorism. +President Ghani expressed his condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers. +Prime Minister thanked President Ghani for Afghanistan’s support. +I have asked my ministerial colleague Dr. Jitendra Singh ji to stay in touch with authorities and ensure timely assistance”, the Prime Minister said. +Special management team to be set up directly under PMO to facilitate Japanese investment proposals. +PM: Japan and India should be a force for development (vikaswaad), amid global tendencies of expansionism (vistaarwaad). +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today announced that a special management team would be set up directly under the Prime Minister’s Office to facilitate investment proposals from Japan. +In his keynote address at the luncheon hosted by Nippon Kiedanren, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Japan-India Business Cooperation Committee, he said two nominees selected by Japan would also be part of the decision-making team which evaluates business proposals. +He assured Japanese businessmen and investors of policy-driven decisions to eliminate delays. +Highlighting the initiatives of the first 100 days of his Government, he said moves to ease FDI rules have been widely appreciated. +He said the GDP growth of 5.7% in the first quarter of 2014-15 has generated a huge positive sentiment. +He said the clear mandates received by the Governments of both India and Japan, and the political stability they had generated, would deliver a strong push to bilateral ties. +The Prime Minister said he wants India to follow the Japanese model for skill development, so that its demographic dividend can meet the global requirement of skilled manpower. +He said he had initiated a move to introduce the Japanese principles of management in the PMO as well. +Exhorting Japanese business to invest in India, the Prime Minister said India-Japan relations go much further than just commerce. +He said that for meeting the aspirations of people in this century, India and Japan have a big role to play. +Outlining the approaches for Development (Vikaswaad) vs Expansionism (Vistarwaad), he said India and Japan must show the way of Buddha to the world, and act as a force for development. +Saying that the Who’s Who of India’s business had come to Japan with him, the Prime Minister said they were his partners in taking India forward. +Now, he said, India and Japan should be partners, for Asia and the world. +HFCs are not ozone depleting but global warming substance and if controlled, can contribute substantially to limiting the global temperature and advance actions for addressing climate change. +It was agreed at Kigali that there would be two set of baselines or peak years for developing countries and India will have baseline years of 2024, 2025, 2026. +On the other hand, developed countries will reduce production and consumption of HFCs by 70% in 2029. +The Kigali amendments to the Montreal Protocol will also, for the first time, incentivise improvement in energy efficiency in case of use of new refrigerant and technology. +Funding for R&D and servicing sector in developing countries has also been included in the agreed solutions on finance. +Prime Minister once again congratulated Mr. Karzai for his leadership and sagacity in ensuring a historic and peaceful political transition and formation of a National Unity Government in Afghanistan. +He also lauded President Karzai’s immense contribution to the strengthening of India-Afghanistan relations. +Mr. Karzai said that the friendship between India and Afghanistan was time-tested. +India’s contribution to the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan was deeply appreciated in Afghanistan. +In particular, India’s support for human resources development in Afghanistan was invaluable. +Mr. Karzai briefed Prime Minister on the developments in Afghanistan following the formation of the National Unity Government. +Prime Minister said that India was committed to continue extending full support to the new Government and the people of Afghanistan in their efforts to build a strong, peaceful, inclusive, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan. +PM said that he was looking forward to meeting President Ashraf Ghani in Kathmandu on the margins of the SAARC Summit. +The government must nurture an eco-system: +Food inflation has come down from over 15% a year ago to 3.1% last month. +I don’t think there would be any dispute between both. +FDI and private investment are being promoted in Defence and Railways. +After all, diarrhoea and other diseases cannot be defeated without Swachhata! +The mantra of New Age India must be स्वच्छ-ग्रह (Swachhagraha). +Why do we need the State? +There are 5 main components:- +• The first is public goods such as defence, police, and judiciary etc. • The second is externalities which hurt others, such as pollution. +Can we not dream of an India with a 20 trillion dollar economy? +Should we not create the environment for this to happen? +I know very well. +I repeat subsidies are needed. +What we need is a well-targeted system of subsidy delivery. +Their family systems, value systems, social networks and other elements which hold a society together have broken. +Friends, like the rest of the World, we are concerned about two dangers – Terrorism and Climate change. +Swami Vivekananda had said “Arise, awake, do not stop until the goal has been attained”. +I am very happy to release a stamp on the occasion of the one thousandth birth anniversary of the great social reformer and Saint Shri Ramanujacharya. +I am privileged to have been given this opportunity. +The central message of Saint Shri Ramanujacharya’s life was inclusive society, religion and philosophy. +Saint Shri Ramanujacharya believed that whatever is, and whatever will be, is but an expression of God. +He saw the manifestation of God in Human beings, and Human beings in God. +He saw all devotees of God as equal. +When caste distinction and hierarchy had been recognized as integral to society and religion and every one had accepted her place as high and low in the hierarchy, Saint Shri Ramanujacharya rebelled against it – In his personal life and religious teachings. +This is precisely why Swami Vivekananda spoke of the heart of Saint Shri Ramanujacharya — the large heart that cried for the downtrodden at a time when being downtrodden was recognized and accepted as part of one’s karma. +You all are aware that Saint Shri Ramanujacharya had also linked fulfilling the needs of the poor with social responsibility. +For instance, he got an artificial lake made, spread over 200 acres in Thondanur near Melkot. +This lake continues to exist as a living example of Saint Shri Ramanujacharya’s work for the welfare of the people. +Even today it serves over 70 villages, fulfilling their drinking water and irrigation needs. +I would also like to make an appeal to the leaders of the various institutions gathered here. +As India enters its 75th year of Independence in 2022, we are working on the weaknesses and constraints that hold us back. +You too, must set yourself specific targets which are tangible and measurable. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Securities and Exchange Organization (SEO), Iran in relation to mutual cooperation on matters pertaining to securities markets. +It would also contribute towards strengthening the information sharing framework between the two countries. +It is expected to add value to overseas mutual cooperation and regulation activities of SEBI and SEO, Iran. +The MoU is expected to contribute towards strengthening the information sharing framework between SEBI and SEO, Iran. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ Movement, to boost nation wide public participation in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and catalyse the fulfilment of Bapu’s dream of a Clean India. +The Swachhata Hi Seva movement, launched today, aims at generating greater public participation towards Swachhta. +He interacted with a cross-section of people from 17 locations across the country, via video conferencing. +Similarly, 20 States and Union Territories have declared themselves ODF in this period. +He emphasized that providing facilities such as toilets or dustbins is not enough, and added that cleanliness or Swachhta is a habit that can be inculcated. +He said people from across the country are now participating in the development of this habit. +School children from Dibrugarh in Assam, explained to the Prime Minister, their contributions towards making their school and area, clean. +The PM noted that youngsters are ambassadors of social change. +The way they have furthered the message of cleanliness is commendable, he added. +Members of milk and agriculture cooperatives assembled in Mehsana, Gujarat, to interact with the PM on their initiatives towards Swachhta. +Noted industrialist Shri Ratan Tata also joined the interaction. +The Prime Minister expressed his belief that the private sector has a big role to play in the creation of a Clean India. +Maa Amritanandamayee joined the interaction from Kollam. +Summing up the interaction, the Prime Minister appreciated the role of the Swachhagrahis, and said their role would always be remembered in history. +He said that our confidence and resolve towards cleanliness is sky-high. +He gave a clarion call to the people to work for Swachhata Hi Seva. +The cooperation arrangement will facilitate information sharing training and capacity building measure and learning from each others best practice to improve food safety ecosystem. +It is a matter of great pleasure for us that President Ramaphosa, an integral friend of India, is present among us today. +India is not new to him, but it is his first visit to India as the President. +And his visit to India is happening during a special moment in our relations. +This is the 150th birth anniversary year of Mahatma Gandhiji. +Last year was the birth centenary year of Nelson Mandela. +And last year was also the silver jubilee year of our diplomatic relations. +I am very happy that President Ramaphosa has come to India on this special occasion. +And his visit to India is of special significance to us, because tomorrow he will participate in our Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest. +I first met President Ramaphosa when I went to South Africa in 2016. +At that time, he was the Vice-President. +And in our first meeting itself I had experienced his enthusiasm and affection towards India. +I experienced his excellent hospitality during the BRICS Summit in South Africa last year. +Though it is winter season in Delhi, but I believe that in this journey President Ramaphosa will also feel the warmth of India’s welcome. +I warmly welcome the President, and his delegation, in India. +During our interactions today with the President, we reviewed all the dimensions of our relations. +Our trade and investment relations are becoming more and more intense. +Our bilateral trade is more than $10 billion. +South Africa participated as the Partner Country in the “Vibrant Gujarat” summit held this year. +And Indian companies are taking active part in the efforts of President Ramaphosa to increase investment in South Africa. +We are also partners in South Africa’s skill development efforts. +The Gandhi-Mandela Skills Institute is set to be established soon in Pretoria. +And we both are committed to take these relationships to a new level. +And therefore, we will meet major business leaders of both the countries in a short while from now. +If we look at the map of the world, it is clear that both India and South Africa are located at very important places in the Indian Ocean. +We both are democratic countries filled with diversities. +We are the successors to the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. +And therefore, the broad global outlook of both the countries is quite similar to each other. +Our mutual cooperation and coordination on many forums like BRICS, G-20, Indian Ocean Rim Association, IBSA, is very strong. +We are also working together on the reforms of the UN Security Council. +A special part of the program of this visit of the President to India will be the first “Gandhi-Mandela Freedom Lecture” which is being organized today. +Not only me, whole India and whole South Africa is eager to listen to the thoughts of the Hon’ble President. +Presence of President Ramaphosa on the Republic Day and participation as the Chief Guest, is a symbol of our shared commitment to strengthen our relations. +I, once again, warmly welcome the President. +Today we know that it depends as much on the quality of institutions and ideas. +Early last year, a new institution was created, namely, the National Institution for Transforming India or NITI. +NITI was created as an evidence based think tank to guide India’s transformation. +One of NITI’s functions is: +– to mainstream external ideas into Government policies, through collaboration with national and international experts; +– to be the Government’s link to the outside world, outside experts and practitioners; +– to be the instrument through which ideas from outside are incorporated into policy-making. +The Government of India and the State Governments have a long administrative tradition. +This tradition combines indigenous and external ideas from India’s past. +This administrative tradition has served India well in many ways. +Above all, it has preserved democracy and federalism, unity and integrity, in a country of glorious diversity. +These are not small achievements. +Yet, we now live in an age where change is constant and we are variables. +We must change for both external and internal reasons. +Each country has its own experiences, its own resources and its own strengths. +Thirty years ago, a country might have been able to look inward and find its own solutions. +Today, countries are inter dependent and inter connected. +No country can afford any longer to develop in isolation. +Every country has to benchmark its activities to global standards, or else fall behind. +Change is also necessary for internal reasons. +The younger generation in our own country is thinking and aspiring so differently, that government can no longer afford to remain rooted in the past. +Even in families, the relationship between the young and old has changed. +There was a time when elders in a family knew more than those who were younger. +Today, with the spread of new technology, the situation is often reversed. +This increases the challenge for government in communicating and in meeting rising expectations. +That is why my vision for India is rapid transformation, not gradual evolution. +• The transformation of India cannot happen without a transformation of governance. +• A transformation of governance cannot happen without a transformation in mindset. +• A transformation in mindset cannot happen without transformative ideas. +We have to change laws, eliminate unnecessary procedures, speed up processes and adopt technology. +We cannot march through the twenty first century with the administrative systems of the nineteenth century. +Fundamental changes in administrative mindsets usually occur through sudden shocks or crisis. +India is fortunate to be a stable democratic polity. +In the absence of such shocks, we have to make special efforts to force ourselves to make transformative changes. +As individuals, we may absorb new ideas by reading books or articles. +Books open the windows of our minds. +However, unless we brainstorm collectively, ideas remain confined to individual minds. +We often hear of new ideas and understand them. +But we do not act upon them, because it is beyond our individual capacity. +If we sit together, we will have the collective force to convert ideas into action. +What we need is a collective opening of our minds, to let in new, global perspectives. +To do this, we have to absorb new ideas collectively rather than individually. +It requires a concerted effort. +As many of you know, ever since taking office, I have personally participated in structured brainstorming sessions with bankers, with police officers and with Secretaries to Government, among others. +The ideas coming from those sessions are being incorporated into policy. +These efforts have been to tap ideas from inside. +The next step is to bring in ideas from outside. +Culturally, Indians have always been receptive to ideas from elsewhere. +It is said in the Rigveda – “आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतः”, which means, let us welcome noble thoughts flowing in from all directions. +This is the purpose of the Transforming India Lecture Series. +It is a series which we will attend, not as individuals but as part of a team who can collectively make change happen. +We will draw the best from the wisdom and knowledge of eminent persons, who changed, or influenced change in the lives of many, to make their nation a better place in the planet. +This lecture will be the first in a series. +You have all been given a feedback form. +I look forward to your detailed and frank feedback to help us improve this process. +I request you to suggest names of experts and panelists from inside and outside India. +I also request all Secretaries to Government to conduct a follow up discussion in a week’s time, with the participants from their Ministries. +The purpose is to convert ideas that emerge in today’s session into specific action points relevant to each group. +Wherever possible, I request the Ministers also to participate in these sessions. +One of the greatest reformers and administrators of our time was Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed Singapore to what it is today. +It is therefore fitting that we are inaugurating this series with Shri Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore. +He is a prolific scholar and public policy maker. +Apart from being Deputy Prime Minister, he is also the Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies, Minister of Finance and Chairman of Monetary Authority of Singapore. +In the past, he has served as the Minister of Manpower, Second Minister of Finance and Minister of Education. +Shri Shanmugaratnam was born in Nineteen Fifty Seven and is of Sri Lankan Tamil ancestry. +He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics at the London School of Economics. +He has a Master’s degree in Economics from Cambridge University. +He has another Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University. +At Harvard, he was honoured with the Littauer Fellow award for his outstanding performance. +Shri Shanmugaratnam is one of the world’s leading intellectuals. +I would like to give you an example of the range and sweep of his ideas. +Today, Singapore’s economy depends a lot on transshipment. +But if global warming melts the polar ice caps, new navigation routes may open and possibly reduce Singapore’s relevance. +I am told he has already started thinking about this possibility and planning for it. +The list of achievements and honours received by Shri Shanmugaratnam is long. +But we are all eager to listen to him. +Therefore, without further delay, it is with great pleasure that I welcome Shri Tharman Shanmugaratnam to this stage and request him to enlighten us on the subject of India in the Global Economy. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in his Labour Day message, has saluted the determination and hard work of countless workers who play a big role in India’s progress. +“Today, on Labour Day we salute the determination and hard work of countless workers who play a big role in India’s progress. +The National Security Chiefs of BIMSTEC Member States called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs appreciated the Prime Minister’s vision for BIMSTEC and thanked him for hosting the first ever meeting of the National Security Chiefs of the Member States in India. +The Bill will regulate surrogacy in India by establishing National Surrogacy Board at the central level and State Surrogacy Boards and Appropriate Authorities in the State and Union Territories. +The legislation will ensure effective regulation of surrogacy, prohibit commercial surrogacy and allow ethical surrogacy to the needy infertile couples. +All infertile Indian married couple who want to avail ethical surrogacy will be benefited. +Further the rights of surrogate mother and children born out of surrogacy will be protected. +The Bill shall apply to whole of India, except the state of Jammu and Kashmir. +The major benefits of the Act would be that it will regulate the surrogacy services in the country. +While commercial surrogacy will be prohibited including sale and purchase of human embryo and gametes, ethical surrogacy to the needy infertile couples will be allowed on fulfilment of certain conditions and for specific purposes. +As such, it will control the unethical practices in surrogacy, prevent commercialization of surrogacy and will prohibit potential exploitation of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy. +No permanent structure is proposed to be created in the Draft Bill. +Neither there are proposals for creating new posts. +India has emerged as a surrogacy hub for couples from different countries and there have been reported incidents concerning unethical practices, exploitation of surrogate mothers, abandonment of children born out of surrogacy and rackets of intermediaries importing human embryos and gametes. +Widespread condemnation of commercial surrogacy prevalent in India has also been regularly published in different print-and electronic media since last few years highlighting the need to prohibit commercial surrogacy and allow ethical altruistic surrogacy. +The 228th report of the Law Commission of India has also recommended for prohibiting commercial surrogacy and allowing ethical altruistic surrogacy to the needy Indian citizens by enacting a suitable legislation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended a Sahkar Sammelan in New Delhi, on the occasion of the birth centenary celebrations of Shri Laxmanrao Inamdar. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that our country is a “Bahuratna Vasundhara” where many people have made great contributions across regions and time periods. +He said that while some of them become well known and are talked about by the media, there are many others who make valuable contributions, even though they remain largely unknown. +The Prime Minister said that Vakil Saheb – Laxmanrao Inamdar – was one such person. +The Prime Minister emphasized that the first principle of the cooperative movement is to unite everyone, even while remaining anonymous. +He said that Shri Inamdar had imbibed this principle, and his life is a source of inspiration. +The Prime Minister spoke of the goals such doubling farmers’ income by 2022, and balanced development in rural and urban areas. +He said the cooperative movement can play a key role in the achievement of these objectives. +The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of preserving the “spirit” in the cooperative movement, which he said is still largely intact in the rural areas. +He reiterated Shri Inamdar’s mantra of “Bina Sanskar, Nahin Sahkar.” +The Prime Minister said that today, the farmer buys in retail, but sells in wholesale. +He said the process needs to be reversed, to eliminate middlemen and help raise incomes. +Giving the example of dairy cooperatives, he said that the cooperative movement has the capacity to solve people’s problems. +He added that the cooperative movement is in sync with the nature of Indian society. +The Prime Minister mentioned neem coating of urea, bee keeping, and sea-weed cultivation, as areas where the cooperative movement could contribute significantly. +The Prime Minister released two books: one on Shri Laxmanrao Inamdar, and one titled “Nine Gems of Indian Cooperative Movement.” +He also gave away awards for cooperative excellence, on the occasion. +My Cabinet colleague Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Ji, Shri C.R. Chaudhary Ji, Secretary General, UNCTAD, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, and other dignitaries present here. +First of all, I congratulate all of you for this Regional Conference on an important subject like Consumer Protection. +This programme is being attended by representatives from South Asia, Southeast Asia and all the East Asian countries. +I welcome all of you to this programme. +This event is the first of its kind in South Asia. +I would also like to express gratitude to UNCTAD for having supported India’s initiative and playing an active role in bringing it to this stage. +Friends, very few regions of the world have such intensive historical interfaces as this region has. +For thousands of years we have been connected by Trade, Culture and Religion. +The Coastal Economy has made significant contribution in connecting this region for centuries. +Movement of people from one place to another and exchange of thoughts and ideas, has been a two way process and has benefitted every country in this region. +Today, we all symbolise a shared heritage not only economically but also culturally. +Friends, in today’s modern era our traditional relationship has attained a new dimension. +The Asian countries are not only catering to the goods and services markets in their own country but their reach has expanded to other continents as well. +In such a scenario, Consumer Protection is an important component which enhances and strengthens trade in this region. +Today’s event is a reflection of how seriously we understand the needs of our citizens, how hard we strive to overcome their difficulties. +Every citizen is a consumer too and hence this event symbolizes our collective determination. +It is also very heartening to see that the United Nations has come forward as a partner in this entire process. +For the first time in 1985, the UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection were framed. +They were revised two years ago. +India has also played an active role in the process of revision. +These guidelines are very important with regard to Sustainable Consumption, E-Commerce and Financial Services in developing countries. +Friends, consumer protection has been an integral part of governance for ages in India. +Consumers’ protection finds mention in our Vedas written thousands of years ago. +It is mentioned in Atharvaveda that- +These ancient documents explain the rules of Consumer Protection and the kind of punishment to be given to the trader who indulges in wrong practices. +You will be astonished to know that in India around 2500 years ago, during the period of Kautilya, there were guidelines for the government regarding how the trade should be regulated and the interest of the consumers be protected. +The Posts in the organisational structure in the Kautilya period may be considered as Director of Trade and the Superintendent of Standards in today’s context. +Regardless of the nature of business, Consumer satisfaction should be the prime motive. +Friends, India is one of the first few countries to legislate Consumer Protection Act in 1986, just one year after adoption of UN Guidelines. +Protection of consumer interests is a priority of the government. +This is also reflected in our resolution of the New India. +Moving beyond Consumer Protection, New India will have Best Consumer Practices and Consumer Prosperity. +Friends, today we are in process of enacting a new Consumer Protection Act keeping in view the business practices and requirements of the country. +The proposed Act lays great emphasis on consumer empowerment. +Rules are being simplified to ensure that Consumer grievances are redressed in a time-bound manner and at least possible cost. +Stringent provisions are proposed against misleading advertisements. +A Central Consumer Protection Authority with executive powers will be constituted for quick remedial action. +We have enacted the Real Estate Regulatory Act for the protection of home buyers. +Earlier, consumers waited for years to get the possession of their homes as they would fall prey to unscrupulous builders. +There used to be ambiguity regarding the area of the flat. +Now after RERA, only registered developers can seek bookings only after getting all the required permissions. +Moreover, booking amount has been fixed only at 10 per cent. +Earlier, the builders used to divert the money received for bookings to other projects. +Now government has made a stringent provision that 70 per cent of the payment received from buyers will be kept in an “Escrow” account and this amount will be spent on that project only. +Similarly, the Bureau of Indian Standard Act has also been enacted. +Now any commodity or service related to public or consumer interest can be brought under compulsory certification. +This Act also has provisions to order recall of substandard products from the market and for compensation in case of loss or damages incurred by the consumer. +Recently, India has also implemented Goods and Services Tax-GST. +After GST, dozens of different types of indirect taxes in the country have been abolished. +Many Hidden Taxes have also gone away. +Now, the consumer knows how much tax he has paid to the state government and how much to the central government. +The queues of the trucks on the borders now no longer exist. +With GST, a new business culture is developing and in the long term consumers will be the biggest beneficiaries. +It is a transparent system in which no one can hurt the interests of the Consumers. +Increased competition due to the GST will lead to moderation in prices. +It will directly benefit poor and middle class consumers. +Friends, besides strengthening the interests of the consumers through the law, it is also necessary that the grievances of the people are promptly addressed. +In the last three years, our government has created a new eco-system for Grievance Redressal by making efficient use of technology. +The capacity of the National Consumer Helpline has been increased 4 times. +Portals and Social Media associated with Consumer Protection have also been integrated. +A large number of private companies have been connected to the portal. +About 40 percent complaints get transferred directly to the companies automatically through the portal enabling quick action. +Consumers are also being made aware through the “Jago Grahak Jago” campaign. +I can confidently state that this govt. has used social media positively for Consumer Protection in India, as has never been done before. +Friends, in my view and in the vision of my govt. the scope of Consumer Protection is very broad. +Development of any country and consumer protection are complementary. +Good governance has an important role in taking the benefits of development to every citizen. +Ensuring delivery of rights and services to the deprived by the Government is also a way of protecting interests of the consumers. +Ujjwala Yojna for Clean Energy, Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan for health and hygiene, Jan-Dhan Yojna for Financial Inclusion reflect this spirit. +The govt. is also working towards the goal that every citizen of the country owns a house by 2022. +Recently, a scheme has also been launched to provide electricity connection to every household of the country. +All these efforts are for providing Basic Lifeline support to people and to make their lives more comfortable. +Interests of consumers are not protected by merely giving them rights. +In India we are also working to formulate schemes which help consumers save money. +The poor and middle class in the country is benefitted most from these schemes. +You might also be aware that UNICEF has recently announced findings of a survey in India. +Recently, prices of knee implants have also been brought under control. +This also is saving crores of rupees for the poor and middle class people. +Our scheme, Ujala is another example of monetary saving in Consumer Interest. +This simple scheme for distribution of LED bulb has shown extraordinary results. +When this government assumed charge, cost of a LED bulb was Rs. 350-/. +After government’s efforts, the same bulb is now available in just Rs. 40 to 45-/ under the scheme. +Therefore, this scheme alone has caused saving of more than Rs. 20 thousand crores for consumers by reducing the cost of LED bulb and through reduction in electricity bills. +Friends, keeping the inflation under control has caused economic benefits to the poor and middle class consumers. +Otherwise, the rate at which the Inflation was rising during previous government’s tenure it would have resulted in huge rise in the budget of the common citizen’s kitchen. +By strengthening the Public Distribution System through technology, it is also being ensured that the poor, who have the right to affordable food grains, get their due. +Under the Direct Benefit Scheme, by transferring the money directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts the government has prevented leakage of more than Rs. 57 thousand crores. +Friends, it is necessary that the consumers also understand their shared responsibilities towards the society and discharge their duties in this regard to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. +Here, on this occasion, I specially want to inform colleagues from other countries about Give-it-up campaign. +Subsidy is provided on LPG cylinders in our country. +On my appeal, within a short time of around one year, more than one crore people have given up their gas subsidy. +The savings thereon have been used in giving free gas connections to 3 crore households so far. +It is an example that how the shared contribution from each consumer benefits other consumers thus creating a positive environment in the society towards one’s duties. +Friends, Government is implementing Prime Minister Rural Digital Literacy Campaign for Digital Empowerment of Consumers living in rural areas of the country. +Under this scheme, one person each from 6 crore households is being made digitally literate. +This campaign will facilitate villagers for electronic transactions and availing Government services digitally. +Digital awareness in the villages of India is also creating a huge e-commerce market for the future. +Unified Payment Interface-UPI has given the e-commerce industry a lot of strength. +Bharat Interface For Money – i.e. BHIM App has expanded digital payments in cities as well as in rural areas. +Friends, India is one of the world’s largest markets on the strength of the population of more than 125 crore and the fast growing middle class. +The openness of our economy welcomes every country in the world, brings Indian consumers closer to the global players. +Through Make in India we are offering a platform to Global Companies to produce in India and to make better use of our huge human resource. +Friends, this is a first of its kind conference in this part of the world. +Every country represented here is engaged in its own way for protecting the interests of their consumers. +But we must also keep in mind that now with the increasing Globalization, the whole world is changing into a single market. +Therefore it is very important to learn from each other’s experiences, to explore the points of common understanding and to discuss the possibility of building a Regional Coalition for Consumer Protection through such an event. +Friends, Asian countries provide large business opportunities because of large consumer base of more than 4 billion, increasing purchasing power and young demographic profile. +E-commerce and trans-border mobility of people is resulting in increased cross border transactions. +Under these circumstances, a strong regulatory system in every country and information sharing is a must for sustaining consumer confidence. +A framework for cooperation is also necessary to expeditiously act in cases related to consumers from other countries. +This will enhance mutual trust and trade. +Creating a Structured Mechanism for Communication, Mutual Sharing of Best Practices, Creating New Initiatives for Capacity Building and Starting Joint Campaigns, are such areas which can be pursued in mutual interest. +Friends, strengthening of our emotional bonds will also strengthen our shared cultural and trade heritage. +Taking pride in our culture while respecting other cultures is part of our tradition. +Over the centuries, we have been learning from each other and Trade and Consumer Protection are also an integral part of this process. +I hope that keeping in view the future challenges a roadmap with a clear vision for moving forward will be prepared in this conference. +I am hopeful that we will also succeed in institutionalizing regional cooperation through this conference. +I once again express gratitude to you for participating in this conference. +Thanks a lot! +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today delivered the Convocation Address at the Centenary Year Convocation of the Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. +Paying homage to Mahamana Madan Mohan Malviya, the founder of the University, Shri Narendra Modi described him as a visionary, who sought to prepare a dedicated, capable set of people with knowledge or values for nation building. +The Prime Minister said that a Convocation should not be treated as the end of education. +He added that the student within a person should always be kept alive. +The Prime Minister urged students to face even adversity with equanimity. +He said the youth must seek to innovate to solve challenges facing the country and the world. +In this context, he gave examples of sickle cell anaemia, global warming, and solar energy. +The Prime Minister referred to school-children from nearby Government run schools, who were present at the function, as his special guests. +He urged the medal winners to interact with them, so that they too feel inspired to achieve. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Uttarakhand today. +He offered prayers at the Kedarnath Temple, and greeted a large number of people who had gathered there. +The Prime Minister later inaugurated the Patanjali Research Institute in Haridwar district. +He briefly visited the Drug Discovery and Research Laboratory at the Institute, accompanied by Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that we will not ignore or forget the heritage that we have been historically proud of. +He added that the innovative spirit of our ancestors must be kept alive. +The Prime Minister called for bringing together as many people as possible, when celebrating the International Day of Yoga. +He mentioned the new health policy, which covers various aspects of health and wellness. +The Prime Minister said that cleanliness, or Swachhta, is one of the most important aspects of preventive healthcare. +The Prime Minister also released the first volume of the World Herbal Encyclopedia. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved increasing of Government ownership in Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) and change in the existing structure with transitional plan as per following: +• Acquisition of entire 51% equity held by the Non-Government Institutions in GSTN equally by the Centre and the State Governments and allow GSTN Board to initiate the process for acquisition of equity held by the private companies. +• The restructure GSTN, with 100% government ownership shall have equity structure between the Centre (50%) and the States (50%). +Thus the total number of Directors is 11. +PM: NREGA should be integrated with the overall plan of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. +In yet another initiative aimed at benefiting farmers, the Prime Minister has asked concerned Departments and Ministries of the Union Government to fast-track the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. +Today’s meeting follows yesterday’s decision by the Union Cabinet, in which amendments to the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, were cleared. +The Prime Minister called for comprehensive mapping and identification of water bodies across the country. +He said satellite imagery and 3D photography could be used to guide villages to best possible sources of irrigation. +The Prime Minister has asked concerned departments to look into the possibility of identifying progressive farmers, who could take the lead in implementing water conservation and innovative irrigation techniques. +The Prime Minister has also called for integrating water recycling projects of key towns and cities, to irrigation in nearby rural areas. +He emphasized the importance of generating consciousness among people towards water conservation. +The Union Minister for Water Resources, Ms. Uma Bharati, and the Union Minister for Agriculture, Shri Radha Mohan Singh, were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Varanasi and Lucknow tomorrow. +In Lucknow, the Prime Minister will deliver an address at the 6th convocation of the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University. +He will attend a programme for distribution of e-rickshaws organized by Bharatiya Micro Credit. +The Prime Minister will offer homage to Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar at Ambedkar Mahasabha. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Chhattisgarh on Thursday, 14th June. +At Bhilai, the Prime Minister will dedicate the modernized and expanded Bhilai Steel Plant, to the nation. +The modernization includes installation of cutting-edge technologies for improvement in productivity, yield, quality, cost competitiveness, energy efficiency and environmental protection. +During the same event, Shri Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the permanent campus of IIT Bhilai. +He will unveil also a plaque to mark the commencement of phase-2 of BharatNet. +The BharatNet project envisages connecting Gram Panchayats with underground optical fibre network. +The Prime Minister will inaugurate air services between Jagdalpur and Raipur. +He will also distribute laptops, certificates and cheques etc. to beneficiaries under various schemes. +He will also address a public meeting. +Before arriving in Bhilai, the Prime Minister will visit Naya Raipur Smart City, where he will inaugurate the Integrated Command and Control Centre for the city. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has written to the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, condemning the killing of Japanese citizens by the ISIS. +These murders are a stark reminder to the world of the inhuman nature of terrorism and its emergence as a major challenge to the global community. +This tragic loss of innocent lives should redouble our resolve to deepen mutual cooperation and seek a more resolute global action in combating terrorism,” the Prime Minister added. +“Let me also convey my personal good wishes to you as you lead your nation at this moment of grief with your charismatic strength and wisdom,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the 75th Birthday celebrations of former Union Minister, and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Sharad Pawar, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described Shri Sharad Pawar’s political career, as one born out of productive pursuits. +The Prime Minister praised Shri Sharad Pawar’s modern and scientific approach to agriculture, and his contribution to the agriculture sector in India. +The Prime Minister released a book “On My Terms”, written by Shri Sharad Pawar. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the former President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s memorial at Pei Karumbu, Rameswaram, tomorrow (27.07.2017) at 11.30 AM. +The Prime Minister will hoist the National flag at the memorial, designed and built by DRDO. +The Prime Minister will unveil a statue of Dr. Abdul Kalam, and offer floral tributes. +Prime Minister Modi will interact with the family members of Dr. Kalam. +Later, the PM would flag off ‘Kalam Sandesh Vahini’, an exhibition bus which would travel across various States of the country and reach Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 15th which marks the birth anniversary of the former President. +Prime Minister Modi will then proceed to Mandapam for the public meeting. +He will distribute sanction letters to the beneficiaries of long liner trawlers under Blue Revolution scheme. +He will also flag off a new express train from Ayodhya to Rameswaram (via video conference). +PM will release a synopsis of the Green Rameswaram Project. +He will unveil a plaque to mark the dedication to the nation of the 9.5 km Link Road on NH 87, which runs between Mukundarayar Chathiram and Arichalmunai. +PM Modi will conclude the visit by addressing a public meeting. +Background of the Kalam Memorial +The memorial has been constructed by DRDO in exactly one year. +Architecturally, it has taken inspiration from several national landmarks. +The front entrance looks similar to India Gate, while the two domes are on the lines of Rashtrapati Bhavan. +There is a separate section to exhibit some of the personnel belongings of Dr Kalam, including his famous Rudra Veena, G-suit he wore during his Su-30 MKI flight and numerous awards he received. +Twelve walls have been utilized for murals and paintings. +The entire area has been landscaped beautifully to reflect the peace and harmony aspect of Dr Kalam’s personality. +The construction material and other accessories for the Memorial have been shipped to Rameswaram from many parts of India. +The crafted front doors are from Thanjavur; stone claddings from Jaisalmer and Agra; stone pillars from Bengaluru; marbles from Karnataka and murals from Hyderabad, Shanti Niketan, Kolkata and Chennai to name a few. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people on the occasion of Baisakhi, Vaisakhadi, Masadi, Bohag Bihu, Poila Boishakh, Vishu, Maha Vishuba Sankranti, and Puthandu, being celebrated in various parts of the country. +The Prime Minister has expressed the hope that these festivals will herald happiness and prosperity for mankind. +“May the coming year give wings to the aspirations of the people, especially the youth, and spread harmony and joy among all,” the Prime Minister said +Shri Sher Bahadur Deuba, former Prime Minister of Nepal, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Shri Deuba thanked the Prime Minister for India’s quick reaction and assistance in the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes in Nepal. +Shri Deuba appreciated India’s pledge of US$ 1 billion announced at the donors’ conference in Kathmandu in June 2015. +Members of German delegation, +My colleagues, +It is a great pleasure to welcome Chancellor Angela Merkel and her eminent delegation to India. +On behalf of the people of India, I warmly congratulate Germany on the 25th anniversary of German reunification. +At this important milestone, you can look back with pride on what you have accomplished at home and abroad. +Chancellor Merkel, your leadership is a source of confidence and reassurance at a difficult moment for Europe and the world. +You have chosen to visit India despite many preoccupations in your region. +The strength of your delegation reflects the importance you attach to relations with India and the seriousness with which you approach the Inter Governmental Consultations. +Your commitment holds the key to progress in our relations. +And, it has brought about all round growth in our relations. +In addition, in the course of the past year, our two sides have deepened our engagement. +We see Germany as a natural partner in achieving our vision of India’s economic transformation. +German strengths and India’s priorities are aligned. +And, so is our mutual goodwill. +Our focus tends to be on economic ties. +But, I believe that in a world of seamless challenges and opportunities, India and Germany can also be strong partners in advancing a more human, peaceful, just and sustainable future for the world. +We have a rich history of engagement. +We share values, comfort in our relations and a sense of responsibility to the world. +Today, we have met for around three hours. +We will continue our dialogue here and in Bengaluru tomorrow. +I was very pleased with our discussions and the broad range of outcomes. +German response to our development agenda is very encouraging. +We can look forward with confidence to increased investment, trade and technology partnerships in manufacturing, infrastructure and skill development. +German engineering and Indian IT skills can create the next generation industry that will be more efficient, economical and environment friendly. +1600 German companies in India, and growing in number, will be strong partners in creating a global work force in India. +German cooperation and assistance in areas like smart cities, Clean Ganga and waste management have taken a concrete shape. +So, has our cooperation in education, from engineering to humanities. +I admire German leadership in clean energy and commitment to combating climate change. +This is an area where we have convergence of views, and rapidly growing cooperation. +We have agreed on India-Germany Climate and Renewable Alliance with a long term vision and a comprehensive agenda of combating climate change. +I place great value on Germany’s assistance of over one billion Euros for India’s Green Energy Corridor and a new assistance package of over a billion Euros for solar projects in India. +We also intend to deepen research cooperation in clean and renewable energy, and energy efficiency. +To contain temperature rise we must also change our temperament. +We look forward to a concrete outcome at COP21 in Paris that strengthens the commitment and the ability of the world, especially of poor and vulnerable countries, to transition to a more sustainable growth path. +Our partnership will also grow in areas like defence manufacturing, trade in advanced technology, intelligence, and countering terrorismand radicalism. +These are important security dimensions of our expanding relationship. +I welcome Germany’s strong support for India’s membership of the international export control regimes. +As we discussed in the G4 Summit in New York, Chancellor and I are committed to pursue reforms of the United Nations, especially the Security Council. +We have a common perspective on this region; the turbulence in West Asia; Europe’s challenges; and, shaping a peaceful and stable Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean Region. +I especially thanked her for Germany’s invaluable support for peace, security and development in Afghanistan. +Finally, a very special word of gratitude to Chancellor Merkel and the people of Germany for the return of the 10th century statue of Durga in her Mahishasurmardini avatar from Jammu and Kashmir. +She is a symbol of the victory of good over evil. +This also suggests that in this age of transitions and turmoil, India-Germany partnership will be a force of good for the world. +It is a saying common to both our cultures that friendship is a plant that needs to be watered. +I am confident that after this extraordinary session, the tree of our friendship will blossom. +Namaskar, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, +I am happy to be present here for the inaugural function of the Vision Conclave as a part of the Global Ayurveda Festival organized in God’s own country – Kerala. +Kerala is the hub of traditional Ayurveda. +This is not only due to the long, uninterrupted practice of Ayurveda in this state, but also due to the global popularity of its authentic medicines and therapies, and now, the vast, fast growing network of health resorts and hospitals of Ayurveda. +I have been informed that the five-day Global Ayurveda Festival has turned out to be excellent in terms of participation and projection of the various facets of Ayurveda. +It is heartening to note that foreign delegates in large numbers have come from various countries to participate in the Ayurveda festival. +I am sure their participation in this festival will provide a lot of impetus to the spread of Ayurveda. +In India we have had a long great tradition of saints and hermits who evolved our own indigenous systems of healthcare, like Ayurveda, Yoga and Siddha. +Over time, we also interacted with different civilizations and assimilated other systems of medicine as well. +Ayurveda is generally defined as ‘Science of life’ by translating ‘Ayuh(r)’ as life and ‘Veda’ as science. +Sushruta defines health as: +When atman or soul, senses, manah or intellect are in harmony with internal peace, svastha or optimal health is achieved. +Compare this with the definition of health that the World Health Organization uses: health is a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. +So we see how strongly the principles of Ayurveda are aligned with the definition of health propagated by the WHO. +Health is the complete state of well being and not the absence of disease. +Today, Ayurveda is relevant globally because of its holistic and comprehensive approach to health. +The Ayurvedic ‘dincharya’ or daily schedule helps to bring about peace and harmony in one’s life. +Ayurvedic daily life routines are meant to enhance the total health of a human being, both mental and physical. +What are the great health challenges that the world is facing today? +Non-communicable diseases, lifestyle related diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and cancers have become the greatest health challenges. +WHO estimates that non-communicable diseases kill about 38 million people each year and almost three quarters of NCD deaths, that is 28 million, occur in low and middle-income countries. +It is in managing these that Ayurveda offers solutions. +The long tradition of saints and hermits who created Indian systems of healthcare like Ayurveda, yoga and siddha believes in a harmonious relationship with nature. +These systems try to create balance and preserve health through eco-friendly practices and sustainable sourcing of medicinal herbs. +Unfortunately, the real potential of Ayurveda is untapped because of many reasons. +Most importantly because of inadequate scientific scrutiny and concerns regarding standards and quality. +If these issues are addressed properly, I am sure Ayurveda can provide solutions to many health problems. +India can be a leader in making affordable, holistic health care available to the world. +What can we do, and what are we doing to address these issues? +Our government is fully committed to promotion of Ayurveda and traditional systems of medicine. +As soon as this government was formed, the Department of AYUSH was upgraded to the status of a full Ministry in the Government of India. +For quality control of AYUSH drugs, steps are being taken to bring regulatory amendments for effective enforcement and strengthening the regulatory framework at the Central and State levels. +Creating a vertical structure for AYUSH drugs in Central Drug Standards Control Organization, control over misleading advertisements and extension of financial support to the States under National AYUSH Mission for quality control activities are important initiatives that are underway. +To ensure credibility of knowledge and skills of yoga experts, a Scheme for Voluntary Certification of Yoga Professionals has been launched on 22nd June last year during the “International Conference on Yoga for Holistic Health”. +Our policy regarding Ayurveda and other Indian systems of medicine is already aligned with the Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023 of WHO, which has been adopted in the World Health Assembly for implementation by 192 member countries of WHO. +The WHO strategy contains methodologies for harnessing the potential contribution of Traditional and Complementary Medicine to health, wellness and person-centered healthcare. +In the words of Swami Vivekananda, therefore, we shall- “COMBINE THE BEST OF EAST WITH THAT OF THE WEST”. +Modern systems of medicine have strong and effective diagnostic tools that allow us to screen and detect disease early. +The use of technology in healthcare has the potential to reduce barriers to accessing care, and improve our understanding of disease patterns. +However, we do need to look beyond. +We need to look beyond providing healthcare and engage in the pursuit of good health, a combination of physical and mental well being. +The escalating costs of treatment, the side effects of medicines have prompted medical experts to think of widening their horizons to traditional systems of medicine. +We are committed to promote the use of traditional medicine in our Public Health System through regulation of research and appropriate integration of quality products, practices, and practitioners into the health system. +Our efforts are to tap the real potential of Ayurveda and other AYUSH systems in imparting preventive, promotive and holistic healthcare to the people. +We will maximize the utilization of Ayurveda and Yoga and other traditions of healing in accordance with their genius and acumen and help promotion of integrative medical facilities. +Young entrepreneurs who are planning a start-up could find a lot of opportunities in holistic healthcare. +In the context of health sector planning, while we think of the utility and contemporary relevance of Ayurveda and other traditional medical systems, it is also important to ponder over the realities and the challenges faced by these systems. +Traditional medicine is affordable to many of the rural people. +It is locally available to the communities, time-tested for its safety and efficacy. +Above all, it imbibes the culture and eco-system of the communities within which it grows. +In many parts of developing countries, traditional medical practices are the only resources of healthcare within the physical and financial reach of the poor people. +It is therefore even more important that we ensure the quality of these systems. +We will learn from the experience of other countries, and ensure that Ayurveda and other Indian systems are propagated and popularised. +I am also told that the Delhi Declaration on Traditional Medicine adopted by the South East Asian Countries in February 2013 and later resolved by the WHO Regional Committee seeks member countries to follow harmonized approaches for developmental activities of Traditional Medicine. +I hope, proper implementation of articles of the Delhi Declaration will help to achieve systematic development of traditional medicine including Ayurveda as well at national, regional and global level. +We would like to offer our institutions as referral centres for training, capacity building and information & technology exchange programs in Ayurveda and other AYUSH systems. +Our leadership on these fronts can be sustained only with concerted efforts for rendering quality healthcare and education and by producing competent professionals. +Ladies and Gentlemen, as you are well aware, India has a long history and rich heritage of Ayurveda and Yoga. +The multi-cultural origins of Ayurvedic knowledge are revealed in the classical texts themselves. +Both Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita urge physicians to seek the help of cowherds, hunters and forest-dwellers for procuring medicinal plants. +In the Charaka Samhita, we notice the participation and contribution of a Central Asian physician in one of the assemblies of scholars gathered to formulate the principles of Ayurveda. +The three major classical texts give importance to Buddhist moral values. +Vagbhata, who is said to be the author of one of the classical texts Ashtangahridayam, was a Buddhist. +It is evident, therefore, that these traditions grew by sharing knowledge, both locally as well as across cultures. +They learnt from the most humble as well as those with arcane knowledge. +We will continue this effort. +We will share the knowledge of our systems with the world, and continue to enrich our traditions by learning from other systems. +The Global Ayurveda Festival takes this vision forward. +I wish the Vision Conclave as well as Global Ayurveda Festival a grand success. +I trust that the deliberations will focus on the crucial issues important for the global positioning of Ayurveda. +I will end with words from Ashtangahridayam, one of the most famous texts of Ayurveda. +The poor, those suffering from disease and those afflicted by sorrow should be helped. +Even insects and ants should be treated with compassion, just as one’s own self. +This is the guiding spirit of Ayurveda. +Let this be the guiding spirit for all of us. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the ITBP family on the Raising Day of ITBP. +The ITBP stands out for its special affinity with the Himalayas and prowess at high altitude operations”, the Prime Minister said. +India is today described as a bright spot in the global economy. +It has emerged as one of the most attractive global investment destinations. +This has been made possible by a series of sustained policy initiatives. +More than seven thousand reforms have been implemented to improve the ease of doing business. +Processes have been simplified and made transparent. +Government has repealed over twelve hundred outdated laws. +These are just a few examples. +Consequently, India has moved up by thirty two places in the last two years in the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum. +This is the highest for any country. +India moved up nineteen places on the World Bank Logistics Performance Index of 2016. +We have also moved up sixteen places on the Global Innovation Index of the World Intellectual Property Organisation in 2016. +We are third among the top ten FDI destinations listed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. +Based on the “Make-in-India” initiative, the organized textile industry is being infused with the mantras of ‘skill, scale, speed’ and ‘zero-defect, zero-effect’ for scaling up employment, production and exports. +We have one of the most liberal investment policies for foreign investment in the textile and apparel sector. +We allow 100 percent FDI through automatic route in textile and apparel sector. +The textiles industry has a pivotal position in the Indian economy. +It is strong and competitive across the value chain. +India has an abundant supply of raw material, like cotton, wool, silk, jute, and man-made fibre. +In fact, it is the world’s largest producer of cotton and jute, and second largest producer of silk and man-made fibre. +This provides us the distinct advantage of backward integration, which many other countries may not have. +In addition, India has strong spinning, weaving, knitting and apparel manufacturing capacities. +Young, skilled labour is available at a reasonable cost. +Our high economic growth has resulted in higher disposable income. +The resulting higher demand for products offers a huge domestic market. +Ours is a nation of aspirational youth, who wish to spend on textiles, apparel, and handcrafted lifestyle products. +The domestic market for apparel and lifestyle products, currently estimated at US Dollars 85 billion, is expected to reach US Dollars 160 billion by 2025. +This growth will be driven by the rising middle class. +There is also a high global demand for textiles and apparel manufactured in our country. +India is the world’s second largest exporter of textiles, commanding a global share of around five percent. +Indian textiles, including traditional handloom and handicraft products, are exported to more than a hundred countries. +Sometimes, Indian tourists buy garments abroad, only to realize later, that they have been made in India. +The textile sector offers significant employment opportunities. +It is today, our second largest employer after agriculture. +Over forty-five million people are employed directly in the sector, and over sixty million people are employed in allied activities. +An integrated skill development scheme is also being implemented to address the critical gap of skilled manpower, through industry-oriented training programs. +Our strengths in manufacturing and export are backed up by our ability to develop world-class training and research institutes. +The National Institute of Fashion Technology has a network of sixteen professionally managed campuses. +It has been playing a crucial role in benchmarking performance and processes in the areas of fashion education, research and development, training and consultancy. +In the last few years we have witnessed a very healthy competition amongst States to attract investment and industries in their respective States. +As a result, there have been some major reforms that have taken place in States. +Each State in its own way has tried to facilitate the establishment of new industries including textiles. +I think, the time has now come for us to concentrate on textile exports in a big way. +India is a country with diverse culture, fashion and traditions. +This diversity is clearly reflected in the clothing present in different regions. +We should catalogue and map our clothing diversity and clearly earmark strengths and specialties of each state or region. +Each State should appoint nodal officers dedicated to a few well-known products, who would facilitate producers and traders across the value chain. +The intervention should start from production to export of garments. +It should meet the specific requirements of domestic as well as export markets. +We should also formulate an action plan to study and map the requirements of people in large global markets and monitor new trends in fashion and textiles in these areas on a real time basis. +Government Councils and Industry Bodies should rise to the occasion, in a spirit of cooperation. +This would enable us to channelize our energies in meeting those requirements and give a boost to our exports. +Innovation and research are new mantras for growth and wealth generation. +The textile industry will have to constantly innovate and research for growth and to tap new markets. +For example, physiques may be larger in some parts of the world. +This may require clothing of greater width than the normal size used in our country. +For this, you may need to increase the width of the loom. +Elsewhere, requirements may be different. +Such attention to detail is necessary to attain leadership in export markets. +Today, there is a demand for products with zero carbon footprint. +Holistic lifestyle has become a buzzword. +The market for Organic Dyes, clothes and fabrics made of organic products is growing. +Our effort should be to innovate in organic products. +Apart from cotton and jute, we already have fabrics made of banana and bamboo fibres. +There is a niche market for such products. +Thus, there is a need for further research by our institutions like National Institute of Fashion Technology and Scientific and Industrial Research institutes to develop fabrics from other sources. +Our integrated textile clusters are compliant to global standards of environment and health safety. +Textile producing States also have pro-industry policies in place, to facilitate the required infrastructure for investments in textiles. +I am sure you will find these sessions interesting and informative. +I hope this event will help familiarize global and Indian leaders with India’s enabling policy environment, strengths and vast opportunities associated with the sector. +This will help establish India as a valued partner for countries seeking sourcing and investment opportunities in India. +I hope, it will go a long way in realizing India’s inherent potential to become one of the most significant textile and apparel sourcing and investment destinations. +Let me conclude by wishing you a very successful and productive three days in Gandhinagar. +I call upon you to Come, Invest and Make Textiles in India. +My dear fellow citizens, +One year ago, you had entrusted me with the task of building a new India and putting a derailed economy back on track. +We have achieved a lot. +Economic growth has been revived, and is amongst the fastest in the world. +Inflation is substantially down. +Fiscal prudence has been restored. +Confidence is up. +Foreign investments have increased. +This positive outlook is endorsed by major rating agencies and international institutions across the world. +Bold reforms pending for decades have been implemented. +Diesel prices have been decontrolled. +The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is slated to be introduced next year. +By facilitating companies to Make in India through a focus on Ease of Doing Business, new jobs are being created. +Cooking gas subsidies are being paid directly to beneficiary bank accounts under PAHAL – ensuring the right amount of subsidy, reaches the right people, at the right time. +FDI limits in insurance, railways and defence production have been raised. +Moreover, we have embraced the states as equal partners in national development, working as Team India in the spirit of cooperative and competitive federalism. +Political interference in public sector banking decisions is a thing of the past. +Transparent coal auctions and allotments have mobilized potential revenues of Rs. 3.35 lakh crores to coal-bearing states over the lifespan of mines. +And reform in the Mines Act has replaced a discretionary mechanism with a transparent auction process. +To combat black money, a Special Investigation Team has been appointed and a new stringent law passed. +Nearly Rs. 1 lakh crores of public investment have been allocated in this year’s budget to improve physical as well as digital connectivity. +A comprehensive transformation of the railways into a locomotive of growth has begun. +Stalled highway projects are being restructured and revived. +Power generation is at an all-time high. +A new National Infrastructure Investment Fund has been set up with an annual government funding of Rs. 20,000 crores. +To enable us to continue paying remunerative prices to our farmers, we secured a permanent ‘peace clause’ at the WTO. +The world’s largest financial inclusion project has brought banking to the doorsteps of the poor, opening a record 15 crore plus bank accounts with deposits of over Rs. 15,800 crores. +An affordable social security system including pension, life insurance and accident insurance, has already witnessed 6.75 crore enrolments in its first week. +MUDRA has been set up with a corpus of Rs. 20,000 crores to help our small businessmen, who despite being our biggest job creators have historically been starved of credit. +There is much more to be done and I know your expectations are high. +A year ago I gave you my word that while I might perhaps commit errors, I would always act with pure intentions and spend every available moment working for a better India. +I have kept my word. +I seek your continued support, suggestions and blessings in building the India of our dreams. +Always in your service. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed the concluding session of the 47th Governors’ Conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. +The Prime Minister said Governors occupy a unique high position, owing to their vast years of experience, and the prestigious nature of their post. +He said they can hence work as catalytic agents in the States, speeding up and improving processes without themselves becoming a part of them. +The Prime Minister noted that India is the only major economy across the world, which is moving ahead strongly despite the global economic crisis. +17 Underground and 29 elevated Stations along 61.679 km the 3 corridors 15 stations between Aerocity to Tughlakabad 25 stations between R K Ashram to Janakpuri West 6 stationsbetween Maujpur and Mukundpur +Out of the total 61.679 km, 22.359 km will be built underground and 39.320 km will be constructed as elevated section. +The total completion cost of three metro corridors will be Rs.24,948.65 crore. +Connectivity Highlights: +The 3 corridors consist of both underground (22.359 km) and elevated (39.320 km) sections. +These corridors of phase – 4 project will expand the coverage of Metro network thereby connecting more areas of the national capital. +The improved connectivity will offer commuters more options of travel by optimization of routes. +The addition of 61.679 km network through these 3 new corridors will also reduce congestion on the roads and will thus help in reducing pollution caused by motor vehicles. +The Tughlakabad – Aerocity corridor will further improve connectivity to the Airport. +The total network length of the Delhi Metro will cross the 400 kilometre mark after the completion of these corridors. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, interacted with students, teachers and parents, as part of Pariksha Pe Charcha 2.0 at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi. +This year, students from across the country, and also Indian students residing abroad, participated in the event. +Setting the tone for the interaction, he described the Pariksha Pe Charcha Townhall as a mini-India. +He said it also symbolizes the future of India. +He expressed happiness that parents and teachers too are part of this programme. +A teacher asked the Prime Minister about what teachers should tell parents who are stressed about the exams of their children, and have unrealistic expectations. +A student preparing for the UPSC examination also asked a similar question. +In response, the Prime Minister said that while he would not advise anyone to stay completely unaffected by an examination, it is important to understand the context of the examination. +Is an examination, an exam for life, or is it an exam for a particular grade like Class 10 or 12, he asked the gathering. +He said that once this context is understood, the stress will reduce. +The Prime Minister emphasized that parents should not expect their children to fulfil their own unfulfilled dreams. +Every child has his or her own potential and strengths, and it is important to understand these positives of every child, he noted. +The Prime Minister also said that expectations are essential. +We cannot live in an atmosphere of despair and unhappiness, he asserted. +Answering a set of questions on stress of parents, and parental pressure, the Prime Minister said that the performance of children cannot become a calling card for the parents. +He said that if that becomes the aim, then expectations become unrealistic. +He said that some people have the view that Modi has raised expectations as Prime Minister. +He added that he is of the view that 1.25 billion Indians should have 1.25 billion aspirations. +Those aspirations should also be expressed, and we should collectively raise our abilities to meet those aspirations, he added. +A parent expressed an apprehension that her son was once good in studies, but is now distracted by online games. +In response to a question on time management and exhaustion, the Prime Minister said that 1.25 billion Indians are all his family. +He said that when one thinks and works for his family, how can he feel tired? +He said that each new day, he resumes his work with a new energy. +Students asked the Prime Minister how studies could be made more fun, and how exams could improve one’s personality. +The Prime Minister said that it is important to take tests and exams in the right spirit. +He said tests make a person stronger, and one should not abhor them. +Students sought the Prime Minister’s advice on subject and career choices. +In response, the Prime Minister said that clarity of thought and conviction are essential. +Yes, science and maths are essential but there are other subjects too worth exploring, he added. +There are opportunities in so many areas now, the Prime Minister said. +Students spoke to the Prime Minister about the need to encourage children. +In response, he said that competition should not be with others, but with one’s own record. +He said that when one competes with one’s own past record, then pessimism and negativity can easily be defeated. +Students also mentioned the need to further improve education systems and ensure that exams are not only reduced to rote learning but also showcase what students have learnt. +In response, the Prime Minister said that our learning cannot be reduced to exams only. +Our education must equip us to face various challenges of life as well, he added. +Speaking on the subject of depression, the Prime Minister said that in a nation like ours, this issue is worrying. +He said Indian culture has mechanisms to deal with this. +The more we talk openly about aspects relating to depression and mental health, the better it is, he added. +He said that a person does not get depressed all of a sudden. +There are signs that show a person is heading into depression. +Ignoring these signs is not a good idea. +On the contrary, we must talk about this, the Prime Minister said. +He said that counselling can be helpful because it helps one talk about one’s problems. +Area of cooperation +Name of the MoU/Agreement/Treaty +Exchanged on Argentine side by +Exchanged on Indian side by +MoU between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Defence of the Argentine Republic on Defence Cooperation +Mr. Jorge Faurie, Foreign Affairs Minister +Mr. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, MOS (IC)/I&B and Youth Affairs & Sports +MoU between Republic of India and Republic of Argentina for cooperation in the field of Tourism +MOU on Cooperation and Collaboration between Prasar Bharti, India and the Federal System of Media and Public Contents, Argentina +MoU in pharmaceuticals between Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), GoI, and National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology, Argentina +MoU on Antarctic Co-operation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Argentine Republic and the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Republic of India +Work Plan on Cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Production and Labour of the Argentine Republic within the MoU signed in 2010. +Mr. Luis Miguel Etchevehere, Secretary, Agro Industry +Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, Secretary, Agriculture +Work Plan for the year 2019-21 between Indian Council of Agriculture Research Republic of India and the State Secretary of Agro industry of the Ministry of Production and Labour of the Argentine Republic within the MoU signed in 2006. +Dr. Andres Ibarra, Government of Secretary for Modernization +Ms. Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary (East), MEA +MOU between Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP), India, and CNEA, the Secretariat of Energy, Argentina +Mr. Sanjiv Ranjan, Ambassador of India to Argentina +Centre of Excellence for Information and Technology +Agreement for the establishment of India-Argentina Centre of Excellence for Information and Technology +Mr Jorge Faurie, Foreign Affairs Minister +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has bowed to Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, on his birth anniversary. +“The great Bal Gangadhar Tilak inspired several people to devote themselves to the freedom struggle. +I bow to him on his birth anniversary. +The MRA will provide opportunities to members of both the parties to be exposed to best practices of either country and thus expand their scalability to cater to demand of newer markets. +The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India, The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949′, to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. +The Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA Ireland) is one of the main Irish accountancy bodies with 5,000 members and students. +The Prime Minister said that spiritual institutions in India, have been centres for the spread of social reform. +He described tourism as an ancient concept in India, and a spiritual tradition. +He said the Ashram being inaugurated today would benefit the pilgrims coming to Haridwar. +He said the idea of a Yatra existed as an integral part of our culture. +Through a Yatra, we get acquainted with various parts of the country that we may have never seen otherwise, he said. +He specially thanked the women of Mehsana district, who have furthered the message of “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.” +The Prime Minister appealed to all devotees of Ma Umiya, to become Swachhagrahis, and add strength to the Swachh Bharat Mission. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condemned and expressed anguish over the terrorist attack near Kabul. +“Anguished by the attack near Kabul. +I condemn this mindless violence. +My thoughts and prayers with the bereaved families and the injured”, the Prime Minister said. +The Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Dr. Jose Graziano da Silva, called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister described Dr. da Silva as one of the champions of the “No Hunger Project” in Brazil, and called upon the FAO to take the lead in protecting the interests of the poor and farmers at the World Trade Organization. +The Prime Minister said India looks forward to active participation of FAO in addressing the emerging challenges in Indian Agriculture. +He sought partnership with the FAO for capacity-building in food storage. +He suggested that some portion of such capacity addition brought about by the FAO’s efforts through international financial institutions, could be earmarked for the food and nutritional requirements of the poorest countries. +The Prime Minister sought FAO’s cooperation in designing a special campaign targeted at women in India, which would highlight ways to improve nutritional value and food habits. +The Prime Minister also discussed ways and means for the FAO to contribute towards increasing nutritional value in the Mid-Day Meal scheme for schoolchildren, enhancing production and protein content of pulses, improving production of oilseeds, enhancing milk productivity, and modernization of fisheries sector in India. +NITI Aayog will seek to provide a critical directional and strategic input into the development process. +In accordance with a key announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence Day, the Union Government today established NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), as replacement for the Planning Commission. +This comes after extensive consultation across the spectrum of stakeholders, including state governments, domain experts and relevant institutions. +In addition, the NITI Aayog will monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes, and focus on technology upgradation and capacity building. +Through the above, the NITI Aayog will aim to accomplish the following objectives and opportunities:- +·An administration paradigm in which the Government is an “enabler” rather than a “provider of first and last resort.” +·Progress from “food security” to focus on a mix of agricultural production, as well as actual returns that farmers get from their produce. +·Ensure that India is an active player in the debates and deliberations on the global commons. +·Ensure that the economically vibrant middle-class remains engaged, and its potential is fully realized. +·Leverage India`s pool of entrepreneurial, scientific and intellectual human capital. +·Incorporate the significant geo-economic and geo-political strength of the Non-Resident Indian Community. +·Use urbanization as an opportunity to create a wholesome and secure habitat through the use of modern technology. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today expressed India’s support for a new global standard on automatic exchange of information, which would be instrumental in getting information about unaccounted money hoarded abroad and enable it`s eventual repatriation. +He was making an intervention during the G20 session on Delivering Global Economic Resilience. +He said he supported all initiatives to facilitate exchange of information and mutual assistance in tax policy and administration. +Noting that increased mobility of capital and technology have created new opportunities for avoiding tax and profit shifting, the Prime Minister said he urged every jurisdiction, especially tax havens, to provide information for tax purposes in accordance with treaty obligations. +The Prime Minister reiterated his call for close policy coordination among major economies, saying this is important not just for also addressing the challenge of black money, but also for security issues like terrorism, drug trafficking, arms smuggling etc. +He said although all countries have their domestic priorities, coordinated decisions would “help us all” in the long run. +He said the resilience of the global financial system will also depend on cyber security. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which has been signed in October, 2015, between Indian and Germany, to expand bilateral development cooperation in the field of Solar Energy by increasing use of solar energy in India through technical as well as financial cooperation. +The MoU will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. +Under the agreement, Germany would provide concessional loans in the range of one billion Euros over the next five years through Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW). +The funds of KfW will also be utilized for providing soft loans to the end-users through partner banks. +The MoU would lead to:- +(i). Cooperation in the field of solar roof tops; +(ii). The development of solar parks or solar zones (if possible in close proximity to the Green Energy Corridors financed by KfW under Indo-German Financial Cooperation) and +(iii). Solar off-grid applications to improve the access to clean and sustainable energy. +“I am hearing from different places that friends & well-wishers are planning various programmes and events for my birthday. +My humble request – do not celebrate my birthday. +Instead, dedicate yourselves towards relief work in Jammu and Kashmir through your time and resources. +The need of the hour is to stand shoulder to shoulder with our sisters and brothers of Jammu and Kashmir. +On 17th, President Xi Jinping will be in Gujarat. +We look forward to extending a warm welcome to him but there will be no birthday celebrations,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on the sidelines of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in Gandhinagar. +Issues related to climate change, environment and clean energy came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister highlighted initiatives taken by his Government in the clean and renewable energy sectors. +The Prime Minister met US Secretary of State John Kerry. +Discussions focused on the upcoming visit of US President Barack Obama to India. +Both sides agreed that the visit would add momentum to the India-US strategic partnership. +They also expressed satisfaction that issues relating to WTO Trade Facilitation had been satisfactorily resolved. +Counter-terror cooperation, economic matters, and issues of regional interest also figured in the talks. +Counter terror cooperation was also a key theme in the Prime Minister’s meeting with Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander. +The Prime Minister condemned the attack on Canada’s Parliament, and stressed the need for a zero-tolerance approach to terror. +The Prime Minister said he looked forward to visiting Canada. +The Prime Minister met Israel’s Agriculture Minister Mr. Yair Shamir. +Both sides sought to further enhance cooperation in the Agriculture sector. +The Prime Minister invited Israel to take advantage of the Make in India initiative and establish high-end manufacturing centres in India. +The Prime Minister met Dr. Akbar Torkan, Senior Advisor to the President of Iran. +Both sides reviewed progress in the implementation of the Chahbahar Port Project. +Energy cooperation and regional issues also came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister met the President of the World Bank Jim Yong Kim. +Climate change and clean energy came up for discussion. +In his meeting with the Prime Minister of Macedonia, both sides agreed on the need to enhance trade and investment ties. +The Governor of Astrakhan, Russia, Alexander Zhilkin, invited investment from India during his meeting with the Prime Minister. +PM will lay the Foundation Stone of Defence Corridor in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. +To make India self-reliant in defence production Government of India had taken the decision to establish two defence corridors in the country, one at Tamil Nadu and the other in Uttar Pradesh. +Jhansi is one of the six nodal points of the UP defence corridor. +The Prime Minister during the UP Investors Meet held on February 2018, had announced the setting up of one such corridor in the Bundelkhand Region of UP. +PM will inaugurate the electrification of 297 km long section of Jhansi- Khairar section. +Electrification will lead to faster trains, reduced carbon emissions and sustainable environment. +He will also dedicate to Nation the West- North Inter-Region Power Transmission Strengthening Project to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Western Uttar Pradesh. +PM will inaugurate Pahari Dam Modernization Project. +Pahari Dam is a water storage dam situated on Dhasan river in Jhansi district. +Keeping in line with the Government’s vision of providing drinking water to all, PM will lay the Foundation Stone of Piped Water Scheme for the rural areas of Bundelkhand Region. +The project is significant as it will ensure water supply to the drought prone Bundelkhand region. +Foundation Stone of Jhansi City Drinking Water Scheme Phase-II under AMRUT will also be laid by the PM. +PM will lay the Foundation Stone of Coach Refurbishing Workshop in Jhansi. +The facility will create employment opportunities to the Bundelkhand region. +PM will lay the foundation stone of doubling of 425 km long Jhansi-Manikpur and Bhimsen-Khairar railway lines. +It will not only provide easy movement of trains but also help in the overall development of Bundelkhand region. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the ratification and entry into force of the third Protocol to the Convention between India and New Zealand for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income (Convention). +The Protocol was signed on 26th October, 2016. +The Protocol will stimulate the flow of exchange of information between India and New Zealand for tax purposes which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance. +It will also enable assistance in collection of tax revenue claims between both countries. +Article 26 on ‘Exchange of Information’ of the existing Convention has been replaced with a new Article in the Protocol which is in line with the international standard for exchange of information. +A new Article on ‘Assistance on Collection of Taxes’ has been added in the Protocol. +The Protocol shall enter into force on the date of notification of completion of the procedures required by the respective laws of the two countries for entry into force of the Protocol. +The Central Government is authorized under section 90 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 to enter into an Agreement with a foreign country or specified territory for exchange of information and recovery of income tax for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of income-tax chargeable under the Income-tax Act, 1961. +The Convention came into force on 3rd December, 1986. +The Convention was amended in 1997 through a First Protocol and in 2000 through a Second Protocol. +Subsequently, India proposed to further amend the Convention through a Third Protocol to update the Exchange of Information Article as per the international standard and to insert an Article on Assistance in the Collection of taxes. +Accordingly, negotiations were entered into with New Zealand and agreement was reached on both the Articles of the Third Protocol. +Women sarpanches conferred with Swachh Shakti-2019 awards by PM in Kurukshetra +National Cancer Institute, Jhajjar dedicated to the nation +PM unveils several development projects in Haryana +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Kurukshetra in Haryana today. +He participated in Swachh Shakti- 2019, a convention of Women Sarpanches and felicitated the women sarpanches from across the country with the Swachh Shakti-2019 awards. +PM visited the Swachh Sundar Shauchalay exhibition at Kurukshetra. +He inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several development projects for Haryana. +Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Khattar and several other dignitaries were present on this occasion. +PM stated that coming together of swachagrahis from across the nation has strengthened the resolve of Swachh Bharat for a New India. +Striking an emotional cord with the people of Haryana, PM said the state has been a pioneer from the launch of one rank one pension to beti bachao beti padhao and also the first beneficiary of the Ayushmann bharat scheme was a daughter from Haryana. +PM emphasised that only empowered women can create an empowered society and a strong nation. +He spoke how Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Ujjwala Yojana, National Nutrition Mission, Prime Minister’s Safe Maternity Campaign extending maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks and the ownership of houses first to the women under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana have played a key role in empowering the women. +“We are the first government to impose death penalty for rapes”, he added +He said that approximately 75% of the loans under MUDRA are given to female entrepreneurs. +About 6 crore women have joined the self-help groups under the Din Dayal Antayoday scheme and more than Rs. 75000 crore of loans have been provided to such self-help groups. +This amount is 2.5 times more than what was allocated in four years preceding 2014 +More than 10 crore restrooms have been created in the 4 and half years. +5 lakh villages in 600 districts have freed themselves from defecation in open. +This has given them a dignified life”. +PM inaugurated the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Badhsa village in Jhajjar district from Kurukshetra itself. +He stated that the Government is making all efforts to ensure health care facilities for all especially for those who can’t afford or find it costly. +Elaborating the efforts of his Government, he said that number of health care facilities and institutions have been increased substantially. +21 AIIMS are operating in the country or are under different phases of rapid construction. +Out of these 21 AIIMS, 14 AIIMS have been started after 2014. +Now with the setting up of 1.5 lakh wellness centres and the Ayushmann Bharat, we are working simultaneously to ensure health for all. +Laying the foundation stone of ‘Battles of Panipat Museum’, the PM said that the battle of Panipat is a living example of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshta Bharat’. +PM emphasised that all these projects will make the life of citizens of Haryana, healthy and easy besides creating new opportunities of employment for the youth. +PM appreciated that a Nigerian delegation is on a study tour to learn how the Swachh Bharat Mission has gained ground and how it can be replicated in Nigeria. +The Commission was constituted under article 340 of the Constitution with the approval of President on 2ndOctober, 2017. +The Commission has requisitioned data from Higher Education Institutions regarding admission of OBCs to higher education courses as well as data regarding recruitment of OBC persons in Government jobs in Government Departments, Public Sector Banks and Financial Institutions as well as in the CPSEs, with a view to assess the magnitude of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes/communities included in the Centre List of Other Backward Classes. +Keeping in view the voluminous data obtained by the Commission from all quarters and the time required for a scientific analysis of the data to prepare a comprehensive report, the Commission has sought extension of its term by twelve weeks, i.e. upto20thJune, 2018. +Be it as a party leader, Parliamentarian, Minister, Prime Minister, Atal ji distinguished himself in every role. +This is his speciality. +After landing in Delhi this evening, will head straight to Atal ji’s residence and wish him personally”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, on his twitter page also shared a poem written by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee published in weekly ‘Abhudaya’ in 1946. +In the course of the interaction which lasted for over two and half hours, several scientists made brief presentations on the progress made by India in different fields of science. +The Prime Minister appreciated the work done by the scientists. +He called upon the scientific community to work towards solving the problems faced by India, including in the emerging critical areas of energy and water. +Describing the task of cleaning up the rivers, including the Ganga, as a “scientific project,” the Prime Minister said it was a challenge to Indian scientists to come up with innovative solutions to achieve this goal. +In the area of healthcare, the Prime Minister said Indian science must address the unique healthcare needs and challenges that confront India. +He mentioned the prevalence of malnutrition, and the disease of sickle-cell anaemia in certain tribal areas, as illustrations. +He also called for overlapping traditional knowledge with modern systems. +He said India must become self-reliant in medical equipment manufacturing. +He asked the Indian scientific community to come up with ideas and concepts for global leadership, in the context of the upcoming COP-21 climate conference in Paris. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed via Video Conference, the Valedictory Function of the 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekanand’s Chicago speech, organized by Sri Ramakrishna Math at Coimbatore. +In his address, the Prime Minister said that this celebration, “shows the impact of Swami ji’s address – how it changed the way the west saw India and how Indian thought and philosophy found its rightful place.” +Shri Narendra Modi said that with this vision of Swami Vivekanand, “India is going forward with full self-confidence.” +He also spoke of various initiatives and schemes of the Government of India. +Following is the text of Prime Minister’s address: +“I consider myself fortunate to be present at this celebration of the 125th anniversary of the address by Swami Vivekanand in Chicago. +I am told that there are about four thousand friends, young and old, present here. +Incidentally, 125 years ago, when Swami Vivekanandji spoke at the World Congress of Religions in Chicago, there were about four thousand people in the audience. +I do not know if there is any other example of celebrating the anniversary of a great, inspiring address. +The event you have organised makes the anniversary of the Chicago address even more special. +Congrats to everybody associated with the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, the Government of Tamil Nadu, thousands of my young friends assembled here today for being part of the commemoration of the historic address. +This combination of the unique satvik qualities of Saints, and the energy and enthusiasm of the young people assembled here is a symbol of the real strength of India. +I may be far away from you but I can still feel this unique energy. +Many people have written about the address in Chicago. +You have, during your deliberations today, also talked about the key points of his address. +We will keep going back to Swami Ji’s words and learn new things from them. +The scale of Swami ji’s achievement looks much greater if you remember the times in which he lived. +Our country was under the shackles of foreign rule.We were poor, our society was looked down upon as backward and indeed, there were many social evils that were part of our social fabric. +Swami Vivekanandji, not only left his mark on the world, but also gave new energy and a new confidence to the freedom movement of the country. +Recognizing the importance of skill development for youth, the Government has created a dedicated Ministry for Skill Devlopment. +Besides, our government has opened the doors of the banks for youth who want to achieve their dreams on their own. +Under the Mudra scheme more than 13 crore loans have been given so far. +This scheme is playing a significant role in enhancing self-employment in the villages and towns of the country. +The Government is also providing an encouraging platform for Innovative Ideas under the Start Up India Campaign. +To bring forth Innovative Ideas, programmes like Smart India Hackathon are also being implemented. +Our approach is not only to eradicate poverty but also to root out the causes of poverty in the country. +Swami ji said “I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance.” +We have a tradition of ‘discuss’ and ‘decide.’ +Democracy and Debate are our eternal values. +We have to remember that, despite all the resources at our disposal, whenever Indian society has been divided, whenever there have been internal conflicts, external enemies have taken advantage. +Congrats to all those thousands of friends in schools and colleges who read and understood the messages of Swamiji, took part in competitions and won prizes. +Thanks again to all of you.” +His Excellency President Rahmon, +Let me start by expressing my deep appreciation and gratitude to President Rahmon and the people of Tajikistan for the warm welcome and hospitality. +I am delighted to visit Tajikistan. +It is a beautiful country. +We share deep historical, cultural and civilizational links. +Tajikistan is nearest to India among all Central Asian countries. +We are separated by a narrow corridor. +Our linguistic links are the closest in Central Asia. +Today, we have formed a deep bond on the basis of our shared aspirations for security and prosperity for our people, and peace and stability in our region. +It is a great pleasure to meet President Rahmon. +We met briefly in Ufa. +His personal commitment and leadership is a source of great strength for our relationship. +We discussed measures to tap the rich potential in trade and commerce and to encourage joint ventures and investments. +We have tasked our Joint Commission to meet soon and finalise a concrete roadmap to expand our trade and economic ties. +Agriculture is important to both our economies. +I am delighted that President Rahmon and I will address a Workshop on advancing our cooperation in agriculture later today. +Connectivity is vital for realizing the full potential of trade and commerce between our countries. +We agreed to promote the International North South Transport Corridor. +Other connectivity initiatives such as our planned investment in Chahbahar Port in Iran and intention to join the Ashgabat agreement will help. +But, I also hope that we can establish a direct link to India that would promote prosperity across the region. +We agreed to further strengthen our defence cooperation. +It is a strong pillar of our strategic partnership. +We are both located in the proximity of the main source of terrorism. +Combating terrorism and extremism has always been an important and productive area of cooperation. +At a time of growing threat of terrorism, we have resolved to intensify our cooperation further. +India and Tajikistan will also continue to support the aspirations of the Afghan people for a peaceful, stable and prosperous nation. +I conveyed appreciation for Tajikistan’s continued support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council. +India’s membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation adds a new dimension to our partnership. +We are deeply grateful for the decision of the Government of Tajikistan and the authorities of Dushanbe to install a bust of Rabindranath Tagore in the city. +It highlights the cultural and spiritual links between our two nations. +The popularity of Tagore’s poetry in Tajikistan, is mirrored in the continued admiration of Bedil’s poetry in India. +This is our shared heritage, of which we can truly be proud. +Finally, I thank President Rahmon and Tajikistan for the support in making the International Day of Yoga on June 21st a huge global success. +I wish to thank President Rahmon once again for the warmth of his welcome, which reflects the love and affection that the people of Tajikistan have for the people of India. +This is a sentiment shared fully by the people of India. +I have extended an invitation to President Rahmon to visit India at an early date and look forward to receiving him in Delhi. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to inclement weather in Sri Lanka. +“Deepest condolences and sympathies at loss of lives in Sri Lanka due to inclement weather. +We stand resolutely to help the Government and people of Sri Lanka. +Assistance being rushed on emergency basis”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, addressed the ‘Make in India: India-Japan partnership in Africa and digital partnership’ seminar, in Tokyo. +The Prime Minister explained how the Union Government is focused on improving ease of doing business, and ease of living for the citizens. +He expressed happiness at the large presence of Japanese companies in India. +Noting that Japan has been a partner in many important industrial projects in India, the Prime Minister explained the strength of India’s economic performance over the last four years. +He said India is today the fastest growing major economy. +He mentioned other major transitions in the Indian economy, including the move from informal to formal economy, digital transactions and GST etc. +The Prime Minister said that India’s rising economy, fast growing middle class and young demography offer many new opportunities to Japanese investors. +In this context, he mentioned low cost manufacturing, IT industry, and electric mobility, among other sectors. +The Prime Minister emphasized on the shared values between India and Japan. +He said that both countries would look to develop stronger development partnerships in other parts of the world, including the Indo Pacific, South Asia and Africa. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated medal winners in Commonwealth Games. +Congratulating the weightlifters, the Prime Minister said, “Proud of Ragala Venkat Rahul for the Gold. +I am sure the exceptional success of our weightlifters will motivate more youngsters to pursue weightlifting. +India congratulates Punam Yadav for winning the Gold Medal in the 69 Kg women’s weightlifting event. +Her dedication towards weightlifting is truly admirable.” +Congratulating the shooters, the Prime Minister said, “Our shooters are distinguishing themselves at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. +Manu Bhaker continues her stupendous form and bags a Gold in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event. +Congratulations to her. +Delighted that Heena Sidhu won the Silver in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event. +Congratulations to her and best wishes for her future endeavours. +The promising shooter Ravi Kumar has won the Bronze in the men’s 10m Air Rifle event. +Every Indian takes pride in his accomplishment. +This young shooter has made a rich contribution towards sports.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Brunei Darussalam on Cooperation in the operation of Telemetry Tracking and Telecommand station for satellite and launch vehicles, and for cooperation in the field of Space Research, Science and Applications. +The MoU was signed in New Delhi on 19th July 2018. +The MoU enables India to continue to operate, maintain and augment its ground station meant for supporting India’s launch vehicle and satellite missions. +This will also help India to share its experience and expertise in space activities through training of officials and students from Brunei Darussalam on space technology applications. +Cooperation with Brunei Darussalam through this MoU would lead to operation, maintenance and augmentation of Indian Ground Station to support India’s launch vehicle and satellite missions. +Thus all sections and regions of the country will get benefited. +The MoU will provide impetus to explore newer research activities in ground station operations and training on space technology applications. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP). +The NMEP primarily aims at accelerating the exploration activity in the country through enhanced participation of the private sector. +There is a need for comprehensive mineral exploration of the country to uncover its full mineral potential so as to put the nation’s mineral resources (non-fuel and non-coal) to best use and thereby maximize sectoral contribution to the Indian economy. +The policy emphasizes on making available baseline geoscientific data of world standards in the public domain, quality research in a public-private partnership, special initiatives for search of deep-seated and concealed deposits, quick aerogeophysical surveys of the country, and creation of a dedicated geoscience database etc. +NMEP has the following main features for facilitating exploration in the country:- +The revenue will be borne by the successful bidder of those auctionable blocks. +ii. If the explorer agencies do not discover any auctionable resources, their exploration expenditure will be reimbursed on normative cost basis. +iii. Creation of baseline geoscientific data as a public good for open dissemination free of charge. +iv. Government will carry out a National Aerogeophysical Program for acquiring state-of-the-art baseline data for targeting concealed mineral deposits. +v. A National Geoscientific Data Repository is proposed to be set up to collate all baseline and mineral exploration information generated by various central & state government agencies and also mineral concession holders and to maintain these on geospatial database. +vi. Government proposes to establish a not-for-profit autonomous institution that will be known as the National Centre for Mineral Targeting (NCMT) in collaboration with scientific and research bodies, universities and industry for scientific and technological research to address the mineral exploration challenges in the country. +vii. Provisions for inviting private investment in exploration through attractive revenue sharing models. +viii. On the lines of UNCOVER project of Australia, the government intends to launch a special initiative to probe deep-seated/ concealed minerals deposits in the country in collaboration with National Geophysical Research Institute and the proposed NCMT and Geoscience Australia. +In order to implement the recommendations of the NMEP, initially an amount of about Rs.2116 crore over 5 years would be required over and above the annual plan budget of the Geological Survey of India under the Ministry of Mines. +The NMEP will benefit the entire mineral sector across the country. +The major impact of NMEP are:- +1) The pre-competitive baseline geoscientific data will be created as a public good and will be fully available for open dissemination free of charge. +This is expected to benefit public and private exploration agencies. +2) The collaboration with scientific and research bodies, universities and industry for the scientific and technological development necessary for exploration in public- private partnership. +3) Government will launch a special initiative to probe deep-seated/concealed mineral deposits in the country. +Characterizing India’s geological cover, investigating India’s lithospheric architecture, resolving 4D geodynamic and metallogenic evolution, and detecting and characterizing the distal footprints of ore deposits, would be the main components of this initiative. +4) A National Aerogeophysical Mapping program will be launched to map the entire country with low altitude and close space flight to delineate the deep-seated and concealed mineral deposits. +5) Government will engage private agencies for carrying out exploration in identified blocks / areas with the right to certain share in the revenue accruing to the State government through auction. +6) Public expenditure on regional and detailed exploration will be prioritized and subject to periodical review based on assessment of criticality and strategic interests. +The Ministry of Mines has, in the recent past, taken a series of measures for the growth of the mineral sector, including allowing 100% FDI. +However, these initiatives have fetched only limited success. +Further, over the years the dynamics of the mineral sector have undergone sea change thereby creating new demands and imperatives. +There is a compelling need to provide an impetus to exploration activity in the country. +This has prompted the Government to carry out a comprehensive review of its exploration policy and strategy. +The amendments brought in to the MMDR Act in 2015 is a step in this direction. +The most important feature of this amendment is that mining leases (ML) and prospecting license-cum-mining lease (PL-cum-ML) will be granted only through an auction process. +This is expected to bring in transparency, expeditiousness and simplification in procedures in grant of mineral concessions. +Against this background, the NMEP has been framed so as to provide a new set of objectives, sense of purpose and direction to exploration within the amended legal framework. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today described “knowledge” (“ilm”) as the focal point of all religions. +Addressing an eminent gathering of scholars, historians and diplomatic representatives at the release function of the book, “Education of Muslims: An Islamic Perspective of Knowledge and Education – Indian Context”, the Prime Minister said education can become the strength of the entire SAARC region. +He said if the region does not embrace modernity, it will get left behind, as the rest of the world progresses. +The Prime Minister said it is the good fortune of people living in India, that we have the opportunity to follow, understand and learn so many different religions, and strands of thought, at one place. +He said today, India is free of the disease of polio, and India is ready to assume responsibility for eradicating it from the entire SAARC region. +In this context, the Prime Minister also spoke about India’s SAARC satellite, which will work for the benefit of the entire SAARC region. +सुशासन – Good Governance is the key to a Nation’s progress. +Our government is committed to providing a transparent and accountable administration which works for the betterment and welfare of the common citizen. +“Citizen-First” is our mantra, our motto and our guiding principle. +It has been my dream to bring government closer to our citizens, so that they become active participants in the governance process. +During the last seven months, our government has been consistently working towards this goal. mygov.in and interact with PM seek to make this engagement meaningful. +The unprecedented response which these initiatives have evoked, places a large responsibility upon us, and I assure you, my countrymen that we will not let you down. +An important step for Good Governance is simplification of procedures and processes in the Government so as to make the entire system transparent and faster. +The push towards self-certification in place of affidavits and attestations is another indicator of the relationship of trust between the citizens and the Government. +Doing away with cumbersome and out-dated legislations which no longer have relevance is another focus area. +Already Appropriation Acts have been identified for repeal and more Acts are being reviewed. +Our government considers redress of public grievances as a very important component of a responsive administration. +I have instructed all the Ministries to ensure that redress of public grievances receives the highest priority. +Government process re-engineering is yet another measure that we are pushing for. +Ministries and Departments of the Government of India have been instructed to look into their work spheres, their internal processes and work on what and how to simplify and rationalise them. +We are also working on a simpler internal work process manual, which would be delivered through an e-learning module. +I strongly believe that technology can and must bridge the divide between the government and the citizens. +Technology is an empowering tool for the citizen and an accountability medium for the government. +My government fully recognises the huge potential of this tool –Digital India aims to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. +It would also bring in greater accountability through mandated delivery of government’s services electronically. +The effort to usher in an era of सुशासन has just begun, and begun on a very promising note. +An open and accountable administration is what we had promised to deliver and we will do so. +Let us embark on this mission for good governance together. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and all the Martyrs who gave their lives for the Nation, on Martyrs’ Day. +Shri M. M. Gupta, CMD, Dainik Jagran and Shri Sanjay Gupta, Editor-in-Chief and CEO, Dainik Jagran, today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and presented two demand drafts worth Rs. 4 crores towards the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. +Your Excellency President Ghani, +Your Excellency, Chief Executive Dr. Abdulla, +Honorable Speaker of Wolesi Jirga and the Chairman of Meshraon Jirga, +Distinguished Members of both Houses. +This is the wisdom of this magnificent land and a great Nation. +And, today, I am humbled and honoured to join President Ghani and all the Members of the Afghan Parliament to dedicate this new abode of democracy to the Afghan nation. +And, we are deeply touched that you have chosen to name one of the wings in this building the Atal Block. +This Parliament House brings together our two nations through the vision of our leaders, the labour of our people and the stones of our lands. +And, the Atal Block unites us in spirit, because Atal means hero in Pashto and in Hindi it means to be firm. +It captures the spirit of Afghanistan and of our friendship. +This Parliament Complex is a small tribute to your progress as a nation and a democracy. +And, it will stand as an enduring symbol of the ties of emotions and values, of affection and aspirations that bind us in a special relationship. +Honourable Members, +Our ties are as ancient as history. +Over the mighty Hindu Kush and through the forbidding Khyber Pass, monks, merchants and monarchs have linked us through knowledge, culture, religion,commerce and kingdoms. +In the shifting contours of history, there were times we have been one. +There were times we saw wars. +But, through the ages, we have always enriched one another. +In the timeless Buddhist symbols of Aynak and Bamian and in the majestic monuments of Delhi, in our culture and art, in language and literature, food and festivals, we see the imprint of our timeless relations. +We owe to ancient Afghanistan the gift of one of the great characters of Mahabharata, Gandhari. +In the achievements of Mauryan Empire or Shershah Suri, we see connectivity that we now aspire to rebuild. +But, in the heart of every Indian and Afghan, there is boundless love for each other. +We love each other’s culture and cinema, music and poetry, food and festivals. +And, now we admire each other’s cricket. +We are delighted that the Afghan National Cricket Team has found its home ground near Delhi and is practicing for next year’s World Cup. +And, i congratulatethe Afghan Under 19 team that just beat Zimbabwe in its first home series. +We are just as proud that Afghans see India as a natural destination for education, health or a family home. +This is the spirit of brotherhood between us. +And, when you began a new journey in a new century, we were proud to stand with you and walk with you. +Our partnership has helped rural communities get schools, minor irrigation, health centres, welfare for children and opportunities for women. +Together, we have built roads that have brought regions closer; +power transmission lines and power stations that light up Afghan homes; +satellite links that bring education, medical advice and communication to Afghan people. +And, we are helping the security forces become more mobile. +The institutions we are establishing together are helping rebuild agriculture and mining in Afghanistan, and make advanced medical care available in Kabul. +Nothing is more important for a nation than its human resources. +We have faced daily threats, but we feel secure in your midst. +To every Afghan, who has risked or lost his life so that his Indian guest is safe, I convey the eternal gratefulness of India. +To Indian diplomats, officers, engineers and doctors, who serve here with pride, to the families of our Indian martyrs, I express the gratitude of Indians and Afghans. +There are some who did not want us to be here. +There were those who saw sinister designs in our presence here. +There are others who were uneasy at the strength of our partnership. +Some even tried to discourage us. +But, we are here because you have faith in us. +You never doubted the sincerity of our commitment and the strength of our friendship. +And, you have seen the fruits of our partnership. +You have judged us by what you see, not what others tell you, including about the mysterious Indian consulates. +You know that India is here to contribute not to compete; to lay the foundations of future, not light the flame of conflict; to rebuild lives, not destroy a nation. +You know, as we do, that Indians and Afghans have always stood for each other, never against another. +You have been at the crossroads of history. +For you live by the creed extolled by poet Kushal Khan Khattak that Nation’s honor and nation’s fame on life they have a prior claim. +So, with your faith and at your pace, India will continue to build Afghan capacity for governance, security and development, so that you can build a future that Afghans so richly deserve. +We will do this from the responsibility that comes from our friendship. +But, we also do this with a commitment to peace and stability in our region. +We know that Afghanistan’s success will require the cooperation and support of each of its neighbours. +When Afghanistan becomes a haven of peace and a hub for the flow of ideas, commerce, energy and investments in the region, we will all prosper together. +That is why we are working to improve your connectivity by land and sea, including through Chahbahar in Iran. +That is why I hope that Pakistan will become a bridge between South Asia and Afghanistan and beyond. +Terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan’s future or dictate the choices Afghans make.. +Too much blood has flown down Kabul River. +Too many tragedies have darkened the mountain slopes. +Too many dreams have burnt in the fire of a senseless conflict. +You can be Pushtoons, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Hazaras. +You can be Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. +But, you are proud Afghans who can come together as one nation and one people. +Those who have destroyed homes must now rebuild their nation. +For, this is your land and these are your people. +And, it must be on your terms, on your genius, through your own process and your own spirit of brotherhood. +And, it must be a nation, where every citizen is secure of her rights and confident about her future. +And, as Afghans take responsibility for their future, the world must stand with them in solidarity and support. +The world will be a better place when we can experience the real wealth of Afghan people in their diversity and rich heritage. +The sacrifices must not go in vain. +The flame of hope should not die. +No girl that steps into the world should slip into darkness of denied opportunities. +No elder should look back on his youth wasted in conflict, and see the same future for his grandchild. +Every youth in Afghanistan should see a future in which IT stands for information technology, not international terrorism. +For, the promise and the opportunities of the 21st century belong to Afghan youth as much as anyone else in the world. +Your dreams are our duty. +Your strength is our belief. +I am confident that Hope will return to your homes, Laughter in your schools, Life in your streets, Prosperity in your cities, unity in your society and peace in your nation. +And, at every step of your journey, India will be with you. +Minister Le Drian expressed condolences for the victims of the cross-border terrorist attack at Uri, J&K on 18 September 2016 and expressed resolve to strengthen bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation. +He said that France stands with India in the fight against terrorism. +Minister Le Drian briefed the Prime Minister on the current status of bilateral defence cooperation. +The Prime Minister welcomed the signing of the inter-governmental agreement on purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft earlier in the day, and called for its speedy and timely implementation. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Power for Signing of “Memorandum of Understanding for Establishment of the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection”. +It will be signed among member states of BIMSTEC at the upcoming 3rd BIMSTEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Nepal shortly. +The “Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation in BIMSTEC” was formulated in the first BIMSTEC Energy Ministers’ Conference held in New Delhi on October 4, 2005. +In this plan, under the “BIMSTEC Trans-Power Exchange and Development Project”, it was decided that a Task Force led by Thailand, with representatives of member countries, will give a report on draft MoU for grid interconnections. +Total five meetings Task Force for BIMSTEC on Trans-power Exchange were held and the draft MoU for establishment of BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection was finalized by the Task Force on 16th Mar 2015. +In the BIMSTEC Leaders’ Retreat 2016, held in Goa on 16th October 2016, the Leaders decided to expedite the signing of the MoU on BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection. +Eventually, during the 4th meeting of BIMSTEC Senior Officials on Energy held on 11th-12th January 2017, the MoU was discussed and finalized. +This MoU will provide a broad framework for the Parties to cooperate towards the implementation of grid interconnections for the trade in electricity with a view to promoting rational and optimal power transmission in the BIMSTEC region. +This MoU will facilitate: +the optimization of using the energy resources in the region for mutual benefits on non-discriminatory basis subject to laws, rules and regulations of the respective Parties; +the promotion of efficient, economic, and secure operation of power system needed through the development of regional electricity networks; +power exchange through cross border interconnections. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a large gathering in New Delhi on the occasion of Chartered Accountants’ Day. +He also compared them to the saints and sages of the economic world. +He said India’s Chartered Accountants are known the world over for their excellent financial skills. +The Prime Minister said that while the country has the capacity to recover from any setback, its development is seriously impacted when a small section of people start indulging in corrupt practices. +He recounted the various steps, including demonetization, taken by the Union Government in the last three years, against black money, and to bring elements indulging in corruption, to book. +The Prime Minister said that as many as three lakh companies have come under the scanner, in the course of inspecting the data mined after demonetization. +He said that one lakh companies who have been found to be in violation of laws, have been removed from the Registrar of Companies. +He reiterated that the Union Government has taken bold decisions in national interest. +The Prime Minister called upon Chartered Accountants to introspect and weed out corrupt practices and persons from their fraternity. +Giving statistics about income declarations by the people during filing of returns, the Prime Minister urged Chartered Accountants to keep national interest supreme, while advising their clients. +He said that the entire country reposes faith in the certification of Chartered Accountants, and said that this faith and trust should never be broken. +He explained how the tax paid by taxpayers plays a crucial role in welfare of society, and development of the nation. +Talking about the Big 4 auditing firms worldwide, he urged India’s Chartered Accountants to work towards creating the next big 4 global auditing firms. +The Joint Stamps were released on 26th July 2018. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the creation of one post each of Vice-Chairperson and Member in the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis. +The decision is intended to optimize functioning of the Commission and for fulfilling desired objectives of welfare and development of the target group. +The National Commission for Safai Karmacharis is working for the welfare of both Safai Karamcharis and Manual Scavengers. +Under Section 31 of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013, the Commission is to perform functions namely: +a. To monitor the implementation of the Act; +b. To enquire into complaints regarding contravention of provisions of the Act; and +c. To advice Central and State Governments for effective implementation of the Act. +The Prime Minister congratulated Dr. Abdul Momen on his appointment as the Foreign Minister, and appreciated his gesture of selecting India as the destination for his first foreign visit. +Dr. Abdul Momen briefed the Prime Minister on recent developments in the bilateral relationship. +The Prime Minister said that India-Bangladesh relations have been on an upward trajectory in the last few years. +He reaffirmed India’s commitment to work with Bangladesh to build on this momentum during the new term in office of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Qingdao in China. +“I will be visiting Qingdao in China for the annual meeting of the Council of Heads of States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). +I am excited to lead the Indian delegation for our first-ever meeting of the Council as a full member. +The SCO has a rich agenda for cooperation, ranging from fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism to promoting cooperation in connectivity, commerce, customs, law, health and agriculture; protecting the environment and mitigating disaster risk; and fostering people-to-people relations. +In the last one year since India became a full member of the SCO, our interaction with the Organization and its member States has grown considerably in these areas. +I believe that the Qingdao Summit will further enrich the SCO agenda, while heralding a new beginning for India’s engagement with the SCO. +India enjoys deep friendship and multi-dimensional ties with the Member States of the SCO. +On the sidelines of the SCO Summit, I will have the opportunity of meeting and sharing views with several other leaders, including the Heads of States of many SCO Member States.” +You make India proud! +Best of luck for the finals.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the occasion of Navreh. +As the New Year begins, I pray that everyone’s lives are blessed with tremendous happiness, prosperity and good health. +Every Indian takes immense pride in the rich culture of the Kashmiri Pandit community”, the Prime Minister said. +• Addresses ASEAN-India Summit. +•Meets Japanese PM, Chinese Premier. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur. +This is reflected in the sharp jump in India’s ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business. +And, we will continue with our reforms with speed and boldness. +ASEAN’s economy continues to forge ahead with dynamism and energy. +I have no doubt that we will reinforce prosperity for our 1.9 billion people,” the Prime Minister said. +“Connectivity is the pathway to shared prosperity. +The Trilateral Highway project is making good progress and should be completed by 2018,” the Prime Minister said. +“We will enlarge the ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund from the current one million U.S. dollars to 5 million U.S. dollars. +We also intend to set up an ASEAN-India Innovation Platform to facilitate commercialization of low cost technologies, technology transfer and collaborative R&D projects,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister met the Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Li Keqiang, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit. +Both sides reviewed the global scenario with regard to the economic slowdown, climate change and international terrorism. +The Chinese Premier observed that India had maintained its growth momentum despite the slowdown. +Both sides reviewed the preparations for the CoP-21 conference in Paris. +Shri Narendra Modi briefed the Chinese Premier on the solar alliance initiative, and invited China to join it. +Both sides agreed that terrorism is the biggest challenge, and the international community must come together to counter it. +Cooperation in the area of skill development was discussed. +The Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over lunch. +Mr. Shinzo Abe reiterated that the India-Japan bilateral relationship has the greatest potential of any bilateral relationship across the world. +The Prime Minister acknowledged the Japanese Prime Minister’s vision for the bilateral relationship, and said he looks forward to the visit of Mr. Shinzo Abe to India. +The Prime Minister said that Japan was partnering India in a number of initiatives such as the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), which had transformative potential. +Regional connectivity, maritime security, the upcoming CoP-21 conference, reform of the UN Security Council, and the issue of terrorism were some of the other subjects that came up for discussion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Agreement between India and Morocco on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. +The Agreement will provide a broad legal framework for bilateral cooperation between India and Morocco in investigation and prosecution of crime, tracing, restraint, forfeiture or confiscation or proceeds and instruments of crime. +It aims to increase effectiveness in investigation and prosecution of crime, and in providing the necessary peaceful ambience which is a pre-requisite for the development of society as a whole. +It will further be instrumental in gaining better inputs and insights in the modus operandi of organized criminals and terrorists, which in turn can be used to fine-tune policy decisions in the field of Internal Security. +The Prime Minister referred to his recent advice to all Secretaries of the Union Government to visit their first place of posting, and see what changes, if any, have happened there, even as they progressed in their careers. +He told the probationers that the assured career path that the IAS offers should not make them complacent. +He said they should judge themselves not by the posts they hold, but by what difference they have been able to make in the lives of the poor. +The Prime Minister said many of the services offered by Government today, are also offered by the private sector. +He therefore emphasized that officers handling such services in the Government, should judge the quality of their service using the yardstick of the best in that category, and even by international standards. +In response to a question on the development of the North-East, and ending the sense of alienation in the region, the Prime Minister said that the core problem is not with policy (neeti), but with practice (reeti). +He said at times, officers from other parts of the country even tried to avoid a posting in the North-East. +The Prime Minister emphasized the need for infrastructure development in the North-East to improve accessibility and connectivity with other parts of India. +He said once infrastructure develops, the North-East will be able to progress. +In response to another question, the Prime Minister said he is of the firm view that the 21st century will be India`s century, and India will rise to the position of “Vishva Guru.” +In this context, he said that the world had once again started taking note of India`s rapid economic growth rate. +In reply to a question on defence preparedness, the Prime Minister said a multi-pronged approach is essential, which involves good relations with all neighbouring countries, and a boost to domestic defence manufacturing capabilities. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the implementation of the CCEA decision on closure of Tungabhadra Steel Products Limited (TSPL) regarding disposal of its immovable assets. +It also provides for getting the name of the company struck off from the Registrar of Companies after setting balance liabilities of TSPL. +Cabinet approved transfer of MMH Plants to Government of Karnataka along with 20,000 square meter land. +Cabinet also approved selling 82.37 acres of land of the Company at Hospet to Karnataka Government for use of the Karnataka State Housing Board. +The land is being sold to Karnataka Government at the rate of Rs. 66 lakh per acre offered by them. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today urged civil servants to maintain a positive outlook, convert adversity into opportunity, and strive towards perfection. +Addressing civil servants on Civil Services Day, the Prime Minister recalled Sardar Patel’s vision of the Civil Services of independent India, and the role of the Civil Services in national integration. +The Prime Minister said today socio-economic integration should also be an objective of the Civil Services. +He said national unity today implied an end to the digital divide, urban-rural divide, and all forms of socio-economic inequity. +He said the entire administrative machinery today should be geared up to serve the needs of society. +“Sheelam Param Bhushanam”, (character is the highest virtue) the Prime Minister reminded the civil servants, urging them to maintain a positive outlook, and spend quality time with their family as well. +“Your life should not become a file,” the Prime Minister said. +On the subject of good governance, the Prime Minister said it requires the ART of Accountability, Responsibility and Transparency. +He said that as the Indian economy moves from “scarcity” to “plenty,” the Civil Services required capacity-building to be able to better serve people. +The Prime Minister urged senior Civil Servants to spend time in motivating youth to aspire for, and join the Civil Services, to ensure that the best talent was available to the Government. +He referred to a Goldman-Sachs report which said it will take India a decade to reach the Asian average on government effectiveness. +He said that while political interference was undesirable, political intervention was necessary to ensure people-friendly governance in a democracy. +He urged civil servants to end the “silo-approach” and work as a team. +A book on ‘Best Practices – Tomorrow is Here’ was also released by the Prime Minister. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding between Department of Space / Indian Space Research Organization (DOS/ISRO) and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) on cooperation in the field of outer space. +The MoU was signed in Ottawa, Canada on 15th April 2015. +This will also provide opportunities for diverse research in the field of peaceful uses of space technologies. +The successful space cooperation is being pursued through two Implementing Arrangements in the field of Satellite Tracking Network Operations, and in the field of the ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) Detector Subsystem, in support of the ASTROSAT astronomy mission in December 2003 and June 2004, respectively. +It is aimed at future cooperation in and use of outer space for peaceful purposes to reinforce scientific and technological development and the ties between two countries at government, industrial and academic levels. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to the cylinder blast in Jhabua. +“Extremely pained at the loss of lives due to the cylinder blast in Jhabua. +My deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. +I wish all those injured a speedy recovery. +Madhya Pradesh Govt. is monitoring the situation closely”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Valedictory Ceremony at the Conference of Director Generals and Inspector Generals of Police at BSF Academy at Tekanpur. +The Prime Minister recalled how the nature and scope of the Conference have changed since 2014, beginning with its being shifted out of Delhi. +He appreciated the officers who have been instrumental in facilitating this change. +The Prime Minister said that the Conference has now become more relevant, in the context of challenges and responsibilities facing the country. +He said the new format of the Conference has resulted in a marked improvement in the quality of discussions. +He commended the country’s security apparatus for the work they are doing in securing the country. +He said that the officers present in the gathering today have delivered leadership, despite often having to operate in an environment of negativity. +He said that as a result of the discussions in this Conference over the last few years, now, once an objective is clearly defined for the police force, there is a lot of cohesion in the execution. +He said this Conference is helping top police officers get a more holistic view of problems and challenges. +He said the range of topics being discussed has become more broad-based over the last two years. +This has helped give a whole new vision to senior police officers, he added. +Discussing ways to add even more value to this Conference, the Prime Minister suggested that follow up should continue through working groups, all the year round. +In this context, he specially emphasized the importance of involving younger officers. +He said this would greatly help in improving effectiveness of the exercise. +The Prime Minister mentioned the emerging global consensus towards greater information sharing on illicit financial dealings, and said India had a key role to play in achieving this. +But breaking of silos and information sharing among states can help make everyone more secure. +“We are not an assembled entity, but an organic entity,” he asserted. +The Prime Minister said cyber security issues should be dealt with immediately, and should receive highest priority. +In this context, he particularly mentioned the importance of social media. +He said messaging should rely on local languages for greater effectiveness. +On radicalization too, the Prime Minister urged the use of technology to pinpoint problem areas. +The Prime Minister also presented President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service to IB officers. +During his address the Prime Minister congratulated and appreciated the medal winning officers of IB, for their dedication and commitment to service. +Union Home Minister Shri Raj Nath Singh, and Union Ministers of State for Home Shri Hansraj Ahir and Shri Kiren Rijiju were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting today, to review the situation following the major earthquake in Nepal. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for continuance of the 8 existing schemes of the Ministry of Home Affairs up to March 2020 for relief and rehabilitation of migrants and repatriates under the Umbrella scheme “Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrants and Repatriates”. +The financial implication for this purpose is Rs. 3183 crore for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20. +The year-wise phasing of the scheme will be- Rs. 911 crore in 2017-18, Rs.1372 crore in 2018-19 and Rs. 900 crore in 2019-2020. +The schemes will provide relief and rehabilitation assistance to the refugees, displaced persons, civilian victims of terrorist/communal/LWE violence and cross border firing and mine/IED blasts on Indian Territory and riot victims of various incidents etc. +The 8 schemes approved for continuance are already in operation, and the benefits under each will be extended to intended beneficiaries in accordance with the approved criterion. +The schemes are as under: +1. Central Assistance for one-time settlement of displaced families from Pak Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Chhamb settled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. +2. Rehabilitation Package and up-gradation of infrastructure of the Bangladeshi Enclaves and Cooch Behar District after transfer of enclaves between India and Bangladesh under Land Boundary Agreement. +3. Relief assistance to Sri Lankan refugees staying in camps in Tamil Nadu and Odisha. +4. Grant-in-Aid to Central Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC) for five years for administrative and social welfare expenses of Tibetan settlements. +5. Grant-in-Aid to Government of Tripura for maintenance of Brus lodged in relief camps of Tripura. +6. Rehabilitation of Bru/Reang families from Tripura to Mizoram. +7. Grant of enhanced relief of Rs. 5.00 lakh per deceased person, who died during 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots. +8. Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims/Family of Victims of Terrorist/Communal/LWE Violence and Cross Border Firing and Mine/IED blasts on Indian Territory’. +To enable the migrants and repatriates, who have suffered on account of displacement, to earn a reasonable income and to facilitate their inclusion in mainstream economic activities, the Government, at different points of time, started 8 schemes. +These schemes provide assistance for – relief and rehabilitation of displaced families of PoJK and Chhamb; Relief assistance to Sri Lankan refugees, Relief assistance to Brus lodged in relief camps in Tripura; Rehabilitation of BRU/Reang families from Tripura to Mizoram; enhanced relief to 1984 Anti-Sikh Riot Victims; Relief to Civilian victims/family of victims of terrorists/Communal/LWE violence and Cross Border firing and Mine/IED blasts on Indian Territory and Repatriation of Indian Prisoners from abroad; Grant-in-aid to Central Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC). +The Government is also providing Grant-in-Aid to Government of West Bengal for infrastructure development in 51 erstwhile Bangladeshi enclaves in India situated in Cooch Behar District for resettlement of 911 returnees from erstwhile Indian enclaves in Bangladesh. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing Memorandum of Understanding between India and Kuwait for cooperation on the Recruitment of Domestic Workers. +The MOU provides a structured framework for cooperation on domestic workers related matters and provides strengthened safeguards for Indian domestic workers including female workers deployed in Kuwait. +The MOU is initially valid for a period of five years and incorporates provision for automatic renewal. +Implementation Strategy: +Under this MOU, a Joint Committee will be set up to follow up the implementation of this MOU. +The MOU will promote bilateral cooperation in domestic workers related matters between the two countries. +Around 3,00,000 Indian domestic workers deployed in Kuwait. +This includes around 90,000 female domestic workers. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the trade cooperation framework between India and Rwanda. +The trade cooperation framework was signed on 23rd July, 2018. +The trade cooperation framework will facilitate better trade and economic relations between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the courage and indomitable spirit of Indian Armed Forces, on Vijay Diwas. +“Today, on Vijay Diwas we salute the courage and indomitable spirit of our armed forces. +Their service to India is unparalleled”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and U.K. on Cancer Research Initiative. +The MoU was signed on 14th November 2018. +The India-UK Cancer Research Initiative will identify a core set of research challenges that address issues of affordability, prevention and care of cancer by bringing together leading Indian and UK experts across clinical research, demographic research, new technologies and physical sciences. +The initiative will provide funding to develop new research alliances and undertake impactful research to enable significant progress against cancer outcomes. +The matching funds will be as per prevailing rates at the beginning of financial year. +Despite the surge in technological, biomedical, clinical, and pharmaceutical innovations aimed at improving cancer outcomes, the overburdened healthcare systems across the globe remain ill equipped to meet the massive burden of escalating cancer care costs. +The India-UK Cancer Research Initiative sets forth a roadmap for catalysing collaborations that align the best researchers, scientists, healthcare organizations and institutions to a multi-disciplinary research platform leading to high value, low cost outcomes for cancer care. +Through this initiative the number of positions for doctoral-level, post-doctoral level researchers and early career scientists are expected to grow. +They will not only be trained in cutting technology but will also be trained in essential leadership and project management skills which would help them in securing tenure-track research positions in academia or in related bio-pharma industry. +This is a follow up of the joint statement issued by the two Prime Ministers during the visit of Prime Minister of India; Shri Narendra Modi to UK on April 18, 2018, which states the following: +“As thriving democracies, we share a desire to work closely together and with all who share our objective to support a rules-based international order that upholds agreed international norms, global peace and stability. +Together the UK and India are a forcefor good in an uncertain world. +We are sharing our experience and knowledge to tackle global challenges. +Six women officers of the Indian Navy, who successfully circumnavigated the globe on the sailing vessel, INSV Tarini, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +The expedition, known as the Navika Sagar Parikrama, was the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. +During the interaction, the crew made a presentation on various aspects of the mission, their preparation, training, and experiences during the journey. +The Prime Minister congratulated the crew on the success of their mission. +He encouraged them to share and write about their unique experiences during the journey. +Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, was present on the occasion. +Mr. S. Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry, Hounorable Ministers and Dear Friends! +It is a matter of great pleasure to be here with you. +I am really happy to address the India-Singapore Economic Convention. +My visit has been very productive and positive. +I had excellent meetings with Singapore leaders today morning. +We have concluded the Strategic Partnership which takes the relationship to a new level of engagement. +We have set a high level of ambition for this relationship. +A large Indian Diaspora is enriching the life and work environment of Singapore. +In recent years, economic engagement has been a key driver of our relationship. +Singapore is our 10th largest trade partner globally. +It is also the 2nd largest in ASEAN. +Bilateral trade has expanded manifold after the conclusion of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement in 2005. +Singapore has emerged as the 2nd largest source of FDI into India. +Outward Indian FDI to Singapore has also increased in recent times. +Singapore is now one of the top destinations for Indian investments. +A significantly large number of Indian companies are registered in Singapore. +Singapore companies also have a level of familiarity with Indian market due to involvement over the past few decades. +Our companies are positioned to explore and develop promising engagements. +With the significant and growing number of companies of both sides and of foreign companies in both markets, I expect even more exciting partnerships. +• You have the habit of precision; India has the scope for expansion; +• You are fond of going vertical; India’s development is both vertical and horizontal; +• You are an exciting incubator; India is a vast laboratory; +Thus, Singapore and India can work together in many promising areas. +Last month, I had the opportunity of laying the foundation of two projects in India with participation of Singapore. +One is the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh–Amaravati. +Singapore is involved in preparation of the Master Plan for this new city. +Secondly, I have laid the foundation stone for the fourth container terminal at JNPT, Mumbai which is being built in partnership with PSA, Singapore. +We are also exploring collaboration with Changi Airport to operate two Indian airports. +These are recent examples of the deepening of our economic partnership. +Singapore is also an important and valuable friend of India in our global outlook. +We regard Singapore as an essential ally in the implementation of our Look and Act East Policy. +I am fully aware of the important role Singapore has played in the implementation of this policy. +I look forward to working with Singapore in a bigger way. +Beyond the bilateral scope, there are also significant opportunities through collaboration with third countries. +One example is the ASEAN Economic Community which has come into effect. +It is going to create a 2 trillion US Dollar market of 600 million people. +It will further enable our businesses to jointly explore opportunities in the wider South East Asian region. +The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), comprising ASEAN and its six Dialogue Partners, is another potential opportunity for our companies. +Recently, in the India Africa Forum Summit held in New Delhi, Singapore was a special invitee. +This is recognition of another dimension of India-Singapore togetherness. +We can work jointly in the African countries. +Ladies and Gentlemen! +India is undergoing economic and social transformation on a scale and a speed that is unmatched in history. +Our growth rate was 7.3% in the last year. +World Bank has projected even better growth this year. +Indian economy is the fastest growing economy among major countries. +We are also working hard that the benefits of this growth reaches to the common man. +We have launched major schemes on financial inclusion. +Our strategy is to: +• Empower the people. +• Fund the un-funded. +• Secure the poor. +• And enhance the income level of all. +Money must reach the Marginalized. +With this objective, we opened 190 million new bank accounts. +Through them, we are trying to ensure direct transfer of benefits to the poor. +This targeting is also bringing discipline in Government expenditure. +We have also launched new insurance and pension schemes. +Through a new Bank, called MUDRA, we are funding the small traders and businessmen. +We have set time bound goals for providing access to housing, water, electricity and sanitation for all. +Thus, India is now the next frontier of economic revolution. +Our changing paradigm has created new opportunities for global investor community. +These opportunities range from building 50 million affordable houses to setting up 100 smart cities; modernization of railway network and re-development of our railway stations to setting up new railway corridors; generation of 175 GW of renewable energy to transmission and distribution networks. +Construction of National Highways, bridges, and Metro rail networks. +Such a huge potential for creation of infrastructure and production of goods will not be available in any other country. +More importantly, no one place on the earth can offer the customer base on such a massive scale. +We are trying to harness this development potential through our policies and people. +The campaigns like Digital India and Skill India are designed to prepare the people to take part in this process. +We have witnessed massive growth in the number of start-ups in the recent past. +Some of these have begun to challenge established global players. +To tap this energy fully, we have recently launched the Start up India Campaign. +However, there were a number of regulatory and taxation issues which were adversely impacting on their sentiments. +We have taken very decisive steps to remove many of long the pending concerns. +To give you some examples:- +• We have expedited regulatory clearances including security and environmental clearance; +• We have greatly liberalised the licencing regime; +• We have increased the validity period of defence industrial licences up to eighteen years from three years; +• We have clearly articulated that we will not resort to retrospective taxation; +• and we demonstrated this position in a number of ways; +• We have introduced the concept of composite sector caps for the FPIs and other foreign investors. +• We have notified the regulations for the Alternative Investment Funds and; +• We have rationalized the capital gains tax regime for Real Estate Investment Trusts; +• We have modified the Permanent Establishment norms; +• We have also decided to defer the implementation of the General Anti-Avoidance Rules for two years; +• We have introduced the GST Bill in parliament; we are hopeful to roll it out in 2016; +• A new bankruptcy code and a new IPR policy is being drafted; +• The Company Law Tribunal is going to be formed soon. +• Our system for transparent auction and allocation of key natural resources like coal, spectrum, and iron ore has now become stable. +These are just a few examples. +We are working hard to make sure that our tax regime is transparent and predictable. +We are also keen to see that genuine investors and honest tax payers get quick and fair decisions on tax matters. +To this objective we have already made a number of corrections. +As a result of our initiatives:- +• The sentiments for inflow of foreign investment are turning into commitments; +• FDI inflows have gone up by 40% compared with previous year’s corresponding period. +• Perceptions are turning into positive outcome:- +• We have jumped 12 ranks in the latest ranking by the World Bank on ease of doing business. +• India climbs to become the world’s 7th most valued nation brand with a 32% sprint in brand value. +• India has consistently been ranked as the most attractive investment destination by several agencies and institutions. +• India has also improved its UNCTAD ranking of investment attractiveness. +We were 15th place so far. +Now we are at 9th place. +• India has also jumped 16 places on the World Economic Forum’s global competitive index. +• MOODY’s have upgraded the rating of India as positive. +Thus, just in eighteen months, we have successfully restored the credibility of India in the eyes of global players. +As soon as my government took over, we started liberalizing the FDI regime alongwith other reforms. +We allowed 100% FDI in railways and enhanced the FDI limit to 49% in Defence and Insurance. +We are also conscious of the last mile operational issues in such policies. +In that spirit, we are finetuning the procedures also. +Early this month, we have taken very dynamic steps to further open up the economy for FDI. +With this last round of reforms:- +• India is among the most open economies for FDI. +• Some new sectors have been fully opened for FDI. +• For most of the sectors, FDI clearances are now on automatic route. +• In addition to Greenfield areas, many sectors can freely absorb FDI in Brownfield projects. +This includes Roads, construction and medical devices. +• Entry and exit conditions have been greatly relaxed for FDI. +We are keen to scale up investments in next generation infrastructure including digital networks and clean energy. +In addition to the core infrastructure, we are keen to invest in our social, industrial and agri-infrastructure to give better income and quality of life to our people. +With tight control over expenditure, we have greatly increased capital investment by the public sector. +To leverage this, we are setting up National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. +We are also coming up with Tax Free Infrastructure Bonds with a view to broaden the corporate bond market. +This will also provide long term finance for infrastructure. +For infrastructure, we have also decided to launch Rupee Bonds in some countries. +Singapore could be among them. +We are quite eager to work with Singapore in this regard. +About 800 million people in India are below the age of 35 years. +Their aspirations, energy, enterprise and skills will be the force for India’s economic transformation. +But the immediate challenge is to productively employ the youth. +For meeting this challenge, we need to provide a huge push to manufacturing which has stagnated at around 16% of the GDP for several decades. +This share must reach around 25% in the short and medium term. +With this in view, we have launched the “Make in India” initiative. +We are working on all fronts to make India a global manufacturing hub. +We are creating the global skill pool to establish a modern economy with a world class manufacturing sector. +To achieve these objectives, apart from vigorous exercise for ease of doing business, we have fast tracked approvals and clearances for industry and infrastructure. +The hall mark of our strategy is Good Governance which is Participative and Policy Driven. +Through PPP, we are encouraging private investments in areas where earlier only government used to invest. +We are also divesting our stake in the public sector enterprises, to instill market discipline. +We are consistently working to integrate our economy with the rest of the world. +I hope to further dedicate the next three months to address even the remotest issues affecting free flow of capital and business to India. +Whatever we are doing; it is driven by two basic commitments: One is that our people should be in the center. +It is for them that we want investments. +Our faster growth will transform lives of one sixth of global community. +The second commitment is towards our climate, our planet, our Nature. +Our commitment to mitigate the dangers of climate change do not arise from Economics or Politics. +They also do not arise from Fear or Favour. +They arise from our fundamental belief that nature is our Mother. +Nature provides and sustains our life; hence we must nurture it. +It is an article of faith. +I assure the Global community that we will do more than required. +We will stretch ourselves to do more than what we can normally do. +Both these commitments generate a wave of economic opportunities and activities which cannot be matched by any other country. +They also open up enormous opportunities for investors. +To sum up; I would like to say that In the last eighteen months, +• Reform is to Transform the systems so that they Perform; +• Simply put, they aim at enabling the people to realise their potentials and dreams; +• Putting even more simply, it means more charm on the faces and less forms in offices; +• In addition, new frontiers and Deeper Foundations for financial markets have been laid; +• All together, Runways for take –off of the economy have been made. +Recently, the IMF chief has said that India is a bright spot in the Global economy. +I did not want to wait for that brightness to reach to you on its own. +Hence, I am here. +I am here to invite you to India in a bigger way. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people on the occasion of the Rath Yatra. +The Prime Minister’s Message:- +“Wishing everyone on the auspicious occasion of the Rath Yatra. +“Rath Yatra brings back many memories from Gujarat. +Here are photos from the Rath Yatra of 2013 in Ahmedabad:” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of the revised Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Nigeria. +The earlier Agreement was signed on 31th January, 1978. +iii) Both sides agreed to operate any number of all Cargo services between each other’s territory with any type of aircraft with full 3rd, 4th and 5th freedom traffic rights. +iv) The designated airline will be free to decide tariffs in respect of the agreed services at reasonable levels based on the commercial considerations. +v) The designated Airline of each party can enter into cooperative marketing arrangements with the designated carriers of same party and other party. +vi) As per new provision, each side shall be entitled to operate a maximum of 7 frequencies per week in each direction on the routes specified in the Route Schedule. +vii) Apart from the above, the new ASA also has the provisions relating to Revocation or Suspension of Operating Authorization, Principles governing operations of agreed services, Routing Flexibility, Commercial Opportunities, Aviation safety, Aviation security related clause etc. in the line of Indian model ASA. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi, Vietnam. +He offered prayers at the Sanctum Sanctorum, and was given a rousing reception by the monks. +Interacting with the monks, the Prime Minister said that he is fortunate to visit the Pagoda, and recalled that India’s first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad had visited this Pagoda in 1959. +Noting that links between India and Vietnam were 2000 years old, the Prime Minister said that while some came to make war, India had come with the message of peace – the message of Buddha, which has endured. +He said the world must walk on the path of peace, which brings happiness and prosperity. +The Prime Minister said Buddhism took the sea route from India to Vietnam, and therefore Vietnam has received the purest form of Buddhism. +He said he has seen a glow on the faces of the monks who have been to India, and a great curiosity on the faces of those who wish to travel to India. +The Prime Minister invited them to visit the land of the Buddha, and especially Varanasi, which he represents in Parliament. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will lay the foundation stone for India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC) at Dwarka, New Delhi, on September 20, 2018. +PM will later address the gathering at the foundation ceremony. +Located in Sector 25, Dwarka, the Centre would be a world-class state-of-the-art Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre, with facilities like financial, hospitality and retail services. +The estimated cost of the project is Rs.25,700 crores. +The project is implemented by India International Convention & Exhibition Centre Limited, a 100% Government owned company under Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. +The Prime Minister assured all possible assistance to the state, He announced immediate assistance worth Rs.500 crore. +The Prime Minister assured that a central team will visit the state soon to assess the extent of damage and relief. +He directed that insurance companies must dispatch their observers quickly to the flood hit areas to assess the farmer’s claims related to crop insurance and provide them relief at the earliest.. +He also directed the road and surface transport ministry to take effective steps for the repair of roads damaged by the flood. +Center will also provide all possible assistance to the state for early restoration of the power infrastructure affected by the flood. +Financial assistance worth Rs.2 lakh will be provided to the family of each of the deceased while assistance worth Rs. 50,000 will be provided to the persons who are seriously injured in the flood hit areas. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has convened a high level meeting with Ministers and top officials at 3 PM in the wake of the situation arising due to the Earthquake. +The Prime Minister has taken report of the situation in districts of UP and Bihar that are bordering Nepal. +He has also spoken to the Sitamarhi MP. +The Prime Minister has spoken to the Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim, in connection with the Earthquake. +The Prime Minister is trying to reach Nepal PM Shri Sushil Koirala, who is abroad. +He has spoken to President of Nepal Shri Ram Baran Yadav. +The PMO has spoken to the Indian Embassy in Bhutan in the wake of the Earthquake. +Embassy is in touch with top Bhutan officials as well. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed a public meeting in Jaipur today. +He unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of 13 Urban Infrastructure projects for the State of Rajasthan. +He then witnessed an audio-visual presentation of experience sharing by select beneficiaries of schemes of the Government of India and Government of Rajasthan. +The schemes included Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana, among many others. +Addressing the large and enthusiastic gathering, the Prime Minister said he is witnessing first-hand, how Rajasthan welcomes visitors. +He said visitors can see the true picture of the progress the State has made in the last few years. +He described Rajasthan as a land of courage. +Be it living in harmony with nature or defending our nation, Rajasthan has shown the way, he added. +The Union Government and the State Government are working together for the progress of Rajasthan, he said. +He said that the happiness of the beneficiaries who featured in the presentation today, was evident to everyone present at the gathering. +The Prime Minister spoke at length about how the Union Government is working for the welfare of the farmers. +He talked about the increase in Minimum Support Price for various crops, announced for the current Kharif season. +The Prime Minister also mentioned the progress made by various schemes of the Union Government in the State of Rajasthan, including Swachh Bharat Mission, Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana, Mudra Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, and Saubhagya Yojana. +Noting that Rajasthan completes 70 years next year, the Prime Minister gave a call to reaffirm the commitment of creating a developed Rajasthan, which will play a pivotal role in the building of a New India. +In this way, the national assets would be utilized in the best national interest. +The sale would be through open competitive bidding to government agencies and the outstanding liabilities will be met from the sale proceeds. +Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) / Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) will also be implemented in these Public Sector Undertakings. +The remaining part of the land will be managed in accordance with the guidelines of the Department of Investment & Public Assets Management (DIPAM) and Department of Public Enterprises (DPE). +After meeting the liabilities, steps will be taken to close IDPL and RDPL. +The option of strategic sale will be explored for HAL and BCPL. +The Department of Pharmaceuticals, the administrative department for these undertakings, will take time bound follow-up action. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the passing of veteran professor Shri Narayanbhai Bhandari. +Till his final moments, Narayanbhai was always connected to his students. +His exemplary personality will be remembered forever,” the Prime Minister said. +Two new Schemes- Cash back and Referral bonus schemes to be unveiled +PM to felicitate lucky winners of 1 crore, 50 lakh, 25 lakh embracing digital payments +Commemorating the 126th birth anniversary of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will launch several crucial initiatives to further the digital payments revolution in India on April 14th this year. +These include, the launch of BHIM Aadhaar platform for merchants, cash back and referral bonus schemes for BHIM and declaring about 75 townships going less-cash. +These initiatives would further promote the digital movement that the country embarked upon and reinforce the vision of Baba Saheb for social empowerment of all through financial inclusion. +BHIM-Aadhaar, the merchant interface of the BHIM App, to be launched by the Prime Minister will pave the way for making digital payments by using the Aadhaar platform. +Any citizen without access to smartphones, internet, debit or credit cards will be able to transact digitally through the BHIM Aadhaar platform, thus realizing Dr. Ambedkar’s vision of social and financial empowerment for all. +Already, 27 major banks are now on board with 3 lakh merchants so that they can start accepting payments using BHIM Aadhaar. +Further, the Prime Minister will launch two new incentive schemes for the BHIM – Cashback and Referral bonus – with an outlay of Rs. 495 crore for a period of six months. +This is to ensure that the culture of digital payments permeates down to the grassroots. +Under the Referral bonus scheme both the existing user who refers BHIM and the new user who adopts BHIM would get a cash bonus credited directly to their account. +Under the Cashback scheme the merchants will get a cashback on every transaction using BHIM. +Both schemes are to be administered by MEITY and implemented by NPCI. +CEO NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant said that the launch of BHIM-Aadhaar App and the launch of the two schemes – Cash back and referral schemes by the Prime Minister will provide a major impetus to the digital payment revolution in India. +The initial two incentives schemes viz., Lucky Grahak Yojana and DigiDhan Vyapar Yojana, came to an end after a rigorous 100 day information, education and communication campaign led by NITI Aayog to make digital payments a mass movement in India. +Under the scheme Rs.258 crore of prize money was won by 16 lakh winners, including customers and merchants belonging to different corners of the country and from varied walks of life. +The winners of the Mega Draw would be felicitated by the Prime Minister at a function in Nagpur tomorrow. +The winners of the mega draw itself are a testimony to the spread of the digital payments revolution in the country. +The 100 days of DigiDhan Melas, led by NITI Aayog in 100 cities across India, have had a huge impact in enabling increased usage of digital payment methods. +At least 15,000 institutions have gone cashless across just these 100 rural and urban cities across each one of the 27 states and 7 UTs. +With a turnout of over 15 lakh from cities, small towns and villages, the melas have enabled lakhs to open new bank accounts as well as create new Aadhaar cards. +BHIM App has already created a new world record by registering 1.9 crore downloads in just four months since its launch in December, 2016. +More importantly, India has also seen an unprecedented increase in number of transactions made using several user-friendly digital payment methods. +Until November 2016, the volume of all digital transactions was 2,80,000 which amounted to Rs.101 crore in value terms. +In just four months, by March this year, volume of payments using various digital payment modes saw an increase of about 23 times amounting with 63,80,000 digital transactions for a value of Rs. 2425 crore. +Aadhaar Enabled Payments have increased from 2.5 crore in November 2016 to over 5 crore in March 2017. +Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) transactions have also increased from 3.6 crore to 6.7 crore during the same period. +With a view to achieving the target of 2500 crore digital transactions during the current financial year, the Prime Minister will also announce about 75 townships spread all over India as ‘less-cash townships’. +A less-cash township is one where the deployment of payment acceptance infrastructure is complete, all the families in the township are covered under training programs. +The townships selected for the launch have been subjected to independent third party assessment by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) and only those townships which have reported more than 80% of the total number of transactions in the township being done through digital modes of payments during the review period are included in this list. +These townships are likely to generate over 1.5 lakh digital transactions every day thereby leading to about 5.5 crore digital transactions in a year. +The revolutionary digital infrastructure will soon be able to process billion more transactions than Bitcoins ever had.” +My colleague in the council of Ministers, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs, Shri PP Chaudhary Ji, +ICSI is celebrating its 50th anniversary today. +My heartfelt greetings to all those associated with the institution on this occasion. +It has been a privilege for me to be amongst the people who have been a part of this journey of the ICSI over the past 49 years and felicitate them. +Your advice- right or wrong has an impact on the corporate Governance of the country.. +Friends, on several occasions, it has been seen that the people do not tread the path which they ought to have done. +In Mahabharata, Duyordhan has been quoted as saying: Janami Dharmam Na Cha Mei Pravittih, Janami Adharmam Na Cha Mei Nivrittih. +It means, ‘I know what is righteousness but I have no desire to follow that path, I also know what is wickedness but I have no desire to refrain from it.’ +Your institution reminds such people of the values from this lesson of Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara. +Your institution plays an important role in institutionalizing the transparency and honesty in the country. +Brothers and sisters, Acharya Chanakya had said: +It means, ‘Even if a single dry tree in the forest catches fire, the entire forest is engulfed in the fire. +In the same way, even if one member of the family does wrong, the reputation of the entire family is at stake’ +Friends, this axiom applies in the context of the nation as well. +A handful of people in our country have been engaged in harming its reputation, they have been trying to weaken our honest social fabric. +It used to be above 12 per cent before 8th November 2016. +Was it possible if a new era of honesty had not been ushered in the country, in the economy of the country? +Who knows it better than you about the easy exchange of black money earlier, and today people have to think at least 50 times before resorting to it. +Such people take pleasure in spreading the despair. +The slowdown in the GDP even in one quarter has become the biggest news item these days for such people. +When the Doklam issue surfaced. +However, the moment, the same data is unsuitable for them, they immediately start questioning the institutions and its processes. +It is very important to identify such people before arriving at a conclusion only then we shall tread the correct path of truth. +Friends, do you really feel that this is for the first time when the GDP growth of the country has reached to the level of 5.7% in a quarter? +The GDP growth slipped to 5.7% or even lower 8 times during six years of the previous government. +Nation’s economy has seen those quarters when the growth rate slipped down to 0.2 per cent, 1.5 per cent. +That kind of slowdown was even more harmful for the economy since during those years India was also struggling with higher Inflation, higher Current Account Deficit and higher Fiscal Deficit. +Now some people may ask why I have picked up those two years only. +When Central Statistics Office, CSO released the figure of 7.4% GDP growth during the tenure of this government, some people dismissed it. +So, these handful of people telling that there was something wrong with the new method of calculating the GDP. +At that time, these parameters which reverse the growth trajectory of the nation were the favourite of a handful of people. +Now when the same parameters have shown marked improvements, development is in the right direction, a handful of people are still having a look at it with their colored vision. +Foreign investors have made record investments in India today. +India’’s Foreign Exchange Reserve has gone up by 25% from around $30,000 crore to $40,000 crore. +We would take every step to bring in more investments. and carry forward the momentum of growth. +I would like to assure that the steps taken by the Government would help India move into a new league in the years to come. +It can be MSME or export sector or a part of our non-formal economy. +I would like to reiterate from this forum that in the changing scenario, honesty will command a premium and the Government will protect the interest of honest persons. +I leave it to you to judge the implications of these details. +You must have seen your household budget, the cost of educating your children, the expenditure over medical treatment of the elderly in the family. +And then when you have the saving, you would have thought of buying a house or a car. +– What would you say when you find that the sale of commercial vehicles too has registered a growth of more than 23% after June? +– What would you say when the sale of two wheelers in the country has registered a growth of over 14%? +-What will you say when the number of domestic air travelers has registered an increase of 14% over the past two months? +– What will you say when international air freight traffic has registered a growth of nearly 16%? +-What would you like to say when the number of telephone subscribers has registered a growth of over 14%? +These indicators reflect the growth in demand in urban areas. +· Hence, if we look at indicators related to rural demand then the sale of tractors has registered a growth of over 34% in the recent months. +· Even in the FMCG sector, the trend of growth in demand is on the upside in the month of September. +When people of the country feel this thing: yes, the economy is strong. +– The recently released PMI Manufacturing Index reflects the expansive mode. +And Future Output Index has crossed the figure of 60. +·-If we have a look at the recently released data, the production of coal, electricity, steel and natural gas has registered a robust growth. +·-Friends, even the disbursal of personal loan has registered rapid growth. +· The loans given by Housing Finance Companies and Non-Banking Finance Companies have registered significant growth. +-· Not only this, there is more investment in the mutual funds and insurance sector in the capital market. +· Companies have mobilized more than 25000 crore rupees in the first six months of this year through the IPOs. +During the entire period of last year this figure was Rs. 29000 crore. +· In less than four months, more than 45,000 crore rupees have been invested in Non-Financial Entities through corporate bonds and private placement. +One can see a clear difference in the pace of work during the three years of the previous government and this government. +· 80 thousand kilometers long rural roads were constructed during the last three years of the previous government. +During the three years of our government, 1 lakh 20 thousand kilometers long rural roads have been constructed. +It means a growth of 50% in the construction of rural roads. +-The previous Government during its last three years, had awarded the work to construct 15,000 kilometers long national highways. +Our government has awarded the work to construct 34,000 kilometers long national highways in its three years. +·If you talk about the investment in this sector, then the previous government has spent Rs. 93,000 crore during the last three years of its tenure in land acquisition and on construction of the roads. +This figure has gone up to Rs. 1.83 lakh crores in this government. +It means this government has nearly doubled the investment. +Even you would be aware that how many administrative and financial steps are needed to be taken by the government for construction of highways. +This data reflects that how the government has performed the role of a policy maker and policy implementer after bringing the country out of policy paralysis. +Similarly, if we talk about the railway sector: +· Nearly 1,100 kilometer long new rail lines were laid during the last three years of the previous government. +In the three years of this government this figure has crossed 2100 kilometers mark. +It means that we have laid the new railway lines almost twice as fast. +·During the last three years of the previous government, 1300 kilometer long railway tracks were converted in the double line. +During the three years of this government, 2600 kilometer long railway track has been converted in the double line. +During the three years of this government, this figure has gone up to Rs. 2.64 lakh crore. +It means a growth of over 75%. +Now if I talk about the development of Renewable Energy sector, then: +·A total of 12,000 megawatt renewable energy capacity was added during the last three years of the previous government. +If we talk about the three years of this government, then more than 22,000 megawatt renewable energy capacity has been connected to the grid power. +It means that this government’s performance in this sector is nearly two times better. +·During the last three years of the previous government, it spent nearly Rs. 4,000 on the renewable energy. +Our government has spent more than Rs. 10,600 crores in this sector in the three years. +We have taken major policy decisions and carried out financial reforms in the field of affordable housing which are unprecedented for the sector. +While this government has cleared projects worth Rs. 1.53 lakh crores during its first three years. +This is a reflection of our commitment to provide houses to the poor people, to the middle class. +The government has stressed upon bringing more foreign investment in the country. +-You might be aware that when the issue of reforms in the insurance sector was first discussed, the newspaper headlines used to say that if such a thing happens, it would be a major economic decision. +It was during the previous government. +However, this is the mentality of some Shalya mentality people that even this reform doesn’t seem big to them since it was not done during that time, and it could not be carried out by a government liked by them +· 75% of the total foreign investment in the construction sector has come in the last three years alone. +· Even in the civil aviation sector, 69% of the total foreign investment has come in these last three years. +· 56% of the total foreign investment in the mining sector has come in the last three years alone. +· 53% of the total foreign investment in the computer software and hardware sector has come in the last three years alone. +· 52% of the total foreign investment in the electrical equipments has come in during the three years of this government. +· 49% of the total foreign investment in the renewable energy sector has come in during the three years of this government. +· 45% of the total foreign investment in the textile sector has come in the last three years alone. +· It may be surprising for you that the automobile industry which has already attracted plenty of foreign investment earlier, even in that sector 44% of the total foreign investment has come in during the last three years. +Growing FDI inflow in the country is proof of the fact that how much faith the foreign investors have in the country’s economy. +How did it happen? +·So far more than 26 crore LED bulbs have been distributed in the country. +If we consider an average reduction of Rs. 250 in the price of a bulb, even then the middle class of the country has saved nearly Rs. 6,500 crores on this account. +These bulbs have reduced the electricity consumption in every household. +As per an estimate, the municipality of a tier-two town has made on an average saving Rs. 10-15 crore. +Now this money. is being spent for the development of the cities and spurring economic growth. . +That is why this government is extending every possible help to the youth who want to do something on their own, who want to fulfill their dreams. +· Loans of more than Rs. 3.75 lakh crore have been given to more than 9 crore account holders without any bank guarantee under the Mudra scheme. +· Out of these 9 crore people, 2.63 crores are the youth who are the first time borrowers, it means that this is for the first time that they borrowed a loan under the Mudra scheme to start their business. +The government has been encouraging the self employment through the schemes like Skill India Mission, Stand-up India and Start-up India. +Companies have been given financial incentives for bringing more and more people in the formal economy. +-By the end of March 2014, there were 3.26 crore employees who have been actively contributing the provident fund money into the Employees Provident Fund Organization every month. +In the last three years, this number has gone up to 4.80 crore. +Some people forget this thing that this number cannot go up without growth in employment. +Friends, We have taken steps to ensure that the Government schemes bring in a qualitative change in the lives of poor people, lower middle class and middle class people. +Bank accounts of more than 30 crore poor people have been opened under the Jan-Dhan scheme. +More than three crore women have been provided a gas connection free of cost under the Ujjwala scheme. +Nearly 15 crore poor people have been brought under the coverage of government insurance schemes. +The Saubhagya Scheme has been launched a few days ago to provide free electricity connections to the poor people. +These schemes have been empowering the poor people. +However, it is corruption and black money which have been a bane for the nation. +Your institution and the company secretaries of the country have an important role in curbing the black money and corruption. +Registration of 2.1 lakh companies of the total 3 lakh shell companies, which were suspected of channelizing the black money following the note ban, have been cancelled. +I am hopeful that the level of awareness among the directors will be increased and companies will become more transparent following this cleansing operation against the shell companies. +Friends, This period is of immense changes, of transformative changes in the history of the nation. +The importance of a transparent and honest administration is now understood in the country. +The recommendations made by the ICSI played a positive role in formulating the Corporate Governance Framework. +Now it is the need of the hour for you all to play an active role in producing a new business culture. +Nearly 19 lakh new citizens have come under the scope of indirect taxes following the implementation of GST. +Be it a small trader or a big trader, he should adopt the honest tax system inbuilt in the GST. +It is also your duty to encourage the business community in this regard. +Lakhs of students have been enrolled with your institution. +Can your institution take this responsibility that it will train one lakh youth about small-small things related to GST? +· Can you ensure that there will not be a single shell company in the country by 2022? +· Can you ensure that by 2022 every company in the country will honestly pay the taxes? +· Can you establish an honest business culture in the country by 2022 by expanding the scope of your help? +I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the Government of Vietnam and its leadership for the warm welcome extended to me and to the members of my delegation. +My visit to Vietnam is to nurture a relationship between our two societies and nations. +The linkages between our two countries have deep historical and civilizational roots, going back over two thousand years. +These cultural bonds reflect themselves in many ways. +Most prominently, in the connect between Buddhism and the monuments of the Hindu Cham civilization. +In recent decades, our shared and strong desire for the progress and prosperity of our peoples has shaped our ties. +In India, we believe in sharing our knowledge, experiences and expertise with other developing countries. +There can be no better example of this than in the success of our multifaceted bilateral cooperation with Vietnam over the last four decades. +The Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, is a prime example of the enormous impact of our cooperation. +Today, Vietnam is the world’s third largest rice exporter. +We are happy to have partnered with Vietnam in its emergence as a major rice producing and exporting country. +As two partners, we must also take advantage of our synergies to jointly face emerging regional challenges, and to exploit new opportunities. +It is a matter of great satisfaction that, we have now decided to upgrade our relationship to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”. +Next year, we will celebrate the forty fifth (45th) anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and tenth (10th) anniversary of establishment of the Strategic Partnership between our two countries. +In a few months from now we will jointly commemorate these milestones. +I believe that a strong India-Vietnam partnership would lead to prosperity, development, peace and stability for our people, and in the wider region. +Vietnam is a strong pillar of India’s Act East Policy. +Our bilateral ties are based on strong mutual trust, and understanding, and convergence of views on various regional and international issues. +Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, +It gives me great pleasure to invite you to join me in a toast: +After establishing the facilities, VCI will start additional activities and benefits passed to rural population in the country which will spur economic growth and employment generation in the country. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between India and Cambodia. +The Treaty seeks to promote and protect investments from either country in the territory of the other country with the objective of increasing bilateral investment flows. +The Treaty encourages each country to create favourable conditions for investors of the other country to make investments in its territory and to admit investments in accordance with its laws. +The Treaty is the first Bilateral Investment Treaty in accordance with the text of the Indian Model BIT, approved by the Cabinet in December, 2015. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated the All India Institute of Ayurveda, in New Delhi, to the nation. +Speaking on this occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated the gathering on the celebration of Dhanvantari Jayanti as Ayurveda Divas. +He complimented the Ministry of AYUSH for the establishment of the All India Institute of Ayurveda. +The Prime Minister asserted that nations cannot progress unless they value and cherish their history and heritage. +Those nations who leave their heritage behind, are destined to lose their identity, he added. +The Prime Minister said that when India was not independent, its knowledge, and its traditions such as Yoga and Ayurveda were belittled. +Attempts were even made to reduce the faith that Indians had on them, he added. +He said that in the last three years, this situation has changed to quite an extent; and the faith of the people is being restored in the best of our heritage. +The pride in our heritage is reflected in the way people gather for Ayurveda Day or Yoga Day, he added. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is working towards establishing an Ayurveda hospital in every district of the country. +He said that more than 65 AYUSH hospitals have been developed in the last three years. +He said the Union Government has approved 100 percent FDI in healthcare systems. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is focused on providing affordable healthcare for the poor. +He said the stress has been on preventive healthcare, and improving affordability and access to treatment. +He said Swachhata – or cleanliness – is a simple mechanism of preventive healthcare. +He said the Union Government has got 5 crore toilets built in three years. +The Prime Minister said that new AIIMS are being established to help the people get better access to healthcare. +He mentioned measures such as capping prices of stents and knee implants; and establishment of Jan Aushadhi Kendras for providing medicines at affordable prices. +• Calls for extensive involvement of youth in defence research activities to ensure India remains at the forefront of defence technology. +• Asks DRDO to engage in a big way with youth and soldiers, for value addition. +• PM congratulates defence scientists – compares their efforts with Rishi Mann – the mind of a sage. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called for involving youth in defence research related activities in a big way, to ensure that India remained abreast of global technological advancements in the field. +Addressing a distinguished gathering of senior and eminent defence scientists, and senior officers of the armed forces, after giving away the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) awards in the capital today, the Prime Minister suggested that at least five DRDO labs should be identified exclusively for innovation from young scientists upto the age of 35 years. +The Prime Minister made an impassioned appeal for speeding up defence programmes to keep pace with the world, where technology has become the key driver of defence products. +The Prime Minister exhorted DRDO to visualize, anticipate, and eventually set the agenda for the global defence community. +Congratulating the scientists who have won awards today, the Prime Minister drew a parallel with the ancient sages who had composed the Vedas. +He said the devotion with which these scientists worked in such sensitive domains, reminded us of the “Rishi-Mann” – “the mind of a sage.” +The Prime Minister encouraged DRDO to connect with the ultimate end-user of its products – the soldier. +He said the soldier can suggest many practical innovations in defence technology. +“Has the soldier met the sage who toiled for fifteen years to develop a good product for him,” Shri Narendra Modi asked. +Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals: +(b) Transfer of 0.4 per cent. equity of RBI in NABARD amounting to Rs. 20 crores to the Government of India. +The proposed increase in the authorized capital would enable NABARD to respond to the commitments it has undertaken, particularly in respect of the Long Term Irrigation Fund and the recent Cabinet decision regarding on-lending to cooperative banks. +Further, it will enable NABARD to augment its business and enhance its activities which would facilitate promotion of integrated rural development and securing prosperity of rural areas including generation of more employment. +The transfer of entire shareholding in NABARD held by RBI to the Central Government will remove the conflict in RBI’s role as banking regulator and shareholder in NABARD. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed pain over the loss of lives due to the fire in Mumbai. +“Anguished by the fire in Mumbai. +My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. +I pray that those injured recover quickly”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has highlighted the Finance Ministry`s effort to seek creative inputs for a logo, name and tag line for the Government`s initiative on financial inclusion, through the MyGov website. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will attend an event to mark World Biofuel Day, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on August 10, 2018. +He will address a diverse gathering, consisting of farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, students, government officials, and legislators. +Biofuels can help reduce import dependency on crude oil. +They can contribute to a cleaner environment, generate additional income for farmers, and generate employment in rural areas. +Therefore, biofuels have synergies with various Government initiatives, including enhancing farmers’ incomes, and Swachh Bharat. +As a result of the efforts of the Union Government, ethanol blending in petrol has increased from 38 crore litres in the ethanol supply year 2013-14, to an estimated 141 crore litres in the ethanol supply year 2017-18. +The Government also approved the National Policy on Biofuels in June 2018. +At a public meeting, he flagged off the 900th coach, and a Humsafar Rake. +He also dedicated to the nation, inaugurated, or laid the Foundation Stone for various development projects at Rae Bareli. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the projects that were dedicated, inaugurated, or for which Foundation Stones were laid today, are cumulatively worth Rs. 1000 crore. +The Prime Minister said that the Modern Coach Factory is providing jobs to youth, and will make Rae Bareli a global hub of rail coach manufacturing. +The Prime Minister recalled that it was on this day in 1971, that the Indian Army had defeated those that are a symbol of terror, cruelty and lawlessness. +The Prime Minister said that today on one hand, the Government is trying to make the Armed Forces stronger; and on the other hand, there are those who do not want our Armed Forces to be strong. +He said those that deal only in lies, are casting aspersions on the Defence Ministry, on the Air Force, and even on a foreign government. +He said that the propensity to lie, can only be overcome by the truth. +He said that when it comes to the country’s security, and the requirements of the Armed Forces, the Union Government keeps only the interest of the nation in mind. +The Prime Minister said that in order to increase farmers’ incomes, the Union Government has already increased MSP for 22 crops. +This decision alone will provide an extra amount of Rs. 60 thousand crore for the farmers. +He said the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has also benefited farmers whose crops have been destroyed by unforeseen causes. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government is committed to the Mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and President Mr. Francois Hollande paid a joint visit to the Government Museum and Art Gallery in Chandigarh, as part of their engagements during the State Visit of President Hollande to India on 24 January 2016. +The two Leaders viewed the displays of archaeological findings from the foothills of the Himalayas which suggest human activity possibly dating back to 2.6 million years ago, making them among the oldest known remnants of human existence. +This significant discovery is the result of seven years of extensive research and collaboration between the Prehistory Department of the National Museum of Natural History of France and the Society of Archaeological and Anthropological Research of Chandigarh undertaken under the auspices of an “Agreement of Collaboration between Society for Archaeological & Anthropological Research, India and French National Museum of Natural History”. +The archaeological discovery comprises about 1500 fossil finds, including 200 quartzite tools collected from several locations spread over 50 acres of area in Masol region near Chandigarh. +The research work relating to this archaeological discovery is being published in the form of articles in the Palevol Review. +The Prime Minister and President Hollande congratulated the Indo-French team for their joint research work leading to this discovery. +They underlined that this example of successful bilateral collaboration illustrated the long-standing cultural ties and enduring collaboration between India and France in rediscovering, preserving and promoting our shared cultural heritage. +They hoped that such discoveries would lend further momentum for more joint endeavours in the future. +The Cabinet also approved the Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) & The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales +The instant MoU would help encourage more and more young Indian Chartered Accountants to take up the recognition of ICAEW professional designation to further help them pursue professional opportunities in UK. +Implementation strategy and Targets: +This MoU will apply to all appropriately qualified and experienced ICAEW and ICAl members irrespective of the syllabus they followed for their home body membership. +This MoU is not intended to create a legally binding relationship and itsprovisions are not intended to give rise to legally binding rights, obligations or liabilities. +The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India, ‘The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949′, to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. +ICAEW is a world leading professional membership organisation. +It provides qualifications and professional development, technical expertise, and protects the quality and integrity of the accountancy and finance profession. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the valedictory session of the function to mark National Law Day – 2017, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. +He described the Constitution as the very soul of our democratic structure. +He said the Day is an occasion to pay homage to the makers of the Constitution. +He said the Constitution has stood the test of time, and proved the naysayers wrong. +The Prime Minister quoted extensively from leaders including Dr. B.R Ambedkar, Dr. Sachidanand Sinha, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, during his address. +These quotations were used to highlight several important facets of the Constitution, and governance. +These themes included the longevity (or immortality) of the Constitution, its workability and flexibility. +The Prime Minister said that the Constitution has been a guardian for us. +He emphasized that we, the people, must also work as per the expectations that our guardian – the Constitution – has from us. +He said that keeping in mind the needs of the country and the challenges facing it, the various institutions of governance should support and strengthen each other. +He said that in the next five years, we should channelize our energies to build the New India – the nation that our freedom fighters dreamt of. +The Prime Minister said that the Constitution has also been described as a social document. +He said it is indeed unfortunate that the weaknesses that had been identified in our country at the dawn of independence, have still not been entirely eradicated. +He said the current time can be described as a golden period when India is full of self-confidence. +He said this constructive atmosphere should be used to move swiftly towards the creation of New India. +Emphasizing the importance of “Ease of Living,” the Prime Minister said that the role of the Government should be one of a facilitator, more than a regulator. +The Prime Minister gave several examples of “Ease of Living” that have been brought about in the last three years, such as quicker income tax refunds, quicker passport delivery etc. +He said these initiatives have had a positive impact on all sections of the society. +He said about 1200 archaic laws have been repealed. +He said ease of living has also had a positive impact on “ease of doing business.” +He said Lok Adalats can play a key role in reducing pendency of cases in the judiciary. +He outlined several other steps that are being taken to improve “ease of access to justice.” +Mentioning the massive expenditure that has to be borne by exchequer on account of frequent elections, and other related issues such as diversion of security forces and civil staff, and impact on development programmes, the Prime Minister called for a constructive discussion on the possibility of holding simultaneous elections for the Union and State Governments. +The Prime Minister emphasized that balance between the executive, legislature and judiciary has been the backbone of the Constitution. +In this context, the Prime Minister also quoted from judgements of the Supreme Court. +Launches National Digital Literacy Mission. +Dedicates to the Nation, IOC Oil Terminal at Jasidih; 765 kV Ranchi-Dharamjaygarh-Sipat transmission line. +Initiates Commencement of work on 3×660 MW North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Project. +Lays Foundation Stones for National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology Centre; and for New Incubation Facility at Software Technology Parks of India Centre. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today asserted that if India has to emerge as a developed nation, then no part of the country can remain weak and underdeveloped. +The Prime Minister was addressing a gathering after launching the National Digital Literacy Mission in Ranchi. +The Prime Minister also dedicated to the Nation the IOC Oil Terminal at Jasidih and 765 kV Ranchi-Dharamjaygarh-Sipat transmission line. +The Prime Minister also initiated the commencement of work at the North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Plant. +He said this power plant would dispel darkness from Jharkhand. +The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for two IT-related projects. +He said the state of Jharkhand has huge potential for development, and he would repay the love and affection of the people of Jharkhand through development. +The Prime Minister emphasized that if India has to be developed, its states have to be developed. +He referred to yesterday`s Cabinet decision to increase royalty rates on minerals. +He said that this decision would benefit Jharkhand enormously. +The Governor of Jharkhand Shri Sayed Ahmed, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Hemant Soren, the Union Minister for Communications and IT Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, the MoS(I/c) for Power Shri Piyush Goyal, and the MoS(I/c) for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, were present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved Upgradation of existing NIFT Campuses for implementation of reservation for OBC students – extension of timeline for utilization of fund. +NIFT has been running full time Degree programmes through its fifteen campuses located at different parts of the country. +The scope of the scheme for upgradation of existing NIFT Campuses and implementing reservation for OBC students is to create additional infrastructure facilities at existing NIFT campuses, construction of additional class rooms, laboratories, hostel accommodation for students, purchase of machinery and equipments etc. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj in Patna. +A commemorative postage stamp was released to mark the occasion. +Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister said that the world should know how Guru Gobind Singh ji has inspired so many people. +He said that Guru Gobind Singh ji put knowledge at the core of his teachings and inspired so many people through his thoughts and ideals. +The Prime Minister spoke of his appreciation of the Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Nitish Kumar, for the effort undertaken by him to save future generations from alcoholism. +The Prime Minister asserted that Bihar will play a major role in the development of the nation. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Signing of Agreement between the India and Ukrain for cooperation in Agriculture and Food Industry. +The proposed Agreement provides for cooperation in various fields of agriculture and food Industry. +The meetings of the Working Group shall take place at least every two years, alternately in the Republic of India and in Ukraine. +This Agreement can be terminated after six (6) months from the date of receipt of notification of either Party of its intention to terminate this Agreement. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condemned the instances of violence in parts of the country. +“The instances of violence today are deeply distressing. +I strongly condemn the violence and urge everyone to maintain peace. +The law and order situation is being closely monitored. +I reviewed the situation with the NSA and Home Secretary. +Urged officials to work round the clock to restore normalcy and provide all possible assistance that is required”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s message on National Girl Child Day: +“National Girl Child Day is a day to celebrate the exceptional achievements of the girl child, whose excellence in many fields makes us proud. +It is imperative to reject discrimination against the girl child and ensure equal opportunities for the girl child. +Let us reaffirm our commitment to challenging stereotypes based on gender & promote gender sensitisation as well as gender equality.” +PM to launch Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission; lay foundation stone for houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will lay the foundation stone for houses to be built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, at Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh tomorrow. +The Prime Minister will launch the Shyama Prasad Mukherji National Rurban Mission at Kurubhat in Rajnandgaon District of Chhattisgarh. +The Rurban Mission aims at development of rural growth clusters in all States and UTs, which would trigger overall development in the region. +These clusters would be developed by provisioning of economic activities, developing skills & local entrepreneurship and providing infrastructure amenities. +Shri Narendra Modi will address a public meeting at Bargarh in Odisha. +The Prime Minister will attend the inauguration of the Centenary Celebration of Gaudiya Mission and Math in Kolkata tomorrow evening. +Below are a few pictures:- +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Policy for award of waterfront and associated land to port dependent industries in major ports and its operationalization. +The Policy will result in uniformity and transparency in the procedure for awarding captive facilities. +It will enable optimal utilization of capacities in major ports and increase revenue to the Major Port Authority. +The ambit of the Policy includes creation of new assets as well as utilization of currently unutilised existing assets such as vacant berths. +The Policy will be applicable to all the Major Ports. +Under the Policy, concession will be granted to Port Dependent Industries (PDI) for setting up dedicated facilities in Major Ports for import and/or export of cargo and their storage before transportation to their destination, for a period not exceeding 30 years. +Extension of concession period on conditions including under utilization of asset as per the Concession Agreement may be allowed. +After a maximum of 30 years of operation, the waterfront and associated land in a Major Port will be allotted for construction of berths, offshore anchorages, transhipment jetties, single point moorings etc. +It will be as per the terms and conditions of the Concession Agreement (CA) to be entered into between the Port Authority and the PDI concerned. +Under the existing guidelines for private sector participation in Major Ports issued by the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) in 1996 and 1998, provisions have been made for allotment of waterfront and land on a captive basis to Port Based Industries including Central/State Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) which fulfil the prescribed eligibility criteria. +Though, some berths and facilities have been set up in some Major Ports following these Guidelines, the potential for development of such facilities is not yet fully realized. +Government of India has focused on Port led development through the Sagarmala program as a key enabler for economic growth. +Optimal utilization of land and waterfront at the disposal of the Major Ports is of critical importance in this context. +The objective of this Policy is to ensure uniformity and transparency in the procedure for awarding captive facilities. +The Government of India is committed to improving the level and quality of physical and social infrastructure in the country of its goal of achieving national economic prosperity. +In pursuance of this goal, the Government has envisaged a substantial role for Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a means for harnessing private sector investment and operational efficiencies in the provision of public utilities and services. +The two leaders exchanged views on developments in India-Canada relations, main global trends and cooperation among democracies. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of noted music composer, Shri Ravindra Jain. +“Shri Ravindra Jain will be remembered for his versatile music and fighting spirit. +Pained on his demise. +Condolences to his family and admirers”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, on the wonderful performance of his alliance in the elections in Sri Lanka. +“Spoke to Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe and congratulated him on his alliance’s wonderful performance in the elections. +I am confident that under Mr. Wickremesinghe’s leadership, bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka will get stronger. +I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people of Sri Lanka on the peaceful conduct of polls”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval to the proposal of the Ministry of Culture for setting up of a National Memorial at Lala Ka Tola, Sitab, Diara, District Chhapra (Saran) in Bihar – the birth place of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan. +The Memorial will also house a virtual museum and an institute to undertake study and research on (a) democracy, (b) enhancing the role of Panchayats in nation building, (c) Gandhian thoughts, and (d) centre for Khadi and constructive work keeping in view the thoughts of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan, along with Lok Nayak Khadi Gaurav Samvardhan Kendra at the same place for making national flags by women cluster(s). +Bharat Ratna Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan’s contribution as an exemplary leader of Indian independence movement, a freedom fighter, social reformer and a visionary political leader will be commemorated through these decisions. +As sentinel of Indian democracy, his contribution to redeem democracy will be remembered for long. +After proclamation of National Emergency, on the mid-night of 25th June, 1975, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan was arrested and kept as a detenu at Chandigarh. +Jai Prakash Narayan’s call for a Sampoorna Kranti (Total Revolution) for upholding and defending civil liberties at a very critical juncture in the post-independence history of India, ushered a new democratic movement for India and contributed to strengthen the roots of democracy. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Republic TV Summit in Mumbai. +He condoled the loss of lives in the Hospital fire incident in Mumbai yesterday. +He emphasized the importance of positive news for a vibrant and prosperous nation. +He said that India needs to scale great heights in multiple spheres such as science, innovation, and sports etc. +In the same vein, he mentioned media as well. +The Prime Minister said that the words “Surging India” represent the spirit of 130 crore Indians. +He said that a few years ago, it was difficult to imagine India surging towards becoming a five trillion dollar economy, and rising up the ranks in the ease of doing business. +He gave examples to illustrate how, today, those involved in criminal activities are being apprehended and brought to justice. +He gave examples from sanitation to tax base, to show the transformation over four years. +He said the Union Government is moving forward through Policy Driven Governance and Predictable Transparent Policies. +He referred to the rapid pace of infrastructure development. +He referred to the monthly PRAGATI meetings which he chairs to review progress of projects. +He said projects worth 12 lakh crore rupees have been speeded up in this way. +The Prime Minister emphasized that laws and Acts have to be followed up by action. +In this context, he mentioned the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with the medal winners of the recently concluded 18th Asian Games, at his residence, today. +He told the medal winners that their sporting feats have raised India’s stature and pride. +He expressed hope that the medal winners will remain grounded and would not lose focus due to fame and accolades. +During the interaction, Prime minister urged the sports persons to use technology as an aid to improve their performance. +Prime Minister expressed happiness is seeing young talents rise from the small towns, rural areas and from poor background and win medals for the nation. +Prime Minister got emotional while mentioning the names of some sports persons who had to go through immense hardships to be a medal winner for the nation. +He said that the biggest challenge for the medal winners will start now and they should never lose their goal of being in the Olympic Games podium. +Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports, Col. RajyavardhanRathore, was present on the occasion. +In his opening remarks, RajyavardhanRathore said that Prime Minister’s vision and government’s initiativesplayed a vital role in the improved medal tally and in inspiring young sports persons. +As a veteran Parliamentarian, he enriched parliamentary proceedings. +He was an effective voice for Karnataka’s aspirations in Delhi. +Condolences to his family and supporters”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the ““General Elections to the Lok Sabha 2019) -for issuance of statutory notifications under under sub-section(2) of Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951”. +It provides for calling upon the parliamentary constituencies to elect Members to the House of the People, on the dates to be recommended by the Election Commission of India in its Proceedings. +The issuing of notifications would begin the election process for constituting the Seventeenth House of the People. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Swami Dayananda Saraswati, on his anniversary. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated Ms. Sania Mirza and Ms. Martina Hingis on their victory at the US Open Women’s Doubles finals. +“Congratulations, Ms. Sania Mirza and Ms. Martina Hingis on the phenomenal victory at the US Open. +My Dear Countrymen, Namaskar +On the 21st of this month, our Country received very sad news. +Our Country possesses a very important institution; besides being an integral part of our democracy, it is even older than our Republic – I am referring to our Election Commission. +Our Country leaves, no stone unturned to ensure that every citizen of India who is a registered voter, rightfully avails of the opportunity to cast his vote. +Whereas we hear of a polling station at 15,000 feet above mean sea level in Himachal Pradesh we also learn about the same being organised in remote islands of the Andaman Nicobar archipelago. +I appreciate the Election Commission for relentlessly striving to ensure the strengthening of our democracy. +I hold in high esteem, the Election Commissions of all states, security personnel and other staff members who contribute in ensuring strict adherence to free and fair polling. +They face the opportunity to shoulder responsibilities pertaining to the Country. +They have embarked upon the journey of being partners in Nation building. +The time has come for a confluence of individual dreams and the Nation’s dream. +I urge the young generation to register themselves as voters, if they are eligible. +All of us must realise that being a voter, earning the right to vote is an important rite of passage in one’s life; it’s one of its achievements. +Simultaneously, the sentiment that voting is our sacred duty, should grow within us naturally. +For any reason, if one is not able to vote, it should pain one. +On the 23rd of January, the country celebrated the birth anniversary of Netaji in an uncommon, special manner. +On this occasion I was fortunate to get an opportunity to inaugurate a museum dedicated to heroes who fought in India’s freedom struggle. +On my visit to Kranti Mandir, Red Fort, as I was reflecting on memories of Netaji, his family members gifted me a special cap. +The occasion was the completion of 75 years of the formation of the Azad Hind Government. +Subhash Babu will always be remembered as a brave soldier and adept organiser; a valiant fighter who played a significant role in our Freedom Struggle. +We dwelt at length on myriad facets of Netaji Subhash Bose, offering him tributes. +It gladdens me to see many places associated with illustrious sons of India being developed in Delhi. +My dear countrymen, today as we refer to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, that too in ‘Mann Ki Baat’, I would like to share with you an incident from Netaji’s life. +In 1942, Subhash Babu established Azad Hind Radio and through it he used to communicate with soldiers of the Indian National Army and other countrymen. +Subhash Babu had a distinct style of opening a broadcast. +In this very Kranti Mandir, a visual arts museum has been established. +Now you must be thinking that we are discussing art and here I’m talking about seeing Gurudev Tagore’s excellent works of art. +You have probably known Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore till date as a writer and a musician. +I hope you will go and see his paintings in the ‘Kranti Mandir.’ +My dear countrymen, India is a land of saints. +It would not be wrong to say that he has illustrated to the entire world the real meaning of dignity of labour. +That is, if your heart is pure, then the Absolute master resides within your heart. +Sant Ravidas ji has influenced people cutting across every segment and class of the social milieu whether it was the Maharana of Chittor or his Queen or Meerabai, everyone was his follower were followers. +I once again bow in reverence to Sant Ravidas ji. +My dear countrymen, Kiran Sidar has written on MyGov that I should highlight the aspects of India’s space program and its future. +He also wants me to request the students to take interest in the space programs and to think out of the box and inspire them to go beyond the frontiers of the sky- Kiran ji, I appreciate your thoughts and especially the message being imparted to our children. +A few days ago, I was in Ahmedabad, where I got the privilege of unveiling the statue of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. +We take pride in the fact that the satellites developed by our students and Sounding Rockets have reached space. +On 24th January ‘KALAM SAT’ fashioned by our students had been launched. +We have also created a world record for launching 104 satellites simultaneously from the same spacecraft. +We will soon register India’s presence on the moon through the Chandrayaan-2 campaign. +Our country is also using Space Technology in devices employed in saving assets and life. +Whether it is cyclone, or rail and road safety, all of these safety measures are being augmented by Space Technology. +“Housing for all” or the “House for everyone” scheme involves geo-tagging of about 40 lakh homes spread over 23 states. +South Asia Satellites has been a unique initiative, which has also gifted hues of development to our neighbouring Allies. +They live in a parking shed with their family. +The captain of Maharashtra Under-21 Women’s Kabaddi team, Sonali Helvi is from Satara. +She lost her father at a very young age, and her brother and mother encouraged the talent and skills of Sonali. +It is often seen that girls are not encouraged much to participate in sports such as Kabaddi. +She credited her victory to her father, a farmer in Belgaum. +When we talk about the creation of a New India, then determination exhibited by our youth is the veritable example of what is New India! +These inspiring stories from the annals of ‘Khelo India,’ are ample proof , that the building of New India does not only involve contribution from the denizens of big cities but also from the youth, children, young sports talents, hailing from small cities, towns and villages. +My dear countrymen, you must have heard about many a prestigious beauty contest. +The name of this unique contest is “Clean beautiful Toilet”. +In this memorable journey of clean India, listeners have also contributed a lot to the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ forum and that is why I’m happy to share the fact that more than five lakh fifty thousand villages and 600 districts have declared themselves free of open defecation and sanitation coverage has crossed 98% limit in rural India whereas latrines have been provided to nearly nine crore households. +At 11am the whole country pays homage to the martyrs. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a public meeting at Chotila, in Surendranagar district. +He laid the Foundation Stones for a greenfield airport for Rajkot; six-laning of Ahmedabad-Rajkot National Highway; and four-laning of Rajkot-Morbi State Highway. +He also dedicated to the nation, a fully automatic milk processing and packaging plant; and a drinking water distribution pipeline for Joravarnagar and Ratanpur area of Surendranagar. +The Prime Minister said that it was hard to imagine an airport in Surendranagar district. +He said such development works empower citizens. +He said aviation cannot be about rich people. +We have made aviation affordable and within reach of the lesser privileged, he added. +The Prime Minister said that the definition of development has changed. +From the days when handpumps were seen to be a sign of development, today the waters of the Narmada River have been brought for the benefit of citizens. +He said Surendranagar district tends to benefit a lot from the waters of the Narmada. +He urged people to use water responsibly, and conserve every drop. +The Prime Minister said that the Sursagar Dairy would bring enormous benefit to the people. +He also recalled how former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel had worked towards making better and safer roads. +On behalf of the sub-group of Chief Ministers on Rationalization of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, today presented to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the final report of the sub-group of Chief Ministers on rationalization of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS). +The sub-group comprises the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Manipur, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. +The Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Manipur, Rajasthan, Telangana, and the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands were present. +The Prime Minister complimented the Chief Ministers for their efforts. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has prayed for everyone’s safety in the strong earthquake in Afghanistan-Pakistan region. +The Prime Minister has asked for an urgent assessment of the damage caused, due to the earthquake. +Prime Minister has expressed India’s readiness for the assistance wherever required, including Afghanistan and Pakistan. +“Heard about strong earthquake in Afghanistan-Pakistan region whose tremors have been felt in parts of India. +I pray for everyone’s safety. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Jordan for mining and beneficiation of Rock Phosphate & MOP and setting up production facility in Jordan for Phosphoric Acid/DAP/NPK Fertilizerswith a long term agreement for 100% off-take to India. +The MoU would ensure consistent supply of raw material, intermediaries and finish P&K fertilizers to cater to the needs of the country at a reasonable price. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today has given its approval to return of 803 acres of land at Hempur, Distt. +Kashipur (Uttarakhand) under possession of Nepa Limited, Nepanagar to Government of Uttarkhand. +Nepa Limited, Nepanagar is a Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) of Government of India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved India’s Membership for European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) +Necessary steps will be initiated by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance to acquire the membership of the EBRD. +· Membership of EBRD would enhance India’s international profile and promote its economic interests. +Access to EBRD’s Countries of Operation and sector knowledge. +· India’s investment opportunities would get a boost. +· It would increase the scope of cooperation between India and EBRD through co-financing opportunities in manufacturing, services, Information Technology, and Energy. +· EBRD’s core operations pertain to private sector development in their countries of operation. +The membership would help India leverage the technical assistance and sectoral knowledge of the bank for the benefit of development of private sector. +· This would contribute to an improved investment climate in the country. +· The membership of EBRD would enhance the competitive strength of the Indian firms, and provide an enhanced access to international markets in terms of business opportunities, procurement activities, consultancy assignments etc. +· This would open up new vistas for Indian professionals on the one hand, and give a fillip to Indian exports on the other. +· Increased economic activities would have the employment generating potential. +· It would also enable Indian nationals to get the employment opportunity in the Bank. +Financial Implications:- +The minimum initial investment towards the membership of EBRD will be approximately €1 (one) million. +However, this assumption is based on India deciding to buy the minimum number of shares (100) required for obtaining the membership. +If India were to buy a higher number of Bank shares, the financial implications could be higher. +In-principle approval of the Cabinet at this stage is being obtained for joining the Bank. +The issue relating to acquiring the membership of the “European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD)” had been under consideration of the Government. +With the country’s impressive economic growth over the years and enhanced international political profile, it was considered appropriate that India should expand its presence on the global developmental landscape beyond its association with the Multi-lateral Development Banks (MDBs) such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and African Development Bank. +The decision to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (NDB) was taken earlier in this backdrop. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi spoke over telephone with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces today. +The Leaders expressed happiness at the growing strength of all-round bilateral cooperation. +They reiterated their commitment to further consolidate the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. +The Prime Minister took this opportunity to thank the Crown Prince for the invitation extended to India for addressing the OIC Foreign Ministers’ Council as a Guest of Honour in Abu Dhabi earlier this month. +He expressed the hope that this historical participation would contribute to attaining the common objectives of peace and progress. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a historic visit to Portugal, met the Indian community in Lisbon, and interacted with them. +During his address, Shri Modi highlighted several aspects of the India-Portugal partnership. +The Prime Minister spoke about yoga and holistic healthcare and appreciated the role Portugal was playing to further the message of yoga. +Prime Minister Modi said that India is now among the fastest growing countries in the world. +Lauding the role of ISRO scientists, Shri Modi said, “In the field of space, our scientists have done great work. +Recently 30 nano satellites were launched.” +Earlier he also expressed sadness over loss of lives in forest fire in Portugal. +Prime Minister Modi also presented the Overseas Citizen of India card to Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the approach adopted by India at the Tenth Ministerial Conference of the WTO held in Nairobi, Kenya during 15-19 December 2015. +The outcomes of the Conference, referred to as the ‘Nairobi Package’ include Ministerial Decisions on agriculture, cotton and issues related to least developed countries (LDCs). +These cover a Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) for developing countries, public stockholding for food security purposes, a commitment to abolish export subsidies for farm exports and measures related to cotton. +Decisions were also made regarding preferential treatment to LDCs in the area of services and the criteria for determining whether exports from LDCs may benefit from trade preferences. +India took the stand that the DDA must continue after the Nairobi Conference and no new issues must be introduced into the WTO agenda until the DDA has been completed. +The Nairobi Ministerial Declaration acknowledges that members “have different views” on how to address the future of the Doha Round negotiations but noted the “strong commitment of all Members to advance negotiations on the remaining Doha issues.” +Members will continue to negotiate the mechanism in dedicated sessions of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session. +The WTO General Council has been mandated to regularly review the progress of these negotiations. +This decision would help in maintaining affordable as well as accessible supply of generic medicines. +There was no outcome in this area of the negotiations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Saturday visited the Airbus Facility at Toulouse. +He was briefed on Indian companies involved in the Airbus Supply Chain, and interacted briefly with Indian employees at Airbus. +The Prime Minister also visited the CNES – National Centre for Space Studies in Toulouse. +He briefly interacted with post-graduate students of Indian origin at the venue. +The Prime Minister paid homage at the World War-1 memorial in Neuve Chapelle, to honour around 4700 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in battles in France and Belgium during World War-1. +“Our soldiers who fought in foreign lands in the Great War, have won the admiration of the world for dedication, loyalty, courage and sacrifice. +I salute them,” the Prime Minister wrote in the visitor’s book at the memorial. +He also met youth of Indian origin who had gathered outside the memorial at Neuve Chapelle. +“Shaheedon Amar Raho,” he urged the youth to chant with him. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tribute to Infantry on Infantry Day today. +“On Infantry Day we salute the indomitable courage and bravery of our Infantry, who have left no stone unturned in serving our Nation. +We pay rich tributes to our Infantry Martyrs who dedicated their lives to protect the unity and integrity of our Nation”, the Prime Minister said in his tweets. +Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, Prince Karim Aga Khan, called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +He is currently on a visit to India, and will be awarded the Padma Vibhushan by President Pranab Mukherjee tomorrow. +The Prime Minister praised the work of the Aga Khan Foundation, especially in the areas of rural development and sanitation, which, he said, he had the opportunity to witness first-hand when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat. +Shri Narendra Modi called upon the Aga Khan Foundation to play a key role in the “Swachh Bharat” and “Ganga Rejuvenation” initiatives. +He also sought the Foundation’s participation in building toilets for girl children. +Prince Karim Aga Khan said he was honoured to be receiving the Padma Vibhushan. +He said the Aga Khan Foundation was already undertaking the task of construction of one lakh toilets, beginning with the state of Gujarat. +He said the Foundation was also involved in initiatives to promote health and hygiene, and to ensure potable water supply. +The Prime Minister and Prince Karim Aga Khan also discussed the current situation in West Asia. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the restructuring of existing National Health Agency as “National Health Authority” for better implementation of Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). +With this approval, the existing society “National Health Agency” has been dissolved and will be replaced by National Health Authority as an attached office to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. +The composition of the Governing Board is broad based with due representations from the Government, domain experts, etc. +Besides, the States shall also be represented in the Governing Board on rotational basis. +No new funds have been approved. +Existing budget that was approved earlier by the Cabinet for The National Health Agency, including costs related to IT, human resources, infrastructure, operational costs etc. would be utilized by the proposed National Health Authority. +It is envisaged that the National Health Authority shall have full accountability, authority and mandate to implement PM-JAY through an efficient, effective and transparent decision-making process. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met leaders from various Trade Unions, over tea. +The meeting followed extensive consultations that these leaders had with an inter-ministerial team headed by the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, earlier in the day. +Prime Minister heard the views of the Trade Union leaders on various issues of interest to workers, including in areas related to economic policy, and related laws. +The Trade Unions represented at the meeting included AITUC, All India United Trade Union Centre, All India Central Council of Trade Unions, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, CITU, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Hind Mazdoor Sangh, INTUC, Labour Progressive Federation, National Front of Indian Trade Unions, Self-Employed Women’s Association, Trade Union Coordination Centre, and United Trade Union Congress. +Union Ministers Shri Arun Jaitley, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Shri Piyush Goyal and Dr. Jitendra Singh were present at the meeting. +His Majesty King Salman bin Abdul aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia called Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi this evening at 9.30 pm. +Prime Minister shared his deep concern about the safety and welfare of the approximately 4000 Indian citizens in Yemen. +Prime Minister briefed His Majesty King Salman on India’s evacuation plan and requested His Majesty’s support and cooperation in the evacuation of Indian citizens from Yemen. +His Majesty recalled the strong and close relations between India and Saudi Arabia and assured Prime Minister of his full attention to the safety of Indians in Yemen and all possible assistance for their early and safe evacuation. +Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to His Majesty and conveyed his best wishes to His Majesty for a quick resolution of the challenges in the region and early restoration of peace and stability under his leadership. +Prime Minister also reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening India’s close relations with Saudi Arabia. +US Secretary of Defence, Mr. Ashton Carter, called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister appreciated the contribution made by Secretary Carter in strengthening the defence cooperation between India and the United States. +Prime Minister recalled his successful visit to the United States in June this year. +He reaffirmed India’s commitment to a robust and strong bilateral strategic partnership with the US. +Secretary Carter briefed Prime Minister on the progress in taking forward the decisions and understandings reached in June this year. +They also exchanged views on regional issues and the developments in the Asia Pacific region. +The National Skill Development Mission will provide a strong institutional framework at the Centre and States for implementation of skilling activities in the country. +The Mission will have a three-tiered, high powered decision making structure. +At its apex, the Mission’s Governing Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, will provide overall guidance and policy direction. +The Steering Committee, chaired by Minister in Charge of Skill Development, will review the Mission’s activities in line with the direction set by the Governing Council. +The Mission Directorate, with Secretary, Skill Development as Mission Director, will ensure implementation, coordination and convergence of skilling activities across Central Ministries/Departments and State Governments. +The Mission will also run select sub-missions in high priority areas. +Further, the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA), the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the Directorate of Training will function under the overall guidance of the Mission. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of Ministry of Railways to move a Resolution in both the Houses of Parliament adopting Railway Convention Committee (2014)’s recommendations that for the year 2016-17, purely as a one-time move, the Rate of Dividend payable by Railways to the General Revenues be waived off. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has accorded its approval for continuation and restructuring of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) to make it outcome-based, competitive and better monitored with increased focus on sustainability (functionality) of schemes to ensure good quality service delivery to the rural population. +A sum of Rs. 23,050 crore has been approved for the programme for the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) period 2017-18 to 2019-20. +The programme will cover all the Rural Population across the country. +The restructuring will make the programme flexible, result-oriented, competitive, and will enable the Ministry towards to reach the goal of increasing coverage of sustainable Piped Water Supply. +The details of the decision are as follows: +1. National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) is to be continued co-terminus with the 14th Finance Commission cycle till March 2020. +2. With the restructuring of the NRDWP, there will be 2% earmarking of funds for Japanese Encephalitis (JE) /Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) affected areas. +As per estimates, about Rs. 12,500 crore as Central share will be required over 4 years i.e. up to March, 2021. +This is being funded from the allocation under NRDWP. +If the State(s) fails to claim this amount before 30thNovember in the financial year, then, these funds will become a part of the common pool, which will be released to the high performing States, which have already pre-financed the requisite Government of India share on a first come first serve basis. +5. Other half of second instalment of funds will be released to the States based on functionality status of completed piped water supply schemes, which will be evaluated through a third party. +6. The Cabinet has approved Rs. 23,050 crore for the programme for the FFC period 2017-18 to 2019-20. +The NWQSM aims to cover all rural population in Arsenic/Fluoride affected habitations with clean drinking water on a sustainable basis by March 2021. +States have been given more flexibility in utilization of NRDWP funds by reducing the number of components under the programme. +As per the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, about 77% of rural habitations in India have achieved a fully covered (FC) status (40 litres per capita per day) and 56% of the rural population have access to tap water through public stand posts within which 16.7% have household connections. +The NRDWP was started in 2009, with a major emphasis on ensuring sustainability (source) of water availability in terms of potability, adequacy, convenience, affordability and equity. +Over the years, learning from the success achieved and the deficiencies felt during the implementation of NRDWP, certain modifications are needed in existing guidelines and procedure of release of funds to the States for making the programme more outcome-oriented and competitive. +Keeping in view the need to make the NRDWP more result-oriented, incentivize competition amongst States and focused on sustainability, a series of discussions were held with States, various stakeholders / domain experts / international institutions and NITI Aayog, some amendments in the guidelines of the programme have been introduced. +These are giving more flexibility to the states in utilization of NRDWP funds by reducing the number of components under the programme. +Focus on piped water supply, increase level of service delivery, thrust on coverage of water quality affected habitations (National Water Quality Sub-Mission to tackle Arsenic & Fluoride affected habitations, JE / AES areas), coverage of Open Defecation Free (ODF) declared villages, SAGY GPs, Ganga GPs, Integrated Action Plan (IAP) districts, Border Out Posts (BOP) with piped water supply and Institutional set up for proper O&M of water supply assets etc. have been introduced. +PM’s commitment for Sagarmala project – port-led development, SEZ revival, export promotion and development of shipbuilding industry. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today laid the Foundation Stone of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust Special Economic Zone, at Sheva in Navi Mumbai. +He also laid the Foundation Stone for widening of Port Connectivity Road from JNPT to the National Highway. +He symbolically handed over land allotment letters to Project Affected Persons. +Addressing a large public gathering at the function site, the Prime Minister said his Government had conceived Sagarmala, an ambitious project for maritime states. +Noting that two-third of all global trade, and 50 percent of container trade happens through the Indian Ocean, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of the ports sector. +Ports can become gateways to India’s prosperity, he added. +The Prime Minister said export promotion was the need of the hour. +“Until we join manufacturers in export promotion, and unless States and Centre work together, we cannot achieve new heights in exports”, the Prime Minister said. +He added that the Union Government had recently convened a meeting with States to understand bottlenecks in exports, and States would soon be given the right to form their own Export Promotion Councils. +Let there be competition among States for exports, the Prime Minister said. +He added that his Government wishes to create an environment for ease of business, and encouragement for youth. +The Prime Minister said that shipbuilding is now a big opportunity. +Noting the strides that South Korea has taken in shipbuilding, the Prime Minister said India should also try to do so. +Elaborating his theme of Come, make in India, which he mentioned during his Independence Day address, the Prime Minister said his Government will encourage foreign investment in shipbuilding. +Made in India should occupy a place in the global market, the Prime Minister said. +Welcoming the Prime Minister, the Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Shri Nitin Gadkari, told the large gathering that the JNPT SEZ would provide employment to 1.5 lakh people. +The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Prithviraj Chavan, also addressed the gathering, on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited three memorials in Punjab which commemorate some of the spectacular successes of the Indian Armed Forces in the 1965 war. +The Prime Minister visited the Dograi War Memorial, and the Barki War Memorial. +The battles of Dograi and Barki were decisive successes achieved by the Indian Army during the 1965 war. +The Prime Minister visited Asal Uttar, the site of one of the biggest ever tank battles, where the Indian Armed Forces achieved a major victory. +The Prime Minister paid homage by laying a wreath on the memorial of Abdul Hamid. +The Prime Minister greeted and interacted with officers and jawans of the Indian Army and Air Force, at Dograi War Memorial, Barki War Memorial, and Air Force Station – Halwara. +He said that as this year marked the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war, he has chosen to visit locations where the brave soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces had shed blood and made the supreme sacrifice during that war. +“Three things are important for the shram-yogi: self reliance (swavalamban), self independence (swashray) and self-dignity (swabhimaan).” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today launched “Swavalamban Abhiyan” – a set of 11 new pro-poor initiatives of the Gujarat Government, at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. +Addressing a large gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that 17th September is observed as Vishwakarma Day across the country, and Vishwakarma is revered by all shram-yogis (people who live through hard work). +Congratulating the state government, he said it is significant that the state government has chosen this day to launch “Swavalamban” initiatives. +The Prime Minister said three things are important for the shram-yogi: self reliance (swavalamban), self independence (swashray) and self-dignity (swabhimaan). +He said no “shram yogi” likes to be dependent. +Gujarat Government has launched these pro-poor initiatives for the benefit of shram yogis, especially women and youth, so that they are empowered to fight poverty, he added. +This is in keeping with the spirit of “Shrameva Jayate,” he said. +He also said ITIs in the state are focusing on soft skill development, so that the students can communicate their skills and abilities. +The Prime Minister said the neo-middle class will also receive protection through the Swavalamban initiative of Ma-Vatsalya Yojana. +PM Modi, in his Independence Day speech announced that all remaining villages shall be electrified within 1000 days. +Data on villages being electrified is available to the public through a mobile app and a web dashboard. +While we can observe only electricity reaching the villages, it is also important to note that it is accompanied by dreams, aspirations & upward mobility in life for the people residing in villages. +Such darkness engulfed the nation, even as more than 24,000 MW of generation capacity lay idle due to lack of fuel like coal and gas. +The entire sector reached a vicious cycle of inaction and policy paralysis with surplus generation capacity and massive unutilized investments at one end while large power cuts for the consumer on the other end. +When the NDA Government came to power last year, as many as 2/3 of coal based power plants (66 out of 100 coal plants tracked by Central Electricity Authority) were having critical coal stocks meaning less than 7 days of coal stock. +Recovering from such a dire situation, today not a single power plant in the country is facing critical coal stock level. +While working hard to provide electricity to all, the Government has made clean energy a priority. +It has set ambitious target to achieve 175 GW energy through renewable sources of energy, which include 100 GW of solar energy. +The new Government has focused on holistic and long term structural improvements in the sector, with a focus on achieving 24X7 power for all. +The health of the power sector is borne out by the growth numbers. +As per the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), electricity grew at 9% in October while Coal India Limited’s output rose 9% in Apr-November. +In 2014-15, Coal India has increased coal production by more than the increase in the last four years combined. +As a consequence, imports plummeted 49% in November vs last year. +A capacity addition of 22,566 MW was achieved in the last year which is the highest ever. +The peak shortage has reduced from 11.9% in 2008-09 to 3.2%, the lowest ever. +On transmission front, there used to be a lot of constraints in supplying power from surplus states to deficit States. +Efforts were made to expeditiously synchronize the Southern Grid leading to ‘One Nation, One grid, One Frequency’. +The Available transfer Capacity (ATC) during 2013-14 was only 3,450 MW which has been increased by 71% to 5,900 MW this month. +In terms of fixing the weakest link in the power value chain, UDAY (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) has been rolled out to tackle past, present and potential future problems of the sector. +UDAY was developed through a bottom up approach with extensive consultations at the highest levels of States (CM, Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, DISCOM MDs etc.), Bankers, regulators etc. +While addressing DISCOMs’ debt trap, UDAY delineates a path for sustainable operational improvement for DISCOMs. +Government is also taking a number of initiatives to reduce cost of power. +This is expected to result in all the DISCOMs becoming profitable by 2018-19. +A budgetary hard-stop under UDAY provides a permanent resolution to DISCOM issues and combined with a collaborative approach, focus on improving efficiency and reducing cost of power, distinguishUDAY from previous attempts to reform the sector. +Areas like energy efficiency have seen dynamic growth with more than 75% reduction in LED bulb prices and distribution of more than 4 crore bulbs in less than one year. +The domestic and streetlight LED bulb programmes will help reduce the peak-load demand by nearly 22 GW, save 11,400crore units of electricity annually and bring about a reduction of 8.5 crore tons in carbon dioxide emissions every year. +Setting up 22 GW capacity may have been hailed as a monumental achievement but it takes a different perspective to appreciate the avoidance of such investments while preserving the environment. +• Bank account for each household is a “national priority.” +• Try your best to ensure that no one is left without a bank account. +• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana to be launched across the nation on August 28th: every account to get a debit card and Rs. 1 lakh accident cover. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has written an email to all bank officers, referring to his Independence Day announcement of the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana – the National Mission on Financial Inclusion with the objective of covering all households in the country with banking facilities, and having a bank account for each household. +Describing the task as “gigantic,” the Prime Minister said, “We need to enroll over 7 crore households and open their accounts. +This is a national priority and we must rise to meet this challenge. +There is an urgency to this exercise as all other development activities are hindered by this single disability. +I am sure we will overcome this situation collectively.” +The Prime Minister has urged bank officers to “put your shoulder to the wheel and try your level best to ensure that no one is left without a bank account. +This itself will be a source of immense satisfaction for you and your teams. +I will myself recognize the achievements of the best performing branches.” +The Prime Minister said: “The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana lies at the core of our development philosophy of Sab Ka Sath Sab Ka Vikas. +As we move rapidly forward in this knowledge era with modern banking and financial systems, it is untenable that a large majority of our population is deprived of basic banking facilities. +I sometimes wonder whether we have made matters so complicated that the poor and the marginalized are those who are trapped in a perpetual cycle of exclusion and deprivation. +We need to break that cycle and the Jan Dhan Yojana is the first step in that direction. +With a bank account, every household gains access to banking and credit facilities. +This will enable them to come out of the grip of moneylenders, manage to keep away from financial crises caused by emergent needs, and most importantly, benefit from a range of financial products.” +As a first step, under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, every account holder gets a RuPay debit card with a Rs 1,00,000/- accident cover. +“As we go along, they will be covered by insurance and pension products,” the Prime Minister said. +“I am confident that you will rise to the occasion and contribute to this national endeavour in significant measure. +I am there to support you,” the Prime Minister added. +Camps are also to be organized at the branch level. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratifying, an Agreement between India and Tajikistan on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters. +The Agreement will help in the availability of relevant information for the prevention and investigation of Customs offences. +The Agreement is also expected to facilitate trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between the countries. +The Agreement would provide a legal framework for sharing of information and intelligence between the Customs authorities of the two countries and help in the proper application of Customs laws, prevention and investigation of Customs offences and the facilitation of legitimate trade. +The Agreement takes care of Indian Customs’ concerns and requirements, particularly in the area of exchange of information on the correctness of the Customs value declared, origin of goods and the tariff classification of the goods traded between the two countries. +On the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti tomorrow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the aspirational district of Bijapur in Chhattisgarh. +He will inaugurate a Health and Wellness Centre, which will mark the launch of the Union Government’s ambitious Health Assurance Programme – Ayushman Bharat. +At the inauguration of the Health and Wellness Centre, he will interact with ASHA workers. +He will visit a model Anganwadi Centre, and interact with Anganwadi workers and beneficiary children of Poshan Abhiyan. +He will visit a Haat Bazaar Health Kiosk and interact with health workers. +He will inaugurate a bank branch at Jangla and distribute loan sanction letters under the Mudra Scheme to select beneficiaries. +He will also interact with Rural BPO employees. +Via video conference, the Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation, the Bhanupratappur-Gudum Railway Line. +He will flag off a train between Dalli Rajhara and Bhanupratappur. +He will also inaugurate a dialysis centre at Bijapur Hospital. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Shri Dileep Singh Bhuria. +“In the passing away of Shri Dileep Singh Bhuria, we have lost a veteran political leader who did immense work for tribal communities. +Shri Bhuria had years of legislative experience, both in Madhya Pradesh and at the National level, which was his major asset. +My thoughts are with the family of Shri Bhuria during this hour of grief. +May his soul rest in peace”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today described the “Right To Information” Act as a tool through which the common man has got not just the right to know, but also the right to question those in power. +In his remarks at the 10th Annual Convention of the Central Information Commission (CIC), the Prime Minister said that the Union Government’s “Digital India” initiative is complimentary to RTI, because putting information online brings transparency, which in turn, builds trust. +The Prime Minister mentioned the auctions of coal blocks, spectrum and FM radio licenses, and said that information should be given out proactively to people. +The Prime Minister called for an end to the silo-approach in Government. +He said administrative processes should be run based on trusting the people, rather than doubting the people. +The Prime Minister said RTI has become a tool for good governance. +He also described how the PRAGATI platform developed in the PMO has become a vibrant platform for monitoring progress of projects. +“A clean India would be the best tribute India could pay to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150 birth anniversary in 2019,” said Shri Narendra Modi as he launched the Swachh Bharat Mission at Rajpath in New Delhi. +On 2nd October 2014, Swachh Bharat Mission was launched throughout length and breadth of the country as a national movement. +While leading the mass movement for cleanliness, the Prime Minister exhorted people to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a clean and hygienic India. +Shri Narendra Modi himself initiated the cleanliness drive at Mandir Marg Police Station. +Picking up the broom to clean the dirt, making Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a mass movement across the nation, the Prime Minister said people should neither litter, nor let others litter. +He gave the mantra of ‘Na gandagi karenge, Na karne denge.’ +Shri Narendra Modi also invited nine people to join the cleanliness drive and requested each of them to draw nine more into the initiative. +By inviting people to participate in the drive, the Swachhta Abhiyan has turned into a National Movement. +A sense of responsibility has been evoked among the people through the Clean India Movement. +With citizens now becoming active participants in cleanliness activities across the nation, the dream of a ‘Clean India’ once seen by Mahatma Gandhi has begun to get a shape. +The Prime Minister has helped spread the message of Swachh Bharat by urging people through his words & action. +He carried out a cleanliness drive in Varanasi as well. +He wielded a spade near River Ganga at Assi Ghat in Varanasi under the Clean India Mission. +He was joined by a large group of local people who cooperated in the Swachhta Abhiyan. +Understanding the significance of sanitation, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has simultaneously addressed the health problems that Indians families have to deal with due to lack of proper toilets in their homes. +People from different sections of the society have come forward and joined this mass movement of cleanliness. +From government officials to jawans, bollywood actors to the sportspersons, industrialists to spiritual leaders, all have lined up for the noble work. +Organising frequent cleanliness campaigns to spreading awareness about hygiene through plays and music is also being widely carried out across the nation. +Bollywood celebrities to television actors came forward and actively joined the initiative. +Noted personalities like Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Kailash Kher, Priyanka Chopra and entire cast and crew of SAB TV show ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ lend a hand to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. +Numerous sportspersons like Sachin Tendulkar, Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal and Mary Kom’s contribution the clean India drive have been commendable. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’, has time and again lauded the efforts of individuals and various organizations across the country that have helped make the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a huge success. +The Prime Minister complemented a team of Government officials of Madhya Pradesh’s Harda district for their role towards a cleaner India. +PM also praised five students of New Horizon School in Bangalore who developed a mobile based application for buying and selling waste. +Organisations like ICICI Bank, Punjab National Bank, XLRI Jamshedpur and IIM-Bangalore initiated mass cleanliness drives and spread awareness among the general public. +Shri Narendra Modi has always openly lauded the participation of people via social media. +Shri Narendra Modi appreciated the efforts of Temsutula Imsong, Darshika Shah and a group of volunteers for their ‘Mission Prabhughat’ initiative in Varanasi. +The ‘#MyCleanIndia’ was also launched simultaneously as a part of the Swachh Bharat drive to highlight the cleanliness work carried out by citizens across the nation. +Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has become a ‘Jan Andolan’ receiving tremendous support from the people. +Citizens too have turned out in large numbers and pledged for a neat and cleaner India. +Taking the broom to sweep the streets, cleaning up the garbage, focussing on sanitation and maintaining a hygienic environment have become a practice after the launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. +People have started to take part and are helping spread the message of ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness.’ +Swachh Bharat Mission in urban areas is focused on building individual toilets, community toilets and solid waste management. +In rural areas, the emphasis is on behavioral change intervention including interpersonal communication, strengthening implementation and delivery mechanisms down to the Gram Panchayat level, and giving States flexibility to design delivery mechanisms that take into account local cultures, practices, sensibilities and demands. +The incentive for building toilet has been increased by Rs 2000 from Rs 10000 to Rs 12000. +Funds are also provided for Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) in Gram Panchayats. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, attended the National Women Livelihood Meet-2019,held at Deendayal Hastkala Sankul in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on International Women’s Day. +The Prime Minister visited the exhibition on products manufactured by Self Help Groups aided by Uttar Pradesh Rural Livelihood Mission. +Various women Self Help Groups supported by Deendayal Anthodia Yojana, NRLM-Uttar Pradesh, handedover a cheque of Rs.21 lakh to the Prime Minister,astheir contribution towards ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ Fund. +Paying his respect to all women on International Women’s Day, Prime Minister said that women have an important role in creating New India. +He expressed happiness that over65 lakh women from around 75000 locations are participating in the event through video conference. +He added that Varanasi is a shining example of women empowerment. +The Prime Minister said thatgovernment is completely committed towards the empowerment of women. +He said that maternity leave of six months introduced by the government is one of the best in the world. +Women are given priority in all Union Government schemes, PM said. +He added that eleven crore out of the fifteen crore Mudra Loans given out so far, have been given to women. +Appreciating the exceptional work done by Self Help Groups in India, PM said that their work is not only resulting in the betterment of their family but also leading to the development of nation. +He said that the government is giving new energy to the Self Help Groups in terms of better bank loans and support systems. +Around fifty lakh Self Help Groups covering around six crore women are now present in the country, PM added. +He said that the vision of his government is to connect at least one women member in every family with a Self Help Group. +He also mentioned about the benefits of PM KisanSammanNidhi and Ayushman Bharat Yojana. +The Prime Minister also interacted with the members of Self Help Groups in Varanasi. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing Memorandum of Understanding between India and Saudi Arabia on establishing a mechanism for investment Infrastructure in Indian. +The MoU will be a step forward in engaging with the institutions of Saudi Arabia to attract a potential investment into the infrastructure sector in the country. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to social reformer Sree Narayana Guru on his Jayanti. +“I bow to the venerable Swami Sree Narayana Guru on his Jayanti. +His noble thoughts, teachings & fight against injustice always inspire”, the Prime Minister said. +Sree Narayana Guru was a social reformer from Kerala who led a reform movement against casteism and promoted new values of spiritual freedom and social equality. +Mr. Bimalendra Nidhi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs of Nepal called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Mr. Bimalendra Nidhi briefed the Prime Minister about recent developments in Nepal. +The Prime Minister said that India is fully committed to strengthening the age-old ties of friendship and kinship between the people of both countries, and to support the Government of Nepal in all its endeavours for socio-economic development of Nepal. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives caused by a fire at Central Ammunition Depot in Pulgaon, Maharashtra. +“Pained by loss of lives caused by a fire at central ammunition depot in Pulgaon, Maharashtra. +My thoughts are with the bereaved families. +I pray that those who are injured recover quickly. +Have asked Raksha Mantri Manohar Parrikar to visit the spot & take stock of the situation”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has today given its approval to a new scheme moved by the Ministry of Power – Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojna or UDAY. +UDAY provides for the financial turnaround and revival of Power Distribution companies (DISCOMs), and importantly also ensures a sustainable permanent solution to the problem. +UDAY is a path breaking reform for realizing the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of affordable and accessible 24×7 Power for All. +It is another decisive step furthering the landmark strides made in the Power sector over the past one and a half years, with the sector witnessing a series of historic improvements across the entire value chain, from fuel supply (highest coal production growth in over 2 decades), to generation (highest ever capacity addition), transmission (highest ever increase in transmission lines) and consumption (over 2.3 crore LED bulbs distributed). +The weakest link in the value chain is distribution, wherein DISCOMs in the country have accumulated losses of approximately Rs. 3.8 lakh crore and outstanding debt of approximately Rs. 4.3 lakh crore (as on March, 2015). +Financially stressed DISCOMs are not able to supply adequate power at affordable rates, which hampers quality of life and overall economic growth and development. +Efforts towards 100% village electrification, 24X7 power supply and clean energy cannot be achieved without performing DISCOMs. +Power outages also adversely affect national priorities like “Make in India” and “Digital India”. +In addition, default on bank loans by financially stressed DISCOMs has the potential to seriously impact the banking sector and the economy at large. +Due to legacy issues, DISCOMs are trapped in a vicious cycle with operational losses being funded by debt. +Outstanding debt of DISCOMs has increased from about Rs. 2.4 lakh crore in 2011-12 to about Rs. 4.3 lakh crore in 2014-15, with interest rates upto14-15%. +UDAY assures the rise of vibrant and efficient DISCOMs through a permanent resolution of past as well as potential future issues of the sector. +It empowers DISCOMs with the opportunity to break even in the next 2-3 years. +This is through four initiatives (i) Improving operational efficiencies of DISCOMs; (ii) Reduction of cost of power; (iii) Reduction in interest cost of DISCOMs; (iv) Enforcing financial discipline on DISCOMs through alignment with State finances. +Operational efficiency improvements like compulsory smart metering, upgradation of transformers, meters etc., energy efficiency measures like efficient LED bulbs, agricultural pumps, fans & air-conditioners etc. will reduce the average AT&C loss from around 22% to 15% and eliminate the gap between Average Revenue Realized (ARR) & Average Cost of Supply (ACS) by 2018-19. +Reduction in cost of power would be achieved through measures such as increased supply of cheaper domestic coal, coal linkage rationalization, liberal coal swaps from inefficient to efficient plants, coal price rationalization based on GCV (Gross Calorific Value), supply of washed and crushed coal, and faster completion of transmission lines. +NTPC alone is expected to save Rs. 0.35 / unit through higher supply of domestic coal and rationalization / swapping of coal which will be passed on to DISCOMs / consumers. +Financial liabilities of DISCOMs are the contingent liabilities of the respective States and need to be recognized as such. +Debt of DISCOMs is de facto borrowing of States which is not counted in de jure borrowing. +However, credit rating agencies and multilateral agencies are conscious of this de facto debt in their appraisals. +This will reduce the interest cost on the debt taken over by the States to around 8-9%, from as high as 14-15%; thus improving overall efficiency. +Further provisions for spreading the financial burden on States over three years, will give States flexibility in managing the interest payment on the debt taken over, within their available fiscal space in the initial few years. +A permanent resolution to the problem of DISCOM losses is achieved by States taking over and funding at least 50% of the future losses (if any) of DISCOMs in a graded manner. +UDAY is a shining example of the utilization of the best principles of cooperative and competitive federalism and has been evolved through discussions at the highest levels with multiple States. +Adopting UDAY is optional for States, but provides the fastest, most efficient and financially most feasible way for providing 24X7 Power for All. +It will be operationalized through a tri-partite agreement amongst the Ministry of Power, State Government and the DISCOM. +UDAY accelerates the process of reform across the entire power sector and will ensure that power is accessible, affordable and available for all. +PM shares with farmers, his vision for revitalizing Indian agriculture +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today called upon all stakeholders, including farmers, States and the Union Government to resolve to double farmers’ income by 2022. +Sharing his vision for Indian agriculture, with farmers at the Krishi Unnati Mela in New Delhi today, the Prime Minister said that while this task may be challenging, there can be no doubt that this is an objective worth aiming for. +The Prime Minister described the Krishi Unnati Mela as a platform that could rewrite India’s destiny. +He said India’s future had to be built on the growth of agriculture, and the prosperity of its farmers and its villages. +In this context, he mentioned the recent Union Budget, and said it would have a far-reaching impact on these sectors. +Shri Narendra Modi emphasized that the next revolution in Indian agriculture had to be built on technology and modernization; and the eastern part of India had maximum potential to achieve it. +The Government is working towards this goal, he added. +The Prime Minister explained how the reduction of input costs was the first element towards raising farm incomes. +He said that the Soil Health Card scheme, and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana are important steps towards reducing input costs. +The Prime Minister called for raising farm incomes through diversification in farming activities. +He said that along with crop growing, farmers could opt for timber plantation along the edges of their fields; and also begin animal husbandry. +He said diversification in farming activity will reduce the risk associated with agriculture. +The Prime Minister explained the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and said it had been evolved after wide-ranging consultations. +He said that the scheme is characterized by minimum premium, and maximum security. +Earlier, the Prime Minister visited the exhibition pavilions, and was given an overview of best practices and techniques followed by various institutions and agriculture entrepreneurs; latest agriculture equipment, and milch cattle. +The Prime Minister gave away the Krishi Karman Awards for 2014-15 to States and farmers. +He also launched a mobile application for farmers – “Kisan Suvidha.” +This will provide information to farmers on subjects such as weather, market prices, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and agriculture machinery. +HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of the UAE called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +He conveyed to Prime Minister Modi, greetings from Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. +The Prime Minister warmly reciprocated the good wishes. +The two dignitaries touched upon a range of bilateral cooperation including in trade and investment, defence and people-to-people ties. +The Minister noted the growing interest in UAE for investment in India in sectors such as energy, housing, food processing and infrastructure. +PM expressed appreciation for ADNOC’s decision to invest in the upcoming US$ 44 billion 60 MMTPA greenfield mega refinery and petrochemicals complex in India and welcomed the signing of an MoU in this regard earlier today. +The Minister noted the contribution of the Indian community in UAE to the Country’s economy and well-being. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratification of the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between the India and Belarus on Investments. +The Treaty is likely to increase investment flows between the two countries. +The agreement is expected to improve the confidence of the investors resulting in an increase in FDI and Overseas Director Investment (ODI) opportunities and this will have a positive impact on employment generation. +The signing and ratification of a BIT between the two countries will work as a strategic initiative as Belarus is the member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). +India has already initiated the BIT text with the Kyrgyz Republic and is in talks with the Russian Federation for a new BIT, based on the Model BIT text. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratification of Agreement between India and Samoa for the exchange of information with respect to Taxes. +The Agreement will stimulate the flow of exchange of information between India and Samoa for tax purposes which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance. +There is no financial implications at present. +Only in the event of extraordinary costs exceeding USD 500, the same will be borne by India. +India has similar provisions in other such tax information exchange agreement. +Salient features of the Agreement: +Information may be disclosed to any other person or entity or authority or jurisdiction with the prior written consent of the information sending country. +3. The Agreement also provides for Mutual Agreement Procedure “for resolving any difference or for agreeing on procedures under the Agreement. +4. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of notification of completion of the procedures required by the respective laws of the two countries for entry into force of the Agreement. +Negotiations for entering into an Agreement for the exchange of information with respect to Taxes were finalized between India and Samoa in June, 2016 and both countries have agreed on the text of the Agreement. +After arriving in Gangtok this afternoon (18th January), he will visit an orchid display and a seasonal flowers exhibition. +The Prime Minister will attend the State Agricultural Ministers Conference on sustainable development, organic farming and eco-tourism, in Gangtok. +The Prime Minister will visit an organic products exhibition in Gangtok tomorrow (19th January) morning, and will interact with organic farmers. +Shri Narendra Modi will then leave for Assam. +The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for a new building for IIIT Guwahati, and address the students of IIT, NIT and central universities of the North-East. +A major inspiration for Shri C V Raman to pursue science as a career was the famous 19th century German physicist Hermann von Helmholtz. +In a speech, he once compared von Helmholtz to Isaac Newton. +Helmholtz’s famous book The Sensations of Tone motivated Shri C V Raman to undertake a scientific study of acoustics of both Indian and western musical instruments. +Two of the scientists who nominated him for the Nobel Prize were the German physician Richard Pfeiffer and the German physicist Johannes Stark who had won the Nobel in 1919. +The terms Raman Effect and Raman Spectrum themselves were coined in 1928 by a German physics professor at Berlin University, Dr Peter Pringsheim. +In 1928, Sir C V Raman invited Arnold Sommerfeld, the leading theoretical physicist in Germany, to lecture at the Calcutta University. +There, Sommerfeld saw a demonstration of the Raman Effect and the two went on to form a lasting friendship. +In 1933, Shri Raman took over as the Director of Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore (now Bengaluru) where he invited several German scientists. +These included George von Hevesy who went on to win the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1943. +The seeds of Indo-German research collaboration were sown in Shri Raman’s time. +Such collaboration has grown immensely over the years and now Germany is one of India’s leading partners in research. +In line with the Indian Railways’ Mission of 100 percent electrification, Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi has developed a new prototype Electric Locomotive converted from Diesel Locomotive. +After its mandatory trials, the Prime Minister inspected the locomotive and flagged it off. +Indian Railways has decided to convert all Diesel Locomotive to Electric Locomotive during its mid-life rehabilitation and utilise them till their codal life. +The project is a step towards saving traction energy cost and also cut down on carbon emissions. +On Ravidas Jayanti, Prime Minister paid homage to Shri Guru Ravidas. +He then laid the foundation stone of Guru Ravidas Birth Place Development Project at Shri Guru Ravidas Janmasthan Temple, Seer Goverdhanpur. +Speaking on the occasion, PM said, “This government is punishing the corrupt and rewarding the honest”. +He added that the teachings of Shri Guru Ravidas inspire us every day. +He stressed that people won’t be able to connect with each other and there won’t be any equality in the society if there is caste-based discrimination,. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex post-facto approval to the MoU between India and Singapore on cooperation in the field of urban planning and development. +The MoU was signed on 31st May 2018. +The objective of the MOU is to facilitate government agencies in the Centre and States, including Municipal Bodies, to readily tap into the expertise of Singapore agencies in the areas of urban development and management and other areas, and thus help in urban rejuvenation, mission. +This will also facilitate to build capacities in NITI and equip the officials with skills related to evidence based policy writing, evaluation etc. and help NITI to play the newly assigned role of a Think Tank in a more effective manner. +Under this MOU, capacity building programme in the field of planning, focusing on areas of urban planning, water and waste water management, solid waste management, Intelligent Transport System and public financing (Public Private Partnerships) would be undertaken. +This MOU would lead to dissemination of knowledge of best practices, build capacities and provide hand holding support to various government agencies at the State and Central levels in the areas of urban planning, water and waste water management, solid waste management, Intelligent Transport System and public financing (Public Private Partnerships). +The officials from Central Government, State Government and Urban Local Bodies would directly benefit by enhancing their knowledge base which would ultimately get manifested in the improvement in the urban civic amenities. +TCIL is a leading ISO-9001: 2008 and ISO:2008 and 14001:2004 certified, Schedule-A, Mini Ratna Category-l Public Sector Undertaking (PSU). +TCIL, a premier telecommunications consultancy and engineering company, with a strong base in Telecommunications & Information Technology, was incorporated in 1978 by Government of India with following objectives :- +i. To provide world-class technology and Indian expertise globally in all fields of telecommunication, +ii. To sustain, expand and excel in its operation in overseas/ Indian markets by developing proper marketing strategies. +iii. To acquire State-of-the-Art technology on a continuing basis. +TCIL, a 100% owned Govt. of India Undertaking, has executed projects in more than 70 countries in the domain of Telecommunications and Information Technology. +It provides consultancy and turnkey project execution service from concept to completion, in the field of telecommunications, IT and civil infrastructure. +The authorized capital of the company as on 31st March 2017 is Rs. 60 crores, while the paid up capital is Rs. 59.20 crores. +TCIL is implementing the highly prestigious Pan-African e-Network in 48 countries which shall primarily provide Tele-education, Tele-Medicine and WIP connectivity to African Union member countries through optical fibre and satellite links since 2009. +This project is a time bound project and involves comprehensive operation and maintenance till July 2021. +In addition to the overseas projects, TCIL is executing a number of projects related to IT and Telecommunications at various places of India. +For execution of ongoing overseas/ inland projects besides expected projects in pipeline, TCIL requires experienced and talented senior officers of telecom and IT background as per the requirement of the projects handled by it, from time to time. +President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Gandhi Peace Prize for the years 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018, at a function in Rashtrapati Bhawan today. +The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated all those who have been conferred the prestigious Gandhi Peace Prize. +He noted that the prize is being conferred at a time when India marks the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. +The Prime Minister expressed happiness that on this occasion, the devotional hymn Vaishnav Jan To, which was so dear to Bapu, had been rendered by artistes in about 150 countries across the world. +He said this is an indication that the world accepts the relevance of Gandhi’s ideals, even today. +The Prime Minister spoke of Mahatma Gandhi’s commitment to Swachhta. +The Prime Minister noted that the freedom struggle became a mass movement due to the visionary efforts of Mahatma Gandhi. +He added that Mahatma Gandhi had merged the streams of Jan Bhagidari (public participation) and Jan Andolan (mass movement). +The Prime Minister said that Mahatma Gandhi instilled a spirit in every person that they are contributing to India’s freedom. +Governor of Maharastra, C. Vidhya Sagar Rao, Chief Minister of Maharastra, Devendra Fadnavis, Minister in the Maharastra Govt. +Ladies and Gentlemen, I am happy to be here today at the inauguration of the Wadhwani Institute of Artificial Intelligence. +Let me begin by congratulating Romesh Wadhwani ji and Sunil Wadhwani ji,The Government of Maharashtra, and Mumbai University for coming together to make this Institute a reality. +This is a prime example of how the public sector and the private sector can combine with good intention to build a world-class institute aimed at benefiting the poor. +Through this Institute, Romesh ji and Sunil ji have blended this desire with a futuristic vision of a prosperous and vibrant India. +In doing so, they have set an example that is worthy of emulation. +Friends, today India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world. +We are using technology in an un-paralleled way from agriculture to aeronautics and from space missions to service delivery. +We are also witnessing a wave of entrepreneurship ranging from small enterprises to big-ticket investments. +These are just a few indicators to show, how well-placed we are to fare in the upcoming fourth industrial revolution. +At every stage of technological evolution, we have faced such doubts and questions. +This leads to two views of the future. +First brings hopes and aspirations and second brings fears of disruption. +Technology opens entirely new spheres and sectors for growth. +It also opens up an entirely new paradigm of opportunities. +With each wave of new technology, many new opportunities arise. +New opportunities have always out-numbered the lost ones. +Human ingenuity has always prevailed and it will continue to do so in the future. +This optimism stems from my firm faith in Ancient Indian Thinking that blended science and spirituality and found Harmony between the two/ for the greater good of mankind. +The spirit of scientific enquiry was rooted in the pursuit of Truth. +Our ancient texts go on to further list the mental faculties that assist in this pursuit of the Truth. श्रद्धा (dedication),मेधा (mental capacity), मनीषा (intelligence), मनसा (mind), शान्ति (peace), चित्त (elevated state of consciousness), स्मृति (memory), स्मरण (recall) and विज्ञान (application of knowledge). +From this scientific enquiry this pursuit of the truth is to be obtained the ultimate creative bliss for the greater good of mankind. +It is this Vision of Technology for Development that I am inspired by and it is this spirit of Scientific Advancement that gives me optimism about the future. +The road ahead for Artificial Intelligence depends on and will be driven by Human Intentions. +It is our intention that will determine the outcomes of artificial intelligence. +With every industrial revolution, the scalability of technology has increased manifold. +This has given human increasingly more power to create an impact in whatever he does through technology. +It is this ethic of development that will ensure equity for all peoples. +The March of Technology cannot be at the expense of further increasing the difference between societies over access to technology. +The evolution of Technology has to be rooted in the ethic of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. +Friends, Can we take the global lead on creating Artificial Intelligence that is less about making humans redundant and more about enhancing human abilities and expanding human capacities. +Can we make the future less about machines dis-placing humans to a future about humans becoming better humans by converting their weaknesses into their strengths for the greater good of mankind? +Friends, at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Human understanding is the solution of many problems we are facing. +We need to make Artificial Intelligence in India and Make Artificial Intelligence work for India. +I would urge all of you to identify the grand challenges that Artificial Intelligence can solve for India. +We are such a diverse nation of tens of languages and hundreds of dialects. +Can we have intelligent Artificial Intelligence that makes communication and conversations across these languages and dialects easier? +I have always believed that the Divyangs are our asset and the Nation owes it to them to empower them. +Can we have Artificial Intelligence and Robotics that enhances their abilities empowering them to perform tasks and bring out their true potential? +Can the combination of teachers and Artificial Intelligence help us bridge the gap in teacher student ratio? +This will help us deliver quality education to every student across India. +Can Artificial Intelligence help us take quality healthcare to every corner of India by expanding capacities of our healthcare workers? +Can Artificial Intelligence help us predict natural calamities? +Can Artificial Intelligence help us detect serious health conditions before they manifest physically? +Can Artificial Intelligence help our farmers make the right decisions regarding weather, crop and sowing cycle? +Friends, our Government is of the firm belief, that we can use this power of twenty-first century technology to eradicate poverty and disease. +In doing so, we can bring prosperity to our poor and under-privileged sections. +We are committed to achieving this vision. +The Digital India Initiative, aims at transforming India into a digitally empowered society and a knowledge economy. +Under Bharat-Net, we are providing broad-band Internet connectivity to our villages. +This digital infrastructure provides the backbone for innovative IT solutions for service delivery, and innovative applications. +The Union Government’s National Skill Development Mission is also aimed to ensuring a rightly-skilled workforce, keeping in mind global job requirements of the next few decades. +We have also launched the Atal Innovation Mission to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. +Its objective is to serve as a platform for promotion of world-class Innovation Hubs, Grand Challenges, Start-up businesses and other self-employment activities, particularly in technology driven areas. +The Atal Innovation Mission is establishing Atal Tinkering Laboratories in schools across India with a vision to encourage one million children in India to become young innovators. +Through these steps, we aim to keep pace with emerging technologies so that they can be used for the benefit of our people. +Friends, I am sure, the scientists, researchers and pioneers at this Institute, will have the best interests of the common people of India in their hearts, as they go about their work. +I wish them well in their efforts. +I hope that India shall be in a unique position to show the entire world how Artificial Intelligence can be applied safely and responsibly for the benefit of the people. +I am pleased to inaugurate this institute, and hope that it shall remain committed to the service of our people. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Spain on India-Spain Cooperation in renewable energy. +The MoU was signed on 30th May, 2017 at Spain. +The MoU will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries with the exchange of expertise and networking of information. +Both sides aim to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy issues on the basis of mutual benefit equality and reciprocity. +The MoU envisages to establish a Joint Working Committee to review, monitor and discuss matters relation to areas of cooperation. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval to introduce a new Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015. +The new Bill will provide legislative framework for following new provisions other than the provisions in the existing Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 which is proposed to be repealed: +The main objectives of the proposed legislation are:- +(i). to establish the Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) as the National Standards Body of India; +(ii). The Bureau to perform its functions through a Governing Council, which will consist of its President and other members; +(iii). to include goods, services and systems, besides articles and processes under the standardization regime; +(iv). To enable the Government to bring under the mandatory certification regime such article, process or service which it considers necessary from the point of view of health, safety, environment, prevention of deceptive practices, security etc. +This will help consumers receive ISI certified products and will also help in prevention of import of sub-standard products; +(v). to allow multiple types of simplified conformity assessment schemes including Self Declaration Of Conformity (SDOC) against any standard which will give multiple simplified options to manufacturers to adhere to standards and get a certificate of conformity, thus improving the “ease of doing business”; +(vi). to enable the Central Government to appoint any authority, in addition to the Bureau of Indian Standards, to verify the conformity of products and services to a standard and issue certificate of conformity; +(vii). to enable the Government to implement mandatory hallmarking of precious metal articles; +(viii). to strengthen penal provisions for better and effective compliance and enable compounding of offences for violations; +(ix). to provide recall, including product liability of products bearing the Standard Mark, but not conforming to relevant Indian Standards; and +(x). Repeal of the BIS Act, 1986. +Consequential amendments will be made subsequently in the rules and regulations to ensure implementation of the new Bill. +The proposed provisions in the new Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015 will empower the Central Government and the Bureau of Indian Standards to promote a culture of quality of products and services through mandatory/voluntary compliance with Indian standards through the process of ‘product certification’ and ‘Certificate of Conformity’ with a broad objective of consumer’s welfare. +It is also expected to improve enforcement of Indian standards. +The proposed provisions will also promote harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods and services, to provide for compulsory hallmarking of precious metal articles, widening the scope of conformity assessment, to enhance penalties, to make offences compoundable and to simplify certain provisions in the Act. +The Union Cabinet has expressed profound sorrow at the sad demise of Shri Anil Madhav Dave, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forest and Climate Change at New Delhi, today. +The Cabinet met under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and extended its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of the Government and the entire nation. +The following is the text of the Resolution: +“Shri Anil Madhav Dave was born on 6th July 1956 at Barnagar, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. +Shri Dave was a river conservationist, environmentalist and social worker. +He was a prolific writer, authoring several books in Hindi and English. +Shri Anil Madhav Dave was a true social worker widely known for his empathy for the poor and under-privileged. +As an environmentalist, he worked tirelessly for conservation of conservation of Narmada river. +He was a true nationalist and handled his public responsibilities with politeness and grace. +In his passing away, the nation has lost an eminent leader from Madhya Pradesh”. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said handlooms can be a tool to fight poverty, just as swadeshi was a tool in the struggle for freedom. +He said Khadi and handloom products provide the same warmth that mother’s love provides. +He was speaking at the celebrations of the first National Handloom Day in Chennai. +The Prime Minister emphasized that India, whose handicrafts were once in demand across all continents, had not been able to market its handloom products well in recent times. +He said that with the world becoming progressively more aware about the environment and holistic healthcare, there is a need to highlight the eco-friendly aspects of handloom products. +The Prime Minister recalled his appeal on the radio programme “Mann Ki Baat” in October last year, for all households to keep at least one Khadi product at home. +He said that he had been informed that Khadi sales have risen by 60 percent since then. +He said a similar effort now has to be made for handloom products. +On an emotional note, the Prime Minister said that the entire family of a weaver is involved in the creation of a product such as a saree. +He said the family makes the saree just as a mother brings up a daughter – and once it is ready, the family bids it farewell, the way a bride is bid farewell after the wedding. +The Prime Minister launched the India Handloom Brand. +He also presented the Sant Kabir Awards and National Awards. +The Governor of Tamil Nadu Dr. K. Rosaiah, Union MoS (I/c) for Textiles Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union MoS (Road Transport & Highways and Shipping) Shri Pon Radhakrishnan and the Minister of Finance and PWD for Tamil Nadu Shri O Paneerselvam were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today flagged off the “Run For Rio” at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister said every athlete of the Indian contingent has worked hard to earn his or her place, and the players will surely give their best for the country at the Rio Olympics. +He expressed confidence that the Indian athletes would win the hearts of people across the world, and show the world what India is about. +The Prime Minister said this time the contingent has been sent in advance, so that players get familiar with the conditions. +The Prime Minister wished all the athletes well for the Olympic Games. +The Prime Minister later released the Olympic Brochure, and flagged off the Run For Rio. +The Prime Minister recalled his meeting with Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September 2014, and with the Agriculture Minister of Israel last month during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. +He expressed satisfaction with the ongoing cooperation between India and Israel in various sectors. +Addresses Farmers Rally: says agriculture sector is key to poverty eradication. +PM: Government working to enhance water storage capacities through PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana, and NREGA. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that the agriculture sector is key to eradication of poverty in India. +Addressing a farmer’s rally at Baramati in Maharashtra, the Prime Minister said that water storage capacities across the country will be enhanced through the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. +He added that NREGA will also be used to build water storage capacity. +He said this will help improve productivity in the agriculture sector. +The Prime Minister also stressed on the need to modernize agriculture through the latest available technology, and promote value-addition. +The Prime Minister praised former Union Agriculture Minister Shri Sharad Pawar, who was present on the dais, for his contribution to agriculture development in India. +The Prime Minister also visited the Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Vidya Pratishthan, and inaugurated the Appasaheb Pawar Auditorium at Baramati. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of former Chief Justice of India, Justice AS Anand. +“Saddened by the demise of former Chief Justice of India, Justice AS Anand. +My thoughts are with his family in this hour of grief. +May his soul rest in peace.”, the Prime Minister said. +A 15-member delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry – CII called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +Members of the delegation appreciated the work done by the Union Government over the past year, and said that the Government has strategically shaped a new economic direction for the future growth and development of the country. +They noted that the credibility of the Government has been restored as a result of determined steps towards transparency. +The delegation members praised Government initiatives such as Ease of Doing Business, Make in India, Smart City Mission, Housing For All, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Clean Energy Mission, and Jan Dhan Yojana, describing them as “visionary, innovative and high-impact.” +They said the speed and scale of roll-out of these campaigns have been remarkable and unprecedented. +The CII delegation also noted the significant policy announcements for macroeconomic management, including PAHAL for targeted transfer of cooking gas subsidy, and raising of FDI limits in various sectors. +In the course of interaction, the members mentioned that the small and medium sector has grown phenomenally over the past year. +The Prime Minister welcomed the suggestions and exhorted CII to motivate Indian industry to work towards increasing self-reliance in key identifiable sectors within a fixed timeframe. +He spoke of the attention that he has been giving to speeding up projects in various ways, including his monthly PRAGATI interaction with various Ministries of the Union Government, as well as Chief Secretaries of States. +The Prime Minister reiterated his vision of governance based on trust and simplification of processes, and exhorted Indian Industry to work towards technological self-reliance. +The approval paves way for offshore wind energy development including, setting up of offshore wind power projects and research and development activities, in waters, in or adjacent to the country, up to the seaward distance of 200 Nautical Miles (EEZ of the country) from the base line. +Preliminary assessments along the 7600 km long Indian coastline have indicated prospects of development of offshore wind power. +With the introduction of the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy, the Government is attempting to replicate the success of the onshore wind power development in the offshore wind power development. +The policy will provide a level playing field to all investors/beneficiaries, domestic and international. +All the processes would be carried out in a transparent manner by NIWE. +The development would help the country in moving forward towards attaining energy security and achievement of the NAPCC targets. +The PDF shall be housed in Department of Commerce and operated through the EXIM Bank. +The PDF shall be governed by an Inter-Ministerial Committee under the chairpersonship of the Commerce Secretary. +While opportunities are a plenty in CLMV region, Indian entrepreneurs’ endeavors in these countries have, thus far, been limited due to limited information, infrastructure and other contingent risks. +Owner-driven Reconstruction project है। +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a new scheme for promotion of Rural Housing in the country. +The Government would provide interest subsidy under the scheme. +Interest subsidy would be available to every rural household who is not covered under the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (Grameen), PMAY(G). +The scheme would enable people in rural areas to construct new houses or add to their existing pucca houses to improve their dwelling units. +The beneficiary who takes a loan under the scheme would be provided interest subsidy for loan amount upto Rs. 2 Lakhs. +National Housing Bank would implement the scheme. +The Government would provide net present value of the interest subsidy of 3 percent to the National Housing Bank upfront which will, in turn, pass it to the Primary Lending Institutions (Scheduled Commercial Banks, NBFCs etc.). +As a result the equated monthly installment (EMI) for the beneficiary would be reduced. +Under the scheme, the Government would also take necessary steps for proper convergence with PMAY-G including technical support to beneficiary through existing arrangements. +The new scheme is expected to improve housing stock in the rural areas, as well as create employment opportunities in rural housing sector. +I am very optimistic about the outcome of this visit. +History is witness to the close ties India and Russia have had over the decades. +Russia remains one of India’s most valued friends in the world. +My mind goes back to 2001. +I had just assumed charge as Gujarat CM and had accompanied Atal ji to Russia. +My visit will deepen the cooperation between India and Russia in the economic, energy and security spheres. +We also want to increase cooperation in science and technology, mining among other sectors. +Trade ties between India and Russia can increase even further, to benefit not only our two nations but also the world. +The visit will witness extensive deliberations with President Putin. +There will be an interaction with Russian businesspersons to invite them to invest in India. +I will also attend a ‘Friends of India’ programme. +I am certain that this visit will substantially take forward the already strong people to people ties between our Nations. +Mr. Shanmugaratnam congratulated the Prime Minister on the successful roll-out of GST. +He briefed the Prime Minister on the progress in bilateral relations, especially in the economic domain. +The Prime Minister appreciated the close bilateral cooperation in sectors such as investment, urban development, civil aviation, and skill development. +The two leaders also discussed the potential for bilateral collaboration in banking, digital finance, tourism, and innovation. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the amendments in the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) Act, 1976 to enhance authorized and issued capital to strengthen their capital base and to bring flexibility in the shareholding between Central Government, State Government and Sponsor Bank. +The term of the non-official directors appointed by the Central Government will be fixed not exceeding three years. +As per provisions of the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976 the authorized capital of each RRB is Rs. five crore and the issued capital is maximum Rs. one crore. +Hon. Governor of Maharashtra; +Hon. Chief Minister of Maharashtra; +His Excellency Mr. Kim Young-Suk, Minister of the Republic of Korea +Our Union Minister for Shipping, Mr. Nitin Gadkari +Other Dignitaries on the dais; +Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen! +I have great pleasure in being with you and welcoming you at the Maritime India Summit. +This is the first time that a global event of such a large scale is being organised by India. +I extend a warm welcome to all the esteemed guests attending this event in the maritime hub of India. +I am sure, this event; together with the seminars and exhibition, will showcase the emerging trends and opportunities in the maritime sector. +We all know that oceans cover more than seventy percent of the Earth’s surface. +We also know that oceans contain ninety-seven percent of the Earth’s water. +Therefore, maritime transport can be the most extensive mode of transport. +It is also the most eco-friendly mode of transport. +However, there is one more aspect to this fact. +Which is that, oceans contain ninety nine percent of the living space on the planet. +This means that our lifestyle, transport systems and trading behavior should not spoil the ecology of the oceans. +Also, maritime security, freedom of navigation and safety and security of sea lanes is equally important. +The challenges of climate change have shown that even offshore human behavior can change the ecology of glaciers and oceans. +This is already causing a lot of concern for island countries and coastal communities in particular. +I hope this summit will deliberate on these issues while discussing economic issues related with oceans. +The elimination of sea piracy, which was a big threat to international shipping a few years ago, is a good example of how joint efforts by maritime nations can achieve outstanding results. +There is a reason why this important Summit has been organised today, on the 14th of April 2016. +Today is the 125th birth anniversary of a great son of India who also lived and worked in Mumbai. +I am referring to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who was the architect of our Constitution. +He is also the architect of the water and river navigation policy in India. +I offer my profound respects to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on this auspicious day. +I also wish and pray that his wisdom continues to guide us in our efforts towards nation building. +Many of us may not know that Babasaheb created two powerful institutions related to water, navigation and power. +They were: The Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission and The Central Technical Power Board. +His observations while setting up these two organizations is a testimony to his great foresight. +I quote from his address on 3rd January, 1945: +“The objects which have led to the setting up of two organizations are to advise on how the water resources can be best utilized and how a project can be made to serve purposes other than irrigation.” +Dr Ambedkar had emphasized the importance of the new waterways policy in order to lay the foundation for a regime of prosperity for the millions of poor of our country. +I am happy to state that we have embarked on the development of National Waterways in keeping with Babasaheb’s vision and foresight. +With a GDP growth rate of more than seven percent, India is the fastest growing major economy today. +The IMF and the World Bank have indicated even better prospects in the days to come. +We are taking aggressive steps to ensure that our process of growth is both fast as well as inclusive. +This summit is another step to realize Babasaheb’s dream of an economically strong, socially empowered and technologically equipped India. +I understand that more than 4500 dignitaries and delegates from around forty countries are participating in this Summit. +I am particularly happy that the Republic of Korea is the Partner Country for this event. +I thank the President of Korea and also the senior Minister, Mr. Kim Young-Suk who is present here. +We Indians are inheritors of a glorious maritime heritage. +The world’s first dock was built at Lothal in Gujarat around 2500 BC during the Harappan Civilisation. +This dock was equipped to berth and service ships. +It was built after studying tidal flows. +In addition to Lothal, there were also some other Indian ports, which were major drivers of global maritime trade two thousand years ago. +Ancient and medieval Indian traders maintained links with countries in Southeast and East Asia, Africa, Arabia and Europe. +Since my government took over, among other things, we have laid emphasis on building futuristic infrastructure. +This includes building next generation infrastructure in many sectors. +Port, Shipping and Maritime infrastructure is prominent among them. +It is my Government’s endeavour to revive and restore India’s position of eminence in the global maritime sector. +Building upon our glorious maritime tradition, we are working hard to achieve new heights in this area. +In the very early days of our Government, we announced the Sagarmala programme. +This is aimed at leveraging our long coastline and natural maritime advantages. +It also focuses on promoting port led development, energizing the coastal economy and infrastructure development in these areas. +We particularly want to modernize our ports and integrate them with Special Economic Zones, Port based Smart Cities, Industrial Parks, Warehouses, Logistics Parks and Transport Corridors. +I must mention that our vast coastline of 7500 kilometers offers a huge investment opportunity. +Apart from the length of the coastline, India’s maritime potential also lies in its strategic location on all major shipping highways. +In addition, we have an expansive and productive hinterland, through which flows a network of mighty rivers. +Our maritime agenda will complement this ambitious infrastructure plan for the hinterland which is going on in parallel. +I call upon the global business community to partner with us to give shape to our process of port led development. +I am sure, the long coastline of India along with diverse coastal regions and hard working coastal communities can become an engine of growth of India. +However, this is just the beginning. +We want to do more. +We are enhancing our own capacities of execution and implementation. +The National Perspective Plan of the Sagarmala Programme has been released today. +During the last two years, major ports have awarded 56 new Projects involving an investment of more than 250 billion rupees. +This will create an additional port capacity of 317 million tonnes per annum. +Our vision is to increase port capacity from 1400 million tonnes to 3000 million tonnes by 2025. +We want to mobilize an investment of one lakh crore, or one trillion rupees, in the Port Sector to enable this growth. +Five new ports are planned to meet the increasing demand of the Exim trade which will rise in proportion with the fast-growing Indian economy. +New ports are also being developed by several coastal States of India. +The multiple measures to promote Coastal Shipping coupled with the anticipated rise in domestic production of coal, is expected to enhance coastal transportation of coal by at least four fold by 2025. +We are engaging with our immediate and regional neighbours to promote shipping and maritime security. +India is also engaged in the development of Chahbahar Port in Iran. +A special purpose vehicle by the name India Ports Global Limited has been established to take up Maritime Projects overseas. +I am informed that the Ministry of Shipping is showcasing about 250 projects with investment opportunity in the Maritime Sector. +These projects include various infrastructure development opportunities in 12 Major Ports, projects in eight maritime states and other agencies. +Of these, over 100 projects have been identified under the Sagarmala Programme. +With more than 14,000 kilometers of navigable inland waterways in the country, there is tremendous potential for development in this sector. +My Government is committed to integration in infrastructure. +We are also committed to creating an enabling environment for investors and to facilitate investments with an open mind. +As part of the Sagarmala programme, we will adopt a comprehensive approach with focus on capacity building and training, upgrading of technology and for improving physical and social infrastructure. +This will be done in collaboration with the coastal states. +These initiatives will create employment opportunities of approximately ten million jobs over the next ten years. +This includes four million direct and six million indirect jobs. +To broaden livelihood opportunities further, we are planning to deploy modern and sophisticated fishing vessels. +This would enable them to harness resources in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone. +In addition, we are also focusing on value addition in fisheries, aquaculture and cold chain development. +The Port Sector in India is a good mix of Private and Public Ports, with both contributing to the growth of the sector. +The PPP model of development has been quite successful in this sector and has helped in bringing latest technology and best practices. +Private Ports have been growing at a very healthy pace and have nearly doubled their capacity in the last 5 years. +They handle around 45 per cent of the total cargo. +We are on the path of shaping an even better maritime future. +Investing in maritime sector is not only investing in one’s own future; but in the future of the planet and that of coming generations. +However, in this sector, no country can achieve the desired results in isolation. +Nations have to collaborate to realize this potential and to overcome challenges in this sector. +The objective of this Summit is to provide a platform and forum for such cooperation. +My dear fellow citizens, Namaskar. +That must be playing on your mind. +I wish to be a part of this journey along with you. +I am concerned about your children’s exams as much as you are, but I am not worried. +If we were to change the way we look at exams then we would be tension-free. +When I shared my inner thoughts with you during last month’s Mann ki Baat, I had requested everybody to send their experiences and suggestions to me on Narendra Modi App. +It makes me immensely happy that teachers and students who have had successful careers, as also parents and social thinkers, have shared their experiences and suggestions with me. +There are two things that have moved me. +First, those who have written to me have a good grip on the subject; and, second, the sheer volume of the response to my request shows dealing with exams is an extremely important matter. +Usually the issue of exams has largely remained confined to schools, teachers, students and their families. +But the way suggestions have come pouring in through my App, it seems this should be a subject of constant discussion for the entire nation. +Today, during my Mann ki Baat, I would like to share my inner thoughts on exams with parents, students and teachers. +I will share some of the things that I have heard, what I have read, and what I have been told. +I will add my views on some exam-related issues about which I feel strongly. +My dear students, before I begin, why not let a well-known world opener make the opening comments about the things and experiences that helped him achieve heights of success in his life? +That would definitely be useful for you. +“Namaskar, I am Sachin Tendulkar speaking. +I know that the 10th Board Exams are going to commence in a few days from now. +Many of you are going to be tense about them. +You should definitely work hard but set a realistic and achievable target for yourself, and then try to achieve that target. +When I used to play cricket, there were a lot of expectations from me as well. +So it was necessary for me to find a solution to this. +That’s when I decided that I would set expectations for myself and set my own targets. +If I set my own targets and I am able to achieve them, then I am sure to do something good for my country. +And those were the targets that I would always try to achieve for myself. +Please go write your exams, free from tension,and get good results. +Friends, you heard what Tendulkar-ji had to say. +Don’t buckle under the pressure of expectations. +It is you who have to shape your own future. +I am sure that what Sachin-ji has said will prove very helpful for you. +Also, why should there be rivalry? +Why not healthy competition? +Why do we waste our time competing with others? +Why don’t we compete with ourselves? +Why don’t we decide to break our own previous record? +There will be a sense of inner satisfaction. +Friends, don’t look at exams as a game of numbers. +You should think of a greater purpose in life. +You should have a dream to realise and a goal that you are committed to. +Exams are there to only gauge whether we are going the right way or not, whether we are moving at the right speed or not. +So, if our dreams are big and magnificent, exams will become a joyful experience. +Once you do that, even if you achieve less than what you had expected, you will not be disappointed. +Rather, it will give you the strength and confidence to try harder and better the next time. +Thousands of people have used their mobile phones to post small messages on my app. +On the last day before exams begin, I would not really urge you to start doing push-ups, get down on the field, or go for a 3 to 5 km walk. +But one thing is for sure, especially during the days when examinations are held. +I agree with the message posted by Shri Prabhakar Reddy — he has specially urged that one should go to sleep at a proper time and get up early in the morning to revise one’s preparation. +One should arrive at the examination centre equipped with the admit-card and other things well before time. +But I would like to request you all to get proper sleep. +At the time of exams, you should get a good sleep so that you are free from stress and tension. +I am not saying that you should keep on sleeping. +It should not be that you score low marks and when your mother asks you why you have fared so badly, you reply that it’s because Modiji had asked us to sleep, so I dozed off. +I hope you will not do that. +I am sure you won’t do anything like that. +Discipline plays a major role in laying the foundation of success in our lives. +A strong foundation comes from discipline. +You must have experienced that when one part of your body feels a little bit of pain, the entire body doesn’t feel well. +Not just that, our entire routine collapses. +So we should not view anything as trivial or unimportant. +The other kind are those students who keep worrying about which type of questions will be asked during exams, whether they will be able to attempt answering them, will the question paper be easy or difficult. +You must have noticed this too. +Those who are tense and worry about what kind of questions will be asked, end up having a negative impact on their results as well. +On the other hand, students who have the confidence in what they know are able to tackle whatever comes in the question paper. +Come, why don’t you learn how to checkmate in exams from him! +You must have seen his eyes don’t wander off the chess board. +We have all heard of how Arjun focussed his attention on the eye of the bird. +In the same way, when we watch Vishwanathan playing chess we see his eyes set on the target, focussed on the game very attentively, and that is a reflection of his inner tranquillity. +If the water is still, then no matter how deep it is, everything at the bottom can be seen. +But if the water is agitated, we can see nothing through it. +If you have a peaceful mind, then that treasure of yours is going to surface to the top and your exam will turn so very simple for you. +There are occasions when if I have to strain myself to concentrate, I feel an inner stress building up. +Then I realize that if I relax a bit, I will feel better. +So here is a technique I have developed for myself. +I breathe deeply three to five times. +Not more than 50 seconds are spent on this but my mind is at rest and ready to be focused on matters at hand. +This is my experience and it might be of help to you as well. +Rajat Agarwal has told us something good. +He wrote on my app that we should spend half an hour every day with friends and family to feel relaxed. +We should chat with them. +This is something very important Rajat-ji has told us because what most of us do is that when we return after an exam, we sit down to calculate what we did right and what we did wrong. +And if we have educated parents, on top of it parents who are teachers themselves, then they almost end up making us re-write the entire paper. +They ask us what we wrote, then start adding numbers to calculate how much we will score, whether it will be 40, 80 or 90. +In this way, your mind is totally consumed by what is already over. +And what do you do? +You also talk about the same thing with your friends over the phone. +“What did you write, what was your answer, what did you do, what do you think… Oh! +A message has come for you from someone, who is essentially a teacher-turned-a-value educator. +From giving interpretations of the Ram Charit Manas in the present day context, he is now involved with trying to spread its values in the country and to the whole world. +“I am Murari Bapu speaking and I would like to tell my student friends not to carry any load on their minds during the exams. +My experience has been that we can remain happy by accepting the circumstances. +Friends, if I ask you to start doing Yoga from tomorrow morning then that would be unfair. +But those who are already practising Yoga should not stop it during exam time. +If you do Yoga, keep doing it. +One thing is for sure, whether it is your student days or any other phase of your life, Yoga is a major key to the development of your inner mind. +Yes, if you have someone nearby who knows Yoga, and if you ask them during your exams, and even if you have never done Yoga before, they will surely be able to tell you a few things to do in Yoga that can very easily be done in a few minutes. +See if you can do it. +I have a lot of faith in Yoga. +But why should you do these things in a hurry. +Why can’t you manage your time in such a way that even if you are held up in traffic, you can still reach in time for your exam. +Otherwise such hurdles can cause new stress. +One more thing: With the limited time that we have, we feel that going through the question paper with all the instructions is going to consume a lot of our time. +It is not like that dear friends. +It is very important to understand the questions. +When we don’t understand the questions, that’s when we sometimes find them difficult. +It gives me great joy to share with you a message from Bharat Ratna C N R Rao, our most esteemed scientist. +He has emphasized the virtue of patience. +He has given a brief but very beautiful message to all students. +Come,let me tell you the message of Shri Rao. +See the style of talking that a scientist has! +What I take half an hour to say, he says in a few minutes. +This is the strength of science and this is the strength that the mind of a scientist possesses. +I am grateful to Shri Raofor inspiring the children of the country. +And a golden future awaits you for doing well. +Ruchika Dabas has sent a message on my App and shared her experience. +There are many things that inspire us, and don’t think that they inspire only students. +No matter at which point of life you are at, fine examples and true stories give great inspiration, great strength, and pave a new path in times of trouble. +We have all read about the inventor of the electric bulb, Thomas Alva Edison. +But today that electric bulb illuminates our lives. +This is what is called the seeds of success inherent in failures. +J.K. Rowling is a fine example to show that success can come in anyone’s life at any time. +The Harry Potter series is now popular worldwide. +But it was not like that from the start. +Exams are not just for the students, they also put the students’ families, schools and teachers to test. +Keshav Vaishnav has written to me on my App, complaining that parents should never put pressure on their children to score more marks. +They should only motivate them to prepare well for their exams. +They should think about the need for their child to stay relaxed. +Vijay Jindal writes that parents should not burden their children with their own expectations. +They should boost the confidence of their children as much as possible. +They should help maintain their children’s faith in themselves. +And this is so right. +Today, I don’t want to say much to the parents. +Please don’t create any pressure for your children. +If they are talking to any friend of theirs, please don’t stop them. +Curiosity is the mother of science. +Today on National Science Day we should resolve that innovation should gain importance. +Friends, sometimes success comes very late and when it does come to us, our way of looking at life changes completely. +As you have been kept very busy with the coming exams, it might be possible that many news stories may not have registered on your minds. +But I want to repeat this for all fellow citizens as well. +You must have heard recently there has been a major and important discovery in the world of science. +Scientists have labored hard, generations of them have persevered, and after nearly 100 years they have gained a huge success. +Gravitational Wave has been brought to light with the efforts of our scientists. +This is a success for science which was very difficult to achieve. +This discovery not only proves the theory of our greatest scientist of the previous century, Albert Einstein, but is also considered a great discovery for the world of physics. +I would like to extend my hearty congratulations to all those scientists. +Our scientists will be involved in the future as well to take this discovery forward; India will be a part of future international efforts. +My dear fellow citizens, in the last few days we have taken an important decision. +To gain more success about this discovery, the Government of India has decided to install a Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, in short it is called LIGO, here in India. +This process is going to gain fresh momentum and strength with India joining hands with others. +India, with its reputed resources, will surely be an active participant in this superior science discovery which is for the welfare of humankind. +I once again congratulate all scientists and send them my best wishes. +Friends, your exams begin from day after tomorrow. +I have to take an exam tomorrow. +125 crore people of this country are going to take my exam. +But, you must have noticed and felt it while you heard me speak how fit and brimming with confidence I am. +My exam gets over tomorrow and yours begin the dayafter. +Let us hope we all are successful, then the country will surely succeed. +So friends lots of good wishes to you all. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the protocol amending the Agreement between India and Kyrgyz Republic for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. +The Protocol amending Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) aims to update Article 26 (Exchange of Information) of the DTAA to international standards. +The Protocol further empowers India to use information received under the DTAA to be used for other law enforcement purposes on the supplying State authorizing such use. +The existing DTAA between India and Kyrgyz Republic was notified on 7/02/2001 and the same was in force since 10/01/2001. +A Protocol amending DTAA between India and Kyrgyz Republic for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income has been agreed to be signed between the two countries. +What moves me today, is your electrifying presence, full of excitement and enthusiasm for this important international sports event on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra. +Guwahati has come a long way since the days of Pragjyotishpur in Ancient India. +It is now a modern and vibrant city and a hub of all economic activities in the North-Eastern Region of India. +Young people in the North-East and especially here in Assam do not miss any opportunity to witness a good football match. +This fame has spread so far and wide that the FIFA World Cup Under-17 which will be hosted first time in India in 2017 has chosen Guwahati as a prime venue for the event. +Among us is the best and most youthful talent from across South Asia. +And, at the same time this meet also celebrates togetherness of all South Asian nations. +Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – no matter which country we are from, we all call South Asia our home. +Sports has to be an essential part of an individual’s life. +A good game is both healthy and refreshing. +All round development of the personality is incomplete without sports. +Most importantly, sports brings with it the most vital sportsman spirit. +Without sports, there cannot be any sportsman spirit. +This sportsman spirit will not only help you on the field but also in other aspects of your life. +You will cherish whatever you learn on the sports field for your entire life. +The mascot of these games ‘TIKHOR‘represents a baby rhino who is sharp and intelligent. +It captures the spirit of sports persons and young sport lovers. +The theme song of the games is “Ei prithivi ekhan krirangan, krira hol shantir prangan” sung by legendary late Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. +A singer whose captivating voice left people spellbound; his song beautifully captures the spirit of South Asian Games, the spirit of peace, friendship and prosperity. +I have been told by Shri Sarbananda Sonowalji that the Organizing Committee for the Games has brought waters from each of the eight SAARC countries and these waters will be merged to signify shared aspirations and cooperative spirit amongst the SAARC Nations. +Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s song “We are in the same boat brother” which you are going to hear soon is all about SAARC Nations. +We should join hands together as a family. +Let us kindle this spirit of friendship through sports in South Asian Games. +My vision for South Asia is the same as my vision for India – Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. +All South Asian countries are partners in our journey towards development. +We the people living in SAARC countries comprise 21 per cent of the world’s population and contribute about 9 per cent to its economy. +As we gather today to commence the 12th South Asian Games, for 23 sporting events covering both men and women, we bring sports-persons from all SAARC countries to India’s North-East and to this great city in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. +I am sure that as the Games proceed, this feeling of friendship trust and understanding will convert itself not only into sporting opportunities but also into business and tourism opportunities as well. +Let these Games become a spring board for bringing peace and prosperity in the region through business, interaction and sporting activities. +Let this be an opportunity for SAARC people to realize their potential. +Sportsmanship is a philosophy of life harmonizing in a balanced whole the qualities of endurance, will and mind. +The challenge for performance, the joy of effort, the cheer of success, the spirit of friendship and fairplay in a sports arena speak volumes about how culture, education, ethics, dignity and society get intertwined with each other during such sports events. +On the sports field, we can forget what separates us, and we can truly connect with each other in the spirit of sportsmanship and adventure. +We can celebrate our diversity, and at the same time, be united under common rules for our sports, and the shared values of honesty and fair play. +The friendships you would form over these 12 days, and the memories you take back will last you a lifetime. +I am confident that you will cherish these bonds, and become Ambassadors for peace and friendship between our nations. +While people play for medals and provide tough competition to each other, I urge the sports-persons and visitors here to take time from their busy schedules to visit the places of tourism attraction and wonderful wildlife sanctuaries nearby. +Once again I welcome our friends from SAARC countries. +Let the spirit of ‘Gurukul’ prevail for two weeks in Guwahati as sportspersons share with each other their best and take back great feeling of warmth and remarkable experience. +Let the competition be in true sports man spirit. +“Commitment to peace is ingrained in the DNA of Indian society. +This commitment is far above international treaties or processes.” +“Like a lamp in the dark, India and Japan should focus on shared values of democracy, development and peace.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has said that commitment to peace and non-violence is ingrained in the DNA of the Indian society. +He was responding to questions from students after delivering a special lecture at the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo. +In reply to a question on how India could enhance the confidence of the international community as a non-NPT state, the Prime Minister said this commitment to peace that was intrinsic to Indian society, has significance far above any international treaties or processes. +For thousands of years, India has believed in the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the whole world is our family, Shri Narendra Modi said. +When we consider the whole world as our family, how can we even think of doing anything that would harm or hurt anyone, he said. +In response to another question, the Prime Minister called for India and Japan to focus on shared values of democracy, development, and peace, saying this effort would be similar to lighting a lamp in the dark. +Illustrating his point, the Prime Minister said an intelligent person would fight darkness in a room not with a broom, sword or blanket, but with a small diya (earthen lamp). +“If we light a lamp, we need not be scared of darkness,” the Prime Minister said. +Replying to a question on environment, the Prime Minister said India had, for centuries, a tradition of dialogue (sanvaad) with nature. +He asked the assembled students if they felt “climate change” was a correct terminology. +He said that human beings had actually changed their “habits” leading to strife with nature. +This strife with nature had caused problems, the Prime Minister said. +He referred to a book – “Convenient Action” – that he had written on the subject, and invited students to read it online, if they were interested. +Earlier, addressing the students at this all-women University, the Prime Minister said that if we have to understand different societies across the world, two things are important – their education system and their art and culture, which is why he had come to their University. +Referring to the position held by women in Indian tradition and culture, he said that India had the concept of Goddesses, unlike most parts of the world, where God is usually referred to only as a Father. +He also mentioned initiatives he had taken for education of the girl child while he was Chief Minister of Gujarat. +The Union Cabinet expressed profound sorrow at the sad demise of Shri Ananthkumar, Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs who passed away at 0150 Hrs. on 12.11.2018 in Bengaluru. +In a Resolution passed at a special Cabinet Meeting, the Cabinet noted that in his passing away, the Nation has lost an experienced leader. +The Cabinet met today under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and extended its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of the Government and the entire nation. +The Cabinet observed two-minute silence in his memory and passed a condolence resolution. +The text of resolution is as follows: +“Shri Ananthkumar was born on 22nd July, 1959 in Bengaluru. +He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in English literature from Karnataka University in Hubballi and LLB Degree from JSS Law College, Karnataka University. +Shri Anantkumar started his public activities as a student activist. +Subsequently, he became a member of the BJP and was the Organising Secretary of the Party’s Karnataka Unit. +Later on, he became the President of the Party in Karnataka. +It was under his stewardship that Party expanded in the State of Karnataka and eventually formed the Government of its own. +In 1996, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bengaluru South for the first time. +In his subsequent term as an MP in 1998, he became the youngest minister in the Vajpayee Cabinet and was appointed the Minister for Civil Aviation. +He continued to represent the prestigious Bengaluru South Lok Sabha Constituency till date, for the 6th time. +The Cabinet places on record its appreciation of Shri Ananthkumar’s services to the Nation in different capacities. +The Cabinet also expresses its deep sense of grief on his death. +In his untimely demise, the Nation has lost an experienced leader. +On behalf of the entire Nation, the Cabinet extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family”. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Gujarat on September 30, 2018. +At Anand, the Prime Minister will inaugurate modern food processing facilities, including Amul’s ultra-modern Chocolate Plant. +The Prime Minister will also inaugurate Anand Agricultural University’s Incubation Centre cum Centre of Excellence in Food Processing, and a Solar Cooperative Society at Mujhkuva village. +The Prime Minister will lay the Foundation Stone for the expansion of Amul manufacturing facilities at Anand and Khatraj. +He will address the gathering. +The Prime Minister will then travel to Anjar. +He will inaugurate the Mundra LNG terminal, the Anjar-Mundra Pipeline Project and the Palanpur-Pali-Barmer pipeline project. +The Prime Minister shall then arrive in Rajkot. +He will inaugurate the Mahatma Gandhi Museum. +The Museum has been set up at the Alfred High School in Rajkot, which was an important part of the formative years of Mahatma Gandhi. +It will help spread awareness about Gandhian culture, values and philosophy. +The Prime Minister will also unveil a plaque to mark the inauguration of a public housing project of 624 houses. +He will witness the e-Gruh Pravesh of 240 beneficiary families. +The Prime Minister will visit the Mahatma Gandhi Museum, before returning to New Delhi. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today invoked the great poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar to call for an end to caste-based politics. +The Prime Minister said that for India to progress, it is essential for eastern India, including Bihar, to progress and catch up with the western part of India. +He was speaking at a function in New Delhi, to mark the golden jubilee of two of Dinkar’s great works: “Sanskriti ke chaar adhyaay,” and “Parshuram ki pratiksha.” +The Prime Minister recalled a letter written by Shri Ramdhari Singh Dinkar in 1961, in which the poet emphasized that his native state of Bihar must forget caste-based divisions, and work towards a merit-based society. +In the letter, Dinkar further said that if the people of Bihar do not rise above caste, public life in the state will decay. +The Prime Minister described “Rashtrakavi” Dinkar as a great visionary. +He said Dinkar’s poems, which were once memorized by thousands, assimilated India’s heritage and culture, and were the best way to understand the essence of India. +Shri Narendra Modi also added that there are very few creations, which stand the scrutiny of time, the way Dinkar’s writing has. +He said Dinkar wanted to light a path, and show the way forward for society, through his writings. +The Prime Minister said Dinkar’s works have continued to provide the inspiration to achieve and progress, to generations of Indians. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the consumer urging him to embrace digital transactions on World Consumer Rights Day. +“On World Consumer Rights Day we salute the consumer, on whose purchasing power the growth of our economy rests. +Government of India is at the forefront of several initiatives that protect the rights of the consumer and ensure their grievances are solved. +This World Consumer Rights Day, I urge consumers to embrace digital transactions and join the movement to end corruption and black money,” the Prime Minister said. +Growth and development of a country are linked with Greenhouse Gas emissions. +While combating the ill-effects of climate change, the development space for India and developing countries needs to be preserved. +The approach outlined in the note enables the achievement of this goal and also seeks to address the adaptation needs of the country. +The Prime Minister later launched the “Gramoday se Bharat Uday” Abhiyan at a Public Meeting in Mhow. +The Prime Minister said it was his privilege to be in Mhow on this auspicious day. +He recalled that Dr. Ambedkar had fought against injustice in society. +His was a fight for equality and dignity, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that the Gramoday to Bharat Uday Abhiyan from 14th to 24th April, 2016 would focus attention on the development work to be done in villages. +He said this year’s Union Budget is dedicated to farmers and villages. +He said development initiatives should be focused on rural development. +He said digital connectivity is essential in villages. +The Prime Minister mentioned the objective of doubling farmers’ incomes, and said purchasing power of rural people has to increase as this will power India’s economy. +He said Panchayati Raj institutions should be made stronger and more vibrant. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for financial restructuring of Hindustan Steel Works Construction Limited (HSCL). +The paid up equity capital of the company will become 1619.3 crore. +Against this, the accumulated losses of Rs.1585 crore, as on 31.3.2015, will set off. +After writing off of the accumulated losses, the equity and paid up capital of HSCL will become Rs. 34.3 crore. +NBCC will infuse funds of Rs. 35.7 crore as equity into HSCL. +HSCL will become subsidiary of NBCC with NBCC holding 51% equity holding. +The shareholding of Government of India in HSCL will be reduced to 49%. +The equity and paid up capital of HSCL will become Rs.70 crore. +NBCC and HSCL are Government of India enterprises with similar lines of business activities. +The decision will benefit in economies of scale for NBCC and would assist in better manpower utilization. +NBCC and HSCL will benefit from each other’s resources and expertise. +HSCL will be able to fulfill its commitments of execution of projects and the orders. +Government of India will provide one-time support of Rs.200 crore for settling term loans availed from commercial banks. +It will also bear the contingent liability of Rs.110 crore (approximately) as decided by the Supreme Court in compensation for VRS liabilities. +In addition, Government of India will also pay the outstanding interest on the bank loans for the financial year 2015-16 amounting to Rs. 44 crore approximately (till 31.03.2016) and the amount of interest up to the date of takeover of HSCL by NBCC. +HSCL was established in the year 1964 for construction of modern integrated steel plants. +Over the years the company has diversified into other civil infrastructure construction projects. +HSCL started incurring losses since 1978-79 mainly due to absorption of large workforce of several PSUs and private companies increasing the workforce from 4,100 in 1970 to 26,537 in 1979. +The revival package for HSCL approved by Government of India in 1999 and further attempts for financial restructuring the company were not successful. +The Committee of Secretaries recommended in July, 2015 that Ministry of Steel may explore the possibility of merger/takeover of HSCL by another CPSE in a related sector. +A Group of Secretaries (GoS) was constituted to prepare a Paper on way forward for HSCL. +On the recommendations of the GoS, and the subsequent consensus, a Cabinet Note was prepared for financial restructuring of HSCL and its takeover by NBCC. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the between India and Angola for promoting bilateral cooperation in the field of Electronics and Information Technology. +The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation in the areas of e-Governance, HRD for IT education, Information Security, Electronics Hardware manufacturing, IT embedded Software industry, Telemedicine etc. +The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has been mandated to promote international cooperation in the emerging and frontier areas of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) under bilateral and regional framework of cooperation. +MeitY has entered into MoUs/Agreements with counterpart organizations/ agencies of various countries to promote close cooperation and exchange of information in the area of ICT. +To further enhance cooperation with various countries, particularly in view of the new initiatives taken by Government of India like “Digital India”, “Make in India” etc., there is an increased need for exploring business opportunities in the technology sector which are of interest. +MeitY negotiated a comprehensive MoU for a focussed cooperation in ICT areas such as in e-Governance, HRD for IT education, Information Security, Electronics Hardware manufacturing, IT embedded Software industry, Telemedicine etc. +After negotiations the draft MoU was finalised and signed during the visit of Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs Mr. M.J. Akbar on behalf of MeitY, Government of India and Mr. Domingos Custodio Vieira Lopes, Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Angolan Communities, on behalf of Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology, Government of Angola. +Honourable Ministers and Excellencies from various countries, representatives and delegates from partner countries, corporate leaders, invitees, participants and delegates, dignitaries on the dais, young friends, Ladies & Gentlemen! +I am delighted to welcome you to the 9th Chapter of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. +As you can see,this has now become a truly global event. +It has the gravitas of Institutions and opinion makers, andit has the vitality of young enterprise and start-ups. +Vibrant Gujarat has contributed to the confidence building of our enterprises. +It has also helped in capacity building and adoption of global best practices, by government agencies. +Amid the busy schedule of this Summit, I hope you shall be able to take some time out to enjoy the sights and sounds of the festivities, and the State. +I particularly welcome and thank the 15 Partner Countriesof this edition of Vibrant Gujarat. +A number of conventions and seminarshave been organised on various topics. +This shows that international bilateral cooperation is no longer limited to national capitals, but now extends to our State capitals as well. +In India,as in most emerging economies, our challenge is to grow horizontally as well as vertically. +Horizontally,we have to spread the benefits of development to regions and communities that have lagged behind. +We have taken a number of drasticsteps. +We have also undertaken deeper structural reforms which have added strengthto our economy and nation. +As we have done so, we continued to remain one of the fastest growing major Economies in the world. +Major international Financial Institutionslike the World Bank and the IMFas well as agencies like Moody’s have expressed confidence in India’s economic journey. +We have focused on removing the barrierswhich were preventing us from achieving our full potential. +India is now ready for business as never before. +We have made Doing Business Easier. +In the last four years, we have jumped 65places in the Global Ranking of World Bank’s Doing Business Report. +From 142 in 2014 to 77 now, butwe are still not satisfied. +We have also made Doing Business Faster through digital processes, online transactions and single point inter-faces. +In FDI Foreign Direct Investment, we are one of the most open countries now. +Most of the sectors of our economy are now only open for FDI. +More than 90 percent approvals have been put on automatic route. +Such measures have propelled our economy into a high growth path. +In the last four years, we have received FDI worth 263 billion Dollars. +We are insisting on IT based transactions in procurement and purchases of Government. +Digital payments including direct transfer of government benefits is now under full implementation. +We are among the largest eco-systems in the world for start-ups and a number of them have come up in the field of technology. +I can therefore safely say that doing business with us is a great opportunity. +This is also because we are among the top 10 FDI destinations listed by UNCTAD. +We have a world class engineering education base and strong Research and Development facilities. +Rise in GDP, a rising middle class and their purchasing power is creating further growth in our huge domestic market. +In the last two years,we have moved towards a low tax regimeon the corporate side. +Thus, from the start of business to its operation and closure, we have paid attention in building new institutions, processesand procedures. +All this is important, not just for doing business but also for ease of life of our people. +We also understand that being a young nation, we need to create job opportunities and better infrastructure. +Both are linked with investments. +Therefore, in recent years, there has been unprecedented focus on manufacturing and infrastructure. +We have worked hard to promote manufacturing to create jobs for our youth. +Investments through our “Make in India” initiative, have been well supported by programmes like ‘Digital India’ and ‘Skill India’. +Our focus also includes bringing our industrial infrastructure, policies and practices to best global standards and to convert India into a global manufacturing hub. +We have committed to the world to work towards reducing the effects of climate change. +On the energy front, we are now the fifth largest producer of renewable energy in the world. +We are fourth largest in Wind Energyand fifth largest producer of Solar Energy. +We are keen to scale up investments in next generation infrastructureincluding roads, ports, railways, airports, telecom, digital networks and energy. +We are also investing heavily in our social, industrial and agri-infrastructure to give better income and quality of life to our people. +We have distributed LED Bulbs on a massive scale. +Our speed in road construction has almost doubled. +We have done unprecedented capacity addition in major ports. +Rural road connectivity is now 90 %. +The speed of setting up new rail lines, gauge conversion, doubling and electrification of railway tracks has also doubled. +We believe that fruits of development must reach people with ease and efficiency. +We are giving loans to small enterprises without collateral. +We now have electricity in every village. +We also have electricityin almost all households now. +We have given cooking gas to large numbers of people who were not able to afford it so far. +We have ensured that there is proper sanitation in all areas – both urban and rural. +We are working towards full coverage of toilets for householdsand their proper use. +We were among the highest growing tourist destinationsin the world in 2017. +Thusa New India is emergingwhich will be modern and competitiveand yet caring and compassionate. +Ayushman Bharat will provide immense investment opportunitiesin the areas of health infrastructure, medical equipment manufacturing, and healthcare services. +We have to build 50 million houses. +The requirement of road, rail and waterways is enormous. +We want world-classtechnologies to achieve our goal in a faster and cleaner way. +We are continuously workingto improve the investment climate further and make ourselves more and more competitive. +Thank you very much. +Thanks a lot. +The Prime Minister reviewed the complaints and grievances from people relating to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and directed all concerned officials to expedite their redressal. +Reviewing the Char-Dham road connectivity improvement project in Uttarakhand, the Prime Minister called for expediting the work at the earliest. +Shri Narendra Modi took stock of the comprehensive redevelopment projects of Railway Stations. +He suggested to all Chief Secretaries to work towards at least one such redevelopment project in each State. +He said such redeveloped railway stations would become iconic structures and centres of economic activity. +The Prime Minister reviewed the scheme for upgradation of campuses of National Institutes of Fashion Technology (NIFTs), and for setting up of grid connected solar power projects in Government organizations, CPSUs and Ordinance Factories. +He asked all Chief Secretaries to work towards speedy implementation of solar power projects in their respective States. +The Prime Minister reviewed the programme for elimination of Kala Azar, and called for all efforts to eradicate this disease at the earliest. +He also reviewed “Mission Indradhanush,” and emphasized the need for an organized and aggressive action plan to cover all children for immunization in a specific time-frame. +The awardees were selected by a jury headed by the Prime Minister and includes Chief Justice of India Justice Ranjan Gogoi, former Chief Election Commissioner Shri N Gopalaswami and the President of Indian Council for Cultural Relations Shri Vinay Sahasrabuddhe. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said that culture is the lifeblood of any nation as it gives identity to it. +He said, “India’s rich cultural heritage was preserved in the face of colonisation and foreign invasion.” +This was possible due to the contribution of people like Gurudev Tagore and Swami Vivekananda, he added. +PM said that India’s multi-dimensional heritage was well reflected in the works of Gurudev. +Rabindra Sangeet has all the colours of our country and it is not bound by a language. +He called Tagore’s teachings timeless and said that the world stands to learn a great deal from his works. +“He recognised the folk arts and traditional dances as indicative of Indian culture,” PM said. +Exponent of Manipuri dance Shri Rajkumar Singhajit Singh was given the award for the year 2014. +Chhayanaut, a cultural organization of Bangladesh was given the award for 2015 for its role in the promotion of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s works and Bangla arts. +Renowned sculptor and scholar Shri Ram Vanji Sutar was given the award for 2016. +Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony was instituted by the Government from 2012 during the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Thursday reviewed progress of key infrastructure sectors including PMGSY, housing, coal and power. +The review meeting, which lasted for about two and a half hours, was attended by top officials from PMO, NITI Aayog and infrastructure Ministries of the Government of India. +In course of the presentation made by CEO NITI Aayog, it was noted that remarkable progress has been made in several areas. +Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, 81 per cent of the targeted habitations numbering about 1.45 lakh have so far been connected. +Officials said progress is being made towards connecting all the remaining unconnected habitations within a defined timeframe. +The Prime Minister observed that resources available for this work should be used optimally throughout the year. +He also hoped that the advancement of the Union Budget date would lead to further improvement in performance. +The Prime Minister was informed of the expeditious resolution of complaints received on the Meri Sadak App. +He called for detailed analysis of the complaints, so that timely remedial measures are initiated wherever required. +Reviewing progress towards the roadmap to deliver 1 crore houses in the rural areas by 2019, the Prime Minister said that the positive impact of housing on the lives of the beneficiaries should be suitably examined, and the focus should be on improving their quality of life. +Reviewing the coal sector, the Prime Minister called for renewed efforts towards underground mining and coal gasification, through infusion of latest technology inputs. +The Prime Minister was also informed about progressing towards the targets for rural electrification and household electrification +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President of Uzbekistan H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the “Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit-2019” on 18 January. +During their meeting, Prime Minister extended a warm welcome to President Mirziyoyev and his delegation to Gujarat. +Recalling their last meeting during the State Visit of President Mirziyoyev to India held on 30 September-1 October, 2018, Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction on progress and implementation of various decisions taken during the State Visit. +Referring to the MoU on cooperation between Gujarat and the Andijan region of Uzbekistan signed during the State Visit, Prime Minister noted the presence of the Governor of Andijan region in the Uzbek delegation and expressed hope that as a result of President Mirziyoyev’s visit, relationship between Uzbekistan and India and region-to-region cooperation between Andijan and Gujarat would be further strengthened. +President Mirziyoyev congratulated Prime Minister on the successful outcome of the First India-Central Asia Dialogue which demonstrated India’s positive impact on the Central Asia region and the joint quest of the participant countries for peace in Afghanistan. +Both leaders witnessed the exchange of the contract between the Department of Atomic Energy of India and the Novoi Minerals and Metallurgical Company of the Republic of Uzbekistan on long-term supply of Uranium Ore Concentrate for India’s energy requirements. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the opening of 18 new Indian Missions in Africa over a four year period from 2018-2021. +The decision will enhance India’s diplomatic outreach in the African continent and allow India to engage with Indian diaspora in African countries. +Opening of new Missions is also a step towards implementing the vision of enhanced co-operation and engagement with Africa. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, was apprised about an MoU signed in May, 2018 between India and Brazil. +The broad areas of collaboration are: +Biomedicine and health, especially biotech based products +Agriculture breeding practices +Biofuel and bio-energy +Nanotechnology and Bioinstrumentation +Biodiversity and Taxonomy +Your Excellency, President U Thein Sein, I am grateful to you for organising this Summit and chairing the session with great statesmanship. +Under your leadership, Myanmar is playing an important role in the region and it has also benefited India-ASEAN relations. +I am grateful to each of you for your views. +They have further reinforced my confidence in the India-ASEAN Strategic Partnership. +Above all, like good friends, you all wish to see a successful and prosperous India. +I want to make a few points now. +There are many similarities and convergences between us. +India and ASEAN are second and third in terms of population. +We have the strength and the potential of a young population. +In India, 800 million people below the age of 35 years constitute a huge opportunity. +We have embarked on a new economic journey in India. +We are emphasizing infrastructure, manufacturing, trade, agriculture, skill development, urban renewal, smart cities. +Make in India is a new mission. +We are placing as much emphasis on ease of doing business in India as we are on making policies attractive. +I invite you to this new environment in India. +Indian companies are also keep to invest in and trade with ASEAN. +I also assure you that there will be major improvement our trade policy and environment. +We will also move ahead with connectivity projects with ASEAN with speed. +Many of you have spoken about the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. +It can be a springboard for economic integration and prosperity in the region. +However, we should aim for a balanced Agreement, which is beneficial to all; and, is truly comprehensive in nature, by equally ambitious agenda with similar timelines for goods and services. +To deepen our connectivity, I am considering establishing, with your cooperation, a special facility or special purpose vehicle to facilitate project financing and quick implementation. +However, in this age, more than physical connectivity, we need Information Highways or i-ways. +My experience is that even where road connectivity is poor, we can create vast economic opportunities and employment through i-ways. +India is prepared to provide all assistance and cooperation in this area. +ASEAN and India have large cities and are experiencing urbanization at a rapid pace. +This is both a challenge and opportunity. +Come and participate in building India`s 100 smart cities and renewal of 500 cities. +Science and technology and education are important areas of cooperation. +We should think ambitiously of what we can do in Renewal Energy and Energy efficiency. +Let us think of a major ASEAN India Solar Project for research, manufacturing and deployment. +Space science can give us benefit in many sectors. +We should quickly establish the new India-ASEAN Space-related Ground Station in Vietnam and start the project for upgrading the existing station in Indonesia. +As neighbours, India and ASEAN can gain a lot from cooperation in the disaster risk reduction, response and management. +India is prepared to offer full assistance in capacity building, coordination and response in the region. +We should further enhance our cooperation in health, including traditional medicine, climate change and environment and forests. +Agriculture and food security is another area where I see great potential for cooperation, as some of you have mentioned. +We should move quickly towards mutual Recognition of Degrees. +Skill development is essential for creating employment opportunities for our youth and for our economic development. +We should collaborate by sharing our respective areas expertise in skill development. +I personally lay great emphasis on people-to-people contacts. +I would like to see increased contacts between students, youth, teachers, parliamentarians, diplomats, media, farmers, artists and experts. +Tourism has not grown the way it should. +Today, of course, ASEAN region is the most popular destination for Indian tourists. +I want to see further increase in ASEAN tourists in India. +In this, the Buddhist circuit represents a vast opportunity. +Excellencies, we pay a lot of attention to economic prosperity and protecting our environment. +Do we pay the same attention to the security and safety of our youth? +Excellencies, Asia’s future is bright, but it also faces many challenges. +Our progress and prosperity depends on peace and stability in the region. +Globalisation is a fact of life. +We are all affected by it and we have all benefited from it. +And, in this world, maritime trade and passage, and therefore, maritime security has become even more important. +We all have the responsibility that we all follow international law and norms on maritime issues, as we do in the realm of air passage. +In future, we will also need this in space. +For peace and stability in South China Sea, everyone should follow international norms and law. +This includes the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. +We also hope that you will be able to successfully implement the Guidelines to the 2002 Declaration on Conduct and that the Code of Conduct on South China Sea can be concluded soon on the basis of consensus. +Finally, I would like to say that it is a great privilege to meet all of you here. +This has doubled my confidence and enthusiasm about our relations with ASEAN. +I assure you of my sustained personal attention to relations with ASEAN so that we can meet our high expectations from this relationship. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released the digital version of Ramcharitmanas, as a set of digital CDs produced by All India Radio. +Praising the efforts of the artistes who had contributed to this musical production, the Prime Minister said they had performed not just sangeet sadhna, but also sanskriti sadhna and sanskaar sadhna (devotion not just to music, but also to culture and tradition). +The Prime Minister described the Ramcharitmanas as a great epic which contained the “essence of India.” +He mentioned how the Indians who had travelled to various parts of the world, such as Mauritius, kept alive their link with India over successive generations, through the Ramcharitmanas. +The Prime Minister appreciated the role played by All India Radio – Akashvani – in uniting the people and spreading awareness and information in India. +He said that he has been informed that All India Radio has approximately 9 lakh hours of audio recordings of various artistes from across the country. +He said this was a priceless collection, which should be documented in detail for posterity. +The Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Arun Jaitley, and the Chairman Prasar Bharati Board Shri Suryaprakash were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives in the attack in Paris. +“News from Paris is anguishing and dreadful. +Prayers with families of the deceased. +We are united with people of France in this tragic hour”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia on his birth anniversary. +Among many other things, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia’s commitment towards cleanliness continues to inspire us,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on the occasion of the auspicious festival of Onam, has expressed solidarity with the people of Kerala. +“May this Onam give further strength to the people of Kerala to overcome the adversities they have been facing for the past few days. +The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with Kerala and prays for the happiness as well as prosperity of it’s citizens”, the Prime Minister said. +I commend the G20 for its successful efforts to build a more resilient and open global financial system. +It is an essential foundation of growth and stability in the global economy. +In India, Government and the Central Bank, are taking steps to further strengthen the financial and banking sector. +As we work on this important issue in G20, I wish to highlight a few points. +We should bear in mind that higher capital requirements should not become a constraint on promoting financial inclusion or functioning of the banking sector in developing countries. +Indeed, effective supervision and better use of technology can reduce capital requirements. +Cyber security is important for the protection of the banking infrastructure. +IMF should remain a quota based institution and not depend on borrowed resources. +I hope that the ratification of the reforms of 2010 in the United States would be completed at the earliest. +I congratulate the Turkish Presidency for delivering the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting package for our endorsement within the agreed timeframe. +I also welcome the Automatic Exchange of Information initiative, and look forward to collective action to implement it. +In India, my Government has zero tolerance on corruption and black money. +We have enacted a new law to deal with undisclosed assets and income kept abroad. +We have also entered into a number of bilateral tax treaties. +We have also launched an effective drive against domestic unaccounted money. +We will soon bring out a legislation on public procurement. +To strengthen international efforts, all countries should implement the Common Reporting Standard based on Automatic Exchange of Tax Information. +G20 must continue to give priority on combating corruption. +I welcome the promotion of transparency and integrity in the private sector. +We need greater international cooperation for return of illicit money to the country of origin. +We must address the barriers of excessive banking secrecy, and complex legal and regulatory frameworks. +We must also deepen cooperation against terrorism financing, including through targeted financial sanctions and more effective counter-terrorism financing tools. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO on successful launch of GSAT-11. +“A major milestone for our space programme, which will transform the lives of crores of Indians by connecting remote areas! +Congrats to ISRO for the successful launch of GSAT-11, which is the heaviest, largest and most-advanced high throughput communication satellite of India. +India is proud of our scientists, who keep innovating and setting high standards of scale, achievements and success. +Their remarkable work inspires every Indian,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised about an Memorandum of Understanding which has already been signed between India and Armenia for cooperation on youth matters. +The MoU was signed in April, 2017. +This MoU shall remain in force for a period of five years. +Thereafter, the MoU will be automatically renewed for successive periods of five years, unless either Party notifies the other Party of its intention of not to renew the MoU, at least six months before its expiration. +It can be terminated by either Party after giving six months’ prior notice in writing to the other Party. +The objective of the MoU is to strengthen and encourage cooperation between the two countries on youth matters through participation in events and activities organized by the parties, information and knowledge sharing, and youth exchanges between the two countries. +The areas of cooperation on Youth matters includes exchanges of youth, representatives of youth organizations, and government officials in-charge of youth policy-making. +It will also be applicable for extension of invitations to international conferences and seminars on youth matters held in the two countries, exchange of printed materials, films and experiences. +The cooperation will also be in areas of research and other information on youth matters, participation in youth camps, youth festivals and other youth events held in the two countries, etc. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Mahatma Phule on his birth anniversary. +“Tributes to Mahatma Phule on his Jayanti. +His pioneering and relentless emphasis on social reform greatly helped the marginalised. +He was unwavering in his commitment towards improving the condition of women and furthering education among the youth”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for building of the GSAT-17. +This is a communication satellite, weighing about 3425 Kg, for providing replacement capacity and in-orbit back up. +The GSAT-17 spacecraft project will require a total budget of Rs.1013.20 crore including launch services. +All heritage proven bus system will be used to build the satellite in a period of 30 months. +The GSAT-17 will provide replacement capacity in different frequency bands and protect operational services. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed Destination Uttarakhand: Investors’ Summit 2018, in Dehradun. +He said India is going through a period of rapid transformation. +He said it is widely accepted that India will be a major engine of world growth in the coming decades. +He said the speed and scale of economic reform in India is unprecedented. +In this context, he mentioned that India had improved by 42 ranks in the Ease of Doing Business rankings. +The Prime Minister spoke of the reforms initiated in taxation. +He said the Insolvency and Bankrupty Code has made doing business easier. +The Prime Minister said that the implementation of GST is the biggest tax reform since independence. +He added that this has transformed the country into a single market, and has helped increase the tax base. +The Prime Minister said that the infrastructure sector is progressing rapidly. +He spoke of the fast pace of road construction, railway line construction, new metro systems, high speed rail project, and dedicated freight corridors. +The Prime Minister also mentioned the progress made in the aviation sector, and in providing housing, power, clean fuel, health and banking services to the people. +He said the recently launched Ayushman Bharat scheme will spur the development of medical infrastructure in the tier 2 and tier 3 cities. +The Prime Minister said that New India is a great destination for investment, and “Destination Uttarakhand” represents this spirit. +He spoke of the measures taken for investor facilitation in the State. +He also spoke of the progress made in initiatives being taken for improving connectivity in the State, including the Char-Dham all weather road project, and the Rishikesh-Karnprayag Railway line project. +The Prime Minister spoke of the State’s immense potential in the tourism sector. +The Prime Minister spoke of initiatives being taken in the food processing and renewable energy sectors. +He also mentioned the achievements of the “Make in India” initiative. +Her Excellency, Dr. Angela Merkel, Leaders from Global Business Community, Ladies and Gentlemen! +It is a great pleasure to meet you all. +It is an added pleasure to talk to you in the presence of an enlightened leader like Chancellor Merkel. +In fact, I do not miss any opportunity of meeting her. +I particularly recall my interactions during my visit to Hannover Fair in April 2015. +India was Partner Country in that fair. +This was followed by Chancellor Merkel’s visit to India in October 2015. +Together, we have had several rounds of discussion with German and Indian CEOs. +Today again, I can see lot of energy and enthusiasm in this hall. +I can also see a number of Indian CEOs present here. +Germany is among India’s most important partners both bilaterally and in the global context. +I am very happy to see participation of German companies in India’s growth story. +It is equally heartening to see that Indian companies have also made their presence felt in Germany. +Germany ranks 7th among foreign investor countries in India. +Major sectors attracting FDI inflows from Germany are engineering, chemicals and services. +About 600 Indo-German joint ventures are presently operating in India. +They provide employment to around two hundred thousand people. +However, there is tremendous further potential in India-Germany economic collaboration. +Our economic partnership is still below its full potential. +To enhance this, we, in India, are ready with open arms to welcome German companies. +With a view to help the German companies, we have put in place a Fast Track Mechanism. +A number of issues have already been resolved through this mechanism. +We are doing it sincerely because we value German participation a lot. +We are on the path of making India a global manufacturing hub. +Already a good eco-system exists in India for manufacturing. +India already offers: A globally cost competitive manufacturing eco-system; +Due to these strengths, as said by UNIDO, India is already the 6th largest manufacturing nation in the world. +To make it better, we are working hard on various enablers. +Through our ‘Make in India’ initiative, we are committed to transform India as a major player in the global value chain. +Prime motive is creation of jobs and narrowing the gap between affluent and lower sections of society. +Make in India has already created a strong impact. +Germany is contributing in a big way in the success of Make in India. +Particularly, India’s participation as Partner country in the Hannover Fair has given a big boost to Indo-German partnership. +During the Hannover Messe, specific areas for collaboration were mutually identified. +This included manufacturing, skill development, railways, cleaning of rivers, renewable energy, education, science and technology. +In addition, we are also implementing a strategic market entry support Programme, since September 2015. +It is called MIIM (Make in India Mittelstand). +This is mainly to assist German Mittelstand Companies in entering the Indian Market. +The MIIM Programme has been offering a wide range of business support Services. +The initiative has resulted in growing interest of German companies in India. +The outcomes are that in this short period: +83 companies expressed interest to join the program; +73 Companies have enrolled as official members; +This is for advanced training of business executives especially from Indian SMEs. +The program has resulted in: +In addition, there is a good weather already existing. +Some examples are that: +Bosch, Siemens, BASF and SAP have started specific R&D operations exclusively in India +Mercedes Benz India inaugurated its second manufacturing facility in Chakan in July 2015. +This will double the plant capacity to 20,000 units per annum. +For our efforts, we have also received good global recognition. +I would like to mention some of them. +India remains a bright spot in the subdued economic landscape across the world; +India has emerged as the fastest growing major economy the last three years with GDP growth rate of over 7%; +We have moved up 32 places in last two years in the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum- this is highest for any country; +India also moved up 19 places on the Logistics Performance Index of 2016 of World Bank; +We have also moved up 16 places on the Global Innovation Index of WIPO in 2016. +We are 3rd among the top 10 FDI destinations listed by UNCTAD; +These are just a few examples. +Our emphasis has been on reducing Govevrnment and enhancing Governance. +I would give some examples: +We are moving fast towards becoming a Digital Economy; +GST is among the most Historic reforms India has ever done- and it is going to be implemented from the next month; +In the last two years, we have moved towards a low tax regime both on personal as well as corporate side; +We have lowered the corporate tax from 30% to 25 % particularly for new investments and smaller ventures; +New laws and institutions for Bankruptcy and Insolvency as well as IPR and Arbitration are now in place; +More than seven thousand reforms have been implemented on the front of Ease of doing business; +36 white industries have been taken out from the requirement of environmental clearance; +Similarly, more than 50 items have been taken out of defence list; +Validity period of industrial licenses has been increased upto fifteen years; +Custom clearance has been made 24X7 at 19 ports and 17 air cargo complexes; +Incorporating a company along with allotment of DIN, PAN, TAN and the CIN is now just one day affair; +Power connection is provided within a time frame of 15 days; +India’s ranking is now up by 111 places on ‘Getting Electricity’ parameter of World Bank. +The above examples are in addition to thousands of reforms done by the states. +Here, I am mentioning about some states but due to a sense of competition, the trend of reforms is spreading fast to all the states. +Reforms include – +100% implementation of single window system for payments & approvals in 16 states; +100% implementation of e-filing of tax returns in 13 states; +Automated online building plan approval in 13 states; +E-filing system for commercial disputes have been implemented in 11 states; +Specialized Commercial Courts have been established at District level in 13 states; +Now, India has one of the most liberal FDI Policy regimes in the world. +More than 90% of the foreign investment flows are under automatic route. +Last week we formally decided to abolish the Foreign Investment Promotion Board which was made in 1990s to examine the FDI proposals. +The idea is to expand the engagement of overseas investors in the Indian economy. +Due to this approach, Our FDI Outlook has been ranked highly positive by various International Agencies. +There has also been tremendous growth in the FDI inflows in the last 3 years and has now reached to 60 billion US Dollars in 2016-17. +India is a big country. +Hence, nothing is enough when it comes to development. +But we have small timelines. +And this is your opportunity. +These opportunities range from building millions of houses to setting up hundreds of smart cities; modernization of railway networks and stations to setting up of high speed rail corridors; generation of renewable energy to construction of transmission and distribution networks. +In addition, there is an ever growing need for National Highways, Bridges, and Mass Urban Transport systems, schools, hospitals and skill training institutes. +We are trying to empower our people to realise this potential through our campaigns like Digital India and Skill India. +To tap the youth energy fully, we have launched the Start up India and Stand up India Campaigns. +Chancellor Merkel and Friends! +When I spoke in April 2015, our process of reform had just started. +Now, I can safely say that we have completed a sizeable part of it. +However, we are committed to do more and more; in a faster and better manner. +I strongly believe that we should create institutional networks to understand and advocate such reforms. +This is necessary to leverage the underlying economic potential of our two countries. +At the end, I invite more and more German colleagues and companies to India. +Our direction, desire and dreams create tremendous business opportunity. +Never before, India was so much ready for business. +We are on a take off stage. +Moreover, our democratic values and an alert judicial system will ensure the safety of your investments. +I assure you that we will work hand in hand with you to make your efforts successful. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a policy for providing preference to ‘Make in India’ in government procurements. +The new policy will give a substantial boost to domestic manufacturing and service provision, thereby creating employment. +It will also stimulate the flow of capital and technology into domestic manufacturing and services. +It will also provide a further thrust towards manufacture of parts, components, sub-components etc. of these items, in line with the vision of ‘Make in India’. +The new policy is the reflection of the Government of India to encourage ‘Make in India’ and promote manufacturing and production of goods and services in India with a view to enhancing income and employment. +Procurement by the Government is substantial in amount and can contribute towards this policy objective. +Local content can be increased through partnerships, cooperation with local companies, establishing production units in India or Joint Ventures (JV) with Indian suppliers, increasing the participation of local employees in services and by training them. +The policy will be implemented through an Order pursuant to Rule 153(iii) of the General Financial Rules, 2017 to provide purchase preference (linked with local content) in Government procurements. +Under the policy, preference in Government procurement will be given to local suppliers. +Local suppliers are those whose goods or services meet prescribed minimum thresholds (ordinarily 50%) for local content. +Local content is essentially domestic value addition. +In procurement of goods for Rs. 50 lakhs and less, and where the Nodal Ministry determines that there is sufficient local capacity and local competition, only local suppliers will be eligible. +For procurements valued at more than Rs. 50 lakhs (or where there is insufficient local capacity/ competition) if the lowest bid is not from a non-local supplier, the lowest-cost local supplier who is within a margin of 20% of the lowest bid, will be given the opportunity to match the lowest bid. +Small purchases of less than Rs.5 lakhs are exempted. +The order also covers autonomous bodies, government companies/ entities under the government’s control. +The policy also requires that specifications in tenders must not be restrictive e.g. should not require proof of supply in other countries or proof of exports in respect of previous experience. +They must not result in unreasonable exclusion of local suppliers who would otherwise be eligible, beyond what is essential for ensuring quality or creditworthiness of the supplier. +The policy lays down a procedure for verification of local content relying primarily on self-certification. +There will be penal consequences for false declarations. +In some cases, verification by statutory / cost auditors etc. will be required. +A Standing Committee in Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion will oversee the implementation of this order and issues arising therefrom, and make recommendations to Nodal Ministries and procuring entities. +The policy has been developed keeping in view the core principles of procurement including competitiveness and adhering to sound procurement practices and execution of orders. +The policy would continue to maintain the balance between promoting ‘Make in India’ and ensuring timely, value-for-money products for the procuring entities. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today called upon State Governments to work with the Union Government, as “Team India,” to build the India of the dreams of our freedom fighters by 2022, the 75th anniversary of independence. +Delivering the closing remarks at the third meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, he urged States, local Governments and all Government and Non-Government organizations to decide goals for 2022, and work in mission mode towards achieving them. +Describing the discussions at today’s meeting as constructive, the Prime Minister said that the circulated vision document is a draft, and all suggestions given by the Chief Ministers will be taken into account before finalizing it. +He laid emphasis on good governance and said it leads to optimum utilization of resources, even when resources are less than desired. +Noting the invitation given by the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister suggested that States could organize events there. +He also seconded the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister’s suggestion that States should take interest in the students from her State who are studying in other States. +He urged States to reach out to these students from time to time. +The Prime Minister reiterated that the legislative arrangements at the State-level for GST should be put in place without delay. +The Prime Minister called upon States to use the GeM platform – Government e-Marketplace, to reduce corruption and increase transparency in Government procurement. +He said the use of technologies such as BHIM and Aadhaar would result in significant savings for the States. +Shri Narendra Modi said that the District Mineral Fund, the CAMPA Fund, and the construction workers welfare fund, would provide significant boost to the resources of the State. +He asked NITI Aayog to come up with a roadmap for better utilization of such funds by the States. +He said India’s richness of culture and heritage should no longer be ignored. +The Prime Minister said a constructive discussion has begun on the subject of holding Union and State elections simultaneously. +The Prime Minister said that for long, India had suffered from economic and political mismanagement. +He said that because of poor time management, many good initiatives and schemes had failed to deliver the anticipated results. +He emphasized on the need to develop robust arrangements that could function amidst diversity. +The Prime Minister mentioned the advancing of the budget presentation date. +He urged States to take the initiative in this regard. +PM: Indian IT industry must focus on cyber security. +PM urges IT industry to innovate, says immense potential for new applications. +Stating that the entire world is concerned about this issue, the Prime Minister said Indian IT professionals could do a lot for cyber-safety of digital assets across the world. +The Prime Minister was speaking at a special event to mark the completion of NASSCOM’s 25th year. +Praising NASSCOM for its contribution to the IT sector in India, the Prime Minister noted that rarely has an organization transformed into a movement in such a short span of time. +He added that it was due to the success of India’s youth in the IT sector, that the world started looking at India differently. +Referring to the theme of today’s function: IT = India Tomorrow, the Prime Minister said there was immense potential for the Indian IT sector to innovate and provide mobile applications to deliver citizen centric services and mobile governance. +Speaking of the Digital India initiative, the Prime Minister said e-governance also implies easy governance, and economical governance. +He said Government is building IT infrastructure, and would adopt innovations by the IT industry. +Talking about digital databases, he said the world would need “digital godowns” in the near future. +He said the digital divide in India needs to be eliminated. +The Prime Minister explained how technology was helping to curb corruption. +He gave the examples of the coal block auctions, and Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG subsidy, in this regard. +The Prime Minister called for the Indian IT sector to boost tourism in India. +One way of doing this, he said, was to make virtual museums showcasing India’s heritage. +He called upon industry leaders to contribute towards creating e-libraries for schools. +The Prime Minister presented “Impact awards” for contribution to industry. +He also launched the NASSCOM Innovate for India Challenge, to encourage innovation in the sector. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Morocco on cooperation in the field of water resources. +The MoU intends to enhance cooperation in the field of water resources development and management within the framework of their expertise and their respective legislations. +The domains of bilateral cooperation under this MoU include +1. conception, realisation and maintenance of the hydraulic infrastructure, notably big dams and water transfer projects; +2. integrated water resources management, i.e., conjunctive use of surface and ground water resources, enhancement of water use efficiency, resilience and adaptation to climate change, artificial recharge of aquifers, organisational, institutional and regulation aspects; +3. flood and drought management; +4. sustainable development and management of ground water resources including recharge augmentation; and +5. harvesting and valuation of rainfall water and resilience and adaptation to climate +• The cooperation also includes +1. exchange of visits and missions of experts; +2. exchange of information on programs, publications, expertise and results of research in the field of water resources; +• develop projects in domains mentioned above, in Morocco and India: develop partnership mechanism with the socio-economic actors in the two countries; +1. ensure reciprocal participation of experts to the water related events and projects; +2. and promote cooperation between Hydraulic Basin Agencies of the two countries with an aim to share the expertise on the implementation of the principles of integrated water resource management in the Hydraulic Basins. +The Working Group shall hold its annual meeting alternatively in India and Morocco. +In addition, the Working Group may interact at any time using telephone or video conferencing. +The cooperation, centered on the scientific, technical and technological fields, will encourage the establishment/development of bilateral relations between public and private organisations concerning water resources of both the countries. +While exchanging the expertise and experiences on latest techniques and technologies, both the countries can learn and improve their skills. +The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has been envisaging bilateral cooperation with other countries in water resources development and management through sharing of policy and technical expertise, conducting of training courses, workshops, scientific and technical symposia, exchange of experts and study tours. +Keeping in view the ongoing India-Africa cooperation, it has been decided to have an agreement with Morocco to exchange experience and expertise in water resources. +Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of Malaysia called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister warmly recalled his successful visit to Malaysia last year for the ASEAN and related Summits, as well as for a bilateral visit. +Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi briefed the Prime Minister on the state of bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of counter-terrorism, cyber security and trans-national crimes. +The Prime Minister reiterated his invitation to the Malaysian Prime Minister to visit India in the near future. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for determination of marketing margin for supply of domestic gas to urea and LPG producers. +This decision is a structural reform. +Marketing Margin is the charge levied by gas marketing company on its consumers over and above the cost or basic price of gas for taking on the additional risk and cost associated with marketing gas. +Currently, different transporters are charging different marketing margins for supply of natural gas. +With this decision, there would be uniformity in the marketing margin on domestic gas charged by gas marketers for the regulated sectors, namely, Urea and LPG. +There would be a reduction in marketing margin paid by Urea and LPG producers as a result of this decision. +Further, the rate would be fixed on non-discretionary basis. +The issue of vast disparity in marketing margins was looked into by the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) and the marketing margin finalized today is based on the recommendations of PNGRB. +Future escalations in the marketing margin upto Wholesale Price Index (WPI) would be decided by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas itself. +This decision is likely to enhance transparency and provide an element of certainty for future investments in gas infrastructure sector. +PM visited Guwahati as a part of his visit to Arunachal, Assam and Tripura. +He laid foundation stone for North East Gas Grid. +He also unveiled several other development projects in the state. +On Citizenship Bill, PM urged people not be carried away by the rumours related to the citizenship bill. +PM urged he political parties to stop playing with the emotions of the people of Assam for political gain and vote bank. +He also assured the people of north east that their state will not be harmed through Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. +Will ensure your demand of Assam Accord is implemented, he added. +Speaking about corruption PM said, “The chowkidar is cracking-down on the corrupt”. +PM laid the foundation stone of North East Gas Grid which will ensure uninterrupted availability of natural gas across the region and boost industrial growth in the region. +He inaugurated Hollong Modular Gas Processing Plant in Tinsukia which will deliver 15% of the total gas produced in Assam. +PM inaugurated LPG Capacity Augmentation of Mounted Storage Vessel in North Guwahati. +He spoke about Government plans for blending ethanol by upto 10%. +He laid foundation stone of City Gas Distribution Networks in Kamrup, Cacher, Hailakandi & Karimganj districts. +He said, “In 2014 there were around 25 lakh PNG connections which became 46 lakh in just four years. +The number of CNG refuelling stations also increased from 950 to 1500 in the same period.” +PM laid the foundation stone of a six-lane bridge over mighty river Brahmaputra. +Today is the day to give importance in our lives to service, sacrifice and compassion. +Jesus had said – “The poor do not need our favours but our acceptance with affection.” +In the Gospel According to Saint Luke, it is written that – “Jesus not only served the poor but also praised the service done by the poor,” and this is what real empowerment is. +A tale associated with this incident is also very popular. +My most sincere and heartfelt tributes to Malviyaji on his birth anniversary. +About two days ago, I had the opportunity to launch many a developmental work in Banaras, the sacred workplace of Malviyaji. +I also laid the foundation stone of Mahamana Madan Mohan Malviya Cancer Centre in BHU at Varanasi. +Today is also the birthday of Bharat Ratna and former Prime Minister Venerable Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji. +This country can never forget Atalji’s contributions. +Under his leadership, the country proudly grew in stature in the field of nuclear power also. +Whether in the role of a party leader, Member of Parliament, a minister or the Prime Minister, Atalji always established an ideal. +I salute Atalji on his birthday and pray to God for his good health. +As a party worker I had the privilege of working with Atalji. +Many memories emerge before my eyes. +Today, on Christmas Day, as a gift the countrymen are going to get the benefit of two schemes. +In a way it is the beginning of two new schemes. +Everybody wants to understand and learn from each other. +To encourage this trend, to strengthen mobile banking and to inculcate the habit of making e-payments, the Government of India is launching from today encouragement schemes for consumers as well as traders. +To encourage customers, the scheme is ‘Lucky Grahak Yojana’ and to encourage traders the scheme is ‘Digi Dhan Vyapaar Yojana’. +Everyday fifteen thousand people are going to receive rewards of one thousand rupees each. +In addition, there would be a grand draw once every week for such customers in which the prize money will be in lakhs of rupees and three months later on April 14th, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar, there would be a mega bumper draw where rewards would be in crores of rupees. +‘Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana’ is mainly for traders and businessmen. +Traders should adopt this scheme themselves and should encourage their customers too in order to make their business cashless. +Such traders will also be rewarded separately and there would be thousands of these rewards. +The traders will run their business activities smoothly and will also have an opportunity to win rewards. +Those who make purchases of more than three thousand rupees will not be entitled to rewards under this scheme. +Even the poor people can use USSD on simple feature or ordinary mobile phones to buy and sell goods as well as make payments and thus all of them can also become prospective beneficiaries of this reward scheme. +In rural areas too, people can buy or sell through AEPS and they can also win rewards. +Many will be surprised to know that now there are about 30 Crore, i.e. 300 million RuPay Cards in India, out of which 200 million RuPay Cards belong to poor families which have ‘Jan Dhan’ accounts. +These 300 million people can immediately become part of this rewards scheme. +I have confidence that the countrymen will evince interest in this system and if you enquire from the young people around you, they would surely be aware of these things and on your asking will tell you about these. +Come on, if there is a child studying in 10th or 12th standard in your family, he or she will also be able to teach you well about this. +It is as simple as sending WhatsApp messages on the mobile. +My dear countrymen, I feel delighted to learn that the awareness about how to use technology, making e-payments, making online payments is spreading very fast. +During the past few days, the cashless transactions, or cashless trading has increased by 200 to 300%. +To give cashless trading a big impetus, Government of India has taken a very major decision. +The business community, our traders can well comprehend how momentous this decision is. +Those businessmen who adopt digital transactions, who develop online payment process instead of cash transactions in their trade activities will get Income Tax rebate. +I’ve been told that Assam Government has decided to grant a 10% discount on property tax and business license fee if payments are made through digital transaction. +The branches of Grameen, that is, Rural Banks there getting 75% of their customers to make at least two digital transactions between January and March will get 50 thousands rupees rewards from the government. +They have announced that under the ‘Uttam Panchayat for Digi-Transaction’, rewards of 5 lakh rupees will be given to villages doing 100% digital transaction till 31st March, 2017. +Assam Government has decided to reward 5 thousand rupees to the first 10 farmers as ‘Digital Krishak Shiromani’, who will buy seeds and fertilizers entirely through digital payments. +I congratulate Assam Government and also all those state governments who have taken such initiatives. +A number of organisations have also successfully carried out many experiments to promote digital transactions amongst the rural folk and poor farmers. +I have been told that GNFC or Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited, which primarily manufactures fertilizers, has installed a thousand PoS machines for sale of fertilizers for the convenience of farmers and in just a few days 35 thousand farmers were sold 5 lakh sacs of fertilizers on digital payment and this was accomplished in only two weeks! +And the interesting fact is that compared to last year the fertilizer sales of GNFC have gone up by 27 percent. +But now the practice of cashless payment is being adopted; the money is being directly deposited into banks. +In a way, the informal sector is getting converted into the formal sector, exploitation is coming to an end, the cut, which had to be paid earlier, has stopped now and it has become possible for the worker, the artisan, such poor persons to get their full amount of money. +In addition, they are also becoming entitled to the other benefits due to them. +Our country is blessed with the maximum number of young people. +Thus, we are favourably placed for using technology. +A country like India should be ahead of everybody else in this field. +Our youth have benefitted quite a lot from ‘Start-Ups’. +How mighty are they? +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised about an Memorandum of Understanding which has already been signed between India and Bangladesh for promoting cooperation in the field of Information Technology and Electronics (IT&E). +The MoU was signed in April, 2017 between Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India and Information and Communication Technology Division of Bangladesh. +It will remain in force for a period of five years. +Thereafter, the MoU will be extended at any time within the period it remains in force by mutual written consent of the Parties. +It can be terminated by either Party after giving six months’ prior notice in writing to the other Party. +The MoU in the field of IT&E is technical in nature and focused primarily on e-Governance, m-Governance, e-Public Services Delivery, Cyber Security, Capacity Building etc. +The MoU aims to explore business opportunities, IT&E market in Bangladesh by Indian IT companies and attract investment in Indian electronics and IT sectors in India which would indirectly generate employment opportunities. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his nineteenth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to postal services. +He asserted that the importance of postal services is on the rise again. +He sought to know what changes have been made in procedures, and what action has been taken against officers responsible for lapses. +He stressed on the importance of human resource management, systemic improvement, and infrastructure strengthening in the Department of Posts. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the railway, road and power sectors, spread over several states including Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. +The Prime Minister comprehensively reviewed the “Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems” (CCTNS). +He urged the States to accord high priority to this network, so that maximum benefit could be taken from it, in the interest of law and order, and bringing criminals to justice. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Karnataka on January 02nd and 03rd, 2016. +He will arrive in Mysore on the afternoon of 02nd January. +He will visit the Avadhoota Datta Peetham. +He will also attend the Centenary Celebrations of Jagadguru Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji of Sri Suttur Math. +On the 03rd January, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the 103rd session of Indian Science Congress at the University of Mysore. +He will lay the foundation stone for a new helicopter manufacturing unit at Tumkur. +The Prime Minister will inaugurate the 21st International Conference on Frontiers in Yoga Research and its Applications, at Jigni on Sunday. +Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, made the presentation on PahaL to the Prime Minister at the high level meeting. +Under PaHaL, LPG cylinders are sold at market rates and entitled consumers get the subsidy directly into their bank accounts. +This is done either through an Aadhaar linkage or a bank account linkage. +PaHaL aims to reduce diversion and eliminate duplicate or bogus LPG connections. +The Prime Minister conveyed his congratulations for the scheme having witnessed massive enrolment in a short span of time. +As on date, 9.75 crore LPG consumers have joined the scheme. +This is 66% of the total consumer base of 15 crore. +An amount of Rs. 3654 crore has already been transferred into the bank accounts of LPG consumers through 9.25 crore transactions. +He directed that all steps should be taken to bring the remaining LPG consumers into the fold of PaHaL as soon as possible. +He wanted Aadhaar enrolment and linkages with bank accounts to be expedited, taking advantage of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. +The Prime Minister has also asked for an impact analysis of the programme to be conducted in a professional manner. +The Prime Minister complimented the staff and management of Oil PSUs and dealers for the successful rollout of the scheme. +He was speaking after launching the Union Government’s nationwide ‘Soil Health Card’ Scheme from Suratgarh, Rajasthan. +He described agriculture as the key to poverty eradication. +Referring to the song “Vande Mataram,” he said that in order to achieve land that is truly “Sujalam, Suphalam,” it is necessary to nurture the soil. +He said the soil health card scheme is a step towards fulfilling this dream. +Calling for soil testing to be made a regular feature, the Prime Minister said a new class of entrepreneurs could set up soil testing labs even in small towns. +The Prime Minister said schemes such as the soil health card scheme, and the recently launched Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme were relevant across the country. +Therefore he had recently launched the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme in Haryana, and was now launching this scheme in Rajasthan. +He said it was essential to save both “Beti” and “Dharti Ma.” +The Prime Minister also spoke of the importance of water. +He said that it was essential to use water judiciously and not waste even a drop. +Prime Minister said he had asked each state to come up with agriculture plans under the aegis of the NITI Aayog. +14 crore Soil Health Cards are envisaged to be issued over the next 3 years. +The Prime Minister presented the Krishi Karman Awards to State Government functionaries led by Chief Ministers of States and progressive farmers, to the states of Punjab, Odisha, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Gujarat. +He presented Commendation Awards to State Government functionaries led by Agriculture Ministers of States to Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Karnataka. +Governor of Rajasthan Shri Kalyan Singh, Chief Minister of Rajasthan Smt Vasundhara Raje, Chief Minister of Punjab Shri Prakash Singh Badal, and Union Minister for Agriculture Shri Radha Mohan Singh were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid his tributes to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on his Jayanti. +“Gurudev Tagore will always be remembered for his powerful thoughts and contribution to the freedom movement. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today held bilateral meetings with African leaders on the sidelines of the India Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister met Mr. Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, and Chairman of African Union. +They discussed issues of common interest, including UN Reform and the threat of terrorism. +The Prime Minister spoke of the close bilateral ties between India and Zimbabwe. +President Mugabe is the co-chair for the India Africa Forum Summit, and the two leaders reviewed the preparations for the Summit. +The Prime Minister met President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana. +Warm ties between the two countries and growing bilateral trade came up for discussion. +Areas of cooperation including agriculture, IT, skill development, cyber security and maritime security figured in the talks. +The Prime Minister met the King of Swaziland H.E. Mswati III. +The King spoke of his vision for his country’s development, including areas such as infrastructure, renewable energy and skill development. +The Prime Minister complimented the Swaziland King on his leadership and vision, and offered assistance in its development. +The Prime Minister met Dr. Boni Yayi, President of Benin. +The growing economic relationship between the two countries, and areas of cooperation such as agricultural mechanization, power generation, water supply and transportation came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister met Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria. +Oil exploration, defence cooperation, and UN reform were among the areas were discussed at the meeting. +During the meeting between Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya, and the Prime Minister, areas of cooperation including healthcare, infrastructure and mutual trade and economic relations came up for discussion. +The historical ties between the two countries and the large Indian diaspora in Kenya were mentioned. +Terrorism and UN reform also came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister met President Jacob Zuma of South Africa. +Both leaders recalled the historical ties between the two countries. +Issues of terrorism, reform of the United Nations Security Council, and reform of institutions of global governance, came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister met the President of Uganda, Mr. Yoheri Museveni. +The two leaders discussed ways to enhance prosperity and mutual understanding between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi was deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the derailment of coaches of the Seemanchal Express. +He said “My thoughts are with the bereaved families. +May the injured recover quickly. +Railways, NDRF, and local authorities are providing all possible assistance in the wake of the accident. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat on 4th and 5th March 2019. +He will be in Jamnagar, Jaspur and Ahmedabad while in 5th March he will be in Adalaj and Vastral. +On 4th March at Jamnagar, PM will visit the Medical College Campus and launch various development works. +These include- +*Dedication to the nation of Annexe of Guru Gobind Singh Hospital : +The 750 bed annexe of Guru Gobind Singh hospital will be dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister. +He will also inaugurate the newly built PG hostel of the hospital. +Prime Minister will visit the Hospital and interact with students and faculty of the hospital. +*Unveiling of SAUNI projects +PM will unveil the SAUNI projects at the venue through the press of a button. +The Sauni projects include dedication to the Nation of Und-1 to RanjitSagar Lift irrigation Scheme and Machu-1 to Nyari Lift Irrigation scheme. +He will also lay the foundation stone of Jodiya Desalination Plant and Und-3 to Venu-2 Lift Irrigation scheme +*Flagging of Bandra- Jamnagar Humsafar Express +Through video link, PM will flag off the Bandra- Jamnagar Humsafar Express +*Other Projects +Through the unveiling of plaque, PM will dedicate the 51km pipeline from Aaji-3 to Khijadia. +He will also lay the foundation stone of Rajkot-Kanalus Railway Line doubling project. +PM will also hand over keys to select beneficiaries to mark the dedication of 448 houses constructed by Jamnagar Municipal Corporation and 1008 flats constructed by Jamnagar Area Development Authority. +PM will address the gathering at the venue +PM will visit Jaspur in Gujarat, to lay the Foundation Stone of Vishva Umiyadham Complex. +He will later address the gathering at the venue +At Vastral Gam Metro Station ,Ahmedabad +The Prime Minister at the Vastral Gam Metro Station, will inaugurate the Phase-1 of Ahmedabad Metro. +He will also lay the Foundation Stone of Phase-2 of the Metro. +PM will unveil the Common Mobility Card of Ahmedabad Metro. +PM will then flag off the metro train and take a ride in the Metro from Vastral Gam station. +Union Cabinet had given approval for the Phase-2 of Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project in February 2019. +Phase- 2 will comprise of two corridors of total length 28.254 kms. +It will provide comfortable and reliable public transport to the travelers especially in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar region. +The Ahmedabad Metro Rail phase 1 project is around 40.03 km in total, out of which 6.5 km is underground and the rest of the stretch is elevated. +These Metro Projects will not only add to connectivity, but will also reduce the travel time and enhance the ease of living substantially in the urban areas. +At BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad +At BJ Medical College ground, PM will launch various projects related to health and railways. +PM will dedicate to nation various hospitals built in Ahmedabad region. +They are Women Children & Super Specialty Hospital, Cancer Hospital, Eye Hospital and Dental Hospital. +These hospitals will be a tremendous boost to the health care sector in Ahmedabad. +With these hospitals, quality health care will be ensured for the people in Ahmedabad and nearby regions. +Prime Minister will distribute Golden Cards to select beneficiaries of PM-JAY- Ayushman Bharat scheme. +PM will inaugurate the Patan- Bindi Railway Line. +He will also dedicate the Dahod Railway Workshop, which includes the modernization and augmentation of Wagon POH capacity to 150 wagons per month. +He will also lay the foundation stone of Anand-Godhra Railway Line Doubling Project. +PM will then address the gathering. +Prime Minister will also pay a visit to the New Civil Hospital and cut the ribbon to mark the inauguration of the 1200 bed New Civil hospital. +He will also visit the New Cancer Hospital and Eye Hospital in Ahmedabad. +At Adalaj, Gandhinagar +On 5th March, PM will visit the Annapurna Dham Trust in Adalaj, Gandhinagar. +There he will lay the Foundation Stone of Shikshan Bhavan and Vidhyarthi Bhavan. +PM will address the gathering +Launch of Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana (PM-SYM) +At Vastral, Prime Minister will mark the launch of the pension scheme for unorganized sector workers, the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan, through the online fund transfer to beneficiaries. +He will also distribute PM-SYM Pension Cards to select beneficiaries. +About PM-SYM +In the interim budget for 2019-20, Government of India introduced a mega pension scheme namely Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) to ensure old age protection for unorganized Workers, whose monthly income is Rs 15,000/ per month or less +It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme, where each subscriber under the PMSYM, shall receive minimum assured pension of Rs 3000- per month after attaining the age of 60 years. +A contribution matching the age specific contribution of the beneficiary will be made by the Central Government. +It is expected that at least ten crore workers in the unorganized sector will avail the benefit of Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan within next five years. +About half of India’s GDP comes from over forty crore workers in the unorganised sector, mostly working as street vendors, rickshaw pullers, construction workers, rag pickers, agricultural workers, beedi workers, handloom, leather and numerous other similar occupations. +The PM-SYM along with the health coverage provided under ‘Ayushman Bharat’ and life & disability coverage provided under ‘Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana’ and ‘Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, will ensure comprehensive social security coverage for the workers in the unorganized sector at their old age. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed pain over the loss of lives in the bus accident, in Angul district of Odisha. +“Bus accident in Odisha’s Angul district is heart-rending. +My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and injured”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Shri Yogi Adityanath, Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya, Shri Dinesh Sharma and all those who took oath today to form the new government in Uttar Pradesh. +Expressing immense confidence in the new government the Prime Minister said that there will be record development in UP under the new team and that when UP develops India also develops. +“Congratulations to Yogi Adityanath Ji, Keshav Prasad Maurya Ji, Dinesh Sharma Ji and all those who took oath today. +Best wishes for serving UP. +I have immense confidence that this new team will leave no stone unturned in making UP Uttam Pradesh. +There will be record development. +When UP develops, India develops. +We want to serve UP’s youth and create opportunities for them”, the Prime Minister said. +He will dedicate the 400kV double circuit Silchar-Imphal line. +He will also the lay the foundation stone of projects like Infrastructure Development of Dhanamanjuri University, Imphal; sports facilities etc. +He will then address the gathering at HaptaKangjeibung in Imphal East District. +In Assam, Prime Minister will address a Public Rally at Ramnagar in Silchar. +Over 100 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, today interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at his residence. +The female beneficiaries, who belong to various States across the country, are in New Delhi for the LPG Panchayat, which was hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan earlier today. +During the informal interaction with Shri Narendra Modi, the beneficiaries explained how their lives had improved through the use of LPG cylinders. +The Prime Minister encouraged them to talk on various aspects of their day-to-day life. +In response to their observations, the Prime Minister mentioned the Saubhagya Yojana, which has been launched by the Union Government to provide electricity connections to every home. +He also emphasized the need to end all forms of discrimination against the girl child. +He exhorted the gathering to work towards ensuring cleanliness in their villages. +He said this would improve the health of the entire village, much the same way as the Ujjwala Yojana had improved the health of their family members. +Praising and thanking the Prime Minister for the Ujjwala Yojana, some of the beneficiaries also took the opportunity to discuss other specific development challenges in their respective areas. +Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan was present on the occasion. +Mr. John Chambers, Chairman of US-India Strategic Partnership Forum called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar today. +The Prime Minister recalled their previous meetings and welcomed the increasing bilateral trade and economic relations between India and the US. +He noted the growing convergence between India and US, and the strengthening of their Strategic Partnership. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated the naval submarine INS Kalvari to the nation, at a function in Mumbai. +Congratulating the people of India on this occasion, the Prime Minister described INS Kalvari as a prime example of “Make in India.” +He commended all those involved in its manufacture. +He described the submarine as an excellent illustration of the fast growing strategic partnership between India and France. +He said the INS Kalvari will add even more strength to the Indian Navy. +The Prime Minister said that the 21st century is described as Asia’s century. +He added that it is also certain that the road to development in the 21st century goes through the Indian Ocean. +That is why the Indian Ocean has a special place in the policies of the Government, he added. +The Prime Minister said this vision can be understood through the acronym SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the Region. +The Prime Minister said India is fully alert with regard to its global, strategic and economic interests in the Indian Ocean. +He said that is why the modern and multi-dimensional Indian Navy plays a leading role in promoting peace and stability in the region. +He said the ocean’s innate potential adds economic muscle to our national development. +That is why, he added, India is well aware of the challenges such as sea-borne terrorism, piracy, and drug trafficking, that not just India, but other nations in the region also have to face. +He said India is playing a key role in tackling these challenges. +He said India believes that the world is one family, and is fulfilling its global responsibilities. +India has played the role of “first responder” for its partner countries, in times of crisis, he added. +He said the human face of Indian diplomacy and Indian security establishment is our speciality. +He said a strong and capable India has a vital role to play for humanity. +He said countries of the world wish to walk with India on the path of peace and stability. +The Prime Minister said that the entire ecosystem related to defence and security has started to change in the last three years. +He said the skill-set accumulated during the manufacture of INS Kalvari is an asset for India. +The Prime Minister said that the Government’s commitment has ensured that the long pending issue of “One Rank One Pension” has been resolved. +The Prime Minister said that the Government’s policies and the bravery of the Armed Forces have ensured that the use of terrorism as a proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir has not been successful. +The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to all those who have dedicated their lives to the nation’s security. +An eight-member bipartisan US Congress delegation led by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister exchange views with the delegation members on the bilateral partnership and other issues of mutual interest. +He called for further enhancing exchanged with the US Congress. +With AIIMS at Madurai, Brand AIIMS now taken to all corners of the country: PM +Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges in Madurai, Thanjavur and Tirunelveli inaugurated by PM +12 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras Inaugurated +In a major boost to healthcare facilities and services in Madurai and adjoining areas of Tamil Nadu, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi today laid foundation stone for AIIMS Madurai and inaugurated several projects. +The new AIIMS will come up at Thoppur in Madurai. +It will provide leadership in advanced healthcare, medical education and research in the region. +This location will primarily benefits people residing in the Southern backward districts of Tamil Nadu. +Addressing a gathering in Madurai, PM said “In some ways, the laying of foundation stone of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Madurai today reflects our vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. +AIIMS in Delhi has cultivated a brand name for itself in healthcare. +With AIIMS in Madurai, we can say that this brand of healthcare has been taken to all corners of the country – from Kashmir to Madurai and from Guwahati to Gujarat. +AIIMS at Madurai will benefit the entire population of Tamil Nadu.” +Prime Minister also inaugurated the super speciality blocs of Rajaji Medical College, Madurai, Thanjavur Medical College and Tirunelveli Medical College, as a part of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, which aims to upgrade 73 medical colleges across the country. +Prime Minister expressed his happiness as he inaugurated the super speciality blocks at three Government Medical Colleges. +Reiterating the emphasis of the Government on the health sector, PM said the idea is to ensure that everyone is healthy and health care is affordable. +He added that,, “The speed and scale at which Mission Indra Dhanush is working is setting a new paradigm in preventive healthcare. +Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandhana Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan is making Safe pregnancy a mass movement. +The number of UG medical seats have been increased by 30% in the last four and half years.” +About Ayushman Bharat, he said it is a big step to ensure achievement of universal health coverage for the people. +He Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that 1 Crore 57 lakhs people from Tamil Nadu are covered under this scheme. +PM lauded that in just over 3 months, about 89000 beneficiaries have benefited under this scheme and an amount of more than Rs. 200 Crore has been authorized for admitted patients of Tamil Nadu. +He said, “I am happy to learn that Tamil Nadu has already started 1320 health and wellness centers”. +On disease control front, he said Government is committed to the elimination of Tuberculosis by 2025. +PM said,, “We are providing technical and financial support to states. +I am happy to learn that state government is upscaling the TB free Chennai initiative and seeking to eliminate TB in the state by 2023 itself.” +He lauded the role of Tamil Nadu Government in the implementation of National TB Programme. +The Prime Minister also inaugurated 12 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras in the state. +He said, “This is one more example of improving ease of living to our citizens.” +From Madurai, PM left for Kochi where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several projects related to the expansion of oil and gas sector. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his seventeenth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to the telecom sector. +Most of the grievances are related to issues of poor service quality, connectivity and non-functioning of landline connections. +Secretary (Department of Telecom) outlined the steps taken so far in this regard. +The Prime Minister emphasized the need for improving efficiency, and fixing accountability at all levels to bring about a visible change in the situation at the earliest. +Recalling his review in April 2015, the Prime Minister called for using available and existing technological solutions to address the problems being faced by the people. +During a review of the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), the Prime Minister underlined the Union Government’s commitment to provide Housing for All by 2022. +He urged the States to come up with strategies, time bound action plans and roadmap, and a monitoring mechanism to follow up on this goal. +He called for the use of latest technology inputs to improve the pace and quality of work. +The Prime Minister urged all Secretaries of Government of India, and Chief Secretaries to review the situation with regard to “Ease of Doing Business.” +Referring to the World Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business” Report, he asked the officials to assess the progress based on the parameters used in this Report. +He also asked senior officials in the Union Government to review the progress on a weekly basis. +The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the railway, road, port, power and natural gas sectors, spread over several states including Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal, and Meghalaya. +The Prime Minister reiterated the importance of completing projects in time, so that cost overruns could be avoided, and the benefits of projects could reach the people, as originally envisaged. +Among the projects reviewed today are: Birnihat-Shillong Railway Line; Jogbani-Biratnagar (Nepal) Railway Line; Surat-Dahisar Highway; Gurgaon-Jaipur Highway; Chennai and Ennore Port connectivity project; Cochin Shipyard dry-dock construction; and the East Coast to West Coast Mallavaram-Bhopal-Bhilwara-Vijayapur Natural Gas Pipeline. +“Passage of the Maternity Benefit Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha is a landmark moment in our efforts towards women-led development. +Maternity Benefit Amendment Bill ensures better health and wellbeing of the mother and child. +Increase in maternity leave is a welcome provision. +Employment of women is protected thanks to Maternity Benefit Amendment Bill. +Mandatory provision of crèche in offices is laudable.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to the scientists at ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation, congratulating them on successful launch of PSLV C31 and precisely putting IRNSS 1E in the orbit. +“Congratulating the dynamism and determination of ISRO and our scientists on successful launch of PSLV C31 and putting IRNSS 1E in orbit precisely. +Spoke to the scientists at ISRO and congratulated them on their accomplishment today. +Our scientists keep making us proud”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +Today in Stockholm, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of Denmark Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the Prime Minister of Finland Juha Sipilä, the Prime Minister of Iceland Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg and the Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Löfven held a Summit hosted by the Swedish Prime Minister and the Indian Prime Minister. +During the Summit, the Prime Ministers pledged to deepen cooperation between the Nordic countries and India, and focused their discussions on key issues related to global security, economic growth, innovation and climate change. +The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of free trade as a catalyst for achieving inclusive growth and realising the Sustainable Development Goals. +The Prime Ministers acknowledged that innovation and digital transformation drive growth in an interconnected world, and underpin a growing engagement between the Nordic countries and India. +The role of the Nordic countries as global innovation leaders was underlined. +The Nordic approach to innovation systems, characterised by a strong collaboration between public sector, private sector and academia, was discussed, and synergies were identified with India’s rich pool of talent and skills. +The Summit emphasised the Indian Government’s strong commitment to innovation and digital initiatives as key to prosperity and sustainable development, with national flagship programmes such as Make in India, Startup India, Digital India and Clean India. +Nordic solutions in clean technologies, maritime solutions, port modernisation, food processing, health, life-sciences and agriculture were mentioned. +The Summit welcomed the Nordic Sustainable Cities Project aimed at supporting the Smart Cities Program of the Government of India. +The Prime Ministers noted that the unique strengths of India and the Nordic countries offer immense opportunities for trade and investment diversification and mutually beneficial collaboration. +The Prime Ministers acknowledged that terrorism and violent extremism are major challenges for the international community. +They discussed global security, including cyber security, based on their shared values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and their commitment to uphold the rules-based international system. +They also discussed export control and non-proliferation. +The Nordic countries welcomed India’s application for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group and reaffirmed their commitment to work constructively within the Group with the aim of reaching a positive outcome at the earliest opportunity. +The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their support for the United Nations and the Secretary-General’s reform efforts to ensure a UN fit to support Member States to deliver on Agenda 2030 and took note ofhis proposals to strengthen the UN, including in the areas of development, peace operations, peacebuilding and conflict prevention. +The Nordic countries and India reaffirmed the need for reform of the UNSecurity Council, including its expansion in both permanent and non-permanent seats to make it more representative, accountable, effective and responsive to the realities of the 21st century. +The Nordic countries agree that India is a strong candidate for a permanent seat in a reformed Security Council expanded with both permanent and non-permanent members. +The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their full commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development as well as the ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement. +They agreed to continue efforts to develop cleaner energy systems, renewable energy and fuels, increased energy efficiency and technologies for cleaner energy production. +The Prime Ministers noted that women’s full and meaningful participation in political, social and economic life is key to inclusive development and agreed to promote the empowerment of women. +The Prime Ministers agreed that a strong partnership can help spur innovations, economic growth, sustainable solutions and mutually beneficial trade and investments. +The Summit emphasized the importance of strong people-to-people contacts through education, culture, labour mobility and tourism – all areas where the Nordic countries and India see a continuous increase in both interests and numbers. +He will launch various development projects at both locations. +At Kalaburagi, PM will launch development projects in various sectors like Energy, Health and Education for the benefit of the people of Karnataka. +These include: +In a major boost to the health care sector in Karnataka, PM will dedicate the ESIC Hospital and Medical College, Bengaluru to the nation. +He will also dedicate the Super Specialty Block of KIMS, Hubballi. +These projects will ensure quality and affordable healthcare for the people in Karnataka. +Shri Modi will lay the foundation stone of the Resitement of BPCL Depot Raichur to Kalaburagi +In addition. the Prime Minister will dedicate the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Terminal at Bengaluru to the nation. +He will also dedicate the ‘Women’s Hostel for Students from North Eastern Region at Bangalore University. +These projects highlight the continued emphasis of the Union Government to ensure ‘Ease of Living’. +The Prime Minister will also interact with the beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat at Kalaburagi. +At Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister will unveil multiple projects in roadways, railways and energy sector. +These projects will further strengthen the roadway and railway infrastructure in the state. +It will also pave way for better, faster and cheaper transportation for people in Tamil Nadu. +These include: +Roadways Sector +In a major boost to the highway infrastructure in Tamil Nadu, PM will lay the foundation Stone for the four laning of Vikravandi- Sethiyathopu section, Sethiyathopu – Cholopuram section and Cholopuram-Thanjavur section of NH-45C. +He will also lay the foundation stone for six laning of Karaipettai-Walajapet section of NH-4. +For strengthening of NH-234, PM will lay the foundation stone for the widening and strengthening of carriage ways and culverts. +He will also dedicate the four laning and strengthening of carriageway of Avinashi-Tirupur- Avinashipalayam section of NH-381 to the nation. +Railways Sector +PM will dedicate the electrification of Erode-Karur-Tiruchchirapalli and Salem-Karur-Dindigul railway lines to the nation. +Electrification will reduce the GHG emissions and reduce the travel time for people and goods plying the route. +The Prime Minister will dedicate the Ennore LNG Terminal to the nation. +The Ennore LNG terminal with a capacity of 5 MMTPA will help in meeting the LNG gas demand in Tamil Nadu and neighboring States +In addition, PM will unveil the statue of Dr. MG Ramachandran at Dr. MGR Janaki College of Arts & Science for Women, Chennai through video link. +Dr. MG Ramachandran was an actor, and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for ten years between 1977 and 1987. +He was conferred with Bharat Ratna. +The Prime Minister will also interact with the beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat at Kancheepuram. +Enables upto Rs. 10000 Pension per month for Senior Citizens Time limit for subscription under PMVVY extended from 4thMay, 2018 to 31st March, 2020 Reflection of Government commitment to financial inclusion and social security +The Union Cabinet chaired by chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for extending the investment limit from Rs 7.5 lakhs to Rs 15 lakhs as well as extension of time limits for subscription from 4thMay 2018 to 31stMarch, 2020 under the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandan Yojana (PMVVY) as part of Government’s commitment for financial inclusion and social security. +It will enable upto Rs.10000 Pension per month for Senior Citizens. +As of March, 2018, a total number of 2.23 lakh senior citizens are being benefited under PMVVY. +In the previous scheme of Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana-2014, a total number of 3.11 lakh senior citizens are being benefited. +The PMVVY is being implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to provide social security during old age and protect elderly persons aged 60 years and above against a future fall in their interest income due to uncertain market conditions. +The scheme provides an assured pension based on a guaranteed rate of return of 8% per annum for ten years, with an option to opt for pension on a monthly / quarterly / half yearly and annual basis. +The differential return, i.e. the difference between the return generated by LIC and the assured return of 8% per annum would be borne by Government of India as subsidy on an annual basis. +Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijay Rupani called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Parliament House this morning, and apprised him of the situation arising out of incessant rain and flood in parts of the State. +PM then decided to undertake an aerial survey of flood affected areas of North Gujarat this afternoon, after the swearing-in ceremony for the new President. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated the state of the art Paradip Refinery in Odisha, to the Nation. +Addressing the large gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister said he appreciated the participation of a such a large number of people in an official programme related to development. +Remembering former Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Biju Patnaik, the Prime Minister said Paradip will now become “Vikas Dweep” – the island of development for the people of Odisha. +He said youth would benefit from employment opportunities, and poor women across the country who depended on firewood for fuel, would get access to LPG. +Shri Narendra Modi said Government initiatives such as Mudra and Start Up India are benefitting the youth of India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of Pension and Post-Retirement Medical Schemes as part of superannuation benefits for Employees of Food Corporation of India (FCI) as per guidelines of Department of Public Enterprises (DPE). +The annual financial implication for both schemes combined would be around Rs. 134.4 crore at present level of salaries of the employees. +Salient Features of New Pension Scheme for Employees of FCI +1. Coverage – All employees. +(Category I, II, III and IV) of the Corporation on the payroll as on 1.12.2008 or appointed thereafter are covered under the scheme. +2. Eligibility – Minimum service period of 15 years before superannuation except in case of death. +3. Effective date of implementation – 01.12.2008. (as per effective date of wage revised allowances. +4. Employer’s Contribution – 10% of Basic pay and DA per month in respect of all existing employees as on 01.12.2008 or appointed thereafter. +5. Employees’ Mandatory Contribution – 2% of basic pay + DA per month. +Employees’ Voluntary Contribution – upto 25% of basic pay + DA per month 6. +Benefits – Pension (Annuity) on superannuation and Death Cover. +Salient Features of New Post-Retirement Medical Scheme for employees of FCI +1. Applicability – All employees Category I, II, III & IV employees of the Corporation including retired employees who are members of the current employee funded Medical Health Scheme for Retirees. +2. Eligibility – Minimum service period of 15 years before superannuation except in case of death. +4. Employee Contribution – Last drawn Basic pay and DA at the time of retirement / death during service (for spouse), subject to minimum of Rs.10,000. +5. Coverage – The Scheme would cover the medical expenses of retired member, his/her spouse and dependent disabled child at any hospital in India subject to the overall annual ceiling. +FCI was established in 1965 under the Food Corporations Act, 1964 for the purpose of procurement, storage, distribution and sale of foodgrains and other foodstuffs. +Over the years it has played a pivotal role in achieving the objective of food security for the country. +Given its strategic importance, size of operations and other parameters, FCI has been recognised as Schedule ‘A’ Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for enhancement of the age of superannuation of (i) Non-Teaching and Public Health Specialists of Central Health Service from 62 years to 65 years and (ii) Doctors of General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) sub-cadre of Central Health Service (CHS) to 65 years. +The target group would be officers of Non-Teaching, Public Health and GDMO sub-cadres of CHS. +The decision would help in better patient care, proper academic activities in Medical colleges as also in effective implementation of National Health Programmes for delivery of health care services. +There is no financial implications as the vacant posts would have to be filled up quickly to ensure continuity of patient care. +• The age of superannuation in respect of all four sub-cadres of Central Health Service was 60 years prior to 2006. +• The age of superannuation of the three specialists sub-cadres (Teaching, Non-Teaching and Public Health), except GDMO sub cadre, was enhanced, with the approval of the Cabinet in its meeting held on 2.11.2006, from 60 to 62 years. +• The age of superannuation of teaching sub-cadre was further enhanced from 62 to 65 years with the approval of the Cabinet in its meeting held on 05.06.2008 in view of huge shortfall of teaching specialists. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Professor Stephen Hawking. +“Professor Stephen Hawking was an outstanding scientist and academic. +His grit and tenacity inspired people all over the world. +His demise is anguishing. +Professor Hawking’s pioneering work made our world a better place. +May his soul rest in peace”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana beneficiaries from across the country, through video bridge. +This is the third in the series of video bridge interactions by the Prime Minister with various beneficiaries of Government schemes. +Expressing delight at interacting with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana beneficiaries, Prime Minister said that such interactions help in understanding various aspects of the scheme, including areas that needs to be improved. +Prime Minister further added that Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is not just about brick and mortar but about providing better quality of life and dreams coming true. +Addressing the beneficiaries, Prime Minister said that the last 4 years, Government has taken a mission mode approach towards providing housing for all. +Government is working towards ensuring that every Indian has a home by 2022, when India will celebrate its 75 years of independence, Prime Minister added. +Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Government plans to build around three crore houses in rural areas and one crore houses in urban areas. +Emphasizing on the changes brought by the present government in PMAY, Prime Minister said that the size of houses built have been increased to 25 square metre from 20 square metres. +Also the financial assistance for the scheme has also been enhanced upto Rs. 1,25,000 from the earlier allocation of Rs. 70,000 – 75,000. +During the interaction, Prime Minister said that Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is linked with the dignity of the citizens and the focus of the Yojana is to ensure more women, Divyang sisters and brothers, SC, ST, OBC, and Minority communities get access to housing. +Engaging with beneficiaries, Prime Minister said that PMAY has created employment opportunities for all. +In order to strengthen the scheme, Government is working towards skill development to ensure faster, and quality construction of houses. +As part of it, government has started training about one lakh masons. +In addition, Government has also started training female masons in many states, thereby resulting in women empowerment. +They also explained how it has changed their life and improved the quality of life. +Increase of existing structure of Group ‘A’ posts from 4109 to 4183 posts are as follows: +1. Increase of one post of Additional DG (HAG level). +2. Net increase of 19 posts of Inspector General (SAG level). +3. Net increase of 370 posts of DIG/Commandant/2 1C (JAG level). +4. Net increase of 14 posts of Assistant Commandant (JTS level). +5. Net reduction of 330 posts of Deputy Commandant (STS level). +The BSF is the largest border guarding force established in 1965. +The present sanctioned strength of the Force is 2,57,025 having 186 Battalions (including 03 NDRF Battalions). +Of these the Executive Group ‘A’ cadre has sanctioned strength of 4065 officers (4109 including the IPS quota). +About 90% of the troops are deployed in Indo-Pakistan Border, Indo-Bangladesh Border (including North East) and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) States. +The last cadre review of the service was done in 1990. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his twenty-third interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +The first twenty-two meetings of PRAGATI have seen a cumulative review of 200 projects with a total investment of Rs. 9.31 lakh crore. +Resolution of Public Grievances has also been reviewed in 17 sectors. +Today, in the twenty-third meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to consumers. +The Prime Minister was briefed on the action taken to ensure speedy and effective disposal of consumer grievances. +Expressing concern over the large number of grievances, the Prime Minister emphasized on the need for improvement in the administrative arrangements, so that consumers can be benefited. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of nine infrastructure projects in the railway, road, power, and renewable energy sectors, spread over several states including Uttarakhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Nagaland, Assam, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. +These projects are cumulatively worth over 30,000 crore rupees. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress in implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY). +He said that funds accruing to the District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) should be utilized to strategically focus upon and eliminate major development issues or deficits that these districts currently face. +He said this should be done in a focused way, so as to achieve the greatest possible, tangible results by 2022, which marks 75 years of independence. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and its French counterpart, Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC), France to implement Technical Cooperation Program in civil aviation sector. +The Technical Cooperation Program will be beneficial for enhancement of skills and expertise of AAI’s officers. +This MoU is also beneficial for imparting training of engineers, technicians, managers etc. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, inaugurated Dharohar Bhawan – the new Headquarters building of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), – at Tilak Marg in New Delhi today. +Speaking on the occasion, he said that the Archaeological Survey of India has performed significant work over the course of the last 150 years or so. +The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of taking pride in our history, and in our rich archaeological heritage. +He said that people should take a lead in knowing about local history, and archaeology of their towns, cities and regions. +He said lessons in local archaeology could form part of the school syllabus. +In this context, he also mentioned the importance of well-trained local tourist guides, who are familiar with the history and heritage of their area. +He said each archaeological discovery, painstakingly made by archaeologists over long periods of time, has its own story to tell. +In this context, he recalled how he and the then French President had travelled to Chandigarh a few years ago, for a first-hand view of archaeological discoveries made by a joint Indo-French team. +The Prime Minister said that India should showcase its great heritage with pride and confidence, to the world. +It includes a Central Archaeological Library with a collection of about 1.5 lakh books and journals. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed between India and Nepal for laying down implementation arrangement on Cost sharing, Schedules and Safeguard issues for starting construction of a new Bridge over Mechi River at Indo-Nepal border. +The estimated cost of construction of the bridge is Rs. 158.65 crore, which would be funded by Government of India through ADB loan. +The new bridge is part of up-gradation of the Kakarvitta (Nepal) to Panitanki Bypass (India) on NH 327B covering a length of 1500 meters including a 6 lane approach road of 825 meters. +Mechi Bridge is the ending point of Asian Highway 02 in India leading to Nepal and provides critical connectivity to Nepal. +The construction of the bridge will improve regional connectivity and has potential to strengthen cross border trade between both the countries and cementing ties by strengthening industrial, social and cultural exchanges. +National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) under Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has been designated as the implementing agency for this project. +DPR for this project has been prepared and alignment of bridge has been finalized in consultation with Government of Nepal. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved Amendment to (i) The Housing and Telephone Facilities (Members of Parliament) Rules, 1956 (ii) The Members of Parliament (Constituency Allowance) Rules, 1986, (iii) The Members of Parliament (Office Expense Allowance) Rules, 1988. +Wi-fi zone with monthly tariff plan of Rs. 1700/- from 1.9.2015 to 31.12.2016 and Rs. 2200/- from 1.1.2017 onwards may be created in the Members’ residential areas for providing high speed internet connection (FTTH connection). +This facility will be in addition to the existing broadband facility. +For this purpose, three new sub-rules are to be inserted in ‘the Housing and Telephone Facilities (Members of Parliament) Rules, 1956’. +The decision of the Cabinet shall be conveyed to the Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament for making amendments in the relevant rules which shall be get approved and confirmed by the Chairman of the Council of States and the Speaker of House of the People and will be published in the Official Gazette. +Additional financial implication on account of the decision taken by the Cabinet would be Rupees 39,22,72,800/- (Rupees Thirty nine crores, twenty two lakhs, seventy two thousand & eight hundred) approximately of recurring expenditure and Rupees 6,64,05,400/- (Rupees Six crores, sixty four lakhs five thousand & four hundred) approximately of non-recurring expenditure. +Section 9 of the MSA Act provides for constitution of a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament for the purpose of making rules under the Act. +The Joint Committee has the powers to make rules after consultation with the Central Government to provide for all or any of the matters enumerated in the said section. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for increasing the Authorised Share Capital of the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC), a Central Sector Public Enterprise (CPSE) under Government of India in the Ministry of Minority Affairs from Rs. 1500 crore to Rs. 3000 crore. +Approval was also given to revise the shareholding pattern from 65:26:9 to 73:26:1 among the Centre, States/Union Territories and Individuals/Institutions respectively. +Further, approval was also given for restructuring of the NMFDC’s business model. +The decision will enlarge the quantum of funds available for economic activities, better coverage and enhanced outreach. +Enhancement of share capital would expand its ambit of coverage and increase disbursement of funds to larger sections of the economically deprived minority population. +The target of NMDFC for the year 2014-15 is to cover 97000 beneficiaries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today paid a surprise visit to the Mandir Marg police station in New Delhi. +As he was on the way to Valmiki Basti, he requested the official motorcade to be stopped at Mandir Marg Police Station. +Noting the dirt at the venue, the Prime Minister himself picked up a broom to clean dirt. +Police officials rushed to the Prime Minister after noticing him. +The Prime Minister later exhorted police officials to maintain cleanliness, before proceeding to Valmiki Basti. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated Shri Kailash Satyarthi for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. +“Congratulations to Shri Kailash Satyarthi on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. +The entire nation is proud of his momentous achievement. +Shri Kailash Satyarthi has devoted his life to a cause that is extremely relevant to entire humankind. +I salute his determined efforts,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister also congratulated Pakistan’s Ms Malala Yousafzai on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. +“Malala Yousafzai’s life is a journey of immense grit and courage. +I congratulate her on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for Abolition of Institution of Income-Tax Ombudsman and Indirect Tax Ombudsman. +The Institution of Income-Tax Ombudsman was created in the year 2003 to deal with grievances of public related to settlement of complaints relating to Income Tax. +However, the Institution of Ombudsman failed to achieve its objectives. +It was observed that institution of new complaints have in turn fallen to single digits. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Netherlands, on the occasion of King’s Day. +“On King’s Day my greetings to people of Netherlands and warm birthday greetings to King Willem-Alexander. +I wish him a long life and good health”, the Prime Minister said. +I would like to thank each one of you for your words. +Your thoughts echo the sentiment that is captured by today’s launch. +The South Asia Satellite tells us that even the sky is not the limit when it comes to regional cooperation among like-minded countries. +“सबका साथ सबका विकास” can be the guiding light for action and cooperation in South Asia. +And, a befitting way for us to achieve our shared priorities of economic prosperity for our people. +And in this, you will find a strong and committed partner in India that truly believes in the strength of this choice and principle. +Let me once again thank you all for joining me today to celebrate the launch of South Asia Satellite. +And, also your strong and continuous support in making this vision a reality. +In the end, I also wish all of us more such celebrations where we can rejoice in success of our common and collective efforts for regional growth and prosperity. +Mr. Jacques Audibert, Diplomatic Adviser to the French President, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister recalled his visit to France in 2015, and the visit of President Hollande as Chief Guest at the Republic Day on 2016, and said that the exchange of visits had laid the foundation for strengthening bilateral ties for years to come. +The Prime Minister said that bilateral relations between India and France have expanded from the triad of Defence, Space and Civil Nuclear cooperation to encompass a broad range of sectors, especially counter-terrorism, maritime security, and renewable energy. +The Prime Minister recalled the establishment of International Solar Alliance as a landmark achievement in global efforts against Climate Change, and conveyed his appreciation for French support to this initiative. +The Prime Minister called for greater bilateral cooperation in Smart Cities, Urban Transport, and Infrastructure Development. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, on victory in the snap polls held on Sunday. +The Indian and Iranian sides held delegation-level talks on 22 July 2015. +India and Iran Security Council structures have a regular dialogue channel. +Both sides exchanged views on regional and bilateral issues of mutual interest and agreed to continue their interaction in the future. +The Iranian delegation also met the Foreign Secretary Dr. S. Jaishankar and the National Security Adviser Shri Ajit Doval on 23 July 2015. +His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the Religious Head of the Dawoodi Bohra Community, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in Mumbai today. +The Prime Minister recalled his long and warm association with Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the former Religious Head of the Dawoodi Bohra Community, who had passed away last year. +His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin appreciated the Prime Minister’s efforts to take India forward, and pledged the community’s support to his initiatives. +The Prime Minister suggested that the Dawoodi Bohra community, which is present in about 400 districts of the country, should initiate Swachhta Abhiyaan competitions among schools in these districts, and award the best performing schools through the creation of laboratories or computer resources. +The Dawoodi Bohra community, which was traditionally a trading community, but has now made great progress in the manufacturing sector, also pledged its support to the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Prime Minister. +The Dawoodi Bohra community has expressed keenness to establish a smart city in Mumbai. +The Prime Minister offered all support in this initiative. +The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, who was present on the occasion, also assured all support to the venture. +The Prime Minister also asked for suggestions from the Dawoodi Bohra community for the forthcoming Union Budget, given their vast experience, particularly in bringing about positive results in the health and education sector. +The Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Vidyasagar Rao, was also present on the occasion. +PM to “TEAM INDIA”: +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called upon all Chief Ministers to work with the Centre to forge a model of cooperative federalism, whereby the Centre and the States – TEAM INDIA – can come together to resolve differences, and chart a common course to progress and prosperity. +Chairing the first meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, the Prime Minister described this meeting as one which had the potential to bring about historic changes. +He said the Governing Council of NITI Aayog would help advance the national cause “as we jointly define it.” +He added that he envisioned different states competing with each other in promoting governance initiatives, in a spirit of “cooperative, competitive federalism.” +Shri Narendra Modi said that the world has started looking at India differently, but “our biggest challenge still is how to eliminate poverty.” +He said jobs cannot be created, and poverty cannot be removed without growth. +Therefore, he added, “first and foremost we should aim at a high rate of growth.” +The Prime Minister noted that projects are often held up for want of timely decisions, and a project can get stuck at any stage in any forum. +He said this prevents the people from getting benefits of the projects, and also leads to cost escalation. +He requested the Chief Ministers to give personal attention to such factors which slow down projects. +He urged all Chief Ministers to focus on the cycle of Investment, growth, job creation and prosperity. +The Prime Minister emphasized that the Centre wished to empower the states with finances, with technology and knowledge so that they are able to plan better and execute even better. +Shri Narendra Modi said that Cabinet Resolution setting up NITI Aayog provides for the appointment of Regional Councils with specific mandates for specific time periods. +He hoped that these councils could help forge cooperation among two or more states facing a common set of problems or amicably settle disputes that delay progress. +He said these councils could catalyse joint projects involving travel, transportation and tourism across member states. +The Prime Minister also expressed hope that through the mechanism of the NITI Aayog, India could move away from “one size fits all” schemes, and forge a better match between the schemes and the needs of the states. +Reflecting on the role of NITI Aayog as a think-tank, the Prime Minister said he sees great scope for states to learn from each other, work together among themselves and with the Centre. +He said best practices can be shared among states, and a portal can be created through which state functionaries share their experiences. +The Prime Minister noted that in the last two and a half decades, the Indian economy has been transforming itself from a planned to a market economy. +He called upon the gathering to deliberate on how the planning process should be reshaped. +The interaction was coordinated by Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, and the opening remarks for the meeting were made by Shri Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the special package for employment generation in leather and footwear sector. +The package involves implementation of Central Sector Scheme “Indian Footwear, Leather & Accessories Development Programme” with an approved expenditure of Rs. 2600 Crore over the three financial years from 2017-18 to 2019-20. +The scheme would lead to development of infrastructure for the leather sector, address environment concerns specific to the leather sector, facilitate additional investments, employment generation and increase in production. +Enhanced Tax incentive would attract large scale investments in the sector and reform in labour law in view of seasonal nature of the sector will support economies of scale. +The Special Package has the potential to generate 3.24 lakhs new jobs in 3 years and assist in formalization of 2 lakh jobs as cumulative impact in Footwear, Leather & Accessories Sector. +Details of the Indian Footwear, Leather & Accessories Development Programme +1. Human Resource Development (HRD) sub-scheme: HRD sub-scheme proposes to provide assistance for Placement Linked Skill Development training to unemployed persons @ Rs. 15,000 per person, for skill up-gradation training to employed workers @ Rs. 5,000 per employee and for training of trainers @ Rs. 2 lakh per person. +The placement of 75% of trained persons is proposed to be mandatory for availing assistance related to skill development training component. +The proposal under this sub-scheme is to train/skill 4.32 lakh unemployed persons, upgrade the skills of 75,000 existing employees and train 150 master trainers during the three years with proposed outlay of Rs. 696 crore. +2. Integrated Development of Leather Sector (IDLS) sub-scheme: IDLS sub-scheme proposes to incentivize investment and manufacturing including job creation by providing backend investment grant/subsidy @ 30% of the cost of new Plant and Machinery to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and @ 20% of the cost of Plant and Machinery to other units for Modernization /technology upgradation in existing units and also for setting up of new units. +The proposal under this sub-scheme is to incentivize 1000 units in Leather, Footwear and Accessories & Components sector during the three years with proposed outlay of Rs.425 crore. +3. Establishment of Institutional Facilities sub-scheme: The sub-scheme proposes to provide assistance to Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI) for upgradation of some of the existing campuses of FDDI into “Centres of Excellence” and establishing 3 new fully equipped skill centres alongside the upcoming Mega Leather Clusters, based on project proposals, with proposed outlay of Rs.147 crore for the three years. +4. Mega Leather, Footwear and Accessories Cluster (MLFAC) sub-scheme: The MLFAC sub-scheme aims at providing infrastructure support to the Leather, Footwear and Accessories Sector by establishment of Mega Leather, Footwear and Accessories Cluster. +Graded assistance is proposed to be provided upto 50% of the eligible project cost, excluding cost of land with maximum Government assistance being limited to Rs. 125 crore. +The outlay of Rs 360 crore has been proposed to support 3-4 new MLFACs, for the three years. +5. Leather Technology, Innovation and Environmental Issues sub-scheme: Under this sub-scheme, assistance is proposed to be provided for upgradation/installation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) @ 70% of the project cost. +The sub-scheme will also provide support to national level sectoral industry council/ association and support for preparation of vision document for Leather Footwear and Accessories Sector. +The proposed outlay for this sub-scheme is Rs. 782 crore for the three years. +6. Promotion of Indian Brands in Leather, Footwear and Accessories Sector sub-scheme: Under this sub-scheme, the eligible units approved for Brand Promotion are proposed to be assisted. +The Government assistance is proposed to be 50% of total project cost subject to a limit of Rs.3 crore for each brand, each year for 3 years. +The proposal under this sub-scheme is to promote 10 Indian brands in the international market in three years with proposed outlay of Rs. 90 crore. +7. Additional Employment Incentive for Leather, Footwear and Accessories Sector sub-scheme: Under this scheme, it is proposed to provide the employers’ contribution of 3.67% to Employees’ Provident Fund for all new employees in Leather, Footwear and Accessories sector, enrolling in EPFO for first 3 years of their employment. +The sub-scheme would be applicable to employees with salary upto Rs.15,000/-. +The proposed outlay is Rs. 100 crore to assist in formalization of approximately 2,00,000 jobs in the sectors. +The special package also includes measures for simplification of labour laws and incentives for employment generation, as under: +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of 15 years contract by the Ministry of Earth Sciences with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for undertaking exploration and other developmental activities related to Polymetallic Sulphides in the allotted area of 10,000 sq km. +It will be done in parts of Central and South – West Indian Ridges (SWIR), located in the Indian Ocean. +By signing the 15 year contract, India’s exclusive rights for exploration of Polymetallic Sulphides in the allotted Area in the Central Indian Ridge, and South West Indian Ridge in Indian Ocean will be formalized. +Further, it will enhance India’s presence in the Indian Ocean where other players like China, Korea and Germany are active. +The program will be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences with the participation from various national institutes and research laboratories/ organisations. +Deep seabed Poly-Metallic Sulphides (PMS) containing iron, copper, zinc, silver, gold, platinum in variable constitutions are precipitates of hot fluids from upwelling hot magma from deep interior of the oceanic crust discharged through mineralized chimneys. +PMS in the Ocean Ridges have attracted worldwide attention for their long term commercial as well as strategic values. +The International Seabed Authority (ISA), under the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), earlier approved an application submitted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, for allotment of 10,000 sq. km. area along with 15 years plan of work for exploration of Polymetallic Sulphide (PMS) along Central Indian Ridge (CIR) 85 Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) region of the Indian Ocean. +ISA governs non-¬living resources of seabed lying in international waters. +The proposal entails Bloomberg Philanthropies to work as Knowledge Partner and support the development and execution of a Cities Challenge under the Smart Cities Mission. +The Union Cabinet has already approved the Smart Cities Mission in its meeting held on 29th April 2015 and subsequently, the Prime Minister launched this Mission on 25th June 2015, when the Mission Statement and Guidelines were also released. +The Proposal under the Smart Cities Mission seeks to facilitate creation of quality urban infrastructure which will lead to improvement in the quality of urban life. +Bloomberg Philanthropies Government Innovation Initiatives equip mayors and local leaders with practical tools and approaches to solve major challenges and enable public sector innovation to flourish. +As Knowledge Partner, Bloomberg Philanthropies will also support the Ministry of Urban Development in helping design and manage the cities challenge. +There is no financial implication to the Government of India as the cost implications to the activities done in supporting the Mission will be incurred by Bloomberg Philanthropies. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss lives in a bus accident in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh. +The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs from PMNRF for the next of kin of those killed and Rs. 50,000 to those seriously injured, in the accident. +“I extend my deepest condolences to the Government & people of Cuba on the sad demise of Fidel Castro. +May his soul rest in peace. +We stand in support with the Cuban Government and people in this tragic hour. +Fidel Castro was one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century. +India mourns the loss of a great friend”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed his grief on the loss of lives due to unseasonal rains and storms in various parts of Gujarat. +“Anguished by the loss of lives due to unseasonal rains and storms in various parts of Gujarat. +My thoughts are with the bereaved families. +Authorities are monitoring the situation very closely. +All possible assistance is being given to those affected”, the PM said. +Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam, a voice of influence in the world of finance,Mr. Ravi Menon, Managing Director of Monetary Authority of Singapore, a leading institution in fintech,Tens of thousands of participants from over one hundred countries, +It is a great honour to be the first Head of Government to deliver the keynote address at Singapore Fintech Festival. +This is a tribute to the youth of India with its eyes firmly fixed to the future. +It is an acknowledgement of the financial revolution sweeping through India and transforming the lives of 1.3 billion people. +This is an event of finance and technology and, it is also a festival. +This is the season of the Indian Festival of Lights – Deepawali. +It is celebrated all over the world as a victory of virtue, hope, knowledge and prosperity. +The Diwali lights are still on in Singapore. +The Fintech Festival is also a celebration of belief. +Belief in the spirit of innovation and the power of imagination. +Belief in the energy of youth and their passion for change. +Belief in making the world a better place. +And, it is no surprise that in just its third year, this Festival is already the world’s largest. +Singapore has been a global hub for finance and, it is now taking a leap into the digital future of finance. +It was here, in June this year, that I launched India’s RuPay card and the first international remittance mobile app using India’s world class Unified Payment Interface or UPI. +India and Singapore are also working to connect Indian and ASEAN small and medium enterprises, anchored on an Indian platform, and expand it globally. +I have heard of an advice going around in start-up circles. +● To increase your Venture Capital or VC funding by 10 percent, tell the investors you run a “platform”, not a regular business. +● If you want to increase your VC funding by 20 percent, tell the investors that you are operating in the “fintech space”. +● But, if you really want the investors to empty their pockets, tell them that you are using “blockchain” . +It tells you of the excitement and promise of emerging technologies to transform the world of finance. +Indeed, history has shown that finance is often the first to embrace new technology and connectivity. +We are in an age of a historic transition brought about by technology. +From desktop to cloud, from internet to social media, from IT Services to Internet of Things,we have come a long way in a short time. +There is daily disruption in businesses. +The character of the global economy is changing. +Technology is defining competitiveness and power in the new world. +And, it is creating boundless opportunities to transform lives. +I had said at the United Nations in 2014 that we have to believe that development and empowerment can spread with the same speed at which Facebook, Twitter or mobile phones have spread. +Across the world, that vision is rapidly changing into reality. +My government came to office in 2014 with a mission of inclusive development that would touch the lives of every citizen – the weakest in the remotest village. +That mission needed a solid foundation of financial inclusion for all – a task that was not easy in a country of India’s size. +Yet, we wanted to achieve this in months, not years that conventional wisdom suggested. +With the power of fintech and the reach of digital connectivity, we have started a revolution of unprecedented speed and scale. +To begin with financial inclusion has become a reality for 1.3 billion Indians. +We have generated more than 1.2 billion biometric identities – called Aadhaar or foundation – in just a few years. +With our Jan DhanYojana, we aimed to give a bank account to every Indian. +So today, more than a billion biometric identities, more than a billion bank accounts and more than a billion cell phones give India by far the biggest public infrastructure in the world. +More than Rupees 3.6 lakh crore, or 50 billion dollars of benefits from government have reached the people directly. +No longer must a poor citizen in a remote village travel long distances or pay off middle-men to get her rights. +No longer can fake and duplicate accounts bleed government finances. +We have saved over Rupees 80,000 crore, or 12 billion dollars in prevented leakages. +Banking has come to doorsteps even in remote villages through 400,000 micro ATMs based on Aadhaar. +And now, this digital infrastructure has helped launch the world’s largest healthcare scheme this year. +‘Ayushman’ will provide affordable health insurance to 500 million Indians. +It has also helped us extend 145 million loans for small entrepreneurs through Mudra scheme. +In four years, they amount to Rupees 6.5 lakh crore, or 90 billion dollars. +Nearly 75 percent of these loans have gone to women. +Just a few weeks ago, we launched the India Post Payments Bank. +Over 150 thousand post offices across India and 300,000 postal service employees are using technology to provide house to house banking. +Of course financial inclusion also needs digital connectivity. +More than 120,000 village councils in India have already been connected by nearly 300,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables. +Over 300,000 Common Service Centres have brought digital access to villages. +They give our farmers better access to land records, credit, insurance, market and the best price. +They deliver health services and hygiene products to women. +None of this would have been as effective without the other big change brought about by fintech – the digitisation of payments and transactions in India. +For those with mobile and internet, the BHIM-UPI is the world’s most sophisticated, simpleand seamless platform for payments between accounts, using a virtual payment address. +For those who have a mobile, but no internet, there is U.S.S.D. system in 12 languages. +And, for those who have neither mobile nor internet, there is Aadhar Enabled Payment System, which uses biometrics. +And, it has already registered a billion transactions and grown six-fold in two years. +From cards to QRs and wallets, digital transactions in India are growing rapidly. +Today, 128 banks in India are connected to UPI. +Transactions on UPI grew 1500 times in the last 24 months. +Every month, the value of transaction is growing by over 30 percent. +But, more than the pace, I am inspired by the opportunities, efficiency, transparency and convenience that digital payment is generating. +A shopkeeper can go online to reduce his inventory and speed up collections. +A worker collects wages or remits money home quickly without giving up a day’s work. +Every digital payment saves time. +It adds to a huge national saving. +It is increasing productivity of individuals and our economy. +It also helps improve tax collection and inject fairness in the economy. +Even more, digital payments are a gateway to a world of possibilities. +Financial inclusion also extends to micro, small and medium enterprises. +They are all coming on the nation-wide Goods and Services Tax digital network, launched just over a year ago. +Banks are reaching out to them with credit. +Alternative lending platforms are offering innovative financing models. +They no longer have to look at informal markets for credit at high interest rates. +And, just this month, we committed to approve loans up to Rupees 1 crore, or one 150,000 dollars for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises within 59 minutes – without even visiting a bank. +This is driven by an algorithm that uses GST returns, Income Tax returns and bank statements to make credit decisions. +In just a few days, 150,000 such enterprises have come on board for loans. +This is the power of fintech to drive enterprise, employment and prosperity. +Digital technology is introducing transparency and eliminating corruption through innovations such as the Government e-Marketor GEM. +It is an integrated platform for purchases by government agencies. +It provides everything – search and comparison, tender, online ordering, contract generation and payment. +There is an explosion of fintech innovation and enterprise in India. +It has turned India into a leading fintech and Startup nation in the world. +The future of fintech and Industry 4.0 is emerging in India. +Our youth are developing apps that are making the dream of paperless, cashless, presence-less, and yet safe and secure, transactions possible for all. +That is the wonder of India Stack– simply the largest set of Application Programming Interface in the world. +They are using Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and machine learning to create solutions for banks, regulators and consumers. +And, they are also embracing our nation’s social missions – from health and education to micro credit and insurance. +This enormous talent pool in India benefits from the ecosystem created by initiatives such as Digital India and Startup India, and by supportive policies, incentives and funding programmes. +So, I say this to all the fintech companies and startups – India is your best destination. +The economies of scale achieved in India by the LED bulb industry allowed this energy efficient technology to become more affordable globally. +Likewise, India’s vast market can enable fintech products to achieve scale, reduce risks and costs, and go global. +In short, the Indian story shows six great benefits of fintech: Access ,inclusion; connectivity; ease of living; opportunity; and, accountability. +Across the world, from the Indo-Pacific to Africa to Latin America, we see inspiring stories of extraordinary innovation changing ordinary lives . +But, there is much to be done. +Our focus should be development of all, through , that is, development of the most marginalised. +We must bring the unbanked 1.7 billion people in the world into the formal financial market. +We must extend the security of insurance and pension to more than a billion workers in the informal sectors worldwide, who still do not have it. +We can use fintech to ensure that no dream remains unfulfilled, and no enterprise remains still born, because of lack of access to finance. +We must make banks and financial institutions more resilient in managing risks,fighting frauds and dealing with disruption of traditional models. +We have to use technology to improve compliance,regulation and supervision, so that innovation flourishes and risks are contained. +We must use fintech tools to combat money laundering and other financial crimes. +The emerging world of finance will succeed in our inter-connected world when our data and systems are trusted and secure. +We have to make our globally wired system safe from cyber threats. +We also need to enhance awareness of the masses and educate them about the opportunities which inclusive policies and use of technology open up for them. +For this,fintech will need to be not merely a mechanism but a movement. +And, we have to address the inevitable questions of data ownership and flow, privacy and consent; private and public good; law and ethics. +to make the world more humane and equal –between rich and poor, between cities and villages, between hopes and achievements. +Just as India will learn from others, we will share our experience and expertise with the world. +This is a common journey for all. +Like the festival of light that calls us to spread light over darkness,hope and happiness over despair,this festival calls us to come together in pursuit of a better future for humanity. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for setting up of six new Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in the country. +These new IIMs will be located at Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Sirmaur (Himachal Pradesh), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Sambalpur (Odisha) and Amritsar (Punjab). +These IIMs will begin functioning from assigned temporary campuses and shift to their permanent sites after construction of their campuses. +It is intended that these six new IIMs will commence their first academic session from 2015-16. +Each Institute will start with an intake of 140 students in the Post Graduate Programme (PGP) courses. +It is expected that the annual intake will increase to reach a level of 560 students each year by the end of seven years. +The PGP in Management would be the flagship programme of these institutions. +Admission to the PGP will be through the open and competitive Common Admission Test (CAT) being conducted by the IIMs. +In addition, the reorganization of the State of Andhra Pradesh into the two States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has necessitated the setting up of an IIM in Andhra Pradesh, consequent to and in pursuance of the Andhra Pradesh Re-organization Act, 2014. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met Shri Abhishek Kumar Sharma, a youth who is undertaking a nationwide cycle yatra to generate awareness about the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. +Abhishek says he was inspired by the Prime Minister`s call for Swachh Bharat, to undertake such a journey to motivate people towards this cause. +He says he will devote an entire year to the cause of Swachh Bharat. +The Prime Minister complimented Abhishek for his unique effort, and wished him well for his future endeavours. +In an important step to boost electronics production, as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India initiative, the Union Government has issued strict guidelines to all Ministries to provide preference to domestically manufactured electronic products in Government procurement. +A Committee of Secretaries has decided that all Ministries and Departments should identify department-specific domestically manufactured electronic products for procurement, and notify them within a fortnight. +All Government Departments have been asked to adhere to a tender template already issued by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, for procurement of electronic items. +The Department of Electronics and Information Technology has also been asked to put in place an online monitoring system for reporting by Ministries/Departments and State Governments, on procurement of electronic products. +This system, to be operationalized in a fortnight, will capture the break-up of domestically manufactured electronic equipment by value. +Bilateral relations between India and Russia are marked by broad understanding on issues of mutual interest. +India and Russia enjoy enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas of the bilateral relationship. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana (VPBY) 2003 launched on 14th July, 2003 and Varistha Pension Bima Yojana (VPBY) 2014 launched on 14th August, 2014. +The Cabinet also granted approval for expenditure incurred on subsidy amount released to LIC during the period of 2003-04 to 2014-15 for VPBY, 2003 and approval to incur expenditure on VPBY, 2003 and 2014 from the financial year 2015-16 onwards. +The Schemes are implemented through Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India, and the difference between the actual yield earned by LIC on the funds invested under the Scheme and the assured return committed by the Government is paid as subsidy to LIC. +Both are pension schemes intended to give an assured minimum pension to the Senior Citizens based on an assured minimum return on the subscription amount. +The pension is envisaged until death from the date of subscription, with payback of the subscription amount on death of the subscriber to the nominee. +Both the schemes VPBY – 2003 and VPBY – 2014 are closed for future subscriptions. +However, policies sold during the currency of policy are being serviced as per the commitment of guaranteed 9% return assured by the Government under the schemes. +Similarly, a total number of 2,84,699 annuitants are being benefited under VPBY- 2003 as on 31st March, 2016. +The MOU was signed on 11th January 2017 in New Delhi. +He inaugurated the Integrated Command and Control Centre at Naya Raipur Smart City. +He was briefed on various aspects of the Command and Control Centre. +He later visited Blast Furnace-8 at the Bhilai Steel Plant, and was briefed on various aspects of the Plant. +People lined the streets of Bhilai to greet the Prime Minister. +At a large public meeting, the Prime Minister dedicated the modernized and expanded Bhilai Steel Plant, to the nation. +He laid the foundation stone for IIT Bhilai. +He also unveiled a plaque to mark the commencement of phase-2 of BharatNet. +The Prime Minister inaugurated air services between Jagdalpur and Raipur. +He also distributed laptops, certificates and cheques etc. to beneficiaries under various schemes. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister asserted that development is the best answer to all kinds of violence. +He said that the Bhilai Steel Plant has contributed in a big way to nation-building. +He said the modernized and expanded plant would be instrumental in building a strong foundation for New India. +He also spoke of the benefits that the other development projects launched today would bring about. +The Prime Minister said that in the last two months, the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan has had a very positive effect. +He said that this Abhiyan (mission) is being pursued vigorously in the 115 Aspirational Districts, out of which 12 districts are in Chhattisgarh. +He spoke of the benefit that schemes such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Mudra Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Fasal Bima Yojana and Saubhagya have brought about in the State. +Shri Narendra Modi said that keeping in mind the interests of the tribal population, the Forest Rights Act is being strictly implemented. +He said the Government is working for the welfare of tribals, and Eklavya Vidyalayas are being established across the country. +Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi launched today his ambitious multi-purpose and multi-modal platform PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation). +PRAGATI is a unique integrating and interactive platform. +The platform is aimed at addressing common man’s grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by State Governments. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the whole world is now observing India keenly. +It is imperative that governance in India becomes more efficient and responsive. +He said the PRAGATI platform was a step in this direction. +Also, the intervention through PRAGATI is leading to system improvement so that such grievances do not arise. +• Two issues flagged by States of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, regarding National Highways and clearance for Navi Mumbai airport, respectively. +Due to PRAGATI, on several issues there was definite progress. +In fact, some of the issues were almost finally resolved. +• Progress of School Toilet Programme, and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan +PM gave suitable directions for redressal of grievances and compliance on the projects and programmes and motivated all officers to work in coordinated manner for outcome; +It also offers a unique combination in the direction of cooperative federalism since it brings on one stage the Secretaries of Government of India and the Chief Secretaries of the States. +Such an effort has never been made in India. +It is also an innovative project in e-governance and good governance. +Immediately after assuming office, the Prime Minister had shown his keenness to design a credible mechanism for redressal of Public Grievances. +He was equally keen to see that programmes and projects launched by the Central and State Government(s) are monitored properly for timely implementation and desired outcome. +With that spirit and for holistic development of the country, it was also felt necessary to facilitate from the Union Government level the projects of the States. +Accordingly, with the three objectives of: Grievance Redressal, Programme Implementation and Project Monitoring, an IT-based redressal and monitoring system has been designed. +It will combine Data Management and Analysis, Geo-spatial Applications as well as Video-conferencing. +The application will be accessible to the Secretaries of the Government of India and the State Chief Secretaries. +Key features of the PRAGATI application are as follows: +• It is a three-tier system (PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of the States); +• Prime Minister will hold a monthly programme where he will interact with the Government of India Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries through Video-conferencing enabled by data and geo-informatics visuals; +• The first such programme was launched on 25th March, 2015 (Wednesday) at 3.30 PM; +• Issues to be flagged before the PM are picked up from the available database regarding Public Grievances, on-going Programmes and pending Projects; +• The system will ride on, strengthen and re-engineer the data bases of the CPGRAMS for grievances, Project Monitoring Group (PMG) and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. +PRAGATI provides an interface and platform for all these three aspects. +• The issues flagged are uploaded seven days prior to the PRAGATI day (i.e. on third Wednesday of every month). +• These issues can be viewed by the Union Government Secretaries and Chief Secretaries after entering into the application; +• User ID and Password for each of the Union Government Secretaries and Chief Secretaries have been created and made available; +• Union Government Secretaries and Chief Secretaries will be able to see the issues pertaining to their Department /State; +• Union Government Secretaries and Chief Secretaries have to put their comments and updates about the flagged issues within three days (i.e. by next Monday); +• One day – Tuesday is available to the PMO team to review the data entered by the Union Government Secretaries and Chief Secretaries; +• The design is such, that when PM reviews the issue he should have on his screen the issue as well as the latest updates and visuals regarding the same; +The system has been designed in-house by the PMO team with the help of National Informatics Center (NIC). +As the name suggests, it is aimed at starting a culture of Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has approved the revised guidelines of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) on time bound closure of sick/ loss making Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and disposal of movable and immovable assets. +The revised guidelines would reduce delays in implementation of closure plans of sick/loss making CPSEs. +These guidelines will replace the guidelines issued by DPE in September, 2016. +The guidelines provide for advance preparatory action to be taken by administrative Ministry/ Department and CPSEs, preparation of closure proposal, settlement of statutory and other liabilities of the CPSE under closure and modalities for disposal of movable and immovable assets of such CPSEs in a time bound manner. +The guidelines give first priority for utilization of land of CPSEs under closure for Affordable Housing as per the relevant guidelines of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). +These guidelines shall apply to all sick/ loss making CPSEs, where – +By assigning priority to Affordable Housing it would make available land parcels of sick/loss making CPSEs under closure for the Government flagship programme of Affordable Housing being managed by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. +It has been extremely hot this year. +But it is good that the monsoon is moving ahead on schedule on its natural course. +The weather has become pleasant in several parts of the country with abundant showers. +As a result of the rains, the cool breeze has brought about some respite from the oppressive heat of past few days. +One has seen that no matter how hectic the life is, no matter how tense we are, whether its one’s personal or public life, the arrival of the rains does lift one’s spirits. +The Car festival of Lord Jagannath, the Rath Yatra, is being celebrated in several parts of the country with great piety and fervour. +This festival is now also celebrated in some parts of the world. +The underprivileged of the country are deeply connected to Lord Jagannath. +Those who have studied the life and works of Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar, would have observed that he had wholeheartedly praised the Lord Jagannath temple and its traditions, since, social justice and social equality were inherent to these. +Lord Jagannath is the God of the poor. +But few would know that in English, there is a word, ‘juggernaut’ which means, a magnificent chariot, that is unstoppable. +In the dictionary, the etymology of the word ‘juggernaut’ traces its roots to the chariot of Lord Jagannath. +And therefore, we can observe that the world has in its own way accepted the significance of the Car Festival of Lord Jagannath, The Rath Yatra. +On the occasion of Lord Jagannath’s Car Festival, I extend my heartiest greetings to all my fellow countrymen, and offer my obeisance to Lord Jagannath. +India’s diversity is its unique characteristic, and India’s diversity is also its strength. +The holy month of Ramzan is observed all across, in prayer with piety. +And now the festival of Eid is here. +Let us come together and take inspiration from these holy festivals and share their joyous treasures, and take the nation forward. +In this holy month of Ramzan, I came across a very inspiring incident at Mubarakpur village of Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh. +About three and a half thousand families of our Muslim brethren reside in that little village and in a way, form a majority of its population. +I felicitate the residents of Mubarakpur, for transforming the pious occasion of Ramzan into an opportunity for the welfare of society on. +Each and everything about them is inspiring. +And the most important of it all is that they have freed Mubarakpur of the scourge of open defecation. +We know that in our country there are three states that have already been declared Open Defecation Free states, that is, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala. +Uttarakhand and Haryana have also been declared ODF, this week. +I express my gratitude to the administration, government and especially the people of these five states, for achieving this objective. +We know very well, that tremendous hard work is required to achieve anything worthwhile, whether it is in one’s own life or for the society. +If we have bad handwriting, and we want to improve it, we have to consciously practice for a long time. +Only then will the habit of the body and mind will change. +Cleanliness is also similar to this. +These bad habits have become a part of our nature. +We have become accustomed to them. +To free ourselves of these habits we will have to constantly strive and persevere. +Everyone’s attention will have to be drawn. +We will have to repeatedly remind ourselves of good inspirational incidents. +And I’m happy to see that cleanliness is no longer confined to being a government programme. +It is getting transformed into a movement by the society and the people. +And when government functionaries take this initiative forward with the participation of the masses, it becomes even stronger. +Recently I came across a wonderful incident, which I would like to share with you. +This happened in the Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh. +The district administration there undertook a huge task with people’s participation. +From 6 a.m. on the 10th of March, till 10 am of the 14th of March. +And what was the objective? +To construct 10,000 household toilets in 71 gram panchayats in those hundred hours. +And my Dear Countrymen, you will be happy to learn that the administration and the people together did construct 10,000 toilets in hundred hours successfully. +I congratulate the people in the government, government officials and the citizens of Vizianagaram district on this great accomplishment of achieving this feat through immense hard work and setting a very inspiring example in the process. +1975 – 25th June – it was a dark night that no devotee of democracy can ever forget. +No Indian can ever forget. +The country had virtually become a prison. +The voice of the opposition had been smothered. +Several prominent leaders including Jai Prakash Narayan had been jailed. +The judicial system too could not escape the sinister shadows of the Emergency. +The press was completely muffled. +The present-day students of journalism and the champions of democracy have been endeavouring towards raising awareness about that dark period, by constant reminders, and should continue to do so. +Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji was also in jail at that time. +We have to further fortify that legacy. +My dear countrymen, every Indian today, is proud and holds his head high. +21st June 2017 – Yoga has permeated the entire world. +From the seashores to the mountains, people welcomed the first rays of the sun, with Yoga. +Which Indian wouldn’t be proud of this! +It isn’t as if Yoga didn’t exist before, but now the threads of Yoga have bound everyone together, and have become the means to unite the world. +Almost all the countries in the world made Yoga Day their own. +In China, Yoga was practiced on the Great Wall of China, and on the World Heritage site of Machu Picchu in Peru, at 2400 metres above sea level. +In France, yoga was performed in the vicinity of the Eiffel Tower. +In Abu Dhabi in UAE, more than 4000 persons participated in mass yoga. +In Herat, in Afghanistan, on the India Afghan Friendship Dam, Salma Dam, Yoga added a new aspect to India’s friendship. +In a small country like Singapore, programs were organised in 70 places, with a week long campaign. +The staff of the UN and diplomats from across the world participated. +Yoga has created a world record again this time also. +In Ahmedabad in Gujarat, around 55 thousand people performed Yoga together and created a new world record. +I too had the opportunity to participate in the Yoga event held in Lucknow. +But I also had the good fortune to practice Yoga in the rain for the first time. +Our soldiers practiced yoga in Siachen where temperatures reach minus 20, 25, 40 degrees. +Whether it is our armed forces, or the BSF, ITBP, CRPF and CISF, each one of them, apart from their duties has made Yoga a part of their lives. +On this Yoga Day, since this was the third International Day of Yoga, I had asked you to share photos of three generations of the family doing yoga together. +Some TV channels also took this idea forward. +I received a lot of photographs out of which, selected photographs are compiled and uploaded on the NarendraModiApp. +One significant outcome of the way the yoga is being talked about all around the world is the portent that today’s health conscious society is now taking steps from fitness to wellness, and they have realised that fitness is, of course, important, but for true wellness, yoga is the best way. +“Respected Prime Minister Sir, I am Dr. Anil Sonara speaking from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. +You had started this practice while you were in office in Gujarat, Sir, but in the recent days we have not been seeing much of this. +Is there nothing we can do to have this implemented throughout the country, Sir?” +Recently, I had the opportunity to go to one of my favorite events. +Thus I was also reminded of what had slipped my mind. +Because when I was in Gujarat, I had set this tradition of welcoming, by not giving bouquets, but books or handkerchiefs instead. +And that too, a ‘Khadi’ handkerchief, so that it promotes ‘Khadi’. +Till the time I was in Gujarat, this habit had been ingrained in us, but after coming here, I had lost that habit. +When I went to Kerala, it was rekindled. +I have already begun to issue instructions in the government. +Here too we can gradually nurture this habit. +And the life span of a bouquet is very short. +The expenses are reduced as well, and the gift is well utilized too. +I say this, thinking of the historical value of such gifts. +So many years have passed and yet, Queen Elizabeth has treasured the handkerchief gifted by Mahatma Gandhi. +And she was happy to show it to me, when I went there. +As I gazed at it, the Queen encouraged me to touch it. +A small gift by Mahatma Gandhi, has become a part of her life and a part of history. +I know that these habits do not change overnight, and when we talk about it, we invite criticism. +Despite that, one should keep talking about it, and keep making the effort. +Now, I cannot say that if I go somewhere and somebody brings a bouquet I will refuse it. +No, I won’t do that, but we will talk about it even though there is criticism, and then gradually, the change will happen. +My dear countrymen, as Prime Minister, there are numerous tasks to be handled. +I have to remain deeply absorbed in files, but for my own self, I have developed a habit of reading daily, at least a few of the letters I receive and because of that I get a chance to connect with the common man. +I get a variety of letters, written by all sorts of people. +Recently, I had the opportunity to read a letter, which I feel, I should share with you. +She wrote, that she thought about engaging in some economic activity keeping in mind her responsibilities such as children’s education, to lend some financial assistance to her family. +She got some money from the bank, under the ‘Mudra’ Scheme and commenced working towards procuring some items from the market for sale. +Then she came to know of the ‘Government E-Marketplace’ system initiated by the government. +She tried to find out the details, and asked people about it. +And then she registered herself for the scheme. +Here I want to tell my countrymen, that if you get the opportunity, you should also visit, the E-G-E-M, E-GEM website on the Internet. +This is a great new system. +Whoever wants to supply any item to the government, small things such as electric bulbs, dustbins, brooms, chairs and tables, they can register themselves. +They can mention the quality of the goods, the rate at which they sell, and it is compulsory for the government departments to visit the site and see whether the supplier can supply the goods at reasonable prices without compromising on the quality. +And then the orders can be placed. +So, when people register in E-GEM, all the government departments become aware of them. +As there are no middlemen, the goods are available at very reasonable rates. +Now whatever goods Arulmozhi Madam could supply, she got all those registered on this government website. +And the best part is, what she has written in this letter is very interesting. +She has written that she got the money from the ‘Mudra’ Scheme and started her business, then she registered the inventory of all her products on the E-GEM website, and then she got an order from the Prime Minister’s Office. +Had Arulmozhi not written to me I wouldn’t have realised that because of E-GEM, a housewife living far away and running a small business can have the items on her inventory purchased directly by the Prime Minister’s Office. +This is the nation’s strength. +I believe that this is an excellent example of Minimum Government and Maximum Governance, and it’s objective is Minimum Price and Maximum Ease, Efficiency and Transparency. +My dear countrymen, on the one hand, we take pride in Yoga, on the other we can also take pride in our achievements in space science. +And this is the unique attribute of India, that whereas we have our feet firmly on the ground with Yoga, we have our dreams to soar beyond horizons to far away skies. +Recently, India has had many achievements in sports, as well as science. +Today, India’s flag is flying high not only on earth but also in space. +And besides India, these satellites are of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and America, nearly 14 such countries. +And with India’s Nano Satellite Mission, we will get a lot of help in the field of agriculture, farming, and dealing with natural disasters. +We are all aware that a few days ago, ISRO has successfully launched the GSAT-19. +And of all the satellites launched by India, this was the heaviest satellite. +On the 19th of June, our Mars Mission completed one thousand days. +You may be aware that when we had successfully created a place for the Mars Mission in orbit, this entire mission was planned for a duration of 6 months. +But I’m happy that the strength of the endeavours of our scientists has been such that not only has this crossed six months; even after a thousand days, our Mangalyaan Mission is at work, sending images, providing information, collating scientific data, way beyond its expected duration and life expectancy. +The completion of one thousand days, is an important milestone in our scientific journey, our space odyssey. +These days we see that our youth are getting increasingly inclined to the field of sports. +Recently India’s Badminton player, Kidambi Shrikant has brought glory to the nation by winning Indonesia Open. +I extend my heartiest congratulations to him and his coach for this victory. +I had the opportunity, a few days ago to be associated with the inaugural function of the Synthetic Track of the renowned athlete, P.T. Usha’s Usha School of Athletics. +The more we promote sports, the more we see the spirit of sportsmanship. +There is no dearth of talent in our country. +If the children in our family are interested in sports, they should be given opportunities. +They should not be forced off the playing fields to be locked in rooms with books. +They should study as well, if they can do well in studies, they should certainly do so, but if they have the potential and the inclination to do well in sports, that should be encouraged and supported by the school, college, family and all the people around them. +Each one should nurture dreams for the next Olympics. +My dear countrymen, let me mention once again, that this Season of Rains, with its abundance of festivals and festivities, brings with it a unique new feeling of the times. +I extend my heartiest greetings to you all, until the next episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, when I shall share my thoughts with you once again. +Painted in the traditional Indian miniature style, this composition shows Guru Nanak Dev with his two disciples Bhai Mardana and Bhai Bala, sitting beside him. +The Prime Minister said, “So many of our Punjabi brothers and sisters have made Canada their home and enriched it with their renowned vigour and entrepreneurial drive.” +A large number of major and medium irrigation projects taken up under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) were languishing mainly due to inadequate provision of funds. +During 2016-17, 99 ongoing projects under PMKSY- AIBP were identified for completion in phases by December-2019. +To cater to the large fund requirement and ensure completion of these projects, the Union Finance Minister, during his Budget speech 2016-17, announced creation of dedicated Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) in NABARD with an initial corpus of Rs. 20,000 crore for funding of Central and State share for the identified ongoing projects under PMKSY (AIBP and CAD). +To make the loan from NABARD attractive for states, it was decided that the rate of interest may be kept around 6% by providing requisite cost free funds to NABARD every year during 2016-17 to 2019-20 on which interest cost would be borne by Govt. of India. +During the year 2016-17, NABARD disbursed aggregate amount of Rs. 9086.02 crore under LTIF, out of which Rs. 2414.16 crore was released for Polavaram project (without EBR component) and balance Rs. 6671.86 crore was released to identified projects using EBR. +Further, an amount of Rs. 924.9 crore was disbursed as Central Assistance (CA) through budgetary provision. +During 2016-17, overall an amount of Rs 2187 crore was raised by NABARD in the form of Government of India fully serviced bond as EBR. +During 2017-18, it is estimated that an amount of Rs 29,000 Crore may be required through LTIF, for which EBR of Rs 9020 cr would be required. +As per the status reported by the states and Central Water Commission during various review meeting, 18 projects have been completed/almost completed. +Irrigation potential utilization is expected to be more than 14 lakh hectares during 2016-17 from all the 99 projects. +During 2017-18, 33 more projects are likely to be completed. +The completion of the identified irrigation projects will generate immediate wage and other employment opportunities in good measure during the construction phase. +More importantly, on completion of the projects, the utilization of irrigation potential of about 76 lakh hectares will transform the agriculture scenario of the region resulting in generation of substantially more employment opportunities through increase in cropping intensity, change in cropping pattern, agro processing and other ancillary activities. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has commended bank officers and staff, on the excellent work put in by them in rolling out the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana successfully. +In an email, the Prime Minister said he is delighted by the unprecedented response it has received so far. +Over 5 crore bank accounts have been opened within 5 weeks of launch against a target of 7.5 crore accounts in the first year. +“This is primarily due to your diligence and commitment. +I had urged you to ensure that no one is left behind without a bank account. +“However, as we move ahead from here, the journey is bound to become more difficult and achievements harder to come by. +Reaching the last few who do not have bank accounts is going to be progressively more difficult. +We must not slacken our efforts in ensuring full coverage,” the Prime Minister added. +“This is also the time to reflect and make mid-course corrections as required. +A lot of effort will be required in promoting financial literacy amongst the new account holders. +New accounts also need to be kept alive and properly utilized. +Aadhaar numbers will need to be seeded in bank accounts. +Facilities like e-KYC must be gainfully utilized. +Bank branches and Bank Mitras will have to play a more proactive role so that every account holder is reached by a banking agent regularly,” the Prime Minister said. +“I am confident that with the kind of enthusiasm and commitment that you have demonstrated, we will succeed in achieving Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana’s objectives as planned,” the Prime Minister said. +The NDA Government is focused on giving a boost to entrepreneurship. +New Processes: ‘Make in India’ recognizes ‘ease of doing business’ as the single most important factor to promote entrepreneurship. +New Infrastructure: Availability of modern and facilitating infrastructure is a very important requirement for the growth of industry. +Government intends to develop industrial corridors and smart cities to provide infrastructure based on state-of-the-art technology with modern high-speed communication and integrated logistic arrangements. +New Sectors: ‘Make in India’ has identified 25 sectors in manufacturing, infrastructure and service activities and detailed information is being shared on them with all stakeholders. +New Mindset: Industry is accustomed to see Government as a regulator. +‘Make in India’ intends to change this by bringing a paradigm shift in how Government interacts with industry. +The Government’s approach will be that of a facilitator and not that of a regulator. +The Government is adopting a three pronged strategy to boost entrepreneurship. +This is a 3 C Model being worked upon: Compliances, Capital & Contract Enforcement. +India made rapid strides in the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ rankings by the Worls Bank rising to 130th rank. +Today, starting a new business is easier than ever before. +Unnecessary compliances have been removed and a lot of permissions can be obtained online. +Process of applying for Industrial License (IL) and Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum (IEM) has been made online and this service is now available to entrepreneurs on 24×7 basis. +Around 20 services are integrated & will function as a single window portal for obtaining clearances from various governments and government agencies. +The Government also liberalized India’s FDI rules across multiple sectors to facilitate investment in India. +Around 58 million non-corporate enterprises provided one 128 million jobs in India. +60% of them were in rural areas. +Over 40% were owned by people from the Backward Classes and 15% by Scheduled Castes and Tribes. +But bank credit accounted for a tiny share of their financing. +Most of them never get any bank credit. +In other words the most employment-intensive sector of the economy gets the least credit. +To change this scenario, the Govt launched the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana & the MUDRA Bank. +It has been started with the aim of availing collateral-free cheap credit to the small scale entrepreneurs who often have to pay exorbitant interest rates. +In the brief period since its launch, it has already sanctioned about 1.18 crore loans amounting to almost 65,000 crores. +The number of people getting a loan below Rs 50,000 registered a growth of 555% in April- September 2015 over the corresponding period of the previous year. +Contract Enforcement +To achieve better contract enforceability, the Arbitration Law has been changed to make arbitrations cheaper & faster. +The law would impose deadlines to resolve cases & empower tribunals to enforce decisions. +The Government has also come up with a modern bankruptcy code, which will make exiting business easier. +Mr. Hideaki Ohmura, Governor of Aichi Prefecture of Japan called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Shri Narendra Modi fondly recalled his meetings with Mr. Ohmura in 2012 and 2014, and appreciated the close business ties between Aichi-based Japanese companies and India. +Governor Ohmura briefed Prime Minister Modi about his efforts to promote greater trade and investment relations between Japan and India. +The Prime Minister welcomed the initiatives taken by Japanese SMEs in this regard, and promised all possible support through the “Japan Plus” mechanism to their endeavours. +The Prime Minister also called for closer interactions between Indian states and Japanese prefectures to promote business to business ties. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that India would use the strengths of its democracy and young population for the benefit of mankind. +He said the coming age would be the age of knowledge, and India would once again perform the role of “Vishvaguru”. +In his remarks during an interaction with civil society at Fiji Technical University in Suva today, the Prime Minister said India had a responsibility towards the world at large. +The Prime Minister said India and Fiji have many shared values, and it is the responsibility of both of them to strengthen those values. +Saying that Fiji had chosen the path of democracy to move forward, the Prime Minister said this had set an example that would exert a positive influence in the wider Pacific region as well. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on the completion of three years of the Jan Dhan Yojana, has congratulated all the beneficiaries of this historic financial inclusion initiative. +“Today, Jan Dhan Yojana completes 3 years. +I congratulate the crores of people, particularly the poor, who benefitted from this initiative. +Jan Dhan Revolution is a historic movement to bring the poor, downtrodden and marginalised into the financial mainstream. +Through Jan Dhan Yojana, social security schemes, MUDRA & Stand-Up India, we have given wings to millions of aspirations. +Our efforts to bring a qualitative and transformative change in the lives of the poor and marginalised continue with immense vigour”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, inaugurated modern food processing facilities, including Amul’s ultra-modern Chocolate Plant, at Anand today. +He also visited the chocolate plant and was briefed on the various technologies used, and products being made there. +Speaking on the occasion, he thanked the people of Anand for turning out in such large numbers. +He said the development projects being inaugurated today augur well for the cooperative sector. +He said the brand of Amul is known globally, and has become an inspiration worldwide. +He said Amul is not only about milk processing, but an excellent model of empowerment. +The Prime Minister said that through cooperatives, Sardar Patel showed a way where neither Government nor industrialists call the shots. +He said it is a unique model, where the people matter. +He said endeavours in the cooperative sector in Gujarat have helped the people, especially the farmers. +He also recalled Sardar Patel’s emphasis on urban development. +Referring to India’s 75th anniversary of independence in 2022, the Prime Minister said India is doing well in milk processing but can do even better. +He said the time has come to give importance to innovation and value addition. +In this context he also spoke of the production of honey. +The developed road shall be useful for Central Water Commission, as a Center of Excellence is proposed to be constructed over the allotted land. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United Arab Emirates on Institutional Cooperation in Maritime Transport. +The MoU will enable Shipping Companies in both countries to enter into bilateral and multi-lateral arrangements for sustainable trading activities. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Shri Narayanbhai Desai. +“Narayanbhai Desai will be remembered as a scholarly personality who brought Gandhi ji closer to the masses. +Sad to hear of his demise. +Rest in Peace”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the valedictory ceremony of the Sesquicentennial Celebrations of the Allahabad High Court. +Speaking on the occasion, he said the Allahabad High Court is like a place of pilgrimage for our judiciary. +He said those associated with the legal profession also played a vital role in our freedom struggle, and protected our people against colonialism. +He urged people to think about the India we want to create when we mark 75 years of freedom in 2022. +He said every citizen should prepare a roadmap towards it. +The Prime Minister said that about 1200 obsolete laws have been scrapped by the Union Government since May 2014. +He said technology is playing a key role in this century and there is a lot of scope for its use in the judiciary as well. +He urged those involved in the startup sector to innovate on aspects where technology can help the judiciary. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi released the Platinum Jubilee Milestone book on Tata Memorial Centre, at his residence in New Delhi today. +2. Memorandum of Understanding between the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India and the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. +3. Agreement between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and sports of the Republic Of India and the State Committee for sport of Turkmenistan on Cooperation in the field Of sports. +4. Programme of Cooperation in Science and Technology between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Turkmenistan for the Period of 2015-2017. +5. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Turkmenistan on Cooperation in Yoga and Traditional Medicine. +6. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Turkmenistan on Cooperation in the field of Tourism. +7. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Turkmenistan on Cooperation in the field of Defence. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated the Indian Hockey Team for their performance in the Azlan Shah Cup. +“In the midst of meetings with German CEOs, got the news about the Bronze in Azlan Shah Cup. +Congratulations to the Indian Hockey Team,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister conveyed that India attached high importance to its relations with Iran. +He recalled his fruitful meeting with President Rouhani in Ufa, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, in July 2015. +Both leaders call for expanding bilateral ties, and stress on the need for reform of the United Nations 3 MoUs signed +Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Brasilia on the margins of the Sixth BRICS Summit. +Describing Brazil as a key global partner for India, Prime Minister noted that as two democracies and major emerging economies, India and Brazil not only had vast potential for bilateral cooperation, but also to strengthen each other in international forums and advance the interest of the developing world at large. +He also noted that Gujarat has emerged as a prime driver of India`s economic relations with Brazil. +President Rousseff emphasized the special place this relationship enjoyed in Brazil`s foreign policy, because of the potential for bilateral cooperation and the international significance of their partnership. +She congratulated Shri Narendra Modi for his impressive victory in the elections and wished him all success for India`s progress and development. +The two leaders also agreed to take steps to further expand and diversify trade and investment flows and deepen cooperation in agriculture and dairy science, conventional and renewable energy, space research and applications, defence, cyber security and environment conservation. +They also agreed to intensify their cooperation in international forums and multilateral institutions, including the G20. +As leaders of G4 countries, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and President Rousseff called for urgent progress on reforms of the United Nations, including the Security Council, by the time of the seventieth anniversary of the UN in 2015. +Prime Minister expressed hope that he would be able to visit Brazil on a full bilateral visit soon and invited President Rousseff to visit India. +Following their meeting, the two sides signed three agreements: +-MoU on cooperation in the field of environment +-Implementing arrangement establishing cooperation in augmentation of a Brazilian earth station for receiving and processing data from Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) Satellites +-MoU on cooperation in the field of mobility and consular issues. +I am delighted to be in Madurai, famous for Minakshi-Sundareshwara Temple and a place that owes its name to the auspicious blessings of Lord Shiva. +The Country celebrated Republic Day yesterday. +In some ways, the laying of foundation stone of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Madurai today reflects our vision of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”. +We all know that AIIMS in Delhi has cultivated a brand name for itself in health care. +With AIIMS in Madurai, we can say that this brand of health care has been taken to all corners of the country – from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to Madurai; and from Guwahati to Gujarat. +AIIMS at Madurai will be constructed at a cost of more than rupees sixteen hundred crores. +It will benefit the entire population of Tamil Nadu. +The NDA Government is giving great priority to the heath sector, so that everyone is healthy and health-care is affordable. +Under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, we have supported up gradation of Government Medical Colleges across India. +The speed and scale at which Mission Indradhanush is working is setting a new paradigm in preventive healthcare. +Pradhan Mantri Matritva Vandana Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan is making safe pregnancy a mass movement. +The number of under-graduate medical seats have been increased by almost 30 percent in the last 4 and half years. +The launch of Ayushman Bharat is also a big step. +It is a carefully thought out approach to ensure achievement of universal health coverage for our country. +Ayushman Bharat seeks to undertake path breaking interventions to holistically address health issues. +One Point Five lakh Health & Wellness Centres are being set up to provide comprehensive primary care and preventive health services. +Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana provides financial protection upto Rupees 5 lakh per family per year to over 10 crore needy families in case of hospitalization. +It is the largest Health Insurance Scheme in the world. +I am happy to learn that one core fifty seven lakh persons of Tamil Nadu State are covered under this Scheme. +In just over three months about 89 thousand beneficiaries were admitted and an amount of more than rupees two hundred crore has been authorized for admitted patients of Tamil Nadu. +I am also happy to learn that Tamil Nadu has already started one thousand three hundred and twenty Health & Wellness Centres. +On the disease control front, we are providing technical and financial support to states. +Our Government is committed to TB elimination by 2025. +I am happy to learn that the state Government is up-scaling the TB Free Chennai initiative and seeking to eliminate TB in the state by 2023 itself. +I compliment the state for their commitment towards implementation of all aspects of the Revised National TB Control Program. +I assure that the Government of India stands committed for extending all necessary support for efforts of the state in tackling these diseases. +Today I am also happy to dedicate 12 Post Office Passport Sewa Kendras in Tamil Nadu. +This initiative is one more example of improving the “ease of living” to our citizens. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has saluted all the personnel of Border Roads Organisation on its foundation day. +“Saluting all BRO personnel on their foundation day. +We are proud of their impeccable service to the nation”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of life in the floods in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. +The Prime Minister has sanctioned Rs. 2 lakhs for the next of kin of each of the deceased, and Rs. 50,000 for each of the seriously injured, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. +The Chinese President and the First Lady later visited the Sabarmati Riverfront at Ahmedabad, accompanied by the Prime Minister. +They witnessed glimpses of Gujarati culture. +The two leaders sat on a jhoola (swing) for a few moments. +The President and the First Lady also sat on a traditional cot, before joining the Prime Minister for a private dinner on the riverfront. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for extending the existing Productivity Linked Reward (PLR) Scheme for Port and Dock employees for payment of Productivity Linked Reward from the year 2014-15 to 2015-16. +The payment of PLR would be made after adjusting the ad-hoc amount already paid for the year 2014-15. +The expenditure on account of PLR shall be met by the Major Port Trusts and Dock Labour Boards from their own resources without any Budgetary support from the Government. +The Policy acknowledges the need for an effective roadmap for promotion of entrepreneurship as the key to a successful skills strategy. +The previous National Policy on Skill Development was formulated by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in 2009 and provided for a review after five years to align the policy framework with emerging national and international trends. +The Vision of the Policy is “to create an ecosystem of empowerment by Skilling on a large Scale at Speed with high Standards and to promote a culture of innovation based entrepreneurship which can generate wealth and employment so as to ensure Sustainable livelihoods for all citizens in the country”. +To achieve this Vision, the Policy has four thrust areas. +It addresses key obstacles to skilling, including low aspirational value, lack of integration with formal education, lack of focus on outcomes, low quality of training infrastructure and trainers, etc. +Further, the Policy seeks to align supply and demand for skills by bridging existing skill gaps, promoting industry engagement, operationalising a quality assurance framework, leverage technology and promoting greater opportunities for apprenticeship training. +Equity is also a focus of the Policy, which targets skilling opportunities for socially/geographically marginalised and disadvantaged groups. +Skill development and entrepreneurship programmes for women are a specific focus of the Policy. +In the entrepreneurship domain, the Policy seeks to educate and equip potential entrepreneurs, both within and outside the formal education system. +It also seeks to connect entrepreneurs to mentors, incubators and credit markets, foster innovation and entrepreneurial culture, improve ease of doing business and promote a focus on social entrepreneurship. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Palestine on cooperation in the field of youth affairs and sports. +The MoU will help in promoting exchange of ideas, values and culture amongst all youth irrespective of their caste, religion and gender as well as development of sports in the two countries. +In turn, it will help in consolidating friendly relations between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the beginning of Navratri festival. +Navratri greetings to everyone. +On the first day of Navratri, we pray to Maa Shailputri. +Here is a Stuti devoted to her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhLxnY1deYc&feature=youtu.be“, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his fifth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +In course of his review today, the Prime Minister expressed concern at the grievances relating to post offices. +Noting that postal services are vital for the poorest sections of society, he directed the Department of Posts to work towards improvement in service delivery, especially in areas such as payment of policy benefits, money orders, postal savings accounts, and delay in delivery of post. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of key infrastructure projects in the Railway, Road, Power, Telecommunication and Agri-Infrastructure sectors, spread over several states including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. +The projects reviewed also included the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and Chennai Metro Rail. +The Prime Minister urged speeding up of work for early completion of the projects. +Shri Narendra Modi reviewed the scheme for provision of mobile services in Left Wing Extremism affected areas. +The Prime Minister was given a demonstration of the progress of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) scheme, through live video conferencing with three police stations in the States of Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. +He called for enhancing both the level of sophistication, and the speed of implementation of this scheme across the country. +The Joint Declaration will lead to promotion of safe, effective and efficient development of air transport between India and Germany. +The MoU in the form of Joint Declaration of Intent signifies an important landmark in the civil aviation relations between India and Germany, and has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism, and cultural exchanges between the two countries. +The two countries desired to strengthen and further develop the established relation through signing a Joint Declaration of Intent for promoting and facilitating exchange of knowledge and experience, cooperation in the field of Civil Aviation. +The main objective of this Joint Declaration of Intent is to promote and facilitate mutual cooperation in the following areas:- +(i) Aviation Safety and Air Traffic Management +Sharing of information and best practices related to aviation safely activities and safety oversight including Air Traffic Management through seminars, colloquiums, visits and other ideas as appropriate. +(ii) Heliports and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) +Sharing of information and best practices related to heliports and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services. +(iii) Regulations and Policy +Continued collaboration at ICAO on key international issues. +(iv) Corporate and Business Aviation Development +Sharing of information on facilities for business and non-commercial aviation. +(a) Sharing of experience regarding governmental oversight of aerodromes with special focus on sustainable and environment-friendly aerodrome development and planning. +(b) Collaboration at international level with view to the importance of tackling climate change and therefore of addressing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions associated with aviation, both at domestic and international levels. +(vi) Training and Skills Development +Explore partnerships in technical and non-technical co-operation and training, in particular, in aviation safety oversight. +I am delighted to visit this great country once again. +It is indeed a great pleasure to see so many familiar faces here. +I thank CII and Keidanren for creating this opportunity. +I have always considered my engagements with you extremely useful. +Over the years, I have visited Japan several times. +Indeed, my personal engagement with the leadership, Government, Industry and people of Japan is now almost a decade old. +The very word “Japan” in India is a benchmark of quality, excellence, honesty and integrity. +Japanese people have led the world in sustainable development. +There is also a deep sense of social responsibility and ethical behaviour. +We are also familiar with Japan’s enormous contributions to the process of development in other parts of the world, especially in Asia and Africa. +India’s core values are rooted in our civilizational heritage. +It gets inspiration through the teachings of Truth from Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi. +It gets its wings from our democratic traditions, emphasis on both wealth and value creation, a robust sense of enterprise and quest to modernize and prosper its economy. +That is why India and Japan are best suited to work together. +Our past has desired us to stand together. +Our present is encouraging us to work together. +I have been saying that this twenty first (21st Century) is Asia’s Century. +Asia has emerged as the new centre of global growth. +It is competitive in manufacturing and services, is becoming a hub for global innovation, is home to large talented workforce, and as home to sixty percent of global population, it is an ever expanding market. +India and Japan will have to continue to play a major role in Asia’s emergence. +The growing convergence of views between Japan and India under our Special Strategic and Global Partnership has the capacity to drive the regional economy and development, and stimulate the global growth. +Strong India – Strong Japan will not only enrich our two nations. +It will also be a stabilising factor in Asia and the world. +Today, India is on the path of several major transformations. +We have taken decisive steps and built a governance system that will help India realize its potential. +The results are already visible. +Even against a weak international economic scenario, the news from India is of strong growth and abundant opportunities. +It is of Incredible opportunities, and about India’s Credible Policies. +In 2015, the Indian economy grew faster than other major economies. +World Bank and IMF assess this trend to continue. +Lower labour costs, large domestic market and macro-economic stability combine to make India a very attractive investment destination. +In the last two fiscal years, we received about 55 billion dollars as foreign direct investment. +This is not only highest ever FDI but also highest growth in FDI in India. +Today, every global company has an India strategy. +And, Japanese companies are no exception. +It is no surprise that today Japan is India’s fourth largest source of FDI. +Japanese investments extend to both green-field and brown-field projects; manufacturing and services; infrastructure and insurance; and e-commerce and equity. +On our part, we would, of course, want greater influx of Japanese investments. +For this, we will be proactive in addressing your concerns. +And, we will further strengthen the special mechanisms including Japanese Industrial Townships. +I encourage you to make use of the ten-year business visa, the e-Tourist Visa, and the Visa-On-Arrival facility that we now offer to Japanese travellers. +The Social Security Agreement with Japan has also been implemented, which is good news for the growing number of professionals on both sides. +India’s development needs are huge and substantial. +We seek rapid achievement of our developmental priorities, but in a manner that is environment friendly. +In addition, there are futuristic infrastructure projects of second generation. +These include: the Dedicated Freight Corridor, the Industrial Corridors, High Speed Railways, Smart Cities, Coastal Zones and Metro Rail projects. +All of these offer unprecedented opportunities for Japanese industry. +Made in India and Made by Japan combination has already started to work and converge wonderfully. +Cars made in India by a Japanese car maker are already selling in Japan. +I wish to thank and congratulate those of you who are already in India. +To those who are exploring, I promise you that we are committed to further refine our policies and procedures to boost Make in India. +Creating an enabling environment for business and attracting investments remains my top priority. +Stable, predictable and transparent regulations are redefining the nature of doing business in India. +E-governance is no longer just a fancy buzzword, but a basic facility. +We have successfully enacted a new legislation regarding Goods and Services Tax (GST). +The Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code passed recently will make it easier for investors to have an exit. +We are setting up commercial courts and commercial divisions to ensure speedy disposal of commercial matters. +The arbitration proceedings will now become faster as the Arbitration law has been amended. +In June this year, we have further relaxed our FDI regime. +We have also announced a new Intellectual Property Rights policy. +All of these point to the new direction of economic reforms that India is pursuing. +My resolve is to make India the most open economy in the world. +The impact of our efforts is being felt and recognized globally. +· FDI equity inflows have gone up by 52% in last two years. +· India has gone up 19 spots on the World Logistics Performance Index 2016 brought out by the World Bank. +· We have done substantial improvement on Ease of doing business. +Our ranking has improved considerably. +I have long maintained that India needs scale, speed and skill. +Japan has a very important role to play in all three. +Its involvement in our mega projects like Dedicated Freight Corridors, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor, Metro Rail and High Speed Rail signifies scale and speed. +With a number of skill development initiatives already underway, our partnership now extends to this crucial area of our priority. +The captains of Japanese business and industry sitting here will agree with me that a combination of Japan’s technologies and India’s human resources will create a win-win situation. +I have said earlier also that the combination of your hardware and our software is a fantastic combination. +It will benefit both countries. +Let us join hands even more closely and strongly. +Let us march forward and explore bigger potentials and brighter prospects. +India, today took another major step in the fight against tax evasion, “round tripping” and “base erosion/profit shifting”. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of an Agreement and the Protocol between the India and Cyprus for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income. +This step follows the recent amendment of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement with Mauritius. +As in the case of Mauritius, the treaty with Cyprus had provided for residence-based taxation of capital gains. +With the revision of the treaty now approved by the Cabinet, capital gains will be taxed in India for entities resident in Cyprus, subject to double tax relief. +In other words, India will have the right to tax capital gains arising in India. +The provisions in the earlier treaty for residence-based taxation were leading to distortion of financial and real investment flows by artificial diversion of various investments from their true countries of origin, for the sake of avoiding tax. +As in the case of Mauritius, this amendment will deter such activities. +Negotiations with Singapore are also underway for similar changes. +Financial restructuring of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited. +The entire production of urea from this unit shall be neem coated so that benefits of neem coating are available to the farmers of the North-Eastern region also. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of the monsoon so far. +The meeting was attended by the Ministers for Home, Finance, Agriculture, Food and Consumer Affairs and Water Resources; Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister and Additional Principal Secretary to Prime Minister. +Officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) apprised the Prime Minister of the monsoon situation. +They said that though the monsoon has been delayed, rainfall is likely to improve substantially in the months of July and August. +The Prime Minister also reviewed the position of water reservoirs and fodder stock. +He directed that maximum possible use be made of the existing water resources, and best practices in rainwater harvesting. +The Ministry of Agriculture has prepared a contingency plan for more than 500 districts. +Shri Modi also reviewed the steps being taken to contain inflation. +It was observed that the measures are having a positive effect, with adequate rice stocks reaching markets. +There is now no shortage of onion stocks in Delhi. +The Prime Minister said states should set up special courts for speedy trial of hoarders and black-marketeers. +Your Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya; Cabinet Secretaries; Chairmen of various Chambers and associations of Commerce & Industry; Friends from the Business Community of Kenya and India; +I am happy to be with you on my first visit to Kenya as Prime Minister. +Indians in general, and Gujaratis in particular, have had their second home in Kenya. +So, from that perspective, I am really late in visiting this great country. +There has been a long gap of nearly 35 years for the visit of Indian Prime Minister. +Though at a personal level, I was able to maintain engagements with Kenya. +As Chief Minister of Gujarat, I visited Kenya in 2008. +We also received delegations in Gujarat from here. +At the outset, I must compliment the people and leadership of Kenya for overall development and stability since independence. +Kenya’s economy and its infrastructure make it an influential player in the region. +You are the only developing country which hosts the headquarters of UN agencies. +India and Kenya have had a very special relationship. +Mr. President, I am aware that your government has laid great emphasis on the use of solar energy in daily life. +We are also working on an ambitious renewable energy programme. +India and Kenya are blessed by sufficient solar radiation. +Solar energy is a real solution for global warming. +It is also a good strategy for providing electricity to remote villages and hamlets. +We look forward to work together on this front under the International Solar Alliance. +Similarly, health sector is another area of great interest to both sides. +We are happy that thousands of Kenyan patients have returned from India after a successful treatment. +I understand that Kenya would like to replicate the Indian experience in Medicare and become a medical hub in the region. +We would be happy to support you in this process. +These are just a few indicators of the depth of our relationship and the potentials for co-operation. +So, as we worked together in the past; we have to work together even now. +Like Kenya, India is also a young country. +We can do a lot together to nurture and train this human capital which can serve the whole world. +Today, India is the fastest growing large economy of the world. +We are not only having a high growth rate; we are also going up in various global indicators. +India has changed a lot in last two years. +We are now the most preferred destination for FDI. +India is also the second largest investor here. +We will be happy to further remove the imbalance in trade between us. +We will also be happy to enhance the level of investment in Kenya. +I am here to assure the people and Government of Kenya that India stands by you. +Our friendship is only a win-win game. +Whether it is Kenyan students in India; or Indian professionals in Kenya- both should shine. +Whether it is mines, minerals or machines; all are rewarding areas. +We should jointly explore the opportunities. +Various initiatives during my visit including this meeting are indicators in that direction. +We have printed a guide book on Doing Business in Kenya. +This is for guiding the Indian Investors to invest here. +It is my pleasure to present the book to His Excellency the President of Kenya. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid homage to all those who lost their lives in Hiroshima bombings, during the World War-II. +“My homage to all those who lost their lives in Hiroshima. +The bombings remind us of the horrors of war and their effect on humanity. +Solution to problems of humanity lie in peace and progress. +Let us walk shoulder to shoulder to create a peaceful world, free from violence”, the Prime Minister said. +I will truly cherish the most wonderful dinner that you and Mrs Netanyahu hosted for me yesterday. +Our conversation last night, meeting Mrs Netanyahu, learning about your family especially what you told me about your father has taken my experience of your beautiful country to a whole new level. +India admires the success of your people in overcoming adversity to advance, innovate and flourish against all odds. +I am honoured to be in Israel on this extra-ordinary visit. +In our modern journey, our paths have been different, but our belief in democratic values and economic progress has been a shared pursuit. +This visit is an occasion: +• to rejuvenate the bonds of our friendship; +• to compose a new chapter in our ties; and +• to jointly venture towards new horizons of engagement. +Our goal is to build a relationship that reflects our shared priorities and draws on enduring bonds between our peoples. +Israel is among the leading nations in the field of innovation, water and agricultural technology. +These are also among my priority areas in India’s development. +We agreed that efficiency of water and resource use; water conservation and its purification; productivity increases in agriculture are key areas in deepening our bilateral cooperation. +We are of one view that together our scientists and researchers would develop, build and implement mutually beneficial solutions in the field. +Our decision to establish a bilateral Technology Innovation Fund worth US$ 40 million for research in industrial development will help us in achieving this goal. +We regard thriving two-way trade and investment flows as the bedrock of a strong partnership. +Prime Minister Netanyahu and I agreed on the need to do more in this direction. +Businesses on both sides should take primary lead in such efforts. +This would also be our message to the CEO Forum tomorrow. +India and Israel live in complex geographies. +India has suffered firsthand the violence and hatred spread by terror. +So has Israel. +Prime Minister Netanyahu and I agreed to do much more together to protect our strategic interests and also cooperate to combat growing radicalization and terrorism, including in cyber space. +We also discussed the situation in West Asia and wider region. +It is India’s hope that peace, dialogue, and restraint will prevail. +Our people hold natural affinity and warmth for each other. +The Indian-origin Jewish community reminds us of these bonds. +It also serves as a bridge to a shared future. +In recent years, we have been receiving a large number of Israeli tourists in India. +At the same time, more and more Indian students are choosing to pursue advance academics and research in your best universities. +I am confident that the strength of these links, old and new, will hold us in good stead as we forge a partnership for the 21st century. +Around 150 kilometers from here, there is a slice of history in the city of Haifa in Israel that is very dear to my country. +This is the final resting place for forty-four of the Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War 1 to liberate that city. +Tomorrow, I will travel to Haifa to pay homage to our brave Indian soldiers. +It has been a productive and memorable twenty-four hours in Israel. +I am sure that the rest of my stay would be equally exciting. +Let me also take this chance to invite you and Mrs. Netanyahu and your family to visit India. +I again thank you for your warm welcome and hospitality. +The meeting was held in an atmosphere of free and frank discussion. +The Prime Minister expressed deep concern and pain at the prevailing situation in the State. +He expressed his commitment to the development of the State and its people, and appealed for restoration of normalcy. +The Prime Minister appreciated the constructive suggestions made in the meeting and reiterated his Government’s commitment to the welfare of citizens of the State. +He emphasized that there has to be dialogue and we need to find a permanent and lasting solution to the problem within the framework of the Constitution. +He emphasized on the need for all political parties to work together to find a solution to the problems in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on occasion of various festivals across the country. +A delegation representing the film and entertainment industry, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Mumbai today. +The delegation comprised producers and CEOs of companies in the entertainment industry. +The delegation expressed its strong support of the Prime Minister’s vision for making India a five trillion dollar economy in the near future. +They gave an overview of the vast growth potential of the media and entertainment industry in India, and said that this sector is poised to contribute in a significant way towards this goal. +The delegation pitched for lower, and uniform rates of GST, for the entertainment industry in India. +Members of the delegation strongly called for the development of Mumbai as the global entertainment capital, through various initiatives and proactive approaches. +The Prime Minister said that the Indian entertainment industry enjoys immense popularity across the world. +It is one of the key elements of India’s rising soft power status, globally, he added. +He assured the delegation that the Union Government is supportive of the media and entertainment industry; and would consider the suggestions positively. +Board members of United States India Business Council (USIBC) called on the Prime Minister today. +They briefed the Prime Minister on the outcomes of the India Idea Forum held in Mumbai earlier this week. +Interacting with the members, the Prime Minister mentioned various reforms undertaken by the Government of India. +He also spoke of the enormous investment potential in India, and encouraged the American investor community to step up investment in the country. +Mentioning the shared values between India and the US, he also called for greater people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval of the MoUs signed in 2008 and 2011 and the renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and College of Banking and Financial Studies (CBFS), Oman. +The MoU will facilitate working together for strengthening the accounting, financial and audit knowledge base within Oman. +The aim is to work together to develop a mutually beneficial relationship in the best interests of members, students and the institutes. +Through such activities, substantial goodwill is expected to be generated for India, Indian citizens and Indian Chartered Accountants in the Sultanate of Oman. +It is also expected to lead to enhancement of remittances by Indian nationals to India. +Since Oman does not have a local professional accountancy Institute and it is the ICAI which has been collaborating with CBFS, Oman in matters relating to the profession. +The MoU is expected to make a positive impact for the Indian Chartered Accountants currently working in Oman and other markets and for those Indian professionals who intend to move to Oman for pursuing their profession there. +As such, enhanced employment opportunities are expected to be created for Indian professionals in the Sultanate of Oman. +The ICAI is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today joined the members of the Rajya Sabha, in welcoming Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, as Chairman of the House. +The Prime Minister began his welcome remarks by recalling that today, 11thAugust, was the day when a young revolutionary of the freedom struggle, Shri Khudiram Bose, was hanged by the British. +He said that the event reminds us of the sacrifice of those who fought for freedom, and the responsibility that this places on all of us. +The Prime Minister said that Shri Venkaiah Naidu is the first Vice President born in Independent India. +He added that Shri Naidu has long experience, and is well-versed in the intricacies of Parliamentary procedures. +The Prime Minister said that the fact that people from humble, rural background, today occupy the highest positions in India, shows the maturity of Indian democracy, and the strength of India’s Constitution. +The Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil +5.4- Apart from above, ISRO and AEB shall bear their own costs for carrying out their responsibilities under this Implementing Arrangement. +AEB will bear its respective costs using its own approved budgetary resources. +Your Excellency, President Johann Schneider-Ammann, +Thank you, Excellency, for your warm remarks and generous welcome. +I feel the weight of history, standing here with you in this truly international city-Geneva. +And, not just international, but a city with a humanitarian soul. +After all, it is home to the “Red Cross”, and headquarters of several international organizations devoted to serving mankind. +India and Switzerland have both been the voices of peace, understanding and humanitarian values in the world. +In last seven decades, our friendship has consistently seen an upward trajectory. +Today, President and I reviewed our multifaceted bilateral ties. +We also held detailed discussions with Swiss CEOs. +Ties of collaboration in trade, investment, science and technology and skill development benefit both our societies. +India has affirmed it’s readiness to resume FTA talks with EFTA. +We are all aware of the strengths of the Swiss economy. +But, India too is undergoing profound transformations. +We are today the fastest growing economy in the world. +But, that alone is not enough. +In tune with its objectives and India’s civilizational ethos an economically prosperous India will also be friendly to the planet and our environment. +Reliance on renewable energy, rather than on fossil fuels would be our guiding motto. +We see a perfect connect between our development needs and Swiss strengths. +I, therefore, invite the Swiss companies to avail of this great opportunity to be a key partner in India’s economic growth. +Ultimately, the economic prosperity of 1.25 billion plus would also benefit the entire world. +India and Switzerland also share a commitment to reform international institutions in line with current global realities. +We have both agreed to support each other for our respective bids for the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council. +I am also thankful to the President for Switzerland’s understanding and support for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. +Combating the menace of “black money” and tax evasion is also our shared priority. +We discussed the need for an early and expeditious exchange of information to bring to justice the tax offenders. +An early start to negotiations on the Agreement on Automatic Exchange of Information would be important in this respect. +Strong ties between the people of our two countries are an important base and benchmark of our linkages. +Thanks to the Indian film industry, we are very familiar with the enchanting beauty of the Swiss landscapes. +There are many success stories of our relationship. +One that has been making waves in the Grand Slams of the tennis world is the partnership of famous Swiss player Martina Hingis with Sania Mirza and Leander Paes of India. +I am confident that our common commitments and values, people to people links and a strong and growing economic partnership will take our relations to new heights. +I thank you, Excellency, once again for hosting me in Geneva. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated several Government projects at Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. +These include Government buildings, solar PV systems, Jan Aushadhi Kendras and a Passport Seva Kendra. +He also distributed Aids and Assistive Devices to Divyangjans, and other benefits under existing Government schemes. +Speaking on the occasion, he said that he is coming to Dadra and Nagar Haveli for the first time as Prime Minister, but he has been here many times in the past. +He said that after assuming office, he sought details on impact of development schemes in Dadra and Nagar Haveli; and since then the Union Government has worked on areas needing attention. +Speaking on development themes, he said that every Indian must have access to housing facilities. +He said that in less than a year, the number of beneficiaries under the Ujjwala scheme for LPG has crossed 2 crore. +The Prime Minister emphasized that the Union Government will never allow the poor and the middle class to be looted. +He urged the assembled people to download the BHIM App for cashless transactions. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of the “Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)” between “Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)” and “Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada)”. +The MoU also includes further collaboration on the definition, learning, and evaluation of the professional qualities and skills and competencies of entry-level Chartered Accountants. +The aim is to work together to develop a mutually beneficial relationship in the best interest of ICAI members, students and their organizations. +The MoU will foster strong working relations between the ICAI & CPA Canada. +The MoU would help encourage more and more young Indian Chartered Accountants to take up the recognition of “CPA Canada” professional designation to further help them pursue professional opportunities in Canada. +Implementation strategy and Targets +The MoU will apply to members of good standing who have gained membership in the ICAI or one of the Canadian Provincial CPA bodies by meeting the education, examination and practical experience requirements of the ICAI or the Canadian Provincial CPA bodies respectively. +This agreement does not automatically apply to individuals who have gained membership of the ICAI or the Canadian Provincial CPA Bodies through another agreement with a third party. +“CPA Canada” Institute is the national organization established to support a unified Canadian accounting profession. +The situation that has emerged in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as a fallout of the issue of distribution of the waters of the Cauvery River, is distressful. +I am personally pained at the developments. +Violence cannot provide a solution to any problem. +In a democracy, solutions are found through restraint and mutual dialogue. +This dispute can only be solved within the legal ambit. +Breaking the law is not a viable alternative. +The violence and arson seen in the last two days is only causing loss to the poor, and to our nation’s property. +Whenever the country has faced adverse circumstances, the people of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, just like people across the country, have always handled the situation with sensitivity. +I appeal to the people of the two States, to display sensitivity, and also keep in mind their civic responsibilities. +I trust you will keep national interest and nation building above all else, and give priority to restraint, harmony, and finding a solution, eschewing violence, destruction and arson. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with the beneficiaries of various social security schemes from across the country, through video bridge. +This is the eighth interaction in the series by the Prime Minister through video conference with various beneficiaries of Government schemes. +Expressing happiness in interacting with people who fought adversities and emerged much stronger, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said that Social security schemes empower people. +He added that these social security schemes of the present Government not only help people effectively deal with the uncertainties of life, but also empower them to rise over the financially difficult situations of the family. +Prime Minister outlined the various aspects pursued by the Government to ensure financial security for the poor and the vulnerable. +They are – opening the doors of the banks for the poor- banking the unbanked; ensuring access to capital for small business and budding entrepreneurs- funding the unfunded and; providing social security cover for the poor and vulnerable – financially securing the unsecured. +Interacting with beneficiaries Prime Minister said that the total number of 28 crore bank accounts opened under Pradhan MantriJan DhanYojana during the period 2014 – 2017 is nearly 55% of the total bank accounts opened in the world. +He also expressed happiness that more women have bank accounts in India now and that number of bank accounts in India has reached 80% from 53% in 2014. +Listening to the adversities faced by people, Prime Minister said that even though the loss of a person can never be compensated, the Government has always strived to ensure economic security to the affected family. +He said thatmore than five crore people have benefitted from Pradhan MantriJeevanJyoti Yojana, by paying a very low premium of around Rs. 300. +Talking about the accidental insurance coverage scheme, Pradhan MantriSurakshaBima Yojana, Prime Minister said that more than 13 crore people have availed the scheme. +Under Pradhan MantriSurakshaBima Yojana, people can claim accidental insurance coverage of upto Rs. 2 lakh by paying premium of just Rs. 12 per year. +During the interaction, Prime Minister summarized various initiatives of the government in taking care of the old and elderly. +In addition, Government also increased the basic limit of income tax, from Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh for senior citizens. +He emphasized that the government is committed to the wellbeing of the elderly population. +Interacting with the Prime Minister, beneficiaries of various social security schemes explained how these schemes helped them during the times of great need. +They also thanked the Prime Minister for the various schemes he introduced andpointed out that most of the schemes have been a life changer for many. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed joy, on crossing of 10 crore mark, in the number of enrollments under the recently launched 3 social security schemes. +Enthusiasm of people towards social security schemes and efforts of banks have been very gladdening. +They made this record enrollment possible”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the Parliament. +The Amendment will increase the maximum limit of gratuity of employees, in the private sector and in Public Sector Undertakings/ Autonomous Organizations under Government who are not covered under CCS (Pension) Rules, at par with Central Government employees. +The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 applies to establishments employing 10 or more persons. +The main purpose for enacting this Act is to provide social security to workmen after retirement, whether retirement is a result of the rules of superannuation, or physical disablement or impairment of vital part of the body. +Therefore, the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is an important social security legislation to wage earning population in industries, factories and establishments. +The present upper ceiling on gratuity amount under the Act is Rs. 10 Lakh. +The provisions for Central Government employees under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 with regard to gratuity are also similar. +Before implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, the ceiling under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 was Rs. 10 Lakh. +However, with implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, in case of Government servants, the ceiling now is Rs. 20 Lakhs effective from 1.1.2016. +Therefore, considering the inflation and wage increase even in case of employees engaged in private sector, the Government is of the view that the entitlement of gratuity should be revised for employees who are covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. +Accordingly, the Government initiated the process for amendment to Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s second “Mann Ki Baat” radio programme is scheduled on 2nd November, 2014. +“Looking forward to the 2nd “Mann Ki Baat” Radio Programme on Sunday 2nd November 2014 at 11AM,” the Prime Minister tweeted. +“Once again, I invite you to share thoughts, comments and examples of good governance initiatives that have left an impression on your mind,” the Prime Minister added. +An Open Forum has been created on MyGov.in where ideas and thoughts for the radio programme can be shared. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018 for introduction in the Parliament. +The Bill seeks to achieve the following objectives: +The Bill brings down the specified value of a commercial dispute to 3 Lakhs from the present one Crore: Therefore, commercial disputes of a reasonable value can be decided by commercial courts. +This would bring down the time taken (presently 1445 days) in resolution of commercial disputes of lesser value and thus further improve India’s ranking in the Ease of Doing Business. +The amendment provides for establishment of Commercial Courts at district Judge level for the territories over which respective High Courts have ordinary original civil jurisdiction i.e in the cities of Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and State of Himachal Pradesh. +The State Governments, in such territories may by notification specify such pecuniary value of commercial disputes to be adjudicated at the district level, which shall ‘not be less than three lakhs rupees and not more than the pecuniary jurisdiction of the district court. +In the jurisdiction of High Courts other than those exercising ordinary original jurisdiction a forum of Appeal in commercial dispute decided by commercial courts below the level of District judge is being provided, in the form of Commercial Appellate Courts to be at district judge level. +Insertion of new section of 21A which enables the Central Government to make rules and procedures for PIM. +To give prospective effect to the amendment so as not to disturb the authority of the judicial forum presently adjudicating the commercial disputes as per the extant provisions of the Act. +With the rapid economic development there has been considerable increase in commercial activities and consequent steep rise in number of commercial disputes at domestic and international level. +Increase of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and overseas commercial transactions have further contributed to a significant increase of commercial disputes. +These five High Courts i.e. the High Courts of Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras and of Himachal Pradesh, exercise ordinary original civil jurisdiction in regard to territories of cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and the territory of the State of Himachal Pradesh respectively. +In such territories of these High Courts as per proviso to sub-section (1) of section 3 there are no commercial courts at district level and instead Commercial Divisions have been constituted in each of these High Courts. +The specified value of such commercial disputes to be adjudicated by the Commercial Courts or the Commercial Division of High Court, as the case may be is presently Rs. one Crore. +Ease of Doing Business is an index of World Bank which inter alia refers to the dispute resolution environment in a country which facilitates the investors in deciding for setting up of and operation of a business. +This index has been created by the World Bank Group and since 2002, it has been evaluating almost all the countries of the world. +A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of the business. +On 31st October, 2017, World Bank released its latest annual ‘Ease of Doing Business’ report for the year 2018 in which India has emerged out as one among top ten improvers and for the first time ever, India has jumped 30 positions and reached 100th ranked country in terms of ‘Ease of Doing Business’ amongst 190 countries. +This manifests that India is fast adopting the best practices in regulatory framework for Ease of Doing Business at all fronts. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Mr. Donald Trump on his assumption of office as President of the United States of America. +“Congratulations to Donald Trump on assuming office as US President. +Best wishes in leading USA to greater achievements in the coming years. +Strength of the India-USA strategic partnership lies in our shared values and common interests. +Looking forward to working with President to further deepen India-US ties & realise the full potential of our cooperation”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong and his People’s Action Party (PAP), on winning Singapore general election. +“Congrats Lee Hsien Loong and People’s Action Party (PAP) for the poll win. +Looking forward to working with PM Lee to further deepen India-Singapore ties”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to bus accident in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. +“Loss of lives due to a bus accident in East Godavari district, AP is saddening and unfortunate. +My deepest condolences”, the Prime Minister said. +There is an existing approval for expenditure of Rs. 18,500 crore, out of which the unspent balance yet to be released to DMIC-PITF will be utilised by NICDIT. +A further sum of Rs. 1584 crore for project development activities of four additional corridors and NICDIT’s administrative expenses upto 31.03.2022 has been provided. +NICDIT would be an apex body under the administrative control of DIPP for coordinated and unified development of all the industrial corridors in the country. +It will coordinate all central efforts for the development of Industrial Corridor projects and will monitor their implementation. +DMICDC will function as a knowledge partner to NICDIT in respect of all the Industrial Corridors in addition to its present DMIC work, till Knowledge Partner(s) for other Industrial Corridors are in place. +An Apex Monitoring Authority under the chairpersonship of the Finance Minister will be constituted to periodically review the activities of NICDIT and progress of the projects. +It will consist of Minister-in-charge of Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Minister of Railways, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Minister of Shipping, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog and Chief Ministers of States concerned as Members. +The Board of Trustees of NICDIT will consist of (i) Chairperson – Secretary, DIPP, (ii) Secretary, Department of Expenditure, (iii) Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, (iv) Secretary, Road Transport & Highways, (v) Secretary, Shipping (vi) Chairman, Railway Board, (vii) CEO, NITI Aayog, and (viii) Member Secretary, who will act as full time CEO of NICDIT. +CEO, DMICDC will also function as Member Secretary/ CEO of the NICDIT. +The formation of the NICDIT will enable development and implementation of Industrial Corridor Projects across India by bringing in holistic planning and development approach and sharing the learning from development of Industrial Corridors, which will enable innovation in areas such as planning, design development and funding of such projects. +This will help enhance the share of manufacturing in the country, attract investment in manufacturing and service industry sectors, which will have a catalytic effect on up-gradation and development of skills of the workforce and generation of employment opportunities. +Details and progress of schemes already running: +Construction work in four industrial cities/townships namely, Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) near Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Shendra- Bidkin Industrial Park near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, Integrated Industrial Township Project, Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Integrated Industrial Township Vila-am Udyogpuri near Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. +Other Projects under DMIC are at different stages of project planning and development. +(ii) Chennai- Bengalutu Industrial Corridor (CBIC): As per initial master planning, three Nodes, namely, Tumkur (Karnataka), Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and Ponneri (Tamil Nadu) have been identified for development. +(iii) Bengaluru Mumbai Economic Corridor (BMEC):- State Government of Karnataka has identified Dharwad Node for Development. +The Government of Maharashtra has given in principle approval for Development of a node in Sangli or Solapur Districts. +(iv) Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) will use Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) of Railways as the backbone and the highway system that exist on this route. +It is planned in such a way that there would be Integrated Manufacturing Clusters (IMCs) in each of the Seven State namely Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. +The BMEC and AKIC projects are at early stages of project development. +(v) Vizag Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC):- In compliance of the commitment made by the Central Government in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, it was decided by the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India that Asian Development Bank (ADB) which had been getting a feasibility study done in r/o East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC) will also take up the study of VCIC as Phase I of ECEC. +ADB team has since submitted the final report regarding Conceptual Development Plan (CDP) of VCIC. +The process of Master Planning of the four nodes namely, Vishakhapalnam, Machilipatnam, Donakonda and Srikalahasti-Yerpedu of Andhra Pradesh, as identified by ADB in their CDP commenced in March 2016 and is likely to be completed by March 2017. +To accelerate the growth in manufacturing and for ensuring scientifically planned urbanization, Government of India (Gol) has adopted the strategy of developing integrated Industrial Corridors in partnership with State Governments with focus on manufacturing. +Five Corridors namely, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC), Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIG), Bengaluru- Mumbai Economic Corridor (BMEC) and Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) have been planned for development by Government of India. +New Greenfield Airport in Itanagar and Sela Tunnel foundation stone to be laid by PM in Itanagar +Launch of DD Arun Prabha Channel +North East Gas Grid foundation stone to be laid by PM in Guwahati +PM to inaugurate Garjee – Belonia Railway Line in Tripura +PM to unveil various development projects +PM will visit Guwahati, Itanagar and Agartala tomorrow. +He will lay foundation stone for Greenfield Airport at Itanagar, Sela Tunnel and North East Gas Grid. +He will inaugurate DD Arun Prabha Channel and Garjee – Belonia Railway Line. +He will also unveil several other development projects in the three states. +PM in Arunachal Pradesh +PM will reach Itanagar from Guwahati tomorrow morning. +He will unveil a series of development projects at IG Park in Itanagar. +PM will lay the foundation stone for the construction of Greenfield Airport at Hollongi . +At present the nearest airport to Itanagar is at Lilabari in Assam at a distance of 80 km. +The airport will boost the economic growth of the region and will be of strategically important to the nation. +The airport will have various sustainability features like green belt along approach road to act as noise barrier, rain water harvesting, use of energy efficient equipment, etc. +Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. +It will provide all weather connectivity to Tawang Valley for civilians as well as security forces throughout the year. +The tunnel will reduce travel time to Tawang by an hour and boost tourism and related economic activities in the region. +A New dedicated DD Channel, for Arunachal Pradesh – DD Arun Prabha will be launched by PM at IG Park, Itanagar. +The channel will be the 24th channel operated by Doordarshan. +PM will also dedicate 110 MW Pare Hydroelectric Plant in Arunachal Pradesh to the nation. +The project constructed by NEEPCO will harness hydro power potential of the river Dikrong (tributary of Brahmaputra) and provide cheap hydro electric power to the North Eastern states, thereby improving power availability in the region. +Foundation stone for a permanent campus of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) at Jote, Arunachal Pradesh will be laid by the laid by the PM on this occasion. +It will cater to film students especially those from the North Eastern states. +PM will inaugurate the upgraded Tezu Airport in Arunachal Pradesh. +The airport has been retrofitted and new terminal constructed for making it fit for commercial operations under UDAN scheme. +50 health and wellness centers in Arunachal Pradesh will be inaugurated by PM . +Health and Wellness Centers is one of the vital components of Ayushman Bharat in ensuring Universal Health Coverage. +PM will also declare 100% household electrification in Arunachal Pradesh under Saubhagya Scheme. +PM in Assam +From Itanagar, PM will return to Guwahati . +Here he will lay the foundation stone of North East Gas Grid which will ensure uninterrupted availability of natural gas across the region and boost industrial growth in the region. +The grid is part of Government’s plan to provide cheap and quality gas to the entire North East Region. +He will lay foundation stone of City Gas Distribution Networks in Kamrup, Cacher, Hailakandi & Karimganj districts. +City Gas Distribution ensures the supply of cleaner fuel (PNG) to households, industrial & commercial units. +PM will inaugurate Hollong Modular Gas Processing Plant in Tinsukia, Assam. +Once inaugurated this facility will deliver 15% of the total gas produced in Assam. +The last leg of the PM’s visit will be in Agartala. +PM will dedicate to the nation Garjee – Belonia Railway Line through unveiling of plaque at Swami Vivekananda Stadium here. +This line will boost Tripura as the gateway to South and Southeast Asia. +PM will also inaugurate New Complex of Tripura Institute of Technology at Narsingarh. +Prime Minister will unveil the statue of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, Agartala. +Boost to Healthcare Infrastructure +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for: +These AIIMS will be set up under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will be visiting Wuhan, China on 27th April-28th April 2018. +President Xi and I will exchange views on a range of issues of bilateral and global importance. +We will discuss our respective visions and priorities for national development, particularly in the context of current and future international situation. +We will also review the developments in the India-China relations from a strategic and long-term perspective.” +My fellow citizens, my namaskar to all of you! +26th January, our Republic Day was celebrated with joy and enthusiasm in every nook and corner of the nation by all of us. +The Constitution of India, the duties of citizens, the rights of citizens and our commitment to democracy – these in a way make Republic Day also a festival of ‘sanskaars’, which makes our future generations cognizant of democracy and their democratic responsibilities, and also imparts to them the culture, moral values and norms inherent in our democracy. +But still in our country, the duties and rights of citizens are not being debated and discussed as intensively and extensively as it should be done. +I hope that the amount of emphasis that is given to the rights at every level during most of the time, is also given to discussing duties of citizens in an emphatic manner. +The rights and duties of the citizens constitute the railway track, on which the train of democracy in India can move ahead at a fast pace. +Tomorrow is 30th January, the death anniversary of our revered Bapu. +All of us pay tributes to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the motherland, by observing silence for 2 minutes at 11 am on 30th January. +As a society, as a nation, the 2 minute tribute of silence on 30th January at 11 am, should become our instinctive nature. +This 2 minutes silence is an expression of our collective resolve and reverence for the martyrs. +In our country there is an innate respect for the military and the security forces. +I congratulate and felicitate the young heroes and their families who were honoured with various gallantry awards on the eve of this Republic Day. +There are various categories of these gallantry awards like Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva Medal. +Surf the Net to do some research on the valiant bravehearts, who have been bestowed with these honours, compose a few good lines about them and share these with your friends and companions. +When we get to know the in depth details of their courage, bravery, valour in detail, we are filled with astonishment and pride and we also get inspired! +While we were all delighted with the tidings of enthusiasm and celebration of 26th January, at the same time, some of our army Jawans posted in Kashmir for the defense of the country, achieved martyrdom due to the avalanche. +I respectfully pay my homage to all these brave soldiers, I bow to them. +My young friends, you know very well that I regularly do my ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +January, February, March, April – all these are for every family, months of most severe test! +Normally it is one or two children in a home due to appear at their exams, but the entire family feels the burden of it. +Troubled families, harassed students, tense teachers – one sees a very strange psychological atmosphere prevailing in each home! +And I have always felt that we should come out of this situation and, therefore, today I want to talk in some detail with my young friends. +I received a telephonic message from Srishti. +You too listen to what Srishti has to say: – +“Sir, I want to tell you that during exam time, very often in our homes, in the neighbourhood and in our society, a very terrifying and scary atmosphere pervades. +This leads to a situation, where the students instead of feeling inspired feel tremendously down. +So I just want to ask you this, can’t this be transformed into a pleasant atmosphere?” +Well, the question has been posed by Srishti, but it is a question that must be there in the minds of all of you. +Exams in themselves, should be a joyous occasion. +After a year of hard work, one has the opportunity to display one’s capabilities, so this should be a festival of joy and enthusiasm. +But there are very few people for whom there is pleasure in the exam; for most people exam means pressure! +Now, it is up to you to decide whether you consider the exams pleasure or pressure. +Those who will consider it a pleasure, will have achievements, while those who will consider exams a pressure, will have to repent. +And therefore my opinion is that exams are like a festival and, hence, must be celebrated. +And when there is a festive mood of celebration, the best within us comes out. +The true realisation of the strength of a society also takes place during festivals. +The best of everything finds a manifestation. +Hence, during examinations too, an atmosphere of festivity should be created in the whole family, amongst friends and around the neighbourhood. +And you will see for yourself, that the pressure will be converted into pleasure. +The festive atmosphere will lead to a burden-free environment. +And I especially urge the parents to create a festive atmosphere during these 3-4 months. +All the family members have to work as a team and play with zeal their respective roles to make this festival of examination a success. +You will witness for yourself the ensuing change. +Actually from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Kutch to Kamrup and from Amreli to Arunachal Pradesh, these 3-4 months have examinations galore. +It is the responsibility of each one of us that in our own ways, observing our respective traditions and in tune with our respective family surroundings, we should strive to transform every year these 3-4 months into a festival. +And therefore I shall say to you ‘Smile More Score More’! +A year ago, what the teacher had taught in the classroom, the whole scenario reappears in front of you. +And you must know that the power of memory to recall is greatest when we are relaxed. +If you are tense, then all the doors seem to be closed, nothing can enter from outside and nothing can come out from inside. +The thought process comes to a standstill and that in itself becomes a burden. +You must have seen for yourself that during the examinations also, you’re able to recall everything else – the book, the chapter, the page number, whether what you want is there on the top of the page or at its bottom, you can recall everything but not the particular word you want to. +And how you could recall it outside? +It was the same you, nobody had now told you the answer! +What happened was that whatever was inside, came out immediately and the reason was that you were now relaxed. +And therefore the most effective medicine that exists for memory recall is relaxation. +And it is by my own personal experience that I’m telling you that if you’re under pressure then you forget even your own things but if you are relaxed, then you can’t even imagine the kind of things you are able to remember, and these become extremely useful. +It is not that you do not have the knowledge, it is not that you do not have the information, and it is not that you have not worked hard! +But when there is tension, your knowledge, your wisdom, your information – all these buckle under and the tension rides over you. +And therefore it is necessary to remember that ‘a happy mind is the secret for a good mark sheet’! +Sometimes it also appears that we are not able to perceive examinations in a proper perspective. +It seems to become a question of life and death. +See, the exam you are going to appear at is the exam of what you have studied during this whole year. +But it is not a test of your life. +It is not a test of what kind of life have you lived, how is the life you are living now and what is the life you aspire to live. +There must have been many occasions in your life, when, besides the examinations that you appeared at inside the classrooms with notebooks, you had to encounter and endure many tests and trials. +And thus success and failure in life is not determined at all by how one has done at the examination; this is a burden from which you must free yourself. +He appeared at the test for recruitment into the Air Force, and failed in that. +Now suppose that this failure had caused him to become dejected, to concede defeat in his life, then would India have found such a great scientist and such a glorious President? +One Richa Anand Ji has sent me this question: – +“Today what I see as the biggest challenge facing the education is that it has come to focus solely on examinations. +Marks have become all important. +As a result, the competition has multiplied leading to a very high increase of stress in the students also. +So I would like to know your views concerning the current direction of education and its future course.” +Life truly goes on in terms of whether whatever you have learned, you have tried to live that also! +Life moves ahead depending upon the condition that whatever the sense of mission you have achieved and whatever is the sense of ambition that you nurture, whether there is any ongoing co-ordination between your sense of mission and your sense of ambition! +If you will have faith in these things, then marks will automatically follow you and you will never have to chase marks! +It is the knowledge that is going to be of use to you in life, so are skill, self-confidence and determination. +You tell me, you must be having a family doctor to whom all the members of your family must be going whenever needed. +There would not be a single person in your family who might have asked that family doctor as to how many marks did he score while passing his exam. +None could have raised this question. +All of you would have thought that as a doctor he was good, you were finding relief in his treatment and thus you started taking his services regularly. +When you have to fight a big law suit and you go to a lawyer to engage his services, do you look at the mark-sheet of that lawyer? +You only look at his experience, his knowledge, and the graph of his success. +And therefore this burden of hankering for marks hinders us sometimes from going in the right direction. +But that does not mean that I’m implying that you don’t have to study at all. +But this also happens sometimes and if you analyse minutely the journey of your own life, you will realise that if you start running after marks, you will look for the shortest ways, and will identify a few selected things and focus on those only. +But if something comes from outside those few things you had touched upon; a question comes which is outside the bunch of selected questions that you had prepared; you will be find yourself slipping to the rock bottom. +If you have pursuit of knowledge as your focal point, then by itself you try to acquire and attain a lot more. +However if you concentrate and focus only on getting marks, then you gradually go on limiting yourself and confine yourself to certain areas for earning more marks. +Thus, you may find that despite becoming brilliant in passing the exams, you have sometimes failed in life. +Richa Ji had also mentioned about ‘PRATISPARDHA’, meaning ‘competition with others’. +It is a huge psychological battle. +How can tomorrow be made better than yesterday! +To make myself instantly clear, I shall cite an example from the field of sports. +It is a feature in the life of most of the successful players that they compete with themselves. +Let us take the example of Mr. Sachin Tendulkar. +He kept on breaking his own records consecutively and consistently for about twenty years, everytime surpassing and outdoing himself and thus continuously forging ahead. +What a wonderful journey of life he has had, only because he followed the route of competing with himself rather than competing with others! +Friends, in every field of life and when taking exams, if you were able to study peacefully for two hours earlier, then are you now able to do so for three hours? +If you couldn’t wake up at the decided time in the morning and were thus delayed, now can you get up early on time? +You couldn’t sleep earlier due to exam tension, are you able to sleep now? +That energy is generated from within on its own. +Shriman S. Sunder Ji has expressed his feelings on the role of parents. +He says that during exams, parents have a vital role to play. +She would then compare answers and thus be of great help to me. +She would help me rectify errors. +My mother did not clear the Class 10 exam, yet without her aid, it would have been impossible for me to pass the CBSE exam.” +Accept things as they are. +Whatever capabilities you posses, use these to mentor your children, and, howsoever occupied you might be, spare time for them, be with them. +Once you learn to accept, maximum number of problems will be solved there and then. +Expectations make the path difficult. +You will feel much lighter. +We keep deliberating on the heavy weight of our tiny tots‘ school bags, but there are times when I feel that expectations and aspirations on the part of parents are far too heavier compared to those school bags. +In a way, we terrify a patient with constant references to his ailment. +I would like to convey to parents that we do exactly the same with our children. +Have you ever thought of creating an atmosphere of joy and laughter for children during exams? +“Namaskar, Pradhan Mantriji, I cannot divulge my name because of something that I did in my childhood. +Moreover, when I tried to use unfair means to pass the exam, I got caught and a lot of my friends around me also had to undergo distress because of me.” +What you say is right. +These shortcut ways become the reason for using unfair means. +Cheating makes you bad, so stay away from it. +Time and again you must have heard advisories on staying away from unfair means. +I am reiterating the same, once again. +And once you are habituated to using unfair means, you will never feel the desire to actually learn anything in life. +Where will you reach then? +If one devotes the same time and the same creativity in addressing issues pertaining to exams, one would never require any unfair means in the first place. +Results that you achieve through your own hard work and diligence will invest you with a phenomenal and extra-ordinary self-confidence. +People generally nurse the notion that if students indulge in sporting activities, they become careless about their studies. +If someone says, “Let me finish with all exams first, I will play and do other things later”; well, that is impossible. +This is THE time for moulding one’s life. +This is what upbringing is all about. +As a matter of fact, in my opinion, three things are crucial – proper rest, the other is the requisite amount of sleep, the third is the body, which is a major component, way beyond mental activity. +Other parts of the body too require physical activity. +Whatever you are doing, take a break, have a stroll outside, enter the kitchen, look for something that you relish to eat, munch on your favourite biscuit if possible, tell or listen jokes and laugh for a while. +If only for five minutes, give yourself a break. +You will feel the onset of a certain ease in your work. +I do not know if everyone likes this or not, but I am saying it out of personal experience. +Deep breathing during these times is very beneficial. +When I address election rallies, sometimes I suffer from a sore throat or a hoarse voice. +Once a folk singer came to meet me. +He asked me, “How many hours do you sleep?” +I asked him if he was a doctor. +He said, “No, but it is linked with your voice problem brought on by delivering so many election speeches. +Only when you get adequate sleep, your vocal chords will be able to rest fully.” +Actually, we should understand the importance of these things, it will surely benefit you. +Please, do not do that, else your family members will be displeased with me. +And when your mark sheet arrives, if they are not happy with that, they will not see you but only me. +So, avoid doing that. +And hence I will say, “P for prepare and P for play’, one who plays blossoms, the person who plays, shines. +This is a wonderful remedy for maintaining the vigour of the mind, brain and body. +Anyway, young friends, you are engrossed in preparing for your exams and here I am, engaging you in matters close to my heart. +Of course, it is quite possible that my words this morning will act as a relaxant for you. +In the same breath, I will add that do not let these remarks of mine be a burden on you. +Just as I advise your parents not to be burdensome to you, the same applies to me too. +In order to clear a test, treat the test as a festive occasion. +You will never feel a test, a test again. +Make headway with this Mantra. +My dear countrymen, on 1st February 2017, Indian Coast Guard is completing 40 years. +On this occasion I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the officers and jawans of Coast Guard for their service to the Nation. +It is a matter of pride and honour that with its indigenously built 126 ships and 62 aircrafts, it has carved a coveted place for itself amongst the 4 biggest Coast Guards of the world. +The motto of Coast Guard is ‘Vayam Rakshaamaha.’ +Not many people would be aware that in our Coast Guard, not just men, but women too are discharging their duties and responsibilities shoulder to shoulder, and most successfully. +Our Coast Guard women officers are pilots, work as Observers, and not just that, they command Hovercrafts as well. +Vasant is RITURAJ, the king of seasons. +In our country, Saraswati Pooja is done on Vasant Panchami; Vasant Panchmi is a major festival. +It is considered an occasion to worship Vidya, knowledge. +And not just that, it is a celebration of inspiration for brave hearts. +‘Mera Rang de Basanti Chola’ is a perfect example of that. +I extend my best wishes to my countrymen on the pious occasion of Vasant Panchami. +My dear countrymen, in ‘Mann Ki Baat’, All India Radio too infuses myriad novel hues of creativity and imagination. +Last month onwards, they have started broadcasting versions in regional languages, immediately after the broadcast of my ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +This has gained wide acceptance. +People are writing in from far and wide. +Best wishes to you. +Gen. Fan Changlong, Vice Chairman of Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Gen. Fan Changlong briefed the Prime Minister on growing military-to-military relations between India and China. +Prime Minister Modi said that it is important to enhance strategic trust and maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas, in order to promote overall bilateral ties. +Prime Minister Modi welcomed the steps taken to strengthen military cooperation between India and China. +He welcomed the participation of PLA Navy in the International Fleet Review to be held in India in 2016. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the occasion of various festivals across India. +“Happy Makar Sankranti to everyone! +Best wishes on Pongal! +Greetings on the special occasion of Magh Bihu. +Happy Uttarayan. +May you all scale new heights of progress in the times to come”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Norway on their Constitution Day. +“Greetings to people of Norway on their Constitution Day. +Strong ties with Norway benefit both our Nations. +It is a friendship we cherish,” the Prime Minister said. +The total expenditure involved in this project is Rs 800 Crore. +All citizens, especially 40% of the country’s population that is outside the ambit of formal banking in the country will benefit from this project. +The project will be rolled out in the entire country in a phased manner. +The IPPB will obtain banking licence from RBI by March 2017 and by September 2017, its services will be available across the country through 650 payments bank branches, linked post offices and alternative channels riding on modern technology including mobiles, ATMs, PoS/ m-PoS devices etc and simple digital payments. +The proposal will further the cause of financial inclusion by providing basic banking, payments and remittance services and facilitate financial services like insurance, mutual funds, pensions and access to credit in tie-up with third party financial providers with special focus on rural areas and the unbanked and under-banked segments. +It will generate new employment opportunities for skilled banking professionals and will generate opportunities for propagating financial literacy across the country. +It will create the largest bank in the world in terms of accessibility and in time, will encourage the move towards a less cash economy. +Setting-up of the IPPB to further financial inclusion was one of the budgetary announcements during 2015-16. +The Department of Posts had obtained the “in-principle approval” of the RBI in September 2015 to set up the India Post Payments Bank. +The India Post Payments Bank will leverage the Department’s network, reach, and resources to make simple, low-cost, quality financial services easily accessible to customers all over the country. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan and Ministries of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs), Health & Family Welfare and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) concerning the Demonstration Project for ICT based Green Hospital at AIIMS in Delhi. +The project shall encompass the following work: +a. Surveys required for engineering and design, construction and operation of the EQUIPMENT, b. +Basic planning and engineering and design of the EQUIPMENT, c. +Manufacture and transportation of the EQUIPMENT, d. +Civil work, construction and installation e. +Commissioning of the EQUIPMENT, f. +Demonstration of the EQUIPMENT, and g. +Dissemination of the TECHNOLOGY in India. +The MoU shall come into effect on the date of its signature and shall remain effective until March 31, 2020. +The objectives of the project are to contribute to the efficient use of energy and the protection of the environment in India by installing the energy efficient and IT related equipment in AIIMS Delhi and demonstrating the energy management system and IT system. +Efforts will be made to widely disseminate the technology in India through demonstration of the equipment. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, on his birth anniversary. +“I salute Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. +His valour played a major role in freeing India from colonialism. +Netaji Bose was a great intellectual who always thought about the interests & wellbeing of the marginalised sections of society. +Exchanged on the Russian Federation side by +Exchanged on the Indian side by +Protocol for Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MEA for the period 2019-2023 +Sushma Swaraj External Affairs Minister +Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) +H.E. Mr Maxim Oreshkin, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation +Memorandum of Understanding between Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Federal Space Agency of Russia ‘ROSCOSMOS’ on Joint Activities in the field of Human Spaceflight Programme +Shri Vijay Gokhale Foreign Secretary +Shri Vijay Gokhale Foreign Secretary +Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Ministry of Transport and Indian Railways in the Development Cooperation in Transport Education +Memorandum of Understanding between the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), of India and the Russian Small and Medium Business Corporation (RSMB), on Cooperation in the field of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises +Mr. Alexander Braverman, Director General , Russian Small and Medium Business Corporation +Cooperation Agreement in the Fertilizers Sector between the Russian Direct Investment Fund” (“RDIF”); PJSC Phosagro (PhosAgro) and Indian Potash Limited (IPL) +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Kerala and Tamil Nadu tomorrow – February 2nd, 2016. +The Prime Minister will arrive in Kozhikode, where he will deliver an address at the Third Global Ayurveda Festival. +The Prime Minister will inaugurate the building of the ESIC Medical College and Hospital in Coimbatore, and hand it over to the Government of Tamil Nadu. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today addressed unorganized sector workers at 20 locations across Gujarat through video-conferencing. +As part of the activities for Good Governance Day, the Gujarat Government launched several welfare schemes for unorganized sector workers. +These schemes draw inspiration from the “Shramev Jayate” vision of the Union Government. +Among the initiatives is “U-WIN” – Unorganized Sector Identification Number, which will enable unorganized sector workers to avail of the benefits of several Government schemes. +The Prime Minister congratulated the Gujarat Government for these initiatives, and said other states could also emulate them. +He also congratulated the state Government for launching Rural Labour Commissionerates and Rural Labour Welfare Boards. +The Prime Minister also praised the unorganized sector workers of the state, and said that the state had zero-mandays loss, as all stakeholders had followed the Gandhian spirit of working as a family. +He said this was one of the reasons that the state was receiving large amounts of foreign investment. +Ahmedabad Shopping Festival – yet another major attraction, begins today +The PM visited the various pavilions and evinced keen interest in the stalls of ISRO, DRDO, Khadi etc. among others bringing to the fore his vision of Make in dia with an apt tagline- From Charkha to Chandrayaan. +He was accompanied by the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani and other dignitaries. +The Global trade show is spread over an area of 200,000 sq. +Mts, with more than 25 industrial and business sectors showcasing their ideas, products and designs under one umbrella here. +A series of events and programs have been organized alongside the summit. +One of the major attractions today is Ahmedabad Shopping Festival– 2019 which will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister later this evening. +Mascot of the Vibrant Gujarat Ahmedabad Shopping Festival will be unveiled by the PM on this occasion. +Ahmedabad Shopping Festival 2019 is the first event of its kind in India and provides an opportunity for the enterprises from the city to showcase their products. +In addition to the flagship events organized as part of Vibrant Gujarat, the 9th edition of the Summit will also witness the launch of a completely new set of forums aimed at diversifying the nature of knowledge sharing at the Summit, and intensifying the level of networking between participants. +The Summit will provide a platform for brainstorming on agendas of global socio-economic development, knowledge sharing and forging effective partnerships. +The Highlights of Vibrant Gujarat 2019 include among others- +1. Roundtable for Opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education & Research in India. +It will be attended by eminent educationists and key policy makers to prepare the “Roadmap for opportunities in STEM Education & Research in India”. +2. International Conference on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) +3. Exhibition on Futuristic Technologies and Space Exploration which offers a vision of the future of space travel. +4. Seminar on Port Led Development & Strategies to establish India as the Trans-shipment Hub of Asia +5. Seminar on Make in India to showcase the Success Stories of Make in India program & key interventions by the Government. +6.Seminar on Opportunities for Industry in Defence & Aerospace to sensitize participants about opportunities in defence and aeronautics in Gujarat, and to deliberate on a way forward for India and Gujarat to emerge as a manufacturing hub for defence and aeronautics. +Since its inception in 2003, Vibrant Gujarat Summit has played the role as a catalyst spurring several other states to come forward with such summits to promote trade and investments there. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of theMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Federal Transport Authority – Land & Maritime of the United Arab Emirates on Technical Cooperation in Rail Sector. +The MoU was signed on 10th February, 2018. +The MoUwill enable technical cooperation in the following areas:- +a. Regulation, safety and technical investigation of accidents; +b. Station redevelopment; +c. Locomotives, coaches and wagons; and +d. Any other area jointly identified by the Participants. +The MoU will provide a platform to Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector. +The MoU will facilitate exchange of information, expert meetings,seminars technical visits and implementation of jointly agreed cooperation projects. +Ministry of Railways have signed MoUs for technical cooperation in the Rail sector with various foreign Governments and National Railways. +The identified areas of cooperation inter alia include high speed corridors, speed raising of existing routes, development of world class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure, etc. +The cooperation is achieved through exchange of information on developments in areas of railways technology & operations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training & seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Selvi J Jayalalithaa. +“Deeply saddened at the passing away of Selvi Jayalalithaa. +Her demise has left a huge void in Indian politics. +Jayalalithaa ji’s connect with citizens, concern for welfare of the poor, the women & marginalized will always be a source of inspiration. +My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of grief. +May the Almighty grant them the strength to bear this irreparable loss with courage and fortitude. +I will always cherish the innumerable occasions when I had the opportunity to interact with Jayalalithaa ji. +May her soul rest in peace,” the Prime Minister said. +A five member delegation from the Aligarh Muslim University, led by Vice Chancellor Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +The delegation discussed issues related to research and education, skill development, and Ganga rejuvenation. +JAM vision, will serve as the bedrock of many initiatives to come. +For me, JAM is about Just Achieving Maximum. +Maximum value for every rupee spent. +Maximum empowerment for our poor. +Maximum technology penetration among the masses. +PM Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana on 28th August to address this fundamental issue. +Within a matter of months, this scheme has radically transformed lives and futures of millions of Indians. +In just over a year, 19.72 crore bank accounts were opened. +16.8 crore Rupay cards have been issued so far. +There have been deposits worth Rs 28699.65 crores. +A record 1,25,697 Bank Mitras (Bank Correspondents) have also been deployed. +It also set the Guinness World Record for most bank accounts opened in one week -1,80,96,130. +While opening millions of bank accounts were a challenge, inducing a behavioural change to get people start using their bank accounts was another major challenge. +The no of zero balance accounts have registered a steep fall from 76.8% in September 2014 to 32.4% in December 2015. +More than Rs 131 crore has also been availed as overdraft so far. +All this was possible because of PM Modi’s thrust and his power of galvanizing masses and the government machinery. +This enormous task was taken up in mission mode and achieved with an exemplary partnership and participation of the government and public. +While the bank accounts have given millions of Indians access to banking services, they have also played a major role in stopping corruption. +PAHAL Yojana, recently entered the Guinness Book of World Records for being the world’s largest direct cash transfer scheme. +Under PAHAL Yojana, LPG subsidies are directly deposited into the bank accounts. +Under this scheme, more than 14.62 crore people are receiving direct cash subsidies. +This scheme has also helped identify and block around 3.34 crore duplicate or inactive accounts, helping save thousands of crores. +Currently the Government is using Direct Benefit Transfers for around 35-40 schemes and approximately Rs 40,000 crores were directly transferred to the beneficiaries in 2015. +Once the basic banking facilities for people were in place, the NDA Government embarked on a historic move of providing an insurance & pension cover to the citizens. +Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana provides accident insurance worth Rs 2 Lakh at just Rs 12 per year. +Pradhan Mantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojana provides life insurance at just Rs 330 per year. +Atal Pension Yojana provides a pension of upto Rs 5000 a month depending on the contribution. +More than 9.2 crore people have enrolled for Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima & almost 3 crore people have joined Pradhan Mantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojana. +Around 15.85 lakh people have registered for the Atal Pension Yojana. +Shri Shekhar Sen, Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi was also present. +29 Officer Trainees of the 2012 batch of Indian Foreign Service, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, at 7, Race Course Road today. +This is the largest batch of the IFS, and also has the largest number of lady probationers. +Shri Modi said the probationers should reflect the essence of India`s image and self-esteem, as they take up their assignments across the world. +He added that as members of the Foreign Service, they should also motivate the Indian diaspora to take pride in India. +The Prime Minister said that the focus should be on expansion of trade and commerce, and technology transfer. +He said India needs to concentrate on `zero-defect manufacturing` and `packaging and presentation`, to boost its exports. +Giving an illustration, he said Indian herbal medicines were among the best in the world, but are lagging behind Chinese products due to poor packaging. +Similarly, the huge diversity and range of Indian handicrafts has not been presented properly to the world. +The Prime Minister exhorted the Officer-Trainees to become catalytic agents to convey the strengths of India to the world, so that mutually beneficial exchanges can take place. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep sympathy towards the affected people, on 5th anniversary of Great East Japan Earthquake. +“On 5th anniversary of Great East Japan Earthquake, India offers deep sympathy to those affected. +We admire the resilience of people of Japan”, the Prime Minister said. +Thank you, Excellency, for your kind words. +I am delighted to be here in Nairobi. +In a way, the journey of your life has also been the journey of an Independent Kenya. +It is an honour for me to be with you today. +Kenya is a valued friend and trusted partner of India. +The bonds between the two countries are long-standing and rich. +We share a common legacy of struggle against colonialism. +And, today, President and I reviewed all aspects and full range of our relationship. +India is Kenya’s largest trading partner, and the second largest investor here. +But, there is potential to achieve much more. +President and I agreed that our economies can benefit more: +This would also enable greater regional economic prosperity. +India and Kenya are two developing countries. +We are also two innovation societies. +And, the important part is that whether it is the process, products or technologies, our innovations are relevant not just to our societies.They also help improve the lives of people in other developing countries. +The success of M-Pesa is one such classic innovation that has empowered millions the world over. +Both sides have been working together in commercializing innovative technologies, and some of it will be evident at the Business Forum later today. +The multifaceted development partnership is a key pillar of our bilateral relationship. +We look forward to early implementation of the Indian lines of credit for projects in agricultural mechanization, textiles and the development of the small and medium sector. +I understand that health care is President Uhuru’s key priority. +India’s strength, especially in pharmaceuticals, can join hands with your priorities to shape an affordable and efficient healthcare system in Kenya. +In this regard, I am happy that the prestigious Kenyatta National Hospital will soon have the state of the art made in India cancer therapy machine – Bhabhatron. +We are also donating essential medicines and medical equipment for Kenya’s public health system, including for the treatment AIDS. +We recognize that without the opportunities for the success of our youth, our societies cannot grow. +For this, we are ready to partner with Kenya in the fields of education, vocational education and skill development. +We both have strong maritime traditions. +As such, our closer cooperation in the field of maritime security occupies an important place in our overall defence and security engagement. +The MoU on Defence Cooperation signed just now would strengthen our institutional cooperation between our defence establishments. +This would include greater staff exchanges; sharing of expertise and experiences; training and institution building, cooperation in hydrography, and supply of equipment. +President and I recognize that Terrorism and the rapid spread of radical ideologies pose a common challenge to our people, our countries, to the region and to the whole world. +We have agreed to deepen our security partnership including in the fields of cyber security, combating drugs and narcotics, and human trafficking. +Yesterday, President and I had an unforgettable interaction with the Indian diaspora in Kenya. +As President Uhuru said, they are proud Kenyans even as they cherish their Indian roots. +As we shape deeper contacts between our economies and societies, they form a trusted bond and a strong bridge. +I am also happy to announce that the vibrant Indian culture, which is already a part of Kenya’s rich society, will be showcased in a Festival of India in Kenya later this year. +In the end, let me once again thank you, the Government of Kenya and its people for the warmest of welcomes that I have received. +And, I and the people of India look forward to welcoming you in India. +Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Member of the Malaysian Parliament, and Leader of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat Party of Malaysia, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Mr. Ibrahim was accompanied by two Members of the Malaysian Parliament, Hon. Kesavan Subramanian and Hon. Santhara Kumar Ramanaidu. +The Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Ibrahim on his recent election as President of the PKR Party. +The Prime Minister fondly recalled their last meeting in Malaysia in May 2018. +The Prime Minister also conveyed his warm regards to H. E. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia. +The two leaders discussed bilateral, regional and global matters of mutual interest. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to release an instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to Pensioners w.e.f. +The DG, ITBP Shri Subhas Goswami, today called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and handed over a cheque worth Rs. 2.91 crore for the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, towards the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir. +This is equivalent to one day’s salary of ITBP personnel. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 68th Independence Day. +Following is the English rendering of the Prime Minister’s address on the occasion:- +My dear countrymen, +Today, all Indians in the country and also abroad are celebrating the festival of independence. +On this day of sacred festival of independence, the prime servant of India extends greetings to all dear countrymen. +I am present amidst you not as the Prime Minister, but as the Prime Servant. +The freedom struggle was fought for so many years, so many generations laid down their lives, innumerable people sacrificed their lives and youth, spent their entire lives behind bars. +My dear countrymen, a national festival is an occasion to refine and rebuild the national character. +This National festival inspires us to resolve ourselves to lead a life where our character gets refined further, to dedicate ourselves to the nation and our every activity is linked to the interest of the nation and only then this festival of freedom can be a festival of inspiration to take India to newer heights. +These great people and these great generations, who had worked for the country throughout their lives, deserve our deepest respect. +This is the beauty of India`s Constitution, this is its capability which has made it possible that today a boy from small town, a poor family has got the opportunity to pay homage to the tri-colour of India at the ramparts of Lal Quila (Red Fort). +I pay my respects to those architects of the constitution of India today. +Brothers and sisters, today if we have reached here after independence, it is because of the contribution of all the Prime Ministers, all the governments and even the governments of all the States. +I want to express my feelings of respect and gratitude to all those previous governments and ex-Prime Ministers who have endeavoured to take our present day India to such heights and who have added to the country`s glory. +This country has been built on such foundation of ancient cultural heritage, where we were told of only one mantra during Vedic period, which is indicative of our work culture, which we have learnt, we have memorized – “Sangachchhdhvam Samvadadhvam sam wo manansi jaanataam.” +We walk together, we move together, we think together, we resolve together and together we take this country forward. +Having imbibed this basic mantra, 125 crores of countrymen have taken the nation forward. +Yesterday only the first Parliamentary Session of the new Government had concluded. +Today, I can proudly say that the Session of Parliament reflects our thinking and it is a reflection of our intentions. +We are not for moving forward on the basis of majority, we are not interested to move forward by virtue of majority. +We want to move ahead on the basis of strong consensus. +“Sangachhadhwam” and, therefore, the nation has witnessed the entire Session of Parliament. +Having taken all the Parties and Opposition along while working shoulder to shoulder, we achieved an unprecedented success and the credit for this does not go to the Prime Minister alone, the credit does not go to the people sitting in the Government, the credit for this goes to the Opposition also, the credit goes to all the leaders of Opposition too and also all the Members from Opposition. +From the ramparts of Red Fort, quite proudly I salute all the Members of Parliament, I also salute all the Political Parties and by virtue of their strong support, we could take some important decisions intended to take the nation forward and yesterday the Session of Parliament had concluded. +Brothers and sisters, I am an outsider for Delhi, I am not a native of Delhi. +I have no idea about the administration and working of this place. +I have been quite isolated from the elite class of this place but during the last two months while being an outsider, I had an insider view and I was astonished. +It is not a political platform, rather it is a platform of a national policy and, therefore, my views should not be evaluated from a political perspective. +I have already said, I salute all the ex-Prime Ministers and earlier governments who have brought the country thus far. +But I am going to say something else and it may not be seen from political point of view. +When I came to Delhi and noticed an insider view, I felt what it was and I was surprised to see it. +It seemed as if dozens of separate governments are running at the same time in one main government. +It appeared that everyone has its own fiefdom. +I could observe disunity and conflict among them. +How come we can take the country forward? +I observed that India`s National newspapers, TV media were carrying these news items prominently. +As the Head of the Government I could have derived pleasure in the fact that everything started going on time, cleanliness got the attention, but I was not taking pleasure, I was feeling pained. +That thing, I want to tell today in public. +And why, because if government officers arrive office in time, does that make a news? +I want to awaken that power, I want to unite that power and want to accelerate the pace of the welfare of nation through that power and I shall definitely do it. +Unfortunately, we have an environment today wherein if you approach anyone with some work, he begins by saying “what does it mean for me?” +Everything is not for self interest only. +There are certain things which are meant for the country and we have to refine this national character. +People come out with different arguments, someone indulges in psycho analysis, but brothers and sisters, today from this platform, I want to ask those parents, I want to ask every parent that you have a daughter of 10 or 12 years age, you are always on the alert, every now and then you keep on asking where are you going, when would you come back, inform immediately after you reach. +Parents ask their daughters hundreds of questions, but have any parents ever dared to ask their son as to where he is going, why he is going out, who his friends are. +After all, a rapist is also somebody`s son. +He also has parents. +As parents, have we ever asked our son as to what he is doing and where he is going. +If every parent decides to impose as many restrictions on the sons as have been imposed on our daughters, try to do this with your sons, try to ask such questions of them. +My dear brothers and sisters, the law will take its own course, strict action will be taken, but as a member of the society, as parents, we also have some responsibilities. +If somebody tells me that those who have taken guns on their shoulders and kill innocent people are maoists, are terrorists, but they are also somebody`s children. +Whoever you are it is all because of your parents. +I want to ask you to think how green, how beautiful and how beneficial this earth can become if you shoulder the plough instead of the gun which spills blood on this land. +The path of violence has not yielded anything to us. +Brothers and sisters, I had gone to Nepal recently. +There I said something publicly to draw the attention of the whole world. +There was a time when the Emperor Ashoka who had chosen the path of wars, got converted to the path of Buddha at the sight of violence. +There was a time in Nepal when their youngsters had opted for the path of violence but today I witness that the same youngsters are waiting for their constitution. +Brothers and sisters, If Nepal, land of Budha, can give message to the world then why can`t India too do the same? +So it`s the call of the hour that we renounce the path of violence and take the path of brotherhood. +Whom does it benefit? +We have had enough of fights, many have been killed. +Friends, look behind and you will find that nobody has benefited from it. +Shun all the sins committed so far, give up that way, follow the way of goodwill and brotherhood, and let`s resolve to take the country forward. +I believe we can do that. +With advancement of science, brothers and sisters, we have a rising feeling of modernity in our mind, but what do we do? +Have we ever thought what the sex ratio in the country is like? +940 girls are born against per thousand boys. +Who is causing this imbalance in the society? +Certainly not God. +I request the doctors not to kill the girl growing in the womb of a mother just to line their own pockets. +I advise mothers and sisters not to sacrifice daughters in the hope of son. +Sometimes mother-father feel tempted to have son in the hope of supporting them in old age. +I am a person who has worked in public life. +I have come across families with five sons, each having bungalows, access to fleet of cars, but parents are forced to live in old-age homes, Vriddhashrams. +I have seen such families. +I have also seen families with only daughter as progeny, that daughter sacrifices her dreams, doesn`t get married, and spends entire life in taking care of old parents. +This disparity points to female foeticide and the polluted and tainted mind the 21st century has. +We will have to liberate from it, and that is message to us of this Freedom festival. +Recently Commonwealth Games were organized. +Indian sportspersons brought glory to the country. +Nearly 64 of our sportspersons won. +Let`s feel proud and clap for them. +Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have to proceed in that direction as a social and national character. +Brothers and Sisters, Development is the only way forward for the country. +Good governance is the only way. +There are only these two tracks to take the country forward – good governance and development, we can move forward only by taking them with us. +We wish to move forward with the intent of taking them with us. +When I talk of good governance, you tell me, when I ask a person in private job, he tells that he does the job; when you ask the same from a person in government job, he says that I do the service. +Both earn, but for one it is job while for the other it is service. +I ask a question from all brothers and sisters in government service, whether the word “Service” has not lost its strength, its identity? +Persons in government service are not doing “job”, they are doing “service”. +We have to revive this feeling, we have to take this feeling forward as a national character, we have to move forward in this direction. +Brothers and Sisters, whether the citizens of the country should take steps for the welfare of the nation or not? +You imagine, if this 125 crores of countrymen move one step forward, then the country moves 125 crore steps forward. +We have to create partnership with the people. +We have to proceed under Public-Private Partnership. +We have to proceed along with the participation of the people. +But, please tell me why our farmers commit suicide? +A farmer takes loan from the moneylender, but fails to repay his loans. +Who will save the poor families of such farmers? +There are millions of families who have mobile phones but no bank accounts. +We have to change this scenario. +This yojana will open the window. +Therefore, an account holder under `Pradhanmantri Jan-Dhan Yojana` will be given a debit card. +An insurance of One Lakh Rupees will be guaranteed with that debit card for each poor family, so that such families are covered with the insurance of One Lakh Rupees in case of any crisis in their lives. +My brothers and sisters, it is a country of young people. +The 65 percent population of the country happens to be under the age of 35 years. +Our country has the largest number of youths in the world. +Have we ever thought of deriving an advantage out of it? +Today, the world needs a skilled workforce. +Today, India also needs a skilled workforce. +We have young people, they are unemployed but the kind of young people we seek for are not available. +If we have to promote the development of our country then our mission has to be `skill development` and `skilled India`. +Whenever they go to any country in the world, their skills must be appreciated and we want to go for a two pronged development. +My brothers and sisters, having taken a resolve to enhance the skill development at a highly rapid pace, I want to accomplish this. +Brothers and sisters, the world has undergone a change. +My dear countrymen, the world has changed. +Now India can not decide its future by remaining isolated and sitting alone in a corner. +The economics of the world have changed and, therefore, we will have to act accordingly. +Government have taken many decisions recently, made some announcements in the budget and I call upon the world and call upon the Indians spread world over that if we have to provide more and more employment to the youth, we will have to promote manufacturing sector. +If we have to develop a balance between imports and exports, we will have to strengthen manufacturing sector. +If we have to put in use the education, the capability of the youth, we will have to go for manufacturing sector and for this Hindustan also will have to lend its full strength, but we also invite world powers. +Therefore I want to appeal all the people world over, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, “Come, make in India”, “Come, manufacture in India”. +Sell in any country of the world but manufacture here. +We have got skill, talent, discipline, and determination to do something. +We want to give the world an favourable opportunity that come here, “Come, Make in India” and we will say to the world, from electrical to electronics, “Come, Make in India”, from automobiles to agro value addition “Come, Make in India”, paper or plastic, “Come, Make in India”, satellite or submarine “Come, Make in India”. +Our country is powerful. +Come, I am giving you an invitation. +Brothers and sisters, I want to call upon the youth of the country, particularly the small people engaged in the industrial sector. +I want to call upon the youth working in the field of technical education in the country. +As I say to the world “Come, Make in India”, I say to the youth of the country – it should be our dream that this message reaches every corner of the world, “Made in India”. +This should be our dream. +Whether, to serve the country, is it necessary for the youth of the country to be hanged like Bhagat Singh? +Brothers and sisters, Lal Bahadur Shastri had given the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”. +This is also nation`s service. +Brothers and Sisters, I would like to pose a question to my youngsters as to why despite them, we are forced to import even the smallest of things? +My country`s youth can resolve it, they should conduct research, try to find out as to what type of items are imported by India and then each one should resolve that, through may be micro or small industries only, he would manufacture atleast one such item so that we need not import the same in future. +We should even advance to a situation wherein we are able to export such items. +If we march ahead with the dream of zero defect in the manufacturing sector then, my brothers and sisters, I am confident that we would be able to achieve our goals. +Brothers and sisters, the youth of India has completely transformed the identity of India in the world. +Earlier, in what manner did the world know our country? +The real identity of India had not reached the world, but my dear brothers and sisters, our youngsters, 20-22-23 years old youngsters have mesmerized the whole world with their skills in computers. +If our country has this strength, can we think something about the country? +Our dream is, therefore, of “Digital India”. +When I talk of “Digital India”, I don`t speak of the elite, it is for the poor people. +You can imagine what a quality education the children in villages will get, if all the villages of India are connected with Broadband Connectivity and if we are able to give long distance education to the schools in every remote corner of the villages. +If we create a network of telemedicine in the places where there is a shortage of doctors, we can have a clear guideline of the way in which health facilities have to be provided to the poor people living in those areas. +The citizens of India have mobile phones in their hands, they have mobile connectivity, but can we walk in the direction of mobile governance? +We have to move in a direction where every poor person is able to operate his bank account from his mobile, is able to demand various things from the government, can submit applications, can conduct all his business, while on the move, through mobile governance and if this has to be done, we have to move towards `digital India` and if we have to move towards `digital India` then we have a dream. +Today we are importing electronic goods on a large scale. +E-governance is easy governance, effective governance and also economic governance. +E-governance paves the way for good governance. +There was a time when we used to say that the railways provided connectivity to the country. +That was it. +I say that today it is IT that has the potential to connect each and every citizen of the country and that is why we want to realise the mantra of unity with the help of `digital India`. +Brothers and sisters, we want to promote tourism. +Tourism provides employment to the poorest of the poor. +Gram seller earns something, auto-rickshaw driver earns something, pakoda seller earns something and tea seller also earns something. +When there is talk of tea seller, I feel a sense of belongingness. +Tourism provide employment to the poorest of the poor. +But there is a big obstacle in promoting tourism and in our national character and that is – the filthiness all around us. +Whether after independence, after so many years of independence, when we stand at the threshold of one and half decade of 21st century, we still want to live in filthiness? +The first work I started here after formation of Government is of cleanliness. +People wondered whether it is a work of a Prime Minister? +People may feel that it is a trivial work for a Prime Minister but for me this a big work. +Cleanliness is very big work. +Whether our country can not be clean? +If one hundred and twenty five crore countrymen decide that they will never spread filthiness, which power in the world has ability to spread filthiness in our cities and villages? +Can`t we resolve this much? +Mahatma Gandhi, who gave us freedom, who brought so much honour to such a big country in the world, what do we give to Mahatma Gandhi? +Brothers and Sisters, Mahatma Gandhi had cleanliness and sanitation closest to his heart. +Whether we resolve not to leave a speck of dirt in our village, city, street, area, school, temple, hospital, and what have you, by 2019 when we celebrate 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi? +Brother and Sisters, we are living in 21st century. +Has it ever pained us that our mothers and sisters have to defecate in open? +Whether dignity of women is not our collective responsibility? +The poor womenfolk of the village wait for the night; until darkness descends, they can`t go out to defecate. +What bodily torture they must be feeling, how many diseases that act might engender. +Can`t we just make arrangements for toilets for the dignity of our mothers and sisters? +Brothers and Sisters, somebody might feel that a big festival like 15th August is an occasion to talk big. +Brothers and Sisters, talking big has its importance, making announcements too has importance, but sometimes announcements raise hopes and when the hopes are not fulfilled, the society sinks into a state of despondency. +That`s why are in favour of telling those things, which we can fulfil just within our sight. +Brothers and sisters, you must be getting shocked to hear the Prime Minister speaking of cleanliness and the need to build toilets from the ramparts of the Red Fort. +I, therefore, have to launch a `clean India` campaign from 2nd October this year and carry it forward in 4 years. +The government should utilise its budget on providing toilets. +I call upon the corporate sector also to give priority to the provision of toilets in schools with your expenditure under Corporate Social Responsibility. +This target should be finished within one year with the help of state governments and on the next 15th August, we should be in a firm position to announce that there is no school in India without separate toilets for boys and girls. +Brothers and sisters, if we proceed with the dreams, we are in a position to realise them. +Today, I wish to tell one more specific thing. +It has its own importance to discuss the matters and express the views of nation`s interest. +However, our Members of Parliament do not get opportunity though they are willing to do something. +Today I have come to you with a new idea. +Can`t we do at least this? +Shouldn`t we do this? +If we have to build a nation, we should start from the village. +I also call upon the Members of Parliament from urban areas to adopt one village of their choice. +I also urge upon the Members of Parliament from Rajya Sabha to adopt one of the villages. +If we provide one model village in each district of India then the surrounding villages shall be automatically inspired to follow that model. +Let us establish a model village, let us establish a village well equipped with all systems and facilities. +The birth anniversary of Jai Prakash Narayan Ji happens to be on 11th October. +On 11th October, the occasion of birth anniversary of Jai Prakash Narayan Ji, I will present a complete blueprint of “Sānsad Adharsh Grām Yojana” (Members of Parliament Model Village Scheme) before all Members of Parliament and State Governments, and I urge upon State Governments also that as per the feasibility in their respective states, all the Members of Legislative Assembly resolve to establish a model village. +You can imagine all the Members of Legislative Assembly and all the Members of Parliament in the country establishing a model village. +All of a sudden, there would be a model village in each block of India which could inspire us to transform the amenities in rural areas and could give us a new direction and, therefore, we want to move ahead under this “Sānsad Adarsh Grām Yojana”. +I believe that when Planning Commission was constituted, it was done on the basis of the circumstances and the needs of those times. +In recent years, Planning Commission has contributed to the growth of the country in its own way. +I respect that, I am proud of that, but the prevalent situation in the country is different, global scenario has also changed, governments are no longer the centre of economic activities, the scope of such activities has broadened. +State governments have been at the center of development and I consider this a good indication. +If we have to take India forward, it can happen only by taking the states forward. +India`s federal structure is more important today than in the last 60 years. +To strengthen our federal structure, to make our federal structure vibrant, to take our federal structure as a heritage of development, a team of Chief Minister and Prime Minister should be there, a joint team of the Centre and the states should move forward, then to do this job, we will have to think about giving the Planning Commission a look. +So, I am saying from the rampart of the Red Fort that it is a very old system and it will have to be rejuvenated, it will have to be changed a lot. +Sometimes it costs more to repair the old house, but, it gives us no satisfaction. +Brothers and sisters, today, on 15th August, we also have the birth anniversary of Maharishi Aurobindo. +Maharishi Aurobindo, being a rebel, moved on to achieve the status of a Yoga Guru. +With regard to the destiny of India, he remarked, “I have a faith that the divine power and spiritual heritage of India will play an important role towards the welfare of the world.” +Such sentiments were echoed by Maharishi Arvind. +I strongly believe in the words of legends. +These words were spoken by Swami Viveknanda ji in his own style. +Friends, the words of Viveknanda ji can never be untrue. +The words of Viveknanda ji, his dream of seeing India ensconced as World Guru, his vision, it is incumbent upon us to realize that dream. +This capable country, blessed with natural bounty, this country of youth can do much for the world in the coming days. +Brothers and sisters, our foreign policy is a much talked about issue. +Which was the government with us? +What were the weapons available to us? +There was a Gandhi, a Sardar and lakhs of freedom fighters and such a huge empire. +Didn`t we win in the struggle of freedom against that empire? +Did we not defeat the foreign powers? +Did we not force them to leave India? +We were the ones, they were our ancestors only who showed this might. +If the people of India could remove such a big empire without the power of the government, without weapons and even without resources, then friends, it is the need of the hour to eradicate poverty, can we not overcome poverty? +Why not get together with all the SAARC nations to plan out the fight against poverty? +Let`s fight together and defeat poverty. +Let us see at-least for once as to how wonderful is the feeling of being alive instead of killing and getting killed. +This is the land where incidents from Siddharth`s life happened. +One bird was shot with an arrow by one brother and the other took out that arrow to save it. +They went to mother- whose bird, whose swan? +Whether killer`s or saviour`s, they asked of mother. +The mother replied, saviour`s. +The saviour has more power than the killer and that makes him Buddha in future. +And that`s why I seek cooperation from neighbouring countries for fighting against poverty in concert and cooperate with them, so that together with SAARC countries we can create our importance and emerge as a power in the world. +It is imperative that we work together with a dream to win a fight against poverty, shoulder to shoulder. +I went to Bhutan, Nepal, all the dignitaries from SAARC countries took part in oath-taking ceremony; this marked a good beginning. +This will definitely yield good results, it is my belief and this thinking of India, in the country and the world, that we want to do well to the countrymen and be useful for the welfare of the world, India wants such a hand to be extended. +We are trying to move forward with these dreams to achieve them. +Brothers and Sisters, today on 15th August we will resolve to do something for the country. +Let`s be useful for the country, we will move ahead with a resolve to take the country forward, and I assure you, Brothers and Sisters, as well as my colleagues in the Government, that if you work for 12 hours, I will do so for 13 hours. +If you work for 14 hours, I will do for 15 hours. +Because I`m amidst you not as a Prime Minister, but as the first servant. +I have formed the Government not as a ruler, but as a servant. +One hundred and twenty five crore countrymen have to move forward wholeheartedly for the welfare of the nation. +Once again I feel proud of the devotion, the sacrifices of the security forces of the country, para-military forces of the country, all the security forces of the country to protect Mother India. +The army is vigilant, we should also be vigilant and the country scales new heights, we have to move forward with this resolution. +Speak loudly with me with full force – +Mr. Miroslav Lajcak, President-elect of the United Nations General Assembly and Minister of Foreign & European Affairs of Slovak Republic called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Miroslav Lajcak on his election to the post of President of the 72nd UN General Assembly. +President-elect Lajcak shared his priorities for the upcoming 72nd UN General Assembly. +Prime Minister assured him of India’s full and constructive cooperation in discharging his new responsibilities. +They both discussed the need for stronger UN action on major global challenges including terrorism, United Nations reform, implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, and climate change. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed shock and condemned the unfortunate killing of a youngster from Bihar due to police firing in Nepal. +PM spoke to Nepal PM Shri K. P. Oli. +He expressed concern on the incident and requested for details. +On supply of fuel and other essentials, PM assured that there is no obstacle from the Indian side. +At the same time, PM urged Nepalese leaders to work towards ensuring an early and effective solution to the crisis. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Cooperation in the Field of Skill Development, Vocational Education and Training. +The MoU would pave the way for closer bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of vocational education and training and skill development. +The collaboration with foreign countries would help to strengthen the India skill eco-system thereby skilling youth for better employment prospects. +The MoU will create the framework for innovative partnership between India and the United Kingdom Industry and training institutes, and will help to scale up skill training efforts in India and enhance their quality. +Funding of projects related to the execution of this MoU will be structured in separate individual arrangements, mutually agreed by both parties. +Skill Development is a national priority for India and the United Kingdom and a key part of the bilateral partnership. +In November, 2016, the two Prime Ministers endorsed Skill Development and Entrepreneurship as one of the priority area for collaboration. +1. At the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Hon’ble Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Shri Narendra Modi paid a two-day official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 2-3 April 2016. +2. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques received Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 3 April at the Royal Court. +The two leaders held discussions in the spirit of the strong friendship that binds the two countries and their peoples. +During the visit, Prime Minister Modi also met with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Premier & Minister of Interior and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Premier & Minister of Defence. +Prime Minister Modi also received Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Health & Chairman of the Executive Board of Saudi Aramco. +3. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prime Minister Modi exchanged views on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. +The two leaders underlined the close and friendly bilateral ties, deep-rooted in shared history and sustained and nourished through growing economic partnership, multi-faceted cooperation and vibrant people to people contacts. +4. Both leaders expressed appreciation for the successful transformation of bilateral relationship in political, economic, security, defence, manpower and people to people exchanges, in recent years, which have enriched bilateral ties. +They expressed satisfaction at the regular exchange of high-level visits between the two countries, underlining that the Delhi Declaration (2006) and the Riyadh Declaration (2010) elevated the mutually beneficial bilateral relations to the level of ‘Strategic Partnership’. +5. Cognizant of their responsibility for promoting peace, stability and security in the region and the world, the two leaders emphasized the importance of further cementing bilateral strategic engagement, including in the areas of security and defence cooperation, to serve the common interests of the two countries and their peoples. +6. Prime Minister Modi acknowledged that the MoU on Defence Cooperation signed during the visit of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to India in February 2014 as the then Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Defence Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was an important milestone in strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries. +The two leaders agreed upon the need to intensify bilateral defence cooperation, through exchange of visits by military personnel and experts, conduct of joint military exercises, exchange of visits of ships and aircrafts and supply of arms and ammunition and their joint development. +They also welcomed the decision for convening of the second meeting of Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation in Riyadh to follow up on the visit of Prime Minister Modi. +7. The two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation to strengthen maritime security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean regions, vital for the security and prosperity of both countries. +They further agreed to promote bilateral collaboration for humanitarian assistance and evacuation in natural disasters and conflict situations. +They called on all states to reject the use of terrorism against other countries; dismantle terrorism infrastructures where they happen to exist and to cut off any kind of support and financing to the terrorists operating and perpetrating terrorism from their territories against other states; and bring perpetrators of acts of terrorism to justice. +10. The two leaders agreed to further strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism, both at the bilateral level and within the multilateral system of the UN. +The two leaders called upon the international community to strengthen multilateral regimes to effectively address the challenges posed by terrorism. +The two sides agreed to work together towards the adoption of India’s proposed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations. +The Prime Minister lauded Kingdom’s efforts at fighting terrorism in all its aspects and its active participation in international efforts towards this end. +The Indian side was briefed on the Kingdom’s initiative in bringing together Islamic Alliance against terrorism. +The two sides further agreed to take action against illegal transfer of money. +12. Both leaders agreed to promote cooperation in cyber security, including prevention of use of cyber space for terrorism, radicalization and for disturbing social harmony. +The two leaders welcomed exchanges and dialogue between religious scholars and intellectuals of both countries and the organization of conferences and seminars to promote values of peace, tolerance, inclusiveness and welfare, inherent in all religions. +13. Reiterating the significance of regular bilateral interactions in reinforcing the momentum for bilateral cooperation, the leaders noted with satisfaction the increase in high-level exchanges between the two countries in recent years. +They underlined the importance of regular exchange of visits, including at the levels of ministers and senior officials. +14. Both leaders appreciated the well-functioning bilateral institutional mechanisms in the field of trade & investment, energy, defence and manpower. +15. The two leaders welcomed the positive outcomes of the 11th session of the Joint Commission Meeting held in New Delhi in May 2015 and its Review Meeting held in Riyadh in December 2015. +The two leaders mandated the Saudi-India Joint Commission to continue follow up of the decisions taken at the highest levels for cementing the bilateral strategic partnership. +They directed their Finance and Trade Ministers to work together to find ways and means to substantially increase the flow of bilateral investments and growth of trade ties. +17. Acknowledging the steady increase in bilateral trade over the last few years, the two leaders expressed satisfaction at the USD 39 billion trade in 2014-15. +18. Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the growing presence of Indian and Saudi companies in each other’s market and agreed to further encourage trade promotion measures and participation in fairs and exhibitions. +19. The two sides conveyed satisfaction at the holding of the 4th India GCC Industrial Forum at King Abdullah Economic City, Jeddah in November 2015. +The Saudi side thanked India for active participation of a large number of Indian companies in the International Fairs and Exhibitions held in Riyadh and Jeddah. +20. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz lauded the strong growth shown by Indian economy and expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s remarkable vision for the future of the country. +He commended Prime Minister Modi’s worthy initiatives of ��Start Up India”, “Make in India”, “Smart City”, and “Clean India”, noting their strong potential to provide Indian economy a positive thrust for growth. +21. The Indian side highlighted the key initiatives taken by the Government of India to improve the ease of doing business in the country and India’s key efforts to simplify and rationalize existing rules and relax the foreign direct investment norms in key areas, including railways, defence and insurance. +22. The Saudi side expressed its interest in investing in infrastructure development in India, especially in priority areas such as railways, roads, ports, and shipping. +The Saudi side welcomed interest of Indian side in investing in the Kingdom, especially taking advantage of the competitive investment opportunities offered by the Saudi economic and Industrial cities. +23. Both leaders also welcomed the signing of the framework agreement between the General Investment Authority in Saudi Arabia and Invest India aimed at facilitating investments by the private sectors in the two countries. +25. The two leaders agreed to transform the buyer-seller relationship in the energy-sector to one of deeper partnership focusing on investment and joint ventures in petrochemical complexes, and cooperation in joint exploration in India, Saudi Arabia and in third countries. +The two sides also agreed to focus on areas of training and human resources development and cooperation in research and development in the energy sector. +In this regard, the two leaders expressed the need for regular meetings under the umbrella of India-Saudi Arabia Ministerial Energy Dialogue. +26. The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation between educational institutions, universities and higher research institutions of the two countries. +28. The Saudi side appreciated the initiative taken by the Prime Minister of India leading to the formation of International Solar Alliance. +They acknowledged the importance of this Alliance in advancing new solar technologies worldwide. +29. Recognizing the vibrant people to people contacts that provided strong bonds between the two countries, the two leaders lauded the valuable role of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia and its contribution to the progress and development of both India and Saudi Arabia. +They welcomed the signing of an agreement on labour cooperation for recruitment of General Category Workers. +Both sides also welcomed the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Consular issues under the umbrella of the India-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission to discuss consular issues on a regular basis. +30. Prime Minister Modi conveyed his sincere appreciation for the excellent arrangements made by the Saudi authorities for the comfort of the Haj and Umrah pilgrims from India. +31. The two leaders noted that India and Saudi Arabia have shared civilizational ties over history that are enriched by the movement of goods, peoples and ideas. +They believed that this common heritage can be drawn upon to strengthen their convergence on approaching contemporary challenges. +A broad approach of humanism and tolerance and a conviction that faith should unite rather than divide can be a positive factor in international relations. +32. The two leaders discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest, including the security situation in West Asia, Middle East and South Asia, in the light of their common interest in the regional and global peace, security and stability. +Referring to the earlier declarations with regard to the situations in Yemen and Syria, they called for the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions (2216, 2254 and 2268). +They also expressed grave concern regarding security situation in Libya and Iraq. +In this regard, they reiterated the importance of peaceful resolution of these issues through dialogue and political negotiations. +33. During their discussions on regional issues, the two sides emphasized the importance of the principle of good neighbourliness, non-interference in internal affairs, respect of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and resolution of dispute through peaceful means. +35. Both leaders emphasized the importance of an effective multilateral system, centred on a UN reflective of contemporary realities, as a key factor in tackling global challenges. +They stressed upon the urgent need to pursue UN reforms, including of the Security Council through an expansion in both categories of its membership, to make it more representative, credible and effective. +36. The leaders agreed that the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Saudi Arabia helped in further consolidating and deepening the strategic partnership framework and further development of excellent bilateral relations in all spheres, to serve the common interests of the two countries and their peoples. +37. Prime Minister Modi expressed his sincere gratitude to His Majesty the King for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality. +He invited His Majesty the King to pay an official visit to India at mutually convenient time, which was gladly accepted. +I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional elders on whose land we stand today, and their ancestors, past and present. +· Thank you very much for arranging this breakfast meeting with economic leaders of Queensland. +· I am honoured and very encouraged by this large turnout. +· Congratulations to Queensland and Brisbane for hosting such a wonderful G20. +For the past few days, you have shown what a world class city you are. +· Queensland`s economy has been performing well, on basis of your traditional strengths in areas like tourism, resources and agriculture, but also through your investments in areas of advanced technologies and services. +· This is a tribute to your leadership and to the government and business in Queensland. +· I am delighted to be here for a number of reasons. +· One, I have always placed great emphasis on relations between states, not just between national capitals. +· Premier Newman, you and your Government are doing a lot to pursue economic opportunities with India. +· You have sent a number of trade missions to India. +Just this September, there was a Queensland-Gujarat Energy Roundtable in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat. +And, I am naturally pleased that Queensland will be participating in Vibrant Gujarat in January 2015 to showcase your infrastructure capabilities. +· I know that you are not partial to Gujarat, but you are sending delegations to Kolkata and Delhi and elsewhere! +· We welcome the efforts you have made to make it possible for an Australian Dollar 16 billion investment to take place in coal mining. +· It will set a new standard for India-Australia cooperation and demonstrate how Australia and Queensland can be a vital partner in meeting India`s requirement for energy and other vital resources. +· Queensland can be an important partner in India`s development – in energy, mineral resources, agriculture and food security, education and advanced technology in some areas. +· In the area of policy: +o We have eased foreign direct investment laws in key areas like railways, defence and insurance; +o We have set up a commission to reform railways, which has always been seen as a just another government department – this has never been done before. +o We have introduced labour reforms. +o We have made big changes in our policies on fuel – coal, natural gas, diesel. +· In the area of processes: +o changing the way we work as government. +Good Governance is the starting point of change. +It is as important to business as it is to ordinary citizens. +o eliminating unnecessary laws and regulations, making processes easier and shorter, ensuring that our government is more transparent. +o Focus on ease of doing business. +o We are partnering with state governments and even going doing to districts and villages. +o Facilitation Cells have been set up. +· In terms of institutions. +o set up a new department for skill development; +o set up a special authority for industrial corridors. +o eBiz Portal for integrated application process – 24×7 +o Closely monitoring implementation of decisions. +o set up an Expenditure Reform Commission; +· In terms of Initiatives. +o We have launched Make in India as a new mission to promote manufacturing in India. +o creating world class infrastructure. +o 100 Smart cities; Metro projects for 50 cities; modern waste management system for 500 cities; +o affordable healthcare within everyone`s reach; sanitation for all by 2019; a roof over every head by 2022; electricity in every household; +o Clean Energy – with special focus on solar energy; energy efficiency. +o Water conservation. +o Clean Ganga Programme , which is also a major urban renewal and environment protection programme. +· I see great opportunities for our cooperation. +Let me highlight some of them. +· We could also commence import of Liquified Natural Gas from Queensland. +· You are leaders in many areas of mining and mining technologies, services and equipment, mining consultancy, mine safety, coal washeries and mine management. +· I invite you to participate in India. +· We have made our policies transparent and predictable. +We have made our procedures clearly defined and smooth. +· Queensland can also be a partner in strengthening India`s food security. +We already import a fairly significant amount of fruits and vegetables and some quantities of fertilizer. +· What we need is an integrated partnership –joint research to improve yield and farm productivity to development of agriculture supply chain infrastructure and food processing. +This is an area of great priority for my government. +· Infrastructure , where we aim to invest over a trillion dollars over the next five years. +· Queensland`s strengths in advanced areas of technology also offer enormous opportunities for collaboration such as biotechnology and your growing strengths in aviation sector. +· We can develop strong synergies in the area of information and communication technology and its every growing application in all areas of life and business. +I hope Indian IT companies will enjoy good access. +Conversely, Digital India offers enormous opportunities. +· Queensland can take justifiable pride in its success in the tourism sector. +Indian investors would be willing to partner with you, as more and more Indians are drawn to the incredible beauty and hospitality of your state. +· You can participate in India`s ambitious plans for smart, sustainable, habitable cities to cater to its growing urban population. +It is expected that nearly 11% of the world`s urban population in 2025 will be in India. +· You can make India a manufacturing hub, for India, for exports and for import back into Australia. +· Let us foster closer cooperation in skill development and education; and, research and development. +Your Universities and Research Institutions have already contributed significantly to the growing science and technology relationship between India and Australia. +· This is particularly true of the collaboration between the two countries under the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund. +· I know that most of you are aware of the opportunities in India and have looked at the market. +· You will begin to find a difference in India. +· There will no longer have to reach those opportunities through uncertain and unpredictable pathways, crossing hurdles along the way. +· You will not only be able to convert opportunities into partnerships, you will do it in an environment that is welcoming and easy to do business in. +· Let me conclude by saying, India-Australia relationship is comprehensive, involving economic cooperation, a growing security and strategic partnership and increasing cooperation in international forums, which are vital for peace, stability and prosperity in our region. +· I am keen to hear your views. +I will make sure our team here follows up on them. +· I thank you all for coming here this morning and wish you a very productive day ahead. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the nation today. +In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said “In the journey of every nation there are moments that bring utmost pride and have a historic impact on generations to come. +One such moment is today. +India has successfully tested the Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile. +Congratulations to everyone on the success of Mission Shakti. +Mission Shakti was a highly complex one, conducted at extremely high speed with remarkable precision. +It shows the remarkable dexterity of India’s outstanding scientists and the success of our space programme. +Mission Shakti is special for 2 reasons: +(1) India is only the 4th country to acquire such a specialised & modern capability. +(2) Entire effort is indigenous. +India stands tall as a space power! +It will make India stronger, even more secure and will further peace and harmony.” +The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Railways and SNCF Mobilites (a company owned by the French State) on Technical Cooperation in the field of Railways. +The MoU was signed on 10th March, 2018. +The MoUs provide a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector. +The MoUs facilitate exchange of technical experts, reports and technical documents, training and seminars/workshops focusing on specific technology areas and other interactions for knowledge sharing. +The MoU will provide a framework of cooperation for focused approach in following key areas :- +1. High speed and semi-high speed rail; +2. Station renovation and operations; +3. Modernisation of current operations and infrastructure; +Ministry of Railways have signed MoUs for technical cooperation in the Rail sector with various foreign Governments and National Railways. +The identified areas of cooperation among others, include high speed corridors, speed raising of existing routes, development of world class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure, etc. +The cooperation is achieved through exchange of information on developments in areas of railways technology & operations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training & seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest. +The two leaders visited various stalls that highlighted technologies and innovations across diverse fields. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that innovation has a key role to play in bringing the people of India and Israel, closer to each other. +He said the entire world has taken note of the technological prowess and creativity of Israel. +He said the youth of India has energy and enthusiasm. +What the youth needs is a bit of encouragement and institutional support, he added. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is working to make the entire system innovation-friendly, so that intent can generate ideas; ideas lead to innovation; and innovation helps create a New India. +He said that the first pre-requisite of success is courage. +He congratulated the courageous youth who are engaged in innovative activities at iCreate. +Quoting Kalidasa, the Prime Minister touched upon the dilemma between convention and innovation. +He urged the youth of India to innovate to overcome the challenges facing the nation today, and to improve the quality of life of the common man at lowest possible cost. +The Prime Minister spoke of cooperation between India and Israel for innovation in areas such as food, water, health and energy. +He said this cooperation between the two countries would write a new chapter in the history of mankind in the 21st century. +This will be utilised for setting up of Centre for Perishable Cargo (CPC) and its future expansion at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBI Airport), Guwahati. +The land is to be leased by AAI on a token licence fee of Rs.1/- per annum for a period of seven years subject to signing of Lease Agreement. +After expiry of initial period of seven years, the future lease period will be made afresh as per AAI policy in-vogue. +North Eastern Region (NER) in India is rich in flora and fauna. +Revenue from export of agriculture and horticulture items will improve economic conditions of NER. +There is a need for promotions of perishable cargo export from this region, which will generate employment opportunities directly or indirectly. +Facilities for air upliftment of perishable cargo from Guwahati are required to be more effective. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed the Joint Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices, in New Delhi, today. +The Prime Minister mentioned the high level of trust that the common man has in the judiciary. +Referring to the speech of the Chief Justice of India, where he spoke of the large number of cases pending in various courts in India, the Prime Minister said that he understood the Chief Justice’s concern. +He said that going forward, he hoped that the Government and the Judiciary could work together to find solutions to these issues. +The Prime Minister also stressed on the efforts being made by the Government to remove archaic laws from the statute books. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi and Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh on 29th December, 2018. +A commemorative postal stamp on the Maharaja Suheldeo will be released by the Prime Minister in Ghazipur where he will also address a public rally. +The Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation – International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), South Asia Regional Center (ISARC) at campus of National Seed Research and Training Center (NSRTC) in Varanasi. +It will serve as a hub for rice research and training in South Asia and SAARC region. +The first international Center in the eastern India is expected to play a major role in harnessing and sustaining rice production in the region. +Shri Modi will attend the One District, One Product Regional Summit at Deendayal Hastakala Sankul (Trade Facilitation Centre & Crafts Museum) in Varanasi. +‘One District One Product’ scheme is aimed at enhancing the skills of local people and increasing the reach of the indigenous trades, crafts and products from small towns and small districts in the state. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the National SC/ST hub, and the Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) scheme for MSMEs at Ludhiana in Punjab. +He also presented National Awards to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). +He distributed 500 traditional wooden charkhas (spinning wheels) among women. +Speaking on the occasion, he said Ludhiana is an important economic centre, and therefore, it is natural to launch a scheme related to MSME from the city. +The Prime Minister said that the MSME sector is crucial for the economic progress of India. +He said MSMEs must match global quality control standards. +Talking about the distribution of charkhas, the Prime Minister said Khadi is a priority for us, and a charkha at home brings more income. +He said Khadi is marketed well now, adding that once upon a time, the apt slogan was ‘Khadi for Nation,’ but now it should be ‘Khadi for Fashion.’ +The Prime Minister said that a spirit of entrepreneurship among Dalits will benefit us. +He added that there are youngsters whose dreams are to create enterprises and jobs. +Earlier, the Prime Minister visited Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, where he dedicated to the nation three hydropower projects – namely, Koldam, Parbati and Rampur. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has written a letter to Sri Lanka’s President-elect, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, congratulating him on the victory. +“Your historic victory is a tribute to your vision for Sri Lanka your capacity to connect with people’s yearning for change. +I look forward to working with you to take our relationship to a new level for benefit of our people and our region. +I wish you all the success in building a peaceful & prosperous Sri Lanka, on foundations of genuine & effective reconciliation”, the Prime Minister wrote to Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, in his letter. +The Prime Minister has also invited President-elect Sirisena to visit India and wrote that he looks forward to receiving him in India. +Slowdown in global trade is a major concern. +Prospects for increase in trade momentum remain bleak in the prevailing global economic environment. +Efforts to accelerate global economic growth will help trade. +A transparent, equitable, non-discriminatory and rule-based global trading system, is essential for the global economy. +It is absolutely vital that the Doha Development Round achieves its goals. +All elements of the Bali package should be implemented fully. +We look forward to a successful outcome at the Nairobi Meeting in December. +Regional Trade Agreements should not lead to fragmentation of the global trading system and should support a more liberalised multilateral trade regime. +Increasing the role of small and medium enterprises in the global value chain will help expand global employment. +Balanced and sustainedglobal economic growth also needs increase in labour mobility and skill portability. +With respect to energy, there are three basic challenges: energy to power growth in developing countries; meeting the needs of the hundreds of millions without access to energy; and, increasing the use of clean and renewable energy. +Energy, ecology and economy are deeply integrated. +That is why India intends to meet its vast and growing energy needs in as sustainable manner as possible. +We are working on clean coal technology. +We have an ambitious expansion plan for nuclear energy. +By 2030, we have targeted 40% of our energy through non-fossil fuel. +International support and cooperation will enable us to achieve our goals. +As G20, we need to promote a number of measures:- +• Increase financial support and technology transfer to increase access and transition to clean energy. +• Focus research efforts on clean coal technology and coal gasification. +• Develop proliferation-resistant nuclear energy technology. +• Increase energy efficiency and moderate energy use. +• Promote an integrated global gas market. +• Give greater voice to major emerging economies in the global governance structure for energy. +Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana – Scheme for Providing Free LPG connections to Women from BPL Households +The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana – Scheme for Providing Free LPG connections to Women from BPL Households. +The identification of eligible BPL families will be made in consultation with the State Governments and the Union Territories. +This Scheme would be implemented over three years, namely, the FY 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19. +This is the first time in the history of the country that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas would implement a welfare scheme benefitting crores of women belonging to the poorest households. +In our country, the poor have limited access to cooking gas (LPG). +The spread of LPG cylinders has been predominantly in the urban and semi-urban areas with the coverage mostly in middle class and affluent households. +But there are serious health hazards associated with cooking based on fossil fuels. +According to WHO estimates, about 5 lakh deaths in India alone due to unclean cooking fuels. +Most of these premature deaths were due to non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. +Indoor air pollution is also responsible for a significant number of acute respiratory illnesses in young children. +According to experts, having an open fire in the kitchen is like burning 400 cigarettes an hour. +Providing LPG connections to BPL households will ensure universal coverage of cooking gas in the country. +This measure will empower women and protect their health. +It will reduce drudgery and the time spent on cooking. +It will also provide employment for rural youth in the supply chain of cooking gas. +In this direction, Finance Minister in Budget speech on 29.2.2016 had announced a budgetary provision of Rs. 2000 crore for 2016-17 to provide deposit free LPG connections to 1.5 crore women belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. +Further, the Budget announced that the Scheme will be continued for two more years to cover 5 crore households. +Excellency, Li Keqiang, +Members of the Press, +Let me start by expressing my deep gratitude to President Xi, Premier Li and the people of China for the exceptional welcome and hospitality. +I am very grateful to President Xi for his special gesture of hosting me in Xian; and, for showing me the city’s extraordinary heritage. +It is a treasure of the world. +Xian is also a symbol of our ancient spiritual and cultural links. +I havea personal connection with Xian through Monk XuanZang. +He visited my hometown 1400 years ago. +The reason is obvious. +The re-emergence of India and China and their relationship will have a profound impact on the two countries and the course of this century. +Our relationship has been complex in recent decades. +But, we have a historic responsibility to turn this relationship into a source of strength for each other and a force of good for the world. +We are committed to set a new direction between the two largest Asian countries. +I believe that my discussions with President Xi and Premier Li have advanced our relationship in that direction. +Our conversations were candid, constructive and friendly. +We covered all issues, including those that trouble smooth development of our relations. +I stressed the need for China to reconsider its approach on some of the issues that hold us back from realizing full potential of our partnership. +I suggested that China should take a strategic and long term view of our relations. +I found the Chinese leadership responsive. +On the boundary question, we agreed that we continue to explore a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution. +We both reiterated our strong commitment to make all efforts to maintain peace and tranquility in the border region. +I found sensitivity to our concerns on this issue; and, interest in further intensifying confidence building measures. +I also reiterated the importance of clarification of Line of Actual Control in this regard. +I sought tangible progress on issues relating to visa policy and trans-border rivers. +I also discussed some of our regional concerns. +We agreed that as we move ahead, we should be sensitive to each other’s interests; strengthen mutual trust and confidence; continue to manage our differences with maturity;and, seek solutions to outstanding issues.. +Our decision to enhance strategic communication and coordination on our region is especially significant. +Bilateral cooperation was a very important part of our discussion. +We have set a high level of ambition for our economic partnership. +We see enormous bilateral opportunities and many similar challenges, like urbanization. +We are pleased with the progress on the commitments from the Summit last September. +This includes cooperation in the Railways, where we have identified specific projects, and the two Chinese industrial parks in Gujarat and Maharashtra. +I am pleased that the two chief ministers are here with me. +Both leaders were very supportive about increased Chinese participation in our Make in India mission and infrastructure sector. +In Shanghai tomorrow, we will see over twenty ventures in the private sector take concrete shape. +An area of high priority for us is people-to-people contacts. +Indians and Chinese don’t know each other well, much less understand each other. +We have decided to take the relationship out of the narrow confines of governments in the national capitals to states, cities and our people. +We are establishing a Centre for Gandhian and Indian Studies in Shanghai, a Yoga College in Kunming and a bilateral Think-Tanks Forum. +The Nathu La route for Indian pilgrims to visit Kailash Mansarovar will become operational in June. +I want to thank China for that. +Our decision to open a consulates in Chengdu and Chennai reflects growing mutual confidence and shared commitment to expand our relationship. +These steps will help make our relationship more broad-based and people-centric. +Finally, we have many common global and regional interests. +For example, we have a shared interest in the outcome of the international climate change negotiations. +We are both trying to strengthen regional connectivity. +Terrorism is a shared threat. +Instability in West Asia matters to both of us. +Peace and progress in Afghanistan benefits us both. +I am confident that our international partnership will deepen. +Today, we have signed over 20 agreements, covering diverse areas of cooperation. +This shows the depth and maturity of our relationship and the positive direction of our partnership. +This has been a very productive and positive visit. +I look forward to working with President Xi and Premier Li. +Thank you, very much. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to the derailment of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express train. +“My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to the derailment of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express. +The tragedy is saddening. +I pray for a speedy recovery of all those injured due to the train accident. +The Railway Ministry is monitoring the situation very closely and is working to ensure quick rescue and relief operations”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, released the new series of visually impaired friendly circulation coins, in New Delhi. +Rs.1, Rs.2, Rs.5, Rs.10 and Rs.20 are the various denominations of coins released as part of the new series. +The coins were released at a function at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, where visually impaired children were specially invited. +The Prime Minister expressed happiness in hosting them and thanked them for giving him an opportunity to interact with them. +Releasing the new series, Prime Minister said that the Union Government is guided by the vision of reaching the last mile and the last person. +He said the new series of coins have been designed and released keeping that vision in mind. +The Prime Minister said that the new circulation coins with various differentiating features, will greatly aid the visually impaired. +The new series of coins will facilitate the visually impaired, and will instil them with confidence, PM said. +The Prime Minister mentioned about the various initiatives taken by the Union Government for the welfare of the Divyang community. +He said that there is a sensitivity with the Union Government to make every initiative Divyang friendly. +The Prime Minister thanked the National Institute of Design for the design, Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited and the Ministry of Finance for the introduction of new coins. +During the interaction with the Prime Minister, the children thanked the Prime Minister for introducing the new series of coins. +They added that these coins will greatly ease their daily routine. +Various new features have been incorporated in the new series of circulation coins to make it more easy for the visually impaired to use them. +The coins are characterized by the increasing size and weight from lower to higher denominations. +The newly included coin of Rs.20, will be a 12 sided coin with no serrations. +The rest of the denominations would be of round shape. +Union Minister for Finance, Shri Arun Jaitley and Minister of State for Finance, Shri Pon Radhakrishnan were also present at the event. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi made a telephone call to the President of the Republic of Indonesia H. E. Joko Widodo today. +The Prime Minister offered deepest condolences on his behalf and on behalf of the people of India on the loss of precious lives in the recent earthquake and tsunami that hit the Sulawesi region of Indonesia. +The Prime Minister appreciated the resilience and courage of the people of Indonesia in facing the challenges emanating from the wide spread devastation due to this grave natural calamity. +In response to Indonesia’s appeal for international aid, the Prime Minister offered to the President of Indonesia all possible assistance from India as a maritime neighbour and friend of Indonesia. +President Widodo thanked the Prime Minister for the condolence and the offer of assistance. +The two leaders agreed that the details of India’s relief assistance will be worked out through diplomatic and official channels. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved thesigning of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Vietnam on Economic and Trade Cooperation. +The MoU would expand more bilateral trade and economic cooperation between India and Vietnam. +• PM pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, on their birth anniversary. +• PM visits Jharkhand, inaugurates solar power plant for district court in Khunti, launches mega credit camp for Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana in Dumka. +• LPG connections given to 5000 BPL families at Dumka. +• PM gives away Safaigiri Awards at a function organized by the India Today Group. +PM pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. +The Prime Minister visited Rajghat this morning, and paid his respects to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. +Addressing a large gathering, which included large numbers of tribal women, the Prime Minister said that it was quite appropriate that a solar energy project was being inaugurated on Gandhi Jayanti. +He said Mahatma Gandhi had always showed how to live in harmony with nature through his thoughts and deeds. +The Prime Minister spoke of his recent visit to the United Nations, and said all leaders present there had expressed concern over global warming and the threat it posed to mankind. +He said India was not responsible for this, as our ancestors never taught us to harm nature. +However, the Prime Minister added that in order to save humanity from this crisis, India would make its contribution. +He said solar energy use was one way of doing so. +The Prime Minister mentioned that it was significant that this initiative of a district court functioning through solar power had been undertaken in Jharkhand, a state rich in coal reserves. +The Prime Minister said that there were instances where the dispensation of justice in courts had suffered due to the non-availability of electricity. +He said that this initiative of a solar powered court complex had shown a way to ensure that such a situation did not arise. +The Prime Minister exhorted the people to use LED lamps to conserve energy and lower their electricity bills. +He also recalled his recent visit to Tashkent, where he had unveiled a statue of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri. +The Prime Minister inaugurated a mega credit camp for Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana at Dumka, and handed over loan documents and Mudra cards to 5 beneficiaries. +He expressed happiness at the large gathering of people both in Khunti and in Dumka, and said this shows how keen the people of Jharkhand are for development. +The Prime Minister complimented the State Government and people of Jharkhand, for the remarkable progress made by the State in “ease of doing business,” as reflected by the World Bank in a recent report. +The Prime Minister announced that 42 lakh people have been given loans under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana so far, and a total of Rs. 26,000 crore have been disbursed. +He said this will help small entrepreneurs expand their businesses, and escape the clutches of moneylenders. +He said there were 20 lakh women among the beneficiaries. +The Prime Minister said 31 lakh people had surrendered their LPG subsidy so far, under the “Give it Up” campaign. +Handing over new LPG connections to 3 BPL families, the Prime Minister thanked all those who had given up LPG subsidy, so that it could be given to the poor who needed it the most. +On the occasion, five thousand households from BPL category were handed over LPG connections. +The Prime Minister also launched online, a project for the conservation and development of historic Maluti temple complex in Dumka district. +Safaigiri Summit and Awards 2015. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said there can be no bigger inspiration than Mahatma Gandhi, for pursuing the vision of Swachh Bharat. +In his remarks at the Safaigiri Summit and Awards 2015, organized by the India Today group in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said that over the last one year, a lot of people had contributed towards this vision. +The Prime Minister especially highlighted the positive and proactive role played by electronic media in this regard. +The Prime Minister said Swachhta or cleanliness is a matter of habit. +Once this habit is inculcated, an individual cannot tolerate an unclean environment. +He said that while India has been a very conscious society in terms of personal hygiene, social hygiene had been neglected. +This needed to be corrected, the Prime Minister added. +The Prime Minister said that upto 1000 children die daily in India, due to unhygienic conditions. +If 125 crore people decide that India must be clean, it can be ensured, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister commended the efforts of the award winners, and said their work would serve as inspiration for many others. +He also gave several other examples of individuals, especially youth, who had made a significant contribution towards Swachh Bharat over the last one year. +Of late, News of abundant rainfall has been steadily coming in. +And that is why it becomes our collective responsibility… Let us be lovers of nature, protectors of Nature, conservers of Nature… and thus, ensure spontaneous balance in her myriad bounty. +Come to think of it, recently an incident pertaining to a natural disaster attracted global attention, leaving every heart & mind perturbed. +Usually it takes a few hours to enter and exit that cave. +But destiny had different plans that day. +Barely had they entered deep into the cave that a sudden heavy downpour caused water logging at the inlet of the cave. +Their exit was completely blocked. +Not able to find a way out, they perched themselves a top a mound inside the cave; not for a day or two, but an entire 18 days. +One can only imagine the predicament of these teenagers in the face of death, where every second was fraught with danger. +On the one hand they were struggling against all odds; on the other, the world over, humanity joined hands in expressing the noblest & the most righteous of human virtues. +The world over, people prayed for the safe & secure exit of these children. +No stone was left unturned to trace their where abouts, their well-being and their rescue. +The sense of responsibility & commitment, prevailing at every level was astonishing. +The government, their parents, family members, media, citizens of that country, each one of them displayed an awe-inspiring sense of peace and patience. +All of them came together as a team to accomplish their mission. +During the operation, a sailor from Thailand Navy sacrificed his life. +The whole world is be wildered at the way they held on with courage and patience, without losing hope, despite the odds against them in the water-logged dark cave. +This proves that when humanity stands together, it creates wonders. +What is certainly required is focusing on your goal with a calm & steady demeanour and the will to strive. +A few days ago, the country’s beloved poet Neeraj Ji left us forever. +Neeraj ji was blessed with a special quality… it was a combination of hope, faith, a firm resolve and self-confidence. +This is the time which is Peak season for colleges. +Like Satyam, Hundreds of thousands of youth leave schools to join colleges. +Whereas February and March get consumed in exams, papers and answers, April & May are meant for enjoying vacations, followed by results and thereafter, shaping a course for one’s life through career choices. +July is the month when the youth step into a new phase of life, where the focus shifts from questions and veers towards cut-offs. +The attention of students steers from home to hostel. +Students submit themselves to the tutelage of Professors vis a vis the shadow of their parents. +I firmly believe that my young friends must be enthusiastic & happy on the commencement of their college life. +Leaving home for the first time, moving out of one’s village, coming out of a protective environment amounts to taking charge of the course of one’s life. +This multitude of young people leave their homes for the first time to chart a new direction for their lives. +Some students might have joined their respective colleges and some must be about to join. +All I would like to say to you is ‘Be calm, enjoy life, seek inner happiness in life. +There is no alternative to books, one has to study, yet one’s bent of mind should be towards discovering new things. +Old friends are invaluable. +Childhood friends are precious, but selecting, making & maintaining new friendships is a task that requires immense prudence. +Keep learning something new, such as newer skills and languages. +Young people who leave their homes for the sake of studies should discover their new places, know more about the people, language, culture & tourism facets related to them. +My best wishes to all the young people about to begin a new innings. +Referring to the college season reminds me of someone I saw in the News recently… how Asharam Choudhury a student from an extremely poor family in Madhya Pradesh overcame life’s many challenges to achieve success. +In his maiden attempt, he cracked the Entrance exam for MBBS at AIIMS, Jodhpur. +His father earns his daily bread by waste-picking. +I congratulate him on his success. +There are many such instances of students from deprived families who, through sheer determination & perseverance overcame all odds and stood out to be beacons of inspiration to others. +If we look around, we can see many such examples. +Neeraj ji has said +My dear countrymen, a few days ago I happened to glance through a news item, it said- “Two youths make Modi’s dream come true”. +On reading further, I came to know how our youngsters put in efforts to transform the lives of the common man by making smart and creative use of technology. +I had made an appeal to change brain-drain into brain-gain. +Two IT Professionals from Rae Bareilly Yogesh Sahu ji and Rajneesh Bajpayee ji accepted my challenge and made a unique attempt. +With their joint efforts, Yogesh ji and Rajneesh ji have developed a SmartGaonApp by utilizing their professional skills. +This App is not only connecting the villagers with the whole world but now they can obtain any information on their own mobile phones. +Residents of the village Taudhakpur in Rae Bareilly, village chief, District Magistrate, CDO and every one joined in to create awareness amongst the masses. +This App is very useful for the farmers and the grammar feature of the App and FACT rate among the farmers functions like a market place for their products. +This seems to be the reason as to how he could develop this App which is most suited to needs of the village. +A sense of belonging towards the village and towards one’s roots and also a spirit to show and do something is naturally there in each and every Indian. +But, sometimes because of time, sometimes because of distance and at times because of situations that spirit gets faded but just with a touch of a tiny spark, everything re-emerges which takes one back to old memories. +We should also check if such a thing has happened in our case too whether circumstances, situations, distances have made us alien, whether dust has gathered over our determinations. +Santoshji, many – many thanks for your phone call. +Actually, Pandharpur Wari is an amazing journey in itself. +Friends, Ashadhi Ekadashi, which fell on 23rd July, is celebrated as a day of grand transformation of Pandharpur Wari. +Pandharpur is a holy town in Solapur district in Maharashtra. +About 15-20 days before Ashadhi Ekadashi warkari or pilgrims start the Pandharpur Yatra on foot. +This yatra (journey) is known as Wari and lakhs of warkaris join this. +Lord Vitthal safeguards the interests of the poor, the deprived ones and the ones who are suffering. +People from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana have deep devotion and respect for Vitthal. +Visiting Vithoba temple in Pandharpur and its grandeur, beauty and spiritual bliss is a unique experience in itself. +I request the listeners of “Mann Ki Baat” to visit Pandharpur Wari at least once, whenever they get a chance. +Innumerable saints like Gyaneshwar, Namdev, Eknath, Ram Dass, Tukaram are relevant even today in educating the masses. +They are imparting energy to fight against superstition in each and every corner across the country. +May they be compositions like Bharud (Hkk:M) or Abhang (vHkax), we get a great message of amity, love and brotherhood. +We get the mantra to enable the society to fight against blind-faith through devotion and bhakti. +These were the people who, at times restrained and corrected the society, even showed a mirror and ensured that old evil traditions get eradicated from the society and that people inculcated a culture of compassion, equality and righteousness. +Our mother India is a land full of gems and treasures and the tradition of these great saints that adorned our land are at the same level as the great men who dedicated and sacrificed their lives for our Mother India. +One such great man has been Lok Manya Tilak who has left a very deep impression on the hearts of a large number of Indians. +We remember and pay our homage to Tilak ji on his birth anniversary on 23rd July and his death anniversary on 1st August. +Lokmanya Tilak was full of courage and self-confidence. +He had the courage to show a mirror to the British about their wrong doings. +The British were so afraid of Lok Manya Tilak that they tried to charge him of sedition thrice in two decades; this is no small thing. +I want to narrate an interesting incident to the countrymen which is connected with Lok Manya Tilak and his statue in Ahmedabad. +Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel was elected the Mayor of Ahmedabad municipal corporation and he immediately selected Victoria Garden as a venue for Lok Manya Tilak’s memorial and this was the very Victoria Garden which was named after the British Queen. +The British were naturally not happy with this and the collector continually kept denying permission. +But Sardar Saheb was also Sardar Saheb after all, he was persistent and had remarked that he might have to give up on his post but Lok Manya Tilakji’s statue would certainly be built there. +Finally, the statue got built and Sardar Saheb got it unveiled by none other than Mahatma Gandhi on 28th February, 1929; and the most interesting point is that during that inaugural ceremony revered Bapuji said that with the coming of Sardar Patel, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has not only got a man but it has got the strength on the basis of which, building the statue of Tilakji has become possible. +The celebration of Ganesh Utsav publicly had become an effective medium in promoting a spirit of social awakening, integration, amity and equality among the masses besides projecting a sense of dedication and festivity in them. +This was the period when there was a need for people to get united in the fight against the British; these festivals, by breaking the barriers of casteism and communalism served the purpose of uniting all. +Such events gained more popularity with the passage of time. +Thus, it becomes clear that our younger generations still care for the brave heroes of our ancient past, its heritage and history. +Today, you can see Ganesh pandals in almost every street of various cities. +My dear countrymen! +I had requested last time too and now, while remembering Lokmanya Tilak, I will once again urge all of you to celebrate Ganesh Utsav with great enthusiasm and fervour whole heartedly but insist on keeping these celebrations eco-friendly. +Right from Ganesh idol to all decorative material everything ought to be eco friendly and I will appreciate that separate competitions be organized in each city, prizes be awarded for these; and I will like that eco friendly items related to Ganesh Utsav are displayed for wider publicity on My Gov and Narendra Modi App. +I will surely send your ideas and efforts to the people. +Lokmanya Tilak evoked self- confidence amongst our countrymen and gave the slogan “Swaraj is our birth right and I shall have it.” +Today is the time to say that Good Governance is our birth right and we will have it. +Every Indian should have access to good governance and positive results of development. +It is the factoring in of this outreach that will create a new India. +After 50 years of Tilak’s birth, on the same day i.e. on July 23, another son of Mother India was born, who sacrificed his life so that his countrymen could breathe freely in an atomsphere of freedom. +I am talking about none other than Chandrasekhar Azad. +Where will you find a young man in India who will not be inspired listening to these lines – +(The desire for martyrdom is now in our hearts +Let us see the strength in the arms of my executioner) +These lines inspired many young people like Ashfaq Ullah Khan, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and many others. +Azad’s courage and passion for freedom inspired the youth of the day. +Chandrashekhar Azad put his life on the stake, but he never bowed in front of the foreign rule. +It was my privilege and good fortune that I had the opportunity of going to Chandrasekhar Azad’s native village of Alirajpur in Madhya Pradesh. +Once again, I bow and pay tributes to the two great sons of Bharat Mata – Lokmanya Tilakji and Chandrasekhar Azad ji. +Just a few days ago, in the Junior Under-20 World Athletics Championship in Finland, India’s brave daughter and a farmer daughter Hima Das made history by winning the gold medal in the 400-meter race event. +Ekta Bhyan, another daughter of the country, in response to my letter, has emailed me from Indonesia, where she is now preparing for the Asian Games. +Ekta in her e-mail writes – ‘The most important moment in the life of any athlete is that when he or she holds the tricolor and I am proud that I could do that.’ +Ekta, we all are proud of you. +You have brought glory to the Nation. +Ekta has won the gold and bronze medals in World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2018 held in Tunisia. +Her achievement is all the more special because she has made the imposing challenges in her life the key to her success. +Daughter Ekta Bhyan in 2003, lost the use of half of her lower body due to road accident, but this daughter did not lose courage and made herself all the more stronger to perform this grand feat. +Another Divyang, Yogesh Qathuniaji, has won the gold medal in the discus throw in Para Athletics Grand Prix in Berlin and in the process bettered the world record, along with Sundar Singh Gurjar who also won the gold medal in javelin. +I salute Ekta Bhyanji, Yogesh Qathuniaji and Sundar Singh Ji, all of you for your fortitude and passion, and congratulate you! +May you go further than these successes, keep on playing and keep on blooming. +My dear countrymen, the month of August is significant because it is filled with historically important dates and festivals, but due to the weather sometimes sickness also enters the house. +I wish all of you best wishes for good health, for this month of August imbued with the spirit of patriotism and for many festivals that have continued over centuries. +We will meet once again for ‘Mann Ki Baat’ next time. +Many Many Thanks. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Captain Jai Narain Prasad Nishad. +“Saddened by the demise of Captain Jai Narain Prasad Nishad Ji. +He served our nation with great diligence. +Captain Nishad’s efforts for the progress of Bihar were noteworthy. +His work towards empowering the poor will always be remembered. +Condolences to his family and supporters”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh tomorrow on 11 February 2019. +He will unveil the plaque to mark the serving of 3rd billionth meal by Akshaya Patra Foundation at Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir. +Shri Modi will also pay floral tribute at the Vigraha of Srila Prabhupad, the Acharya of ISCKON. +The occasion is to commemorate the serving of 3 billion meals by the foundation. +Akshaya Patra serves as an implementing partner of Mid-Day Meal Scheme. +In its 19-year journey, Akshaya Patra foundation has served mid-day meals to 1.76 million children in twelve states covering 14,702 schools. +In 2016, Akshaya Patra commemorated the serving of 2 billion cumulative meals in the presence of the then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. +The Foundation works closely with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and State Governments to serve quality, hygienic, and nutritious food to millions of children. +Mid-Day Meal Scheme is considered to be the largest of its kind programme in the world. +The program aims to boost enrolment, attendance, and retention in schools and to improve the health profile of children in the age group of 6-14 years. +PM mentioned about Akshaya Patra Foundation on October 24, 2018, during the launch of ‘Self4Society’ App in New Delhi. +He said,“Akshaya Patra is a social start-up, which has turned into a movement that provides food to school children”. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the winners of Smart City Challenge. +“Congrats to winners of Smart City Challenge. +I wish the cities the very best as they move forward with implementation and transform urban India. +I thank all those who took part in the comprehensive deliberations on various forums to decide winners of Smart City Challenge”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +Honourable Members +I am delighted to address this first session of both Houses of Parliament after the elections to the 16th Lok Sabha. +Let me begin by extending warm greetings to my fellow citizens, who participated in large numbers in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. +We should never forget that we are here because of them. +Serving them should be our first priority. +I also felicitate the members of the new Lok Sabha. +You have successfully obtained the mandate from the electorate and now you represent their hopes, aspirations and dreams. +I extend a warm welcome to all of you and hope that the sessions ahead with heavy legislative agenda will be productive and useful. +2. It is a matter of great satisfaction that the recent general elections were smooth and largely peaceful. +I would like to congratulate the Election Commission of India and the official machinery for conducting these elections successfully. +The unprecedented interest shown by the people of India in the elections is a sign of progressive deepening of our vibrant democracy. +Before I dwell upon the tasks ahead of us, I would like to express my solidarity with the families of all those who lost their lives during the election process. +3. I congratulate the new Speaker of the Lok Sabha on her unanimous election to this august office. +By successively electing women Speakers, the Lok Sabha has re-affirmed our age-old belief in the importance of women in our society. +4. This has been an election of Hope. +It marks a turning point in the evolution of our democratic polity. +The surge in aspirations and the belief that these could be realized through democratic processes, has been amply reflected in the record 66.4% participation by voters, and a clear verdict in favour of a single political party after a gap of nearly 30 years. +The electorate transcended the boundaries of caste, creed, region and religion to come together and vote decisively in favour of Development through Good Governance. +President_Address +Addressing the summit, Prime Minister said that India is on the move, in terms of its economy, infrastructure, youth and many other areas. +He said that mobility is a key driver of the economy; it can boost economic growth and create employment opportunities. +Prime Minister also outlined the vision for the future of mobility in India based on 7 C’s. +The 7 C’s are Common, Connected, Convenient, Congestion-free, Charged, Clean and Cutting-edge. +Following is the full text of PM’s address: +Distinguished Delegates from across the World, +Ladies and Gentlemen. +I welcome you all to the Global Mobility Summit. +Move – The name of this Summit captures the spirit of India today. +Indeed, India is on the Move: +Our economy is on the Move. +We are the world’s fastest growing major economy. +Our cities and towns are on the Move. +We are building one hundred smart cities. +Our infrastructure is on the Move. +We are building roads, airports, rail lines and ports at a quick pace. +Our goods are on the Move. +The Goods and Services Tax has helped us rationalize supply chains and warehouse networks. +Our reforms are on the Move. +We have made India an easier place to do business. +Our lives are on the Move. +Families are getting homes, toilets, smoke-free LPG cylinders, bank accounts and loans. +Our youth are on the Move. +We are fast emerging as the start-up hub of the world. +India is moving ahead with new energy, urgency and purpose +We all know that, mobility has been key to the progress of humanity. +The world is now in the middle of a new mobility revolution. +It is, therefore, important to understand mobility as a wider construct. +Mobility is a key driver of the economy. +Better mobility reduces the burden of travel and transportation and can boost economic growth. +It is already a major employer and can create the next generation of jobs. +Mobility is central to urbanization. +Motorized personal vehicles require ever-growing road, parking, and traffic infrastructure. +Mobility is a key element of ‘ease of living’. +It occupies the minds of virtually every person: in time spent to get to school and work, in frustration with traffic, in the cost of visiting family or moving goods, in access to public transport, in the quality of air our children breathe in concerns around the safety of travel. +Mobility is critical to preserving our planet. +Creating a mobility eco-system that is in sync with nature is the need of the hour. +Mobility is the next frontier in our fight against Climate Change. +Better mobility can provide for better jobs, smarter infrastructure, and improve the quality of life. +It can also reduce costs, expand economic activity and protect the planet. +Thus, the mobility sector impacts larger public outcomes. +Mobility, especially the digitization of mobility, is disruptive. +It has big potential for innovation and it has been setting a searing pace! +Already, people are calling taxis on their phones, sharing bicycles in cities; buses are running on clean energy, cars are going electric. +In India, we have been laying emphasis on mobility. +We have doubled our pace of construction of highways. +We have re-energized our rural road-building programme. +We are promoting fuel efficient and cleaner fuel vehicles. +We have developed low-cost air connectivity in under-served regions. +We are also starting operations on hundreds of new air routes. +We are pushing waterways in addition to traditional modes like rail and road. +We are reducing travel distances in our cities by efficient location of homes, schools and offices. +We have also started data-driven interventions such as intelligent traffic management systems. +However, we also need to encourage pedestrians and cycling by taking steps ensure their safety and priority. +In a rapidly transforming mobility paradigm, India has some inherent strengths and comparative advantages. +This gives us the window of opportunity to create an all-new, seamless mobility eco-system. +On the technology front, our strengths lie in information technology, big data, digital payments, and the internet-enabled shared economy. +These elements are increasingly becoming the drivers of the global future of mobility. +Our unique identity program, Aadhaar, and its India-stack eco-system, has laid down a comprehensive public digital infrastructure. +It has digitally empowered 850 million of our citizens. +India can demonstrate how such digital infrastructure can be combined with new mobility business models. +Our renewable energy push will ensure that the environmental benefits of electric mobility can be fully realized. +We plan to draw 175 GigaWatts of energy from renewables by 2022. +We are already the fifth largest producer of solar energy in the world. +We are also the sixth largest producer of renewable energy. +We have also championed the cause of solar energy globally through the International Solar Alliance. +We have a fast growing manufacturing base, especially in the automotive sector. +We also have a large, digitally literate, young population. +This provides millions of educated minds, skilled hands and aspirational dreams for powering the future. +Therefore, I am convinced that India is best placed globally, to be an early mover in the ‘Mobility Economy’. +My vision for the future of mobility in India is based on 7 C’s – Common, Connected, Convenient, Congestion-free, Charged, Clean and Cutting-edge. +1. Common: Public Transport must be the cornerstone of our mobility initiatives. +New business models driven by digitization, are re-inventing the current paradigm. +Big Data is enabling smarter decision-making by better understanding our patterns and needs. +Our focus must also go beyond cars, to other vehicles such as scooters and rickshaws. +Large segments of the developing world depend on these vehicles for mobility. +2. Connected mobility implies integration of geographies as well as modes of transport. +The internet-enabled Connected Sharing Economy is emerging as the fulcrum of mobility. +We must leverage the full potential for vehicle pooling and other innovative technical solutions to improve private vehicle utilization. +People from villages should be able to bring their produce to the cities with ease and efficiency. +3. Convenient mobility means safe, affordable and accessible for all sections of the society. +This includes the elderly, the women and the specially abled. +We need to ensure that public transport is preferred to private modes of travel. +4. Congestion free mobility is critical to check the economic and environment costs of congestion. +Hence, there should be emphasis on ending bottlenecks of networks. +This would result in fewer traffic jams and lower levels of stress for people travelling. +It would also lead to greater efficiency in logistics and freight. +5. Charged mobility is the way forward. +We want to drive investments across the value chain from batteries to smart charging to Electric Vehicle manufacturing. +India’s business leaders and manufacturers are now poised to develop and deploy break-through battery technology. +The India Space Research Organization uses one of the best battery systems to run satellites in space. +Other institutions can partner with ISRO to develop cost effective and efficient battery systems for electric cars. +We want to build India as a driver in Electric Vehicles. +We will soon put in place a stable policy-regime around electric and other alternative fuel vehicles. +Policies will be designed as a win-win for all, and enable huge opportunities in the automotive sector. +6. Clean Mobility powered by Clean Energy is our most powerful weapon in our fight against Climate Change! +This means a pollution-free clean drive, leading to clean air and better living standards for our people. +We should champion the idea of ‘clean kilometres’. +This could be achieved through bio-fuels electric or solar charging. +Electric Vehicles in particular can complement our investments in renewable energy. +We will do whatever it takes, because this is our commitment to our heritage, and our promise to future generations. +7. Cutting-edge: Mobility is like the Internet in its early days. +It is Cutting-edge. +Entrepreneurs should see mobility as a sector with immense opportunity for innovation and growth. +It is a sector where innovation can help solve problems for public good. +It also becomes a scaled success story, for others to replicate. +Let us build a template, for the world to adopt. +In conclusion, let me particularly appeal to the youth of India. +My young, dynamic friends, this is your opportunity to lead a new era of innovation. +This is the future. +This is the sector that will absorb everything from those with doctors to engineers to drivers to mechanics. +We should embrace this revolution early, and leverage our strengths to lead the mobility innovation ecosystem both for ourselves and for others. +The Talent and Technology assembled here today, has the capability of making a transformative mobility shift for India and the World. +This shift will be based on ‘Caring for our World’, and ‘Sharing with Others’. +To quote from our ancient scriptures: +I look forward to see what we can do together. +On the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the celebrations at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, in New Delhi. +He offered Sangh Dana. +He also presented the Vaishakh Sammaan Prashasti Patra to the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath; and the All India Bhikshu Sangha, Bodh Gaya. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister asserted that India is home to a unique heritage, where the overriding thought has always been the benefit of mankind. +He said that the teachings of Lord Buddha have shaped many nations. +He said India has never been an aggressor. +The Prime Minister spoke about the eight-fold path given by Lord Buddha, and said that the problems that we are facing can be overcome by following this path. +The Prime Minister said that Buddha’s message of love and compassion can be of immense benefit to the world today. +Therefore, he emphasized that all those who believe in the Buddha, should unite their strengths towards this noble cause. +Shri Narendra Modi said that the Government is working with compassion to serve people, in line with the path shown by Lord Buddha. +He also said the Union Government is working with an elaborate vision, to preserve the cultural heritage of India, which includes the heritage associated with Lord Buddha. +He said a sum of Rs. 360 crore has been approved for the Buddhist Circuit. +The Prime Minister exhorted the gathering to make a contribution towards the New India of 2022, when the country will celebrate 75 years of freedom. +He asked everyone to identify some tasks, which they could resolve to accomplish by that date. +Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today in New Delhi. +He handed over a cheque worth Rs. Five Crore to the Prime Minister from Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) towards Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), for the Cyclone affected people in Lakshadweep and other States. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Dr. Zakir Hussain on his birth anniversary +“I pay my tributes to India’s former President, the illustrious scholar and freedom fighter, Dr. Zakir Hussain on his birth anniversary,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has welcomed the passing of Black Money Bill in the Parliament. +“Passing of Black Money Bill is a historic milestone. +Personally, I am very delighted. +It indicates the priority we attach to the issue”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi attended Dussehra Celebrations at Madhav Das Park near Red Fort in Delhi, today. +The Prime Minister said festivals are a reflection of our collective strength, socio cultural values and rich cultural traditions. +Besides they are associated with cultivation, rivers, mountains, nature etc. +The Prime Minister also witnessed the burning of effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakarn and Meghnad during the event. +Cabinet apprised of constitution of Committee under Chairpersonship of PM and activities to mark 125th Birth Anniversary year of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar +The constitution of the committee is as follows:- +Minister of External Affairs +Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment +Minister of Urban Development +Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution +Minister of Law and Justice +Minister of Human Resources and Development +Minister of Tribal Affairs +Dr. Narendra Jadhav +Dr. Siddalingiah, Kannada Poet and Writer +Shri Milind Kamble, Founder DICCI +Shri Bhiku Ramji Idate, Chairman, NCDNT +Secretary, D/o Social Justice and Empowerment +The Committee can co-opt other members with the approval of the Chairperson. +All my student friends, their guardians, members of the faculty and other dignitaries present here! +I offer my obeisance at the feet of Bharat Ratna Mahamanaji for the seed he had sown 100 years back has now turned into such a huge tree of knowledge, science and inspiration. +Who are visionaries, what are they? +In our times if we say this person amongst us is a visionary, it does not make much sense what does a farsighted person mean, what exactly a visionary means ? +But if we view this work of Mahamanaji done 100 years ago we can realize what far sightedness is; who is called a visionary. +During that period of slavery, keeping the dreams of the nation at heart; he dreamed about what an independent India will be like, and not just dreamed but also identified the primary need to fulfill those dreams. +That was to prepare such humans who could realize those dreams and capable, dedicated humans could be made only through education and culture. +To fulfill that, Mahamanaji dreamed of this University. +The British who ruled this country were also building universities. +But they were building them mostly in the presidencies like Kolkata or Mumbai. +They wanted to prepare people in such a way that could help them run their business for a long time. +But Mahamanaji wanted to prepare those great people who could retain the great traditions of India and work for the independence of India, for building the nation with their knowledge and capability. +Continuing with the Indian traditions was Mahamanaji’s dream. +Mahatma Gandhi repeated this when he built Gujarat Vidyapeeth after about 15-16 years of the work done by Mahamanaji. +Both of them wanted to prepare the youth who could do something for the country. +But today we see that for the whole century many great people, dedicated scholars gave their knowledge, their efforts and their might to nurture the seed sown by Mahamanaji. +In a way they dedicated their whole lives and their generations for this. +It is the result of the efforts of many great people that we have the privilege of earning education under this big banyan tree. +And therefore, along with the respect for Mahamanaji, I salute all those great people who have contributed towards advancing this great work during the century. +During the century, lakhs of youth have come out from here. +These boys-girls in past 100 years have contributed in different areas of life. +Some would have become doctors; some would have become engineers; some would have become teachers; some would have become professors; some would have gone to civil services; some would have become industrialists; and there was a period in India when a person, whatever position he had achieved, however prestigious he might be, when he used to introduce himself to somebody, he used to say with pride that he is a student of BHU. +My young friends, during the past century, lakhs of young people have passed out from this university and wherever they went they, however, never let this relationship with the BHU break and not only this, they never hesitated to dedicate their success to the BHU. +This is rare because when one achieves some height in life, he feels that he has achieved it, it is due to his own might, discovery or innovation. +But it is BHU whose students for 100 years have said in one voice that it was all happening only because of BHU. +What is the strength of an institution? +But sometimes a question comes that the students of the BHU make it proud, but does 125 crore citizens in every corner of India have the sense of reverence for the BHU in their hearts? +What were those work methods, ideologies, trouble being quite hesitant to make it possible to bring this great institution to every person of India? +Today, it is the demand of time that not only India but the whole world should see that centuries ago we felt pride for Nalanda, Takshashila, Ballavi, the same pride we have for BHU. +This is the heritage of India evolved from the might of centuries. +It is the result of austerity of lakhs of people that BHU stands here and therefore this sense of affinity, pride for our tradition and courage to explain the truth to the world is what the world expects from India. +Sometimes I think of yoga. +Yoga, it is not a new thing. +Tradition of Yoga has been there in India for centuries. +The common person has also been attracted personally towards Yoga. +In different corners of the world, yoga has been seen with different curiosity. +But we lived in that mindset that we never felt that our Yoga has the power that can own the world. +If we feel proud of what we have, the world becomes ready to walk with us. +When this belief is based on the knowledge and has been tested on ideas then it becomes more acceptable. +It has been a continuous effort by the BHU. +I heartily congratulate the students and their families, whom we got the opportunity to honor today. +At times I feel that ‘Deekshant’ (convocation) ceremony in true sense should be ceremony of beginning of education. +It is not the ceremony of the end of education and the biggest message of convocation ceremony is that if we have to achieve success in life, if we have to maintain ourselves with the changing trends of life then the first condition is that the student inside us should never fade, should never die. +In this world, only one, who remains student till the end of his life, can achieve this vast creation and the countless dimensions of this huge arrangement. +Today when we are leaving from this convocation ceremony, we have a vast world in front of us. +Before now we used to spend time in a world of few square kilometers. +We used to meet our acquaintances. +We were related to the familiar subject but now suddenly we are coming out of it and stepping into a huge world. +These are not common initiatives. +But now the world’s point of view towards you changes. +When you were a student, your family, society, friends all were patting on your back to do good, go ahead, study more. +But as soon as you come with the certificate, the question arises – what will you do next? +Sometimes inside the campus walls, in the classroom, in the company of teachers, under the guidance of professors, the bigger things seem simple. +But when required to do it by myself we find it difficult and repent if we would had paid attention at that time. +Every moment, these things come to your mind. +My young friends, your chancellor gave a traditional message of discipline. +You all know that the tradition of ‘Deeksha’ after ‘Shiksha’ is very old and at first it was mentioned in the ‘Taitrik Upanishad’ where the first occasion of the convocation had been outlined. +Since then, the tradition of convocation is going on in India and today also this convocation becomes an opportunity for a new inspiration. +You would be able to do much more in life but the student within you should not die; should not fade. +Curiosity strengthens the roots of growth. +If curiosity stops the life comes to a halt. +Whatever is your age, old age will surely come and hence every moment there should be the zeal to do new things to be exactly the same as 20 years ago. +Then you will see the real fun to live the life. +Life should be blooming. +The ability to withstand crises should be there and one who digests it never fails in his life. +By momentary things, the life shakes and goes dark. +At that time this light of knowledge shows us the path and therefore the knowledge acquired from the land of BHU provides an opportunity to show the lighted path at the time of every crisis in life. +There are many challenges before the country and the world. +Can India play any role to these challenges? +Why not our institutions, our students dream of giving something to the mankind, to the world? +And I wish there should be this feeling in the mind of every student leaving BHU to do something that would be of use for the ages to come. +Innovation- is the strength of social life. +New researches are not from just obtaining the PhD degree from the cut-paste world. +I was thinking that this might not be known to the BHU people but you know it very well. +But I do believe that you would have never used it. +Innovation is necessary for us. +Even the conditions around us have been hurting me for several days. +I met many noble laureates of the world, who have worked in medical science and put a issue before them. +It is devastating my tribal families. +It is more fierce and wider than cancer.” +There is a pain in my mind that in today’s science everyday some new things are coming for cancer. +In solution of those problems can we give something to the coming age? +Today the whole world is upset with Global warming and Climate change. +All the countries of world met recently in Paris. +In CoP-21, by 2030 the temperature of the world is to be reduced by 2 degrees. +He sees the God in plants, mother in river. +Can we show some solid path to world for coming out of these problems? +India has taken the responsibility to have more resolutions than that the world has by 2030. +Because for centuries we have believed that there should be dialogue with nature, there should not be any conflict with nature. +We are working on how to create and maintain renewable energy and solar energy affordable. +Second initiative is a collaboration of such countries where the impact of sun heat is for more than 300 days in a year. +For the first time, an organization of 122 countries blessed with sunlight has been created with India as its world capital. +Recently during the visit of President of France its secretariat has been inaugurated. +But the intention is what should we do when the society, the nation, the world is facing crisis? +In UP, the sugarcane farmer remains in trouble but if ethanol is produced through sugarcane and added to petroleum products both the environment and sugarcane farmers would be benefitted. +In our BHU we can discover how to use maximum ethanol so that sugarcane farmers are benefitted, welfare of environment and humanity happens and the person driving the vehicle also gets it at cheap rate. +These are the things that need innovation. +We are now working on solar energy. +India has kept the dream of 175 GW of renewable energy. +Out of this 100 GW is solar energy but today’s solar energy equipments have their own limitations. +Can we discover such new equipments that can help to get more result, more energy? +Friends, we should dream big. +There are so many people who live for themselves but there are few who die for dreams and only those who do not live for themselves but live for their dreams could do big things in this world. +You would have been surprised that in the program today some of my personal guests are present. +A small work for nurturing the dreams of the children is being done here. +Surprisingly, a small incidence in whole arrangement but in this small incidence there is a big dream lying. +These young people are dreaming such things today. +I trust that those who received the gold medals today should meet school children, talk to them and instill a new confidence in them. +That’s the convocation; your work starts from here. +Those who are going out of this university today; the young people going to take up their responsibilities in social life; reaching the world, keeping in all that you got from here; all good qualities, which invigorates your inner self, I pray they achieve success at every step of life. +My best wishes are with all of you. +Thank you very much. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Justice Krishna Iyer. +“Fine lawyer, eminent jurist, incredible philosopher and above all a phenomenal human being. +I bow to Justice Krishna Iyer. +My association with Justice Krishna Iyer was special. +My mind goes back to our conversations and the insightful letters he would write to me. +Whenever I would meet or talk to him, I would find him full of enthusiasm, always talking about the well-being of India. +A remarkable man! +May Justice Krishna Iyer’s soul attain eternal peace. +My thoughts are with his family during this moment of immense sadness”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with Ujjwala beneficiaries across the country, through video conference. +Three Ujjwala beneficiaries were present at each of over 600 centres across the length and breadth of the country, for this interaction. +An estimated 10 lakh people viewed the interaction through various platforms, which included the Narendra Modi App and various television news channels and social media platforms, among others. +Expressing happiness at being able to interact with the beneficiaries, and share their experiences, through technology, the Prime Minister said that the Ujjwala scheme has become a symbol of progress. +He added that it is driving remarkable social transformation, which is in turn, influencing the holistic development of the country. +Approximately 4 crore women in rural areas have received LPG connections so far, through the UjjwalaYojana. +In all, nearly 10 crore new LPG connections have been issued in the four years since 2014, as compared to 13 crore in the nearly six decade period from 1955 to 2014. +In his initial remarks, the Prime Minister quoted a story written by MunshiPremchand in 1933, to highlight the importance of easing the lives of home-makers. +He said women now have a greater opportunity to earn extra income, as time spent on cooking has been reduced. +The Prime Minister emphasized that the Union Government has been paying attention to ensure that there are no middlemen involved in this scheme, and the beneficiaries are chosen through a transparent process. +He said that 69 percent villages in India now have 100 percent LPG penetration, while 81 percent villages have more than 75 percent LPG penetration. +Interacting with the Prime Minister, beneficiaries explained how the LPG connection had reduced time spent on cooking, and enhanced the quality of life for the entire family. +Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University, +Foreign Minister Wang Yi, +Shi Yigong, Assistant President of Tsinghua University, +I am truly delighted to be at the Tsinghua University today. +You are a world class institution. +You are a symbol of success of China’s education sector. +You are the foundation for China’s economic miracle. +You have produced great leaders, including President Xi. +The wealth that increases by giving, That wealth is knowledge and is supreme of all possessions. +This is one example of how our two nations are united in their timeless wisdom. +There is much more, though, that links our two ancient civilizations. +I began my journey in China in Xian. +In doing so, I retraced the footsteps of the Chinese monk Xuanzang. +He travelled to India from Xian in the seventh century in search of knowledge and returned to Xian as a friend and chronicler of India. +President Xi’s visit in India last September started from Ahmedabad. +It is not far from Vadnagar, my birthplace, but important, because it hosted Xuanzang and many pilgrims from China. +The world’s first large scale educational exchange programme took place between India and China during the Tang Dynasty. +Records talk of about 80 Indian monks coming to China and nearly 150 Chinese monks returning after their education in India. +And yes, this was in the 10th and 11th century. +Mumbai’s rise as a port and a shipbuilding centre is because of cotton trade with China. +And, those who love silk and textiles know that India’s famous tanchoi sarees owe themselves to three brothers from my state of Gujarat who learnt the art of weaving from Chinese masters in the 19th century. +And, in an unquestionable evidence of our ancient trade, silk in our classical Sanskrit language is called Cinapatta. +So, the centuries-old story of our relations has been of spiritualism, learning, art and trade. +It is a picture of respect for each other’s civilisation and of shared prosperity. +It is reflected in the human values of Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis, a doctor from India, who treated soldiers in China during the Second World War. +China’s success over the past three decades has changed the character of the global economy. +India is now the next frontier of the economic revolution. +We have the demography for it. +About 800 million people in India are below the age of 35 years. +Their aspirations, energy, enterprise and skills will be the force for India’s economic transformation. +We now have the political mandate and the will to make it happen. +Over the past year, we have moved with a clear and coherent vision. +And, we have acted with speed, resolve and boldness to implement it. +We have taken sweeping steps to reform our policies and open up more to foreign direct investments. +This includes new areas like insurance, construction, defence and railways. +We are eliminating unnecessary regulations and simplifying our procedures. +We are using digital technology to eliminate multiple approvals and endless wait. +We are building a tax regime that is predictable, stable and competitive, and that will integrate the Indian market. +We are scaling up investments in next generation infrastructure – roads, ports, railways, airports, telecom, digital networks and clean energy. +Our resources are being allocated with speed and transparency. +And, we will make sure that land acquisition does not become a barrier to growth or a burden on farmers. +We are creating the global skill pool to establish a modern economy with a world class manufacturing sector. +We are reviving our agriculture sector to restore the fortunes of our farmers and boost our growth. +Like China, urban renewal is both a necessity and a means to add energy to our economy. +We are combining traditional strategies with modern economic instruments to eliminate poverty and create security for the poor. +We have set time bound goals for providing access to housing, water and sanitation for all. +This won’t just transform lives, but also generate a new source of economic momentum. +Above all, we are changing the way we govern ourselves – not just in the way we work in New Delhi, but also in the way we work together with state governments, districts and cities. +Because we know, as you do, that our vision may be formed in Delhi, but our success will be determined by state capitals. +And, for the first time for India, Premier Li and I will sit with provincial leaders and chief ministers to discuss our partnership. +I know that rewriting policies can be easier than changing mindsets and work culture. +And, you can see it in our growth rate. +It has now increased to 7.5%, and we are encouraged by international experts speak in one voice of higher growth rates. +In many ways, our two countries reflect the same aspirations, similar challenges and the same opportunities. +We can be inspired by each other’s successes. +And, in the global uncertainties of our times, we can reinforce each other’s progress. +Perhaps, no other economy in the world offers such opportunities for the future as India’s. +And, few partnerships are as filled with promise as ours. +During President Xi’s visit last September, we set for ourselves a new level of ambition for our cooperation. +Tomorrow in Shanghai, we will see the agreements on first of those partnerships between our industries. +But, to maintain this partnership over the long run, we must also improve the access of Indian industry to the Chinese market. +I am encouraged by President Xi’s and Premier Li’s commitment to resolve this problem. +As much as our bilateral cooperation, our international partnership will be important for each other’s success. +Our changing world has created new opportunities and challenges. +We both face instability in our shared neighbourhood that can threaten our security and slow down our economies. +We must also deal with the changing character of terrorism that has made it less predictable and more diffuse. +We source a large part of our energy from the same region that faces instability and uncertain future. +India and China conduct their international commerce on the same sea lanes. +The security of sea lanes is vital for our two economies; and, our cooperation is essential to achieve it. +Equally, we both seek to connect a fragmented Asia. +There are projects we will pursue individually. +There are few such as the Bangladesh, China India Myanmar Corridor that we are doing jointly. +But, geography and history tell us that the dream of an interconnected Asia will be successful, when India and China work together. +We are two countries that have gained a lot from an open, rule-based global trading system. +Equally, we have most to lose if it breaks down. +We both have enormous stakes in the international negotiations on climate change. +Our cooperation in these forums will be crucial to shape their outcomes. +Today, we speak of Asia’s resurgence. +It is the result of the rise of many powers in the region at the same time. +It is an Asia of great promise, but also many uncertainties. +Asia’s re- emergence is leading to a multi-polar world that we both welcome. +But, it is also an unpredictable and complex environment of shifting equations. +We can be more certain of a peaceful and stable future for Asia if India and China cooperate closely. +A resurgent Asia is seeking a bigger voice in global affairs. +India and China seek a greater role in the world. +It may be reforms in the United Nations Security Council or the new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. +But, Asia’s voice will be stronger and our nation’s role more influential, if India and China speak in one voice – for all of us and for each other. +Simply put, the prospects of the 21st century becoming the Asian century will depend in large measure on what India and China achieve individually and what we do together. +The rising fortunes of 2.5 billion pairs of joined hands will be of the greatest consequence for our region and the humanity. +This is the vision that I share with President Xi and Premier Li. +This is the impulse that is driving our relationship. +In recent years, we have deepened our political engagement. +We have kept our borders peaceful. +We have managed our differences and not allowed them to impede closer cooperation. +We have enhanced our cooperation across the full spectrum of our relationship. +Yet, if we have to realise the extraordinary potential of our partnership, we must also address the issues that lead to hesitation and doubts, even distrust, in our relationship. +First, we must try to settle the boundary question quickly. +We both recognise that this is history’s legacy. +Resolving it is our shared responsibility to the future. +We must move ahead with new purpose and determination. +The solution we choose should do more than settle the boundary question. +It should do so in a manner that transforms our relationship and not cause new disruptions. +We have been remarkably successful in maintaining peace and tranquility along the border. +We must continue to do that on the principle of mutual and equal security. +Our agreements, protocols and border mechanisms have been helpful. +But, a shadow of uncertainty always hangs over the sensitive areas of the border region. +It is because neither side knows where the Line of Actual Control is, in these areas. +That is why I have proposed resuming the process of clarifying it. +We can do this without prejudice to our position on the boundary question. +We should think of creative solutions to issues that have become irritants – from visa policies to trans-border rivers. +Sometimes, small steps can have a deep impact on how our people see each other. +We are both increasing our engagement in our shared neighbourhood. +This calls for deeper strategic communication to build mutual trust and confidence. +If the last century was the age of alliances, this is an era of inter-dependence. +So, talks of alliances against one another have no foundation. +In any case, we are both ancient civilizations, large and independent nations. +Neither of us can be contained or become part of anyone’s plans. +So, our partnership in international forums should not be determined by the concerns of others, but the interests of our two countries. +China’s support for India’s permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council, and for India’s membership of export control regimes like Nuclear Suppliers Group will do more than just strengthen our international cooperation. +It will take our relationship to a new level. +It will give Asia a stronger voice in the world. +If we are able to deepen mutual trust and confidence, we will also be able to reinforce each other’s efforts of connecting Asia with itself and rest of the world. +Our soldiers face each other on the border, but we should also deepen our defence and security cooperation to address our many common challenges. +Above all, as we look ahead, we must build more bridges of familiarity and comfort between our people. +About 33% of the world’s population is either Indian or Chinese. +Yet, our people know very little of each other. +We are celebrating the “Year of India” in China in 2015. +We are launching the ‘Provincial and State Leaders Forum’ today. +Later today, we will have the Yoga-Taichi event. +It will represent the coming together of our two civilizations. +We are starting the Gandhi and India Study Centre in Fudan University and a college of Yoga in Kunming. +The second route to Kailash Mansarovar for Indian pilgrims will start in June, for which I want to thank President Xi. +These are just some of the many steps India and China are taking to bring the world’s two largest populations in closer contact. +For this reason, I chose to speak today at a university. +Because it is the youth that will inherit the future of our countries and the responsibility for our relationship. +President Xi has spoken eloquently about the inter-connected dreams of China and India and the new type of relationship between major countries. +Not only are our dreams inter-connected, our future is also deeply inter- connected. +We are at a moment, when we have the opportunity to make our choices. +India and China are two proud civilizations and two great nations that will fulfill their destinies. +We each have the strength and the will to choose our own paths to success. +But, we have the ancient wisdom to know that our journey will be smoother and our future brighter, when we will walk together, confident of one another, and in step with each other. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi declared the first edition of the Khelo India School Games open, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi today. +Addressing the gathering, he said sports should occupy a central place in the lives of our youth. +Sports is an important means of personality development, he added. +He exhorted youngsters to devote time to games He exhorted amid their busy schedules. +Referring to the eminent sportspersons present in the gathering, he said they too would have faced many obstacles; but they did not give up and went on to distinguish themselves. +India does not lack sporting talent, the Prime Minister asserted. +We are a youthful nation and we can do even better in sports, he added. +He expressed confidence that India will scale these heights, adding that he trusts India’s youth. +Khelo India is not only about winning medals, he said. +It is an effort to give strength to a mass movement for playing more, he explained. +We want to focus on every aspect that would make sports more popular across the nation, he added. +Shri Narendra Modi said it is gladdening to see youngsters from rural India and smaller cities excelling as sportspersons. +These are also youngsters who need support, which the Government wants to provide, he added. +Those who love sports play for passion, not for monetary rewards, the Prime Minister said. +This is why athletes are special, he added. +When an Indian sportsperson wins and when he or she gets to hold the Tricolour, it is an extremely special feeling and it energises the entire nation, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of Cooperation between Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India and Bpifrance, a Public Investment Bank, France. +The agreement will ensure exchange of best practices and setting up of coordinated measures to foster technological exchanges in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation through collaboration between companies, organizations and institutions of France and India. +The agreement aims to carry out activities related to exchange of best practices in the field of Science & Technology through the Technology Development Board and Bpifrance. +PM to address Kisan Kalyan Mela at Sehore in Madhya Pradesh; release guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana +The scheme will come into effect from the upcoming Kharif season. +The premium for annual commercial and horticultural crops will be 5 per cent. +There is no upper limit on Government subsidy for this scheme. +The provision of capping the premium rate, which existed in earlier schemes, and resulted in low claims being paid to farmers, has been done away with. +Farmers will get claims against the full sum insured, without any reduction. +The Prime Minister will distribute soil health cards, and crop insurance settlement claims to select beneficiaries. +The MoU has been signed on behalf of the two countries after its approval by the two Governments and would be for a term of four years. +The Technical Cooperation programme will be beneficial for enhancement of skills and expertise of DGCA’s officers. +This MoU is also beneficial for implementation of the cooperation between the two parties for imparting training of engineers, technicians, managers etc. +It will also include any other subject that is relevant to the common DGAC and DGCA areas of interest. +For this purpose, the Parties undertake to cooperate through the following actions: +a) By exchanging information concerning the various techniques used to reach the objectives; +b) By sending French experts or instructors to India for training missions; and +c) By receiving experts, or instructors of India, in France for training missions. +The specific activities to be performed by DGCA of India and the DGCA of France under this MOU will be carried out by mutual consent. +A delegation comprising of the members from the Standing Committee on Rules and Administration of the House of Representatives of Japan, led by Mr. Ichiro Aisawa, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, at 7, Race Course Road today. +This was Shri Narendra Modi`s first meeting with Japanese political leaders after assuming office as Prime Minister. +Welcoming the delegation, the Prime Minister said, for India the strategic and global partnership with Japan has high priority. +He said that though he attached great importance to his visit to Japan, scheduled in the first week of July, he had to defer the visit in view of the ensuing first budget session of Parliament of the new Government. +Shri Modi said that a fundamental identity of values, interests and priorities exists between India and Japan. +Apart from economic ties, India and Japan share strong Buddhist cultural linkages, the Prime Minister said. +Shri Modi also said that Japan has been a partner country for the Vibrant Gujarat summits. +The leader of the Japanese delegation, Mr. Aisawa, said that Japanese nationals working in India have great expectations from Shri Narendra Modi`s Government. +He added that the people of India also hoped that the new Government will take the Indian economy to new heights. +He added that an economically vibrant and strong India was in the interest of the entire Asian continent. +The Japanese delegation suggested Parliamentary exchanges between the two countries, which was welcomed by the Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Kochi Metro, and travelled briefly on the new metro line. +He later addressed a large gathering at the function to dedicate Kochi Metro to the nation. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s address: +I am happy to be part of the inauguration ceremony of Kochi Metro. +I congratulate the people of Kochi on this proud moment. +Kochi, the queen of the Arabian Sea, is an important spice trading centre. +Today it is known as the commercial capital of Kerala. +Kochi ranks first in the total number of international and domestic tourist arrivals in Kerala. +Hence it is fitting that Kochi should have a Metro rail facility. +The city’s population has been rising steadily, and is expected to reach twenty three lakhs by 2021. +Therefore, a mass rapid transport system is essential to address the increasing pressure on urban infrastructure. +This will also contribute to Kochi’s economic growth. +Kochi Metro Rail Limited is a fifty – fifty Joint Venture of Government of India and Government of Kerala. +The Union Government has so far released over two thousand crore rupees for Kochi Metro. +The phase being inaugurated today will operate from Aluva to Palarivattom. +It will cover 13.26 kilometres and eleven stations. +This metro project has several significant features. +It is the first metro project to be commissioned with a modern signalling system called the “Communication Based Train Control Signalling system”. +The coaches reflect the “Make in India” vision. +They have been built by Alstom of France, at their factory near Chennai, and have an Indian component of around seventy percent. +The Kochi metro integrates the city’s entire public transportation network into a single system. +This system will have a common time-table, common ticketing and centralised `command and control’. +It also focuses on improving last mile connectivity and non-motorised transportation systems in the inner city. +The selected bank will co-brand the Kochi Metro Fare Card and App with the bank’s name. +I am informed that this Kochi-1 Card is a multi-purpose pre-paid contact-less RuPay card which can be used to travel in the metro and also like a normal debit card. +Kochi will be one of the few cities in the world and the first in India to have a modern open-loop Smart Card, which can be used with other modes of transport like buses, taxies and autos as well. +I am also informed that the Kochi-1 Mobile app has been developed with a long term vision. +The mobile App has an Electronic-wallet integrated to it, which is linked to the Kochi-1 Card. +Initially, it will enable citizens of Kochi to avail of metro services. +Thus, it is a good example of an e-Governance digital platform. +Another noteworthy aspect of this project is that nearly one thousand women and twenty-three transgenders are being selected to work in the Kochi Metro Rail System. +The project is also an example of environment friendly development. +It plans to meet nearly twenty five percent of the entire energy requirements from renewable sources, particularly solar energy. +The long-term plan is to become a zero-carbon emitting urban transit system. +Every sixth pillar of the metro system will have a covered vertical garden, which will substantially use urban solid waste. +It is heartening to note that all stations as well as the Operation Control Centre of Kochi Metro have achieved platinum rating which is the highest certification level given by the Indian Green Building Council. +Over the last three years, my Government has placed special focus on overall infrastructure development of the nation. +Railways, roads, power have been our priority areas. +In PRAGATI meetings, I have personally reviewed nearly 175 projects worth more than eight lakh crore rupees. +We have resolved bottlenecks and significantly improved the average rate of implementation in these sectors. +Now, we are also focusing on next generation infrastructure, which includes logistics, digital and gas. +A number of initiatives have been taken by us to enhance public transport particularly in the cities. +Foreign investment has been invited in this sector. +Fifty cities in India are ready to implement metro rail projects. +The economic and social benefits of metro rail systems are well-known. +We have speeded up policy formulation in this sector. +Recently, the Government of India has standardized the specifications for rolling stock and signalling systems of metro rail. +This will encourage manufacturers to set-up manufacturing facilities in India with a long-term perspective. +In line with the “Make in India” vision, efforts are being made to promote domestic manufacture of metro rolling stock. +There is need to bring about a paradigm shift in urban planning, by adopting a people-centric approach, and integrating land-use and transport. +Towards this end, the Government of India issued a National Transit Oriented Development Policy in April 2017. +This policy seeks to transform cities, from being transit dependent to being transit oriented. +It aims to create compact walkable communities and bring public transport closer to transit. +I compliment the Union Ministry of Urban Development led by Venkaiah ji for having formulated a Value Capture Finance Policy Framework. +This provides a mechanism to capture the increased land value. +Let me conclude by congratulating the citizens of Kochi, the Kochi Metro Rail Corporation and the Chief Minister of Kerala for achieving this important milestone. +Kochi was selected as a Smart City in Round One of the challenge process in January 2016. +I hope it will do even better in the days to come. +India has a robust strategic partnership with all the three countries. +On 29 May, I will be in Jakarta on the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo. +This is my first visit to Indonesia as Prime Minister. +I am looking forward to my discussions with President Widodo on 30 May, as also to our joint interaction with the India-Indonesia CEOs Forum. +I will also address the Indian Community in Indonesia. +India and Indonesia enjoy strong and friendly ties and share deep historical and civilizational linkages. +Both countries are multi ethnic, multi religious, plural and open societies. +I am confident that my visit to Indonesia will create greater synergy between Asia’s two largest democracies and further elevate our bilateral ties. +On 31 May, on my way to Singapore, I will make a brief halt in Malaysia to congratulate the new Malaysian leadership. +I look forward to meet Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. +In Singapore I will be focusing on enhancing India-Singapore partnership in areas of Fintech, skill development, urban planning and artificial intelligence. +Singapore entities have become major partners with India in areas like urban development, planning, smart cities and infrastructure development. +My visit in Singapore presents an opportunity for both countries to engage further. +On 31 May, I will visit the India-Singapore enterprise and innovation exhibition. +I will also address a business and community event followed by a roundtable meeting with select top CEOs of Singapore to discuss business and investment opportunities. +On 1 June, I will call on Singapore President Halimah Yacob. +I will also hold delegation level talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee, and am looking forward to my visit to the Nanyang Technological University where I would interact with young students. +That evening, I will deliver the keynote address at Shangri-La Dialogue. +On 2 June, I will unveil a plaque at Clifford Pier, where Gandhiji’s ashes were immersed in sea on 27 March 1948. +I would also visit some places of worship that have civilizational linkages with India. +The last element of my programme would be a visit to the Changi Naval Base in Singapore where I will visit the Indian Naval Ship INS Satpura and interact with officers and sailors of the Indian Navy and Royal Singapore Navy. +I am confident that my visit to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore will provide a further boost to our Act East Policy and enhance our relations and engagements with all the three countries.” +On this occasion, the Prime Minister launched several important development projects as well. +In the Water Supply and Sanitation sector, he unveiled a plaque to mark the foundation stone of Motijheel Project, the Bettiah Nagar Parishad Water Supply Scheme, and four Ganga Projects, namely: the Saidpur Sewage Network, Patna; the Pahari Sewage Network, Zone 4, Patna; the Pahari Sewagw Network, Zone 5, Patna; and the Pahari STP project. +In the Railways sector, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the doubling of railway lines between Muzaffarpur and Sagauli; and Sagauli and Valmikinagar. +He dedicated the first phase of the Madhepura Electric Locomotive Factory to the nation. +Via video link, he flagged off the first 12000 HP Freight Electric Locomotive, and the Champaran Humsafar Express. +The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a road lane of NH-2 in Auranagabad Bihar-Jharkhand border section; a petroleum oil lube and LPG terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd at Motihari; and an LPG Plant of HPCL at Sagauli. +He also distributed awards to Champion Swachhagrahis. +Addressing an enthusiastic gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the atmosphere at Motihari today, evokes the same spirit of mass movement, that marked the Champaran Satyagraha, a century ago. +He said that in this journey of Satayagraha to Swachhagraha, the people of Bihar have shown their ability to lead. +He noted the remarkable progress made in toilet construction in Bihar in the last one week. +He appreciated the efforts of the people of the State, and the State Government for the same. +The Prime Minister said that whether it is the Swachh Bharat Mission, or the fight against corruption, or the development of civic amenities, the Union Government is working shoulder to shoulder with the State Government. +He said that about 50 lakh women had benefited from LPG connections through the Ujjwala Yojana, in the State of Bihar. +He said the projects launched today are part of the larger vision of developing Eastern India as growth engine for India. +He also mentioned the road and rail projects launched today. +He described the Madhepura Electric Locomotive Factory as a prime example of Make in India, and a source of employment in the region. +He said the Union Government is committed to fulfilling all its missions and resolves, with the help of the people. +Speaking of the achievements in sanitation, the Prime Minister mentioned that sanitation coverage has expanded from about 40 percent in 2014, to about 80 percent today. +He said toilet construction is ending social imbalances, and becoming a means of socio-economic empowerment and women empowerment. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the occasion of Easter. +“Greetings on Easter! +The sacred thoughts of Lord Jesus Christ inspire millions. +He emphasised on making our society free from evils and being compassionate towards the poor and downtrodden. +May this special day enhance the spirit of peace and togetherness,” the Prime Minister said. +Improved sports infrastructure created by this Centre will ensure effective participation of persons with disabilities in sports activities and also enable them to compete at national and international levels. +Setting up of the Centre will develop a sense of belonging in Divyangjan to facilitate their integration in society. +Section 30 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, enjoins on the Government to take measures to ensure effective participation of Persons with Disabilities in sports activities which, inter-alia, includes provision of infrastructural facilities for sports activities for them. +The Finance Minister in his Budget Speech of 2014-15 announced the setting up of a Centre for disability sports. +At present no specialized sports training facilities for Divyangjan are available in the Country. +Namaskar to everyone, +My Best wishes to all of you. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today unveiled a plaque to mark the inauguration of the new building complex of the Bombay Art Society. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister remarked that rarely has an institution left its imprint on three centuries. +He said that the reason for this is that art has its own strength and message. +The Prime Minister emphasized that art is not just an adornment for walls, but a pillar of strength for society. +He said art can play a key role in all-round personality development of children. +He said art helps in keeping the human spirit alive in individuals, even in this machine age. +The Prime Minister said art should never be dependent on the establishment, but it should definitely be patronised by the establishment. +Elaborating on the letters A, R, and T, that make up the word “art”, the Prime Minister said that they stand for the qualities of agelessness, racelessness, regionlessness, and timelessness – all of which define art. +The Prime Minister suggested that digital technology can be used to document the process of creation of a work of art, and this could help people comprehend the thought process of the artist. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for National Capital Goods Policy. +The policy envisages increasing exports from the current 27 percent to 40 percent of production. +It will increase the share of domestic production in India’s demand from 60 percent to 80 percent thus making India a net exporter of capital goods. +The policy also aims to facilitate improvement in technology depth across sub-sectors, increase skill availability, ensure mandatory standards and promote growth and capacity building of MSMEs. +The Policy will help in realising the vision of ‘Building India as the World class hub for Capital Goods’. +It will also play a pivotal role in overall manufacturing as the pillar of strength to the vision of ‘Make in India’. +The objectives of the policy will be met by the Department of Heavy Industry in a time bound manner through obtaining approval for schemes as per the roadmap of policy interventions. +The idea of a ‘National Capital Goods Policy’ was first presented by the Deptt. of Heavy Industry to the Prime Minister in the ‘Make in India’ workshop held in December, 2014. +The policy has been finalized after extensive stakeholder consultations with industry, academia, different ministries etc. +The key recommendations and elements of the policy have been formulated to support and boost development of this crucial sector. +The aim of the policy is create game changing strategies for the capital goods sector. +Some of the key issues addressed include availability of finance, raw material, innovation and technology, productivity, quality and environment friendly manufacturing practices, promoting exports and creating domestic demand. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was today apprised of the following Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) and Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs):- +(i) The MoC signed between Ministry of Railways (MoR) and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan on technological cooperation in Rail Sector on 11th December 2015. +(ii) The MoU signed between Ministry of Railways and Joint Stock Company “Russian Railways” on technical cooperation in railway sector on 24th December 2015. +(iii) The MoU signed between Research Design & Standards Organization (RDSO) and Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI), Japan on technological cooperation in railway sector on 11th December 2015. +Ministry of Railways have signed MoC/MoUs for technical cooperation in the rail sector with various foreign Governments and National Railways. +The identified areas of cooperation include high speed corridors, speed raising of existingroutes, development of world class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure, etc. +The cooperation is achieved through exchange of information on developments in areas of railways technologyoperations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training & seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest. +The MoUs provide a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector. +The MoUs facilitate exchange of technical experts, reports and technical documents, training and seminars/workshops focusing on specific technology areas and other interactions for knowledge sharing. +This MoC is valid for a period of three years. +Thereafter it will be automatically renewed for further period of two years. +This MoU is valid for a period of three years. +Thereafter, it will be automatically renewed for further successive period of two years. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, in New Delhi, to the nation. +He had laid the foundation stone of this Institute in April 2015. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the Centre would play a key role in the dissemination of Dr. Ambedkar’s teachings and vision. +Noting that the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre for Socio Economic Transformation is also part of this project, the Prime Minister said that this will be an important centre for research on social and economic issues. +He said the centre would function as a think-tank for inclusive growth, and related socio-economic matters. +The Prime Minister said that thought-leaders and visionaries have shaped the direction of our country, at different points in time. +He said the country is indebted to Baba Saheb, for his contributions to nation-building. +He said the Union Government wants more and more people, and especially the youth, to learn about his vision and ideas. +That is why, he added, that important places related to Dr. Ambedkar’s life have been developed as centres of pilgrimage. +In this context, he mentioned the sites at Alipur in Delhi; Mhow in Madhya Pradesh; Indu Mill in Mumbai; Deeksha Bhumi in Nagpur; and the house in London. +He said that this ‘Panchteerth’ is the today’s generation’s way of paying homage to Dr. Ambedkar. +He said that the BHIM App for digital transactions, is the Union Government’s homage to the economic vision of Dr. Ambedkar. +Quoting from Dr. Ambedkar’s address to the Constituent Assembly in December 1946, the Prime Minister said despite his struggles, Dr. Ambedkar had an inspirational vision for the nation to overcome its problems. +He said that we have still not been able to fulfil the vision of Dr. Ambedkar. +He said today’s generation has the capability and the potential to eradicate social evils. +The Prime Minister recalled Dr. Ambedkar’s words, that we should make our political democracy, a social democracy as well. +He said that over the last three to three and a half years, the Union Government has worked towards fulfilling this vision of social democracy. +In this context, he mentioned initiatives taken by the Government such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, insurance schemes, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and the recently launched Saubhagya Yojana. +He said the Union Government is making every effort to complete schemes and projects within their intended duration, and the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre represents one illustration of this. +He spoke at length about other schemes including distribution of soil health cards, Mission Indradhanush and progress towards rural electrification targets, to show the speed and commitment of the Union Government in implementing public welfare initiatives. +The Prime Minister also mentioned the Stand-Up India scheme for generating self employment. +He exhorted everyone to work towards fulfilling the vision of Babasaheb Ambedkar; and hoped that we would be able to accomplish it by 2022. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for the signing of the revised Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Seychelles to modernize and update the existing ASA signed on 30.10.1978. +The ASA signifies an important landmark in the civil aviation relations between India and Seychelles and has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries. +As a result of this agreement, the number of flights between India and Seychelles has been increased from three per week to seven per week. +Mr. Asaduzzaman Khan, Home Minister of Bangladesh called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister condoled the loss of lives in the recent terrorist attacks in Bangladesh. +Prime Minister reiterated India’s commitment to support Bangladesh in fighting against terrorism. +Mr. Asaduzzaman Khan thanked Prime Minister for India’s support and solidarity. +He also briefed Prime Minister on the situation in Bangladesh. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has shared specially created web-pages, on his upcoming visit to China, Mongolia and South Korea. +“Express your views on my upcoming China visit on this specially created page. http://www.narendramodi.in/china_home. +Keep up with the latest updates on my Mongolia visit through this page. http://www.narendramodi.in/mongolia_home. +Here is a page in which you will find all latest news on my South Korea visit. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the passing away of former President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Shri Jagmohan Dalmiya. +“My thoughts are with the family of Shri Jagmohan Dalmiya in this hour of grief. +May Shri Dalmiya’s soul rest in peace,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated H. E. Mr. Leo Varadkar on assuming office as Taoiseach of Ireland. +“Congratulations to H. E. Mr. Leo Varadkar on assuming office as Taoiseach of Ireland. +I look forward to working with Taoiseach Varadkar to further strengthen India-Ireland relations,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated Mr. John Key for being re-elected for the third term as the Prime Minister of New Zealand . +” Congratulations to Mr. John Key & the N ew Zealand National Party for the victory in the General Election ,” the Prime Minister said. +Minister for Agriculture & Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan and Chairman, Global Tiger Forum, +Distinguished Ministers from Tiger Range Countries, +Shri Prakash Javadekar, our Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, +I am pleased to welcome you all. +The tiger has brought all of us together here. +This is an important meeting to discuss the conservation of one of the important endangered species. +Your very presence is a testimony to the importance your country attaches to this “umbrella” among species. +As we all know, the tiger is an apex consumer in the ecological pyramid and food chain. +It requires a large amount of prey, supported by good forests. +In fact, the benefits from tiger conservation are enormous but intangible. +We cannot quantify this in economic terms. +Putting a price tag on nature is difficult. +In fact, most of our Gods and Goddesses are associated with some animal, tree or river. +In fact sometimes these animals are put on the same pedestal as Gods and Goddesses. +No wonder the Tiger is also our national animal. +I am sure, other Tiger Range Countries would have some cultural legacy associated with tigers. +Species belonging to the animal kingdom, usually do not act to their disadvantage. +However, human beings are an exception. +Our compulsions and cravings, our needs and greed, have led to shrinkage of natural habitat and destruction of ecosystems. +Here, I recall the famous words of Gautam Buddha who said: “the forest is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness. +It affords protection to all beings, offering shade even to the axe-man who destroys it.” +I appreciate the good efforts made by the Tiger Range Countries in conserving tigers. +I compliment you all for this great ongoing effort. +I also appreciate the efforts through “Global Tiger Initiative” and the Council. +However, from what I have been told it appears that tiger habitats have reduced drastically across Tiger Range Countries. +The situation has been aggravated further by the ongoing trafficking in body parts and derivatives of this magnificent animal. +In India too, we have been facing the challenge of poaching and disruption in their ecosystems. +The positive side for us in India is that majority of the population respects trees, animals, forests, rivers and other elements of nature like the sun and the moon. +We consider the earth as our mother. +Both are mutually complementary. +Destruction of one leads to destruction of the other. +This is an important cause of climate change which is now affecting us adversely in many ways. +This is a global phenomenon which all of us are grappling with. +As a solution, we have committed to work towards country specific mitigation strategies. +In my view, for the Tiger Range Countries, a viable tiger population undoubtedly symbolises a mitigation strategy for climate change. +This will create a huge carbon sink in the form of tiger bearing forests. +Thus, conservation of tiger will go a long way in ensuring a good future for ourselves and our coming generations. +India has a long standing and successful track record of protecting its tigers. +We launched “Project Tiger” in 1973. +Its coverage has increased considerably from the initial 9 tiger reserves to 49 at present. +Tiger conservation is a collective responsibility of the Government of India and States. +Our cultural legacy which encourages compassion and co-existence has played an important role in the success of Project Tiger. +Due to such collective efforts, there has been a rise of thirty per cent in the number of tigers. +It has gone up from 1706 in 2010 to 2226 in 2014. +Our National Tiger Conservation Authority has taken many landmark initiatives. +Use of modern technology, including intelligent, infrared and thermal cameras on a 24×7 basis is being promoted for surveillance against poaching in sensitive tiger reserves. +Several protocols for smart patrolling and tiger monitoring have been evolved. +Radio telemetry is also being promoted to monitor tigers. +A national repository of tiger camera trap photo database is also being created. +To do all this, we have, this year, doubled our allocation for tiger conservation. +I strongly believe that tiger conservation, or conservation of nature, is not a drag on development. +Both can happen in a mutually complementary manner. +All we need is to re-orient our strategy by factoring in the concerns of the tiger in sectors where tiger conservation is not the goal. +This is a difficult task but can be achieved. +Our genius lies in “smartly” integrating the tiger and wildlife safeguards in various infrastructures at the landscape level. +This essentially takes us to the much needed “smart green infrastructure”, while adopting a landscape approach. +The landscape approach would also help us to involve business groups through corporate social responsibility for various initiatives towards tiger conservation. +In the Indian context, we intend to achieve this through the Tiger Conservation Plans. +Considering the ecosystem value of tiger conservation areas, we need to consider them as “natural capital.” +Our institutions have done an economic valuation of a few tiger reserves. +This study has highlighted the fact that besides conserving the tiger, these reserves also provide a range of economic, social, cultural and spiritual benefits. +These are known as ecosystem services. +Thus, we need to define conservation as a means to achieve development, rather than considering it to be anti-growth. +The natural capital denoting the stock of natural ecosystems should be treated at par with capital goods. +Our economy needs to be viewed as a subset of a larger economy of natural resources and ecosystem services which sustain us. +We have bilateral arrangements with China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh. +We hope to continue our efforts to address issues of mutual concern for the tiger. +A major threat to the tiger is the demand for its body parts and derivatives. +The forest and its wild denizens are an open treasury which cannot be locked up. +It is painful to learn about trafficking of body parts and derivatives of tigers and other big cats. +We need to collaborate at the highest levels of Government to address this serious issue. +India along with several Tiger Range Countries is a founder member of the Global Tiger Forum, which is headquartered in New Delhi. +This is the only inter-governmental organisation of its kind. +It is now working closely with the Global Tiger Initiative Council. +As a host country, I assure you of our fullest support. +We will also be happy to support capacity building of wildlife personnel at the Wildlife Institute of India. +The Tiger Range Countries are signatories to other international conventions to address international trade on endangered species. +In this regard, I want to give you another good news. +We are moving towards formally adopting the statute of South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network. +At the end, I would like to emphasise that conservation of tigers is not a choice. +I would also like to emphasise that regional co-operation is essential for combating wildlife crime. +In this conference, let us resolve to work together to protect the tiger and its space. +India is committed to engage with all Tiger Range Countries for this purpose. +I appreciate your presence and wish this conference all success! +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Agreement on Labour Co-operation between India and Saudi Arabia. +The Agreement was signed in Riyadh on 2-3 April, 2016 during the visit of the Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia. +The Agreement would benefit the Indian emigrant workers, especially in the unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled categories of workers who are working in Saudi Arabia without consideration of caste, creed, religion or gender. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved Memorandum of Cooperation between India and Finland on Environmental Cooperation. +The Memorandum of Cooperation is expected to bring in the latest technologies and best practices suited for bringing about better environment protection, better conservation, and better management of climate change and wildlife protection/conservation. +The areas of cooperation under this Memorandum of Cooperation shall include: +i) Air and water pollution prevention and purification, remediation of contaminated soils; +ii) Waste management including hazardous wastes, and waste-to-energy technologies; +iii) Promotion of circular economy, low-carbon solutions and sustainable management of natural resources including forests.; +v) Environmental and Forest monitoring and data management; +vi) Conservation of Marine and Coastal Resources; +vii) Integrated water management of Oceanic/Sea Islands; and +viii) Any other areas jointly decided upon. +The concerns of rising environmental issues are not limited to any country but pose a serious challenge to the entire Globe. +India is one of the emerging economies in the world with vast coastline and rich bio-diversity. +Finland’s principal environmental agency is the Ministry of the Environment, established in 1983. +Industrial pollutants from within the country and surrounding countries affect the purity of both the nation’s air and water supplies. +It also faces challenges like water pollution and increased demand for natural resources. +Both the Countries face many environmental challenges like waste water management, conservation of threatened species, control of air and water pollution and increased demand for natural resources. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to amend section 11 of the Delimitation Act, 2002 and section 9 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. +Congratulations to her for the Bronze. +The entire nation is rejoicing. +On this very auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan, Sakshi Malik, a daughter of India, wins a Bronze and makes all of us very proud. +Sakshi Malik will inspire several sportspersons in the years to come.”, the Prime Minister said. +The convention of students is being held on 11th September, the day Swami Vivekananda delivered his historic address at Chicago in 1893. +Swami Vivekananda strongly believed in the power of Yuva Shakti. +He saw a vital place for youngsters in the realm of nation building. +Inspired by the ideals of Swami Vivekananda, we are working tirelessly towards realising the dreams and aspirations of our youth.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted people across Tripura, on the Jayanti of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarma Manikya Bahadur. +“Glad to know that people across Tripura marked the Jayanti of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarma Manikya Bahadur with immense enthusiasm. +Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarma Manikya Bahadur’s rich contribution towards the development of Tripura can never be forgotten”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received a telephone call from US President, Mr Barack Obama yesterday evening. +The two leaders reviewed with satisfaction the significant all round progress and cooperation in ties between India and the US in the past few years. +Prime Minister thanked President Obama for his strong support and contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between India and the US. +He conveyed his best wishes to President Obama in his future endeavours. +He said that 125 crore Indians have now resolved to complete the journey from Swarajya to “Suraj.” +He said the achievement of Suraj will require sacrifice, hard work, discipline, dedication and courage, and added that every institution from Panchayat to Parliament must work unitedly towards this goal. +The Prime Minister said that there was a time when allegations engulfed the Government. +He said that this Government, instead, is surrounded by expectations. +He said that when hope gives rise to expectations, it gives us energy to move faster towards Suraj. +The Prime Minister said that he wishes to focus not on the work done by the Government, but on its work-culture. +The Prime Minister defined various attributes of Suraj, such as Sensitivity, Responsibility, Accountability, Transparency, Efficiency and Good Governance. +He illustrated each of these attributes through examples of the working of the Union Government, in areas such as online registration in major hospitals, promptness of income tax refunds, speeding up the process of passport delivery, faster company registrations, and ending interviews for Group C and Group D positions in the Government. +The Prime Minister mentioned how the speed of delivery in vital areas of governance had increased. +In this context, he gave examples such as rural roads construction, renewable energy generation capacity, laying of transmission lines, and cooking gas connections. +The Prime Minister spoke of the scale on which work had been accomplished in certain areas, such as opening of 21 crore bank accounts under the Jan Dhan Yojana, construction of 2 crore toilets in rural areas, and electrification of 10,000 unelectrified villages in a short span of time. +On the subject of LED bulbs, the Prime Minister mentioned that their price had been brought down substantially to make them more accessible to the common man. +He said that the widespread use of LED bulbs would result in huge saving of electricity. +He said that the area under pulses cultivation has increased substantially this year. +He explained the integrated approach that the Government has taken towards the agriculture sector, which includes focus on soil health cards, irrigation, solar pumps, seeds, fertilizers, and crop insurance. +Shri Narendra Modi said the focus of the Government has been to build a national identity. +He said the Government aims to Reform; Perform; Transform. +He said the the Government is more attentive to substance, rather than symbolism; integrated development rather than isolated development; and empowerment rather than entitlement. +The Prime Minister explained how his Government has been working to complete stalled or long pending projects, and is shortening the time required for project approvals in important sectors. +Giving illustrations of effective delivery, the Prime Minister mentioned clearance of sugarcane arrears, new LPG connections, and PSUs such as Air India and BSNL reporting operational profits. +Mentioning the emphasis on transparency, the Prime Minister said subsidies are being better targeted to those that need them. +He said international rating agencies have acknowledged the progress in key areas of governance. +He mentioned several other Government initiatives in this regard. +In a strong message for social cohesion (Samaajik Ekta), the Prime Minister said every Indian must abide by the message of peace, oneness and brotherhood, given by great saints, philosophers and thinkers, such as Ramanujacharya, Mahatma Gandhi, and Babasaheb Ambedkar. +The Prime Minister said that various initiatives and programmes of the Government are all contributing to employment generation for the youth. +He said that the Model Shop and Establishment Act will facilitate opening of shops on all days. +He said the world will appreciate India’s humanitarian approach, and uniform condemnation of all terrorist activities. +The Prime Minister called upon the people to work with a common resolve to take the nation forward. +The Prime Minister announced some new initiatives. +He said the pension for freedom fighters would be enhanced from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 per month. +He said the Government would work towards creation of museums and memorials dedicated to the Adivasi freedom fighters across the country. +Government would bear expenses upto one lakh rupees for the poor, towards meeting the cost of hospitalization. +The site is referred to as Anandpur in Xuanzang’s writings and recent excavations point to the existence of a thriving Buddhist centre at Vadnagar way back in 2nd century AD. +In his writings, Xuanzang had recorded that there were more than 1000 monks of the Sammitiya School or Little Vehicle in ten monasteries at Vadnagar, suggesting that Vadnagar was an important centre of Buddhist learning in western India during that period. +In ancient times, Vadnagar was situated at a strategic location where two major ancient trade routes crossed each other. +One of them was from central India to Sindh and to further northwest whiles the other from the port towns on the Gujarat coast to Rajasthan and north India. +Therefore, it could have been a city of ample opportunities until these routes remained vibrant. +The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the Railway Ministry to ensure that the relief operations following the Gorakhdham rail accident are carried out smoothly. +Mr. Modi said that it must be seen that all the injured are provided the best possible medical care. +The Prime Minister has sanctioned an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin those deceased from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and Rs 50,000 each of those seriously injured in the accident. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the New Building of National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai today. +Governor of Maharashtra Shri C. Vidyasagar Rao, CM of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister of State Shri Ramdas Athawale and Union Minister of State Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore (Retd.) along with other dignitaries were present on the occasion. +In his address, the Prime Minister said that the National Museum of Indian Cinema will provide a wonderful opportunity for the younger generation to understand and learn about Indian cinema. +He added that the Museum will have detailed information about the history of Indian entertainment industry, along with tales of struggles of various film personalities. +Stating that film and society are a reflection of each other, Prime Minister said that whatever happens in the society are reflected by the movies on screen while the images from the films are also mirrored in the society. +Talking about trends he said there are many films now which depict both the problem and the solution which is a positive sign as compared to earlier years when only the helplessness was displayed. +Mr. Modi said that India is now confident of finding its own solutions to the problems it faces and this he said is a sign of a New India which is confident and capable of taking issues head on and resolving them. +The Prime Minister in his address highlighted the global reach of Indian Cinema. +In this context he mentioned his interaction with various global leaders who can even sing Indian songs. +He extended best wishes to the film fraternity for creating the characters that have captured the imaginations of young generations. +He said that due to global appeal of such characters, India’s youngsters are now not just fans of Batman, but also of Bahubali. +The Prime Minister said that the Indian Cinema has a big role in enhancing India’s soft power, its credibility and building the Brand India across the world. +He said that through Cinema important social issues such as sanitation, women empowerment, sports etc are now reaching to people. +Cinema plays an important role in nation Building and strengthens the feeling of Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat. +PM said that the film Industry has a huge potential of contributing in the growth of Tourism in the country. +He mentioned that Government is working to provide facility of ‘Ease of Filming’ by putting in place a Single Window Clearance system, for Film Shooting approvals in different parts of the country. +Prime Minister said Government is working on amending Cinematograph Act 1952 to check the problem of Film Piracy. +PM said Government is also working towards setting up a National Centre for Excellence for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics. +He also suggested the idea of Global Film Summit similar to Davos Summit which would focus on the expansion of market for Indian Cinema. +A group of 30 schoolgirls, from Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today in New Delhi. +The students are currently on a tour to various parts of the country, as part of Operation Sadbhavna organised regularly by the Indian Army. +The Prime Minister interacted with the students, on various subjects such as education – especially education of the girl child; Swachh Bharat, and their dreams and aspirations. +In response to various questions posed by the girls during the lively interaction, the Prime Minister explained the various steps being taken for girl child education. +He also explained the various spin-off benefits, including on health and tourism that can accrue through the Swachh Bharat Mission. +He also touched upon the benefits of Yoga, in improving concentration. +Noting that youth from Jammu and Kashmir are now making it to the civil services in increasing numbers, and are also showing great potential in sports, the Prime Minister asserted that India has a bright future, and the children and youth of Jammu and Kashmir have a lot to contribute to the nation. +Strong and active cooperation across G-20 countries to deal comprehensively and efficiently with the menace fugitive economic offenders. +Cooperation in the legal processes such as effective freezing of the proceeds of crime; early return of the offenders and efficient repatriation of the proceeds of crime should be enhanced and streamlined. +Joint effort by G-20 countries to form a mechanism that denies entry and safe havens to all fugitive economic offenders. +Principles of United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNOTC), especially related to “International Cooperation” should be fully and effectively implemented. +FATF should be called upon to assign priority and focus to establishing international co-operation that leads to timely and comprehensive exchange of information between the competent authorities and FIUs. +FATF should be tasked to formulate a standard definition of fugitive economic offenders. +FATF should also develop a set of commonly agreed and standardized procedures related to identification, extradition and judicial proceedings for dealing with fugitive economic offenders to provide guidance and assistance to G-20 countries, subject to their domestic law. +Common platform should be set up for sharing experiences and best practices including successful cases of extradition, gaps in existing systems of extradition and legal assistance, etc. +G-20 Forum should consider initiating work on locating properties of economic offenders who have a tax debt in the country of their residence for its recovery. +I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to you, and Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe, and members of your delegation. +Let me congratulate you once again for leading the United National Front for Good Governance alliance to victory in last month’s parliamentary elections. +We are deeply honoured that you have chosen India as your first overseas destination. +It is a happy coincidence that your last full term as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister coincided with the first NDA Government. +We thank you for your belief in and steadfast support for India-Sri Lanka relations. +You are a deeply valued friend, whose vision for Sri Lanka’s progress and commitment to its pursuit is greatly admired in India. +This is a historic year for India-Sri Lanka relations, as it is for Sri Lanka. +We had the honour of hosting President Sirisena on his maiden visit abroad in February. +I had the privilege of an extraordinary visit to Sri Lanka in March. +Now, we have Prime Minister Wickremesinghe here. +Sri Lanka has voted twice this year for change, reforms, reconciliation and progress. +There can be no stronger statement of Sri Lanka’s democratic tradition. +There can be no clearer sign of Sri Lanka’s march towards a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous future. +As a close neighbour and friend, we wish Sri Lanka every success; rejoice in your progress; and, assure you of India’s unwavering support. +So, we are pleased that the Government of Sri Lanka has taken a number of significant steps in recent times. +The leadership has shown remarkable political unity, at a time of great hope. +I am confident that with the wisdom and will of the leadership in Sri Lanka and the support of the people, Sri Lanka will achieve genuine reconciliation and development, so that all Sri Lankans, including the Sri Lankan Tamil community, can live a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka. +We welcomed some significant developments in bilateral relations since March, including the currency swap arrangement. +We also expressed hope that progress on key bilateral initiatives and projects will gather speed now. +We both want deeper economic engagement. +We would like to see our trade grow and become more balanced for Sri Lanka. +We discussed how we can achieve these goals in a more open and competitive Indian market, including through bilateral arrangements for trade and investments. +I also sought his support for Indian investors, who are keen to participate in Sri Lanka’s economic development, especially in infrastructure, energy and transport sectors. +I offered India’s full support to strengthen connectivity between our two countries to deepen human and economic links that will benefit all sections of our societies. +I assured Prime Minister Wickremesinghe of continuing commitment to our development partnership – in infrastructure, railways, energy, community development projects, agriculture, capacity building, science and technology, space and civil nuclear field. +We will continue to nurture people-to-people ties. +We just finished an absorbing test series. +We shall all miss the great Kumar Sangakkara on the cricket field. +We recognise our closely aligned security interests and the need to remain sensitive to each other’s concerns. +We both reaffirmed our commitment to deepen our defence and security cooperation. +We will intensify cooperation in combating terrorism and work together for security and stability in our maritime neighbourhood. +Sri Lanka is our largest partner in defence training programme and we will continue to expand our cooperation in this area. +Prime Minister and I also discussed the fishermen issue. +We agreed that fishermen’s associations on both sides should continue their efforts to find a solution. +I conveyed to him that this should be seen as a humanitarian issue that affects livelihoods. +I informed him of the steps we are taking to encourage Indian fishermen to take up deep sea fishing. +In conclusion, let me say that India and Sri Lanka have a huge stake in each other’s success, and in stability and development in our region. +This is a relationship that touches the hearts of ordinary Indians and Sri Lankans. +It is also of great strategic importance to our two countries. +With President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, we can look to the future with great optimism. +Former Indian cricketer Shri Sachin Tendulkar called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +Shri Sachin Tendulkar apprised the Prime Minister of his contribution towards the Swachh Bharat initiative, in response to the Prime Minister’s invitation to him on October 2nd. +He also informed the Prime Minister that he had extended the chain by inviting others to participate. +Shri Tendulkar said he looked forward to adopting a village under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. +He also expressed keenness to work towards development of sports in schools and colleges. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called for quick adoption of a multi-pronged strategy to augment the country’s irrigation network. +Chairing a high-level meeting comprising top officials from the Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources, Rural Development, and Finance, besides the NITI Aayog and the PMO, the Prime Minister asked for a relook at the administrative mechanisms, financial arrangements and technology applications in the irrigation sector, to result in a shorter, more comprehensive decision-making process, which could deliver quick results for the farmers. +The Prime Minister said young researchers from Universities should be involved in irrigation-policy planning. +He said irrigation plans need to be worked out at the district level, and young officers from the civil services should be asked to propose district-level irrigation plans. +Exhorting officials to treat the challenge of below-normal rainfall as an opportunity, the Prime Minister called for an intensive short-term effort to boost the creation of farm ponds across the country. +The Prime Minister noted that falling ground-water levels in some states made it essential to bring about an urgent shift in cropping-patterns. +He called for focus on maize, and initiatives in value-addition in maize, to make it more attractive for farmers. +Union Minister for Water Resources Ms. Uma Bharati, Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh, and Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shri Sanjeev Balyan were present at the meeting. +Written in Persian, and profusely decorated and illuminated with various colours including gold and ultramarine, the work is a part of the manuscripts collection of National Museum, Delhi. +Kollam bypass on NH-66 to be inaugurated by PM +PM to visit the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will visit Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala tomorrow on January 15, 2019. +In Kollam, Prime Minister will inaugurate Kollam bypass on NH-66. +It is a 13 km long 2 lane bypass, with a project cost of Rs. 352 crore. +It includes 3 major bridges over the Ashtamudi Lake, having a total length of 1540 metres. +This project will reduce travel time between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram, and will also decongest traffic in Kollam town. +In Thiruvananthapuram, PM Shri Narendra Modi will visit the Padmanabhaswamy Temple . +He is likely to unveil a plaque to mark the launch of some visitor facilities. +This will be the third official visit of the Prime Minister to Kollam. +His first visit to the city was in December 2015, when he unveiled the statue of R. Sankar. +Subsequently, the Prime Minister visited Kollam in April 2016, hours after the fire tragedy. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bulgaria for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism. +The main objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding are: +a) To expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector +b) To exchange information and data related to tourism +c) To encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders including Hotels and Tour operators, +d) To establish exchange programme for cooperation in Human Resource Development. +e) To exchange visits of Tour Operators / Media /Opinion Makers for promotion of two way tourism +f) To exchange experiences in the areas of promotion, marketing, destination development and management. +g) Foster bilateral cooperation through film tourism for promoting the two countries as attractive tourism destinations and +h) To promote safe, honourable and sustainable tourism. +India and Bulgaria had previously signed an Agreement on cooperation in the field of tourism on 26.05.1994. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has written to the President of Afghanistan, Dr. Ashraf Ghani, and condoled the loss of lives in avalanches in different parts of Afghanistan. +“I was deeply saddened at the massive loss of lives in avalanches in different parts of Afghanistan. +This tragedy touches us even more because of the special bonds of affection and friendship between the people of India and Afghanistan. +I extend the heartfelt condolences of the people of India to you, the bereaved families and communities and the people of Afghanistan. +Please be assured that they are with us in our thoughts and prayers. +I have great confidence in your leadership and the ability of the Afghan people to respond to this disaster. +I have asked my Ambassador to seek your guidance on assistance that might be required,” the Prime Minister wrote. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to pay Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days wages to eligible non-gazetted railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) for the financial year 2016-17. +About 12.30 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees are likely to benefit from the decision. +This payment will be made before Dussehra/Puja holidays, bringing a smile to lakhs of families ahead of the festive season. +The payment of PLB would serve as an incentive, and result in motivating a large number of Railway employees, particularly those involved in execution and operations of railways, to improve their productivity and ensure safety, speed and service for Railway customers. +Indian Railways operates on the principle of maximum public welfare, and in this context, this bonus payment will help in improving accountability and efficiency in railways operations. +The financial implication of payment of 78 days’ PLB to railway employees has been estimated to be Rs. 2,245.45 crores. +The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB is Rs. 7,000/- p.m. +The maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee is Rs. 17,951 for 78 days. +He also recalled the role of members of Indian community in the Kenya’s freedom movement. +The Prime Minister appreciated the contribution of Kutchi samaj towards all round development especially their role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation after the earthquake in Kutch in 2001. +He said, “Kutch which was once considered a deserted place, has been converted into a prime tourist destination”. +The Prime Minister underlined his Government’s sustained efforts, when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, in bringing Narmada water to the far flung areas of the Kutch region. +The Prime Minister highlighted the double engine strength of the Centre and the State Government in carrying out the development activities in the region. +“The region has received thousands of crore rupees of investment in last few years”, he said. +He also informed the gathering about the proposed Ro-Ro service in Gujarat between Kutch and Jamnagar. +The Prime Minister emphasized that the engagement of India and African Countries has been on the rise. +“ India Africa Summit and a meeting of African Development Bank were held in India, recently”, he said. +He also mentioned that the President, Vice President, and himself as the Prime Minister of India have visited various African countries on more than 20 occasions, during the tenure of present Government. +During his address, the Prime Minister also invited persons in the gathering, especially who have not visited India, on the occasion of Kumbha Mela in January 2019 to experience the cultural and spiritual tradition of India. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated the gathering on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Nairobi-West Complex of Shree Kutchi Leva Patel Samaj. +His was a life dedicated towards serving society. +The Mantra of Integral Humanism, that was given by Deendayal ji remains a guiding force for all of us. +We are committed to fulfilling Deendayal ji’s vision of serving the very last person in the queue to build a developed & just India.” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Satguru Sri Sivananda Murty. +“Satguru Sri Sivananda Murty impacted several lives through his work and teachings. +Saddened by his demise. +My condolences to all his followers”, the Prime Minister said. +Dandi memorial encapsulates the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi’s Agrah, Swatchagrah and Satyagraha, says the PM +Gramuday to Bharatuday is the mission and idea: PM +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial at Dandi in Navsari district, Gujarat to the nation today on Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary. +At the memorial site, he also unveiled statues of Mahatma Gandhi and 80 Satyagrahis who had marched with him during the historic Dandi Salt March in 1930 to make salt from sea water against the British law. +The memorial also has 24-narrative murals depicting various events and stories from the historic 1930 Salt March. +Solar trees are installed to meet the energy requirements of the memorial complex. +The PM took a round through the memorial. +Addressing a public meeting, the PM congratulated everyone who has worked for the memorial. +PM said “this memorial reminds us of the great sacrifices of the people of our country for the cause of freedom”. +The PM added, the Dandi memorial encapsulates the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi- Agrah for Swadeshi, Swatchagrah and Satyagraha and it will be a major attraction for the tourists in the coming days. +The PM said, “ In an effort to carry forward the legacy of Gandhiji, our government has modernised around 2000 institutions related to khadi. +It has benefitted lakhs of craftsmen and workers. +Khadi is now not only a fashion statement but a symbol of women empowerment as well”. +Swadeshi played an immensely important role in freedom struggle, likewise, handlooms will be instrumental in overcoming poverty. +The government has declared 7th of August to be celebrated as Handlooms Day, every year to promote handlooms, the PM added. +Underlining the importance laid by Gandhi jee for Swachchata, PM said we have imbibed those values fro a clean India. +The impact of Swachcha Bharat Abhiyan is that the cleanliness in rural area has increased from just 38 per cent in 2014 to 98 per cent now with the NDA Government in power. +Reiterating his endeavour to bring basic amenities to the villages from clean cooking fuel to electricity and healthcare to financial services, PM said it is in line with our mission and the idea of ‘Gramuday to Bharatuday’. +The PM is on a day-long visit to Gujarat. +Earlier in the day, PM laid the foundation stone for extension of Terminal Building of Surat Airport and inaugurated various developmental projects in Surat. +He has also dedicated state of the art Rasilaben Sevantilal Venus Hospital, Surat to the nation. +PM also addressed New India Youth Conclave in Surat. +Ms. Rakiya Edderham, Secretary of State in charge of Foreign Trade in the Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy of the Kingdom of Morocco called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Ms. Rakiya Edderham conveyed greetings of His Majesty the King of Morocco to the Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister recalled his earlier meeting with His Majesty and conveyed his best wishes for His Majesty’s good health and well being, as well as forthe peace and prosperity of the people of Morocco. +Ms. Rakiya Edderham noted the significant progress in bilateral cooperation in past years, particularly in the areas of legal assistance, cyber security and space. +The Prime Minister appreciated the historically strong ties between the two countries and welcomed the efforts to further strengthen and deepen bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, as well as Morocco’s trade and investment relations with the State of Gujarat. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited Santiniketan in West Bengal. +Prime Minister Modi received the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, at Santiniketan. +Paying homage to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, the two leaders signed the visitors’ book. +The two leaders then attended the Convocation of the Visva Bharati University. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described India’s democratic system of governance as a great teacher, which inspires over 125 crore people. +He said it was his good fortune to be among the learned people on this sacred land of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. +He congratulated the students who received degrees today. +He said that all those who studied at this University have not just received a degree, but have also become inheritors of a great legacy. +The Prime Minister said that the teachings of the Vedas, which describe the entire world as one nest, or one home, are reflected in the values of Visva Bharati University. +Welcoming the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, he said that India and Bangladesh are two nations, whose interests are linked to mutual cooperation and coordination among each other. +The Prime Minister said that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore is respected widely across the world. +He recalled that he had the opportunity to unveil a statue of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in Tajikistan three years ago. +He said Tagore is a subject of study in Universities across the world even today. +He described Gurudev as a global citizen. +The Prime Minister said that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore always wanted Indian students to keep abreast of developments across the world, even as they kept their Indianness intact. +He appreciated Visva Bharati University for its efforts at skill development and education in nearby villages. +He encouraged the University to expand this effort to 100 villages by its centenary year in 2021. +He also called upon the University to work towards overall development of these 100 villages. +The Prime Minister said that institutions such as Visva Bharati University have a key role to play in the creation of a New India by 2022. +He outlined initiatives taken by the Union Government in the education sector. +Speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of Bangladesh Bhavan, the Prime Minister described it as a symbol of the cultural ties between India and Bangladesh. +He said that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman is respected equally in both India and Bangladesh. +Similarly, he added that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi are respected in Bangladesh as much as in India. +In the same vein, he said that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore belongs to Bangladesh, as much as to India. +The Prime Minister said that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s credo of Universal Humanism is reflected in the Union Government’s guiding principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.” +He said that the shared resolve of India and Bangladesh, against cruelty and terrorism, will continue to inspire future generations through the Bangladesh Bhavan. +He recalled the felicitation of Indian soldiers by Bangladesh in New Delhi last year. +The Prime Minister said that the last few years have marked a golden period in relations between the two countries. +He mentioned the resolution of the land boundary issue, and various connectivity projects. +He asserted that the two countries have similar goals, and are taking similar paths to achieve those goals. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to ratify the Paris Agreement (on Climate Change) on 2nd October 2016, the day of Gandhi Jayanti. +A total of 191 countries have signed to the Paris Agreement so far. +As per the provisions of the Paris Agreement, the treaty will come into force as and when 55 countries contributing to 55 % of total global emission ratify the agreement. +So far, 61 countries have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval accounting in total for 47.79% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions. +India’s decision to ratify the agreement will take the number of cumulative level of emission of countries that have ratified the agreement so far to 51.89%. +With the gathering momentum and willingness expressed by several other countries to ratify the agreement before the end of this year, it is expected that the Agreement will enter into force soon and give a thrust to the global actions to address climate change. +Paris Agreement pertains to post-2020 climate actions. +In the pre-2020 period, developed countries are to act as per Kyoto Protocol and some developing countries have taken voluntary pledges. +External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Principal Secretary Nripendra Misra, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and other officials were present at the meeting. +Ladies & Gentlemen. +I am delighted to be here with you all at the India-South Africa Business Forum. +We are deeply honoured to have with us, Your Excellency Mr. President. +It is a matter of great privilege that you will be the Guest of Honour at our 70th Republic Day Parade tomorrow. +Our partnership spans the un-breakable bonds of history that have linked the national movements of India and South Africa. +Now, our partnership is about a shared and prosperous future, which realizes the dreams of Madiba and Mahatma for our people. +We seek constantly to engage and collaborate for a better future for our people, and also the world. +We sealed a strategic partnership 22 years ago through the Red Fort Declaration. +I believe that continuous dialogue between the two old friends and partners has brought us closer in every way. +Trade between India and South Africa is on the up-swing, and has crossed the 10 billion dollar mark in 2017-18. +Two major business initiatives in 2018 have helped this along. +One was the India-South Africa Business Summit held in Johannesburg in April 2018. +The other was Invest in India Business Forum, also in Johannesburg in November 2018. +However, there is great potential still. +I call upon all Indian and South African government agencies, investment promotion organizations as well as business leaders of both countries to work pro-actively to realize the true potential. +I was pleased to see that there has been significant participation and presence from African countries in our States. +In my earlier role as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, I was happy to welcome prominent participants from South Africa. +It is gratifying that the Vibrant Gujarat last week once again welcomed our friends and partners from South Africa in large numbers. +One day was specifically marked as ‘Africa Day’. +This shows that our bonds are much deeper than we generally realize. +It also wonderful for our bilateral economic partnership. +Ladies and Gentlemen, India’s economy currently at 2.6 trillion dollars is the fastest growing major economy of the world. +And, we are on our way to becoming the fifth largest economy globally. +India has jumped to the 77th position in the latest edition of World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report – improving 65 places in last four years. +We are one of the top FDI destinations listed by UNCTAD. +But, we are not satisfied. +On a daily basis, we are making necessary changes and reforms in important sectors of the economy. +Our special programmes such as Make in India, Digital India and Start-Up India have caught the imagination of the world. +Our industry has progressed towards Industry Four Point Zero and other innovative technologies including Artificial Intelligence, 3-D Printing, Robotics. +Our Government is making all efforts to increase the living standards of our 1.3 billion people, who form one-sixth of the humanity. +We are committed to building a ‘New India’ with next generation infrastructure and with emphasis on speed, skill and scale. +May I also take this opportunity to congratulate you, +on the various dynamic initiatives launched by you in 2018 towards your vision of a New South Africa. +We wish you well in your efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investment into South-Africa, as well as for the creation of over one million jobs for the youth in three years. +I am happy that India is contributing to these objectives. +Our investment into South Africa is constantly growing. +This has approached 10 billion dollars, creating over 20,000 jobs locally. +As a brotherly nation, India will be happy to share its experience in policy reforms and setting up ground level agencies. +We encourage even more investment by Indian companies in South Africa and are confident that more South African companies will also enter the Indian market. +I assure you that New India would welcome you to look at all available opportunities, particularly in Food & Agro processing, Deep mining, Defence, Fin-tech, Insurance and Infrastructure sectors. +Likewise, India could also partner with South Africa in Start-ups, Health care & Pharma, Bio-tech, IT and IT enabled sectors. +We are delighted to be a part of the South Africa skills story through the recent launch of the Gandhi Mandela Skills Institute. +This initiative seeks to empower the youth. +Another important collaboration between our two countries could be in the Gems and Jewelry sector. +Both countries could explore avenues for direct procurement of diamond. +It will ensure economies of scale, and also reduce the cost for both buyers and sellers. +South Africa could also join hands with India in our campaign for New and Renewable Energy, specifically through the “International Solar Alliance”. +Simplification of the existing visa regime for business-men and tourists, and direct connectivity would further ease business and people-to-people exchanges. +Ladies and Gentlemen, +There is huge untapped potential in the India-South Africa partnership. +We must work together for a new era of shared growth and prosperity for the benefit of our two countries and peoples. +The visit of Your Excellency provides us with a vital opportunity to take this relationship forward. +I am committed, Excellency, to work shoulder-to-shoulder with you in this shared endeavor. +The Prime Minister of Netherlands, Mr. Mark Rutte and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have greeted each other in a unique manner on social media. +Mr. Mark Rutte is currently on a visit to India. +Both leaders have expressed enthusiasm to meet each other and strengthen ties between the two Nations. +To which Prime Minister Modi replied in Dutch: +“Welkom in India @MinPres! +Your visit will lay the foundation for stronger ties between India & Netherlands. +Looking forward to meeting you.” +Prime Minister Rutte then wrote in Hindi: +This exchange in the two languages has been widely appreciated on social media. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the modifications in the policy for liberalisation of administratively allotted spectrum where market determined prices were not available. +This will facilitate optimal utilisation of spectrum by introducing new technologies, sharing and trading of spectrum. +The most recent recommended reserve price will be taken as the provisional price for liberalisation of administratively allocated spectrum where auction determined price is not available. +Subsequent to the completion of the ensuing auction and with the availability of auction determined price, the provisional price already charged will be adjusted with the auction determined price with effect from the date of liberalisation on pro-rata basis. +This decision was taken on the basis of the recommendations of the sector regulator, TRAI and approximately and a sum of Rs.1300 crore is likely to accrue by this process. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversary. +His noble ideals motivate millions across the world. +Remembering Lal Bahadur Shastri ji on his Jayanti”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for signing of an agreement between India and Mongolia on the transfer of sentenced persons. +Signing and ratification of the agreement on transfer of sentenced persons between India and the Mongolia will enable sentenced persons to be near their families, and would help in the process of their social rehabilitation. +Once the agreement is signed and ratified, Mongolian convicted prisoners can be transferred to their home country and prisoners of Indian origin can be brought to India, to serve the remaining part of their sentence. +We must once again accord high respect to teachers, to regain the status of Vishwaguru. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted India’s teachers, on Teachers’ Day. +“We must once again accord such respect to the teachers and thereby regain that status where India becomes the beacon of knowledge for the entire world,” he added. +The Prime Minister said the wheels of change have put India on the march towards Surajya. +“Your determination and sincerity will shape the destiny of the nation! +I want to see the day when every student is proud of his or her Teachers and every Teacher is proud of his or her students,” he said. +“The influences and experiences you share with your students will remain with them for a lifetime. +You are also laying the foundation and the building blocks of the society. +This is a responsibility of great significance because on this depends how our present and future generations will thrive,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that in the present day, often learning is equated with either collection of information or mastery of skills for occupations and Jobs. +“Yes, that is important but I call upon you to widen the horizon of thinking of your students. +Encourage them to think critically about broader issues concerning our Nation, society and the environment. +Our goal must be to create good Citizens who are capable of preserving the past and creating the future,” the Prime Minister said. +“Lessons in good citizenship inculcated at a young age will go a long way in creating a better society. +This could be as simple as traffic rules, cleanliness, gender sensitization, concern for the weak and reverence for the elders. +I hope I can count on your support to make a beginning this Teachers’ Day. +Let us re-dedicate ourselves to this task; this duty,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will inaugurate the fourth Partners’ Forum on 12th December at New Delhi. +This partnership is an alliance of more than 1,000 plus members, across 10 constituencies in 92 countries: academic, research and teaching institutions; donors and foundations; health care professionals; multilateral agencies; non-governmental organizations; partner countries; global financing mechanisms and the private sector. +The previous chapters were held in Johannesburg, South Africa (2014), New Delhi, India (2010) and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (2007). +This is the second time India is hosting the Partners’ Forum. +The Policy recognises the abundance of creative and innovative energies that flow in India, and the need to tap into and channelise these energies towards a better and brighter future for all. +The Policy recognizes that India has a well-established TRIPS-compliant legislative, administrative and judicial framework to safeguard IPRs, which meets its international obligations while utilizing the flexibilities provided in the international regime to address its developmental concerns. +It reiterates India’s commitment to the Doha Development Agenda and the TRIPS agreement. +While IPRs are becoming increasingly important in the global arena, there is a need to increase awareness on IPRs in India, be it regarding the IPRs owned by oneself or respect for others’ IPRs. +The importance of IPRs as a marketable financial asset and economic tool also needs to be recognised. +Mission Statement: +The National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy will endeavor for a “Creative India; Innovative India: रचनात्मक भारत; अभिनव भारत”. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remembered Shyamji Krishna Varma, on his birth anniversary. +“Remembering Shyamji Krishna Varma on his birth anniversary. +His phenomenal contribution to the freedom struggle lives on in our hearts. +Shyamji Krishna Varma is remembered as a torchbearer of patriotism who motivated many to join the freedom struggle,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release a commemorative coin on Guru Gobind Singh ji, on January 13, 2019. +The event marks the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh ji. +The Prime Minister will also address a select gathering on this occasion. +The Tenth Guru of Sikhs- Guru Gobind Singh has been a source of inspiration for many through his teachings and ideals. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Shri Guru Gobind Singh JiMaharaj in Patna on January 5, 2017. +He released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the occasion. +In his address, the Prime Minister underlined how Guru Gobind Singh made a unique attempt to unite the country through the Khalsa sect and the five PanchPyaras belonged to different parts of India. +He said that Guru Gobind Singh ji put knowledge at the core of his teaching. +Recalling Guru Gobind Singh’s fight for the weaker sections, the Prime Minister in his Mann Ki Baat radio program broadcast on 30th December, 2018 said that Guru Gobind Singh ji believed that the biggest service is to alleviate human sufferings. +He lauded Guru Gobind Singh ji for his heroism, sacrifice and devotion. +At the Ludhiana National MSME Awards ceremony on 18h October 2016, the Prime Minister recalled how Guru Gobind Singh’s message that people should consider entire mankind as one- no one is superior or inferior, no one is touchable or untouchable is still relevant. +In his Independence Day Address on 15th August, 2016, Prime Minister once again brought to the fore the saga of sacrifice for the country which has been the tradition of Sikh Gurus. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the centenary year celebrations of Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat. +Speaking at the event, he said Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts have the power to mitigate the challenges the world is facing today. +He said that it is essential, as a society, to stay connected to our history. +Recalling the contributions of Shrimad Rajchandraji on his 150th birth anniversary, Prime Minister Modi called for further academic research on his life and thoughts. +Speaking about cleanliness, Shri Modi said it must become a habit. +He said this would be a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary in 2019. +He urged people from all over the world to visit the Sabarmati Ashram. +Making a strong statement on cow vigilantism, the Prime Minister said, “We are a land of non violence. +We are the land of Mahatma Gandhi. +However, he emphasized strongly that killing people in the name of cow worship (Gau Bhakti) is not acceptable. +This is not something that Mahatma Gandhi would approve of, he said. +As a society, there is no place for violence; no person in this nation has the right to take the law in his or her own hands, he added. +The Prime Minister urged people to work together and create the India of Mahatma Gandhi’s dreams, which our freedom fighters would be proud of. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Swami Atmasthananda ji. +“The demise of Swami Atmasthananda ji is a personal loss for me. +I lived with him during a very important period of my life. +I am particularly pleased that Prime Minister, Rutte is leading a large trade delegation of over 80 Dutch companies. +Prime Minister Rutte brings vast business experience to his successful career in public life. +His decision to brave the Delhi heat to visit India speaks of his commitment to this relationship! +Though a relatively small country, Netherlands has a long history of remarkable achievements and global leadership in many areas. +Our two countries are bound by history and shared values. +We have similar concerns like terrorism and common aspirations for a secure and stable world. +The Netherlands hosts the second largest Indian community in Europe. +Several Dutch companies have a long presence in India. +They are as likely to be seen as Indian as Dutch. +Today, the Netherlands is the fifth largest source of investments in India. +India is also the fifth largest source of investments in the Netherlands. +It is a reflection of its competitive and open business environment. +The Netherlands has emerged as an important platform for Indian companies in the European Union, which is one of our largest markets. +So, I am pleased that Prime Minister Rutte is visiting us. +We had a comprehensive and productive dialogue today. +We discussed bilateral relations as well as global and regional issues of mutual interest. +We were later joined by 35 business leaders from both sides for a working lunch. +We agreed that we both stand to benefit from closer bilateral and multilateral collaboration, including in areas such as countering terrorism and extremism, defence, maritime security and cyber security. +We have agreed to set up a Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism, which will hold its first meeting on 19th June. +I thanked Prime Minister Rutte for Dutch support for India’s permanent membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council. +I also thanked him for his support for India’s candidature for the Security Council in 2021-22. +Our agreements today are closely aligned with India’s economic priorities. +Prime Minister Rutte expressed support for our Make in India Mission, including in the defence sector. +The agreement on manufacturing of dredgers in India at the Cochin Shipyard is a welcome step in our efforts to develop Indian shipyards. +Similarly, the agreement on manufacturing of Measles, and Rubella Vaccine in India, with transfer of technology, represents yet another step to develop India’s manufacturing sector, and improve healthcare. +We have also agreed to leverage Dutch expertise in developing coastal roads and metro lines in India. +We have agreed to set up a Joint Working Group on Skill Development. +In the renewable energy sector, I am happy that we are partnering in developing joint pilot projects for an electric vehicle ecosystem in India. +We are setting up centres of excellence in areas like horticulture and animal husbandry. +These are areas of strong Dutch competence. +We will soon host a Dutch team to draw up a road-map for collaboration in the National Clean Ganga Mission. +More broadly, the Joint Statement outlines our road-map for cooperation in priority sectors of mutual interest, including infrastructure development, shipping, ports and inland waterways; renewable energy; science & technology; health and sports. +Our discussion with business leaders was helpful in understanding their perspectives and future plans. +I was greatly encouraged by the keen interest and enthusiasm on both sides to form deeper partnerships. +I also conveyed our decision to include the Netherlands in India’s Electronic Tourist Visa scheme. +This will boost Dutch tourism in India and enhance our people-to-people ties. +Our productive interactions today reaffirm my view of the Netherlands as a key partner in India’s economic development. +Your visit has set the stage to take our ties to the next level and realise the full potential of our relationship. +The amount includes one months salary donated by all MPs and MLAs, and one day’s salary from various officers and workers unions. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of American professional boxing player Muhammad Ali. +You were an exemplary sportsperson and source of inspiration who demonstrated the power of human spirit and determination”, the Prime Minister said. +Lays foundation stone for extension of Terminal Building of Surat Airport +He laid the foundation stone for extension of Terminal Building of Surat Airport which will lead to enhanced connectivity and prosperity in Surat and the Southern Gujarat region. +Addressing a gathering on this occasion, PM said, “For Ease of Doing Business, the infrastructure of this country must improve and extension of Surat airport is an effort in this direction.” +The Surat Airport Terminal building is being extended with a construction cost of Rs.354 crore with an area of over 25,500 square metres. +It will be an eco-friendly sustainable building, using solar energy and LED lighting. +When the work of the new terminal is over, it will be able to handle 26 lakh passengers in a year in place of 4 lakhs now. +PM added that Air India Express flight will soon connect Surat to Sharjah. +There will be two flights per week initially which will be doubled to four per week, later. +PM said that under the Udan scheme, more number of airports are being added to give a boost to air connectivity and now people can access it not far from their respective places. +He added, “We want to make air travel accessible to everybody. +UDAN has immensely helped to boost air connectivity in India. +UDAN has added 40 Airports on the air map of India. +The government is planning to develop more such airports across the country +Highlighting the development works undertaken by the Government, he said that a Government with total majority can take bold decisions and work freely for the development of the nation. +Comparing the performance of his Government vis a vis UPA, Mr. Modi said that “In four years of our rule, we constructed 1.30 crore houses while in UPA rule they built 25 lakh houses.” +He also added that “Now we have more than 400 passport offices compared to only 80 in 2014.” +PM also distributed keys to some beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Surat. +He said the Government is working on a mission mode with focussed approach for ease of living of the poor and middle class of the country, “More than 13 lakh houses have been built for the poor living in cities in the past four years by the government and construction of 37 lakh homes is underway.” +Recalling the role of Surat in freedom movement, Mr. Modi expressed hope that the city will emerge as one of the fastest developing cities across the globe in a decade with a surge in the investments in the city. +Later in the day, PM inaugurated a state of the art super speciality, Rasilaben Sevantilal Shah Venus Hospital in Surat. +He inspected facilities in the hospital. +Addressing a public gathering, he underlined how Ayushman Bharat has played a key role in providing affordable health care services to the people. +He said that more number of generic medicines are now available for the people which will not only reduce the cost of health care but also save many precious lives. +The memorial has statues of Mahatma Gandhi and 80 Satyagrahis who had marched with him during the historic Dandi Salt March to make salt from sea water against the British rule 24 narrative murals here depict various events and stories from the historic 1930 Salt March. +It has been a landmark event in the history of India’s freedom struggle. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms. Mamata Banerjee on the situation arising due to the collapse of an under construction flyover in Kolkata. +Prime Minister has expressed grief on the mishap in Kolkata and assured all possible support from the Center. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has tweeted birthday greetings to Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe. +” I pray for Mr. Shinzo Abe’s long life, good health and wish him the best in leading Japan to new heights of progress ,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister went on to praise the leadership of Prime Minister Abe and emphasized both countries’ commitment to promoting Indo-Japan relations. +“Whenever I interact with him, I cannot but marvel at his insight and expertise on a wide range of issues, both local and international. +Both PM Abe and I are committed to taking India-Japan relations to the next level and contributing to global peace and development ,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that the life of a NCC cadet is beyond the uniform, the parade and the camps; and added that the NCC experience provides a sense of mission. +He was addressing the NCC rally in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister said that the NCC experience offers a glimpse of India, its strength and its diversity. +He said that emperors, rulers, governments do not make a nation, but a nation is made by its citizens, youth, farmers, scholars, scientists, workforce, and saints. +He said that NCC cadets inspire confidence about the future of India, and instill pride about the strength of our youth. +The Prime Minister appreciated the role of NCC in furthering the cause of cleanliness. +He also called for continuing the movement towards digital transactions. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO scientists, on the successful launch of the tenth flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-F05, carrying an advanced weather satellite ‘INSAT -3DR’. +“Our space programme keeps making us proud with the exemplary achievements. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his greetings to the nation on Christmas. +“Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. +We remember the noble teachings of Jesus Christ and recall his efforts towards creating a compassionate and equal society”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratification of an Agreement between India and Estonia on the transfer of sentenced persons. +Background: +Prior to 2004, there was no domestic Legislation under which foreign prisoners could be transferred to the country of their origin to serve the remaining part of their sentence, nor was there a provision for the transfer of prisoners of Indian origin convicted by a foreign court to serve their sentence in India. +The transfer of such prisoners to their own native countries shall facilitate their social rehabilitation. +Hence, the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 was enacted for serving the above purpose. +So far total 65 prisoners have been exchanged, out of which 55 were Indians +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to former Prime Minister of India, Shri P V Narasimha Rao, on his birth anniversary. +“Tributes to Shri P V Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary. +We remember him as a wonderful scholar with very rich political experience”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has tweeted about his upcoming three-Nation tour to Germany, France and Canada. +“My France, Germany and Canada visit is centred around supporting India’s economic agenda and creating jobs for our youth. +Will discuss strengthening India-France economic co-operation and visit some high-tech industrial units outside Paris. +In Germany, Chancellor Merkel and I will jointly inaugurate Hannover Messe where India is a partner country. +Looking forward to enhancing ties with Canada and interacting with leaders, captains of industry and diaspora in Canada,” the Prime Minister tweeted. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs. 2 lakhs each from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the two train derailments in Madhya Pradesh. +This is in addition to the relief assistance already announced by the Railways. +An ex-gratia relief of Rs. 50,000 has also been sanctioned from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for those who were seriously injured in the derailments. +After visiting the temple, Prime Minister said: +“May there be peace, unity and harmony in the country. +May we succeed in eliminating poverty. +May Lord Balaji bless the country for happiness and prosperity in the common man’s life.” +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to stampede at Rajahmundry. +The Prime Minister discussed the situation with Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu. +“Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to stampede at Rajahmundry. +My condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers with the injured. +I spoke to CM N. Chandrababu Naidu and discussed the situation with him. +The State Government is working to restore normalcy”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its ex-post facto approval for circulation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Agreement on cooperation in the field of sports signed with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. +This MoU was signed in July, 2015. +Bilateral exchange programmes in the field of sports between India and Kazakhstan and India and Turkmenistan will help in expanding knowledge and expertise in the areas of sports science, sports medicine and coaching techniques. +It would result in improvement in performance of Indian sportspersons in international tournaments. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the untimely & unfortunate demise of legendary hockey player Mohammed Shahid. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Brazil on Brazil`s Independence Day. +“On their nation`s Independence Day, I convey my greetings to the people of Brazil. +We are committed to enhancing our ties with Brazil. +Brazil is a key global partner for India and we are determined to harness the vast potential for cooperation between our nations,” the Prime Minister said. +Mr. Han Zheng, Party Secretary of Shanghai and Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister fondly recalled his meeting with Mr. Han Zheng in Shanghai, during his visit to China last year. +Mr. Han Zheng said that Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Shanghai last year, and the resultant increased awareness about India, has led to an increase in the number of people from Shanghai visiting India. +The Prime Minister said that the Mumbai-Shanghai Sister City Agreement has laid the foundation for strong relations between the financial capitals of India and China. +The Prime Minister added that the establishment of the India-China Provincial Leaders’ Forum was also a welcome step towards broadening and strengthening the bilateral relations between India and China. +Prime Minister Modi and Mr. Han Zheng discussed the current global economic scenario and noted that strong economic growth in India and China can act as an engine of growth for the global economy. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will be visiting Afghanistan, State of Qatar, Switzerland, United States of America and Mexico from June 4, 2016 to June 8, 2016. +In a series of posts from his Facebook Account, the Prime Minister said: +“Looking forward to my visit to Afghanistan tomorrow. +I will join President Ashraf Ghani to inaugurate Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam in Herat. +It is symbol of our friendship and would usher in hope, light up homes, nourish the fertile fields of Herat and bring prosperity to the people of the region. +Look forward to meet my friend President Ashraf Ghani and exchange notes on regional situation and setting agenda for bilateral cooperation in the coming period. +I will be visiting the State of Qatar on 4th & 5th June at the invitation of His Highness the Emir of Qatar. +Look forward to meeting His Highness Sheikh Tamim whose landmark visit to India last year had ushered in a new momentum in our relations. +I will have the honour to meet Father Emir who personally guided our relations for nearly two decades. +This visit will nourish the historical bonds of friendship deeply rooted in people to people contacts, energy, trade and investment partnership. +I will interact with the Indian workers at the Workers’ Camp and some of the members of over 6 lakh Indians who have nurtured our relations through their sweat and toil. +Will also speak to Qatar business leaders to realise the full potential of our trade and investment cooperation. +I will reach Geneva in the evening of 5th June on a bilateral visit to Switzerland, our key partner in Europe. +I will hold talks with President Schneider-Ammann to deepen our bilateral and multilateral cooperation. +In Geneva, I will meet prominent businesspersons. +Our agenda will be to expand economic and investment ties. +I will meet Indian scientists working at CERN. +India takes pride in their contribution to exploring new frontiers of science in the service of humanity. +I will be reaching Washington DC on a bilateral visit in the evening of 6th June at the invitation of President Barack Obama. +In my meeting with the President on 7th June, we will seek to build upon the progress achieved in providing new vigour and momentum to our strategic partnership in diverse areas. +Am looking forward to address the 40th AGM of the USIBC and meet US business leaders who have, over the past two years, shown renewed confidence in the India. +I will exchange views with US think-tanks and attend a ceremony marking the return of Indian antiques. +During my visit to Arlington Cemetery I will lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider and Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial, in which we lost an Indian origin astronaut, Kalpana Chawla. +On 8th June, I will address a Joint Meeting of the US Congress. +I thank Speaker Paul Ryan for inviting me to speak to Congressmen and Senators. +During my visit to the US Capitol, I will also interact with members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, many of whom have been valued friends of India and a strong votaries of deepening India-USA ties. +India and USA are natural partners, two vibrant democracies that celebrate their diversity and pluralism. +Strong India-USA ties benefit not only our two nations but also the entire world. +I look forward to meeting President Peña Nieto on June 8 during my visit to Mexico, a privileged partner in the Latin American region. +President Peña Nieto has ushered in far reaching reforms. +I look forward to sharing our experiences. +This is the first Prime Ministerial bilateral visit to Mexico after 30 years. +Though short, the visit has a substantial agenda to take our partnership to new heights.” +Built by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, the 78 meter high, 1500 bed hospital is equipped with all modern amenities, including an air ambulance. +PM inspected the facilities at the hospital. +Built at a cost of Rs. 750 crore, the 17 floor hospital would provide world class services at an affordable price and is linked with Ayushman Bharat. +Addressing a gathering on this occasion, Mr. Modi emphasized the importance of Ayushman Bharat saying, “It is because of Ayushaman Bharat there is an increasing need for new hospitals in even smaller towns. +New hospitals are opening faster, the demand for doctors and paramedic staff is increasing, thereby creating many employment opportunities are coming up for the youth in the healthcare sector”. +Prime Minister said the country has seen a major expansion in healthcare facilities and medical education over the past four years which will be of great help in meeting the health care needs of the citizens. +Around 5000 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been set up across the country.” +The Prime Minister said that his Government is committed towards the equality of opportunity for all and 10% reservation for general category poor is a step in this direction. +For this purpose, number of seats in educational institutions is being increased by 10%. +He lauded Gujarat Government for being the first state to implement the decision to provide 10% reservation for the general category poor in government jobs and educational institutions. +He added that very few municipal corporations in the country have come forward with such a world class healthcare facility. +PM lauded Sardar Patel’s role as a Mayor of Ahmedabad who led by example with his drive for health, hygiene and cleanliness in the city. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will be visiting Gujarat from June 29, 2017 to June 30, 2017. +In a series of tweets from his twitter account Prime Minister said: +“Will be in Gujarat for a two day visit starting tomorrow. +I will join programmes in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Modasa and Gandhinagar. +My first two programmes will be in Sabarmati Ashram. +I am looking forward to taking part in the centenary celebrations of Sabarmati Ashram. +The 2nd programme at Sabarmati Ashram is a programme to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Shrimad Rajchandraji, a Guru to Mahatma Gandhi. +I will then travel to Rajkot, where I will join the Samajik Adhikarita Shivir and interact with my Divyang sisters and brothers. +Government of India is undertaking several initiatives to support the textiles sector, which is a source of employment for several Indians. +On 30th evening, I shall inaugurate the integrated sports & entertainment ‘Arena Project’.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence, in New Delhi. +He said that when one thinks of resurgence or revival, the first image that comes to mind is of Swami Vivekananda, who presented before the world, the strength of Indian thought. +The Prime Minister recalled Swami Vivekananda’s emphasis on self-reliance, character building, and human values, as elements of education. +The Prime Minister said innovation is another vital element of education today. +Recalling the ancient Indian texts, the Vedas, the Prime Minister said that we cannot imagine our society, our country, and even our lives, without knowledge. +He said that our ancient universities such as Taxila, Nalanda and Vikramshila, gave importance to innovation, besides knowledge. +The Prime Minister also recalled the views on education of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, Deendayal Upadhyay, and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia. +Shri Narendra Modi said that today, no country or person can live in isolation. +He mentioned the importance of thinking in terms of ‘global citizen’ or ‘global village.’ +He said our Universities and Colleges should be leveraged to find solutions to the challenges facing us. +He also mentioned Atal Tinkering Labs which have been set up to encourage children to innovate. +The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of preparing good teachers for society. +He also said that scholars and students can take responsibility for spreading digital literacy, and generating greater awareness of government programmes that can improve ease of living. +The Prime Minister said that the youth has given “Brand India” a global identity. +He mentioned schemes such as Start Up India, Stand Up India and Skill India, which are aimed at nurturing young talent. +Mr. Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister warmly recalled their meeting in Beijing on 15 May 2015 during his visit to China, and welcomed Mr. Zhang Dejiang and his delegation to India. +The Prime Minister said that parliamentary exchanges are an important pillar of the bilateral relationship. +He stressed on the need to broaden the foundation of India China relations by promoting exchanges between State-level legislatures as well. +The Prime Minister recalled his extremely productive visit to China last month, and said that the outcomes of the visit will take the India China relationship to a new level. +He endorsed the view expressed by Prime Minister Modi in China that whether 21st Century is Asian Century will depend on what India and China achieve individually and jointly. +The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of peaceful, stable and cooperative relations between India and China for regional and global peace and prosperity. +The Head of the Sivagiri Mutt, Swami Prakashananda, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Sivagiri Mutt is located at Varkala in Kerala, the final resting place of social reformer and sage Sree Narayana Guru. +Swami Prakashananda blessed the Prime Minister on behalf of the Sivagiri Mutt. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated scientists for successful launch of GSLV Mk-III. +“Successful launch of GSLV Mk-III is yet another triumph of brilliance and hardwork of our scientists. +Congrats to them for the efforts”, said the Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, Leh Ladakh on Mahakaruna Diwas 2017 celebrations. +“Congratulations & best wishes to Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, Leh Ladakh on Mahakaruna Diwas 2017 celebrations. +Life & teachings of Lord Buddha embody service, compassion and renunciation. +He emphasised on non-violence & ending human suffering.”, the Prime Minister said. +My colleague Shri Dharmendra Pradhan ji, Oil and Gas Ministers from overseas, CEOs and experts from the hydrocarbon sector, Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. +Energy is a key driver of economic growth. +Sustainable, stable and reasonably priced energy is essential for the fruits of economic development to reach the bottom of the pyramid. +Hydrocarbons will remain the most important source of energy for many years to come. +Therefore, the theme of the Conference “Hydrocarbons to Fuel the Future, Choices and Challenges” is both apt and timely. +India is today the world’s fastest growing large economy. +This growth has been supported by a series of policy measures. +Our policies are focussed on improving India’s long term economic and social prospects, rather than on short term headlines. +Our efforts are showing results in terms of economic growth and development. +Apart from fast growth, our economy has also been more stable than most others. +While the global economy is going through a period of uncertainty, India has shown tremendous resilience. +Our Current Account Deficit has improved steadily and reached the decade low in the June quarter. +Foreign Direct Investment in India was at the highest level in 2015-16, at a time when global FDI has fallen. +According to the Bank of International Settlements, India is less vulnerable to banking distress among the major economies. +India’s economy is expected to grow five fold by 2040. +As per estimates, India is poised to account for one fourth of the incremental global energy demand between 2013 and 2040. +India is expected to consume more oil in 2040 than the whole of Europe. +We expect manufacturing to account for twenty five per cent of GDP by 2022 against sixteen per cent now. +Transport infrastructure is also expected to increase manifold. +The commercial vehicle population of thirteen million is projected to reach fifty six million by 2040. +In civil aviation, India is currently the eighth largest market in the world and set to become the world’s third largest by 2034. +Growth in the aviation sector is expected to raise demand for aviation fuel four times by 2040. +All this will affect energy demand. +Hydrocarbons will continue to play an important part in India’s growth. +The prospect of rapid growth places a large responsibility on India’s energy sector. +I am glad that so many participants from India and abroad have taken the time to come here. +I am sure all of us will benefit from the experience and expertise of each other. +I take this opportunity to share with you some of my thoughts on the expectations from the hydrocarbon sector and our endeavour to achieve energy security. +Energy in general and hydrocarbons in particular are an important part of my vision for India’s future. +India needs energy which is accessible to the poor. +It needs efficiency in energy use. +As a responsible global citizen, India is committed to combating climate change, curbing emissions and ensuring a sustainable future. +Given global uncertainties, India also needs energy security. +Therefore, my vision for India’s energy future has four pillars: +–Energy access –Energy efficiency –Energy sustainability –Energy security +Let me start with energy access. +While some of India’s rich are buying hybrid cars, many of India’s poor are still buying firewood for cooking. +Use of firewood and other biomass for cooking is a health hazard for rural women. +It also reduces their productivity. +We have launched the Ujjwala programme to provide fifty million families with access to cooking gas. +In one stroke, this programme improves health, increases productivity and reduces harmful emissions. +The government bears the one time cost of the connection but the consumer pays the full price for the gas. +This programme has already provided nearly ten million new connections in just seven months. +The Government also aims to extend Piped Natural Gas to ten million houses over the next five years. +We are building a new gas pipeline to the least developed eastern region which will become the catalyst for millions of new jobs. +We are working to ensure that every village in India has access to electricity by March 2018. +Let me now turn to energy efficiency. +India’s commercial transport sector has become skewed. +An increasing proportion of goods is transported by road. +To increase energy efficiency, my government has given the highest ever priority to the railways. +We have stepped up public capital investment in railways by more than one hundred per cent between 2014-15 and 2016-17. +We are completing dedicated freight corridors. +We are constructing a high speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad which will be more energy efficient than air travel. +We have given a big thrust to waterways, both inland and coastal. +Our Sagarmala project will connect the whole of India’s long coastline. +We have also opened up new inland shipping routes on large rivers. +These steps will improve energy efficiency. +The long awaited legislation on a national Goods and Services Tax has been passed. +By removing physical barriers at state boundaries, GST will accelerate long haul transport and further increase efficiency. +Oil ministers from developing countries know the sensitivity of energy pricing. +Despite this, we have de-controlled petrol and diesel prices. +Cooking gas price is also determined by the market. +To protect the vulnerable and the middle class, a subsidy is paid directly to one hundred and sixty nine million bank accounts. +These measures too have increased the efficiency of energy use. +Energy sustainability, for me, is a sacred duty. +It is something India does out of commitment, not out of compulsion. +India has taken the lead in committing itself to a reduction of thirty three per cent in the carbon intensity of its GDP from its 2005 level over the next fifteen years. +We have done this despite our low starting point in per capita energy consumption. +We have also committed to produce forty per cent of our power from non fossil fuel by 2030. +I have set a massive target of 175 gigawatt of renewable energy by 2022. +Thanks to our efforts, capacities have increased and prices of renewable energy have crashed. +We have also given a big thrust to LED lighting. +CNG, LPG, and Biofuels are cleaner fuels for the transportation sector. +R&D on second and third generation biofuels and fuel cells are required to meet the country’s energy challenges. +Let me now turn to energy security. +We need to increase our domestic oil and gas production and reduce import dependence. +I have set a target to reduce import dependence by ten per cent by 2022. +This will have to be achieved during a period of increasing oil consumption. +We have a strong, investment friendly policy framework in place to boost domestic hydrocarbon production. +Almost two decades ago, India had introduced the New Exploration Licensing Regime. +This allowed one hundred per cent FDI and provided an opportunity to private players to come, invest and operate in the Indian upstream sector. +However, several factors adversely affected India’s domestic oil and gas output. +To make India a true investor friendly destination, we have come up with a new Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production Policy. +Last year, we announced the new Marginal Fields Policy. +Under this policy, sixty seven fields were offered for bidding. +Together, these sixty seven fields are estimated to hold in-place Oil plus Oil equivalent Gas reserves of eighty nine Million Metric Tonnes. +The estimated recoverable reserves are of the order of thirty Million Metric Tonnes. +I understand that an encouraging response has been received to the bidding process with several global companies participating. +The downstream sector is now more open, creating a level playing field for all market players. +The resulting competition will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our marketing companies. +Our proactive foreign policy and energy diplomacy is helping us to strengthen our ties with our neighbouring countries. +I hope that our oil and gas sector companies will take the opportunity to tie up with their foreign counterparts to explore for more equity oil. +Natural Gas is the next generation fossil fuel – cheaper, and less polluting. +We have given priority to move towards a gas based economy. +Efforts must be made to increase natural gas production while also creating import infrastructure to meet the growing domestic demand. +Natural gas will also have an important balancing role to play as India’s renewable energy production rises. +To provide balance and peaking power, gas-based power will be critical. +This is an area that India needs to improve upon to remain competitive. +This will not only improve our refining and processing efficiencies but also ensure timely and efficent project completion. +India has always been an inspiration for others in terms of intellectual capability and enterprise. +I am confident that with initiatives like “Make in India”, “Startup India”, and “Standup India”, there will be opportunities for youth to venture into Indian Oil and Gas sector and to bring innovative ideas. +Technology development in refining, nanotechnology, catalyst development, biofuel and alternate energy are areas we need to focus upon. +The successful development of IndMax technology by IndianOil is an example of innovative thinking which is now on the commercial application stage. +My message to global hydrocarbon companies is: We invite you to come and Make in India. +Our constant efforts have improved India’s ranking in Ease of Doing Business. +Let me assure you that our commitment is strong and our motto is to replace Red Tape with Red Carpet. +On one hand, to meet the increaasing demand, we need affordable, and reliable, sources of energy. +Hydrocarbons will be an essential part of this mix. +On the other hand we must be sensitive towards the environment. +I am sure, this august gathering will come up with innovative ideas, in which hydrocarbons will continue to fuel the future in a more efficient and sustainable way. +I assure you of all possible support from the Government. +I thank you for being here and becoming a part of the transformation of the energy sector in India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today advised young IAS officers to avoid getting into a mindset that resists change, and fill India’s administrative system with the energy of ‘New India.’ +Addressing IAS Officers of the 2015 batch at the Inaugural Session of Assistant Secretaries, the Prime Minister began by asserting that India has not progressed as much as it should have. +He said countries that achieved independence after India, and faced greater resource constraints than India, have touched new heights of development. +He said dynamic change is needed to transform the system. +He said that this three month programme of Assistant Secretaries, is now into its third year, and would have a great impact. +He urged the young officers to interact freely with the senior-most officers of the Union Government over the next three months, so that the system could benefit from the combination of their energy and fresh ideas, and the administrative experience of Secretary-level officers. +The Prime Minister asked the young officers to recall their life upto the day of the UPSC result, the challenges they faced; and use the opportunities they will now have, to bring about positive changes in the system, and the lives of the common people. +The Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh and senior Government Officers were present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the Ministry of Shipping’s proposal for India’s accession to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (Bunker Convention) of the International Maritime Organization [IMO] as well as to amend the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 to give effect to the Bunker Convention, Nairobi Convention and Salvage Convention. +The Bunker Convention ensures adequate, prompt, and effective compensation for damage caused by spills of oil, when carried as fuel in ships’ bunkers. +The territorial jurisdiction for damage compensation extends to territorial sea and exclusive economic zones. +It applies to an Indian vessel, wherever it is situated, and to a foreign flag vessel while it is within Indian jurisdiction. +“ASEAN–India poised for new synergy of robust cooperation and promising future”: Lee Hseing Loong ; +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has hailed the article by ASEAN Chair Singapore’s PM, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong. +PM Said, “A wonderful article by ASEAN Chair Singapore’s PM, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong. +It beautifully covers the rich history, robust cooperation and promising future of India-ASEAN relations.” +The Visiting Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong in an op-ed titled, “Revive a millennial partnership: Singapore has played a major role in India’s closer integration with ASEAN” published in the Times of India today writes that the age old trade, commerce and cultural linkages between India and ASEAN have played a major role in giving a boost to the ties. +He writes that as we commemorate 25 years of ASEAN -India relations, India’s ties with southeast Asia date back more than 2,000 years. +Ancient trade between India and countries such as Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand is well-documented. +Southeast Asian cultures, traditions and languages have been profoundly influenced by these early linkages. +We see Indic Hindu-Buddhist influences in historical sites such as the Angkor Temple Complex near Siem Reap in Cambodia, the Borobudor and Prambanan temples near Yogyakarta in Indonesia, and the ancient candis in Kedah in Malaysia. +The Ramayana is embedded in many southeast Asian cultures, including in Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand. +Singapore’s Malay name is Singapura, derived from Sanskrit and meaning ‘lion city’. +The visiting premier says that Singapore has always advocated India’s inclusion in the ASEAN community. +India became an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner in 1992, a full ASEAN Dialogue Partner in 1995, and participated in the East Asia Summits (EAS) from 2005. +The EAS is a key component of an open, inclusive and robust regional architecture, and the region’s main strategic leaders-led forum. +He adds that ASEAN-India relations were further elevated to a strategic partner­ship in 2012, the 20th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations. +Today, ASEAN and India enjoy multi-faceted cooperation across ASEAN’s political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Act East’ policy and 3-C (Commerce, Connectivity, Culture) formula for strengthening engagement with ASEAN speaks to our broad-based cooperation. +We have around 30 platforms for cooperation, including an annual Leaders’ Summit and seven Ministerial Dialogues. +India has participated actively in ASEAN-led platforms including the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, and the East Asia Summit. +Talking about the tare and commerce ties, he writes that with the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA), ASEAN-India trade has risen steadily from $2.9 billion in 1993 to $58.4 billion in 2016. +On the socio-cultural front, programs like the ASEAN-India Students Exchange Programs and the annual Delhi Dialogue foster closer people-to-people relations. +Through these platforms, our youth, academics and businessmen get to meet, learn and deepen ties. +To mark this Silver Jubilee of ASEAN-India relations, both sides have held many commemorative activities. +The recent Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Singapore recognized the contributions of the Indian diaspora. +Today’s ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit marks the culmina­tion of these celebrations. +It is an honour for all the ASEAN leaders to be in New Delhi for this occasion. +ASEAN leaders are also deeply honoured to be invited as chief guests at tomorrow’s 69th Republic Day Parade. +The Singapore PM writes that Major global trends are reshaping the strategic outlook, presenting both challenges and opportunities. +The strategic balance is shifting. +Demographic, cultural and political changes are underway in many parts of the world. +The consensus on globalization and free trade is fraying, but the Asian story continues to be a positive one. +We need to push on with economic integration. +We must also be resolute in dealing with emerging transboundary challenges, including terrorism, cybercrime and climate change. +According to the visiting premier this geopolitical uncertainty gives new impetus to ASEAN’s cooperation with key partners like India. +ASEAN and India share common interests in peace and security in the region, and an open, balanced and inclusive regional architecture. +India is located strategically along major sea-lanes from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. +These sea lanes are also vital trade routes for many ASEAN member states. +Both sides share an interest in preserving these vital maritime conduits of trade. +Mr. Lee Hsien Loong underlines the importance and strength of ASEAN and India’s combined population of 1.8 billion which represents one quarter of the world’s population. +The combined GDP exceeds $4.5 trillion. +According to him, by 2025, India’s consumer market is expected to become the fifth largest in the world, while in southeast Asia middle-class house­holds will double to 163 million. +Both regions are also experiencing a demographic dividend – 60% of ASEAN’s population is below 35 years old, while India is projected to be the world’s youngest country with an average age of 29 by 2020. +ASEAN and India also have fast-growing internet user bases, which will help us grow the digital economy. +Against this backdrop, there is still much scope to grow India-AEAN ties – India accounted for only 2.6% of ASEAN’s external trade in 2016. +The visiting premier has suggested three promising areas of mutually beneficial collaboration. +First, ASEAN and India should redouble efforts to promote trade and investment. +We need to keep existing pathways up to date and relevant, including the AIFTA. +We should work together to conclude a high quality Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), surpassing the existing AIFTA. +This would create an integrated Asian market comprising nearly half the world’s population and a third of the world’s GDP. +Stream­lining rules and regulations will stimulate investments in both directions, complement India’s ‘Act East’ policy and facilitate ‘Made in India’ exports to the region. +Second, our people will benefit greatly from greater land, air and maritime connectivity. +He has appreciated India’s efforts to improve land connectivity, including the extension of the trilateral India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway, and India’s $1 billion line of credit to promote infrastructure connectivity with ASEAN. +He adds that ASEAN looks forward to working closely with India to boost our physical connectivity, including by expeditiously concluding the ASEAN-India Air Transport Agreement. +This will enhance people-to-people flows across the region and help both Indian and ASEAN carriers tap new and emerging markets, especially for business, investment and tourism. +Digital connectivity is another important area of cooperation, and can shape people-to-people connections for the future. +India’s Aadhaar system creates many new opportunities, for instance, to harmonize India-ASEAN Fintech platforms or connect e-payment systems. +Mr. Mr. Lee Hsien Loong says that India and ASEAN continue to look for new synergies. +One objective of Singapore’s chairmanship is to develop an ASEAN Smart Cities Network, and here Singapore and India are natural partners. +India is rapidly urbanizing and has set itself a goal of establishing 100 smart cities. +Singapore, an urbanized city-state, is ready to partner India on this journey and help develop urban solutions based on our own experience. +Andhra Pradesh’s new capital city of Amaravati is one example. +The Singapore PM sums up his op-ed saying that as ASEAN chair, Singapore is committed to deepening ASEAN-India ties. +If both sides use our historical and cultural links to tackle today’s challenges and build bridges for the future, our youth and next generation stand to gain the most. +Boost to Banking Services at Post Offices across the country +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for revision of the project outlay for setting up of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) from Rs. 800 crore to Rs. 1,435 crore. +The additional sum of Rs. 635 crore in the revised cost estimates is on account of Rs 400 crore for Technology Costs and Rs 235 crore for Human Resource Costs. +• IPPB services shall be available at 650 IPPB branches and 3250 Access Points from 1st September 2018 and in all 1.55 lakh post offices (Access Points) by December 2018. +• The project will generate new employment opportunity for about 3500 skilled banking professionals and other entities engaged in propagating financial literacy across the country. +• The objective of the project is to build the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man; spearhead the financial inclusion agenda by removing the barriers for the unbanked and reduce the opportunity cost for the under banked populace through assisted doorstep banking. +• The project will supplement Government’s vision of “less cash” economy and at the same time promote both economic growth and financial inclusion. +• The robust IT architecture of IPPB has been built taking into consideration bank grade performance, fraud and risk mitigation standards and in line with the best practices from payments & banking domain. +The IPPB will provide bouquet of payments/financial services through its technology enabled solutions which will be distributed by the Department of Posts (DoP) employees/last mile agents transforming them from mail deliverer to harbinger of financial services. +The IPPB shall pay incentive/commission to the last mile agents ( Postal Staff and Gramin Dak Sewaks) directly in their accounts for providing IPPB services so as to motivate them to promote IPP8 digital services to the customers. +A part of commission to be paid by IPPB to Department of Posts will be used for increasing the wherewithal of Post office +Agreement on Legal and Judicial Cooperation in Civil and Commercial matter +Agreement on mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, Special, service and official passports +MoU on Cooperation in the field of health +MoU on Cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. +MoU on Cooperation between Foreign Service Institute, Ministry of External Affairs, India and Oman Diplomatic Institute. +MoU on Academic and Scholarly cooperation sectors between National Defence College Sultanate of Oman and the Institute for Defence Studies and the Analyses. +MoU in the field of Tourism cooperation between India and Oman. +Annexure to the MoU on Military Cooperation. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to renew Long Term Agreement with Japanese and South Korean Steel Mills for supply of high grade Indian iron ore, during the three year period from April, 2015 to March, 2018. +The quantities covered under the agreement will be in the range of 3.8 million tonnes to 5.5 million tonnes per year, and will be supplied primarily from the mines of the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC). +Mr. Philippe Etienne, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the French Republic called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Mr. Etienne briefed the Prime Minister on the strengthening ties between India and France in all sectors, including in the areas of defence and security. +The Prime Minister fondly recalled his successful visit to France in June 2017. +The Prime Minister said that defence and security are two important pillars of the India-France Strategic Partnership, and appreciated the growing bilateral engagement in all sectors. +The Prime Minister also said that he looks forward to receiving President Macron in India at his earliest convenience. +Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors of States and Union Territories, and my Cabinet colleagues, +I welcome you all to this important meeting of the Inter State Council. +There are only a few occasions when the leadership of the Centre and the States, assembles together. +This forum of cooperative federalism is the perfect setting to deliberate on the interests of the people, address their problems, and take collective and concrete decisions. +It highlights the vision of the makers of our Constitution. +Let me begin by recalling what our beloved former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji had said at this very forum sixteen years ago: +“In a democracy as big and diverse as ours, debate, deliberation and discussion help evolve policy that relates to the ground reality. +More importantly, they enable the effective implementation of such policies. +The Inter-State Council is an inter-governmental forum that can be used for evolving policy as well as ensuring its implementation. +I, therefore, urge the States to increasingly use this forum as an effective instrument to strengthen our democracy, our society and our polity.” +The Inter-State Council is certainly the most significant platform for strengthening Centre-State and Inter-State relations. +There has been a long hiatus since the last meeting in 2006, but I am happy that through the efforts of Home Minister Rajnath Singh ji, the process has been restarted. +Over the last one year, he has convened meetings of five zonal councils. +The increased dialogue and connect has culminated in this gathering today. +The nation can progress only if the Union and State Governments walk shoulder to shoulder. +It would be difficult for any Government to successfully implement a scheme on its own. +Therefore, provision of adequate financial resources is as important as the responsibility for implementation. +With the acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations, the States’ share in central taxes has increased from 32 per cent to 42 per cent. +This means that States now have greater financial resources to utilize in accordance with their requirements. +I am happy to share that the total amount received by States from the Centre during 2015-16 is 21 per cent higher than the amount received in 2014-15. +Similarly, Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies will receive 2.87 lakh crore rupees during the period of the 14th Finance Commission, which is substantially higher than last time. +Auctions of other mines will yield an additional 18,000 crore rupees to states. +Similarly, through amendments to CAMPA Act, we are attempting to free up about 40,000 crore rupees lying idle in banks, for disbursal to States. +The Union Government also wishes to share with States, the amount that is being saved as a result of transparency being introduced into the system. +Kerosene is one example. +Electricity connections are increasing in villages. +The Union Government will provide 5 crore new cooking gas connections over the next three years. +The supply of LPG will further increase. +All these efforts have a direct bearing on the consumption of kerosene. +Recently, the Chandigarh administration declared the city a kerosene-free zone. +Now, the Union Government has launched a scheme, under which, if there is a reduction in the consumption of kerosene by a State, the Centre will disburse 75 per cent of the resultant savings in subsidy, as grant to that State. +If all States decide to reduce kerosene consumption by 25 per cent, and actually do so, they can receive about 1600 crore rupees as grant this year. +Apart from Centre-State relations, the Inter State Council is an appropriate forum to discuss matters which are of concern to large segments of our population. +Therefore, in this meeting of the Inter State Council, besides the Punchhi Commission Report, three very important subjects have also been added to the Agenda. +One of these is Aadhaar. +Parliament has passed the Aadhaar Act-2016. +The passage of this Act enables us to use Aadhaar for Direct Cash Transfers for subsidy and other services. +As on date, 102 crore Aadhaar cards have been distributed in our country of 128 crore people. +79 per cent of our people now have Aadhaar cards. +Among adults, 96 per cent people have Aadhaar cards. +With your support, we shall connect every citizen of the country with an Aadhaar card by the year-end. +Today the simple Aadhaar card has become a symbol of empowerment. +Benefits now flow only to people genuinely entitled to receive them, with money getting directly credited to their bank accounts. +This has not only brought in transparency, but also resulted in savings of thousands of crores of rupees, which are being utilized for development. +Friends, Babasaheb Ambedkar had written – “The path of social reform like the path to heaven at any rate in India, is strewn with many difficulties. +Social reform in India has few friends and many critics.” +The words written by him continue to be relevant even today. +Therefore, eschewing criticism, we must lay emphasis on promoting social reform schemes through mutual cooperation. +Many of these schemes have been designed by sub-groups of Chief Ministers under the aegis of the NITI Aayog. +Another important area of discussion in the Inter State Council is Education. +India’s greatest asset is its youth. +More than 30 crore children are currently of school-going age. +Hence, our country has the potential to provide the world with skilled manpower for many years to come. +While planting trees, we do not charge them any fee.” +We are aware that these trees will give us oxygen in the future, and benefit the environment. +Since then we have come a long way in terms of education. +But a lot still remains to be done with regard to the standard of education. +We must discuss the extent to which our system of education is genuinely educating our children. +The best way of improving the standard of education among children is to make them aware of the purpose of education. +Merely going to school is not education. +Swami Vivekananda also used to say that education does not mean merely attaining bookish knowledge. +Given the kind of efficiency and ability that is required in the economy of the 21st century, it is our responsibility to ensure that our youth are equipped with at least some skill-sets. +We have to prepare our youth to think logically, think out of the box, and work creatively. +Internal Security is another important issue on the agenda today. +We have to discuss internal security challenges confronting the country, the solutions to these challenges, and mutual cooperation in this regard. +The internal security of the country cannot be strengthened until we focus on intelligence sharing, ensure greater coordination among agencies, and equip our police with modern approach and technology. +While, we have come a long way, we need to continuously increase our efficiency and capacity. +The meeting of the Inter State Council provides an opportunity for exchange of views in an extremely free and frank manner. +I am sure you will share your thoughts and suggestions on all the agenda items. +These will be of tremendous value. +The more we are able to forge consensus on these vital issues, the better we shall be able to tackle them. +In doing so, we shall not only strengthen the spirit of cooperative federalism and Centre-State relations, but also secure a better future for our citizens. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today received Dr. Frank Walter Steinmeier, Foreign Minister of Germany. +During the meeting, Foreign Minister Steinmeier conveyed Germany’s strong desire to work together with the new Government in India to further expand and deepen bilateral relations. +He welcomed India’s decision to accept the invitation of Chancellor Merkel for India to participate in Hannover Messe 2015 as a partner country. +The Prime Minister recalled his fruitful telephone conversation with Chancellor Merkel on July 17 while transiting through Germany. +He expressed appreciation for Chancellor Merkel’s personal interest and commitment to India-Germany relationship. +He said that India looked forward to the visit of Chancellor Merkel for the next round of Inter-Governmental Consultations in 2015. +The Prime Minister lauded Germany’s remarkable economic resurgence over the past decade. +He described India and Germany, which are bound by democratic values, as “made for each other” because of complementary skills and resources to power the next generation of industrial development through partnering in manufacturing and infrastructure development. +The Prime Minister also suggested that using Germany’s strength and experience in the area of skill development, both sides develop a concrete time-bound plan for training of Indian youth to meet Indian needs and the global requirement of skilled human resources. +He also called for taking forward the ongoing cooperation in the area of clean energy and forging new partnerships in the areas of solid waste management, waste water treatment and cleaning of rivers. +It was agreed that both sides will undertake preparations with the aim of finalizing concrete roadmap for cooperation in each of these areas at the next Inter-Governmental Consultations meeting. +Towards this end, issue specific workshops will be organized ahead of the Hannover Messe 2015. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on June 29, 2018. +He will lay the Foundation Stone of the National Centre for Aging at AIIMS. +This will provide the older population with multi-speciality healthcare. +It will have 200 general ward beds. +During the same event, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the 555-bed Super Speciality Block in Safdarjung Hospital. +He will also dedicate the 500-bed New Emergency Block in Safdarjung Hospital; the 300-bed PowerGrid Vishram Sadan in AIIMS; and the Connection Motorable Tunnel between AIIMS, Ansari Nagar and Trauma Centre. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai, where he paid respects to Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. +The Prime Minister later unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of Foundation Stone of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial at the Indu Mills Compound, in Mumbai. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave away the Ramnath Goenka Awards for excellence in journalism. +Speaking on the occasion, he said that during the freedom struggle, newspapers became a very strong medium of expression. +He added that the colonial rulers were scared of those who wrote and expressed themselves through the papers. +Praising Late Shri Ramnath Goenka, the Prime Minister said that there were few in the media who challenged the Emergency and this was led by Ramnath ji. +The Prime Minister said technology poses a challenge to the media, and news that could earlier be disseminated in 24 hours now happens in 24 seconds. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Indian badminton players Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, on winning women’s doubles title in Canada Open. +“Very proud of Ashwini P. and jwala Gutta for the wonderful victory at the Canada Open. +Congratulations to the brilliant sportspersons”, the Prime Minister said. +He said that he is indeed blessed, to be associated with the project of Kashi Vishwanath Dham. +He complimented the officers involved with the project, for performing their task with devotion. +He thanked all the people who had property around the temple, and have allowed its acquisition for the project. +He said the Kashi Vishwanath Temple has survived the vicissitudes of centuries. +He said this project will become a model for similar projects elsewhere, and would give a new global identity to Kashi. +“I salute the Nepali braves who have laid down their lives for India”, Shri Narendra Modi said. +The Constitution of Nepal should be a document like the “sanhita” of Vedas and Upanishads, the Prime Minister said – it should define a new direction for the country. +Referring to an age-old saying – paani aur jawaani pahaad ke kaam nahin aate – the Prime Minister said the time had come to change this thought. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has expressed pain over the loss of lives of Amarnath Yatris due to a bus accident in Jammu & Kashmir. +Your Excellency President Xi Jinping, +Your Excellency President Jacob Zuma, +Your Excellency President Dilma Rousseff, +I thank our host, President Putin, for excellent arrangements for today’s meeting and for his leadership of BRICS. +Congratulations for hosting a very successful 7th BRICS Summit. +We stand united in strongly condemning the dreadful acts of terrorism in Paris. +We express our deepest sympathy and support to Russia for the loss of life in Sinai. +Ankara and Beirut are also reminders of terror’s growing spread and impact. +The entire humanity must stand together as one against terrorism. +The need for a united global effort to combat terrorism has never been more urgent. +This must also be a priority for BRICS nations. +There was a time when the logic of BRICS and its lasting capacity were being questioned. +The New Development Bank, the Currency Reserve Arrangement, Strategy for BRICS Economic Cooperation – these are clear evidence of our vision and our resolve. +Together, we can also give shape to G20. +India attaches the highest importance to BRICS. +We are honoured to assume the Chairmanship of BRICS from 1st February, 2016 and build on the great work done by other Members. +The theme of India’s BRICS Chairmanship will be “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions” which, in short, will be ‘BRICS’. +It aptly describes the ethos of our group. +We are pleased that a BRICS partner, China, takes over the Presidency of G20 in December 2015. +The MoC has already been signed in February, 2017. +The signing of MoC will enable cooperation in the following areas: +i. Track Safety (e.g. rail welding, rail inspection, track circuit etc.) ii. +Latest technology related to railway track safety (automatic inspection technology etc.) +iii. Rolling stock safety (e.g. maintenance etc.) +iv. Any other relevant railway safety matter jointly determined by both the sides within the scope of this MoC with consideration for major railway accident preventions based on the analysis of accident causes. +The MoC would provide a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest development and knowledge in the railway sector. +The cooperation under this MoC will involve: +a. Dispatch of experts +b. Training of core staff in Japan +c. Sharing of information and best practices +d. Facilitating the participation of other institutions, organization and ministries, including contribution of National Traffic Safety and Environmental Laboratory of Japan to Research Design and Standards Organisation, Ministry of Railway, Government of India (RDSO), subject to their respective national laws and regulations where appropriate and possible. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for restructuring of Agricultural Scientists’Recruitment Board (ASRB). +The ASRB will now be a 4 Member body instead of 3 Members. +It will have a Chairperson and 3 Members. +ASRB would be for a period of three years or till attainment of 65 years of age, whichever is earlier. +For the purpose of autonomy, secrecy, accountability and efficient functioning ASRB shall be delinked from ICAR and to be attached with Deptt. of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE) under Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. +The four Member body comprising of one Chairperson and three Members would help in expediting the work and functioning of ASRB. +It would support in expediting therecruitment process which would be beneficial for the agrarian community andagriculture at large. +Moreover, it will ensure more transparency and efficiency in recruitment of meritorious scientists to various scientific positions in lCAR, the premier agency for agricultural research and education in the country. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Indian Tennis Player, Leander Paes on the Mixed Doubles win at Australian Open. +“Leander Paes continues to make us proud! +I congratulate him on the Mixed Doubles win with Martina Hingis at the Australian Open”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Germany on Cooperation in the field of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). +The MoU was renewed on 13thNovember 2018. +The collaboration till date has immensely helped in adopting the modern training techniques and tolls on various aspects of Occupational Safety and Health in different sectors of economic activity. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to enter into an agreement between India and China for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism. +The agreement will be signed during the forthcoming visit of the Prime Minister to China. +The agreement will help both countries in creating an institutional mechanism for enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector. +The main objectives of this agreement, amongst other things, are: +(i). To expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector. +(ii). To exchange information and data related to tourism. +(iii). To encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders including hotels and tour operators. +(iv). To establish exchange programmes for cooperation in Human Resource Development. +(v). To invest in the tourism and hospitality sectors. +(vi). To participate in travel fairs / exhibitions in each other’s country. +(vii). To promote safe, honourable and sustainable tourism. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that people were looking at media to provide “good news and truthful news.” +He said dialogue was necessary for a democracy to thrive. +He was speaking at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Marathi newspaper Pudhari at Kolhapur. +The Prime Minister said the credibility that media enjoys today also enjoins upon them an immense responsibility. +He praised Pudhari as one newspaper that had fulfiled this responsibility. +The Prime Minister said criticism helps prevent mistakes, and helps truth to be brought out properly. +He however said, today proper criticism does not happen, adding that allegations had replaced criticism. +The Prime Minister said criticism required a thorough study, and had become a casualty of the fast-moving modern times. +He said weakness of criticism, and an excess of allegations would weaken democracy. +He said the need of the hour was healthy criticism, not allegations. +The Prime Minister appreciated Pudhari Chairman Pratapsinh Jadhav for raising issues of Kolhapur in his speech. +He said he had hoped that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would fulfil the expectations. +He also expressed hope that Goddess Lakshmi would provide the strength and resources to fulfil all dreams of all Indians. +Newspapers like Pudhari are an example of overcoming obstacles. +He said they had persevered and won against all odds during the freedom struggle. +The Prime Minister inaugurated the new premises of Pudhari, at Kolhapur by remote control. +He unveiled a statue of the founder of Pudhari – Shri G. G. Jadhav by remote control. +He also released two books – Marmabedh, and Sinhayan. +The Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Vidyasagar Rao, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari, the Union Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu and Chairman of Pudhari Shri Pratapsinh Jadhav were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to former Prime Minister, Shri Chaudhary Charan Singh, on his birth anniversary. +“Remembering Chaudhary Charan Singh ji on his birth anniversary. +Chaudhary Sahab served the nation with utmost dedication. +He worked assiduously for the development of our villages and always championed the rights of our farmers.”, the Prime Minister said. +Under this scheme, flights have begun today from Shimla, Nanded and Kadapa Airports. +The Prime Minister also unveiled an e plaque to mark the laying of Foundation Stone of a Hydro Engineering College at Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. +He said the new civil aviation policy marks an opportunity to cater to the aspirations of the people of India. +He said Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are becoming growth engines, and enhanced aviation connectivity between them will be beneficial. +He said the UDAN scheme will help the tourism sector in Himachal Pradesh. +Series of initiatives announced. +· Pradhanmantri Jan-Dhan Yojana to provide for a bank account, a debit card and an insurance amount of Rs. one lakh, for the poor. +· Digital Infrastructure a priority to empower Indians. +· Swachh Bharat initiative to be launched on October 2nd. +· Toilets in all schools within a year. +· Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana to be launched. +· New institution to replace Planning Commission. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called upon all citizens to contribute to the cause of building national character. +Addressing the nation for the first time from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 68th Independence Day, he said, it is an occasion for introspection for all, as to how his or her acts would weigh on the scale of National Interest. +Let all actions be in the National Interest, and be seen as a contribution towards Nation building, the Prime Minister said. +Greeting the people of India on Independence Day, Shri Narendra Modi stated that he was addressing them not as “Pradhan Mantri” but as “Pradhan Sewak” – the first servant. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a series of initiatives aimed at empowering the common man, and unleashing the potential of India`s youth. +A nationwide “Skill India” movement will be initiated to provide skills which ensure employability. +The Prime Minister also announced a vision of “Come and Make in India” inviting manufacturers from across the world to invest in India, and help boost India`s industrial growth. +He called upon the youth of India to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit and work towards manufacturing in India, the various items that add to our import bill. +Let “Made in India” become a synonym of excellence, he added. +Emphasizing that digital infrastructure is a priority to empower the citizens, Shri Narendra Modi announced his Government`s resolve to work towards Digital India, which would provide information and services to the people in a timely and effective manner. +In a related initiative, the Prime Minister said the first step towards “Swachh Bharat” begins with immediate effect, through a commitment to build toilets in all schools, including separate toilets for girls, within one year. +The Prime Minister announced the launch of the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, under which each Member of Parliament would be invited to make one model village in his constituency, by 2016. +He said a complete blueprint for this scheme would be announced on October 11th, the birth anniversary of Shri Jayaprakash Narayan. +Shri Narendra Modi announced that a new institution would be created to replace the Planning Commission. +This new institution would respect the federal structure of the country, he asserted. +Thanking all Members of Parliament, including the Opposition Parties for a productive session of Parliament, the Prime Minister said his Government wished to move forward by consensus. +Referring to reports of the positive change in work culture of the Union Government since he took over as Prime Minister, the Prime Minister said he was taken aback by such news reports – since it should be the norm for Government Servants to work with due diligence. +The Prime Minister said the fact that this should make news, shows how low our collective standards of duty and responsibility have fallen. +The Prime Minister called upon society to give up the selfish attitude of “Mera Kya, Mujhe Kya.” +The Prime Minister also said he was appalled by the discord and disunity among various Government departments that he saw after assuming office. +He assured the people that he would resolve this issue, so that the Government of India worked not as an assembled entity, but as an organic entity. +The Prime Minister said development and good governance were the only two tracks which could take the nation forward. +The Prime Minister expressed dismay at the rising number of rape incidents in the country. +Every rapist is someone`s son, the Prime Minister said. +In a similar vein, he called upon misguided youth who had taken to terrorism or Maoism, to give up violence and return to the national mainstream. +The Prime Minister quoted Shri Aurobindo and Swami Vivekananda, reflecting on their vision to see India as a “Jagatguru” once again, and called upon all Indians to help convert this vision into reality. +There must be hardly any Indian who doesn’t feel proud of our Armed Forces, our army jawans, our soldiers. +Every Indian, irrespective of region, caste, religion, sect or language, is ever eager to express joy and show solidarity with our soldiers. +Yesterday, one hundred and twenty-five crore Indians celebrated the ParaakramParva, the festival of Valour. +We remembered that surgical strike carried out in 2016, where our soldiers gave a befitting reply to the audacity of a proxy war under the garb of terrorism. +A day such as ParaakaramPrava reminds our youth of the glorious heritage of our Army. +It also inspires us to maintain the unity & integrity of the country. +We staunchly believe in peace; we are committed to taking it forward… but NOT at the cost of compromising our self-respect and sovereignty of our Nation. +India has always been resolutely committed to peace. +In the two world-wars fought in the 20th century, over a lakh of our soldiers made the Supreme Sacrifice; that too in a war where we were not involved in any way. +We have never eyed someone else’s territory maliciously. +This in itself was our commitment & dedication towards peace. +A few days ago, on the 23rd of September, on the occasion of the centenary of the Battle of Haifa in Israel, we remembered & paid tributes to our brave soldiers of Mysore, Hyderabad & Jodhpur Lancers who had freed Haifa from the clutches of oppressors. +This too was an act of valour on part of our soldiers on the path to peace. +Even today, India is one of the largest contributors to various United Nations Peace Keeping Forces in terms of sending forces personnel. +For decades, our brave soldiers wearing blue helmets have played a stellar role in ensuring maintenance of World Peace. +It has bestowed upon us a sense of security. +One of the notable features eagerly awaited by spectators during the Republic Day Parade is the Flypast comprising the magnificent display of the might of our Air Force through their breath taking aerobatic manoeuvres. +We celebrate Air Force Day on the 8th of October. +From the core of my heart, I congratulate those Air Warriors and their families who rendered service to the nation. +In 1947, when Pakistani attackers resorted to an unprecedented attack, it was indeed our Air Force which ensured that Indian Soldiers and armaments reached the battlefield promptly. +The Air Force also retaliated befittingly in 1965 too. +Who does not know about the Bangladesh Freedom Struggle of 1971? +Be it the relief and rescue work or disaster management, our country is indebted to our Air Force for the commendable efforts of our Air Warrior. +They have always displayed a unique spirit in times of natural calamities like storms, cyclones, floods and forest fires to extend full assistance to our countrymen. +The Air Force has set an example in ensuring gender equality and has opened its doors for our daughters of India. +Now, the Air Force is offering the option of Permanent Commission to Women besides the Short Service Commission, which I had announced on the 15th of August this year from the Red Fort. +Indian can proudly claim that in the armed forces,our Army not only man-power but woman-power too is contributing equally. +Women are already empowered and now getting armed too. +My dear countrymen, a few days ago, Officer AbhilashTomy of our Navy was struggling between life and death. +The whole country was concerned about saving Tomy. +You know, AbhilashTomy is a very courageous, brave soldier. +He was the first Indian who set on a global voyage in a small boat without any modern technology. +He fought to be afloat without food or drink. +He did not accept defeat and continued to fight death. +I pray for Tomy’s sound health and I am sure that his courage, bravery and resolve to fight and emerge a winner will inspire our younger generation. +My dear countrymen, every child in our country knows the importance of the 2nd of October for our nation. +The 2nd of October, this year, has a special significance. +For two years from now on, we are going to organise various programmes throughout the world on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. +Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy has inspired the whole world. +Everyone including great personalities like Dr. Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela derived strength from Gandhiji’s ideology to be able to fight a long battle to ensure right of equality and dignity for the people. +Later, in 1945, when the Freedom Struggle gained momentum, he prepared an amended copy of those ideas. +Revered Bapu, put forth his ideas on various subjects like Farmers, villages, securing of labour rights, cleanliness and promoting of education. +This is also known as the Gandhi Charter. +Revered Babu was a people’s person. +Getting connected with people or connecting people with him was Bapu’s special quality, this was in his nature. +Everyone has experienced this as a most unique part of his personality. +He made everyone feel that he or she was very important and absolutely necessary for the country. +His biggest contribution in the Freedom struggle was that he made it an expansive “Jan-Aandolan” (People’s Movement). +During the Freedom Struggle people from all sections and all regions dedicated themselves at Mahatma Gandhi’s call. +Bapu gave an inspirational mantra to all of us which is known as Gandhiji’s Talisman. +In that, Gandhiji had said, “I give you one mantra, whenever you are in doubt or whenever your ego gets over your personality, undergo this test; remember the face of the poorest or the weakest person that you have seen, recall his looks and ask your inner self how useful your intended step would be for that person. +Will this, in anyway, benefit him! +Will he be able to get some control over his life and destiny through your step ! +Meaning thereby that will your step help millions of those people in getting Swaraj who have an empty stomach and a dissatisfied soul! +Then, you will see that your doubt is waning away and your ego is also getting quelled. +My dear countrymen, one of Gandhiji’s mantras is very relevant event today. +The swelling middle class of the country, its increasing economic power, increasing purchasing power; can we remember revered Bapu for a moment while going out for shopping! +Can we remember that mantra of Bapu!” +Can we spare a thought while purchasing anything as to who in my country will be benefitted by this purchase! +Whose face will sport a smile! +Who will be the fortunate one to get a direct or indirect benefit from your purchase! +I will feel much happier if my purchase will benefit the poorest of the poor. +Keeping this mantra of Gandhiji in mind while making any purchases during the 150th Anniversary of Gandhiji, we must make it a point to see that our purchase must benefit one of our countrymen and in that too, one who has put in physical labour, who has invested money, who has applied skill must get some benefit. +This is the mantra of Gandhiji, this is the message of Gandhiji and I firmly believe that a small step of yours can surely bring about a very big benefit in the life of the poorest and the most underprivileged person. +My dear countrymen, when Gandhiji said that by maintaining cleanliness, freedom will be won then he probably was not aware how this would happen. +But this did happen and India got freedom. +For example, think of purchasing Khadi and handloom products on special occasions; this will benefit many weavers. +It is said that LalBahadurShastriji used to preserve old and worn out Khadi clothes because some one’s labour could be felt in the making of those clothes. +He used to say that all these Khadi clothes have been woven after putting in a hard labour, every thread of these clothes must be utilized. +This spirit of attachment towards the country and fellow countrymen was deeply imbibed in that great person of a very short physical stature. +Two days later, we shall celebrate the birth anniversary of Shastriji along with respected Bapu’s birth anniversary. +The very name of Shastriji evokes a feeling of eternal faith in the hearts of us, Indians. +His mild persona always fills every Indian with a sense of pride. +LalBahadurShastriji had a unique quality in that, he was very humble outwardly but he was rock solid from inside. +His slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” is the hall mark of his grand personality. +It was the result of his selfless service to the nation that in a brief tenure of about one and a half years he gave to our jawans and farmers the mantra to reach the pinnacle of success. +My dear countrymen, while remembering revered Bapu today, it is quite natural not to skip talking of cleanliness. +A movement “Swachhta Hi Sewa” was launched on the 15thof September. +Crores of people got connected with this movement and luckily I also got a chance to participate in the voluntary cleanliness shramdaan with the children of Delhi’s Ambedkar School. +I went to the school, the foundation of which had been laid by none other than respected Baba Saheb himself. +On the 15th of September, people from all sections across the country connected themselves to this voluntary cleaning movement. +Institutions also extended their contribution enthusiastically. +I specially thank you for your phone call. +My dear countrymen, Swachh Bharat Mission or Clean India Mission has become a success story not only in our country but in the whole world and everyone is talking about this movement. +My dear countrymen, there is a Sanskrit quote- ‘न्यायमूलं स्वराज्यं स्यात्’(NyayamoolamSwarajyamSyat) meaning justice lies at the root of swaraj and while discussing the subject of justice, the spirit of human rights is inherent in that. +This is specially essential for the freedom and peace of the exploited, victimised and deprived people and to ensure justice for them. +In the Constitution drafted by Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar, many provisions were inserted to protect the fundamental rights of the poor. +Inspired by his vision, the ‘National Human Rights Commission’ (NHRC) was formed on 12th October 1993. +A few days later NHRC would complete 25 years of its existence.The NHRC has not only protected human rights but has also promoted respect for human dignity over the years. +Our most beloved leader, ShriAtalBihari Vajpayee, the former Prime Minister of our country, had clearly said that human rights are not analien concept for us. +Today, with NHRC operating at the national level, 26 State Human Rights Commissions have also been constituted. +As a society, we need to understand the importance of human rights and inculcate them into practice – this is the very basis of Sab kaSaath–Sab kaVikas’. +Even this year, we should try to organize ‘Run for Unity’ in our village, town, city or metropolis. +This is the best way to remember SardarSaheb, because he worked for the unity of our nation throughout his lifetime. +My dear countrymen, be it Navratri, Durgapuja or Vijayadashmi, I offer all my heartfelt greetings to all of you on account of these holy festivals. +The signing of MoU will ensure consistent supply of Urea and Ammonia to cater the need of the country at a lower price, if agreed to by both the participants. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for continuation, strengthening and establishment of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) with an outlay of Rs.3900 crore. +The scheme envisages continuation of 642 KVKs established till date and establishment of 109 new KVKs in the XII Plan, to carry out its wide range of activities. +The amendment will allow private biodiesel manufacturers, their authorised dealers and Joint Ventures (JVs) of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) authorized by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) as dealers and give marketing/ distribution functions to them for the limited purpose of supply of bio-diesel to consumers. +Further, the investment and production conditions (as applicable) specified in the Marketing Resolution dated 08.03.2002 of MoP&NG will also be relaxed and a new clause added to give marketing rights for Bio-diesel (B100) to the private biodiesel manufacturers, their authorised dealers and JVs of OMCs authorized by the MoP&NG for direct sales to consumers. +The Cabinet has also decided to suitably amend Para 5.11 and 5.12 of the National Policy on Bio-fuels for facilitating consumers of diesel in procuring bio-diesel directly from private bio-diesel manufacturers, their authorized dealers and JVs of OMCs authorized by the MoP&NG. +This decision will encourage the production and use of bio-diesel in the country. +Background MoP&NG announced a Bio-diesel Purchase Policy, effective from 1.1.2006, to encourage production of bio-diesel in the country for blending it with diesel with the objective of increasing energy security and meeting other emission and environment objectives. +Under this Policy, OMCs are to buy Bio-diesel (B100), meeting fuel quality standard prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), at a uniform price, as decided by the OMCs from time to time, for blending with HSD to the extent of five percent, at identified purchase centres across the country. +PSU OMCs under the MoP&NG have been actively pursuing the bio-diesel programme and entered into MoUs and formed JVs for cultivation of bio-fuels species on revenue wasteland and degraded lands in the State. +These JV companies have been formed with the objective of increasing production and marketing of Bio-diesel in the country. +They have sought permission to undertake activities like sourcing, trading, supply, distribution, marketing etc. of Bio-diesel to consumers. +As the price of diesel is already deregulated and determined by the market, there is no economic justification in preventing private biodiesel manufacturers, their authorised dealers and JVs of OMCs authorized by the MoP&NG from selling biodiesel directly to consumers subject to their product meeting prescribed BIS standards. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will attend the inauguration of the birth centenary celebration of Nanaji Deshmukh at IARI at Pusa in New Delhi tomorrow (11th October, 2017). +The Prime Minister will visit an exhibition on the theme “technology and rural life.” +The exhibition showcases over a hundred good practices and applications. +The Prime Minister will release a commemorative postage stamp on Nanaji Deshmukh. +He will launch a portal for coordination and monitoring of development works at the district level. +He will also launch the Gram Samvad App which will carry information on the progress of rural development works at the Gram Panchayat level. +It has been designed on the theme – soochna se sashaktikaran – Empowerment through Information. +He will Inaugurate a Plant Phenomics Facility of IARI. +The Prime Minister will address an audience of about 10,000 people, drawn from Self Help Groups, Panchayats, water conservation innovators, and beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the package for supporting Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) – Augmentation of the Corpus of Credit Guarantee Trust Fund for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE). +The proposal entails the following: +(i) Augmentation of the corpus of the Trust from Rs. 2,500 crore to Rs. 7,500 crore, to be fully funded by the GoI; +(ii) To increase coverage of the loans covered under the credit guarantee scheme from Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 2 crore; +(iii) To increase coverage of the credit guarantee scheme for loans being extended to micro and small enterprises by NBFCs also. +This would enable the Trust to enhance the quantum +Augmentation of the corpus would facilitate larger flow of credit to MSEs. +Every operation is online and therefore, the system ensures public accountability. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Acharya Kripalani on his birth anniversary. +“Tributes to Acharya Kripalani on his birth anniversary. +His ideals and strong commitment to serve the poor continue to inspire”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Italy for training and education in the fields of Labour and Employment. +The MoU will facilitate expansion of the training and education activities to promote decent work in the world of work, through: +The major impact of the MoU would be up-gradation of technical capacities of both the institutions in responding to the challenges emanating from transformations in the world of work. +It will enhance the technical capabilities of developing and organising international training programmes and the evolution of V.V.Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) as a leading training institution in the Asia-Pacific region. +The MoU will expand its outreach to wide range of social partners from the entire Asia Pacific Region. +The MoUaim to formalize the collaboration between the institutions for continuing the professional collaboration. +International Training Centre (ITC) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) was established in 1964 in Turin. +It has since evolved as the most important focal point for imparting training on different dimensions on labour at the international level. +ITC has a vast reservoir of international expertise on employment, labour, human resource development, and capacity building. +One of the major objectives of ITC is to forge partnership with premier institutions engaged in training activities in the field of labour and employment. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with scholars and economists who are participating in the Neemrana Conference 2016. +The discussion focused on areas such as macro-economy, trade, monetary policy, competitiveness, productivity and energy, with ideas from global research. +During his remarks, the Prime Minister underlined India’s commitment to prudent macro-economic policy, rule-based multilateral trading arrangements, responsible climate policy, and growth which creates jobs and reduces poverty. +He mentioned in detail, various steps taken by the Union Government to boost agricultural productivity, and the attention being given to renewable energy. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has invited ideas and thoughts for his forthcoming visit to Australia. +“During my Australia visit in November I would be attending a variety of programmes, including an interaction with the Indian community there. +I want to hear ideas and thoughts from all of you, including friends in Australia and the Indian community there on my visit. +Participate in this MyGov Open Forum and share your ideas on what you feel are important issues for my Australia visit: http://mygov.in/groupissue/prime-minister-in-australia/show,” the Prime Minister said. +Ms. Federica Mogherini, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister Modi and Ms. Mogherini discussed regional and global developments of mutual interest. +The Prime Minister and Ms. Mogherini agreed on the need to strengthen the security cooperation between India and EU, particularly on the issue of counter-terrorism. +Prime Minister Modi recalled his successful visit to Brussels in March 2016 for the last India-EU Summit, and said that he is looking forward to the next India-EU Summit to be held in India in October 2017. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today emphasized the combination of wisdom (Saraswati) and prosperity (Lakshmi) as the key to India’s progress. +Speaking after the presentation of the 50th Jnanpeeth Award to Prof. Bhalchandra Nemade, the Prime Minister said creative writing has the capacity to touch lives of several generations. +He reiterated that solutions to the problems of global warming and climate change, which the world is debating today, can be found in the Vedas. +Praising the writing of Prof. Bhalchandra Nemade, the Prime Minister compared his views with those of Shri Aurobindo. +He said the works of Prof. Nemade will inspire several generations. +The Prime Minister emphasized that literature is extremely important in the current age of technology. +The Prime Minister regretted the declining interest in books and reading. +He said people must ensure a special place for books in their homes. +He recalled the “Vaanche Gujarat” (Read Gujarat) initiative that he had launched when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi received the Foreign Minister of Bahrain Shaikh Khalid Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa. +Prime Minister recalled the visit of His Majesty the King of Bahrain to India in February 2014 that had provided new vigour and momentum to the bilateral relationship. +He appreciated the continuous support and cooperation being extended by the Government of Bahrain to over four lakh members of the Indian community in Bahrain. +He recalled the deep emotional bonds of friendship that are felt by the people of Bahrain towards India. +He conveyed the commitment of the Government of Bahrain to deepen bilateral relations, including in the areas of defence, security, counter terrorism, trade and investment. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has underlined the Government’s resolve to accord priority to the development of the North-East. +He described this as an important occasion in the history of Indian Railways, when a state was being added to the rail network. +He said that he has heard that according to Vastushastra, if the North-East corner of the house was maintained well, then the entire house could be taken care of. +He said that all he knew was that if India has to be prosperous, then development of North-East was a priority. +The Prime Minister said infrastructure is the first step towards development. +Once infrastructure is developed, the people can themselves contribute a lot to development, he added. +The Prime Minister gave the example of South Korea to show how infrastructure creation could spur growth and development. +He said if good connectivity was established across the eight states of the North-East, the entire region would prosper, and tourism would flourish. +The Prime Minister said that the first Union Budget of the new Government has committed Rs. 28,000 crore to the development of new railway lines in the North-East. +The Prime Minister said that the whole world acknowledges that this century is Asia’s century. +Therefore the need of the hour is to extend the “Look East” policy to an “Act East” policy, and to connect the entire region with Myanmar and countries beyond. +The Prime Minister said India now needs next-generation infrastructure- consisting of both highways and i-ways (information ways). +He said there should be no digital divide, and the vision of Digital India also encompasses the North-East. +He said a good optical fibre network would lead to immense opportunities for the North-East. +The Prime Minister said he is taking special interest in the development of the North-East, and had discussed connectivity during his recent visit to Myanmar for the ASEAN-India Summit and East Asia Summit. +The Prime Minister said the Railways can be an engine of economic growth. +He expressed disappointment that its potential had not been recognized in this fashion so far. +He said his Government would expand and modernize the Indian Railways. +He spoke of both horizontal expansion of railways – expanding the network across India, and vertical expansion of railways – which means capacity building, technology upgradation and better services. +The Prime Minister said that India had allowed 100 percent FDI in Railways, to spur the process of modernization of Indian Railways. +He said the Government is also considering privatization of Railway Stations to promote economic activity. +The Prime Minister said Railways need dedicated expertise and technology upgradation. +The Governor of Assam Shri JB Patnaik, the Governor of Meghalaya and Mizoram Dr. Krishna Kant Paul, the Chief Minister of Assam Shri Tarun Gogoi, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Dr. Mukul Sangma, the Chief Minister of Mizoram Shri Lal Thanhawla, the Union Minister for Railways Shri Suresh Prabhu, the Union MoS (IC) for Sports Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and the Union MoS Home Shri Kiren Rijiju were present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Indonesia on combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and its precursors. +The MoU will help in mutual cooperation in regulation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and in combating drug trafficking. +It will come into force on the date of signing and will remain in effect for a period of five years. +India has signed similar Conventions/MoUs/Agreements with the 37 countries. +Salient features of the MoU are as under: +The MoU shall facilitate and enhance the cooperation between the two countries in combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and its precursors as defined by the United Nations International Drug Control Conventions. +The cooperation under this MoU includes the exchange of information on existing legal instruments of national legislation of both countries in combating the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs psychotropic substances and its precursors, allowing and assisting each other in the use of controlled delivery operation with a view to identifying persons involved in illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and its precursors and essential chemicals, prevention of money laundering. +Under the MoU, there is a provision of maintaining the secrecy of information and documents obtained in accordance with this MoU. +Attends Convocation of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology; lays Foundation Stone of infrastructure projects +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the Convocation of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in Jammu. +At another event, he also laid the Foundation Stone of the Pakaldul Power Project, and Jammu Ring Road. +He inaugurated the Tarakote Marg and Material Ropeway, of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. +In his address at the convocation, the Prime Minister said that technology is bringing about change in all spheres of life, and the youth of our country is keeping pace with these developments. +He said that even in agriculture, there is need to develop a new “culture” through infusion of technology, to benefit farmers. +The Prime Minister said that the policies and decisions of the Union Government are aimed at increasing the income of farmers. +He expressed confidence that through Scientific Approach, Technological Innovations, and Research and Development the graduating students would play an active role in turning agriculture into a profitable profession. +After laying the Foundation Stone of the Pakuldul project, the Prime Minister said it is a unique day when one hydropower project has been inaugurated; and the Foundation Stone has been laid for another one. +He said that the Union Government is working with an approach of “isolation to integration” to develop all the hitherto under-developed parts of the country. +He said that the Tarakote Marg would provide an alternative route to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, which would facilitate pilgrims. +He said tourism, especially spiritual tourism, is a very important source of income generation for the State of Jammu and Kashmir. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the progress of two key schemes related to the agriculture sector – Soil Health Cards; and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. +The Prime Minister was informed that 16 States/UTs have completed the first cycle of Soil Health Cards distribution, and the remaining States are likely to complete the same within weeks. +Reviewing the progress, the Prime Minister said that appropriate checks should be undertaken for variation, both within a sampling grid, and across different soil testing labs. +This would help ensure quality in the reports, he added. +The Prime Minister also emphasized that soil health cards should be printed in the local dialect of the area, so that the farmers are able to read and understand them easily. +Encouraging the rapid adoption of latest technology, the Prime Minister said that soil testing should eventually be possible through hand-held devices. +He urged officials to explore the possibility of involving start-ups and entrepreneurs in this exercise. +On Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the Prime Minister was informed that in the Kharif season of 2016, and Rabi season of 2016-17, claims of over Rs. 7700 crore have already been paid, and over 90 lakh farmers have been benefited. +Officials also said that latest technology including smartphones, remote sensing, satellite data and drones are being used for speedy data collection with regard to crop insurance claims. +Senior officials from Ministry of Agriculture, NITI Aayog and PMO were present during the review meeting. +The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Shri Pradeep Kumar Sinha, IAS (UP:77), as the next Cabinet Secretary, with effect from June 13, 2015. +He succeeds Shri Ajit Seth. +Shri Sinha has been serving as Secretary, Ministry of Power, since July 2013. +He has earlier been Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, and has held several other important positions in the Union Government and the State of Uttar Pradesh. +The Prime Minister has also approved that Shri P. K. Sinha may be appointed as OSD in the Cabinet Secretariat with effect from the date of assumption of charge, till June 12, 2015. +The eligible rural wire-line connections installed prior to 1.4.2002 is 32.32 lakh, across India as on 31.3.2014. +The Cabinet also approved that the above subsidy support would be the last and final payment and no further request from BSNL for financial/subsidy support from USOF on this count shall be considered. +In order to make Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) eligible for subsidy funding on nomination basis from USOF, amendment will be required in Rule 526 of the Indian Telegraph Rules (ITRs), 1951. +It stipulates that the criteria for selection of Universal Service Providers shall be made by bidding process from amongst eligible entities for implementation of USOF schemes. +Corresponding Amendment in Rule 525 will also be required. +Full/lump-sum amount of Rs. 1,250 Crore shall be disbursed, consequent to necessary amendment of the ITRs and signing of USOF agreement with BSNL. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Agreement between India and Cyprus on Merchant Shipping, which was signed in April 2017. +The Agreement in Merchant Shipping will pave the way for cooperation in eliminating any hindrances which may hamper the development of sea trade between the two nations. +The MoU will encourage participation in the transport of goods between the countries, and also from third countries. +The MoU further seeks to enhance cooperation for employment, improvement of conditions of work and for the welfare of seafarers employed on each other’s vessels. +I am really happy to be here with you. +Before coming to this forum, I had very detailed discussion with the CEOs of major Chinese companies. +I am sure our interactions today will lead to benefits to the people and businesses of the two countries. +Alongwith me a number of officials and prominent Indian CEOs are also present here. +As you know, China and India are two great and old civilisations of the world. +They have provided many lights of knowledge on the entire human society. +Today, we together, represent more than one third of the Global population. +India and China have a common History of Five Thousand Years and a common Boundary of over Three Thousand and four hundred kilometers. +Two thousand years ago, at the invitation of the Chinese Emperor Ming, two Indian monks came to China. +They brought many Sanskrit scriptures on two white horses. +They translated many Buddhist classics and scriptures into Chinese language. +It is believed that they introduced Buddhism in China. +The king built a temple in honour of this event. +The temple is popularly known as White Horse Temple. +Your famous scholars like Fa Hien and Hiuen Tsang have taught many secrets of Chinese wisdom to Indians. +In addition, they discovered many secrets within India itself. +Hiuen Tsang had visited my own home town in Gujarat. +From his works, we know today that there was a Buddhist Monastery there. +When Hiuen Tsang returned to China he brought with him Sanskrit scriptures and books of wisdom. +The traditional systems of medicine of the two countries based on natural elements also have a lot in common. +In recent times too, this stream of knowledge is flowing across our borders. +Prof. Ji Xianlin of Peking University was a great Sanskrit scholar. +He spent most part of his life in translating Valmiki’s Ramayan into Chinese. +Indian government has honoured him by bestowing a prestigious Award in 2008. +More recently, Prof. Jin Ding Han has translated Tulasi Ramayan into Chinese. +Translations of Bhagwad Gita and Mahabharat are also popular with the Chinese people. +I thank these Chinese scholars for introducing Indian culture to the Chinese people. +Ancient China was highly advanced in Science and Technology. +Like Indians, Chinese too sailed to Americas and distant corners of the world in their ships. +They had the Mariners’ Compass and Gun Powder. +But I must add that during this time, Indian astronomy and mathematics were quite popular in China. +Indian astronomers were appointed on the official boards set up to prepare calendars. +The Indian concept of Zero and that of nine planets have been helpful in discoveries in China. +So, our ideas had a role to play in your innovations. +Thus, we have a lot in common and we can do a lot together. +As we helped each other growing spiritually, we have to help each other growing economically. +There are instances of such economic exchanges in the past. +It is believed that China gave silk and Paper to India. +We both have potentials of growth and problems of poverty which we can tackle together. +I am personally committed to take the co-operative process forward. +That is why even as Chief Minister of Gujarat, I visited China. +As Prime Minister too I am convinced and committed for exchange and co-operation for socio-economic development of the two countries. +I have lot of hope from the relationship which I and President Xi are trying to build. +During his visit to India in September 2014, Chinese investments worth 20 billion US Dollars (Rs. 12 lakh-crore) were committed. +We signed 12 agreements covering industrial parks, railways, credit and leasing, with cumulative amount of investments of 13 billion US Dollars. +We are very keen to develop the sectors where China is strong. +We need your involvement. +The scope and potential, the breadth and length of infrastructure and related developments is very huge in India. +Just to give you some examples: +• We have planned to build 50 million houses by 2022. +In addition, we are going to develop smart cities and mega industrial corridors; +• For this purpose, we have refined our FDI Policy in construction. +We are also coming up with a regulatory framework for this sector; +• We have targeted 175 Giga Watts of renewable energy in next few years. +In addition to generation, the issues of transmission and distribution of electricity are equally important for us; +• We are modernizing our Railway systems including signals, engines and railway stations. +We are planning metro rail in fifty cities and high speed trains in various corridors; +• Similar is the case with Highways which we want to build in faster way; +• We are putting up new ports and modernizing the old ones through an ambitious plan called Sagarmala; +• Similar focus is on upgrading the existing Airports and putting up regional airports to enhance connectivity to places of economic and tourist importance; +• In financial services too, we are moving towards a more inclusive and faster delivery of financial products including bank loans and insurance; +• For this purpose we opened 140 million bank accounts; increased FDI in insurance upto 49% and have set up MUDRA Bank to fund the micro-businesses; +• Recently, I have launched innovative schemes for insurance and pension to enhance social security of our citizens. +In March this year, I had a discussion with Jack Ma of Alibaba in Delhi about possible co-operation for strengthening this micro-credit sector of India. +As you have successfully done, we also want to promote manufacturing in a big way particularly to create jobs for our youth who form 65% of our population. +Hence, we want to Make things in India. +For this purpose, we have launched a campaign called “Make in India”. +It is also the effort of my Government to encourage innovation, R&D and entrepreneurship in the country. +In this year’s budget, we have set up some innovative institutional mechanisms for that purpose. +We have to learn from you about the development of labor-intensive industries, creating conditions for sustainable foreign direct investment, skill development, infrastructure creation and export-led development model. +All this is a historic opportunity for the Chinese companies. +You would already be knowing the direction of my Government and the steps we are taking. +We have committed ourselves for creating and improving the business environment. +I can assure you that once you decide to be in India, we are confident to make you more and more comfortable. +Many Chinese companies have the possibility of investing in India to take advantage of India’s potentials. +The potential lies in Manufacturing, processing as well as in infrastructure. +I am here to assure you that India’s economic environment has changed. +Our regulatory regime is much more transparent, responsive and stable. +We are taking a long-term and futuristic view on the issues. +Lot of efforts have been made and are still underway to improve the ‘Ease of Doing Business’. +We do believe that FDI is important and it will not come in the country without a globally competitive business environment. +Therefore, we have rationalized a number of issues which were bothering the investors. +• We are making the taxation system transparent, stable and predictable. +• We have removed lot of regressive taxation regimes. +In our very first Budget, we said we will not resort to retrospective taxation. +• We are reducing the complicated procedures, making them available at one platform, preferably online; +• Simplifying the forms and formats has been taken up on war footing. +• Definite mechanisms for hand holding have been set up in the form of hub and spoke model. +Invest India is the nodal agency for this purpose. +• In this year’s budget, we allowed Tax pass through for AIFs, rationalization of capital gains of REITs, modification in PE norms and deferring the implementation of GAAR for two years. +• We have fast tracked approvals in industry and infrastructure. +This includes environmental clearances, extending the industrial licences, delicencing of defence items, and simplification of cross-border trade. +• Within a very short time, we introduced GST Bill in parliament. +Similarly, for infrastructure development, we have taken some far reaching steps. +• First of all we have made an all-time high allocation for Roads and railways sectors. +• In addition, we are setting up India Infrastructure Investment Fund. +• We have also allowed Tax free Bonds in the Infrastructure sector including roads and railways. +We are constantly working to improve the business environment further. +However, our initial measures have helped in building up an enhanced investor confidence. +The sentiments for private investment and inflow of foreign investment are positive. +FDI inflows have gone up by 39% during April-2014 and February-2015 against the same period in previous year; +Our growth rate is above 7%. +Most of the international financial institutions including the World Bank, IMF, OECD and others are predicting even faster growth and even better in the coming years. +I expect very good outcome from this coming together. +As two major economies in Asia, the harmonious partnership between India and China is essential for economic development and political stability of the continent. +You give thrust on production of hardware, while India focuses on software and services. +Similarly, Indian component manufacturers have been masters in high-quality precision and the Chinese players have mastered the art of mass production. +The component design expertise of Indian engineers and low cost mass production by China can cater to the global markets in a better way. +I only advise to you to come and feel the same. +I assure you of my personal attention for your success. +PM to attend International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam. +The Prime Minister will address tea workers at Moran, near Dibrugarh. +He will deliver an address at the 85th Annual Conference of Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha at Sibsagar. +The Prime Minister will inaugurate the 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati. +Eight countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are participating in the Games. +On February 6th, the Prime Minister will attend the International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam. +He will visit a maritime exhibition. +The Prime Minister will arrive in Bhubaneswar on February 7th, and will dedicate to the nation the National Institute of Science Education and Research. +Shri Narendra Modi will visit the Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri. +The Prime Minister will dedicate to the Nation, the state of the art Indian Oil Refinery at Paradip. +The Paradip Refinery will have a total capacity of 15 MMTPA. +The Indane Maximization, or INDMAX unit at the refinery has been set up using indigenous technology to produce a higher quantity of LPG. +The Refinery is expected to unleash a new wave of industrialization in the hydrocarbon sector, and accelerate economic development in Eastern India. +The Prime Minister will visit the Main Control Room, and the INDMAX unit at the refinery. +The Prime Minister will also deliver an address. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan on establishing a liquid, flexible and global LNG Market. +The MoC will promote bilateral relationship between India and Japan in the energy sector. +It will contribute to the diversification of gas supplies for India. +This will strengthen our energy security and lead to more competitive prices for consumers. +The MoC provides a framework to cooperate in facilitating flexibility in LNG contracts, abolition of Destination Restriction Clause and also explore possibilities of cooperation in establishing reliable LNG spot price indices reflecting true LNG demand and supply. +India and Japan are major consumers of energy in the world. +In the LNG sector, Japan is the world’s largest importer and India is the 4th largest importer. +Under the Japan-India Energy Partnership Initiative signed in January 2016, the two sides had agreed to work together in promoting well-functioning energy markets and affirmed to promote a transparent and diversified Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market through the relaxation of Destination Restriction Clause. +A group of about 90 ASHA representatives from across the country, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today to express their happiness, and thank him for the recent announcement of increase in incentives, and insurance cover. +Today, ASHA activists shared some more accounts of how they had been instrumental in saving lives of poor mothers and children through timely intervention. +The Prime Minister appreciated the skill and dedication of ASHA workers, and recalled that even Bill and Melinda Gates had praised the efforts of ASHAs towards eradication of diseases such as Kala Azar. +He encouraged them to devote their energies to work in coordination with other government agencies to improve the quality of life in their villages. +He also explained how Government schemes and initiatives are all aimed at empowering the poor to fight poverty. +The MoU provides that – +1. Turkish Grain Board (TMO) shall maintain an online system to enable regulation of export of poppy seeds from Turkey to India. +Exporting companies shall submit application through the Agean Exporters Association (EIB) (responsibility given by law) to TMO for obtaining membership of the online System. +3. The exporting companies shall get registered with the TMO. +Each sales contract entered into by the exporting company with Indian importer shall be registered with TMO through the online system referred. +It shall be the responsibility of TMO not to register sales contract in excess of the quantity referred to in Para 2 above. +4. Taking into account the quantity as referred to in Para 2 above, every year both parties may consider to set a quantity to be imported by any Indian importer in a crop year. +The CBN shall upload the details of sales contract so registered by it on the online system. +TMO shall allow the export in respect of only those contracts so registered by CBN. +6. The TMO shall provide a legal production certificate for the poppy seeds to exporters following the submission of sales contract and the completion of other necessary procedures. +The MoU will promote quick and transparent processing of quota allocation and prior authorization for poppy seeds import from Turkey. +In this way genuiness of import contract can be easily ensured as well as many litigation matter resulting in delay in the import can be avoided. +The MoU will ensure continuous availability of poppy seeds in domestic market of India and ultimately Indian consumers of poppy seeds will be benefited. +Various stays given by the Court and repeated adjournment of hearing graves the situation and resulted in less availability of poppy seeds in the country leading to a great problems to the consumers. +To avoid such legal complication, price rise and hoarding, an alternative mechanism needs to be evolved by way of an MoU between Government of India and Government of Turkey in which real time data can be exchanged to ensure the quantity of poppy seeds imported from Turkey is genuine and legally produced in Turkey. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversary. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will launch the Swachhata Hi Seva movement from September 15th. +As part of an elaborate launch event for this fortnight long movement, the Prime Minister will interact with a cross-section of people from 18 locations across the country, via video conferencing. +The people with whom PM will interact include school-children, jawans, spiritual leaders, members of milk and agricultural cooperatives, media persons, local government representatives, railway employees, Self Help Groups, and Swachhagrahis, among others. +Earlier, describing this movement as “a great way to pay tributes to Bapu,” the Prime Minister, in a video message to the people, had exhorted people to be “part of this movement and strengthen the efforts to create a Swachh Bharat.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Morocco for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. +The MoU was signed at New Delhi on 25th September 2018. +This MoU shall enable the following potential interest areas of cooperation such as, space science, technology and applications including remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication and satellite based navigation; Space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system; and application of space technology; and +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today laid the Foundation Stone of the Poorvanchal Expressway in Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. +Addressing a large public gathering, he described the occasion as the start of a new chapter in the development journey of the State. +He praised the leadership provided by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the State, and said the State Government is working to create an atmosphere conducive for development in the State. +He said the State Government is working for the betterment of various sections of the society. +The Prime Minister said that the 340 kilometer longPoorvanchal Expressway would transform the towns and cities that it passes through. +It would also provide swifter connectivity between Delhi and Ghazipur, he added. +He said new industry, and institutions can develop along the Expressway. +He said the Expressway would also boost tourism in the places of historical significance in the region. +Shri Narendra Modi said that connectivity is necessary for development today. +He said the National Highway network in Uttar Pradesh has almost doubled in four years. +In this context, the Prime Minister also spoke of initiatives in air connectivity and water connectivity. +He added that an effort is being made to make the eastern part of the country, a new corridor of development. +The Prime Minister reiterated his vision of SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas, and stressed on balanced development of the region. +On digital connectivity, he mentioned that optical fibre connectivity had been provided for one lakh Panchayats so far, and added that three lakh Common Service Centres are now making the lives of people simpler. +The Prime Minister also spoke of other development initiatives such as PM AwasYojana, PM Gram SadakYojana, and other welfare schemes of the Union Government. +He also referred to the recent increase in MSP of Kharif crops, which will benefit farmers. +The Prime Minister criticised attempts by certain elements to stall the law which would provide protection to Muslim women from “triple talaq.” +He expressed a firm resolve to attempt to make this law a reality. +He said that for both the Union Government and State Government of Uttar Pradesh, the nation and its people are paramount. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government has also taken initiatives for the weavers of this region. +In this context he mentioned modern machines, loans at low interest, and the Trade Facilitation Centre in Varanasi. +He also mentioned initiatives taken by the State Government. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to exclude State Governments States/UTs (with Legislature) except Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh from National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) investments from 01.04.2016. +It also approved providing a one-time loan of Rs. 45,000 crore from NSSF to Food Corporation of India (FCI) to meet its food subsidy requirements. +The details are as under:- +a) Exclusion of States/UTs (with Legislature) excepting Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi from NSSF Investments. +Arunachal Pradesh shall be given loans to the tune of 100% of NSSF collections within its territory, whereas Delhi, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh shall be provided 50% of collections. +b) Servicing of interest and principal of debt extended to FCI through the budget line of Department of Food and Public Distribution. +The repayment obligation of the FCI in respect of NSSF Loans would be treated as the first charge on the food subsidy released to the Food Corporation of India. +In addition, FCI shall reduce the amount of its current Cash Credit Limit with the banking consortium to the extent of the NSSF loan amount. +c) NSSF in the future shall, with the approval of Finance Minister, invest on items the expenditure of which is ultimately borne by Government of India and the repayment of principal and interest thereto would be borne from the Union budget. +The States except Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh shall be excluded from NSSF investments from 01.04.2016. +A legally binding agreement will be signed between FCI, Department of Food and Public Distribution and Ministry of Finance on behalf of NSSF on the modalities for repayment of interest rate and principal and the restructuring of FCI debt will be made possible within 2-5 years. +Once states are excluded from NSSF investments, the investible funds of NSSF with Gol will increase. +Increased availability of the NSSF loan to Gol may reduce the Gol’s market borrowings. +The States will however, see an increase in market borrowings. +Any increase in yields due to an increased demand for loanable funds in the market from Centre and States combined would be marginal. +Implementing the decision to exclude states from NSSF investments and extending the loan will entail no additional cost. +Instead a reduction in the food subsidy bill of the Gol is anticipated. +The Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) recommended that State Governments be excluded from the investment operations of the NSSF. +The NSSF loans come at an extra cost to the State Government as the market rates are considerably lower. +The Union Cabinet in its meeting held on 22nd February, 2015, accepted that this recommendation will be examined in due course in consultation with various stake holders. +Barring Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, the other State Governments/UTs expressed a desire to be excluded from NSSF investments. +The involvement of States which are excluded from operations of National Small Savings Fund with effect from 1.4.2016 would be limited solely to discharging the outstanding NSSF debt obligations as on 31.3.2016 (FFC Recommendation). +The loan contracted by States till 31.3.2016, from the National Small Savings Fund will stand completely repaid by the Financial Year 2038-39. +NSSF shall extend a part of its collections to Food Corporation of India (FCI) to meet its food subsidy requirement. +This will help the FCI reduce its interest cost. +FCI presently takes working capital loans through Cash Credit Limit (CCL) at an interest rate of 10.01% and Short Term Loan (STL) at a weighted average interest rate of 9.40%, whereas the NSSF currently charges 8.8% p.a interest on its loans. +This savings on interest rate outgo will reduce the food subsidy burden of the Government of India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Indonesia in the field of new and renewable energy. +The MoU was signed in Jakarta last month during Vice President, Shri M. Hamid Ansari’s visit to Indonesia. +The objective of the MoU is to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional framework to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy issues on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity. +The areas of cooperation will focus on capacity building, exchange of scientific and technological information and data, transfer of technology on non-commercial basis, development of joint research or technical projects on subjects of mutual interest, encouragement and promotion of investment, encouragement of policy dialogue and other areas as may be agreed upon by the two countries. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Uzbekistan for establishment of the Uzbek-Indian Free Pharmaceutical Zone in the Andijan Region of Uzbekistan. +The MoU will be signed during the visit of President of Uzbekistan to India on 1st October 2018. +In view of the importance of the growth of the pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceutical industry in both countries and the importance of mutual cooperation in trade, industry and production in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sectors, both the countries have been trying to establish a formal mechanism of bilateral cooperation. +The MoU will create an enabling framework of cooperation for setting up an Uzbek-Indian Free Pharmaceuticals Zone in Andijan region of Uzbekistan. +It will also facilitate Indian pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies to invest in and establish production facilities in the Uzbek-Indian Free Pharma Zone of Andijan for manufacture of Pharmaceutical Products. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended a book release function at Rashtrapati Bhavan. +He released a book named “Rashtrapati Bhavan: From Raj to Swaraj” and presented its first copy to the President. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes to President Pranab Mukherjee on the occasion of his birthday. +He recalled President Mukherjee’s guidance in the initial days of his Prime Minister-ship, and hoped that the nation would continue to benefit from President Mukherjee’s experience for a long period. +He said it has been his good fortune to have got the opportunity to work with, and learn from President Pranab Mukherjee. +The Prime Minister said that the three books released today gave an insight into various aspects of Rashtrapati Bhavan, including its history, and the life and activities of its residents. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has written to the President of Afghanistan, Mr. Hamid Karzai, condoling the demise of his cousin, Mr. Hashmat Karzai, in a terrorist attack. +“I know that you will remain a steadfast bulwark in the face of these challenges and continue to work to deliver a better future to Afghanistan,” the Prime Minister wrote to President Karzai, adding that India would remain a constant partner in this endeavour. +The Prime Minister has also sent his condolences to the family of Mr. Hashmat Karzai. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today performed Shramdaan for the construction of a twin pit toilet at Shahanshahpur village in Varanasi. +He interacted with the people, who have resolved to make the village open-defecation-free. +He appreciated their initiative of naming the toilet “Izzat Ghar.” +The Prime Minister visited a Pashudhan Arogya Mela organised at the village. +Addressing a large gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, and the State Government, for the successful setting up of the Pashudhan Arogya Mela. +He said this is a new effort which would benefit the animal husbandry sector in the State. +He said that increase in milk productivity will lead to economic benefit for the people. +He said cooperatives can help consolidate the gains in the dairy sector, as has been the case in other parts of the country. +Describing the well-being of people as the priority for governance, the Prime Minister reiterated the pledge to double farm incomes by 2022. +He noted that soil health cards are benefiting farmers significantly. +He said each one of us should resolve to make a positive contribution by 2022, to achieve the India that our freedom fighters dreamt of. +The Prime Minister said that the feeling of “cleanliness being our responsibility”, needs to be inculcated among all. +He said this would go a long way towards ensuring wellness, and protecting the health of the poor. +He said Swachhta is like a prayer for him, and cleanliness is a way to serve the poor. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to pay Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days wages to eligible non-gazetted railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) for the financial year 2015-16. +The approval entails a financial implication of approximately Rs.2090.96 crore. +The payment of this Bonus to eligible Railway Employees will be made before Dussehra/Puja holidays. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said, India, which has had a long tradition of living in harmony with nature, should lead the global fight against climate change. +Inaugurating the Conference of State Environment and Forest Ministers in New Delhi today, the Prime Minister expressed disappointment that India’s culture of respecting and loving nature has not been sufficiently projected on the global arena, and the country is occasionally perceived to be a barrier in the global fight against climate change. +The Prime Minister said the people of India have been the protectors and devotees of nature. +He said we need to project this fact properly, so that the world realizes that India cannot be questioned in this regard. +He said Indians have always conserved nature, and even today, have among the lowest per-capita carbon emission, globally. +He said the way forward is not just restrictions, but changing lifestyles. +He said the culture of recycle and re-use is not new for India. +Instead of being forced to follow parameters laid down by others, India should lead the world in the fight against climate change, he added. +Shri Narendra Modi said development and environment protection can go hand in hand, but there are serious misconceptions being spread in this regard. +He urged those spreading such lies, to desist from doing so, and said these attempts to misguide society are harming the nation. +The Prime Minister called upon the world to ease restrictions for India on import of nuclear fuel, so that India could also produce clean nuclear energy in a big way. +He said the Government is focusing on clean energy generation in a big way, through solar radiation, wind and biomass. +Earlier, the Prime Minister visited an exhibition at the Conference venue. +He released a “Standard Terms of Reference for Environment Impact Analysis”, which was described by the Union Environment Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar as a step that would contribute to “ease of doing business.” +The Prime Minister also launched a National Air Quality Index, which will monitor the quality of air in major urban centres across the country on a real-time basis. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has said today is a historic day for crores of Indians like him, when former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee is being awarded the Bharat Ratna. +Departing from convention, Rashtrapatiji is going to Atalji`s residence to confer him the Bharat Ratna. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Sri Lanka for promoting cooperation in the field of Information Technology and Electronics. +The MoU was signed on 15th January, 2018 during the visit of Minister of Law & Justice and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad to Sri Lanka. +The MoU intends to promote closer co-operation in the areas of e-Governance, m-Governance, e-Public Services Delivery, cyber security, software technology parks, start-ups ecosystem etc. +The MoU shall be implemented by establishing a Working Group on IT&E composed of representatives of the two Parties. +Bilateral Cooperation in ICT domain both B2B and G2G will be enhanced. +The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has been mandated to promote international cooperation in the emerging and frontier areas of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) under bilateral and regional framework of cooperation. +MeitY has entered into MoUs / Agreements with counterpart organizations/agencies of various countries to promote close cooperation and exchange of information in the area of ICT. +To further enhance cooperation with various countries, particularly in view of the new initiatives taken by Government of India like “Digital India”, “Make in India” etc., there is an increased need for exploring business opportunities in the technology sector which are of interest. +The Prime Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka in 2015 did a synergy in India’s neighbourhood first policy. +To extend the cooperation to IT sector, the Indian Mission in Colombo and MEA had emphasized on evolving a framework for active cooperation. +In this regard, the MeitY negotiated a comprehensive MoU for a focussed cooperation in ICT areas such as in e-Governance, cyber security, B2B partnership, IT education and research / innovation, etc. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Framework Agreement between India and Vietnam on cooperation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes. +The Framework Agreement has been signed on September 03, 2016. +The Framework Agreement will enable pursuing the potential interest areas of cooperation such as space science, technology and applications including remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication and satellite-based navigation; space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system; and application of space technology. +Cooperation with Vietnam through this Framework Agreement would lead to development of joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. +The Framework Agreement will provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication; satellite navigation; space science and exploration of outer space. +He said that it is remarkable that a nation of over 1.25 billion people has achieved a rise of 65 ranks in a short period of 4 years. +Mr. Kim promised the World Bank’s unflinching and continued support to India’s initiatives on ease of doing business. +The Prime Minister thanked the World Bank President, for the Bank’s continued guidance and support in India’s efforts to improve ease of doing business. +He added that the World Bank’s rankings are a source of inspiration for India, in its quest to improve ease of doing business. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will interact with lakhs of ASHA, ANM, Anganwadi workers, and health beneficiaries, via video conference, as part of “Poshan-Maah”, at 1030 hrs on 11th September, 2018. +“Poshan Maah” (the month devoted to nutrition), is being celebrated in September 2018, across the country. +It aims to reach every household in the country with the message of the importance of optimum nutrition. +The mission aims to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anemia and low birth weight babies. +Under POSHAN Abhiyaan, the Government has fixed targets to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum respectively. +Towards this end, the Prime Minister’s interaction will bring together various stakeholders involved in the mission. +It will also become a platform for sharing and dissemination of success stories in the area of nutrition. +PM Shri Narendra Modi has extended his greetings to people of Gujarat on their statehood day. +Gujarat has made a significant contribution in our nation’s history, especially during the freedom movement. +May Gujarat continue to add impetus to India’s progress”, PM said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval today for signing of a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters between India and the Maldives. +The Treaty aims to enhance effectiveness of both countries in investigation and prosecution of crime, through cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. +He said that for a prosperous future for India, we need to put science, technology and innovation at the top of national priorities. +In his address to the 102nd Indian Science Congress in Mumbai today, the Prime Minister said more resilient agriculture, appropriate and affordable technologies for rural areas, improving healthcare, making clean technology affordable, and making India a leading manufacturing nation and a hub for knowledge and technology-intensive industries, were some of the key objectives before Indian scientists. +The Prime Minister said, that a discussion on science and human development, cannot be divorced from the questions of political decisions; social choices; and of equity, ethics and access. +He said human development has been the larger purpose and the driving force of India’s scientific pursuits, and science has helped shape modern India. +The Prime Minister appreciated Indian scientists for rising to the occasion “whenever the world shut its door on us.” +He said that when the world sought our collaboration, they reached out with the openness that is inherent in our society. +He also lauded Indian scientists for putting Mangalyaan in the Mars orbit in the first attempt, and saving thousands of lives through their accurate prediction of Cyclone Hudhud. +The Prime Minister said that when he speaks of ease of doing business in India, he also wants to pay equal attention to the ease of doing research and development in India. +He said funding proposals must not take too long to clear, and scientific departments must have flexibility of funding decisions based on the uncertainties inherent in research activities. +He also called for clear regulatory policies for research and development in areas like biotechnology, nanoscience, agriculture and clinical research. +The Prime Minister said each government department should have an officer focusing on science and technology relating to its area of work; and, allocate a percentage of its budget for such activities. +The Prime Minister called upon Indian industry to step up investments in science and technology in its own interest. +He said India`s own pharmaceutical industry has carved out a place for itself in the world, because it invests significantly in research. +He welcomed the initiatives of Department of Science and Technology for involving thousands of children and youth in science and technology. +The Prime Minister said India must “restore the pride and prestige of science and scientists in our nation; revive the romance for science in society; rekindle the love for it in our children; and, encourage our scientists – to dream, imagine and explore.” +The Prime Minister began his address by paying homage to eminent scientist Vasant Gowarikar, who passed away recently. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October, 2015 between India and Jordan for promoting cooperation In the field of Information Technology and Electronics. +The main areas of co-operation between the parties include:- +(ii). Cooperation among private and public entities of both countries in the areas of investment and business promotion; +(iii). Strengthening of collaboration in the IT&E sector in the areas of e-education, e-Governance, m-Governance, e-health, telemedicine etc.; +(iv). Sharing of best practices in the areas of regulatory policy and the institutional framework with special emphasis on developing internationally competitive IT&E manufacturing and services industry; +(v). Participation in International events organized by each country, as appropriate, exchange of experts etc. and; +(vi). Other areas as jointly decided by the Parties. +The above areas of cooperation will be realized through establishing a Working Group on IT&E composed of representatives of the Parties. +20 successful candidates of the UPSC examination, who underwent training at the Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration, Ahmedabad, today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +The Prime Minister wished them well, for their career in the civil services. +Shortly after his address to the nation today, Prime Minister spoke to scientists involved with the successful conduct of Mission Shakti, via video conference. +The successful conduct of Mission Shakti today, has made India the fourth nation in the world, with the capability to successfully target satellites through an Anti-Satellite Missile. +Congratulating them on their success, the Prime Minister said that the entire nation is proud of our scientists for achieving well, what they had set out to accomplish. +He said that in line with the “Make in India” initiative, the scientists have given a message to the world that we are less than no one. +He however, also emphasized, that the forces which work for peace and goodwill, must remain ever-powerful, for the achievement of peace. +The Prime Minister asserted that for global peace and regional peace, India should be capable and strong. +He said that the scientists have contributed to this effort with dedication. +He also conveyed the greetings of the entire Union Cabinet to the scientists. +The scientists thanked the PM for giving them this opportunity to prove their skills. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today held a Town Hall session with students on subjects related to examinations. +He took questions from students at the event venue in Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. +Students also asked him questions through various television news channels, the Narendra Modi Mobile App, and the MyGov platform. +Beginning the conversation, the Prime Minister said that he had come to the Town Hall session as a friend of the students, and their parents and family. +He said that he was speaking to as many as 10 crore people across the country, through various platforms. +He acknowledged his own teachers, who had instilled in him the values that enable him to keep the student in him alive till today. +He exhorted everyone to keep the student alive in them. +In the course of the event which lasted about two hours, the Prime Minister took questions on a range of subjects, including nervousness, anxiety, concentration, peer pressure, parents’ expectations, and the role of teachers. +His answers were embellished with wit, humour and a number of different illustrative examples. +He quoted Swami Vivekananda to invoke the importance of self-confidence, to deal with examination stress and anxiety. +He gave the example of the Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris, who won a bronze medal in the ongoing Winter Olympic Games, just eleven months after suffering a life threatening injury. +On the subject of concentration, the Prime Minister recalled the great cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s advice on the radio programme Mann Ki Baat. +The Prime Minister also said that Yoga can help in improving concentration. +On the subject of peer pressure, the Prime Minister spoke of the importance of “Anuspardha” (competing with oneself), rather than “Pratispardha” (competing with others). +He said one should only try to do better than what one had achieved earlier. +He said every child is blessed with unique talents. +The Prime Minister explained the significance of both the Intellectual Quotient, and the Emotional Quotient, in the life of a student. +On time management, the Prime Minister said that for students, one time-table or a schedule cannot be appropriate for the full year. +It is essential to be flexible and make best use of one’s time, he added. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has wished Former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on his birthday. +“I wish Dr. Manmohan Singh on his birthday and pray to Almighty that he remains in good health and leads a long life,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted air warriors and their families on Air Force Day. +“A grateful nation salutes our valorous air warriors and their families on Air Force Day. +They keep our skies safe and are at the forefront of serving humanity in times of disasters. +Proud of the Indian Air Force”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will launch the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) at Ranchi, Jharkhand, on September 23, 2018. +Under this scheme, over 10 crore families will be provided health assurance worth Rs. 5 lakh each, every year. +The Prime Minister will visit an exhibition on the PMJAY. +He will witness a demonstration of activities such as beneficiary identification, and e-card creation. +At the same event, the Prime Minister will lay the Foundation Stone for medical colleges at Chaibasa and Koderma. +He will inaugurate 10 Health and Wellness Centres. +He will address the gathering, before departing for Gangtok, Sikkim. +On September 24, the Prime Minister will inaugurate Pakyong Airport, which will bring the State of Sikkim on the country’s aviation map. +The airport will provide a big boost to connectivity in the Himalayan State, and also give a fillip to tourism. +The Prime Minister will arrive at Pakyong Airport, where he will be briefed about the airport and terminal building. +He shall unveil a plaque to mark the inauguration of Pakyong Airport. +He shall later address a gathering. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the inaugural event of the National Youth Festival at Rohtak, via video conferencing. +He said that the life of Swami Vivekananda shows what one can achieve at a young age, and added that the work that the youth are doing today will impact the future of the nation. +He expressed happiness that the theme for this festival is ‘youth for Digital India.’ +He urged the youth to guide people on increased cashless transactions. +Corruption and black money adversely affect the progress of our nation, he added. +The Prime Minister said that times have changed due to the influence of technology, and the need of the hour is collectivity, connectivity, and creativity. +He said that the support from the youth in the fight against corruption convinces him that it is possible to bring a positive change in the nation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has expressed his anguish over the situation arising due to floods in various parts of the Northeast. +“I am anguished by the situation arising due to floods in various parts of the Northeast. +I share the pain of all those affected by floods. +The entire nation stands with the people of Northeast during this time. +Centre assures all possible help to normalise the situation. +I have spoken to Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu and other officials both in Delhi and the states on the flood situation +I have also asked my colleague Kiren Rijiju to personally supervise the rescue, relief operations and facilitate all possible help needed.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high level meeting on the drought and water scarcity situation in parts of Odisha. +The Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik, was present in the meeting. +Senior officials from the Government of India, and the State of Odisha, were also present. +An amount of Rs. 600.52 crore has been released to the State under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), after adjustments of the State balances. +This is in addition to Rs 560.25 crore released as central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2015-16 to the State. +A further amount of Rs. 294.375 crore has been released as first instalment of SDRF for 2016-17. +As part of water conservation efforts, the State has constructed 25000 farm ponds, 7000 check dams, 4000 diversion weirs, 4000 percolation tanks, 400 water harvesting structures and 350 community tanks. +The Chief Minister stated that Odisha has completed District Irrigation Plans for all 30 districts, as required under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY). +He emphasized the State’s commitment to implement the Scheme expeditiously. +Progress in other agriculture schemes, piped water supply, and banking extension facilities in rural areas came up for discussion. +The meeting ended with a resolve on the part of the Centre and State to work together. +The Cabinet today at the meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi gave its approval for signing a treaty on transfer of sentenced persons between India and Nigeria. +Signing of the treaty shall facilitate Indian prisoners imprisoned in Nigeria or vice-versa to be near their families, for serving the remaining part of their sentence and shall facilitate their social rehabilitation. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO on successful launch of PSLV-C37 and CARTOSAT satellite together with 103 nano satellites. +“Congratulations to ISRO for the successful launch of PSLV-C37 and CARTOSAT satellite together with 103 nano satellites. +This remarkable feat by ISRO is yet another proud moment for our space scientific community and the nation. +India salutes our scientists. +Spoke to the Secretary, Department of Space and congratulated him & the entire team of scientists on today’s exceptional achievement”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for placing the new Instrument adopted by International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation concerning “The Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience (No.-205)” before the Parliament. +The International Labour Conference of ILO at its 106th Session held in Geneva in June, 2015 adopted the Recommendation. +India supported the adoption of Recommendation. +The Recommendation affirms the need to develop and strengthen measures of social protection, as a means of preventing crises, enabling recovery and building resilience. +The Recommendation No. 205 is applicable to all workers and jobseekers, and to all employers, in all sectors of the economy affected by crisis situations arising from conflicts and disasters and to workers engaged in crisis response, including in the immediate response. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has wished the former Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on his birthday. +“Best wishes and warm greetings to Dr. Manmohan Singh ji on his birthday. +May he be blessed with a long life and good health,” the Prime Minister said. +PM celebrates Diwali with jawans, people, near India-China border in Himachal Pradesh +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today visited Sumdo near the India-China border, in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, to celebrate Diwali with the jawans. +He interacted with jawans from the ITBP and the Indian Army, and offered sweets to them. +Addressing the jawans, he said he had been visiting armed forces personnel every year on Diwali since 2001. +He mentioned the tremendous response from people across the country, to his appeal for sending messages to soldiers as part of the #Sandesh2Soldiers campaign. +The Prime Minister said that giving One Rank One Pension to ex-servicemen was a promise that he had made, and he was happy that he had been able to fulfil it. +The Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Dalbir Singh, was present on the occasion. +While returning from Sumdo, the Prime Minister halted briefly at a nearby village – Chango. +He exchanged Diwali greetings, interacted with the people there, and offered sweets to children. +Addresses function to mark the birth centenary of Shri Girdhari Lal Dogra. +Rejecting the notion of political untouchability, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today asserted that India’s heritage cannot be divided on ideological lines. +He said all political leaders of the past deserve our respect, because they worked for the betterment of our Nation. +He was speaking at a function in Jammu University, to mark the birth centenary of Late Shri Girdhari Lal Dogra. +Paying tribute to Late Shri Girdhari Lal Dogra, the Prime Minister said that he came into public life with an inspiration of patriotism. +He said Shri GL Dogra also groomed many political leaders. +He said this is a message for leaders in public life today. +The Prime Minister extended his greetings for the upcoming festival of Eid. +The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Shri N. N. Vohra, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Shri Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Union Ministers Shri Arun Jaitley and Dr. Jitendra Singh, and senior leaders Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad and Dr. Karan Singh were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Uttarakhand on Uttarakhand Foundation Day. +We shall soon enter 2019. +At such a juncture, it is natural to reflect on the year gone by; it is equally so, to hear about resolutions for the year being ushered in. +The year 2018 saw the launching of the world’s biggest health insurance scheme ‘Ayushman Bharat’. +Electricity reached each & every village of the country this year. +After Independence, for the first time ever, the tricolor was hoisted at Red Fort on the 75th anniversary of the formation of the Azad Hind Government. +In honour of SardarVallabhbhai Patel who bonded the entire country around a common thread of unity, India witnessed the coming up of the tallest statue in the world, ‘Statue of Unity’. +This has laid the foundation of a new revolution in the waterways sector. +The longest rail-road bridge, Bogibeel Bridge was dedicated to the Nation- Sikkim’s first & India’s hundredth airport, Pakyong commenced operations. +India scripted a thumping win in the under- 19 Cricket World Cup and the Blind Cricket World Cup. +On similar lines, on the 25th of December, I learnt of the loss of SulagittiNarsamma in Karnataka. +SulagittiNarsamma was a midwife, aiding pregnant women during childbirth. +In Karnataka, especially in far-off, remote places, thousands of women availed of her services. +In the beginning of this year, she was honoured with a Padma Shri. +There are many exemplary personalities such as Dr. Jaya Chandran and SulagittiNarsamma, who dedicated their lives to the welfare of all in society. +Since we are referring to healthcare, I would like to mention the social endeavour of doctors in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. +Recently, I was told by some of our party workers that a few young doctors in the town set up camps offering free treatment for the underprivileged. +Every month, the Heart Lungs Critical Centre there organizes such camps, where free diagnosis and treatment for a host of ailments is done. +Every month, hundreds of poor patients are benefitting from these camps. +The dedication of these doctor friends engaged in selfless service is truly worthy of praise. +Today, I’m saying it with pride that it was collective efforts that made the ‘Swachch Bharat Mission’ a successful campaign. +I was told that a few days ago, in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, over three lakh people came together to work for the sanitation campaign. +I am glad to observe that these days, there are many websites apprising us of inspiring life- stories of such remarkable gems. +Just as thepoitiveindia.com is doing great work in spreading positivity and infusing more sensitivity into society. +Sports has its own significance in every society. +When a game is being played, the spectators too experience a rush of energy in their beings. +We observe name, fame and laurels when it comes to sportspersons. +But, at times, in the background, there exist many things that are much higher, much greater than the world of sports. +Let me tell you about one of our daughters from Kashmir who won a gold medal in a Karate Championship in Korea. +Hanaya is 12 years old and lives in Anantnag, Kashmir. +Hanaya trained hard in Karate with perseverance & fervor, studied its nuances and proved herself. +On behalf of all countrymen, I wish her a bright future. +Best wishes and blessings to Hanaya. +Similarly, the media discussed extensively about the 16 year old Rajani. +You too must have read it. +Rajani has won a gold medal at the Junior Women’s Boxing Championship. +You must be wondering why Rajani did that ! +She did it in honour of her father Jasmer Singh ji who sells lassi, at a stall in Panipat. +According to Rajani, her father has sacrificed a lot, undergone hardships to help her reach where she is. +Early every morning, Jasmer Singh used to leave for work before Rajani and her siblings woke up. +When Rajani approached her father, expressing her wish to learn boxing, he encouraged her, arranging for whatever possible resources that he could. +Rajani had to start her training in boxing with old gloves, since those days, the family was not too well, financially. +Despite so many hurdles, Rajani did not lose heart & went ahead with her training in boxing. +She has won a medal in Serbia too. +This very month, 20 year old Vedangi Kulkarni from Pune became the fastest Asian to traverse the globe riding a bicycle. +She rode for 159 days, covering around 300 kilometres every day. +Just imagine… 300 kms of cycling every day ! +Her passion for cycling is indeed commendable. +Don’t news of such achievements, such accomplishments inspire us? +Especially my young friends, when we hear about such feats, we derive inspiration to touch heights despite obstacles. +If your resolve is strong, if your fervor, your enthusiasm is without bounds, all your hurdles halt in their tracks. +Hardships can never turn into obstacles. +When we come to know of such examples, we too feel inspired every moment of our life. +It is during this period that the sun enters Uttarayan due to Northward movement of the earth on the celestial sphere and enters the Makardasha. +It is during this period that days begin to lengthen and the winter harvesting of our crops begins. +We can witness how closely our festivals are interlinked with nature. +In Indian culture society and nature are indistinguishable, in our culture the person and his environment are considered in totality. +This traditional calendar depicts our bonding with natural and astronomical events. +The lunar and solar Calendars based on the movement of earth with respect to moon and sun decide the occurrence and dates of our festivals. +It is also dependant on the fact which calendar you follow. +In many regions the position of the planetary constellations determines the occurrence and celebration of festivals. +GudiPadva, Chettichand, Ugadi and others are all celebrated according to the lunar Calendar, whereas Tamil PutanduVishnu, Baisakh, Baisakhi, PoilaBoisakh, Bihu are all celebrated in accordance with solar calendar. +The sagacity of conserving rivers and water is inherently reflected in many of our festivals. +Chhath festival is associated with the worship of the sun, rivers and ponds. +Millions of people take a dip in the holy rivers on theoccasion of MakarSankranti. +Our festivals, impart to us many social values. +On the one hand, where they have mythological significance, on the other, every festival quite easily in itself teaches the important lesson of life – the value of staying together, imbued with a feeling of brotherhood. +I wish all of you a great year 2019 and do hope that you all to enjoy the oncoming festive season. +Doo share the photographs taken on these festivals with one another so that everyone can witness the diversity of India and the beauty of Indian culture. +My dear countrymen, there is an abundance of events in our culture, of which we can be proud and display them in the entire world with pride – and one of them is the Kumbh Mela. +You must have heard a lot about Kumbh. +People from all over the country and around the world come and participate in the Kumbh. +In the Kumbh Mela, there is a tidal upsurge of faith and reverence. +Millions and millions of people from India and around the world congregate at one place. +The tradition of Kumbh has bloomed and flourished as part of our great cultural heritage. +This time the world famous Kumbh Mela is going to be held in Prayagraj from January 15, and many of you might be waiting eagerly for it to take place. +The process of Sant- Mahatmas converging at the Kumbh Mela has already started. +It is a measure of its global importance that last year UNESCO has marked Kumbh Mela in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. +A few days ago the Ambassadors of many countries witnessed for themselves the preparations for Kumbh. +The national flags of many countries were together hoisted at the Kumbh. +Kumbh Mela is also a huge medium of self discovery, where every visitor experiences a unique feeling and learns to look at the worldly things from a spiritual perspective. +This can be a huge learning experience especially for the youth. +People of Prayagraj are also very enthusiastic about the Kumbh. +This time much emphasis is being laid on cleanliness during Kumbh. +If during the course of this event sanitation prevails along with reverence, then it will lead to a positive message reaching far and wide. +This time every devotee will be able to have a darshan of the pious Akshayavat after the holy dip in the confluence. +This great symbol of people’s faith was locked up in the fort for hundreds of years, due to which the devotees despite a deep seated desire could not get a glimpse of. +Now the entrance gate of Akshayavat have been opened for everyone. +I urge all of you to share different aspects of Kumbh and photos on social media when you go to Kumbh so that more and more people feel inspired to go to Kumbh. +May this Kumbh of Spirituality become Mahakumbh of Indian Philosophy. +May this Kumbh of faith also become Mahakumbh of ofnationalism. +And a Mahakumbh of National integration +May this Kumbh of the devotees also become Mahakumbh of global tourists. +We are fortunate that South African President Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa is going to grace the Republic Day celebrations as chief guest. +It was in South Africa, where Mahatma Gandhi had started his first Satyagraha and stood rock steady in protest of apartheid. +He also founded the Phoenix and Tolstoy Farms, from where the demand for peace and justice echoed to the whole world. +We all know that Nelson Mandela was the role model of struggle against racism all over the world and who was the inspiration for Mandela? +He derivedinspiration and endurancefor spending many years in jail from Bapu himself. +Mandela said this about Bapu – “Mahatma is an integral part of our history, because it was here that he used his first experiment with truth; It was here, That he had displayed a great deal of determination for justice; It was here, he developed the philosophy of his satyagraha and his methods of struggle. +“Mandela used to consider Bapu as his role model. +Both Bapu and Mandela are not only sources of inspiration for the entire world, but their ideals have always encouraged us to create a society full of love and compassion. +My dear countrymen, a few days ago, a DGP conference was held at Kevdia on the banks of Narbada in Gujarat, where the world’s highest statue ‘Statue of Unity’ is situated, there I had a meaningful discussion with the top policemen of the country. +What kind of steps should be taken to strengthen the security of the country and that of the countrymen, was discussed in detail. +At the same conference, I also announced the awarding of ‘Sardar Patel Award’ for National Integration to be given to those who have contributed for national unity in any form. +My dear countrymen, January 13 is the date ofthe sacred festival observed in honour of Guru Gobind Singh ji’s birth anniversary. +Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born in Patna. +For most of his life, his work was centred in North India and he sacrificed his life in Nanded, Maharashtra. +His birthplace was Patna, Karmabhoomi was north India and the last moments were spent in Nanded. +In a way, entire India received his blessings. +A glimpse of his life span reflects a glimpse of the entire India. +After the martyrdom of his father Shri Guru TeghBahadurji, Guru Gobind Singh Ji attained the hallowed position of the Guru at a tender ageof nine years. +Guru Gobind Singh ji had inherited courage to fight for justice from the legacy of Sikh Gurus. +He was bestowed with a quiet and simple personality, but whenever, an attempt was made to suppress the voice of the poor and the weak, or injustice was done to them, then Guru Gobind Singh ji raised his voice firmly for the poor and the weak and therefore it is said – +“I can make one fight against one hundred and fifteen thousands, +I can make the sparrow fight against the hawk +That be the reason that Gobindsingh be my name.” +He used to preach that strength cannot be demonstrated by fighting against the weaker sections. +Shri Gobind Singh Ji believed that the biggest service is to alleviate human suffering. +I once again bow paying my obeisance to Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji. +Many programs are being organized across the country in celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. +In this regard F.SA.A.I. is engaged in promoting good eating or Safe and Healthy Diet habits. +Under the aegis of “Eat Right India” campaign, ‘Swasth Bharat’ trips are being carried out across the country. +A clean and healthy India will spell a prosperous India also. +Nutritious food is most essential for good health. +In this context, I extend hearty greetings to F.S.S.A.I for this initiative. +I urge you to the utmost, let’s join this initiative. +You should participate in this initiative and especially I urge you to make you children witness these campaigns. +The education regarding importance of food is essential right from childhood. +My dear countrymen, this is the last episode of the year 2018, we will meet again in 2019, and will engage in another episode of Mann Ki Baat. +Whether it is the life of a person, life of a nation, or the lifespan of a society, inspiration, is the basis of progress. +Come, imbued with renewed inspiration, renewed zeal, renewed resolution, new accomplishments, loftier goals – let’s move on, keep moving, change oneself and change the country too. +This will benefit about 48.41 lakh Central Government employees and 62.03 lakh pensioners. +This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. +Visits Cellular Jail in Port Blair Hoists high mast flag, pays floral tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Attends function to mark 75th anniversary of Hoisting of Tricolour on Indian soil by Netaji +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands today. +In Port Blair, he laid a wreath at the Martyrs Column, and visited the Cellular Jail. +At Cellular Jail, he visited the cells of Veer Savarkar, and other freedom fighters. +He hoisted a high mast flag and offered floral tributes at the Statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. +At a public event to mark the 75th anniversary of the hoisting of Tricolour on Indian soil by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the Prime Minister released a commemorative postal stamp, coin, and First Day Cover. +He also unveiled a series of development projects related to the energy, connectivity and health sectors. +Speaking on the occasion, he said that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are not just a symbol of India’s natural beauty, but are also like a place of pilgrimage for Indians. +He said the Andaman and Nicobar Islands remind us of the collective resolve of our freedom fighters. +He said the Union Government is committed to empowering and developing the islands. +He said the development projects unveiled today would further this objective in the field of education, health, connectivity, tourism and employment. +He mentioned his visit to the Cellular Jail, and the point where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had hoisted the tricolour 75 years ago. +He said that the Cellular Jail, where thousands of freedom fighters suffered, is no less than a place of worship for him. +He said the nation will never forget the sacrifices of the freedom fighters. +Recalling Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the Prime Minister said that on Netaji’s call, many youth from the Andamans had dedicated themselves to the freedom of India. +He said the flag on the 150 feet high mast, is an attempt to preserve the memory of this day in 1943, when Netaji unfurled the tricolour. +On this occasion, he announced that Ross Island would now be named Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep; Neil Island would be known as Shaheed Dweep; and Havelock Island would be renamed as SwarajDweep. +The Prime Minister said that today, Indians are working towards creating a strong India, in line with Netaji’s vision. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is working towards strengthening connectivity across the country. +He said that remembering and honouring our heroes, helps strengthen our feeling of integration. +He said the Union Government is making efforts to highlight every glorious chapter of our history. +In this context he mentioned the Panchteerth related to BabasahebAmbedkar, the National Police Memorial, and the Statue of Unity. +He said National Awards have also been announced in the names of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Sardar Patel. +The Prime Minister said that the New India that is being built with the inspiration of these great leaders, has development at its core. +He said the Government is committed to developing the Islands in accordance with the requirements of the environment. +He said special attention will be given to sectors such as tourism, food processing and information technology, as part of industrial development. +The Prime Minister said efforts are being made to make the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as self-sufficient as possible. +He spoke of the expansion of Port Blair dockyard, which will enable maintenance of big ships. +He called for a report on the condition of rural roads in the Islands within two weeks, and said that once the report has been examined, the Union Government will give whatever assistance is possible. +The Prime Minister said that a new Integrated Terminal Building is coming up at Veer Savarkar International Airport. +He said the undersea optical fibre cable from Chennai, once completed, would provide good internet connectivity. +He also spoke of development works in areas such as water, power, clean energy, and health. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for proposal to remove difficulties in granting license to the drivers of the e-rickshaws and e-carts by amending the Section 7 (1) of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, and adding the definition of e-rickshaw and e-cart under the Act. +E-Rickshaws and e-Carts provide affordable and clean last mile connectivity in the transport system. +Such vehicles have been allowed limited power and speed. +Under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, no person can be granted a Learner’s License to drive a transport vehicle, unless he has held the Driving License for a period of at least one year. +As most of the e-rickshaws and e-carts drivers do not have any license, the existing provision will debar them from operating e-Rickshaw / e-Cart for the next one year. +In addition, the definition of e-rickshaw and e-cart has been included under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has been apprised of the protocol signed earlier between India and Czech Republic in the field of heavy industry, especially in industrial cooperation and facilities construction. +Boost to transform domestic nuclear industry +In a significant decision to fast-track India’s domestic nuclear power programme, and give a push to country’s nuclear industry, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for construction of 10 units of India’s indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR). +The total installed capacity of the Plants will be 7000 MW. +The 10 PHWR project will result in a significant augmentation of nuclear power generation capacity. +India has current installed nuclear power capacity of 6780 MW from 22 operational plants. +Another 6700 MWs of nuclear power is expected to come onstream by 2021-22 through projects presently under construction. +As the government marks three years of its nation and people centric governnace, in a first of its kind project for India’s nuclear power sector, the ten new units will come up in fleet mode as a fully homegrown initiative. +It would be one of the flagship “Make in India” projects in this sector. +With likely manufacturing orders of close to 70,000 crores to the domestic industry, the project will help transform Indian nuclear industry by linking our goal of a strong nuclear power sector with our indigenous industrial capacities in high-end technologies. +This Project will bring about substantial economies of scale and maximise cost and time efficiencies by adopting fleet mode for execution. +It is expected to generate more than 33,400 jobs in direct and indirect employment. +With manufacturing orders to domestic industry, it will be a major step towards strengthening India’s credentials as a major nuclear manufacturing powerhouse. +The ten reactors will be part of India’s latest design of 700 MW PHWR fleet with state-of-art technology meeting the highest standards of safety. +The approval also marks a statement of strong belief in the capability of India’s scientific community to build our technological capacities. +The design and development of this project is a testament to the rapid advances achieved by India’s nuclear scientific community and industry. +It underscores the mastery our nuclear scientists have attained over all aspects of indigenous PHWR technology. +India’s record of building and operating PHWR reactors over the last nearly forty years is globally acclaimed. +The Cabinet’s decision reflects the Government’s commitment to prioritise the use of clean power in India’s energy mix, as part of low-carbon growth strategy and to ensure long-term base load requirement for the nation’s industrialization. +It also supports India’s commitment to sustainable development, energy self-sufficiency and bolsters global efforts to combat climate change. +The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi today met the President of Guyana Donald R Ramotar, on the sidelines of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Gandhinagar. +India has approved a new Line of Credit of USD 50 million for the East Bank Demerara -East Coast Road Link Project. +India has also agreed to concessional credit to supply a passenger ferry to help Guyana overcome transportation problems in the northern region. +During his meeting with the Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius, Showkatally Soodhun, the Prime Minister congratulated the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Sir Anerood Jugnauth on his recent election victory and renewed an invitation to him to visit India. +Both sides expressed keenness to enhance cooperation in infrastructure projects and matters related to ocean economy. +During his meeting with Mrs. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Foreign Minister of South Africa, recalled that today was the Founding Day of the African National Congress. +He also recalled the common heritage of the two countries, including struggle against colonial rule. +Both sides are keen to deepen cooperation in sectors such as infrastructure and defence manufacturing; and to strengthen partnerships in multilateral fora. +As a special dispensation, war-widows will be exempt from one-time contribution to join ECHS. +Launched by NDA Government in April 2003, ECHS provides quality medicare to 54 lakh ex-servicemen pensioners, their dependents and a few other categories. +Measures for welfare of Ex-Servicemen: +Today’s decision is yet another landmark step in the pro-active policies of the Government since its very first days for welfare of our valiant ex-servicemen, who rendered valuable service to the country. +Implementation of ‘One Rank One Pension’ for ex-servicemen, a demand which had been pending for over four decades, has resulted in over 20 lakh ex-servicemen receiving more thanRs. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, while expressing his deep concern over the stampede, which occurred at Gandhi Maidan, Patna on October 3rd, 2014 had immediately sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each to the next of the kin and Rs. 50,000/- each to the seriously injured persons from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. +The total involved amount of Rs. 68.50 lakh for 33 death cases and 5 seriously injured cases has been released to Government of Bihar for disbursal to the beneficiaries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and interacted with the recipients of the Nari Shakti Puraskar. +During the interaction, the Prime Minister spoke of “Seva Paramo Dharma” as being an integral part of our culture. +The Prime Minister said that the awardees have devoted their lives, on a mission to serve others. +He mentioned that the nation is celebrating the 150thanniversary of Sister Nivedita, who was an embodiment of selfless service. +Maneka Gandhi, Minister for Women and Child Development, was present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the loss of lives in Bangladesh due to landslides. +Extending India’s solidarity with Bangladesh, the Prime Minister has conveyed India’s readiness in supporting the local search and rescue efforts if required. +“Saddened by the loss of lives in Bangladesh due to landslides. +My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with the injured. +India stands shoulder to shoulder with Bangladesh. +We stand ready to support local search and rescue efforts if required.” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the implementation of the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) on pay and pensionary benefits. +It will come into effect from 01.01.2016. +In the past, the employees had to wait for 19 months for the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations at the time of 5th CPC, and for 32 months at the time of implementation of 6th CPC. +However, this time, 7th CPC recommendations are being implemented within 6 months from the due date. +The Cabinet has also decided that arrears of pay and pensionary benefits will be paid during the current financial year (2016-17) itself, unlike in the past when parts of arrears were paid in the next financial year. +The recommendations will benefit over 1 crore employees. +This includes over 47 lakh central government employees and 53 lakh pensioners, of which 14 lakh employees and 18 lakh pensioners are from the defence forces. +Highlights: +1. The present system of Pay Bands and Grade Pay has been dispensed with and a new Pay Matrix as recommended by the Commission has been approved. +The status of the employee, hitherto determined by grade pay, will now be determined by the level in the Pay Matrix. +Separate Pay Matrices have been drawn up for Civilians, Defence Personnel and for Military Nursing Service. +The principle and rationale behind these matrices are the same. +Index of Rationalisation has been approved for arriving at minimum pay in each Level of the Pay Matrix depending upon the increasing role, responsibility and accountability at each step in the hierarchy. +3. The minimum pay has been increased from Rs. 7000 to 18000 p.m. +Starting salary of a newly recruited employee at lowest level will now be Rs. 18000 whereas for a freshly recruited Class I officer, it will be Rs. 56100. +This reflects a compression ratio of 1:3.12 signifying that pay of a Class I officer on direct recruitment will be three times the pay of an entrant at lowest level. +4. For the purpose of revision of pay and pension, a fitment factor of 2.57 will be applied across all Levels in the Pay Matrices. +After taking into account the DA at prevailing rate, the salary/pension of all government employees/pensioners will be raised by at least 14.29 % as on 01.01.2016. +5. Rate of increment has been retained at 3 %. +This will benefit the employees in future on account of higher basic pay as the annual increments that they earn in future will be 2.57 times than at present. +6. The Cabinet approved further improvements in the Defence Pay Matrix by enhancing Index of Rationalisation for Level 13A (Brigadier) and providing for additional stages in Level 12A (Lieutenant Colonel), 13 (Colonel) and 13A (Brigadier) in order to bring parity with Combined Armed Police Forces (CAPF) counterparts at the maximum of the respective Levels. +7. Some other decisions impacting the employees including Defence & Combined Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel include : +· Gratuity ceiling enhanced from Rs. 10 to 20 lakh. +In order to ensure that no hardship is caused to employees, four interest free advances namely Advances for Medical Treatment, TA on tour/transfer, TA for family of deceased employees and LTC have been retained. +All other interest free advances have been abolished. +There will be an additional implication of Rs. 12,133 crore on account of payments of arrears of pay and pension for two months of 2015-16. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Brazil on cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy. +The MoU will enhance bilateral cooperation between India and Brazil in the areas of Traditional Systems of Medicine. +This will be of immense importance to both countries considering their shared cultural heritage. +India is blessed with well-developed systems of traditional medicine including medicinal plants, which hold tremendous potential in the global health scenario. +India and Brazil share a very close and multi-fraceted relationship at bilateral level as well as in plurilateral for a such as BRICS, BASIC, G-20, G-4, BSA, and in the larger multilateral bodies such as the UN, WTO, UNESCO and Who. +Brazil is one of the most important trading partners of India in the entire Latin America and Carribean region. +Both India and Brazil are rich in biodiversity with a large range of health practices based on medicinal plants and history of use of traditional medicine. +Ayurveda, Yoga and other traditional systems are popular in Brazil. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for amending section 23(1) and section 23(2)(i)(a) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 to rectify the anomaly in allocating the number of seats in Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Council and to enhance the total number of seats to 58 as per the provisions of the Constitution. +Since the existing strength of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly is 175 and 1/3rd of its strength is constitutionally permissible, it is hence proposed to increase the strength to 58 MLCs from current strength of 50 MLCs. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Belgium on Cooperation in the field of Information Communication Technology and Electronics (ICT&E). +The MoU was signed during the State Visit of King Philippe of the Belgium to India on November 7, 2017. +The MoU intends cooperation between India and Belgium including sharing of best practices in the area of ICT&E policy; Digital agenda technology and research with special emphasis on developing ICT&E manufacturing and services; e-Governance and e-Public Service Delivery, participation in conferences, study visits and exchange of experts, cyber security and to resolve issues of data adequacy, market access, trade and services. +Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is collaborating with number of countries for fostering bilateral and multilateral ICT cooperation. +ICT, in the present knowledge era, has the potential to play an important role in fostering economic growth, as well as in other dimensions of economic and social development of a country. +MeitY has entered into MoUs/Agreements with counterpart organizations/agencies of various countries to promote close cooperation and exchange of information in the area of ICT. +To further enhance cooperation with various countries, particularly in view of the new initiatives taken by Government of India like “Digital India”, “Make in India” etc., there is an increased need for exploring business opportunities and attracting investment in the technology sector which are of interest. +India and Belgium enjoy close and friendly ties. +Belgium is India’s second largest trade partner with the European Union (EU). +Belgium has expertise in the Communication Technology sector especially in the field of e-Governance and electronic ID card and Tax on web etc. +During Prime Minister’s visit to Brussels in March 2016 to attend the EU Summit and bilateral dialogue with Belgium, it was proposed to sign an MOU in IT and Electronics sector between India and Belgium. +During the meeting, both sides affirmed their commitment to work together for digital empowerment of people on Digital India and Digital Belgium. +He unveiled several Development Projects for Jharkhand. +Governor of Jharkhand Ms DraupadiMurmu, Union Minister Shri Jayant Sinha and CM of Jharkhand Shri Raghuvar Das was also present among other dignitaries. +Addressing the gathering the PM said “I pay homage to Shri Vijay Soreng, the braveson of Jharkhand who laid his life for the nation. +At every step we will have to take care of the families of martyrs”. +PM inaugurated the Medical Colleges at Hazaribagh, Dumka and Palamu. +The foundation stone of these colleges were laid by PM in 2017. +The new Medical colleges are built at a cost of Rs 885 crores. +Each college campus is made disabled friendly. +The modern medical facilities will benefit 1.5 crores people of 11 districts of Jharkhand. +And constant efforts are being made to improve the health infrastructure of the state”. +He laid the Foundation Stone for four 500-bedded hospitals at Hazaribagh, Dumka, Palamu and Jamshedpur. +PM said that health and safe drinking water are inseperable. +And the water projects unveiled in Jharkhand will ensure good health of its people. +PM inaugurated four Rural Water Supply Schemes in Ramgarh and Hazaribagh districts. +He also laid the Foundation Stone for Urban Water Supply Scheme in Hazaribagh. +At a cost of Rs 500 crores this project will supply safe drinking water to 56000 households of Hazaribagh. +The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Sahibganj Sewerage Treatment Plant, and the Madhusudan Ghat, under the NamamiGange initiative. +PM distributed cheques to select beneficiaries to mark the launch of DBT scheme for farmers to purchase mobile phones under e-NAM. +The PM said “the scheme will benefit 27 lakh farmers. +With the help of a smartphone they would not only get weather information but information of crop prices, government schemes and new methods of farming also”. +PM e-inaugurated the Only Women Engineering College at Ramgarh. +PM said that it is first such college in Eastern India and only third in entire India where only women will study engineering. +Foundation Stone for the Centre for Tribal Studies, Acharya VinobaBhave University, Hazaribagh was also laid by PM. +He said that the institute will help in garnering and spreading the knowledge on tribal ways and culture. +The PM said that sabkasaathsabkavikas entails empowerment of all sections of the society including poor, women, youth and tribals. +And the college for women and tribals are efforts in this direction. +The Prime Minister distributed packed milk to select school-children to mark the launch of Kanha Milk Scheme for students in government schools. +The students will get 200 ml of milk everyday which will help in fighting malnourishment. +PM said “I hope each child will realise her full potential and make the nation proud”. +PM reiterated that his government is making efforts to preserve and promote the memories of tribal heroes of our freedom struggle in museums and memorials. +The Birsamunda Museum of Jharkhand is one such example. +The agreement will be signed on 15th June at the BBIN Transport Minister’s meeting in Thimpu, Bhutan. +Signing of the BBIN agreement will promote safe, economical efficient and environmentally sound road transport in the sub-region and will further help each country in creating an institutional mechanism for regional integration. +BBIN countries will be benefited by mutual cross border movement of passenger and goods for overall economic development of the region. +The people of the four countries will benefit through seamless movement of goods and passenger across borders. +Each Party will bear its own costs arising from implementation of this agreement. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and the President of France, Mr. Francois Hollande, today travelled by metro train from Delhi to Gurgaon, for the foundation stone laying ceremony of the International Solar Alliance. +The other was the International Solar Alliance, which aims at bringing together countries with abundant sunshine, to harness the power of the sun. +The Prime Minister emphasized that the International Solar Alliance will be an independent organisation, just like the United Nations. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted people of Bhutan on their National Day. +“On their National Day, I convey my greetings to the people of Bhutan and extend my best wishes for the development journey of Bhutan. +We cherish our long-standing friendship with Bhutan. +Experienced the warm nature of people of Bhutan during my visit”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives in the earth quake that has affected parts of Iran and Iraq. +“My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones in the tragic earthquake that has affected parts of Iran and Iraq. +I pray that those injured recover at the earliest”, the Prime Minister said. +Addressing the Nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of India’s 69th Independence Day, the Prime Minister gave a broad overview of the achievements of Team India, over the last 15 months. +He said that the unity, simplicity and brotherhood of 125 crore Indians, is the strength of this Nation, and casteism and communalism have no place in our society. +The Prime Minister explained how various initiatives of his Government have resulted in removing corruption from different aspects of governance. +In this context, he highlighted the auctions of coal, spectrum and FM radio licenses. +He mentioned the PAHAL scheme for direct transfer of LPG subsidy, which has resulted in savings of Rs. 15,000 crore. +He said the introduction of “neem-coated urea” has helped to end diversion of subsidized urea to non-agricultural purposes. +He acknowledged that the common man still faces problems because of corruption. +The Prime Minister described corruption as a termite, which needs bitter medicine, with possible side-effects, to cure. +Through the various initiatives of the Government, the Prime Minister highlighted how each had contributed to the elimination of middlemen. +He said that in the last year, the CBI had registered 1800 cases against corruption, as against 800 in the year before that. +The Prime Minister said important steps had been taken in the drive against black money, and the outflow of unaccounted income to foreign destinations had been checked. +The Prime Minister stressed on the need for farmers’ welfare, and declared that the Ministry of Agriculture would be renamed as the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. +He said that his Government was focusing on raising farm productivity, and providing electricity and irrigation to farmers. +He said the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana had been launched with an outlay of Rs. 50,000 crore. +The Prime Minister recalled some of the resolves he had made in his Independence Day address last year. +He said the promise of toilets in all schools had been almost fulfilled, with the cooperation of States. +He said financial inclusion had received a big boost with the opening of 17 crore bank accounts through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. +He said the Rs. 20,000 crore deposited in the Jan Dhan accounts reflected the “richness of India’s poor” (गरीबों की अमीरी). +The Prime Minister also spoke of the welfare schemes launched by the Union Government, including Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, and the schemes launched for labour welfare. +Describing children as the greatest brand ambassadors for “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,” the Prime Minister said this vision had generated great interest for the people of India. +He said each of the 1.25 lakh bank branches, should encourage at least one Dalit or Adivasi entrepreneur, and at least one woman entrepreneur. +“Start-Up India, Stand-Up India,” the Prime Minister said. +On the long-standing demand from ex-serviceman for One-Rank, One-Pension, the Prime Minister reiterated that the demand had been accepted by the Government “in-principle.” +The Prime Minister reiterated his Government’s resolve to make India a developed Nation by 2022, with a house and access to basic services like electricity, to all. +He said the Government had resolved to connect with electricity, all the 18,500 villages which still remain without power, within the next 1000 days. +He also reiterated his vision for the development of eastern India. +Questioning the practice of “interviews” for recruitments even at relatively junior levels, the Prime Minister called upon concerned departments to end this practice at the earliest, and to promote merit by recruiting only through transparent, online processes. +Sr. Gen. U Min Aung Hliang, Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Defence Services called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Condemning the recent terrorist attack on pilgrims of Amarnath Yatra, Sr. Gen. U Min Aung Hliang expressed his sincere condolences for the victims of the attack. +The Prime Minister conveyed his condolences at the loss of lives of Myanmar armed forces personnel and their families in the tragic air crash of 7 June 2017. +Sr. Gen. U Min Aung Hliang briefed the Prime Minister about bilateral defence and security cooperation. +The Prime Minister appreciated the close cooperation between the Armed forces of India and Myanmar. +The Prime Minister said that Myanmar is a key pillar of India’s “Act East” Policy, and expressed his firm commitment to strengthen the bilateral relationship in all areas. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has tweeted in Hebrew to greet the people on the occasion of Hanukkah. +Also tweeting in English, the Prime Minister said, “Wishing my Jewish friends a Happy Hanukkah! +May this Festival of Lights and the festive season ring in peace, hope and well-being for all.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and interacted with sixteen Governors of various provinces of Russia. +The Prime Minister reiterated his vision that relationships between regions and provinces of two countries are a vital part of nurturing the bilateral relationship. +He recalled warmly his visit to Astrakhan province of Russia in 2001, as Chief Minister of Gujarat. +The Governors explained opportunities for increasing interaction, people to people, and business links between their provinces, and India. +The Governors who attended today’s interaction included Governors of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Astrakhan Oblast, Irkutsk region, Moscow region, Primorye Territory, Republic of Kalmykia, Tatarstan, St. Petersburg, Sakhalin Oblast, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Tomsk Oblast, Tula Oblast, Ulyanovsk Oblast, Khabarovskiy Krai, Chelyabinsk Oblast, and Yaroslavl Oblast. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of former Karnataka CM Shri N. Dharam Singh. +“Saddened by the demise of former Karnataka CM Shri N. Dharam Singh. +My thoughts are with his family & supporters in this sad hour. +Shri N. Dharam Singh had rich experience in Karnataka & national politics. +His dedicated service towards society will be remembered.” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the 90 years celebrations of the Essel Group in New Delhi. +The event was also attended by President Pranab Mukherjee. +Welcoming the Prime Minister, Chairman of the Essel Group Shri Subhash Chandra thanked him for graciously accepting the invitation for this event. +He explained Essel Group’s recent social initiatives on themes such as water supply, power supply, Swachh Bharat and Affordable Housing. +Two social initiatives were launched by the Prime Minister on the occasion. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described the programme as an illustration of Indian traditions. +He said that India has had a tradition where successive generations take family values forward, and contribute to the family by adding their capacities and capabilities. +Appreciating the social initiatives of the Essel Group, the Prime Minister said that the Swachh Bharat Mission provides opportunities for a large number of social entrepreneurs to emerge. +He said that while “Sarthi” presented a good blend of rights and duties, the DSC Foundation would help build a large number of job creators. +The Prime Minister urged everyone present to work towards specific goals for what they could do for the country by 2022 – the 75th anniversary of independence. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today received Mr. Jacques Audibert, Diplomatic Advisor to the French President. +Mr. Audibert is on a visit to India for the 26th round of India-France Strategic Dialogue which he co-chaired with National Security Advisor, Shri Ajit Doval on 9 October, 2014. +Mr. Audibert handed over a letter from the French President Mr. Hollande to the Prime Minister, in which President Hollande conveyed his strong commitment to further strengthen France’s Strategic Partnership with India and extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit France. +The Prime Minister described France as one of India`s most important global partners that has stood with India through both good and difficult moments. +The Prime Minister welcomed closer cooperation between India and France for meeting their many shared security challenges. +He called for a comprehensive approach to combating terrorism. +The strategy should not only rely on military and intelligence means, but should build a strong international partnership that would generate a social movement to isolate terrorists, including in countries where terrorists finds safe havens, and would also seek to dispel the linkage drawn between religion and terrorism. +The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the all-round progress in bilateral ties, including in areas of trade and investment, defence, security, space, civil nuclear energy and science and technology. +The Prime Minister called for strengthening bilateral engagement in the areas of economic cooperation, tourism and people-to-people contacts. +The Prime Minister thanked Mr. Audibert for President Hollande’s invitation and said that he looked forward to visiting France at an early date. +The Prime Minister also said that he looked forward to meeting President Hollande at the G-20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia, in November 2014. +Foreign Minister of Nepal, Mr. Mahendra Bahadur Pandey called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +He considered the SAARC as a vital instrument to add to the strength of each SAARC nation and advance collective action for shared prosperity in the region. +Committing India`s full support to the SAARC process, he also expressed his strong belief that SAARC countries had much to learn from each other`s experiences and strengths. +Prime Minister said that in addition to promoting regional connectivity and integration, SAARC countries should identify specific areas of common heritage, challenges and opportunities to foster region-wide cooperation. +Prime Minister Modi also conveyed his gratitude to the people and the Government of Nepal for the warmth and affection, as well as the extraordinary hospitality, which he received during his visit to Nepal in August. +He welcomed the progress in key areas of bilateral relations since the visit. +He also expressed hope for early completion drafting process of Nepal`s Constitution. +The President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Xi Jinping and the First Lady Ms. Peng Liyuan arrived in Ahmedabad, Gujarat today. +They were received at the Hyatt Hotel in Ahmedabad by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +The Prime Minister shared the rich Buddhist heritage of Gujarat with the Chinese President and the First Lady through an exhibition set up at Hyatt Hotel. +1. MoU establishing ‘Sister Province’ relations between Guangdong, China and Gujarat, India which covers cooperation in economy and trade, environmental protection, public policy education, health, science and technology, tourism and culture. +PM: I come to beseech Jayapur – adopt me. +Teach me how to solve the problems of villages. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited Jayapur village of Varanasi district. +He announced that as the Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from Varanasi, he had selected Jayapur as the village under Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. +The Prime Minister is in Varanasi on a two-day visit. +Setting at rest all speculation over why he was choosing Jayapur, the Prime Minister recalled that soon after he was nominated to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi, he had learnt of a tragic fire incident in this village. +He had then spoken to officers and people to coordinate relief efforts for the village. +Shri Narendra Modi said that it is not MPs who are taking guardianship of the village under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, but villagers who were taking MPs under their wing, through this scheme. +He said that a good public representative has a lot to learn from villagers, their wealth of experience and their insights on solving problems. +He said the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana does not mean infusing additional funds in a village, but ensuring that schemes are properly implemented, and the entire village participates in solving problems and ensuring development. +“I come to beseech Jayapur – adopt me. +Teach me how to solve the problems of villages,” the Prime Minister said. +He said he wanted to remove the deficiencies that had prevented villages from progressing over the last 60 years. +The Prime Minister laid a lot of emphasis on generating social consciousness, and making significant achievements through the collective will of the people. +He said such positive social energy can help create a model village. +The Prime Minister also called for every family in Jayapur village to celebrate the birth of every girl child as a festival. +The Prime Minister said he has a lot of plans for Varanasi, but he hopes to achieve these objectives through people’s power – Janshakti. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched a historic support and outreach programme for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. +As part of this programme, the Prime Minister unveiled12 key initiatives which will help the growth, expansion and facilitation of MSMEs across the country. +The Prime Minister said that the 12 decisions that he is announcing today, will mark a new chapter for the MSME sector. +The Prime Minister said that there are five key aspects for facilitating the MSME sector. +These include access to credit, access to market, technology upgradation, ease of doing business, and a sense of security for employees. +He said that as a Diwali gift for the sector, the 12 announcements he is making, will address each of these five categories. +Access to Credit +He said a link to this portal will be made available through the GST portal. +The Prime Minister asserted that in New India, no one should be compelled to visit a bank branch repeatedly. +The Prime Minister mentioned the second announcement as a 2 percent interest subvention for all GST registered MSMEs, on fresh or incremental loans. +For exporters who receive loans in the pre-shipment and post-shipment period, the Prime Minister announced an increase in interest rebate from 3 percent to 5 percent. +The third announcement made by the Prime Minister was that all companies with a turnover more than Rs. 500 crore, must now compulsorily be brought on the Trade Receivables e-Discounting System (TReDS). +He said that joining this portal will enable entrepreneurs to access credit from banks, based ontheir upcoming receivables. +This will resolve their problems of cash cycle. +Access to Markets +The Prime Minister said that on access to markets for entrepreneurs, the Union Government has taken a number of steps already. +In this context, he made his fourth announcement, thatpublic sector companies have now been asked to compulsorily procure 25 percent, instead of 20 percent of their total purchases, from MSMEs. +The Prime Minister said his fifth announcement is related to women entrepreneurs. +He said that out of the 25 percent procurement mandated from MSMEs, 3 percent must now be reserved for women entrepreneurs. +The Prime Minister said that more than 1.5 lakh suppliers have now registered with GeM, out of which 40,000 are MSMEs. +He said transactions worth more than Rs. 14,000 crore have been made so far through GeM. +He said the sixth announcement is that all public sector undertakings of the Union Government must now compulsorily be a part of GeM. +He said they should also get all their vendors registered on GeM. +Technology Upgradation +Coming to technological upgradation, the Prime Minister said that tool rooms across the country are a vital part of product design. +His seventh announcement was that 20 hubs will be formed across the country, and 100 spokes in the form of tool rooms will be established. +Ease of Doing Business +On Ease of Doing Business, the Prime Minister said his eighth announcement is related to pharma companies. +He said clusters will be formed of pharma MSMEs. +He said 70 percent cost of establishing these clusters will be borne by the Union Government. +The Prime Minister said that the ninth announcementis on simplification of government procedures. +He said the ninth announcement is that the return under 8 labour laws and 10 Union regulations must now be filed only once a year. +The Prime Minister said that the tenth announcement is that now the establishments to be visited by an Inspector will be decided through a computerised random allotment. +The Prime Minister noted that as part of establishing a unit, an entrepreneur needs two clearances namely, environmental clearance and consent to establish. +He said that the eleventh announcement is that under air pollution and water pollution laws, now both these have been merged as a single consent. +He further said that the return will be accepted through self-certification. +Social Security for MSME Sector Employees +The Prime Minister also spoke of social security for the MSME sector employees. +He said that a mission will be launched to ensure that they have Jan Dhan Accounts, provident fund and insurance. +The Prime Minister said that these decisions would go a long way in strengthening the MSME sector in India. +He said the implementation of this outreach programme will be intensively monitored over the next 100 days. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will receive French President Emmanuel Macron in Varanasi tomorrow morning. +The two leaders will leave for Mirzapur, where they shall inaugurate a solar power plant, before returning to Varanasi. +In Varanasi, the two leaders will visit the Deen Dayal Hastkala Sankul. +They shall interact with artisans and view a live demonstration of their crafts. +Prime Minister Modi and President Macron will then arrive at the famous Assi Ghat in Varanasi, where they will board a boat for a ride along the Ghats of the Ganga, culminating at the historic Dashashwamedh Ghat. +Prime Minister Modi will host a lunch in honour of the French President. +In the afternoon, the Prime Minister will flag off a train between Maduadih Railway Station in Varanasi, and Patna. +He will launch various development projects and address a public meeting at the DLW Grounds in Varanasi. +Doris Francis is undergoing treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi. +The hospital authorities have been requested to provide utmost care to the patient. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval to the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to apply to the Registrar of Companies for (i) converting it into a Section 3 company under the Companies Act, 2013 (No, 18 of 2013); and (ii) renaming it as the Renewable Energy Corporation of India (RECI). +The major impact of the decision will be:- +(1) SECI will become a self-sustaining and self-generating organization. +(2) SECI will engage itself in owning solar power plants generating and selling power and in other segments of solar sector activities, including manufacturing of solar products and materials, +(3) SECI will become RECI after change of its name and then will take up development of all segments of renewable energy namely, geo-thermal, off-shore wind, tidal etc. apart from solar energy. +Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 [earlier Section 25 of the Companies, Act 1956] provides for formation of companies with charitable, objects. +Under this provision, the commercial aspect of a business entity and its growth is completely prohibited. +This will also reduce stress on transmission and distribution networks, resulting in better grid management. +In course of the presentation made by NITI Aayog, it was noted that there has been phenomenal progress in several key sectors, including renewable energy, and railways. +In the new and renewable energy sector, the cumulative installed capacity has crossed 44 GigaWatts. +Targets have been met for various components, and various projects under Centre and State policies. +The Prime Minister was briefed on plans and strategies to further ramp up solar energy production, including through rooftop generation. +In the aviation sector, the Prime Minister reviewed progress made in key policy areas such as safety and connectivity. +It was noted that eight Indian airports are ranked among the top 5 globally in their respective categories. +The Prime Minister was also briefed on steps being taken to further boost regional connectivity, and further improve customer satisfaction indices at airports. +Indian Railways has achieved a target of daily passenger movement of 2.25 crore. +240 unmanned crossings have been eliminated in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. +In the power sector, 3.5 crore LED bulbs have been distributed in the same period. +In the ports sector, there has been considerable progress in average vessel turnaround time. +6.94 lakh rural houses have been completed in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, as compared to a target of 6 lakh houses. +Reviewing the progress in the petroleum and natural gas sector, the Prime Minister sought to know the steps being taken to ramp up ethanol blending of petrol. +He was informed that over 15 crore households were covered under Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG in FY16. +Top officials from various infrastructure sector Ministries, NITI Aayog, and PMO attended the meeting. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Shri Sushil Koirala, former Nepal PM. +My condolences to the Koirala family and people of Nepal in this hour of grief,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted and saluted the teaching community on Teachers’ Day. +The Prime Minister also paid tributes to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. +“Greetings and salutations to the teaching community on Teachers’ Day. +My tributes to the great scholar and teacher Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan”, the Prime Minister said. +The Committee lauded PM’s initiatives to make the government cleaner through anti-corruption measures and demonetization. +The Committee also credited Prime Minister for his contribution towards regional and global peace through a proactive foreign policy with countries around the world under the ‘Modi Doctrine’ and the ‘Act East Policy.’ +Prime Minister Modi is the fourteenth recipient of this award. +Expressing his gratitude for the prestigious honour and in light of India’s deepening partnership with the Republic of Korea, Prime Minister Modi has accepted the award. +The award will be presented by the Seoul Peace Prize Foundation at a mutually convenient time. +The Seoul Peace Prize was established to crystallize the Korean people’s yearning for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the rest of the world. +The Seoul Peace Prize has been awarded biennially to those individuals who have made their mark through contributions to the harmony of mankind, reconciliation between nations and to world peace. +Past laureates include distinguished global personalities like former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and renowned international relief organizations like Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam. +He said 2nd October marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri; and is an occasion to reflect on how far we have travelled towards our goal of Swachh Bharat. +He recalled how the Swachh Bharat Movement had been initiated three years ago, amid immense criticism. +He said he is convinced that the path that Mahatma Gandhi has shown, cannot be wrong. +He said that even if there are challenges, that does not mean one must shy away from them. +The Prime Minister said that today people are expressing their desire for cleanliness in one voice. +He asserted that Swachhata cannot be achieved through the efforts of leaders and governments, but can only be achieved through the efforts of the society. +He said that whatever has been achieved till date, is also the achievement of the Swachhagrahi people of India. +If Swaraj was achieved by the Satyagrahis, Shrestha Bharat would be achieved by the Swachhagrahis, the Prime Minister said. +Mentioning the Swachhata rankings of cities, the Prime Minister said they have engendered a positive, competitive atmosphere. +Swachhata needs a revolution of ideas as well; and competition gives a platform of ideas to the concept of Swachhata, he said. +The Prime Minister congratulated all those who contributed during the “Swachhata hi Seva” fortnight; but added that a lot more needs to be done. +(c) Expenditure towards overlays and equipment including display boards, etc. may be incurred. +The total cost, however, will be within Rs.95 crore as approved earlier. +(d) In the eventuality of any additional requirement of funds, Department of Sports will take up the matter with the Department of Expenditure. +(e) The Sports Ministry has been authorized to constitute Organizing Committee, for conduct of the event. +US President Mr. Barack Obama has called the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, through the newly established hotline. +Both leaders also exchanged the Diwali greetings. +“A short while ago President of the United States called. +We exchanged Diwali greetings. +This was our first conversation through the newly established hotline. +President Obama and I discussed a wide range of other issues as well. +It was good knowing how White House is marking Diwali. +President Obama and I look forward to meeting in Turkey during the G20 Summit”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, arrived in Colombo this evening. +He was received at the airport by the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mr. Ranil Wickramsinghe, and other senior Ministers. +Both Prime Ministers later arrived at the Seema Malaka Temple, where they were received by the Chief Monk of the Temple, among other dignitaries. +The Prime Minister offered flowers at the altar of the Temple. +Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Wickramsinghe together pressed a switch for the lamp-lighting ceremony on the eve of Vesak Day, characterised by brilliant multi coloured lights and a fireworks display. +I am delighted to be on my first visit to Manila in this landmark 50th year of ASEAN’s establishment. +We are also celebrating 25 years of ASEAN – India dialogue partnership. +I compliment the Philippines for its able stewardship of ASEAN during this significant year and thank you, Mr. President, for the excellent arrangements made for this Summit. +I also thank the honourable Prime Minister of Vietnam for Vietnam’s contribution as Country Coordinator to further strengthen the ASEAN-India partnership. +ASEAN’s remarkable journey is indeed worthy of reflection as much as it is of celebration. +On this historic occasion, I am confident that ASEAN will further resolve to work together with one vision, one identity and as one independent community. +India’s Act East Policy is shaped around the ASEAN, and its centrality in the regional security architecture of the Indo-Pacific region is evident. +Our wide-ranging agenda of cooperation under the 3rd ASEAN-India Plan of Action has progressed well covering the three crucial pillars of politico-security, economic and cultural partnership. +Maritime links established thousands of years ago between India and ASEAN countries have enabled our trade relations in the past and we have to work closely to further strengthen them. +India assures the ASEAN of its steady support towards achieving a rules-based regional security architecture that best attests to the region’s interests and its peaceful development. +We have individually strived very hard to fight terrorism and violent extremism. +It is time that we jointly address this challenge by intensifying cooperation in this crucial area. +The 1.25 billion people of India are keen to welcome the ASEAN Leaders as our Chief Guests at India’s 69th Republic Day Celebrations. +I am committed to working with you to realize our common destiny. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has written to the Prime Minister of Netherlands, Mr. Mark Rutte, expressing his condolences on the loss of lives on board MH17. +Shri Narendra Modi wrote that the people of India share the sorrow, and stand in mourning with the bereaved families and the Dutch people. +The Prime Minister wrote that he hopes the circumstances of the disaster are established quickly and that such tragedies are prevented. +Boost to road connectivity, housing for poor, water supply & sewerage system in Solapur, Maharashtra +PM to lay foundation stone of 30,000 houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Underground Sewerage System and Sewage Treatment Plants to be unveiled +New NH-52: Four Laned Section of Solapur-Tuljapur-Osmanabad to be dedicated to the nation +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Solapur in Maharashtra tomorrow. +He will launch several development projects and lay foundation stones for various Projects. +Giving a boost to road transport and connectivity in, the Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation Four Laned Section of Solapur – Tuljapur – Osmanabad of NH-211 (New NH-52). +Prime Minister will lay foundation Stone of 30,000 houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. +These will primarily benefit poor homeless people like rag pickers, rickshaw drivers, textile workers,beedi workers, etc. +The total cost of the project is Rs.1811.33 crores, out of which total 750 crores will be provided by Central & State Government as assistance. +In keeping with his vision of Swachh Bharat, the Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation Underground Sewerage System, and three Sewage Treatment Plants in Solapur. +This will increase the sewer coverage of the town and improve sanitation in the city. +It will replace the existing system and also connect to the trunk sewers being implemented under AMRUT Mission. +The Prime Minister will also lay foundation stone of the Combined Project of Improvement in Water Supply and Sewerage System, as part of Area Based Development in Solapur Smart City, Augmentation of Drinking Water Supply from Ujani Dam to Solapur City and Underground Sewerage System under AMRUT Mission. +The sanctioned cost of the project is Rs. 244 Cr under Smart City Mission. +This project is expected to bring significant improvement in service delivery and improve public health enabled by technology as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens. +He will also address a public gathering in the city. +This is Prime Minister’s second visit to the city. +In his earlier visit on 16 August 2014, he laid foundation stone for four laning of Solapur – Maharashtra / Karnataka Border section of NH 9 and dedicated 765 kV Solapur – Raichur power transmission line. +PM visits ancient Toji Temple at Kyoto with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. +PM visits Kinkaku-ji Temple – The Golden Pavilion at Kyoto. +PM raises concern for sickle cell anaemia patients during visit to stem cell research centre at Kyoto University. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the ancient Toji Temple in Kyoto. +He was accompanied on the visit to this Buddhist shrine, by the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe. +The Prime Minister also visited the Golden Pavilion – the Kinkaku-ji Temple – at Kyoto, where he also interacted with a number of visitors who greeted him enthusiastically. +The Prime Minister visited CiRA – Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, at Kyoto University. +He interacted with the Center`s Director, Mr. Shinya Yamanaka. +The Prime Minister expressed concern over the prevalence of sickle cell anaemia, especially among tribal communities across India. +The Prime Minister urged Mr. Yamanaka to work towards a cure for this. +Mr. Yamanaka said that there are currently no Indian researchers at his institute, and he would like Indian scientists to conduct research at the institute. +The Indian Army has donated over Rs. 100 crore to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. +This amount has been raised by officers and soldiers of the Army donating a day’s salary each. +The cheque was handed over to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Dalbir Singh, at the traditional “At Home” at Army House on the occasion of the 67th Army Day. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has bowed to Sri Guru Nanak DevJi, on Guru Nanak Jayanti. +“Shri Guru Nanak DevJi taught us the path of truth, righteousness and compassion. +He was committed towards eradicating injustice and inequality from society. +He also believed in the power of education. +We bow to him on his Jayanti and recall his inspiring thoughts”, the Prime Minister said. +PM: Sardar Patel gave us “Ek Bharat” – let us all make “Shreshth Bharat” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today paid homage to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on his birth anniversary. +Addressing an enthusiastic gathering of youth and students at Rajpath in New Delhi, he said that the unity of India had been bonded by Sardar Patel. +He said that it was the strength and wisdom of Sardar Patel’s decision making that had thwarted all evil designs, and ensured the emergence of modern, independent India. +The Prime Minister said that Sardar Patel had given us “Ek Bharat,” and it was now up to us to make it “Shresth Bharat.” +He said unity, peace and amity, were the axioms on which 125 crore Indians can move forward. +The Prime Minister recalled Sardar Patel’s initiatives as Mayor of Ahmedabad during the 1920s, including a campaign for cleanliness, and a proposal for 50 percent reservation for women. +Shri Narendra Modi outlined a new scheme “Ek Bharat, Shresth Bharat” which the Union Government is working on, in consultation with the States. +He said under this scheme, two states would undertake a unique partnership for a period of one year. +The year would be marked by cultural and student exchanges, which would give an opportunity to the people of these two states to understand and come closer to each other. +He said different states could partner each other every year. +The Prime Minister administered the pledge to the assembled gathering, and flagged off the “Run for Unity.” +The Lt. Governor of Delhi Shri Najeeb Jung, the Chief Minister of Delhi Shri Arvind Kejriwal, and Union Ministers Shri Rajnath Singh and Shri Venkaiah Naidu were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people on the occasion of Kutchi New Year. +“On Kutchi New Year, the auspicious occasion of Ashadhi Bij, greetings to those celebrating. +Praying for a year filled with joy & prosperity”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Proposal for Notification of Commitments under the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of World Trade Organization (WTO), ratification and acceptance of the Instrument of Acceptance of Protocol of TFA to the WTO Secretariat and constitution of the National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF). +The Trade Facilitation Agreement contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. +It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. +These objectives are in consonance with India’s “Ease of Doing Business” initiative. +The Trade Facilitation Agreement shall enter into force for the notified members upon acceptance by two-third WTO Members. +To facilitate both domestic coordination and implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, a National Committee on Trade Facilitation would be set up under the Joint Chair of Secretary, Department of Revenue and Secretary, Department of Commerce. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, spoke to Prime Minister of Sweden Mr. Stefan Löfven today. +“Had a good discussion with H. E. Mr. Stefan Löfven, Swedish PM, on the phone. +I deeply appreciate Sweden’s support for Make in India”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that the banking sector is poised to achieve a big boost in growth in rural areas. +He said this would be similar to the growth achieved by the telecom sector some years ago. +The Prime Minister was speaking at the launch of the IDFC Bank in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister complimented IDFC for its successful journey of 18 years so far, and said that it was now embarking on a more challenging role, as it expands into banking, especially in the rural areas. +He said that from helping to build infrastructure, the organization is now progressing to building lives (jeevan-nirmaan). +The Prime Minister said the entire banking sector is undergoing major transformation with the advent of latest technology, and the future of banking would not just be premises-less and paper-less, but also, eventually, currency-less, and this would help curb black money. +The Prime Minister described the banking sector reforms being undertaken by the Union Government, especially in areas such as senior appointments, creation of a bank board bureau, re-capitalization of banks, de-stressing of assets, empowering bank management through zero-interference, creation of a framework of accountability through Key Performance Indicators, and reform of governance of banks. +Union Minister for Finance Shri Arun Jaitley, and Union Minister of State for Finance, Shri Jayant Sinha were present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and South Africa on cooperation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes. +The MoU was signed in Johannesburg on 26th July 2018. +The areas of cooperation under this MoU are the following: +1. Remote sensing of the earth; +2. Satellite communication and satellite-based navigation; +3. Space science and planetary exploration; +4. Use of spacecraft, launch vehicles, space systems and ground systems; +5. Practical applications of space technology including geospatial tools and techniques; and +6. Other areas of cooperation to be determined by the Parties. +The Cooperation under this MoU shall be carried out in the following forms: +1. Planning and implementation of joint space projects of mutual benefit and interest; +2. Establishment, operation and maintenance of ground stations for supporting space activities; +3. Sharing of satellite data, results of experiments, and scientific and technological information; +4. Joint research and developmental activities; +5. Exchange of technical and scientific personnel designated to participate in the cooperative programmes; +6. Capacity building in space science and technology, and space application programmes for societal purposes; +7. Organization of joint symposia, conferences and scientific meetings; and +8. Additional forms of cooperation will be determined in writing upon mutual consent between the Parties. +Signing of this MoU shall enable pursuing the potential areas of cooperation such as space science, technology and applications including remote sensing of the earth, satellite communication and satellite-based navigation; space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground systems; and application of space technology. +On behalf of the Government and people of India, I warmly congratulate you on your re-election to the high office of Prime Minister of the State of Israel. +This is testament to the trust and confidence reposed by the people of Israel in your leadership. +As I had conveyed to you in my telephonic conversations on 29th March and 30th April, 2015, we attach high importance to our relations with Israel and seek a broad-based and mutually beneficial engagement. +We appreciate the personal commitment you have made to furthering our ties. +I am confident that our two governments will continue to work closely to strengthen our multifaceted relations and expand our cooperation to new areas, particularly in the hi-tech sector. +I take this opportunity to convey to you my best wishes for your good health and well-being and for the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly people of the State of Israel. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Tajkistan on Cooperation on Peaceful uses of Space Technology for Development. +The MoU was signed on 8th October 2018 at Dushanbe, Tajkistan. +• This MoU shall enable pursuing the following potential interest areas of cooperation such as, remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication and satellite based navigation; Space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system; and application of space technology. +The signed MoU will provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth, satellite navigation, space science and exploration of outer space. +The MoU would lead to development of joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remembered Sardar Patel on his Punya Tithi. +Highlighting the Union Government’s initiatives towards Cooperative Federalism, the Prime Minister said, States have been allocated 62 per cent of the total resources in the Union Budget, while only 38 per cent have been left for use by the Centre. +He also spoke about the Union Government’s acceptance of the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission regarding devolution of 42 per cent of the divisible pool of taxes to States. +He said that the States would also benefit from the proceeds from the coal auctions and the enhanced mineral royalties. +The Prime Minister suggested that these additional funds and resources at the disposal of the States should be primarily directed towards infrastructure building. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of India, on the historic occasion of 1st Constitution Day. +The Prime Minister saluted Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar for his contribution to Indian Constitution. +“Greetings to people of India on the historic occasion of 1st Constitution Day. +May this day inspire you to know more about our Constitution. +This day is a tribute to all those great women and men who worked tirelessly to give India a Constitution we are very proud of. +No mention of our Constitution is complete without remembering the stellar contribution of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. +Let us always uphold the ideals and values of our Constitution and create an India that would make our founding fathers very proud”, the Prime Minister said. +“Shubho Mahalaya! +May this festive season enhance the spirit of joy, peace and prosperity in our lives,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today delivered his address on the third and concluding day of the Conference of Directors-General of Police, at Dhordo, Kutch. +The Prime Minister expressed happiness over the quality and depth of the discussions he had observed, and said this is an indication of the dedication and professional competence of the police force. +He called for a clear roadmap to implement the recommendations that emerged from this Conference. +The Prime Minister said that the discussions and inputs involved both junior and senior officers, from across the country, and this had helped break silos, which is a significant achievement. +Shri Narendra Modi said sensitivity should be a vital element of policing, and a flexible institutional framework should be built, which can help imbibe sensitivity towards citizens in the police force. +He said police forces should establish links with local communities, and one way of doing this is to celebrate the successes and achievements of people in the community. +He said that when people visit police stations to celebrate their achievements, they would also develop a greater understanding and respect for the work done by police officers. +He said people in a community should identify with police stations. +The Prime Minister touched upon subjects such as cyber-security, digital technology and social media, and said police officers should use emerging technologies effectively in their work. +He called for greater interaction between the police forces of neighbouring districts across inter-state borders. +The Prime Minister also spoke on the subjects of tourism policing, disaster management and police training. +The Prime Minister also gave away the President’s medals for distinguished service to IB Officers. +Earlier in the day, the delegates discussed the subject of police universities, and forensic science university. +Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, and Ministers of State for Home, Shri Kiren Rijiju and Shri Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary were present. +A delegation of members of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha led by Lok Sabha MP from Darjeeling, Shri S. S. Ahluwalia called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The delegation discussed various aspects relating to their demands with the Prime Minister and requested him to consider them sympathetically. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to set up of a Society, “36th International Geological Congress”, under the Indian Society Registration Act, 1860 for organizing 36th International Geological Congress (IGC) in year 2020 and promoting geo-science in Indian subcontinent. +The event will be held in NCR, Delhi during March 2-6, 2020. +A budgetary outlay worth Rs. 52 crore has been already approved by Cabinet to carry out preparatory activities upto 2018-19 and additional funds will be sought on revising the estimate a year before the main event. +The 36th IGC will be hosted jointly by the Ministry of Mines (MoM) and Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) with active support from the science academies of India and co-host neighbouring countries. +It is expected to attract 7000+ geo-scientists from all over the world. +Showcasing of India’s mineral potential can create an opportunity for foreign investment in India in these areas. +The 36th IGC has the theme “Geo-science-the Basic Science for Sustainable Future”. +Hosting the event in India will provide an opportunity to upgrade geo-sciences and geoscientific research in the country to meet the challenges of global changes and ever increasing quest for natural resources. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated a new metro link between Noida and Delhi. +He also travelled briefly on the metro train, before arriving at the venue for the public meeting. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister conveyed greetings on the occasion of Christmas. +He also noted that the day marks the birthdays of two Bharat Ratnas – Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, and Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. +He said that it is due to the people of Uttar Pradesh that the nation has got a strong and stable Government. +He added that he would always remain grateful to the people of Uttar Pradesh for their affection. +He said that by 2022, when we mark 75 years of freedom, he dreams that we live in an India in which our petrol imports reduce. +In order to achieve this, he added, state-of-the-art mass transit systems are the need of the hour. +Noting that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji took a ride on the Delhi Metro in December 2002, Shri Narendra Modi said that since then, the metro network in the National Capital Region has expanded considerably. +The Prime Minister asserted that governance cannot happen when the dominant thought process begins at ‘Mera Kya’ and ends at ‘Mujhe Kya.’ +He said that these mindsets are now being changed. +He added that for the Union Government, decisions are about national interest and not political gains. +The Prime Minister said that earlier Governments took pride in making new laws. +He said the current Government wishes to be the Government that removes obsolete laws. +Good governance cannot happen when outdated laws hamper decision-making, he added. +The Prime Minister congratulated the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, and said his focus on good governance is taking the State to new heights. +He credited him with ending the superstition associated with Noida, by coming to this city. +If anybody thinks that not going to a place will prolong their CM tenure and visiting a place will curtail it, such a person does not deserve to be a Chief Minister, the Prime Minister asserted. +The Prime Minister also touched upon the work being done on railway infrastructure, expanding road network, and strides in the renewable energy sector. +He described Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji as ‘Bharat Marg Vidhata,’ and said he has shown us the way towards development. +Earlier, in his speech, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said the Prime Minister has given a new meaning to politics of this nation. +He added that the Prime Minister always says that we have to move ahead on the path of development. +Over 5000 villages covered in just 6 months. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has lauded the achievements in the field of Rural Electrification. +In a series of tweets he has said that Team India has done exceedingly well by achieving electrification in more than 5000 villages within 6 months. +“From the ramparts of the Red Fort last year, I had called for the electrification of all remaining villages in 1000 days (18,452 villages). +Happy to share that Team India has done exceedingly well. +Within about 6 months only (around 200 days), we have crossed the 5000 mark. +Already 5279 villages have been electrified. +Excellent work has been done by the Power Ministry in Bihar, UP, Odisha, Assam and Jharkhand. +Power Ministry shares real time updates on rural electrification. +Their dashboard is worth a look. http://www.garv.gov.in”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has called for time-bound, swift action and single-minded focus to stop pollution of the River Ganga. +He was chairing a high-level meeting on the ‘Namaami Gange’ project today. +The Prime Minister reiterated that the ‘Namaami Gange’ vision should focus primarily on two main areas to check pollution at the source. +These include: urban sewage and industrial effluents. +“Ganga ko ganda na karen,” the PM emphasized. +The Prime Minister was briefed extensively on critical hotspots along the stretch of the river, which generate the most pollution. +The existing gaps in sewage treatment capacity were highlighted. +A total of 764 grossly polluting industrial units have been identified along the stretch of the Ganga. +Tanneries, pulp and paper and sugar industries account for over three-fourth of this number. +The Prime Minister also called for exploring the possibility of setting up modern, environment-friendly crematoria along the River Ganga, through private initiative and enterprise. +118 Urban Local Bodies have been identified to be covered within five years, in a targeted attempt to control pollution. +The Prime Minister was also briefed on ongoing sewerage and river front development projects. +The meeting was attended by Union Ministers Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Ms. Uma Bharati, Shri Prakash Javdekar and top Government officials. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the International Conference and Exhibition on Sugarcane Value Chain – Vision 2025 Sugar – at Pune. +The Prime Minister also visited Live Crop Demonstration Plots at the venue – Vasantdada Sugar Institute. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that we should think about how research can help our farmers. +He said that besides the sugar sector, we should also think of globally competitive bamboo products. +The Prime Minister called for focus on higher land productivity. +He also mentioned the requirement of pulses, saying there is an assured market for them. +The Prime Minister said that we cannot ignore the global economy when we are looking at the sugar industry. +The Prime Minister outlined the steps taken by the Union Government for the welfare of farmers, including provision of soil health cards, solar pumps etc. +The Prime Minister spoke about the recent decision of the Union Government to demonetize the 500 and 1000 rupee notes, and assured farmers that they will not be taxed. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Revised Cost Estimates for establishment of eight New IITs at Bhubaneswar, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Indore, Jodhpur, Mandi, Patna and Ropar. +The revised Cost Estimate is Rs. 13,990 crore for establishment of eight new IITs over a period of 11 years from 2008-09 to 2018-19. +The original project cost was Rs. 6080 crore. +The increase in expenditure due to escalation in both time and cost overrun is Rs. 7910 crore. +The student strength in each IIT at the end of the project will be 2360. +The total student capacity would be 12880 in these eight IlTs by the end of the 11th year i.e. March, 2019. +The Agreement will be signed during the forthcoming visit of the Prime Minister to RoK. +Cooperation between the film industries of the two countries will not only promote export of Indian films but would also act as a catalyst towards creating awareness about India and its culture. +This will help in increasing bilateral trade between both countries. +The following benefits are expected to accrue, from the proposed agreement on a Government-to-Government basis: +(i). Producers from both countries would get an opportunity to pool their creative, artistic, technical, financial and marketing resources to co-produce films. +(ii). It will boost bilateral ties. +(iii). It will lead to exchange of art and culture among the two countries and create goodwill and better understanding among the peoples of both the countries. +(iv). Co-productions would provide an opportunity to create and showcase the ‘soft power’ of India. +(v). It would lead to generation of employment among artistic, technical as well as non-technical personnel engaged in the arena of film production including post-production and its marketing, thus adding to the country’s GDP. +(vi). The utilization of Indian locales for shooting raises the visibility/ prospects of India as a preferred film shooting destination across the globe. +(vii). It will lead to inflow of foreign exchange into the country, +The audio-visual co-production agreement would open up new frontiers for the film industries of both countries. +PM exhorts official youth organizations to join hands for water conservation +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Monday reviewed the functioning of official youth organizations, including the NCC, NSS, Bharat Scouts and Guides, Indian Red Cross Society, and NYKS. +In the course of the two hour meeting, the Prime Minister repeatedly stressed the need for better coordination and synergy among these organizations. +Discussing the immediate tasks ahead, where these organizations could play an important role, the Prime Minister said that in the next couple of months, there would be a massive effort under MGNREGA for water conservation and storage mechanisms. +He urged these youth organizations to mobilize to the greatest extent possible, to dovetail and contribute to these efforts. +He mentioned the Government’s Mission Indradhanush initiative to reach the unvaccinated children, and said youth organizations can aid in this initiative. +The Prime Minister also called for synergy among various initiatives and programmes organized on National Youth Day on January 12th, so that a more meaningful impact could be achieved. +He asked official youth organizations to keep a more active presence on social media, to generate a wider appeal, and better connect with the youth. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the killing of CRPF personnel in Sukma, Chhattisgarh. +“Saddened by the killing of CRPF personnel in Sukma. +Tributes to the martyrs and condolences to their families. +May the injured recover quickly. +Spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh Ji on the situation in Sukma. +He is going to Sukma to take stock of the situation”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Public Service Commission of Mauritius. +The MoU will strengthen the existing relationship between UPSC and Public Service Commission of Mauritius. +It will facilitate sharing of experience and expertise of both the parties in the area of recruitment. +The MoU will develop institutionalized linkage between the Public Service Commissions of two countries. +exchange of information and expertise including books, manuals and other documents which are not of a confidential nature; +sharing of expertise in the use of Information Technology (IT) in the preparation of written examinations and holding of Computer Based Recruitment Tests and Online Examinations; +sharing of experience in Single Window System for expeditious scrutiny and speedy disposal of applications; +sharing of experience and expertise on the various processes involved in the examination system which are routine in nature; +(vii) sharing of experience on the modalities adopted on audit of processes and procedures followed by various Government Agencies in recruitment of posts under the delegated powers. +In the past, UPSC had signed MoU with Public Service Commission of Canada and Bhutan. +The MoU with Canada was in existence during 15.03.2011 to 14.03.2014. +The MoU with the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC), Bhutan was signed by UPSC on 10th November, 2005 for a period of three years. +It was renewed on 9th September, 2011 for a period of three years which expired by 8th September, 2014. +In pursuance of these MoUs, UPSC had conducted attachments and training programmes for the officers of RCSC, Bhutan. +Recently, an MoU was signed between UPSC and RCSC, Bhutan for the third time on 29.05.2017 valid for a period of 3 years. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today delivered the Inaugural Address (via Video Conference) at the National Conference of Central and State/UT Ministers and Secretaries of Tourism, Culture and Sports. +The event is being organized at Kutch, Gujarat. +The Prime Minister stressed on the need for an institutional arrangement that enables excellence in sports. +He noted that the Union Government as well as all State Governments would be keen to popularize sports. +He said there is a strong need for proper mapping at the district level so that we can understand the range of our talent, and plan for infrastructure accordingly. +He said that as far as tourism is concerned, India is blessed with so much potential and this can draw the world to India. +The Prime Minister said that India’s youth is giving strength to key programmes such as digital initiatives, and Swachh Bharat Mission. +He suggested that each state should select a few destinations, create world class tourism infrastructure, and draw the world there. +The Prime Minister urged the delegates assembled for the Conference to work towards implementing Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat, through various mutual initiatives between States. +Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijay Rupani, and Union Ministers of State (I/C) Shri Vijay Goel and Dr. Mahesh Sharma, were present on the occasion. +His tremendous experience and wisdom has benefitted the nation greatly. +I pray for his long and healthy life. +Pranab Da always puts India’s interest above everything. +We are proud to have such a well read and knowledgeable President “, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the Indian Women’s Kabaddi team on winning the Gold Medal in the Asian Games. +“The Indian Women’s Kabaddi team has made us very proud. +I congratulate them on winning the Gold. +A phenomenal accomplishment!”, the Prime Minister said. +Urges people to take pledge for creating a ‘New India’ by 2022 +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted all the women and men who took part in the Quit India movement, on the 75th anniversary. +The Prime Minister has also urged people to take pledge for creating a ‘New India’ by 2022. +“On the 75th anniversary of the historic Quit India movement, we salute all the great women & men who took part in the movement. +Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, the entire nation came together with the aim of attaining freedom. +In 1942, the need of the hour was to free India from colonialism. +Today, 75 years later the issues are different. +Let us pledge to free India from poverty, dirt, corruption, terrorism, casteism, communalism & create a ‘New India’ of our dreams by 2022. +Let us work shoulder to shoulder to create the India that our freedom fighters would be proud of. #SankalpSeSiddhi”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to former President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary. +“Tributes to our former President, the person who captured the imagination of every Indian, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary”, the Prime Minister said. +Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Sarod Player called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today. +The veteran musician and Sarod Maestro has presented his book ‘Master on Masters’ on the lives and times of 20 greatest icons of Indian Classical Music, to the Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Maharashtra and Karnataka on February 18th and 19th. +The Prime Minister will arrive in Mumbai on the afternoon of February 18th. +He will attend a function in Navi Mumbai, to mark the ground breaking ceremony of the Navi Mumbai International Airport. +At the same event, he will also dedicate to the nation the fourth container terminal at JNPT. +The Prime Minister will deliver the inaugural address at the Global Investors’ Summit – “Magnetic Maharashtra: Convergence 2018” . +The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence, at the University of Mumbai. +The Prime Minister will later leave for Mysuru, Karnataka. +On February 19th, the Prime Minister will address via Video Conference, the World Conference on Information Technology, being held at Hyderabad. +He will visit Shravanabelagola for the Bahubali Mahamasthakabhisheka Mahotsava. +At a function at Mysuru Railway Station, he will dedicate to the nation, the electrified Mysuru-Bengaluru Railway Line. +He will also flag off the Palace Queen Humsafar Express between Mysuru and Udaipur. +The Prime Minister will also address a public meeting at Mysuru. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the norms for establishing equivalence of posts in Government and posts in PSUs, PSBs etc. for claiming benefit of OBC reservations. +This addresses an issue pending for nearly 24 years. +This will ensure that the children of those serving in lower categories in PSUs and other institutions can get the benefit of OBC reservations, on par with children of people serving in lower categories in Government. +This will also prevent children of those in senior positions in such institutions, who, owing to absence of equivalence of posts, may have been treated as non Creamy Layer by virtue of wrong interpretation of income standards from cornering government posts reserved for OBCs and denying the genuine non creamy layer candidates a level playing field. +The Union Cabinet also approved the increase in the present income criterion of Rs. 6 lakh per annum for applying the Creamy Layer restriction throughout the country, for excluding Socially Advanced Persons/Sections (Creamy Layer) from the purview of reservation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). +The new income criterion will be Rs. 8 lakh per annum. +The increase in the income limit to exclude the Creamy Layer is in keeping with the increase in the Consumer Price Index and will enable more persons to take advantage of reservation benefits extended to OBCs in government services and admission to central educational institutions. +These measures are a part of the Government’s efforts to ensure greater social justice and inclusion for members of the Other Backward Classes. +The Government has already introduced in Parliament, a bill to provide Constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. +It has also decided to set up a Commission, under section 340 of the Constitution, to sub categorize the OBCs, so that the more backward among the OBC communities can also access the benefits of reservation for educational institutions and government jobs. +All these decisions, taken together, are expected to ensure greater representation of OBCs in educational institutions and jobs, while also ensuring that the more under-privileged within the category are not denied their chance of social mobility. +In its judgment dated 16.11.1992 in WP(C) 930/1990 (IndraSawhney case) the Supreme Court had directed the Government to specify the basis, for exclusion of socially and economically advanced persons from Other Backward Classes by applying the relevant and requisite socio-economic criteria. +An Expert Committee was constituted in February 1993 which submitted its report on 10.03.1993 specifying the criteria for identification of socially advanced persons among OBCs i.e. the Creamy Layer. +The report was accepted by the then Ministry of Welfare and forwarded to DoPT which issued an OM dated 08.09.1993 on exclusion from the Creamy Layer. +The OM of 08.09.1993 specifies six categories for identifying Creamy Layer (a) Constitutional/Statutory post (b) Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ Officers of Central and State Governments, employees of PSUs and Statutory bodies, universities, (c) Colonel and above in armed forces and equivalent in paramilitary forces (d) professionals like Doctors, Lawyers, Management Consultants, Engineers etc. (e) Property owners with agricultural holdings or vacant land and/or buildings and (f) income/wealth tax asessee. +The OM further stipulates that the said parameters would apply mutatis mutandis to officers holding equivalent or comparable posts in PSUs, Banks, Insurance Organizations, Universities, etc. and Government was required to determine equivalence of positions in these organizations with those in Government. +Pending the equivalence to the established in these institutions Income criteria would apply for the officers in these Institutions. +The matter of formulating equivalence has since been examined in detail. +In PSUs, all Executive level posts i.e. Board level executives and managerial level posts would be treated as equivalent to group ‘A’ posts in Government and will be considered Creamy Layer. +Junior Management Grade Scale–1 and above of Public Sector Banks, Financial Institutions and Public Sector Insurance Corporations will be treated as equivalent to Group ‘A’ in the Government of India and considered as Creamy Layer. +For Clerks and Peons in PSBs, FIs and PSICs, the Income Test as revised from time to time will be applicable. +These are the broad guidelines and each individual Bank, PSU, Insurance Company would place the matter before their respective board to identify individual posts. +Today, the country is brimming with self-confidence. +The country is scaling new heights by working extremely hard, with a resolve to realize its dreams. +Today’s dawn has brought a new spirit, a new enthusiasm, a new zeal and a new energy with it. +My dear countrymen, in our country, there is a Neelakurinji flower which blooms once every 12 years. +This year, Neelakurinji is in full bloom on the hills of Southern Nilgiri like the Ashok Chakra (the wheel of Ashoka) in the Tricolour on our Independence Day. +Displaying utmost sensitivity and alertness, our Parliament has made the social justice framework stronger to protect the interests of the weaker sections of society – be it a Dalit, a deprived or exploited person or women. +The demand to confer constitutional status on the OBC Commission had existed for years. +This time, our Parliament has accorded Constitutional status to this Commission, and in doing so, has made an efforts to protect the interests of the Backward and the Most Backward classes. +We are celebrating this Independence Day in a positive atmosphere amidst such positive chain of events. +Under the leadership of respected Bapu, lakhs of people sacrificed their lives and spent their youth in prisons to win freedom for our country. +These days, we are receiving the news of good rainfall as well as floods from different parts of the country. +Our masses had sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom at a time when atrocities had crossed all limits. +The Jallianwallah Bagh incident reminds us of the sacrifices made by the brave hearts and is an inspiration to us. +I salute all the brave people from the depths of my heart. +Under the leadership of Bapu and the revolutionaries, many heroes, many satyagrahis, brave men and women and youth participated in the freedom struggle of the country. +Subramania Bharti said that India will show the way for the entire world to break free from every form of bondage. +This inclusive Constitution is the harbinger of a resolve to build a New India. +We should create an enabling environment that provides them maximum opportunities to grow and blossom, and they should be allowed to flourish without limitation. +Be it our elderly, differently-abled, our women, marginalized or deprived people, or our Adivasi brethren living in the forests, everyone must get an opportunity to grow, as per their hopes and aspirations. +We aspire for an India that is strong and self-reliant, a nation that maintains a steady pace of progress, an India that keeps scaling new heights; an India that enjoys goodwill in the world. +Not only this, we want that India should also shine in the world – we want to build such an India. +My dear countrymen, I have shared my vision for TEAM INDIA earlier too. +When 125 crore countrymen become partners, then each and every citizen joins us in the progress of the country. +When 125 crore dreams, 125 crore resolves, 125 crore efforts, move in the right direction to attain desired goals then nothing is unattainable. +They have come together, were together and will continue to be together. +I feel that this synergy of 125 crore active citizens from more than 6 lakhs villages is the real strength of our nation. +Today, we celebrate the birth anniversary of Shri Aurobindo. +He said something very pertinent – What is Nation? +It is this thought of Sri Aurobindo which is uniting the country and taking it ahead. +If we talk about providing electricity to villages on the basis of work done in 2013, it would have taken a couple of more decades to accomplish this work. +If we talk about providing smoke free LPG gas connection to the poor and to the poor mothers, at the rate in which it was done in 2013, it could not have been completed even in a 100 years. +If we had maintained the speed of 2013 in laying optical fibre network in villages, then we would not have been able to accomplish the task for generations together. +We will strive to maintain the same pace of development. +On the one hand, a record number of tractors are being bought by our farmers today, at the same time, the country has witnessed a record number of aeroplane purchases since independence. +Toilets are being built in schools; new IIMs, new IITs and new AIIMS are being established. +While on the one hand, our farmers are working on modern agricultural techniques like micro irrigation, drip irrigation and sprinklers, on the other hand, 99 big closed irrigation projects have also been revived. +Our soldiers reach out to provide relief and rescue operations during natural calamities. +While our soldiers display exemplary courage in reaching out to rescue the people in difficulties, they have also shown a steely resolve to carry out surgical strikes and vanquish our enemies. +Take a glance at the vast canvass of the development in our country- from one end to the other, one can witness the progress of the country that is moving ahead with new energy and enthusiasm. +I hail from Gujarat. +Development comes to a halt. +That is why my dear brothers and sisters, it is necessary for us to move ahead with big aims and resolve. +When targets are vague, when the spirit is not strong, then important decisions in our social life also get held up for years. +Take for instance the case of MSP – economists, farmer organizations, farmers as well as political parties had been demanding, that farmers should get an MSP which is one and a half times of their investment. +We took a bold decision of giving the farmers the MSP which is one and half times their investment. +Today, with the help of small traders, their open mindedness and their attitude of accepting the new, the country has implemented GST. +Taking decisions requires conviction, force, confidence and complete dedication to the good of the common man. +Why was the Benami property law not enforced earlier? +The Benami property laws are implemented only when there is courage and a determination to do something for the country. +The Jawans of our defence forces were demanding one-rank one-pension for several decades. +They were not resorting to agitation because they are disciplined, but nobody was paying heed to their voices. +Somebody needed to take a decision in this regard. +We are not the kind of people who work in the interest of the party. +You may recall the comments made about India prior to 2014, by eminent international institutions, top economists of the world, and by those considered authorities on the subject. +There was a time when the Indian economy was considered risky by experts. +How have things changed? +There was a time when the world used to comment about red tape in India but now they talk about Red Carpet. +We have reached the 100th spot in Ease of Doing Business ranking. +Today, the entire world is looking at this achievement with pride. +There was a time when the world perceived India as a country with ‘policy paralysis’ and ‘delayed reforms’. +Old newspaper clippings confirm this view. +India is playing a crucial role in shaping up the discourse and providing leadership to these organizations. +We are raising our voice at international fora. +My dear countrymen, for years, we waited seeking membership to some international organizations, but today, our country has become a member of innumerable organizations. +Today, India offers a ray of hope for those who are concerned with environmental issues and global warming. +Today India has become the flag bearer of International Solar Alliance in the world. +Today, every country of the world is keen to welcome any Indian stepping on its soil. +A new consciousness is visible in their eyes, when they look at an Indian. +The strength of the Indian passport has multiplied manifold. +This has instilled a new self-confidence, fresh energy and a resolve in every Indian to move ahead with new hope. +My dear countrymen, if an Indian is in trouble or distress in any part of the world, he can rest assured that his country is with him at every step. +Several recent incidents bear testimony to this fact. +My dear countrymen, just as the perspective of the world towards India has transformed, similarly, there was a time when the news from India’s North-Eastern part used to be dominated with content that one wished were not there. +However, today my dear brothers and sisters, North-East is coming up with positive and inspiring stories. +North-East today is shining in the field of sports. +The work of installing electric transmission lines across the North-East is progressing at a rapid pace. +Today youth from the North-East are establishing BPOs in the region. +Today, new educational institutions are being set up and the North-East India is becoming the new hub for organic farming. +North-East is going to host the Sports University. +Brothers and sisters, there was a time when the North-East used to feel that Delhi is very distant. +Within four years, we have brought Delhi to the doorsteps of North-East. +We are proud of our country’s youth. +Our country’s youngsters have completely transformed the meaning of all standards of the economy. +They have infused new colours to the country’s standard of progress. +There was a time when only big cities used to hog all the limelight. +This in itself is a great example of the changing ecosystem. +In an endeavor to realize the dream of Digital India, several Common Service Centres are being managed by young girls and boys in more than 3 lakhs villages today. +Brothers and Sisters, scientists of our nation have also left no stone unturned in bringing immense glory to our country. +In the global context, as well as fulfilling the requirements of the country, it is a matter of great pride that our scientists launched more than 100 satellites in one go leaving the world astonished. +That’s the capability of Indian scientists which has made the world stand up and applaud. +Successful launch of Mangalyaan in the very first attempt itself stands as testimony to the expertise and endeavors of our scientists. +This feat of successful in orbit launch of Mangalyaan speaks volumes about the capabilities of our scientists. +In days to come, thanks to the futuristic vision, innovativeness and creativity of our scientists we are confident of launching NavIC, the first indigenous Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). +This navigation system will guide fishermen and other citizens through Satellite signals. +My dear countrymen, today from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I am delighted to share a good news. +Our country is undoubtedly progressing fast in its space missions. +With Mangalyaan our scientists have proved their capabilities. +I feel proud to announce that very soon as a part of our Manned-Space mission, we shall be sending an Indian into space. +Today our warehouses are filled with food grains. +I sincerely acknowledge the role of our agricultural scientists, cultivators and farmers in successfully steering the green revolution across decades. +Precisely for this reason we are focusing on change and bringing in modern methods in the agricultural sector. +So in order to realize this promise by 75th year of Independence, we want to move along with the farmers in that direction by bringing modernity and diversity in agricultural sector. +We want to bring value addition right from seeds to marketing. +The export of honey has doubled. +The sugarcane farmers are happy that ethanol production has tripled. +It means, in rural economy other businesses allied to agriculture are also as important as agriculture. +We are developing village resources by spending crores of rupees through women self help groups. +Khadi is associated with the name of respected Bapu. +I want to humbly submit that the sale of khadi products since independence has doubled. +This has generated employment for the poor. +My brothers and sisters, the farmers of my country are emphasizing on solar farming now. +Apart from farming, they can earn money by selling power generated through solar farming. +The people who spin charkha, the people who are associated with handloom are also earning their livelihood. +My dear brothers and sisters, economic development in our country is important, but more than anything else, human dignity is supreme. +Without human dignity, no country can move forward in a balanced way. +So to protect human dignity, we have to move ahead with those schemes which will ensure respectable lives for people. +The policies, traditions and intentions should be such that ordinary people, including the poorest of the poor can get a chance to live with equal dignity. +So we have provided gas connection to the poor through Ujjawala Yojana. +We have provided electricity to the poor through Saubhagya Yojana. +We are emphasizing on moving ahead with the concept of ‘Shrameva Jayate’. +Only yesterday, we heard the President’s address to the nation. +He described in great detail the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan. +Whenever, there is talk about Government, it is said that policies are framed but there is no last mile delivery. +The President described well how this campaign that was launched in Delhi has now spread to 65000 villages in aspirational districts, to the huts of the poor; how it is working in the backward villages. +My dear countrymen, when I talked about cleanliness from the Ramparts of Red Fort in 2014, some people made fun. +Some of them even said the Government had many things to do, why is it wasting its energy on an issue like cleanliness. +But my dear brothers and sisters, in a recent report the WHO has said that because of the cleanliness campaign three lakh children were saved. +The credit for saving lives of three lakh children goes to every Indian who was a part of this campaign. +Gandhiji trained Satyagrahis and this inspired us to prepare Swachchagrahis. +In the coming days, when we will be celebrating his 150th Birth Anniversary, crores of Swachchagrahis will offer Karyanjali (offerings of work) in the memory of Bapu. +In a way, they will fulfil his dreams which we are realizing now. +My Brothers and Sisters, it is true that because of cleanliness, lives of three lakh children have been saved. +But no matter how happy a middle class family is and how well-to-do it is or how poor it is, once a family member falls sick, the whole family suffers. +On occasions generations are afflicted with illnesses. +We are going to give this benefit to our countrymen. +Nor he would have to borrow money from a moneylender paying interest. +His family will not be destroyed. +They will require medical staff in large numbers. +A lot of employment opportunities will also be generated. +Brothers and sisters, no poor person wants to lead a life of penury. +No poor person wants to die poor. +In the last four years, we have laid emphasis on empowerment of poor people. +According to the report, five crore poor people in India have crossed the Poverty Line in the last two years. +If I combine the population of America (USA), Canada and Mexico, then the number of beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Program will be nearly the same. +If I take into account the population of entire Europe, then nearly the same number of people are going to get the benefits of this Ayushman Bharat scheme in India. +The poor people didn’t get what rightfully belonged to them. +Money was being paid from the exchequer, the schemes existed on paper, and the country continued to be robbed. +Brothers and sisters, therefore it is extremely essential to create confidence in the minds of the common man by eliminating the deformities in our system. +And whether it is the state governments or the centre or whether these are the local bodies of self-rule, we all have to work together. +And we will have to take it forward. +How difficult it would have been to remove these six crore names! +How many people would have faced problems because of this ! +The person who was never born, the person who doesn’t exist anywhere on the earth, but the money was pilfered on his name by using bogus names. +This government has put an end to it. +We have taken steps in the direction of curbing corruption and putting an end to the entire system of black money. +Brothers and sisters, what are the consequences of it? +Rs.90,000 crores is not a small amount. +Almost Rs.90,000 crores, which used to go into the hands of wrong people for wrong activities, is now in the nation’s treasury, now being used for the welfare of common man. +Brothers and sisters, why does it happen? +Similarly, rice which is sold at Rs.30-32 in the market is purchased by the Government at this rate and provided to the poor at Rs.3 on ration cards. +This means if anyone steals 1 kg of wheat on a bogus ration card, he automatically gains Rs.20-25. +The right of the poor used to be snatched away. +Therefore, this bogus system has now been uprooted. +Brothers and sisters, crores of poor people in our country get food at Rs.2 and Rs.3. +Today I want to specifically tell the honest taxpayers that when you have your food with your family, for a moment kindly ponder over what I am about to say. +I want to touch the hearts of the honest taxpayers. +I want to salute them. +I want to reassure the honest taxpayers that all the schemes that are in operation are run by your money. +The honest tax payers gain good fortune because the poor get to eat from the taxpayers’ money. +Several districts of Arunachal Pradesh have also been brought out of the purview of the Armed Forces Special Power Act. +The work on finding a solution to put an end to left wing extremism from those districts is progressing rapidly. +Brothers and Sisters, regarding Jammu & Kashmir, the path shown by Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji is the right one. +We want to move ahead on that road. +We do not want to move on the road of bullets and abuses, we want to move ahead with love and affection with the Kashmiri people who have stood with us in patriotic fervor. +Brothers and Sisters, irrigation schemes are progressing. +The work of building IIT, IIM and AIIMS is speedily going on. +The work of reclamation of Dal Lake is also going on. +I am happy that the villagers of Jammu and Kashmir will have this opportunity in the coming months. +A system in which villagers will be able to look after their villages will be in place soon. +Now, the Government of India gives huge funds which go directly to the villages and this will help the village headmen to take their villages on the path of development. +That is why we are moving forward in the direction of holding Panchayat elections and election to City Councils. +Brothers and Sisters, we have to take the country to new heights. +Our motto is “Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikaas’. +Let every Indian have a house of his own – Housing for All. +Every house should have electricity connection, power for all. +Every Indian should be free from smoke in kitchen and that is why there is the scheme for Cooking Gas for All. +Every Indian should have enough water to meet his needs and that is why there is the scheme for Water for All. +It remains a huge bottleneck. +I am restless to rid my country of malnutrition. +My dear countrymen, we want to move ahead. +We cannot accept stagnation, we cannot be standstill and it is not in our nature to bend before anybody. +The above decisions will lead to overall welfare of socially and educationally backward classes. +The proposed Act of repeal is necessary in view of setting up of the National Commission for Backward Classes by insertion of Article 338B of the Constitution. +The decision will also enable effecting continuity in the functioning of the National Commission for Backward Classes under Article 338B. +Utilization of these amounts, will facilitate timely execution of appropriate measures to mitigate impact of diversion of forest land, for which these amounts have been realised. +Apart from mitigating the impact of diversion of forest land, utilisation of these amounts will also result in creation of productive assets and generation of huge employment opportunities in rural areas, especially in backward tribal areas. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for promulgation of “The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Ordinance, 2019” considering the University/ College as a unit instead of ‘Department/ Subject’. +This decision is expected to improve the teaching standards in the higher educational institutions to attract all eligible talented candidates. +This decision will allow filling up of more than 5000 vacancies by direct recruitment in Teachers’ Cadre duly ensuring that the Constitutional Provisions of Articles 14, 16 and 21 shall be complied with and stipulated reservation criteria for the Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes are met with. +Druzhba-Dosti: A Vision for strengthening the Indian-Russian Partnership over the next decade. +1. The President of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Vladimir V. Putin, paid an official visit to India on December 11, 2014 at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi, for the 15th Annual Summit between the two countries. +During the Summit, the leaders agreed on a vision for strengthening the India-Russia partnership over the next decade. +Recognizing that the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia has been built on the strong foundation of mutual trust, bilateral understanding and unique people-to-people affinities, the leaders emphasized that the time has come for a significant broad-basing of bilateral cooperation to carry the friendship between the countries to a qualitatively new level. +2. India deeply values the monumental contributions made by Russia to India’s developmental and defence needs in the second half of the twentieth century. +3. The leaders expressed confidence that a strong bilateral strategic partnership advances the national interests of the two countries and contributes to a more stable and secure world order. +It is expected that Indian companies will strongly participate in projects related to new oil and gas fields in the territory of the Russian Federation. +6. The two countries view nuclear energy as a clean, reliable and viable source of energy. +India and Russia will also cooperate in the development and efficient use of renewable energy. +Technology and Innovation +9. Noting the synergies between national efforts by the two countries to develop a knowledge-economy powered by technology and innovation, India and Russia will increase collaboration in joint design, development, manufacturing and marketing of technology-driven products and scientific interaction between the two countries. +In particular, such cooperation will extend to space applications, defence technologies, aviation, new materials, communications and information technology. +10. The two leaders see limitless opportunities for bilateral cooperation in outer space to advance societal applications and scientific knowledge. +To this end, India has permitted foreign direct investment in the defence sector up to 49 per cent. +They will explore joint development of technologies for processing rare earth materials. +Expanded economic engagement +It is expected that Russian companies will utilize the opportunities in a wide range of Indian sectors and will ‘Make in India’. +17. The sides will encourage payments in national currencies for bilateral trade. +In this context, they agreed to finalize shortly a protocol on a “Green Corridor” project. +21. With these and other initiatives, the leaders agreed to step up efforts for enhancing bilateral trade in the coming years and set a target of bilateral trade turnover of goods and services at US$30 billion by the year 2025. +It is expected that the level of mutual investments by then will be over US$15 billion each way. +Global order and world peace +The two countries will work for democratization of global political, economic, financial and social institutions so that these institutions better represent the aspirations and interests of all segments of the international community. +India and Russia oppose economic sanctions that do not have the approval of the United Nations Security Council. +23. The sides reaffirmed the need for UN Security Council reform in order to make it more representative and effective in dealing with emerging challenges. +In this context, the sides will work together to ensure reforms of the UN Security Council. +Russia will extend its support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of the Council. +25. The leaders condoled the loss of life in senseless terrorist acts in recent days in Jammu & Kashmir, India and in Chechnya, Russia. +The sides agreed to work together for the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism by the 70th Anniversary Summit of the UN. +The leaders expressed hope that all safe havens and sanctuaries for terrorists will be wiped out without delay and terrorism would be completely eradicated from the common region within a decade. +The sides hope to see an Afghanistan that would within a decade flourish as a prosperous hub for trade, industry and energy. +People-to-people ties +33. India and Russia will maintain close contacts and interaction in international sports matters. +Bilateral perspectives +35. The discussions and decisions of the two leaders, as well as the detailed agreements at the bilateral dialogue have given the leaders the confidence that objective political, economic, security and cultural factors will propel India-Russia partnership to a level that meets the aspirations of their people. +The protocol lays down the modalities and mechanism of cooperation between the two parties for ocean studies as well as scientific exploration and exploitation of sea based resources, for sustainable development and economic purposes. +The cooperation will enhance India’s strategic cooperation in the field of blue economy; commercial benefits from export of human resources, expertise and technology and it will increase India’s access to ocean-based resources in cooperation with Seychelles. +Cooperation with Seychelles in blue economy will provide new data on ocean-based resources and also provide for sharing of expertise and technology developed by Indian scientists and research institutes. +It will also help domestic innovation in the field of ocean research and technology. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the demise of Swami Dayananda Saraswati. +“Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji’s demise is a personal loss. +I pray that his soul attains eternal peace. +My thoughts are with the countless people inspired by Dayananda Saraswati ji. +He was a powerhouse of knowledge, spirituality and service,” the Prime Minister said. +On the occasion of the Police Commemoration Day – 21st October – the Prime Minister today released a book, “Warriors Remembered.” +The book is a commemoration of the brave CRPF personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty. +The Prime Minister, during the Annual Conference of the DGPs in 2014, had desired that every police force compile the acts of bravery of its officers and men, so that they can inspire future generations. +A copy of the book would be presented to the family member of every martyr by CRPF formations across the country. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended an interactive session with economists and other experts, organized by NITI Aayog, on the theme “Economic Policy – The Road Ahead.” +During the session, participants shared their views on various economic themes such as agriculture, skill development and job creation, taxation and tariff related matters, education, digital technology, housing, tourism, banking, governance reform, data driven policy, and future steps for growth. +In his intervention, the Prime Minister thanked various participants for their suggestions and observations. +In particular, he called for innovative approaches in areas such as skill development and tourism. +Speaking about the budget cycle, he said this has an effect on the real economy. +He said that in our existing budget calendar, the authorization of expenditure comes with the onset of the monsoon. +This he said, results in government programmes being relatively inactive in the productive pre-monsoon months. +He said that keeping this in view, the date of budget presentation is being advanced, so that expenditure is authorized by the time the new financial year begins. +The meeting was attended by the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, the Minister of State for Planning Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, the Vice Chairman NITI Aayog Shri Arvind Panagariya, and senior officers from the Union Government and NITI Aayog. +It was also attended by economists and experts including Prof. Pravin Krishna, Prof Sukhpal Singh, Prof Vijay Paul Sharma, Mr. Neelkanth Mishra, Mr. Surjit Bhalla, Dr. Pulak Ghosh, Dr. Govinda Rao, Mr. Madhav Chavan, Dr. N.K. Singh, Mr. Vivek Dehejia, Mr. Pramath Sinha, Mr. Sumit Bose, and Mr. T.N. Ninan. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has passed a resolution expressing gratitude to Chief Ministers of States and others for their cooperation in introduction of GST. +“GST is the biggest tax reform in independent India. +It is one of the most sweeping indirect tax reforms in any federal polity in the world, in which complexities such as multiplicity of taxes and cesses, multiplicity of rates, multiple compliances, and cascading of taxation will be removed. +This game-changing reform will result in significant ease of doing business as well as reduction in the overall tax burden on the consumers and the common people. +GST is a shining example of national integration and of fiscal federalism at its best. +It is a testimony to the working of India’s federal democracy. +It has been made possible because of close cooperation between the Central Government and all the State Governments as well as all political parties. +The Cabinet which met on 22nd June, 2017 under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the contribution made by all State Governments, by all Chief Ministers and State Finance Ministers and by all political parties which made it possible for GST to be implemented in the country from 1st of July 2017. +The Union Cabinet expresses its gratitude to the Chief Ministers of all States, to the GST Council, to the Heads of all national level and state level recognized political parties, to all Members of Parliament, to all Members of State Legislatures and to all sections of society including trade and industry associations.” +“Towards a Peaceful, Prosperous and Sustainable Bay of Bengal Region” +Being convinced that geographical contiguity, abundant natural and human resources, rich historical linkages and cultural heritage present great potentials for promoting deeper cooperation in identified core areas in the region; +Taking Note of the participation and concurrence by the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bhutan to the Summit decisions and its outcome documents on an ad referendum basis, as these are subject to endorsement by the next elected government; +Do hereby: +1. Recall the principles enshrined in the 1997 Bangkok Declaration and reemphasize that cooperation within BIMSTEC will be based on respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful co-existence and mutual benefit. +2. Agree to intensify our efforts to realize the objectives and purposes of BIMSTEC as embodied in the 1997 Bangkok Declaration, and reiterate our pledge to work collectively towards making BIMSTEC a stronger, more effective and result-oriented organization for achieving a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable Bay of Bengal Region. +3. Resolve to achieve, leveraging on BIMSTEC’s unique position as a bridge linking South and Southeast Asia, an enhanced level of economic and social development in the region, and remain fully committed to consolidate and deepen cooperation among Member States towards transforming our organization into an effective platform to promote peace, prosperity and sustainability. +Affirm that the fight against terrorism should target not only terrorists, terror organizations and networks but also identify and hold accountable States and non-State entities that encourage, support or finance terrorism, provide sanctuaries to terrorists and terror groups and falsely extol their virtues. +Reiterate our strong commitment to combat terrorism and call upon all countries to devise a comprehensive approach in this regard which should include preventing financing of terrorists and terrorist actions from territories under their control, blocking recruitment and cross-border movement of terrorists, countering radicalization, countering misuse of internet for purposes of terrorism and dismantling terrorist safe havens. +5. Repose our faith unequivocally in the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and strive to strengthen the multilateral system by reforming its rules, institutions and instruments to make it relevant to contemporary global challenges and agree to work together to present a collective voice to safeguard our collective interests for a fair, just, rule-based, equitable and transparent world order. +INSTITUTIONAL REFORM +6. Decide to task the BIMSTEC Secretariat to prepare a preliminary draft of the charter for the organization, building on the 1997 Bangkok Declaration, defining a long-term vision and priorities for cooperation, clearly delineating roles and responsibilities of different layers of institutional structure and decision-making processes, for consideration by the BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee (BPWC) and other higher bodies with a view to adopting it by the Fifth Summit; and agree to task the BPWC to develop the Rules of Procedure (RoP) for the BIMSTEC Mechanisms. +7. Decide to establish a BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee to deal with administrative and financial matters of the Secretariat and the BIMSTEC Centers and Entities, as well as to prepare schedule of meetings, prioritize and rationalize the organization’s activities. +8. Direct the relevant Ministries/national agencies of our respective governments to explore the possibility of establishing a BIMSTEC Development Fund (BDF), at an appropriate time, with voluntary contributions from the Member States, which will be utilized for research and planning of BIMSTEC and financing of projects, programmes and other activities of BIMSTEC Centers and Entities as agreed upon by the Member States. +9. Agree to enhance the institutional capacity of the BIMSTEC Secretariat, including through financial and human resources, in order to enable it to coordinate, monitor and facilitate implementation of BIMSTEC activities and programmes; and initiate project proposals as agreed by the Member States as well as fulfil any other responsibility entrusted to it in an effective and efficient manner and agree to raise the numbers of Directors to seven, one from each Member State, in a staggered manner. +10. Acknowledge the importance of enhancing the visibility and stature of BIMSTEC in international fora by, inter alia, forging common positions, as appropriate, on issues of common interest and seeking group recognition in various multilateral organizations, institutions and processes. +11. Emphasize the need to accelerate progress in the core areas of cooperation and to review, restructure and rationalize the existing areas of BIMSTEC cooperation and streamline the operational modalities for activities, implementation of programmes and projects under BIMSTEC for bringing out tangible results. +Welcome Thailand’s concept paper on the Reprioritization of BIMSTEC Pillars of Cooperation proposing to streamline to five pillars which will be subjected to further discussion in the BIMSTEC Permanent Working Committee. +12. Agree to take up on priority basis the legal documents and instruments that are pending for internal approval process for finalization and ratification. +13. Commend the role of Lead Countries for the progress made in the respective sectors, as annexed to this declaration, and encourage them to accelerate their efforts to make further progress. +14. Express our appreciation for former Secretary-General Mr. Sumith Nakandala’s valuable contribution in advancing the work of BIMSTEC during his tenure and welcome the appointment of Mr. M. Shahidul Islam of Bangladesh as the Secretary General of BIMSTEC. +15. Convey deep appreciation to Nepal for the able stewardship of BIMSTEC from March 2014 and welcome Sri Lanka as the new Chair of BIMSTEC. +16. Reiterate the commitment to timely holding of Summit and other meetings of the BIMSTEC mechanisms to intensify the process of regional cooperation. +17. Agree to make our directives, commitments and statements of our positions on sectoral review expressed at the Annexure as part of this Declaration. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the following proposals of Department of Heavy Industry: +i. Transfer of HMT Watches Ltd, land at Banglaore and Tumkur measuring 208.35 acres, to Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on payment of Rs. 1194.21 crore and applicable taxes and duties. +ii. Transfer of Bangalore (Global Warehouse) land of HMT Ltd. measuring one acre to Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) on payment of Rs.34.30 crore and applicable taxes and duties. +The proceeds from sale of land will be deposited by the Company in Government Accounts against the loans and advances, after meeting the immediate liabilities and accounting for tax liabilities arising out of the transaction. +It was decided to be closed down in January, 2016 with offer of attractive VRS/VSS to all their employees. +The employees at Banglore and Tumkur availed this Golden Handshake scheme approved by Govt of India and went home happily. +The Department has called for a review of the existing requirement of affidavits and attestation by Gazetted Officers, and replacement by self-certification. +In case of false self-certification, relevant provisions under the Indian Penal Code would apply. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Singapore on Cooperation in the field of Personnel Management and Public Administration. +The MoU aims at improving the current system of governance, particularly in the areas of Workforce, Workplace and Jobs, Public Service Delivery, Human Resource Management, Public Sector Reform, Leadership/ Talent Development and E-Governance/Digital Government. +The MoU will provide a framework for cooperation between India and Singapore in the field of Public Administration and Governance Reforms. +It aims at achieving excellence in public administration, good governance and public service reform, which in turn, would ensure and promote greater public accountability. +It also aims to bring about innovative best practices, so as to achieve excellence in public administration in the context of improving online public service delivery. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the Rail Vikas Shivir in Surajkund. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Antonio Costa today jointly visited the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon. +The Champalimaud Foundation is a private biomedical research foundation. +It provides cutting-edge cancer treatment, and supports “ahead of the curve” cancer research. +The Foundation represents multiple synergies between India and Portugal. +The António Champalimaud Vision Award was established in 2007 to recognise contributions to research into eyecare and vision. +Aravind Eye Care System, an Indian organisation, won the award in the first year. +Out of the 300 researchers from 42 nations, 3 researchers at the Foundation represent India. +Champalimaud Foundation has a tie-up with the Prasad Institute in Hyderabad. +The largest number of overseas patients for cancer treatment in Champalimaud Foundation are from India. +The Prime Minister visited the facilities at the Foundation, and interacted briefly with Indian researchers. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the promulgation of the Central Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu & Kashmir) Ordinance, 2017 and replacement of the Ordinance by the Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2017. +The Ordinance has extended the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 referred to as (CGST Act) to the State of Jammu & Kashmir. +The Ordinance has been promulgated on 8th July, 2017 and the Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2017 will be tabled in the current session of the Parliament. +Prime Minister Modi fondly recalled his first visit to Myanmar in November 2014 to attend ASEAN-India Summit and East Asia Summit, and his first meeting with President U Thein Sein in Nay Pyi Taw at the time. +Welcoming the recent visit of the Vice President to Bodh Gaya, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the importance of cultural ties, and the civilization links between the people of India and Myanmar. +Prime Minister and the Vice President discussed ways to strengthen the bilateral partnership in view of Prime Minister’s “Act East” Policy, particularly in the sectors of Connectivity, Education, Infrastructure, Trade, and Culture. +Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh ji, +Shri Muivah and all senior leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland. +My warm greetings to all those present here today on this historic occasion! +I wish that Shri Isak Swu, who played a leading role in reaching this agreement, was present today. +He could not be here because of poor health. +I wish him speedy recovery. +Just as his contribution to this agreement has been huge, his guidance will remain crucial in the times ahead. +The Naga political issue had lingered for six decades, taking a huge toll on generations of our people. +I sincerely thank Shri Isak Swu, Shri Muivah and other Naga leaders for their wisdom and courage, for their efforts and cooperation, which has resulted in this historic agreement. +I have the deepest admiration for the great Naga people for their extraordinary support to the peace efforts. +I compliment the National Socialist Council of Nagaland for maintaining the ceasefire agreement for nearly two decades, with a sense of honour that defines the great Naga people. +My relationship with the North East has been deep. +I have travelled to Nagaland on many occasions. +I have been deeply impressed by the rich and diverse culture and the unique way of life of the Naga people. +It makes not only our nation, but also the world a more beautiful place. +The Naga courage and commitment are legendary. +Equally, they represent the highest levels of humanism. +Their system of village administration and grass-root democracy should be an inspiration for the rest of the country. +The respect for the infirm and elders, the status of women in society, sensitivity to Mother Nature, and the emphasis on social equality is a natural way of Naga life. +These are values that should constitute the foundation of the society that we all seek. +Unfortunately, the Naga problem has taken so long to resolve because we did not understand each other. +It is a legacy of the British Rule. +The colonial rulers had, by design, kept the Nagas isolated and insulated. +They propagated terrible myths about Nagas in the rest of the country. +They deliberately suppressed the reality that the Nagas were an extremely evolved society. +They also spread negative ideas about the rest of India amongst Naga people. +This was part of the well known policy of divide and rule of the colonial rulers. +It is one of the tragedies of Independent India that we have lived with this legacy. +There were not many like Mahatma Gandhi, who loved the Naga people and was sensitive to their sentiments. +We have continued to look at each other through the prism of false perceptions and old prejudices. +The result was that connectivity between Nagaland and the rest of India remained weak across this divide. +Economic development and progress in Nagaland remained modest; and, durable peace was elusive. +Since becoming Prime Minister last year, peace, security and economic transformation of North East has been amongst my highest priorities. +It is also at the heart of my foreign policy, especially the ‘Act East’ Policy. +Given the importance of this initiative, I asked my office to supervise these talks; and I personally kept in touch with the progress. +I want to especially thank my senior colleague, Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singhji, whose support and advice was invaluable in bringing us here today. +Today’s agreement is a shining example of what we can achieve when we deal with each other in a spirit of equality and respect, trust and confidence; when we seek to understand concerns and try to address aspirations; when we leave the path of dispute and take the high road of dialogue. +It is a lesson and an inspiration in our troubled world. +Today, we mark not merely the end of a problem, but the beginning of a new future. +We will not only try to heal wounds and resolve problems, but also be your partner as you restore your pride and prestige. +You are also the guardians of our eastern frontiers and our gateway to the world beyond. +Equally, the rest of the nation will join you in shaping a future of dignity, opportunity and prosperity for the Naga people. +The Health Ministers of SAARC Nations called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister stressed the need for collection and sharing of best practices and vision in the fields of modern medical science and healthcare. +He also suggested a joint visit of places of research being done at grassroots level in this regard, in SAARC countries. +The Ministers mentioned that changing the lives of the people of the SAARC region required a focus on health and education sectors, with a multi-sectoral approach. +They praised the Prime Minister’s initiative towards the adoption of June 21 as International Yoga Day by the United Nations. +They said Yoga could be an effective means of preventive healthcare. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed condolences on the passing away of Union Minister Shri Ananth Kumar. +The Prime Minister said, “Extremely saddened by the passing away of my valued colleague and friend, Shri Ananth Kumar Ji. +He was a remarkable leader, who entered public life at a young age and went on to serve society with utmost diligence and compassion. +He will always be remembered for his good work. +I spoke to his wife, Dr. Tejaswini Ji and expressed condolences on the passing away of Shri Ananth Kumar Ji. +My thoughts are with his entire family, friends and supporters in this hour of grief and sadness. +The primary goal of joining AMF TCP by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) is to facilitate the market introduction of Advanced motor fuels/ Alternate fuels with an aim to bring down emissions and achieve higher fuel efficiency in transport sector. +AMF TCP also provides an opportunity for fuel analysis, identifying new/ alternate fuels for deployment in transport sector and allied R&D activities for reduction in emissions in fuel intensive sectors. +The R&D work in AMF TCP is carried out within individual projects called “Annex”. +Over the years, more than 50 Annexes have been initiated in AMF TCP and a number of fuels have been covered in previous Annexes such as reformulatedfuels (gasoline & diesel), biofuels (ethanol, biodiesel etc.), synthetic fuels (methanol, Fischer- Tropsch, DME etc.) and gaseous fuels. +R&D Institutions of Public sector Oil Marketing companies and Automobile Testing Agencies such as ARAI, CIRT, ICAT etc. have State-of-the-art facilities and resources will also be a contributor to the Annex(s) participated by MoP&NG. +Prime Minister at UrjaSangam, 2015 had directed to reduce the import in energy sector by at least 10% by 2022. +Subsequently, MoP&NG has come up with a detailed action plan wherein Biofuels, Advanced/ alternate fuels and fuel efficiency play a major role. +Association with AMF TCP will help MoP&NG in furthering its efforts in identification & deployment of suitable fuels for transport sector in respect of higher efficiency and lesser emissions. +Government of India has recently notified National Policy on Biofuels-2018 which focusses on giving impetus to R&D in field of advanced biofuels such as 2G Ethanol, Bio-CNG, biomethanol, Drop-in fuels, DME etc. +These advanced fuels can be produced from various kind of wastes such as crop residues, Municipal solid waste, Industrial waste, waste gases, Food waste, plastic etc. +Though some of these advanced biofuels have successfully been deployed in few countries, India is still awaiting its deployment in transport sector. +These advanced fuels are presently in their early stages of development in our Country and necessitate extensive R&D for making these fuels a viable option for meeting our energy needs. +Association with AMF will help MoP&NG in identifying advanced biofuels suitable for deployment in transport sector in near future. +In such cases, experience of member countries in deploying advanced biofuels will be an additional benefit for MoP&NG. +The benefits of participation in AMF TCP are shared costs and pooled technical resources. +The duplication of efforts is avoided and national Research and Development capabilities are strengthened. +There is an information exchange about best practices, network of researchers and linking research with practical implementation. +After becoming member, India will initiate R&D in other areas of its interest in advanced biofuels and other motor fuels in view of their crucial role in substituting fossil fuel imports. +AMF TCP is an international platform for co-operation among countries to promote cleaner and more energy efficient fuels & vehicle technologies. +The activities of AMF TCP relate to R&D, deployment and dissemination of Advanced Motor Fuels and looks upon the transport fuel issues in a systemic way taking into account the production, distribution and end use related aspects. +Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India has joined AMF TCP as its 16th member on 9th May, 2018. +The other member Countries of AMF TCP are USA, China, Japan, Canada, Chile, Israel, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Spain, Republic of Korea, Switzerland and Thailand. +India has a Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC Member Countries since 2012. +This will help Sri Lanka in availing a safety net against the probable volatility of their currency and provide short-term liquidity that would contribute to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. +This will also strengthen India’s bilateral relations and economic ties with Sri Lanka. +Friends, I am visiting Singapore at a sad moment. +The passing away of H. E. Mr. Lee Kuan Yew marks the end of an era. +He was among the tallest leaders of our times. +Singapore’s transformation in one generation is a tribute to his leadership. +In the 50th anniversary year of Singapore’s independence, I am sure that he left satisfied with Singapore’s achievements and confident about its future. +He inspired not just Southeast Asia, but all of Asia, to believe in its own destiny. +He was a global thinker, who saw things ahead of others. +He was an advocate of economic progress, but also made tireless efforts to advance peace and stability in our region. +In India, we deeply valued his friendship and his support for India’s economic progress and global role. +He believed in India’s potential more than many of us did. +India’s economy is growing rapidly. +India’s relations with Singapore is one of our strongest relationships in the world. +India’s integration with Southeast Asia and beyond is growing. +Singapore is a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy. +So, his vision is coming true. +The seeds he sowed are bearing fruits today. +Personally, he was a source of inspiration for me. +His achievements and thoughts give me confidence in the possibility of India’s own transformation. +The people of India share this Nation’s grief over the loss of its founding father and leader. +We are observing a day of public mourning in India today in honour of the departed leader and the deep bonds of friendship that we share with Singapore. +I bring here today the condolences and prayers of the people of India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for moving of the following Official Amendments in the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2014:- +(i). Doing away with the requirement for filing a declaration by a company before commencement of business or exercising its borrowing powers and +(ii). rationalizing the procedure for laying draft notifications granting exemptions to various classes of companies or modifying provisions of the Act in Parliament, in order to ensure speedier issue of final notifications. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on World Environment Day. +“Greetings on World Environment Day. +Together, let us ensure that our future generations live in a clean and green planet, in harmony with nature”, the Prime Minister said. +Your Excellency Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka, +I am delighted to be in Sri Lanka, in this beautiful city of Colombo. +I have eagerly looked forward to visiting one of our closest neighbours and a nation with which we share so much. +I am truly honoured by your warm welcome and friendship. +I am conscious of the significance of this visit. +It is the first standalone bilateral visit to Sri Lanka by an Indian Prime Minister since 1987. +This is how it should be between neighbours. +We should meet regularly. +It helps us understand each other better; find solutions to mutual concerns; and, move our relationship forward. +That is what we achieved in my meetings with President Sirisena today. +Economic ties are a key pillar of our relationship. +The progress we have made reflects our shared commitment to stronger economic cooperation. +Our trade has seen impressive growth over the past decade. +I am aware of your concerns about trade with India. +As I said in Delhi, we will try and address them. +The agreement today on cooperation between our customs authorities is a step in that direction. +It will simplify trade and reduce non-tariff barriers on both sides. +Today, Lanka IOC and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation have agreed to jointly develop the Upper Tank Farm of the China Bay Installation in Trincomalee on mutually agreed terms. +A Joint Task Force will be constituted soon to work out the modalities. +India stands ready to help Trincomalee become a regional petroleum hub. +I also look forward to early commencement of work on the ground in the Sampur Coal Power Project. +This landmark project would meet Sri Lanka`s energy needs. +The ocean economy is a new frontier that holds enormous promise for both of us. +It is a priority for our two countries. +Our decision to set up a Joint Task Force on Ocean Economy is a significant step, especially because of our proximity. +People are at the heart of our relations. +We have taken a number of decisions to encourage people to people contacts, improve connectivity, and increase tourism. +We will extend the facility of “Tourist Visa on Arrival – Electronic Travel Authorization” Scheme to Sri Lankan citizens from the Sinhala and Tamil New Year on 14 April 2015. +Air India will soon start direct flights between New Delhi and Colombo. +We will cooperate in developing a Ramayana Trail in Sri Lanka and a Buddhist Circuit in India. +We will organize a Festival of India in Sri Lanka later this year. +Sri Lanka is where Buddhism has truly flourished. +We will be organizing an exhibition showcasing our Buddhist heritage as part of this festival. +The Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in youth affairs is an important long term investment in our relationship. +India is privileged to be a development partner for Sri Lanka. +We will provide a fresh Line of Credit of up to US$ 318 million for the railways sector. +This will be used to procure rolling stock, and to restore and upgrade existing railway track. +We are pleased to provide assistance for the construction of the Rabindranath Tagore auditorium at Ruhuna University in Matara. +Tomorrow, I will visit, some of the projects, being financed by India, including the housing project. +I am pleased that more than 27,000 houses have already been built. +The Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka have agreed to enter into a Currency Swap Agreement of US$ 1.5 billion. +This will help keep the Sri Lankan rupee stable. +We discussed the fishermen’s issue. +This complex issue involves livelihood and humanitarian concerns on both sides. +We should handle it from this perspective. +At the same time, we need to find a long term solution to this issue. +It is also important that fishermen`s associations of India and Sri Lanka meet at the earliest to find a mutually acceptable arrangement. +It can then be taken forward by both governments. +I also took this opportunity to convey our admiration for President Srinisena`s efforts to build an inclusive future for Sri Lanka. +I conveyed our sincere support and good wishes for Sri Lanka`s new journey of peace, reconciliation and progress. +We stand with you in your efforts to build a future that accommodates the aspirations of all sections of society, including the Sri Lankan Tamil community, for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka. +We believe that early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond it would contribute to this process. +I also conveyed India`s commitment to further strengthening our partnership in advancing peace and prosperity in our region, including our common maritime neighbourhood. +I would like to once again thank President Sirisena for the warm welcome and hospitality. +The meeting today has been very productive. +It gives me great confidence and optimism about the future of our relations. +Prime Minister, Narendra Modi spoke on phone today to Dr. Ashraf Ghani, President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and congratulated him on his election to the office of President of Afghanistan. +Prime Minister lauded President Ghani’s wisdom and statesmanship, and his commitment to unity, peace and progress in Afghanistan, which had enabled the formation of a broad-based an inclusive government and a peaceful political transition. +He paid tribute to the people and the political leaders of Afghanistan for their faith in democracy and will to prevail over violence and terrorism. +Prime Minister expressed confidence that President Ghani’s expertise, global experience and grassroots knowledge, borne out of travel to every district of Afghanistan, will help him implement his bold agenda of economic reforms and development in Afghanistan. +He also mentioned that President Ghani’s experience will be beneficial for India and the region. +Prime Minister Modi conveyed that India will stand with him, as a friend and a partner, at every step on the way, as his government moves forward in its efforts to build a strong, stable, peaceful, democratic, inclusive and prosperous nation. +Prime Minister noted that India’s relations with Afghanistan have been forged by ancient cultural links and timeless bonds of mutual affection and admiration, which had grown deeper in recent years as the Afghan people have strived to rebuild their lives and their nation. +President Ghani conveyed his deep sense of appreciation for Prime Minister’s letter of congratulations. +He described India as the foundation of Afghanistan’s diplomacy and economic strategy. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York early this morning, and paid homage to the victims of the deadly terror attack that took place on September 11, 2001. +The memorial has been built at “Ground Zero”, the spot in New York City where the twin towers of the World Trade Centre stood, before they were destroyed in the terror attacks. +The Prime Minister paid floral tributes to the victims of Indian origin who had perished in the attacks. +The Prime Minister visited the museum, and laid a wreath at the memorial tree. +Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, Gen. Phùng Quang Thanh, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister Modi recalled the successful visit of H. E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of Vietnam, to India in October 2014. +Prime Minister Modi assured Gen. Thanh of India’s full commitment to the strategic partnership between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has called for a collective effort to completely eliminate the ‘treatable disease’ of leprosy from India. +In a message on the occasion of anti-leprosy day, the Prime Minister said that we have to work together for socio-economic uplift of the cured persons and for their contribution in nation-building. +He said we have to strive hard to ensure that these citizens of our country lead a life with dignity that Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of. +The Prime Minister recalled that Mahatma Gandhi had an enduring concern for people afflicted with leprosy. +His vision was not just to treat them, but also to mainstream them into our society, he added. +The Prime Minister said that the effort to eliminate leprosy from this country under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme is a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s vision. +He recalled that this programme was launched way back in 1955. +He noted that the goal of leprosy elimination as a public health problem i.e., prevalence rate of less than 1 case per 10,000 population at national level was achieved in 2005. +He said that although the case detection rate thereafter has marginally decreased, visible deformity at the time of diagnosis has increased. +He said that as a country, we have to leave no stone unturned to not just reach the last mile but also to work together to eliminate the social stigma attached with this disease. +The Prime Minister mentioned that a three-pronged strategy for early detection of leprosy cases in the community was introduced in 2016 under the National Health Mission, especially in the hard-to-reach areas. +A special Leprosy Case Detection Campaign was carried out in 2016. +As a result, more than 32000 cases were confirmed and were put on treatment. +In addition, persons who are in close contact with the patients were also given medicine to reduce the chances of occurrence of the disease in them. +Senior officials from the Government of India, and the State of Rajasthan, were also present. +An amount of Rs. 911.64 crore has been released to the State under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), after adjustments of the State balances. +This is in addition to Rs 827.25 crore released as central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2015-16 to the State. +A further amount of Rs. 434.25 crore has been released as first instalment of SDRF for 2016-17. +The Chief Minister said that Rajasthan has faced drought for 61 out of the last 67 years. +She explained in detail, the difficulties being faced by people in various parts of the State due to the shortage of drinking water. +The State is using the waters of the Narmada for micro-irrigation. +The Prime Minister called for a mass movement to be generated for water conservation, and said youth organizations including NCC, NSS, NYKS, and Scouts and Guides should be involved in creation of water storage structures. +The Prime Minister stressed on the importance of waste water management and rooftop rainwater harvesting. +Global best practices in this regard were also discussed. +The Prime Minister said traditional water storage structures in the State (Bavdis) should be revived in a big way through public participation. +The Chief Minister mentioned the successful example of Bavdi revival in Kuchaman City, in Nagore district, and assured of taking it up on a large scale. +The Prime Minister said the State should aim to develop one city as a model, for solid waste management and waste water management, integrating irrigation of the neighbouring rural areas and use of gas in the city’s mass transport network. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released a photo book titled “President Pranab Mukherjee – A Statesman”, at an event in Rashtrapati Bhawan. +He presented the first copy of the book to the President. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that in his view, we can be more history conscious as a society, and preserve aspects of our history much better. +He said that the Presidency is much more than protocol. +Through the photographs in the book, we see the human side of our President and we feel proud, the Prime Minister said. +Shri Narendra Modi said that two pictures of Mahatma Gandhi, one with a broom, and the other, seeing something through a microscope, show what a diverse personality he had. +Newspapers show some aspects of a leader, but there are more aspects to a leader than only what is published in the papers, the Prime Minister said. +He said that it is his privilege that he got to work with Shri Pranab Mukherjee. +Recounting his experiences, the Prime Minister said that several times, he had got to work with leaders and workers of very different ideologies. +He added that he will never forget that when he came to Delhi, he had someone like “Pranab Da” to guide him. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has bowed to Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, on his birth anniversary. +The Memorandum of Understanding covers the following areas of cooperation:- +(i). Exchange & training of medical doctors, officials, other health professionals and experts; +(ii). Assistance in development of human resources and setting up of health care facilities; +(iii). Medical and health research development; +(iv). Management of healthcare sector and public health services; +(v). Procurement of generic and essential drugs and assistance in sourcing of drug supplies; +(vi). Health promotion and disease prevention; +(vii). Traditional and; complementary Medicine; +(ix). Any other area of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon. +This MoU will facilitate greater cooperation between the two countries, especially for assisting Maldives for development of human resources and facilities for healthcare. +Enhanced cooperation in the field of health will foster great friendship and relations between the two countries. +The Detailed Project Report for the permanent campuses is under preparation and thereafter the process for setting up of the campuses would start. +The Cabinet also approved formation of an IIM Jammu Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. +This is a part of Prime Minister’s development package for Jammu & Kashmir. +Another six IIMs which have been started in 2015 are located at Amritsar, Sirmaur, Nagpur, Bodhgaya, Sambalpur and Vishakhapatnam. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated and laid the Foundation Stone for several important development projects, at a public gathering in Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. +Among the projects inaugurated are the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) for Puraani Kashi; and an Atal Incubation Centre at BHU. +Among the projects for which the Foundation Stone was laid, is the Regional Ophthalmology Centre at BHU. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the efforts to bring about change in Varanasi, are also attempting to preserve the city’s rich heritage. +He said the city is being modernized, while protecting its ancient identity. +He said the change that has been brought about through four years of resolve of the people of Kashi, is now visible. +Shri Narendra Modi referred to the various projects in the power, road and other infrastructure sectors, which have progressed significantly, and brought about an improvement in the lives of the people in the city of Varanasi, and nearby areas. +The Prime Minister said he feels very happy when he sees citizens post pictures of Varanasi Cantt Station online. +He mentioned the work being done towards modernization of transport infrastructure. +He also spoke of the work being done towards cleanliness and enhancing the visual appeal of the city. +He said this move, which will transform tourism is a continuing effort. +In this context, he also mentioned the work being done in Sarnath. +The Prime Minister said that basic facilities such as roads, electricity and water, are being extended to the rural areas surrounding Varanasi as well. +He said Kashi is now emerging as a health hub. +Mentioning the Atal Incubation Centre that was inaugurated today, he said that startups are already beginning to get connected with this. +He said Varanasi is among the select cities in the country where Piped Cooking Gas is being made available. +The Prime Minister called upon the people of Varanasi to dedicate themselves towards fulfilment of this common resolve for the transformation of the city. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a telephone call today to H. E. Dr. Angela Merkel to congratulate her on assuming office as the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany for the fourth successive term. +Prime Minister Modi lauded the strong leadership provided by Chancellor Merkel to Germany, and the pivotal role played by Germany in European affairs during her leadership tenure. +Prime Minister Modi reiterated his commitment to continue working with Chancellor Merkel for deepening and strengthening the Indo-German bilateral relationship. +Prime Minister Modi also said that he is looking forward to his forthcoming meeting with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who will be on a State Visit to India on 22-26 March 2018. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, during his visit to France, gifted the French President a painting titled Tree of Life, reflecting traditional societal respect for nature in India. +France will be hosting the meeting of Conference of Parties on UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in December 2015. +The tree as a divine gift central to human life is a recurring element in Indian artistic practice. +The Tree of Life, with multiple roots and branches like a banyan tree, is a motif for a tree’s benevolence, fruit, seeds, shelter, healing, procreation and regeneration faculties that sustain life and clean the environment. +The President of Republic of Singapore H. E. Dr. Tony Tan Keng Yam, accompanied by Mrs. Mary Tan, paid a State Visit to India from 8-11 February, 2015, at the invitation of the President Shri Pranab Mukherjee. +His delegation included the Minister in Prime Minister`s Office, Second Minister for Environment and Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms. Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Communications and Information Mr. Lawrence Wong, Parliamentarians and senior officials. +His visit highlighted the celebrations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore. +India-Singapore relationship, based on convergence of views and values and Singapore`s role as our gateway to ASEAN, is robust and expanding. +It encompasses strong political understanding, close defence and security cooperation, growing complementaries in economic engagement, civilisational and cultural linkages and shared interests in bilateral and multilateral fora. +H. E. President Tan was accorded a Ceremonial Welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan following which he laid a wreath at Raj Ghat. +They had wide-ranging discussions on enhancement of bilateral relations and strengthening of cooperation on regional and international issues to raise our partnership to a higher level. +The discussions covered new focus areas that will directly feed into our development process. +These included specific initiatives to develop Smart cities and urban rejuvenation, promote Skill development, measures to Speed up connectivity and coastal and port development, strengthening linkages with the North East of India, projects to Scale up investments in the new development initiatives launched in India and enhancing exchanges with the State of India. +They agreed on sharing of experiences in science & technology, space and other areas to enhance productivity and efficiency as well as broadening cooperation in fighting terrorism. +The discussions reflected the spirit of mutual trust, understanding and cooperation that characterise the unique and special relations between the two countries. +H. E. President Tan will inaugurate the Singapore Festival in India tomorrow, launch the commemorative book titled “Singapore and India: Towards A Shared Future”, open the Peranakan Exhibition at National Museum and host a Food Festival themed “Flavours Of Singapore”. +The State Visit of the President of Singapore reinforced our traditional close exchanges and further enhanced the excellent bilateral relations between our two countries. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Shri Balramji Dass Tandon, the Governor of Chhattisgarh. +“Saddened by the demise of Shri Balramji Dass Tandon, the Governor of Chhattisgarh. +My thoughts are with his family and well-wishers in this hour of grief. +Shri Balramji Dass Tandon spent decades working for peace and progress in Punjab. +Passionate about sectors like industry and labour welfare, his administrative experience added great value to the state. +He will be remembered for his courage while opposing the Emergency”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated India’s longest bridge – the 9.15 km long Dhola-Sadiya bridge, over the River Brahmaputra, in Assam. +This was his first engagement on the third anniversary of his swearing-in as Prime Minister. +The bridge will enhance connectivity and greatly reduce travel time between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. +After unveiling a plaque to mark the inauguration, the Prime Minister travelled, and walked on the bridge for a few minutes. +Later, addressing a public meeting at Dhola, the Prime Minister said that the inauguration of the bridge marks the end of a long wait for the people of this area. +The Prime Minister said infrastructure is extremely important for development, and the effort of the Union Government is to fulfil the dreams and wishes of the people. +He said this bridge enhances connectivity between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, and opens the door for economic development, on a big scale. +He said the eastern and north-eastern parts of the country have the greatest potential for economic development, and this bridge is just one element of the Union Government’s vision in this regard. +The Prime Minister said the bridge will bring about a positive change in the lives of the common people. +He said the Union Government is placing great emphasis on the development of waterways as well. +The Prime Minister said enhanced connectivity between the North-East and other parts of the country is a priority for the Union Government, and work has been greatly speeded up in this regard. +He said that good connectivity in the North-East will also link the region with the economy of South-East Asia. +The Prime Minister also spoke of the immense tourism potential of the North-East. +He said the Union Government has decided to name the Dhola-Sadiya bridge after the great musician, lyricist and poet, Bhupen Hazarika. +1. Dear countrymen, on this auspicious occasion of Independence Day, many good wishes from the Prime Servant of India. +I am here amidst you not as a Prime Minister but as the Prime Servant. +2. I bow to all freedom fighters who sacrificed and dedicated their lives for country’s independence. +3. Independence Day is an occasion to take a pledge for the welfare of all those who are down trodden, poor, exploited and oppressed and to do something for them. +4. Every action should be tested on the yardstick of national interest. +If we resolve to live a life like that, the festival of Independence may become an inspiration to take India to new heights. +5. This country has been built not by the rulers but by farmers, workers, mothers and sisters, youth, sages and saints, teachers, scientists and social workers. +6. A child hailing from a small town and belonging to a poor family is today having the good fortune of bowing before India’s tricolour from the ramparts of the Red Fort. +I bow to them. +7. All Prime Ministers of the country have contributed to the progress of the country after independence. +Likewise, all Governments of the country as well as state Governments have also contributed. +9. We are not among those who function on the strength of majority. +We want to move forward on a strong base of consensus. +10. I also greet all Members of Parliament and all political parties from the ramparts of the Red Fort with pride. +We ended the Parliament session yesterday with an important experiment of taking the nation forward with strong consensus. +I have begun an attempt to make the Government an organic unit. +12. The machine called Government or establishment is to be made sharper and swifter for fulfilling aspirations of the people. +13. Right from a peon to the Cabinet Secretary everybody is capable. +15. Should 125 crore countrymen not have a mantra to ensure that their every step is in national interest. +16. Everything is not for self. +Some things are also for the nation. +One should rise above the self-interest and think about the national interest. +17. Parents ask a number of questions when a daughter goes out, but do they ever have the courage to ask their son about his friends or where is he going or why. +After all a rapist is also someone’s son. +19. Even after independence we sometime face poison of casteism or communalism. +How long will it continue and who is going to benefit from it? +20. I appeal to youth of the country that the poison of casteism, communalism or sectarianism is a hindrance to country’s progress. +Think and try a ten years moratorium to get a society free of all these tensions. +Let us be proud of these daughters. +22. There are two tracks in the country to move forward, good governance and development. +We can progress only on these tracks. +23. Crores of families have mobile phones but not a bank account. +We have to change this situation. +24. Those in Government service are not doing a job but a service, this feeling is to be renewed. +25. Just imagine, if 125 crore countrymen take a step forward the country will move 125 crore steps forward. +29. I want to develop such youth who are job creators. +30. If we wish to provide maximum employment to youth we will have to promote manufacturing sector. +32. A farmer serves the country by filling the granaries in the same way as a soldier defends the motherland. +It is also a national service. +33. Youth should resolve that may be at a small level, they will make at least one article that the country imports, so that it may never need be imported in future. +34. Youth belonging to the IT profession have paved the way for establishing India’s new identity in the world. +35. Digital India is our dream for the nation. +When I say ‘digital India’ it is not meant for the rich but for those who are poor. +37. There was a time when it was said that Railway unites the country. +I say, today IT has the power to unite the country and its people. +38. We want to promote tourism. +Even the small vendor, auto driver, chaat seller and tea stall owner earns from it. +While talking of tea seller, I feel a degree of affinity. +39. Biggest obstruction to development of national character is the filth seen all around us. +The first job in the government I did after coming here, was that of cleaning. +But for me, it is a very big job. +41. Let us decide that in 2019 when we observe Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th anniversary, we will not let our village, city, country, school, colony, temple, hospital and all other areas remain dirty. +It is not Government’s job, it is to be done by public participation. +42. Presently, our mothers and sisters are forced to defecate in open. +45. When we stand here on next 15th August, we should be confident that there is no school left in the country without separate toilets for boys and girls. +48. A complete blue print of Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana will be presented to all MPs and all State Governments by 11th October, Jayprakash Narayan’s Jayanti. +49. We will have to think about giving a new shape to the Planning Commission in order to utilise our federal structure as a heritage of development and better team work between the Centre and states. +50. Strengthen State Governments, federal structure, with new outlook, new body and soul and with new direction, we will create a new institution. +Very soon this new institute will start working in place of Planning Commission. +51. India’s divine strength and spiritual heritage will play a major role in world’s welfare. +These thoughts were expressed by Shri Aurobindo. +This is a very good beginning. +Definitely there will be good results. +I have come with this government as a servant not as a ruler. +56. I felicitate country’s security forces, para military forces for protecting Mother India and for their determination and sacrifice. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved funding for the for Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III (GSLV Mk-III) continuation programme (Phase-I) consisting of ten (10) GSLV (Mk-III) flights, at a total estimated cost of Rs. 4338.20 crores. +This includes Rs. 4338.20 Crores and includes the cost of ten GSLV Mk-III vehicles, essential facility augmentation, Programme Management and Launch Campaign. +The GSLV Mk-III continuation Programme – Phase 1 is the first phase of operational flights that will enable the launch of 4 tonne class of communication satellites to meet the country’s satellite communication requirements. +The GSLV Mk-III Continuation Programme – Phase 1 will meet the launch requirement of communication satellites to meet the national demand for High Throughput Satellites for rural broadband connectivity, increase and sustain the availability of transponders for DTH, VSAT and Television broadcasters. +GSLV Mk-III Continuation Programme – Phase 1 will be the first phase of operational flights of the GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle and the approval will cater to the launch of satellite missions during the period 2019-2024. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Bihar on October 14, 2017. +The Prime Minister will address the Centenary Celebrations of Patna University. +At Mokama, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for four sewerage projects under the Namami Gange programme; and four National Highway projects. +The total outlay of these projects will be over Rs. 3700 crore. +He will also address a public meeting. +The four sewerage projects include Sewage Treatment Plant at Beur, Sewerage System with Sewer Network at Beur, Sewage Treatment Plant at Karmalichak and STP and Sewer Network at Saidpur. +These projects together will create new STP capacity of 120 MLD and upgrade the existing 20 MLD for Beur. +The four National Highway projects for which foundation stone will be laid include: +• 4-laning of Aunta–Simariya section of NH-31 and construction of 6-lane Ganga Setu • 4 laning of Bakhtiyarpur-Mokama section of NH-31 • 2-lane construction of Maheshkhunt-Saharsa-Purnea section of NH 107 • 2-lane construction of Biharsharif-Barbigha-Mokama section of NH-82 +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a large and enthusiastic public meeting on the occasion of the commencement of work for the Rajasthan Refinery at Pachpadra, in Barmer, Rajasthan. +This is a time for ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi.’ +We have to identify our targets and work towards achieving them by 2022, when we mark 75 years of freedom, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister recalled the contribution of former Vice President and former Rajasthan Chief Minister, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, and said that he had worked towards modernising Rajasthan. +The Prime Minister praised the State Government, and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, for managing the drought situation, and helping the people tide over the difficult situation. +He mentioned the Jan Dhan Yojana, and said that the poor have now got access to banking facilities. +He also spoke about the Ujjwala Yojana for cooking gas, and the significant progress made in electrification of 18,000 un-electrified villages. +The Prime Minister praised Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for her commitment towards the benefit and progress of Rajasthan. +Focus on connectivity, cultural contacts and commercial ties. +This was the first meeting between the two leaders, and focus was on connectivity, cultural contacts and commercial ties, during the 45-minute meeting. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Thein Sein reviewed the progress of major connectivity projects between the two countries including the India Myanmar Thailand trilateral highway, and Kaladan transport project. +Both sides see the trilateral highway as an opportunity for industrial cooperation, and sought to explore the possibility of setting up industrial parks along the highway. +The Imphal-Mandalay bus service also came up for discussion. +Both sides reviewed cultural contacts and it was noted that students from Myanmar shall also study at Nalanda University. +President Thein Sein said that as India grows and develops, Myanmar would also benefit. +The possibility of India investing in Special Economic Zones in Myanmar was discussed. +Investment in the oil and gas sector in Myanmar, and India`s assistance in development projects in the agriculture and skill development sectors also came up for discussion. +Shri Narendra Modi recalled the warm communication he had received from President Thein Sein as he assumed the office of the Prime Minister. +President Thein Sein congratulated the Prime Minister and said he had been closely following events in India, and also followed the development model of Gujarat when Shri Narendra Modi was Chief Minister. +President Thein Sein invited Shri Narendra Modi for a bilateral visit. +He said there is a lot of commonality between the two countries and he sees the two countries as brothers. +He also suggested that the Prime Minister visit Bagan and Mandalay. +The Prime Minister accepted the invitation and also extended an invitation to President Thein Sein to visit India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of Memoranda of Understanding for Secondment Programme between the Department of Economic Affairs (Indian Economic Service Cadre) and The Treasury, Government of Australia, for a period of three months. +The validity of both the MoUs will terminate at the end of the three months’ period of assignment and the same will not be extendable. +The programme may be repeated in subsequent years with mutual consultation and after agreement on both sides. +Australia is one of the important bilateral partners of India. +The proposed Programme will help to deepen the understanding of current economic policy issues in both countries and also explore further opportunities for future collaboration and engagement. +The Programme would also provide the seconded officers with valuable and unique development opportunities and also provide exposure on global best practices. +I firmly believe that the life story of living individuals should not be included as a part of the school curriculum. +India has a rich history of several stalwarts who made India what it is today. +Young minds should read about these greats & emulate them.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit West Bengal and Jharkhand on 25th May. +He will attend the convocation of Visva Bharati University at Santi Niketan. +He will also inaugurate the Bangladesh Bhavan – a symbol of the cultural ties between India and Bangladesh – at Santi Niketan. +The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Ms. Sheikh Hasina, will be present at both these events. +In Jharkhand, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of various projects of the Government of India and Government of Jharkhand, at an event in Sindri. +• Revival of Sindri Fertilizer Project of Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Ltd. +• Ranchi City Gas Distribution Project by GAIL +• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Deoghar +• Development of Deoghar Airport +• Patratu Super Thermal Power Project (3×800 MW) +He will also witness the Exchange of MoUs for Jan Aushadhi Kendras. +The Prime Minister will address the gathering. +Later, the Prime Minister will interact with the District Collectors of Aspirational Districts of Jharkhand, in Ranchi. +The Project will be implemented by Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC), which will be reconstituted into a 50:50 jointly owned company of Govt. of India and Govt. of Uttar Pradesh. +Lucknow has been experiencing mounting pressure on its transport infrastructure. +Lucknow has witnessed tremendous growth in the last two decades. +As per census of India 2011, the population of Lucknow Urban Agglomeration is 29 lakhs. +The population of Lucknow Metropolitan Area is over 50 lakhs. +(i) a full-time Chairperson; +(ii) four full-time Members (including a Member-Secretary); +(iii) Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex off do Member; +The Law Commission shall, on a reference made to it by the Central Government or suo-motu, undertake research in law and review of existing laws in India for making reforms therein and enacting new legislations. +It shall also undertake studies and research for bringing reforms in the justice delivery systems for elimination of delay in procedures, speedy disposal of cases, reduction in cost of litigation etc. +The other functions of the Law Commission shall, inter-alia, include:- +a) identification of laws which are no longer relevant and recommending for the repeal of obsolete and unnecessary enactments; +b) suggesting enactment of new legislations as may be necessary to implement the Directive Principles and to attain the objectives set out in the Preamble of the Constitution; +c) considering and conveying to the Government its views on any subject relating to law and judicial administration that may be specifically referred to it by the Government through Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal Affairs); +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the Kyrgyz-India Mountain Biomedical Research Centre (KIMBMRC) at Bishkek. +He was briefed by scientists there on the activities at the Centre. +The laboratory will be constructed later this year. +The Prime Minister said that the research done at this Centre will greatly benefit the health of soldiers who secure the borders at high altitude. +The Prime Minister inaugurated the first telemedicine link between India and Central Asia. +He witnessed a tele-consultation for a cardiac patient between doctors in Osh city in Southern Kyrgyzstan, with doctors in Bishkek and with the Apollo hospital and AIIMS in Delhi. +PM called on HM Jigme Kesar Namgyel Wangchuck following a ceremonial welcome at the Palace. +PM also met PM Tobgay following the meeting with the King. +The primary focus of both the meetings was the extensive development cooperation between the two countries and measures to enhance the economic ties. +PM thanked the Bhutanese leadership for the warm welcome that had been arranged for him. +He said that this reflected the warmth in our bilateral relations. +He applauded the personal efforts made in ensuring the success of his first visit outside India. +He described the bilateral relations as “B2B” relations – `Bharat to Bhutan` relations. +PM expressed satisfaction at India being considered as a privileged partner of Bhutan and underlined that his Govt would not only nuture these strong bonds would also strengthen them. +PM emphasised on the possibilities of greater educational contacts and suggested doubling the scholarships being provided to Bhutanese students in India. +India will provide scholarships worth Rs 2 crores. +PM also informed that India will assist it setting up a Digital Library which will provide access to Bhutanese youth to 2 million books and periodicals. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has visited R&R Hospital to see Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, who is critically ill. +The Prime Minister also met his family members and wished him a speedy recovery. +“Went to R&R Hospital to see Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, who is critically ill. +I also met his family members. +We are all praying for the speedy recovery of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh. +Doctors are doing their best”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore Express. +Expressing his anguish, the Prime Minister said: +Prayers with those injured in the tragic train accident. +I have spoken to Railway Minister, Shri Suresh Prabhu, who is personally monitoring the situation closely”. +The visiting United States Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister welcomed the sustained high-level engagement by the United States with the new Government in India. +The Prime Minister expressed concern about the deteriorating situation in Iraq and its potential implications for the region, where India has vital stakes. +Secretary Hagel briefed the Prime Minister on the announcements by President Obama on the steps that the United States plans to take to deal with the situation. +Shri Narendra Modi also noted that an early completion of the election process in Afghanistan, which enjoys the confidence of the people of Afghanistan, and smooth transition of power is essential for sustaining progress towards peace, stability, democracy and development in Afghanistan. +They also discussed their shared interest in peace and stability in wider Asia Pacific region. +The Prime Minister underlined the importance of defence relations in the overall strategic partnership between the two countries and indicated his desire to see further progress in defence relations, including in defence manufacturing in India, technology transfer in the area of defence, exercises and higher studies in the field of defence. +Shri Narendra Modi reiterated that he looked forward to his visit to the United States not just as an occasion to think in terms of what we can do for each other, but also as an opportunity to see how the world`s oldest democracy and the world`s largest democracy can build a partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the world. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the first indigenously developed and manufactured Rotavirus vaccine: ‘Rotavac’. +The indigenously developed vaccine will boost efforts to combat infant mortality due to diarrhoea. +Each year, diarrhoea caused by rotavirus results up to 10 lakh hospitalizations and kills nearly 80 thousand children under the age of 5 years. +Besides causing emotional stress to the affected families, it also pushes many Indian families below the poverty line and also imposes significant economic burden on the country. +The Prime Minister also lauded this initiative as an example of India’s capabilities for high-end research and development; manufacture of sophisticated pharmaceutical products in India; and, effective Public-Private-Partnership model for finding affordable solutions to societal challenges. +The Prime Minister remarked that India is characterised by large size and diversity; and, continues to face a number of socio-economic challenges. +He also highlighted the vaccine as a successful example of collaboration between India and the United States in the area of medical research, for the benefit of ordinary citizens. +The vaccine has been developed under an innovative public-private partnership model. +The company has been given undertaken to keep the cost of the vaccine at US$ 1 per dose. +This is the third such vaccine available globally against Rotavirus and, at the current prices, the cheapest. +Union Ministers Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Shri J. P. Nadda and Shri Harsh Vardhan were present on the occasion. +Inaugurates Garjee – Belonia Railway Line +Various development projects unveiled for Tripura +HIRA model of development – Highway, I Way, Railway, Airway is on in Tripura, says PM +Prime Minister visited Agartala today in the third and final leg of his day long tour to Assam, Arunachal and Tripura. +He inaugurated Garjee – Belonia Railway Line and several other development projects in the state. +Lauding the role of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore, he said that Maharaja had a vision for Tripura and he contributed greatly to build the city of Agartala. +PM said that he felt proud to unveil his statue. +About the development in Tripura, PM told that the progress is now on a new trajectory. +Government has allocated enough funds over the last four and a half years for the development of Tripura. +He said that he heard that for the first time in history, crops were procured on MSP prices. +PM dedicated to the nation Garjee – Belonia Railway Line through unveiling of plaque at Swami Vivekananda Stadium here. +This line will boost Tripura as the gateway to South and Southeast Asia. +He inaugurated the New Complex of Tripura Institute of Technology at Narsingarh. +During the event , PM recalled that during elections when he came here, he advocated about HIRA model of development i.e Highway, I Way, Railway, Airway. +Agartala Sabroom National Highway, Humsafar Express, Agartala Deoghar Express, New Terminal at Agartala are part of this model. +Speaking about the cleanup of ghost beneficiaries, PM said that earlier the development existed only on paper. +He added that “I heard that there are around 62000 beneficiaries in Tripura alone. +These people were taking your money.” +However, over the last four and a half years around 8 crore ghost beneficiaries have been taken out of the system. +Underlining his commitment towards the farmers and informal sector, PM said that through Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan Pension Yojana, labourers in unorganized sector after 60 years of age will get Rs.3000 per month as pension. +Through PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, farmers with less than 5 acres will get Rs 6000 per annum in their bank accounts. +Separate department for Fisheries will greatly benefit the fishermen. +These steps are a reflection of the intent of the Government, he added. +Prime Minister returns to New Delhi after the day long visit to the three NE States. +He will be visiting Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka tomorrow. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Vinesh Phogat on winning Gold in 50kg wrestling event at the 18th Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta- Palembang, Indonesia. +The Prime Minister said, “Another tournament, another medal! +India rejoices in the victory of Vinesh Phogat. +Congratulations to her on winning the Gold in the 50Kg wrestling event at the Asian Games 2018. +Vinesh’s repeated success will surely inspire upcoming athletes”. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has written to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland, H. E. Mr. Juha Sipila, congratulating him, on his electoral victory and appointment as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland. +The Text of the Prime Minister’s letter is as follows:- +“Please accept my warm congratulations on your electoral victory and appointment as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland. +Our two countries have enjoyed warm and cordial relations based on shared values of democracy and freedom. +I look forward to working with you to further strengthen our bilateral relationship. +I wish to convey my best wishes for your personal good health and well-being, and for the progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Finland. +I would also like to wish you success in all your endeavours as you embark on your journey to lead Finland.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today shared on social media, the link to a specially created page on his website, dedicated to Varanasi. +It can be accessed at http://www.narendramodi.in/varanasi/ +The website showcases the special bond that Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares with Varanasi. +It highlights the Prime Minister’s Swachhta drive, development in Jayapur village under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana and other developmental programmes being organised in Varanasi. +The website also has a collection for all the news updates, photos, and videos of Shri Narendra Modi in Varanasi. +It also offers the option to directly write to the Prime Minister or even share one’s thoughts and insights. +Local inputs can also be provided at the address provided on the website. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today invoked the poetry of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore to state that the poor do not need support (sahaara), but strength (shakti). +He was speaking at the launch of three social security schemes: Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, and Atal Pension Yojana, in Kolkata today. +The schemes were launched in simultaneous functions at 115 venues across the country. +“It is not my prayer that you will save me from difficulties +Give me the strength to overcome the difficulty +Do not take away my burdens or console me +Give me the capacity to bear my burden,” the Prime Minister said, quoting from Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. +The Prime Minister said Kolkata had been chosen for the launch of these schemes because, to quote Shri Gopal Krishna Gokhale, “what Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow.” +The Prime Minister said that it was indeed a matter of great pain that 80 to 90 percent of the people in India do not have access to insurance and pension. +He said the schemes had been launched on trial basis since May 1st, 2015, and 5 crore, 5 lakh people had enrolled for them so far. +The Governor of West Bengal Shri Keshrinath Tripathi, The Chief Minister of West Bengal Ms. Mamata Banerjee, and Union Ministers Shri Jayant Sinha and Shri Babul Supriyo were present on the occasion. +Ministers and Senior Dignitaries attending the Informal WTO Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi, today called on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. +During the interaction, various aspects related to multilateral trade came up for discussion. +Several Ministers appreciated India’s initiative in hosting this Ministerial meeting. +Welcoming the dignitaries, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the deliberations at the Informal WTO Ministerial Meeting would have been constructive. +He reiterated India’s commitment to a rule-based multilateral trading system, based on the principles of inclusiveness and consensus. +He said that a robust conflict resolution mechanism is one of the key benefits of the WTO. +The Prime Minister said that it is important to counter the challenges being posed to the multilateral trading system. +He noted that decisions taken in the Doha Round and Bali Ministerial Meeting are yet to be implemented. +He re-emphasized the need for a compassionate approach towards the Least Developed Countries. +He expressed satisfaction at the enthusiastic response to India’s invitation for the informal meeting. +He said that this is an expression of global confidence in multilateralism, and the principles of the WTO. +Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Suresh Prabhu, was present on the occasion. +The decision will promote Foreign Direct Investment and private sector participation in the port sector. +DPW Limited is contemplating restructuring of its assets in India with the objective of consolidating the ownership of its port infrastructure in India into a single holding company namely, Hindustan Ports Private Limited (HPPL). +The proposal of DPW is intended to help them to expand the capital base and enable fresh investments in Ports and logistics infrastructure in India. +This will enable efficient access of finance and introduce latest technology in port operation. +The restructuring of its assets of DPW in India will help in better coordination and control as the Port Authorities have to deal with a single company registered in India. +The approval of consolidation proposal of DPW will also facilitate promoting foreign direct investment in the country and signal the investor friendly ambience in the port sector. +This may also lead to greater transparency and better compliance to Indian laws and regulations. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has bowed to Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his Jayanti. +“I bow to Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his Jayanti. +His indomitable courage is a source of motivation. +Inspired by the life of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, we are working towards empowerment of our tribal communities, who are India’s pride”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will be visiting United Kingdom (UK) and Turkey from November 12, 2015 to November 16, 2015. +In a series of Facebook posts the Prime Minister said: +On November 12, I will commence my visit to the United Kingdom. +My visit is aimed at strengthening cooperation with a traditional friend that is not only a major economic partner of India but also one of the leading economic players of the world. +India and UK are two vibrant democracies, which are proud of their diversity and multicultural societies. +UK is one of the fastest growing G-7 economies and is home to a strong financial services sector. +It is known for its innovative zeal and for its creative industries. +You would be interested to know that UK has the largest diplomatic presence in India and is the 3rd largest source of foreign investment in our country. +India too is the 3rd largest source of FDI (in terms of the number of projects) in UK. +I see immense scope for our economic and trade relations to improve and this will benefit both our economies. +Another area of importance for bilateral cooperation is defence. +We have traditionally been cooperating extensively on defence and security issues and this visit will build on strong ties. +Defence manufacturing will be a prime focus in my talks. +UK remains a preferred choice for Indian students. +My visit to UK is the first Prime Ministerial visit in almost a decade. +I have had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister David Cameron at various international forums and our meetings have been productive. +Prime Minister Cameron is a good friend of India’s, and we in India have had the privilege of welcoming him thrice during his first term as Prime Minister. +I am confident my UK visit will deepen our ties and we will cooperate extensively in a range of areas of shared interests. +In UK, I will attend a wide range of programmes. +I will have the honour of meeting Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace at a lunch hosted by her. +There will be comprehensive talks with Prime Minister David Cameron. +We will meet in London and then at Chequers. +We will be discussing a variety of issues of mutual interest. +To explore avenues of more effective economic cooperation, I will interact with CEOs at a roundtable in London. +I always look forward to such discussions because it entails frank dialogue and constructive feedback from investors. +My message to the business community is clear – come, make use of the opportunities India is offering and invest in India. +I will visit the British Parliament to give an address. +I thank the Speaker of the House of Commons for this opportunity, considering that the UK Parliament is not in session. +I will address the City of London at an event at The Old Library, Guildhall. +There will also be a visit to the Jaguar Land Rover factory at Solihull. +In London, I will pay homage at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, who is a great source of inspiration for the entire world. +People-to-people ties are crucial for every bilateral relationship to grow. +UK is home to a 1.5 million-people strong Indian diaspora, who have contributed greatly to society in different walks of life. +Lakhs of professionals and students are also working and studying in Britain. +We want to deepen the bond between our diaspora and the people of India. +On November 13, I will address our diaspora community at Wembley Stadium. +I have already requested you to share your inputs and thoughts for through the mobile app. +I will meet some of you who will share their ideas and attend the event. +London has a very strong link with India’s freedom struggle. +Many of our leaders lived, worked or studied in London. +One such great leader was Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. +It is a matter of immense joy and pride that I will visit the place where Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar lived during his stay in London. +Just recently, this place has been acquired by the Government of Maharashtra and it will be converted into a museum for people to visit and pay their respects. +On November 14, I will unveil a statue of Basaveshwara, a great scholar, philosopher and statesman who contributed greatly to our culture and tradition +My visit to Turkey for G20 Summit will commence on November 14. +This Summit is being held at a critical juncture, just after the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals agenda at the United Nations, and just before discussions on climate change at COP-21 in Paris on Nov 30-Dec 1. +During the Summit, we will review the progress on decisions taken at the Brisbane Summit and take up issues of climate change, terrorism, refugees, weak growth in global economy, strategies for growth and employment, investment strategies, trade, energy and financial sector resilience. +Like last year, India’s focus on mitigating the menace of black money, tax erosion and bringing greater transparency remains. +There will be several bilateral meetings too with world leaders on the sidelines of the Summit, which will help deepen our bilateral ties. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Department of Commerce to give focused attention to 12 identified Champion Services Sectors for promoting their development, and realizing their potential. +These include Information Technology & Information Technology enabled Services (IT & ITeS), Tourism and Hospitality Services, Medical Value Travel, Transport and Logistics Services, Accounting and Finance Services, Audio Visual Services, Legal Services, Communication Services, Construction and Related Engineering Services, Environmental Services, Financial Services and Education Services. +The Cabinet has also directed the Ministries/Departments concerned with these sectors to utilize the available draft sectoral plans to finalize and implement the Action Plans for the identified Champion Services Sectors. +The respective line Ministries/Departments shall finalize the Action Plans and the implementation timelines along with a monitoring mechanism to monitor implementation under the overall guidance of the Committee of Secretaries (CoS) under Cabinet Secretary. +A dedicated fund of Rs. 5000 crores has been proposed to be established to support initiatives for sectoral Action Plans of the Champion Sectors. +This initiative will enhance the competitiveness of India’s service sectors through the implementation of focused and monitored Action Plans, thereby promoting GDP growth, creating more jobs and promoting exports to global markets. +Employment Generation Potential +Services sector in India has immense employment potential. +The proposal will enhance the competitiveness of India’s service sectors through the implementation of focused and monitored Action Plans, thereby creating more jobs in India, contributing to a higher GDP and exports of services to global markets. +Certain components of the various sectoral Action Plans that are envisaged to be prepared, related to elements like creation of required infrastructure, fiscal incentives etc., may have financial implications. +These details shall be worked out and finalized with due approvals, as part of the action plans prepared by the respective departments. +Embedded services are substantial part of ‘Goods’ as well. +Thus, competitive services sector will add to the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector as well. +The year 2022 marks 75th anniversary of India’s independence. +The Action Plans to be prepared and implemented by the Ministries/Departments concerned shall develop a vision for each of these identified Champion Sectors in the year 2022 and enumerate steps that need to be taken to achieve that vision. +The share of India’s services sector in global services exports was 3.3% in 2015 compared to 3.1% in 2014. +Based on this initiative, a goal of 4.2 % has been envisaged for 2022. +The share of services in Gross Value Added (GVA) was about 5 3% for India in 2015-16 (61 % including construction services). +A goal of achieving a share of services in GVA of 60 % (67% including construction services) has also been envisaged by the year 2022. +Accordingly, Department of Commerce, with wide stakeholder consultation coordinated the preparation of draft initial sectoral reform plans for several services sectors and, subsequently the action plan. +Your Excellency President of Mongolia, +Honourable Members of Parliament, +Honourable Members of Diplomatic Corp, +I am delighted to visit Mongolia, a country of great people. +Your country reminds us how beautiful this world is. +It is truly a great honour to speak to the Great Hural. +It is a special privilege to do so in the 25th year of democracy in Mongolia. +You are the new bright light of democracy in our world. +I am deeply grateful for your generosity in hosting me on a Sunday. +I bring the greetings of your 1.25 billion spiritual neighbours. +There is no higher form of a relationship; no bonds more sacred than this. +We in India are honoured that you think of us this way. +As in the life of a human being, in the life of a nation, too, few things are as precious as the gift of friendship. +So, I speak for my entire nation to say that we deeply cherish the friendship of the Mongol people. +India and Mongolia are at an important milestone. +We are celebrating sixty years of diplomatic relations. +But, our ties are timeless in spirit. +Around two thousand years ago, monks from India crossed difficult terrain and long distance to spread the message of Lord Buddha in this enchanting land. +Many went from here to the hot tropics of India in search of spiritual knowledge. +Centuries ago, when our horizons and our mobility were limited, the great Mongols united Asia and Europe. +Their stories of courage, daring and adventure continue to captivate human imagination around the world. +Their impact on human history has been profound. +In the winding course of history, our own cultures, literature and art became interconnected. +And, it continues to shine in the richness of India’s diversity and culture. +It lives through the work of Kushok Bakula Rinpoche India’s Ambassador here from 1990 to 2000. +The Pethub Monastery that he established here will be an enduring symbol of our links. +In the popularity of the yoga in Mongolia, we see the unity of our spirit. +Five decades ago, we stood firmly with you, as you sought membership of the United Nations as a proud and sovereign nation. +In turn, time and again, you have stood in solidarity with us, in the United Nations and elsewhere. +While the human bonds have been strong, our economic ties have been modest. +But, I have no doubt that our relations will progress along every avenue of the new age. +It will draw strength from India’s economic growth. +A year ago, a nation of 1.25 billion people voted for change and progress in the largest democratic election in human history. +We have worked with speed, resolve and ambition to fulfill our pledge. +And, we have the potential to grow even faster. +At a time when the global economy remains weak, the world speaks in one voice that India is the bright spot of hope to become the new locomotive for global economic momentum. +We are conscious that our challenges are vast across India’s immense social and economic diversity. +But, we have faith in our sound policies and good governance. +We draw confidence from the unity of our nation and the common purpose of our people. +Even more, we get our energy from the aspirations of a young India, with 800 million youth under the age of 35 years. +They are eager to pursue their dreams and confident in their ability to do so. +So, as we transform the lives of our people, we also create opportunities for the world. +And, we increase our ability to help our friends. +This is the urge of the land of Buddha and Gandhi. +This is the instinct born from our ancient belief in the world as one family. +As the Indian economy adds strength to our region and the world, it will also benefit Mongolia. +Mongolia’s economic growth is also impressive. +So, our bilateral ties will also grow, despite the distance and demands of geography. +Mongolia’s rich mineral resources can fuel our partnership. +And, I hope that location will not be a constraint on Mongolia’s right to choose its partners. +We can seize the economic opportunities of the digital world and work together to make it more secure against growing cyber threats. +We can use India’s expertise in dairy to launch a white revolution on these vast steppes. +We can work together to add value to Mongolia’s pashmina resources right here. +More than just trade and investment, our development partnership is a reflection of our shared ideals and vision. +I believe that the greatest form of this partnership is investment in the development of human resources and institutions. +This gives a nation its own capacity to shoulder the responsibility for its progress. +It enhances its independence of choice. +And, it makes progress more sustainable. +We remain deeply committed to this vision. +Today, I will lay the foundation stone for the expansion and upgrading of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Centre for Excellence in Information and Communication Technology. +Under India’s training programme, Mongolia is one of our largest partners. +We will increase the ITEC training slots for Mongolia from 150 to 200. +We will also establish an India-Mongolia Joint School. +Our security cooperation is growing. +We can learn a great deal from each other. +No one can doubt the well-known skills of Mongols! +We have also agreed that India will help establish a cyber security centre in Mongolia’s defence and security establishment. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated to the Nation, the rail portion of a newly constructed Rail-cum-Road Bridge at Patna. +The event was organized in Hajipur. +The Prime Minister also unveiled plaques for the commencement of operation of goods trains on the newly constructed Rail-cum-Road Bridge at Munger, and for the foundation stone of an additional bridge at Mokama, near the Rajendra Pul. +Addressing a large and enthusiastic gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the newly dedicated bridge will improve transportation, and the economic situation of people in the area. +He recalled that it was when Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, and the current Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Nitish Kumar was the Union Railway Minister, that the foundation stone had been laid for this project. +The Prime Minister emphasized that it was essential for India’s eastern states to develop, for the sustainable growth of the entire country. +The nerve centre for India’s development lies in eastern India, he asserted. +He added that if India had to develop, Bihar must develop. +The Prime Minister said that infrastructure, especially roads and railways, sows the seeds of development, and gives pace to progress. +The Prime Minister underlined the need for the complete modernization of the Railways. +Mr. Dongchea Chung, Special Envoy of Mr. Moon Jae-In, President of the Republic of Korea, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister welcomed the deepening of bilateral partnership not only in trade and economic spheres, but also in new areas like defence cooperation. +The Prime Minister said that he is committed to working with President Moon for further enhancement of bilateral relationship, and looked forward to an early opportunity to meet President Moon. +Treasury Secretary of the United States Mr. Jacob Lew, accompanied by the Vice Chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Mr. Stanley Fischer, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +They are visiting India for the India-US Economic and Financial Partnership dialogue which is co-chaired by the Finance Minister of India. +Prime Minister recalled the landmark and highly successful State Visit of the President of the United States to India as the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade. +Prime Minister reiterated that the economic and financial cooperation between India and the US was an important pillar of strategic partnership between the two countries. +The US Treasury Secretary expressed deep appreciation at the financial inclusion initiative ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana’ that has connected over 100 million people with the mainstream economy in India. +He also appreciated the positive approach adopted by the Government of India in addressing issues of the foreign investors. +A delegation of Japanese Parliamentarians called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The delegation was led by Mr. Toshihiro Nikai, and included Mr. Motoo Hayashi and Mr. Tatsuo Hirano. +The Prime Minister also said that he is looking forward to his visit to Japan next week. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratification of an Agreement between India and Croatia on Economic Cooperation. +India and Croatia had earlier signed an Agreement on trade and economic cooperation in September, 1994 with an aim to promote and develop bilateral trade and economic relations. +Signing of the new Agreement between India and Croatia would be a step in continuity as the existing Agreement expired in November, 2009. +India’s bilateral trade with Croatia during 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 were US$ 152.01million, US$ 148.86 million and US$ 205.04 million respectively. +The average bilateral trade growth was 17.44% during the last three years. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its ex-post facto approval for amendment of Section 64 and section 65 and consequential amendment of section 115 of the Factories Act, 1948 by introducing the Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in the Parliament. +The approved amendments will give boost to the manufacturing sector and facilitate ease of doing business with an aim to enhance employment opportunities. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today announced a Rs. 1.25 lakh crore development package for Bihar. +He said an additional Rs. 40,000 crore was also being invested in the state through various projects under implementation. +He was speaking at the launch of several development projects at Ara in Bihar. +The Prime Minister unveiled plaques for the dedication to the nation and foundation stones of 11 National Highway projects. +He also inaugurated 22 Skill Training Centres, and unveiled the foundation stone for Regional Vocational Training Institute for women, Patna. +The Prime Minister said the projects being launched today would transform the face of Bihar in the days to come. +He said his Government does not think in compartments. +The Prime Minister mentioned the Make in India programme and the fact that foreign investment was being promised. +In this context he mentioned the commitment of the UAE Government. +He added that skill development and assured power supply were essential for the success of Make in India and ensuring employment. +He said this was the holistic vision with which his Government was working. +The Prime Minister said farmer welfare is essential for agriculture to develop. +He said the Agriculture Ministry was now being renamed and reoriented as the Ministry for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. +The Prime Minister said that for India to progress, the eastern part of India had to move forward. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Sweden on cooperation in the field of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. +The objective of the MoU is to promote cooperation between the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of the two countries. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved: +1. Setting up of a National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, to drive clean, connected, shared, sustainable and holistic mobility initiatives; +2. Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) valid for 5 years till 2024 to support setting up of a few large-scale, export-competitive integrated batteries and cell-manufacturing Giga plants in India. +3. Creation of a PMP valid for 5 years till 2024 to localize production across the entire Electric Vehicles value chain. +Both PMP schemes will be finalised by the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage. +National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Storage: +• The multi-disciplinary “National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage” with an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee will be chaired by CEO NITI Aayog. +• The Steering Committee will be comprised of Secretaries from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Heavy Industry, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, and Director General, Bureau of Industrial Standards. +• The Mission will recommend and drive the strategies for transformative mobility and Phased Manufacturing Programmes for EVs, EV Components and Batteries. +• A Phased Manufacturing Program (PMP) will be launched to localize production across the entire EV value chain. +The National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage will determine the contours of PMP, and will finalise the details of such a program. +• The details of the value addition that can be achieved with each phase of localisation will be finalised by the Mission with a clear Make in India strategy for the electric vehicle components as well as battery. +• The Mission will coordinate with key stakeholders in Ministries/ Departments and the states to integrate various initiatives to transform mobility in India. +• Details of the PMP for Batteries shall be formulated by the Mission. +The Mission will ensure holistic and comprehensive growth of the battery manufacturing industry in India. +• The Mission will prepare the necessary roadmap that will enable India to leverage upon its size and scale to produce innovative, competitive multi-modal mobility solutions that can be deployed globally in diverse contexts. +• The Mission will define the roadmap for transformative mobility in “New India” by introducing a sustainable mobility ecosystem and fostering Make-in-India to boost domestic manufacturing and employment generation in the country. +• The Mission will drive mobility solutions that will bring in significant benefits to the industry, economy and country. +• These solutions will help improve air quality in cities along with reducing India’s oil import dependence and enhance the uptake of renewable energy and storage solutions. +• The Mission will lay down the strategy and roadmap which will enable India to leverage upon its size and scale to develop a competitive domestic manufacturing ecosystem for electric mobility. +• The actions in this regard will benefit all citizens as the aim is to promote ‘Ease of Living’ and enhance the quality of life of our citizens and also provide employment opportunities through ‘Make-in-India’ across a range of skillsets. +During the Global Mobility Summit held in September 2018, Prime Minister had outlined the vision for the future of mobility in India based on 7 C’s which are Common, Connected, Convenient, Congestion-free, Charged, Clean and Cutting-edge mobility. +Mobility has the potential to drive the economy forward and positively impact the lives of citizens both in urban and rural areas. +Affordable, accessible, inclusive and safe mobility solutions are primary strategic levers for rapid economic development and improving ‘Ease of Living’. +Shared, connected and clean mobility solutions are increasingly becoming the key principles of effective mobility solutions across the world. +Given its commitment to climate goals, India needs to adopt effective strategies to place itself as a key driver of the mobility revolution in the world. +Hence, there was a need felt to establish a dedicated multi-disciplinary Mission that will facilitate cooperative federalism, extensive stakeholder and inter-ministerial consultations and implement end-to-end policy framework for transforming the mobility landscape with particular focus on: +2. Specification & standards +4. Overall demand creation and projections +5. Regulatory framework +6. Research & Development +These initiatives will pay significant dividends to a rapidly urbanising India in the decades to come. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has wished the citizens on National Voters’ Day. +Calling elections as the celebrations of democracy the Prime Minister has also urged every eligible voters to exercise their franchise and called upon the youth to register as voters when they turn 18. +“Wishing you all on National Voters’ Day. +We greet the Election Commission and salute their important role in our democracy. +Elections are celebrations of democracy. +They communicate the will of the people, which is supreme in a democracy. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will address the CREDAI YouthCon -19, on 13 February 2019, at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi. +The event is organized by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (CREDAI). +The Prime Minister will also visit the exhibition organized by CREDAI. +YouthCon is the annual Youth Conclave of CREDAI, held to bring together the future of the real estate Industry in India. +The President of Afghanistan, Mr. Ashraf Ghani made a telephone call to the Prime Minister. +He strongly condemned the cross border terrorist attack in Pathankot and extended condolences at the loss of lives in the attack. +President Ghani also briefed the Prime Minister about the terrorist attack in Mazar-e-Sharif and expressed support at the loss of lives and property in the earthquake in India. +Prime Minister thanked President Ghani for his message of support at the cross border terrorist attacks and the earthquake. +He also expressed deep appreciation for the exemplary bravery and courage shown by the Afghan National Security Forces in thwarting the terrorist attack in Mazar-e-Sharif and ensuring security and safety of the Indian Consulate and personnel. +Prime Minister conveyed that India would always stand with the people of Afghanistan. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), Bahrain to work together to strengthen the accounting, financial and audit knowledge base within Bahrain. +1. ICAI will provide technical assistance to BIBF by reviewing the current curriculum of BIBF related to accounting and finance; +2. ICAI will recommend introduction of its CA Course curriculum that will facilitate BIBF students to write ICAI’s Examination with an aim to acquire membership of ICAI; +3. ICAI will provide technical assistance in holding ICAI’s professional examination for qualified BIBF students; +The MoU will provide an opportunity to the ICAI members to expand their professional horizon and simultaneously ICAI will become an entity to aid strengthen building of local national capabilities. +The aim is to work together to develop a mutually beneficial relationship in the best interest of members, students and their organizations. +The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India, ‘The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949′, to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. +The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) was founded in 1981 to provide the training and development of human capital in the Kingdom of Bahrain. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today arrived in Mangaluru on the first leg of his visit to Karnataka. +He proceeded to Dharmasthala, where he offered prayers at Shri Manjunatha Swamy Temple. +At a public meeting at Ujire, the Prime Minister distributed RuPay cards to Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana account holders. +He unveiled a logo to mark the launch of “Preserve Mother Earth, and Transfer to Next Generation” programme. +Addressing the gathering, he expressed happiness at the opportunity to pray to Lord Manjunatha. +He said that the current century is about skill development. +India is a youthful nation, and hence, we must harness our demographic dividend, he added. +Our saints and seers created as well as nurtured institutions which have helped society for centuries, the Prime Minister said. +Speaking about the opportunity to hand over RuPay cards to women Self Help Groups, the Prime Minister said that he is happy to see enthusiasm towards digital transactions. +He urged people to use the Bhim App and embrace cashless transactions. +This is the era of honesty and integrity; there is no place for those who cheat the system, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that every rupee, and every resource from the Government of India is devoted for the welfare of Indians. +We are ensuring that the fruits of development reach the intended beneficiaries without any scope of corruption, he added. +Shri Narendra Modi said that conservation of water is a major challenge for us in this day and age. +We also need to give importance towards living in harmony with nature and not think about short term gains, he added. +He called upon the farmers of Karnataka to embrace methods like drip irrigation that help conserve water. +The Assamese and Manipuri language versions of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Official website , www.pmindia.gov.in were launched today. +With the launch today, the PMINDIA website is now available in 11 regional languages namely Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu in addition to English and Hindi. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will share his thoughts with the citizens of the country, this Sunday, 25th of October, in the next edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +The Prime Minister has urged people to share their ideas for the programme on the MyGov Open Forum. +“Have an idea for #MannKiBaat programme this Sunday? +The Prime Minister has also invited people to share their voice messages for the programme on the toll-free number 1800-3000-7800. +Selected voice messages may be included as part of the broadcast. +“Your voice on #MannKiBaat…dial 1800-3000-7800 and share your message. +Some of them will be a part of the programme this Sunday,” the Prime Minister tweeted. +The Mann Ki Baat broadcast this Sunday will the 13th edition of the programme and is scheduled for broadcast at 11.00 AM on All India Radio. +The programme is broadcast live on the entire All India Radio network and Doordarshan channels. +The programme would also be live-streamed on the You Tube channels of Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and DD News. +Regional language versions of this broadcast will be aired by AIR stations in respective regions at 8:00 PM on 25nd October 2015. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s programme on radio, ‘Mann Ki Baat,’ will be broadcast on the entire All India Radio network at 11 AM tomorrow. +My dear countrymen, Namaskar, +Tomorrow, 29th August is the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand. +This occasion is celebrated as ‘National Sports Day’ throughout the country. +I offer my tributes to Dhyan Chand ji and wish to remind you all about his invaluable contribution. +He played a pivotal role in helping India win Hockey Gold Medals in Olympic Games of 1928, 1932 and 1936. +All of us cricket lovers know Bradman’s name very well. +He had complimented Dhyan Chand ji by saying that ‘he scores goals like runs’. +Dhyan Chand ji was a living example of sportsman spirit and nationalism. +During a match in Kolkata one player from the opposite team hit him on the head with the hockey stick. +At that point, only 10 minutes were left in the game. +And, Dhyan Chand ji scored three goals in just those ten minutes and said – “I avenged the hit by scoring goals”. +Dear countrymen, as the time of Mann Ki Baat draws near, a very large number of suggestions are received on MyGov or NarendraModiApp. +I find it a very positive sign that our common people have such attachment and awareness about Rio Olympics and they are insisting that the Prime Minister of the country says something on this matter. +It shows that besides Cricket, our people have so much involvement in and awareness and knowledge about other sports and games also. +For me, even reading these messages proved to be a source of inspiration. +One Shri Ajit Singh ji has written on NarendraModiApp – “Please, this time in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ do talk about the education of our daughters, our ‘Betis’ and their participation in sports because they have brought laurels for the country by winning medals at the Rio Olympics.” +One Shri Sachin has written to urge that in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ this time a mention may please be made about Sindhu, Saakshi and Deepa Karmakar. +Whatever medals we got have been earned by our daughters. +These Betis have once again proved that they are second to none in any respect. +Shikhar Thakur has written on MyGov that we could have performed better at the Olympics. +He has written – “Respected Modi Sir, first of all, congratulations on our winning two medals at Rio. +However, I want to draw your attention to the question – was our performance really good? +And, the answer is ‘No’. +We have to go a long way in the field of sports. +Our parents, even today, insist on focusing on studies and academics. +Sports are considered a waste of time in our society. +We need to change this mindset. +Society needs motivation for this. +And, no one can do this better than you.” +Thousands of people have expressed similar sentiments. +There is no denying the fact that we could not perform up to the expectations. +However, it is also a fact that if we look closely, we shall find that despite missing medals, Indian players gave a very good account of themselves for the first time in some of the events. +See, our Abhinav Bindra very narrowly missed the medal and got fourth place in Shooting. +But, how can we forget that she is India’s first daughter to qualify in Gymnastics for the Olympics and also to reach the final round. +The pair of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna met almost a similar fate in Tennis. +Our athletes this time gave a creditable performance. +Our Women’s Hockey Team qualified for the Olympic Games after a space of 36 long years. +Thus, the future surely seems bright for us. +Vikas Krishna Yadav reached the quarter finals in Boxing but could not win Bronze. +Many players like Aditi Ashok, Dattu Bhokanal, Atanu Das gave a very good performance. +But my dear countrymen, we do have to go a long way. +We shall prepare a roadmap on how we can do better. +We have to prepare a far reaching plan keeping in view the Olympics in 2020, 2024, 2028. +I urge our sports associations also to do objective and impartial brainstorming on this. +And, I also request all citizens of the country who have interest in this matter to mail their suggestions on NarendraModiApp. +My dear countrymen, 5th September is ‘Teachers Day’. +I used to learn quite a lot from those young children. +For me, 5th September was Teachers Day as well as an Education Day. +But, this time I have to leave for G-20 Summit and so felt in my heart that I should express my feelings in this regard in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ today. +In our life, a teacher holds the same place which a mother does. +We have also seen such teachers who care more for their pupils than for themselves. +They devote their lives for their disciples, their students. +These days, after Rio Olympics, Pulela Gopi Chand ji is being talked about everywhere. +He is a player first but he has set up a glorious example of what a good coach, that is, a teacher should be. +I see Gopi Chand ji today as an excellent teacher besides being a very accomplished player. +And, on Teachers Day, I salute Pulela Gopi Chand ji for his hard work, his dedication towards sports and his manner of finding happiness in the success of his disciples. +We always feel the contribution of our teachers in our lives. +5th September happens to be the birthday of India’s former President Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan ji and the country celebrates this as Teachers Day. +Whatever post he held in his life, he always tried to live like a teacher, an educator. +Not only this, he always said that “a good teacher can only be one who keeps the student within always alive”. +Dr. Radhakrishnan ji showed this by living as a teacher and by keeping alive the student within him despite holding the highest office of the President. +Some times when I think of it, I remember so many incidents related with my teachers because they were our heroes in our small village. +In this letter, he mentions books read by him during that month along with quotations. +He also gives his comments on what he deems correct or otherwise in whatever I have done during the month. +It is as if he is, even now, teaching me in the class room. +In a way, he is conducting a correspondence course for me even today. +You may also be having similar experience. +If you have a photograph with your teacher or an incident connected with your teacher or an inspirational thing associated with your teacher, please do share the same on NarendraModiApp. +Looking at the contribution of teachers in the country from the point of view of students is also immensely valuable in itself. +My dear countrymen, Ganesh Utsav is drawing near. +Ganesh ji removes all obstacles and let us all wish that our country, our society, our families, and each one of us may lead a life free of obstacles. +But, when we mention Ganesh Utsav, it is natural to remember Lokmanya Tilak ji. +The tradition of public celebration of Ganesh Utsav is Lokmanya Tilak’s gift to us. +Young people make elaborate preparations, they are full of vigour. +Some people even now try to follow the path shown by Lokmanya Tilak ji. +They organise debates on topics of public interest, and hold essay competitions and rangoli competitions. +Tableus depict the issues of social concern in a very artistic manner. +In a way, a mass campaign of public education gets underway through these Ganesh festivities. +Lokmanya Tilak ji gave us the inspirational mantra – “Swaraj, that is, freedom is our birthright.” +But now we live in independent India. +So do we through these public Ganesh festivals move now to SURAAJ, that is, good governance by proclaiming ‘SURAAJ is my birthright’. +Good governance, SURAAJ, should be our priority; can we not recite this mantra and give a message for it in the public Ganesh festival celebrations? +Come on, I invite you all. +It is true that festivals express the vitality of a society. +Festivals infuse new life into individuals as well as the society. +I have seen that this time, many people have written to me mentioning Ganeshotsav and Durga Puja. +They are worried about environment. +One Shri Shankar Narayan Prashant has strongly urged –“Modi ji, kindly tell the people through your Mann Ki Baat that they should not use Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris. +Why should we not use Ganeshji idols made of the clay from the village pond. +POP idols are not environment friendly”. +He has expressed a great pain, others have also. +I request you all as to why should we not use clay in making Ganesh and Durga idols and revert to our old tradition. +Ganesh ji removes obstacles. +So, we should not make such Ganeshji idols, which create problems. +I do not know how you will take my suggestions but it is not just me but many other people saying the same thing. +Many such institutions work hard to promote Ganesh idols made from clay and they also propagate it. +Eco-friendly Ganeshotsav is also social service. +There is still time left before the start of Durga Pooja festivities. +I offer my best wishes to you all for Ganesh Chaturthi. +My dear countrymen, Bharat Ratna Mother Teresa will be canonized, that is, accorded sainthood on 4th September. +Mother Teresa devoted her entire life to the service of the poor in India. +When Mother Teresa, who served the poor in India all through her life, is accorded Sainthood, it is quite natural for we Indians to feel proud. +Indian government will send an official delegation under the leadership of our External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to represent 125 crore Indians at the canonization ceremony to be held on 4th September. +We keep learning something or the other from great men and women, saints, sages, holy people. +We shall continue to receive something, learn something from them and keep on doing some good things. +My dear countrymen, when development becomes a mass movement, a big transformation takes place. +Peoples’ power is, in a way, considered to be a divine incarnation. +Government of India has made a successful effort to clean the Ganga and involve the people for this project with the cooperation of five State governments. +Pradhans of villages situated on the banks of the river Ganga were invited to Allahabad on the 20th of this month. +They included men as well as women. +They came to Allahabad and took an oath before Mother Ganga that they will make all out efforts to immediately stop the practice of open defecation in their villages situated on the banks of Ganga, start a campaign of building toilets and also that these villages will make their full contribution in cleaning up Ganga and will ensure that Ganga is not polluted now. +I congratulate all the Pradhans who had assembled in Allahabad with this resolve from different States; they had come from Uttrakhand, from Uttar Pradesh, from Bihar, from Jharkhand and from West Bengal. +I also congratulate all those Ministries of the Government of India and also those ministers who turned this vision into reality. +I also want to thank the Chief Ministers of these five States for taking the vital step in the direction of making Ganga clean by involving people’s power. +My dear countrymen, certain things touch me very deeply and my heart bows in respect to those who visualize such heartwarming initiatives. +In Kabirdham district of Chhatisgarh more than 1.25 lakh students from about 1700 schools collectively wrote letters to their parents. +Some students wrote in English, some wrote in Hindi and some in Chhatisgarhi to their parents telling them that there should be toilets in their houses. +Students of age between seven to seventeen took up this task. +This is what inspires us. +In Koppal district of Karnataka, a sixteen year old girl Mallamma started a Satyagrah against her own family. +Just see the power and strength in Mallamma’s protest, and also consider the grand gesture of a village Pradhan like Mohammad Shafi. +Look how the solutions to problems are found, this is the power of the people. +My dear countrymen, Swachha Bharat has become the dream of each Indian. +Some Indians have made it their resolve. +Some Indians have made it their aim and purpose. +But, each one is connected to it in one or the other way and everyone is making a contribution. +Daily we hear about the various innovative efforts in this direction. +I call upon you all to come forward and participate. +Now, some people may wonder whether Honourable President should inaugurate a Radio Channel? +But this is no ordinary Radio Channel, it is a very big and very important step. +We have Bangladesh as our neighbour. +We know that both Bangladesh and West Bengal continue to have a common cultural heritage. +This people to people contact is a big contribution of Akashvani. +The President launched this radio channel. +I extend my thanks to Bangladesh also for collaborating with us in this initiative. +I congratulate the friends in All India Radio too for making their contribution in our foreign policy also. +My dear countrymen, although you have entrusted me with the responsibilities of Prime Minister but I also am a human being just like you. +At times, sensitive events touch me a little too deeply. +Such sentimental incidents generate new energy, give new inspiration and this is what motivates us Indians to do some remarkable things. +I received a letter recently which touched my heart. +A motherly lady of about 84 years of age who is a retired teacher wrote that letter to me. +And, she has said that a letter from the Prime Minister was no less than a Padma Shree honour for her. +Dear countrymen, you may be knowing that I have tried to send a letter, to be delivered personally through my representatives, to all those who surrendered their cooking gas subsidy on my appeal. +My effort is to send letters to more than one crore people. +You may well imagine the missionary spirit of this retired teacher living on pension and donating an amount of fifty thousand rupees for the sake of provision of gas connection to the other poor mothers and sisters, in order to save them from the ill effects of Chulha smoke. +I salute this wonderful mother and I also salute crores of similar mothers in India who keep doing something or the other all the time for the benefit of others despite facing many difficulties themselves. +My dear countrymen, we were struggling with drought-like conditions last year but this August we have been facing the fury of floods all through. +In some parts of the country, there have been repetitive floods. +State governments, Union government, local self-government bodies, social organisations and the citizens did whatever best could be done. +Yet, even amidst the reports of these floods, some such events happened which should be remembered. +Which show the power of unity, and how big results can be achieved by working together? +The month of August this year has become memorable. +In August 2016, about 90 political parties in the country, many of these parties in the Parliament, which were staunch opponents of each other and which do not miss the slightest opportunity against each other, all these parties got united and passed the GST Act. +The credit for this goes to all the parties. +And, this is an example which shows that great tasks can be accomplished by working in unison to move ahead. +Similarly, about the incidents that took place in Kashmir and all that happened in Kashmir, all political parties in the country collectively expressed their views in one voice. +A massage was sent to the whole world, a massage also went to the separatist forces and our sympathy was expressed towards the people of Kashmir. +And, we all are of the view, and this is the view of all 125 crore Indians, right from the village Pradhan to the Prime Minister that every loss of life in Kashmir – whether it is of a young man or of a security personnel – it is our own loss, a loss of our people, a loss for the nation! +Those trying to disturb peace in Kashmir by putting small children in the front and hiding behind them will have to be answerable to these very innocent children some day. +To keep this country of manifold diversities united, we all as citizens, as society and as the government, have a responsibility to encourage things which strengthen our national unity and highlight these with full vigour, only then we can make our country’s future bright, and, of course, this will be achieved. +I have full faith in the power of my 125 crore countrymen. +That is all for today, many many thanks. +Women and children from various segments of society today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at his residence on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. +They tied Rakhi on the Prime Minister’s wrist. +The Prime Minister blessed the children, and conveyed his best wishes to everyone on the occasion. +The estimated cost of the scheme for above two components is Rs.43,033 crore which includes the requirement of budgetary support of Rs.33,453 crore from Government of India over the entire implementation period. +This outlay will be carried forward to the new scheme of DDUGJY in addition to the outlay of Rs.43,033 crore. +The scheme would help in: +(i) Improvement in hours of power supply in rural areas, (ii) Reduction in peak load, (iii) Improvement in billed energy based on metered consumption and (iv) Providing access to electricity to rural households. +The process of sanction of projects shall commence immediately. +After sanction of projects, contracts for execution of projects will be awarded by States Discoms / Power Departments. +The projects shall be completed within 24 months from date of award. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has given its ex-post facto approval to the signing of Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and the Kanagawa Prefectural Government of Japan in the field of Healthcare and Wellness. +Implementation strategy and targets: +The activities between the two sides will start after the receipt of copy of the signed MoC. +The MoC, will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of Traditional Systems of Medicine. +This will be of immense importance to both countries. +There are no additional financial implications involved. +The financial resources necessary to conduct research, training courses, conferences/ meetings and deputations of experts will be met from the existing allocated budget and existing plan schemes of Ministry of AYUSH. +The political, economic, scientific and cultural interaction between India and Japan has been substantial. +Having a background of strong traditional medicine,there is a growing interest towards Ayurveda and Yoga in Japan. +Fellow practitioners of yoga assembled here today and all over the world, +The community of nations responded as one. +As I stand here today the International Day of Yoga is being celebrated across the world. +Millions of people around the world are participating in this event. +From sunrise in the Far East to sunset in the furthest corner of the western hemisphere, people will join in this great celebration of yoga today. +In India, this morning, millions of people participated in a simple yoga demonstration at Rajpath, in states and district capitals, in community groups and in their homes also. +This solidarity in yoga, this coming together with our brothers and sisters in other countries, brings our hearts and minds closer. +I am also happy to release here today a commemorate coin and postal stamp on the occasion. +I am grateful to the international community for the support. +I acknowledge with all humility that this support is not just for India. +This support is for the great tradition of yoga, the tradition that helps individuals and societies to discover a sense of oneness with the self, with each other and nature. +In order to benefit fully from yoga, to understand yoga in its entirety, we must understand who is a yogi. +A yogi is a person who is in harmony – with herself, her body, with her surroundings, with nature. +Yoga is the means to achieve that harmony. +From the Upanishads, comes the idea of Yoga to transform human consciousness through control of body and senses through constant practice. +The body is the vehicle for the realization of the Supreme Being. +Work with devotion and without attachment is yoga. +Yoga is, therefore, a vision for a harmonious future for humanity. +People often think that yoga is just a set of exercises. +The problems of modern lifestyles are well known. +Sri Aurobindo said “Indian Yoga is potentially one of these dynamic elements of the future life of humanity. it is now emerging from the secret schools and ascetic retreats in which it had taken refuge and is seeking its place in the future sum of living human powers and utilities.” +The spread of yoga, therefore, is the symbol of a changing world. +In the past, yoga was the preserve of a select few saints. +Today, it is available to all – in the words of Patanjali, “सार्वभौम” or a universal culture. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today delivered the opening remarks at the fourth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, in Rashtrapati Bhawan Cultural Centre in New Delhi. +Welcoming the Chief Ministers and other delegates, the Prime Minister reiterated that the Governing Council is a platform that can bring about “historic change.” +He assured the Chief Ministers from flood-affected States that the Union Government would provide all assistance to them, to deal with the flood situation currently affecting parts of the country. +He said that the Governing Council has approached complex issues of governance as “Team India”, in the spirit of cooperative, competitive federalism. +He described the smooth rollout and implementation of GST as a prime example of this. +The Prime Minister said that Chief Ministers of States had played a key role in policy formulation, through sub-groups and committees on issues such as Swachh Bharat Mission, Digital Transactions, and Skill Development. +The recommendations of these sub-groups have been incorporated by various Ministries of the Union Government, he added. +The Prime Minister said that the Indian Economy has grown at a healthy rate of 7.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017-18. +He added that the challenge now is to take this growth rate to double digits, for which many more important steps have to be taken. +He said that the vision of a New India by 2022, is now a resolve of the people of our country. +In this context, he mentioned the issues on the agenda today, including doubling of farmers income, development of aspirational districts, Ayushman Bharat, Mission Indradhanush, Nutrition Mission and celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. +The Prime Minister said that 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres are being constructed under Ayushman Bharat. +He said about 10 crore families will be provided health assurance worth Rs. 5 lakhs every year. +He said a comprehensive approach is being adopted for education, under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. +The Prime Minister said that schemes such as Mudra Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana and Stand Up India, are helping in greater financial inclusion. +He emphasized the need for tackling economic imbalances on priority. +He said that all aspects and parameters of human development need to be addressed and improved upon in the 115 aspirational districts. +Shri Narendra Modi said that the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan has emerged as a new model for implementation of schemes. +He said that this has so far been extended to 45,000 villages in the Aspirational Districts. +He said that the target is universal coverage in seven important welfare schemes: Ujjwala, Saubhagya, Ujala, Jan Dhan, Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, Suraksha Bima Yojana, and Mission Indradhanush. +He said this target was recently accomplished in about 17,000 villages. +The Prime Minister said that India has no shortage of capabilities, capacities and resources. +He said that in the current financial year, States are receiving over 11 lakh crore rupees from the Centre, which represents an increase of about 6 lakh crore rupees, from the last year of the previous government. +The Prime Minister said that this gathering today represents the hopes and aspirations of the people of India. +He said it is also the responsibility of this gathering to make all efforts to fulfil them. +Earlier, the Chief Ministers and other delegates were welcomed to the meeting by Vice Chairman of the NITI Aayog, Shri Rajiv Kumar. +The discussions are being moderated by Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh. +Prime Minister, Narendra Modi spoke on phone today to Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, CEO of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, to congratulate him on assumption of office. +The Prime Minister recalled Dr. Abdullah Abdullah`s long association with India and his immense contribution to peace, progress and unity of Afghanistan. +He lauded the wisdom and sagacity of the people and leadership of Afghanistan in ensuring a historic and peaceful political transition which would enable them to more effectively address the challenges of terrorism and extremism. +The Prime Minister expressed confidence that under the able leadership of Dr. Abdullah, Afghanistan will move ahead on the path of peace, prosperity and development. +He assured Dr. Abdullah of India’s full support to the Government and people of Afghanistan in their efforts to build a strong, peaceful, inclusive, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan. +Dr. Abdullah expressed gratitude for PM`s message of congratulation. +He also congratulated Prime Minister on his resounding victory in the elections and wished him success in leading India in its emergence as a global power. +Dr. Abdullah said that he looked forward to meeting the Prime Minister soon. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has written to His Majesty King Abdullah-II Ibn Al-Hussein, the King of Jordan, saying he was “deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the brutal killing of Flight Lt. Muath al-Kasasbeh.” +“This incident is a stark reminder that the persisting menace of terrorism and extremism continues to remain a formidable challenge, calling for a concerted and sustained response from the global community. +We strongly condemn such heinous, senseless and cowardly acts,” the Prime Minister wrote. +“In this hour of grief, India stands in solidarity with the bereaved family and the people and Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,” the Prime Minister added. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved redevelopment of residential colonies at West Ansari Nagar and Ayur Vigyan Nagar Campuses of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AllMS), New Delhi. +National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited (NBCC) will undertake the exercise to replace the existing housing stock of 1,444 dwelling units of Type I to IV with Build Up Area (BUA) of approx. +0.87 lakh sqm with approx. +0.94 lakh sq.mtr. commercial BUA. +The total estimated cost of the project is Rs.4441 crore including maintenance and operation costs for 30 years. +The project shall be implemented on self-financing basis by sale of commercial space on free hold basis with no cost to the exchequer to the Government. +The project will be completed in five years in a phased manner. +The existing housing stock in AllMS, New Delhi demonstrates highly inefficient use of the land. +Thus, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare moved this proposal for redevelopment of existing old dilapidated housing stocks to augment the housing stock by making optimum utilization of land resources as: per Master Plan Delhi (MPD) – 2021 and using modern construction technology with green building norms and in-house solid/liquid waste management facilities. +Her Excellency President Park Geun-hye, +Her Highness Sheikha Mozah, +His Excellency Mr. Ban ki-moon, +Mr. Bang Sang-hoon, President of Chosun-ilbo, +It is a great honour to share the stage with President Park and Sheikha Mozah and Ban Ki Moon. +They are outstanding leaders of Asia. +They reflect Asia’s diversity, and its common spirit. +I am delighted to visit Republic of Korea in the first year of my Government. +Long before Korean brands had found their way into Indian homes, Koreans had found their way into Indian hearts. +Nearly a hundred years ago, India’s great poet, Rabindranath Tagore called Korea the Lamp of the East. +Today, Korea is proving him right. +Korea’s economic miracle and global leadership in technology has made the promise of the Asian Century more real. +Korea is a pillar of democracy and a force of stability in Asia and Pacific. +Asia’s re-emergence is the greatest phenomenon of our era. +It started in Japan and then extended to China, Korea and Southeast Asian nations. +In the West, nations like Qatar are transforming their desert landscapes into booming economies. +It is now India’s turn to sustain Asia’s success. +It is a nation of 1.25 billion people blessed with the extraordinary resources in the form of 800 million youth. +India’s growth has rebounded to 7.5% per year; and, the prospects of further increase are strong. +The world speaks in one voice that India is the new bright spot of hope for our region and the world. +The progress of one-sixth of humanity will also be an opportunity for the world. +It will also give India the capacity to do more for our world. +This is because Asia will succeed more when all of Asia rises together. +Asia must not have two faces – one of hope and prosperity; the other of want and despair. +It must not be a continent of nations on the rise and others in decline; of regions with stability and others with broken institutions. +India seeks an Asia of shared prosperity, where the success of one nation becomes the strength of the other. +Growth must be more inclusive within and across nations. +This is the obligation of national governments, but also a regional responsibility. +That is why the future I dream for India is also the future I want for our neighbours. +We must also empower our youth with skills and education, so that they can look to the future with hope. +Over the next 40 years, three billion Asians will lift themselves into a higher level of prosperity. +Asia’s prosperity and rising population will place a huge demand on our limited resources. +So, our footprint on earth must become lighter as our economic weight increases. +Asia must also use its capacity for innovation and frugal manufacturing for affordable renewable energy. +Reverence for nature is part of our shared heritage. +Combating climate change is in our enlightened self-interest. +That is why India has set a goal of 175 Giga Watts of new renewable energy capacity over the next five years. +But, coal and oil will remain the key source of energy for all of us for a long time to come. +So, let us work together to make them cleaner and less harmful for Nature. +Our vision of inclusive growth will be incomplete unless we pool our innovation and technologies to transform our region’s agriculture. +By 2025, a majority of Asians will live in cities. +Many urban clusters in Asia will exceed the population of mid-sized countries elsewhere in the world. +By then, by some estimates, India will host around 11% of the global urban population. +So, creating livable and sustainable cities of tomorrow should be our collective goal. +If Asia must rise as one, Asia should no longer think of itself in regional fragments. +We must connect our regions through infrastructure and integrate them through trade and investments. +We must also do everything possible to secure lasting peace and stability for Asia. +This year, as we observe the 100th and 70th anniversary of the two wars, we should remember that peace is not inevitable. +We must build institutions that promote cooperation on the principles of equality, co-existence and international rules and norms. +This will also mean that we work together to safeguard our commons for the benefit of all – our oceans, outer space and the cyber space. +This is a responsibility of each Nation towards one another. +It is also our collective task against our common challenges –terrorism; trans-national crimes; natural disasters; and, diseases. +Asia of dynamism, but also of uncertainties must lead in shaping its course. +We must work as Asians to reform the global institutions of governance, including the United Nations and its Security Council. +And, Asia has also given much to the world – great religions, our staples such as tea and rice, some of the finest human creations, and some of the most significant inventions and technologies. +We have risen from tragic conflicts and the long shadow of colonialism. +We have also seen Asia’s strength and spirit. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Monday reviewed the progress of preparations towards the launch of Ayushman Bharat – the National Health Protection Scheme announced in the recent Union Budget. +At a high-level meeting over two hours, the Prime Minister was apprised of the work done so far, by top officials of PMO, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and NITI Aayog, for smooth roll-out of the scheme. +The scheme will provide a cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family. +The Prime Minister urged officials to work towards a well-designed and targeted scheme, which delivers benefits to the poor and weaker sections of society. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for transfer of all land assets owned by Hindustan Vegetable Oils Corporation Ltd (HVOC) to Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) or its authorized agency for appropriate utilization/ disposal. +In lieu of the transfer of the land assets of HVOC, complete liabilities of HVOC towards loans taken from the Government including interest would be written off. +The Government shall also take care of all contingent liabilities of HVOC that may arise in future due to pending cases in various courts/tribunals/authorities. +The land located in seven cities are lying unutilized for many years. +The transfer of the properties to MoHUA would enable use of the land for public purpose. +This will facilitate early winding up of HVOC, which is a sick PSU under liquidation. +Prime Minister emphasised that India attached very high importance to the time-tested and the special and privileged Strategic Partnership with Russia. +Prime Minister said that he was looking forward to the visit of the President of Russia Mr. Vladimir Putin to India in December 2014 for the Annual Summit. +The visit would provide an opportunity to take forward the bilateral relations to a new level. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, reviewed the progress and efforts being made to prevent and reduce under-nutrition and related problems in India. +The high level review meeting was attended by officials from PMO, NITI Aayog and other Ministries. +The current status of malnutrition, stunting and related problems was reviewed. +Successful nutrition initiatives in some other developing countries came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister stressed on the need to work towards concrete objectives to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, low birth weight, and anaemia. +He emphasized that visible and measurable results should be seen by 2022, the 75th anniversary of independence. +Towards this end, real-time monitoring towards progress of nutrition outcomes was discussed, especially in the worst performing districts. +Senior officials repeatedly emphasized that initiatives of the Union Government such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Mission Indradhanush, Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao, and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana etc, are having a positive impact on nutrition. +In this context, the Prime Minister called for convergence among all schemes of Union and State Governments, which directly or indirectly have an impact on nutrition outcomes. +He said raising social awareness towards the importance of nutrition is necessary, to achieve the desired results. +He stressed on the importance of using informal channels to generate this awareness. +Agreement/MOU/Treaty and Purpose of MoU +Name of Minister/officials who exchanged Agreement from Indian and Cambodian side +Cultural Exchange Programme with Cambodia for the year 2018-2022. +Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. +MoU on Cooperation for Prevention of Human Trafficking. +The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval to the declaration of Scheduled Areas in respect of Rajasthan under Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of India by rescinding the Constitution Order (C.O.)114 dated 12th February 1981 and promulgation of a new Constitution Order. +The promulgation of new C.O. will ensure that the Scheduled Tribes of Rajasthan will get benefits of protective measures available under the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of India. +The Rajasthan Government has requested for extension of Scheduled Areas in the State of Rajasthan under Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of India. +Beneficiaries: +The Scheduled Tribes residing in Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh, and partial areas of Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Pali and Sirohi districts of Rajasthan will get benefits of protective measures available under the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of India. +The areas comprising of 3 complete districts namely,Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh; 9 complete tehsils, 1 complete block and 46 complete gram panchayats covering 227 villages in district Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Pali and Sirohi of Rajasthan, would be included in the Scheduled Areas in the State of Rajasthan. +No additional funds are required as to be expended on account of declaration of Scheduled Areas. +This will be part of Tribal Sub-Plan (now renamed as Tribal Sub-Scheme) within existing schemes of Central and the State Government for more focused attention in Scheduled Areas for effecting speedy development. +As per paragraph 6(1) of the Fifth Schedule {Article 244(1)} to the Constitution of India, the expression ‘Scheduled Areas’ means ‘such areas as the President may by order declare to be Scheduled Areas’. +In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 6(2) of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution, the President may at any time by order increase the area of any Scheduled Area in a State after consultation with the Governor of that State; rescind, in relation to any State or States, any order or orders made under this paragraph, and in consultation with the Governor of the State concerned, make fresh orders redefining the areas which are to be Scheduled Areas. +The Scheduled Areas were first notified in the year 1950. +Subsequently, Constitution Orders specifying the Scheduled Areas were issued for State of Rajasthan in1981. +Due to re­organization/creation of new districts and changes in population of Scheduled Tribes as per 2011 Census, the Government of Rajasthan has requested for extension of Scheduled Areas in the State of Rajasthan. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to derailing of Bangalore-Ernakulam express. +“Saddened by the loss of lives due to derailing of Bangalore-Ernakulam express. +Condolences to the families of the deceased. +I wish the injured a speedy recovery. +Railway Minister and officials are closely monitoring the situation and ensuring timely relief”, ”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the International Convention on the Universal Message of the Simhastha, at Ninaura near Ujjain. +The Prime Minister received President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka, at Indore airport. +President Sirisena accompanied the Prime Minister from Indore, and both leaders arrived at the Convention together. +Addressing the gathering, which has also been described as a “Vichar Kumbh” on the sidelines of the Kumbh Mela, the Prime Minister described this convention as the birth of a new effort. +Speaking at length on Indian tradition and culture, he said that the mantra of a ‘Bhikshuk’ is “may good happen to the person who gives me alms, and even to the person who does not.” +The Prime Minister gave several other illustrations of the values and humanism which define Indian culture. +Referring to the launch of the Simhasth Declaration, which was dedicated to the world by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Prime Minister said this will mark the start of a new discourse not only in India but around the world. +The Prime Minister suggested that a ‘Vichar Kumbh’ should be held every year, to discuss issues such as afforestation and education of the girl child. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today gave its approval to move official Amendments in the Appropriation (Acts) Repeal Bill, 2015 and the Repealing and Amending (Third) Bill, 2015 respectively and to pursue for consideration of the said Bills pending in Rajya Sabha. +The enactments repealed in reality have lost their meaning and are still on the Statute-Books. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of Industrial Property Cooperation between Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), Ministry of Law, Government of Singapore. +The MoU will be signed at the upcoming visit of Singapore’s Prime Minister to India from 4-7 October, 2016. +The MoU will enhance bilateral cooperation activities in the arena of Industrial Property Rights of Patents, Trademarks and Industrial Designs. +It is intended to give a boost to innovation, creativity and technological advancement in both regions. +The Priority initiatives under the MoU would be: +• Exchange of best practices, experiences and knowledge on Intellectual Property awareness among the public, businesses and educational institutions of both countries +• Exchange of experts specialized in the field of intellectual property +• Cooperation in the development of automation and implementation of modernization projects +• Partnership in IP-related training for local IP and business communities +The MoU will enable India to exchange experiences in the innovation and IP ecosystems that will substantially benefit entrepreneurs, investor and businesses on both sides. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Nepal for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism. +The Memorandum is proposed to be signed during the visit of Hon`ble Prime Minister of India to Nepal from 25th to 28th November, 2014. +The signing of MoU will help India in increasing foreign tourist arrivals from Nepal to the country. +This in turn will result in economic development and employment generation. +India and Nepal have enjoyed a strong historical and long economic and political relationship. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will join the nation tomorrow in celebrations of the concluding ceremony of Centenary of Champaran Satyagraha in Bihar. +He will address 20,000 Swachhagrahis or the Ambassadors of Cleanliness in Motihari on this occasion. +Swachhagrahis are the ‘foot soldiers’ and motivators to implement the Community Approaches to Sanitation (CAS) at the village level. +Swachhagrahis are key to driving progress towards achieving an open defaecation free nation. +25 leaders from the Muslim Community, under the umbrella of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +Welcoming the delegation, National Security Advisor, Shri Ajit Doval, said that the whole world is looking at India today, and it is the responsibility of all segments of Indian society to take the nation forward. +Leaders from the delegation agreed with Shri Doval. +They said that the objective should be to take the country forward, together, following the Prime Minister’s call of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. +They said that the Muslim community would never allow any conspiracy against India to succeed. +Expressing concern at the situation in Kashmir valley, members of the delegation said that only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can resolve the issue. +They appreciated the Prime Minister’s stand on the issue of Triple Talaq. +Members of the delegation, who are associated with educational institutions, also mentioned the progress made by their institutions, in Government initiatives such as cashless transactions, start-ups, and the Hackathon recently organized by NITI Aayog. +The delegation also appreciated the implementation of minority welfare schemes under the Union Government. +Welcoming the members of the delegation, the Prime Minister said that democracy’s greatest strength is harmony and amity (मेल मिलाप). +Emphasizing that the Government does not have any right to discriminate among citizens, the Prime Minister said that India’s speciality has been its unity in diversity. +He said that the new generation in India must not be allowed to fall victim to the rising global tide of extremism. +On Triple Talaq, the Prime Minister reiterated that the Muslim community should not allow this issue to be politicized, and urged the assembled gathering to take the responsibility for initiating reform in this regard. +The members of the delegation included Maulana Qari Syed Mohammad Usman Mansurpuri – President of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind; Maulana Mahmood A Madani – General Secretary of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind; Dr. Zahir I Kazi, President – Anjuman-i-Islam, Mumbai; Prof Akhtarul Wasey; and Maulana Badaruddin Ajmal. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy between Ministry of AYUSH of the Government of Republic of India and the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine of the Government of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. +The signing of the proposed MoU will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of traditional medicine and homoeopathy. +This will be of immense importance to both countries considering their shared cultural heritage. +There are no additional financial implications involved. +The financial resources necessary to conduct research, training courses, conferences / meetings will be met from the existing allocated budget and existing plan schemes of Ministry of AYUSH. +The activities between the two sides will start immediately after the signing of the MoU by the two countries. +The initiatives taken between the two countries will be as per the terms of reference of the MoU signed and will be a continuing process till the MoU remains in operation. +India is blessed with well-developed systems of traditional medicine including medicinal plants, which hold tremendous potential in the global health scenario. +Sri Lanka also has a long history of traditional medicine. +Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga & Naturopathy and Homoeopathy are the important traditional health care systems existing in Sri Lanka. +Both countries share a common culture with respect to Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Systems of Medicine. +Moreover, there are a large number of medicinal plants, particularly those found in tropical region which are common to the two countries given similar geo-climatic factors. +India and Sri Lanka share several cultural, historical, linguistic and literary similarities. +The shared cultural and civilizational heritage of the two countries and the extensive people to people interaction of their citizens provide the foundation to build a multi-faceted partnership and harmonious bilateral relations between the two countries. +The Ministry of AYUSH, as a part of its mandate to propagate Indian systems of Medicine globally has taken effective steps by entering into MoUs with 11 countries. +They are the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SATCM), People’s Republic of China; the Government of Malaysia; the Ministry of Health of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago; Ministry of Human Resources, Government of Hungary; Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal; Ministry of ; Health and Quality of Life, Government of Mauritius; Ministry of Health and Sports, Government of Mongolia; Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, Government of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Health & Sports, Government of Myanmar and Joint Declaration of Intent with the Federal Ministry of Health of the Federal Republic of Germany for Cooperation in the field Traditional Medicine. +The 7th Central Pay Commission was constituted by the Central Government on 28.2.2014. +According to the Resolution dated 28.2.2014, by which the Commission was constituted, it is to make its recommendations within 18 months of the date of its constitution that is by 27th August, 2015. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the death of Jawans in an avalanche in Kashmir. +“Deeply saddened at the death of our Veer jawans in an avalanche in Kashmir. +Have directed the authorities for speedy search and rescue ops.” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today spoke at the closing session of the Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhawan. +The Prime Minister thanked the Governors for the various inputs given during the course of the Conference. +The Prime Minister said that India does not lack in ideas, resources and capabilities, but certain States and regions have lagged behind due to a governance deficit. +He said various government schemes for the benefit of the poor, are better implemented in areas where good governance exists. +Giving examples of schemes such as Mission Indradhanush, he said Governors can facilitate greater effectiveness of government initiatives. +In order to strengthen the unity and integrity of India, the Prime Minister urged Governors to involve themselves in initiatives such as Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat; and Run For Unity. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the setting up of the 15thFinance Commission. +Under Article 280 (1) of the Constitution,it is a Constitutional obligation. +The Terms of Reference for the 15thFinance Commission will be notified in due course of time. +The 14thFinance Commission was set up on 02.01.2013 to make recommendations covering the period of five years commencing on 1st April, 2015. +The Commission submitted its Report on 15th December, 2014. +The recommendations of the 14thFinance Commission are valid upto the financial year 2019-20. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated Shri Shashi Kapoor for being presented the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. +Usually the season of winter also starts with Diwali. +However, this is the impact of Global Warming and Climate Change that one does not feel the intense cold these days. +However, our Winter Session is getting started. +I am confident of it, and even yesterday we had an ‘All Party meeting’ in which there was a common voice that the session of the parliament should be utilised in the proper manner for taking the country forward. +And I also hope that if the house will function in a positive manner then the country will be benefitted, democracy will be strengthened and a new trust for fulfilling the expectations and hopes of common people will be created. +The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the Vice President, Shri Venkaiah Naidu, and the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today offered floral tributes at the statue of Sardar Patel, at Patel Chowk in New Delhi, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. +The Prime Minister later flagged off the “Run For Unity” from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister recalled the contributions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, especially in uniting the nation. +The Prime Minister asserted that the youth of India respects Sardar Patel, and his contribution towards the building of our nation. +This session is important. +I hope that we all strive towards accomplishing the maximum possible tasks that are of public importance and significant to the country for the welfare of the people and the country. +I believe that all the members of the House will move ahead with this spirit. +We have been relentlessly striving to have discussions on different issues. +The discussion could be an open one and a heated one but it must take place. +With this belief, my best wishes to you all. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted our brave ITBP personnel on the Raising Day of ITBP. +“On the Raising Day of ITBP, I salute our brave ITBP personnel. +We are proud of their valour, determination and service to the Nation”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Tripura on their Statehood Day. +“Statehood Day greetings to the people of Tripura. +In less than a year, the state has made remarkable progress. +It is realising it’s true potential and people’s aspirations are being fulfilled at a record pace. +May this spirit grow further in the coming years”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved Submission of India’s second Biennial Update Report (BUR) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change towards fulfilment of the reporting obligation under the Convention. +The scope of BUR is to provide an update to India’s first BUR to UNFCCC. +The BUR contains five major components — National Circumstances; National Greenhouse Gas Inventory; Mitigation Actions; Finance, Technology and Capacity Building Needs and Support Received and Domestic Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) arrangements. +BUR has been prepared based on a range of studies conducted at the national level. +The BUR has undergone multitier review process, through peer review, review by Technical Advisory Committee of Experts chaired by Additional Secretary (Climate Change) and by National Steering Committee chaired by Secretary (EF&CC). +In 2014, a total of 26,07,488 Gigagram (Gg) CC-2 equivalent* (around 2.607 billion tonnes of CC-2 equivalent) of GHGs were emitted from all activities (excluding LULUCF) in India. +The net national GHG emissions after including LULUCF were 23,06,295 Gg COa equivalent (around 2.306 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent). +Out of the total emissions, energy sector accounted for 73%, IPPU 8%, agriculture 16% and waste sector 3%. +About 12% of emissions were offset by the carbon sink action of forestland, cropland and settlements. +A summary of India’s national GHG inventory of 2014 is provided in the table below: +CO2 equivalent (Gg) +Industrial Process and Product Use +Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)** +TOTAL without LULUCF +**negative emission value implies sink action i.e. net carbon removal from the atmosphere +* 1 Gigagram (Gg) = 109 grams; Greenhouse gases are converted to CO2 equivalents (CO2e or CO2eq) using their respective Global Warming Potentials. +India is a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). +The Convention, in accordance with its Article 4.1 and 12.1, enjoins upon all Parties, both developed country Parties and developing country Parties to furnish information, in the form of a National Communication regarding implementation of the Convention. +Decision 2 of COP17, in paragraph 41 (f) states that Biennial Update Reports shall be submitted every two years. +i. Establishment of a Central and corresponding State Allied and HealthcareCouncils; 15 major professional categories including 53 professions in Allied and Healthcare streams. +v.Professional Advisory Bodies under Central and State Councils will examine issues independently and provide recommendations relating to specific recognised categories. +The Bill also empowers the Central and State Governments to make rules. +X. Central Govt. also has the power to issue directions to the Council, tomake regulations and to add or amend the schedule. +An Interim Council will be constituted within 6 months of passing of the Act holding charge for a period of two years until the establishment of the Central Council. +The Council at the Centre and the States are to be established as body corporate with a provision to receive funds from various sources. +Councils will also be supported by Central and State Governments respectively through Grant-in-aid as needed. +However, if the StateGovernment expresses inability, the Central Government may release some grant for initial years to the State Council. +Major Impact, including employment generation potential: +Total cost implication is expected to be Rupees 95 crores for the first four years. +About four-fifth of the total budget (i.e. Rupees 75 crores) is being earmarked for the States while the remaining fund will support the Central Council operations for 4 years and also establish the Central and State Registers. +Number of beneficiaries: +It is estimated that the Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2018 will directlybenefit around 8-9 Lakh existing Allied and Healthcare related professionals inthe country and several other graduating professionals joining workforce annually and contributing to the health system. +However, since this Bill is directed to strengthen the healthcare delivery system at large, it may be saidthat the entire population of the country and the health sector as a whole will be benefited by this Bill. +1. In the current state of healthcare system, there exist many allied and healthcare professionals, who remain unidentified, unregulated and underutilised. +Our system is highly focused on efforts towards strengthening limited categories of professionals such as doctors, nurses and frontline workers (like Accredited Social Health Activist or ASHAs, Auxiliary Nurse Midwife or ANMs). +However, numerous others have been identified over the years, whose potential can be utilised to improve and increase the access to quality driven services in the rural and hard to reach areas. +2. Allied and Healthcare Professionals (A&HPs) constitute an important element of the health human resource network, and the skilled and efficient Allied and Healthcare Professionals (A&HPs) can reduce the cost of care and dramatically improve the accessibility to quality driven healthcare services. +3. Globally, Allied and Healthcare Professionals typically attend undergraduate degree programme of a minimum of three to four years to begin with and may attain up to PhD level qualification in their respective streams. +However, most of Indian institutions offering such courses lack standardisation. +4. Majority of the countries worldwide, have a statutory licensing or regulatory body that is authorised to license and certify the qualifications and competence of such professionals, particularly those involved in direct patient care (such as physiotherapist, nutritionist etc.) or those whose occupation impact patient care directly (such as lab technologists, dosimetrists etc.). +5. Though such professionals have existed in the Indian healthcare system for many decades, a considerable gap in the allied and healthcare space is because of a lack of a comprehensive regulatory framework and absence of standards for education and training of A&HPs. +6. The Bill thus seeks to establish a robust regulatory framework which will play the role of a standard-setter and regulator for Allied and Healthcare professions. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted people on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. +May Lord Ganesh shower his blessings on us & enrich our lives with peace, joy & wisdom,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the martyrs who lost their lives during attack on Indian Parliament in 2001. +“We salute martyrs who lost their lives protecting the Temple of our Democracy on this day in 2001. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Technical Cooperation in Cyber Space and Combating Cyber-Crime signed last month. +This agreement would provide help in handling of the issues related to the cyber-crime between the two countries. +Both the countries shall cooperate in cyber space and combating cyber-crime in all forms, particularly through coordination and exchange of information in relation with cyber crime, cooperation and training in cyber-crime investigation, etc. between India and UAE. +The Ministry of Home affairs will be the nodal agency on the Indian side responsible for the implementation of this agreement. +Similarly, the nodal agency of the UAE side will be the Directorate General of Criminal Security, Ministry of Interior and the State Security Department with regards to matters pertaining to State security, terrorism and crimes related to unconventional weapons. +The enhancement of technical cooperation between India and UAE in cyber space and combating cyber-crime comes in the wake of the serious threat of cyber-crime on the security, interest and safety of the people. +The HDCPL was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 in 1978. +At present viewing operations are being carried out in the SNZ at Mumbai wherein Foreign Mining Companies (FMCs) only display their rough diamond lots to the Indian manufacturers and then take them back. +Thereafter the sales are carried through e-auction from offices situated in other countries to Indian manufacturers. +This facility has enabled even smaller Indian players to have direct access of supply of rough diamonds. +These cinlude two closed urea units of Fertilizer Corporation India Limited (FCIL) at Sindri (Jharkhand) and Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Barauni (Bihar) unit of Hindustan Fertilizers Corporation Limited (HFCL). +These three fertilizers units would be revived by means of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of Public Sector Units (PSUs) namely, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Coal India Limited (CIL), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and FCIL/HFCL, through ‘nomination route’. +The setting up of new units at Sindri, Gorakhpur and Barauni will meet the growing demand of urea of Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand. +Apart from growth of regional economy, this unit will create opportunities for 1200 direct and 4500 indirect employments. +M/s GAIL (India) Limited has planned to lay a gas pipeline from Jagdishpur to Haldia. +These units will serve as anchor customer for this pipeline and ensure its viability. +Commissioning Jagdishpur-Haldia gas pipeline (JHPL) is important for development of critical infrastructure in Eastern India and will have multiplier effect on economic growth of the region. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated noted Islamic scholar and peace activist Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, on being conferred the Sayyidina Imam Al Hassan Ibn Ali Peace Award at a function in Abu Dhabi. +“Congratulations to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, on being conferred the Sayyidina Imam Al Hassan Ibn Ali Peace Award at a function in Abu Dhabi. +Maulana Wahiduddin Khan’s knowledge and efforts towards peace make him one of the most respected scholars, admired all over”, the Prime Minister said. +PM: Federal structure can be a “development mechanism”, not merely a “Constitutional arrangement.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said India’s federal structure should be viewed as a “development mechanism” rather than just a “constitutional arrangement.” +Stating that a person who is unhealthy cannot derive benefit from exercise, the Prime Minister said that the first six months of his Government were focused on making India healthy once again. +The “exercise” would begin now, he added. +The Prime Minister said there would be a youth-centric focus to all policies of his Government, as 65 percent of India’s population is below the age of 35. +Therefore, skill development and job creation would continue to be accorded the topmost priority. +The Prime Minister stressed on the need to inject technology into government processes and decision making, saying this would provide the best possible solution to the problem of corruption. +He said the Government`s focus on infrastructure and “Digital India” would boost employment opportunities even in the rural areas. +The Prime Minister said the success of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana would not only bring economic benefits, but had also boosted the confidence within Government, as a key objective of the scheme (opening bank accounts for the poor) has been achieved. +Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley gave an overview of the various decisions taken by the Government over the last six months in the economic sphere. +The session was moderated by Dr. Shekhar Shah, Director-General of the NCAER. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the occasion of Easter. +I am visiting the Republic of Korea at the invitation of President Moon Jae-in. +This will be my second visit to the Republic of Korea and my second Summit meeting with President Moon. +We had the pleasure of receiving President Moon Jae-in and First Lady Mrs. Kim Jung-sook in India in July last year. +My visit to the Republic of Korea is reflective of the importance we both attach to our relationship. +We regard the Republic of Korea as a valued friend, a nation with which we have a Special Strategic Partnership. +As fellow democracies, India and the ROK have shared values and a shared vision for regional and global peace. +As fellow market economies, our needs and strengths are complementary. +ROK is an important partner for our ‘Make in India’ initiative as well as in our ‘Start Up India’ and ‘Clean India’ initiatives. +Our collaboration in the field of science and technology is encouraging, with our joint research ranging from basic to advanced sciences. +Our people to people ties and exchanges, as always, provide the bedrock of our ties of friendship. +We were touched by President Moon’s decision to send the First Lady as his special representative at the ‘Deepotsav’ Festival held in Ayodhya last November. +The growing depth and variety in our relationship has been accentuated by the harmony between our Act East Policy and ROK’s New Southern Policy. +Working together, we are determined to take our relationship forward as a ‘future oriented partnership for People, Prosperity and Peace’. +During this visit, apart from my discussions with President Moon, I will meet with business leaders, members of the Indian community as well as eminent persons from all walks of life. +I am confident that this visit will help us to further strengthen this important partnership. +PM: Amendment of Land Acquisition Act essential for creating rural infrastructure. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said amendment of the existing Land Acquisition Act is essential to enable creation of rural infrastructure including roads, houses for poor, schools, hospitals and irrigation projects. +The Prime Minister made a strong appeal to all sections of the Rajya Sabha, to support initiatives of the Union Government that would enable fulfilment of the mandate for development given by the people of India. +He also made a passionate appeal to farmers not to be misled by those who were trying to project the Government’s initiatives for development, as being “anti-farmer.” +Shri Narendra Modi was addressing a large gathering of farmers and people from rural areas, on the occasion of the dedication to the Nation of Stage-1 (2x600MW) and laying of Foundation Stone of Stage-2 (2x660MW) of Shree Singaji Thermal Power Project, at Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh. +The Prime Minister said the large gathering of people from rural areas, to grace the occasion of the dedication to the nation of a power plant, even on the festival of Holi, shows how committed people are towards the cause of development. +The Prime Minister described energy as the key to development. +Describing energy as an integral part of modern life, the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to deliver power to all. +He said power generation has gone up by about 11 per cent in the last 9 to 10 months, since the new Government assumed office. +The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of saving energy, and mentioned the Government’s programme of LED bulbs for homes and street-lighting. +Shri Narendra Modi said the Government is committed to curbing corruption, and gave the example of successful auctioning of coal blocks, which would also benefit Madhya Pradesh in a big way. +The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and the Union MoS(IC) for Power Shri Piyush Goyal were present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for Signing of an Agreement between India and Kyrgyzstan on cooperation in the field of agriculture and food related industry. +The proposed agreement between India and Kyrgyzstan covers various activities in the field of agriculture and allied sector including but not restricted to areas such as exchange of information and experience in the field of research; animal breeding, Avian Influenza and Food & Mouth Disease (FMD); veterinary medicine; plant growing, production of seeds based on modern technology, certification of seed; introduction of different types of irrigation, & establishing Indian Pilot Project; information technology on efficient use of food processing and packaging technology. +Apart from exchange of information, the MOU also provided for cooperation in the field of protection of plant variety rights; agricultural, food trade and horticulture; agricultural research & education, horticultural research & education and food safety and standards; aquaculture and fisheries, etc. +The Agreement provides for constitution of a Joint Working Group comprising of representatives from both countries which shall prepare plans of cooperation, provide solutions to the problems arising during the implementation of this Agreement and implementation of tasks determined by the Parties. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will dedicate to the nation, India���s longest road tunnel – the 9 kilometre long “Chenani – Nashri Tunnel” – on April 2nd, 2017. +The tunnel on NH-44 which connects Jammu with Srinagar, will reduce travel time between the two cities by upto two hours. +It achieves a distance-reduction of 31 kilometres, bypassing snow-bound upper reaches. +The estimated daily fuel savings are to the tune of Rs. 27 lakhs. +Besides avoiding large scale deforestation and tree-cutting, the tunnel will provide a safe, all-weather route to commuters travelling from Jammu and Udhampur, to Ramban, Banihal and Srinagar. +The tunnel is equipped with world-class security systems, and is expected to boost tourism and economic activities in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. +Key Features of the tunnel +Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on the telephone to H.E. Mr. Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China this afternoon at the latter’s initiative. +Premier Li congratulated Prime Minister Modi on his victory in the recent general elections and conveyed the Chinese government’s desire to establish robust partnership with the new government of India for further development of relations between the two nations. +Prime Minister Modi thanked Premier Li for his message of felicitations. +He welcomed greater economic engagement between the two countries. +The two leaders agreed to maintain frequent high-level exchanges and communication. +Prime Minister Modi extended through Premier Li an invitation to President Xi Jinping to pay a visit to India later this year. +Prime Minister Modi’s telephone conversation with Premier Li was his first with a foreign Head of Government since taking over as Prime Minister of India. +PM Shri Narendra Modi has invited people from all over the world to come and discover the beauty of India. +He also urged youngsters of the country to travel across the country and explore its diversity. +The Prime Minister said, “On World Tourism Day, I invite people from all over the world to come & discover the beauty of Incredible India & hospitality of our people. +I specially urge my young friends to travel across India & see first hand the diversity of our vibrant nation. ” +PM also shared a clip of what he said on tourism and its benefits during 36th episode of Mann Ki Baat last Sunday. +https://soundcloud.com/narendramodi/unity-in-diversity-is-indias-speciality +The founder and CEO of Facebook, Mr. Mark Zuckerberg, called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +They discussed a wide range of issues revolving around the innovative use of Facebook as a platform to engage with a large audience in the service of humanity. +The Prime Minister spoke to Mr. Zuckerberg about the Swachh Bharat Mission. +It may be recalled that the Prime Minister shared his ‘Why Clean India’ (Before) and ‘My Clean India’ photo along with a video on Facebook on October 3rd, 2014. +Mr. Mark Zuckerberg said that Facebook wants to work with the Government of India in the fields of healthcare and education, providing a range of services to the people. +Mr. Zuckerberg added that Facebook will help in the creation of the Clean India Mobile App and that it would be launched soon. +This would give a strong impetus to the Swachh Bharat Mission. +They also talked about the Digital India initiative. +Mr. Zuckerberg said that he is extremely excited about the Digital India initiative of the Government of India. +Prime Minister asked Mr. Zuckerberg to identify some domains of Digital India where Facebook can get involved and help. +During the meeting the Prime Minister pointed that a lot of terrorist elements are using social media platforms to recruit members to join them. +This is unfortunate and that we need to think of the role social media can play to stop terror, he added. +Shri Modi recalled how he used social media during campaigns such as tracking the missing children, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat and how it gave wonderful results. +The Prime Minister appealed to Mr. Zuckerberg to promote India’s rich tourism potential through Facebook. +He asked Facebook to look at how to enhance Internet literacy along with Internet connectivity. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has wished Shri L K Advani on his birthday. +“Warmest birthday greetings to our guide and inspiration, the respected Shri LK Advani ji. +I wish Advani ji a long life filled with best health. +Advani ji’s contribution to the country is invaluable. +He has always been respected as a person of immense knowledge and integrity. +Personally, I have learnt so much from Advani ji. +For Karyakartas like us, he is the best teacher and the epitome of selfless service,” the Prime Minister said. +The amendment will bring clarity and ensure that the prohibition of certain persons in the resolution process of an insolvent corporate person does not include unintended persons and the opportunity given to a person whose account is classified as non-performing asset is more equitable. +PM to inaugurate Lower Panazara medium Project under PMKSY +Jalgaon-Udhana Doubling and electrification Rail Project to be inaugurated +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Yavatmal and Dhule, in Maharashtra, on 16 February 2019. +He will unveil multiple projects in the state. +PM will inaugurate Eklavya Model Residential School, at Nanded through the press of button. +The school has a total capacity of 420 students with the state of the art facilities. +It will help in improving quality of education amongst tribal students and also provide an avenue for their overall growth and personal development. +PM will hand over the keys to selected beneficiaries for the e-Gruh Pravesh of houses constructed under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). +PM will flag-off Ajni (Nagpur)- Pune Train through video link. +The train comprises of three tier air conditioned coaches and will provide overnight service between Nagpur and Pune. +The foundation stone of roads under central road fund (CRF) will be laid through the press of button. +PM will also distribute certificates/ cheques under Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM) to women SHGs. +MSRLM aims at social mobilization towards financial inclusion which help in ensuring farm and non-farm livelihoods opportunity through facilitation of door-step delivery of financial services. +The Project was included in Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchan Yojana (PMKSY) in 2016-17. +It has a total water storage capacity of 109.31 MCum with Irrigation Potential of 7585 hectares benefitting about 21 villages of Dhule district. +PM will lay foundation stone of Sulwade Jamphal Kanoli Lift Irrigation Scheme. +This scheme envisages lifting 9.24 TMC of flood water from river Tapi in 124 days of monsoon season. +It is proposed to irrigate 33367 hectares area of about 100 villages of Dhule district. +Foundation stone of Dhule City Water Supply Scheme under AMRUT will be laid by PM. +It will ensure water availability to boost industrial and commercial growth. +He will lay foundation stone of Dhule-Nardana railway Line and Jalgaon – Manmad 3rd Railway Line. +PM will Flag-off Bhusaval- Bandra Khandesh Express Train through video link. +It is an overnight train and will provide direct connectivity between Mumbai and Bhusawal. +The train will run three days a week. +He will inaugurate Jalgaon-Udhana Doubling and electrification Rail Project. +The project will increase the capacity of ferrying passengers as well as goods. +It will act as a catalyst for development of Nandurbar, Vyara, Dharangaon and other places on the section. +The President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan His Excellency Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani was warmly welcomed on his working visit to India on 14 & 15 September 2016. +During the visit, he held discussions with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and will be received later today by Rashtrapatiji. +Meeting President Ghani, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi fondly recalled his visits to Kabul and Herat in December 2015 and June this year, respectively. +The President stressed the significance of the Prime Minister’s assurance conveyed during the joint inauguration of Storay Palace on 22 August 2016 via a video link that 1.25 billion people of India firmly stand with their Afghan brothers and sisters. +The Prime Minister reiterated India’s abiding support for a unified, sovereign, democratic, peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. +He conveyed India’s readiness to consider further requirements of Afghanistan for capacity and capability building in spheres such as education, health, agriculture, skill development, empowerment of women, energy, infrastructure and strengthening of democratic institutions. +To this end, the Prime Minister offered that, as a close neighbour and friend of Afghanistan and its people, India would allocate a sum of USD 1 billion. +The Prime Minister also proposed to supply world class and easily affordable medicines from India and cooperation in solar energy through mutually agreed instruments. +The two leaders discussed the regional situation and expressed grave concern at continued use of terrorism and violence in the region for achieving political objectives. +They agreed that this phenomenon presented the single biggest threat to peace, stability and progress in the region and beyond. +Both leaders reaffirmed their resolve to counter terrorism and strengthen security and defence cooperation as envisaged in the India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement. +It was agreed that the Strategic Partnership Council headed by the External Affairs Minister of India and the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan will meet shortly, review the recommendations of the four Joint Working Groups dealing with diverse areas of cooperation and impart further guidance. +The leaders expressed satisfaction over signing of the Extradition Treaty, the Agreement on cooperation in civil and commercial matters and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Outer Space during the President’s visit. +It was also stressed that expeditious implementation of the trilateral agreement involving Afghanistan, India and Iran, signed in May 2016, using Chahbahar will augment connectivity within and of the region. +In this context, the leaders appreciated the recent decision taken by the three countries to convene a joint forum involving important stake holders, including from business and industry. +Both leaders welcomed intensification in the interaction involving India and Afghanistan with regional and other countries and international organisations to foster peace, stability and development in Afghanistan. +They appreciated, in particular, the outcome of the India-Iran-Afghanistan trilateral consultations and looked forward to the resumption of India-US-Afghanistan consultations in New York later this month. +The Prime Minister conveyed to the President that India would continue to engage with the international community to assist the Government of Afghanistan in all possible ways. +In this context, the leaders underscored the significance of the Amritsar Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA) on the forthcoming 4 December, as well as the Brussels Conference on 5 October. +It also underscores that India and Afghanistan remain committed to the expeditious realization of seamless two-way connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia. +The Prime Minister invited the President to grace the inauguration of the Amritsar Ministerial. +The President accepted the invitation. +The President will highlight to senior Indian industry and trade captains the economic opportunities and potential of Afghanistan. +He will also deliver an address to a select gathering of strategic experts at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses on ‘Fifth Wave of Political Violence and Global Terrorism.’ +The Prime Minister had a telephone call with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to congratulate him on his victory in the Presidential elections held in Russia yesterday. +Conveying his compliments on Mr. Putin’s success, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that under Mr. Putin’s leadership, the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ between India and the Russian Federation will continue to grow from strength to strength. +The Prime Minister also stated that he looked forward to welcoming President Putin in India for the Annual Summit later thisyear. +President Putin thanked the Prime Minister for the phone call. +He conveyed his commitment to further strengthen India-Russia relations in all spheres, and also his good wishes for the continued progress of India and her people. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released a book named “The Z Factor” written by Shri Subhash Chandra. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described Shri Subhash Chandra as a person who always cared for the weaker sections of society. +The Prime Minister also recounted some anecdotes about his earlier interactions with Shri Subhash Chandra. +The areas of cooperation include the following:- +(i). Market reforms, regulatory structures and the role of competition in the supply and distribution of electricity, including regulations and incentives for Renewable Energy deployment; +(ii). The integration of renewable energy into the grid; +(iii). Energy efficiency policies and practice, including industrial energy efficiency and vehicular fuel efficiency; +(iv). Off-shore wind energy and solar energy; +(vi). Energy storage and new energy technologies; +(vii). Capacity building of renewable energy institutions; +(viii). Off-grid renewable energy services; +(ix). Tidal energy; +(x). Any other area of co-operation approved in writing by the Participants. +The MoU will provide an enabling framework for technical assistance, including in-kind grant, and other support, as mutually agreed, through relevant projects initiated by the United Kingdom. +Project specific agreements may also be developed, from time-to-time. +The focus will be the electricity market structure and the integration of renewable energy into the grid. +The programme would work at both central and state levels to improve energy security and reliability of supply, improve energy access and facilitate sustainable economic growth. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed joy over registration of 10 crore citizens, as a part of the PAHAL Yojana. +“Gives me great joy to know that over 10 crore citizens have been registered as a part of the PAHAL Yojana. +A momentous accomplishment. +This makes PAHAL Yojana among the largest cash transfer schemes in the world. +PAHAL Yojana will bring an end to black-marketeering and subsidy will reach people more effectively. +Its role in nation-building is important,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed the Akhil Bharatiya Prachaarya Sammelan, organized by the Vidya Bharati Akhil Bharati Shiksha Sansthan in New Delhi today. +The Prime Minister exhorted the gathering to work towards establishing even more firmly, the image of Vidya Bharati, as an institution committed to “education with values.” +He urged the Principals to work towards instilling excellence in every aspect of students’ lives. +As an illustration, he asked them to work to prepare sportspersons who could win gold medals at the 2020 Olympics. +The Prime Minister said students of Vidya Bharati schools can also work towards bringing positive changes in society, in areas such as Cleanliness (Swachh Bharat), and Energy Conservation (Bijli Bachao). +Explaining that use of LED bulbs helps save electricity, he asked Vidya Bharati Schools to make maximum use of them. +The Prime Minister emphasized the need to imbibe technology in all aspects of education, and to take full advantage of the benefits it offers. +As an illustration, he said inspirational stories of various schools could be easily shared across the Vidya Bharati school network, using technology. +The Prime Minister urged the assembled Prachaaryas to become torch-bearers of positivity and positive energy. +Resolution of Public Grievances has also been reviewed across a range of sectors. +Today, in the twenty-sixth meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to post offices, and railways. +He stressed on the importance of increasing digital transactions across the postal and rail networks, especially using the BHIM App. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of nine infrastructure projects in the railway, road, petroleum, and power sectors. +These projects are spread over several states including Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. +These projects include the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, and the Char Dham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress in implementation of the AMRUT Mission. +He also reviewed the programme for End-to-End Computerization of Targeted PDS Operations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to the Indian soldiers who fought in the First World War. +“Today, as we mark one hundred years since the end of the horrific First World War, we reiterate our commitment towards world peace and pledge to work to further an atmosphere of harmony and brotherhood so that the trail of death and destruction caused by wars does not occur. +India remembers our brave soldiers who fought in WW-1. +This was a war in which India was not directly involved yet our soldiers fought world over, just for the cause of peace. +I have had the honour of paying tributes at the Neuve-Chapelle Memorial in France and at the memorial in Israel’s Haifa, places associated with India’s role in the First World War. +When PM Benjamin Netanyahu came to India, we paid tributes at the Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk”, the Prime Minister said. +Such was his sense of honesty & commitment that the farmer, the worker right up to the industrialist trusted him with full faith. +My dear brothers & sisters, we celebrated ‘Infantry Day’ yesterday. +I respectfully bow before all of them who are part of the Indian Armed Forces. +I was reading an old interview with the celebrated Army officer samManekshaw. +In that interview, field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was reminiscing on times when he was a Colonel. +If the youth of a country possess these qualities, that country will progress not only in areas such as Economy and Science & Technology but also bring laurels home in the field of sports. +Just recently I had two memorable meetings. +First, I got an opportunity to meet our Para Athletes who participated in the Asian Para Games 2018 held at Jakarta. +You will be pleased to know that in the Summer Youth Olympics 2018, the performance of our youth was the best ever. +At this event we won 13 medals besides 3 in mixed events. +You may recall that even, in the recent Asian Games, India’s performance was par excellence. +Have you observed the way I have frequently used terms such as ‘the best ever’ or ‘new, unprecedented record’? +This is the real story of Indian Sports which are witnessing an upswing with each passing day. +India is setting new records not just in the field of sports but also in hitherto uncharted areas. +When he turned eight he lost his father. +Then he spent another eight years in an orphanage. +After leaving the orphanage, he eked out a living cleaning DTC buses and working as waiter at roadside eateries. +The same Narayan is winning medals for India at International events. +Not just that, just observe the rapidly enhancing levels of excellence in Indian sports !Hitherto, India had never won a medal in a Judo event, at the junior or senior level. +But Tabaabi Devi created history by bagging the silver medal at the youth Olympics. +16 year old player Tabaabi Devi hails from a village in Manipur. +Her father is a labourer and mother a fish-seller. +There were times when the family had no money to buy food. +Even such hardships were not able to cow down her zest & devotion. +And she has created history by winning a medal for the country. +Stories like these are innumerable. +Every life, every being is a source of inspiration. +Every young sportsperson’s passion & dedication is the hallmark of New India. +My dear countrymen, you may recall that we had successfully organized FIFA Under- 17 World Cup in the year2017. +The whole world acclaimed this as a very successful tournament. +FIFA Under -17 World Cup had created a record in terms of the number of viewers on the ground. +More than 12 lakh enthusiasts enjoyed the romance of Football matches in various stadia across the country and boosted the morale of the young players. +Each Indian who plays any game or has interest in any game has a definite interest in Hockey. +India has a golden history in Hockey. +India has won gold medals in various tournaments and has been the World Champion once. +India has produced many great hockey players. +Wheneverthere will be reference to Hockey,the story will remain incomplete without a mention of these legends. +Hockey maestro Major Dhyan Chand is a renowned name all over the world. +Then, from Balbeer Singh Senior, Leslie Claudius, Mohammad Shahid, Udham Singh to Dhan Raj Pillai, Indian Hockey has had a very long journey. +Even today, players of Team India are encouraging the younger generation through their hard work and focused attention. +It is a good chance for the sport lovers to witness closely contested matches. +Go to Bhubaneshwar and cheer up the Indian team and also encourage each team there. +This is a chance for the sports lovers to see Odisha. +They can visit the world famous holy places like the Sun Temple of Konark, Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri and Chilka Lake along with enjoying the games there. +But, in this new era, the new generation is coming forward in a new way with a fresh vigour and spirit to fulfill their new dream. +Recently, I attended a programme where a portal was launched, its name is ‘Self 4 Society’, MyGov and the IT and Electronics industry of the country have launched this portal with a view to motivating their employees for social activities and providing them with opportunities to perform in this field. +This spirit, this dedication is a mission mode activity. +Will this not make every Indian feel proud. +My dear brothers and sisters, when I was going through your suggestion for Mann Ki Baat this time, I found a very interesting comment from Shri Manish Mahapatra from Pudducherry. +He wrote on Mygov- Please take up the topic “in Mann Ki Baat” as to how the tribes and their traditions and rituals are the best examples of coexistence with the nature. +How do we need to adopt their traditions in our lives for achieving sustainable development and learn from those traditions?Manishji, I appreciate you for bringing this subject among the listeners of Mann Ki Baat. +To live in consonance and closed coordination with the nature has been an integral part of our tribal communities. +TheBishnoi community in the desert land of Rajasthan has shown us a way of environment protection. +Specially, in the context of serving trees, they prefer laying down their lives but cannot tolerate any harm to a single tree. +Mishmi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh claim their relationship with tigers. +They even treat them like their brothers and sisters. +In Nagaland as well, tigers are seen as the forest guardians. +People of Warli Community in Maharashtra consider tigers as their guests and for them the presence of tigers is a good omen indicating prosperity. +There is a belief among the Kol community in Central India that their fortune is directly connected with the tigers and they firmly believe that if the tigers do not get food, the villagers will have to facehunger . +The Gond tribes in Central Indai stop fishing in some parts of Kaithan river during the breeding season. +They consider this area as a fish reserve and they get plentiful of healthy fishes because of this belief of theirs. +Tribal communities make their dwelling units from natural material which are strong as well as eco-friendly. +In the isolated regions of the Nilgiri plateau in South India, a small wanderer community Toda make their settlements using locally available material only. +My dear brothers and sisters, this is a fact that the tribal community believes in very peaceful and harmonious co-existence but, if somebody tries to harm and cause damage to their natural resources, they do not shy away from fighting for their rights. +There is no wonder that our foremost freedom fighters were the brave people from our tribal communities. +Who can forget BhagwanBirsaMunda who struggled hard against the British Empire to save their own forest land. +My dear countrymen, in “Mann Ki Baat”, we talk about those persons and institutions who make extra-ordinary contribution for the society. +These works may seem small but have a very deep impact in changing our thinking and in giving a new direction to the society. +A few days ago, I was reading about a farmer brother Gurbachan Singh from Punjab. +ShrimanGurbachan Singh ji’s family has presented one such example before us. +All of you are carrying forward the Indian tradition of a healthy life style as a true successor. +Just as a sea is formed by collection of tiny drops, similarly,a small constructive step, plays a vital role in creating a positive environment. +My dear countrymen, it has been told in our epics:- +It means- O, Lord, peace should prevail all around in all three “Lokas”,in water, in air, in space, in fire, in wind, in medicines, in vegetation, in gardens, in sub conscious, in the whole creation. +Grant peace to each soul, each heart, in me, in you, in every particle and everywhere in the Universe. +Wherever there will be a talk of world peace, India’s name and contribution will be written in golden letters. +For India, World War I was an important event. +Rightly speaking we had no direct connection with that war. +Despite this, our soldiers fought bravely and played a very big role and made the supreme sacrifice. +Indian soldiers showed it to the world that they are second to none if it comes to war. +Our soldiers have displayed great valour in difficult areas and adverse conditions. +There has just been a single objective behind it- Restoration of peace. +The world witnessed a dance of death and devastation during the World War I; According to estimates, around one crore soldiers and almost the same number of civilians lost their lives. +This made the whole world realize and understand the importance of peace. +The definition of peace has changed in the last hundred years. +Today, peace does not only mean ‘no war’. +My dear countrymen, our North-East has a unique distinction of its own. +The natural beauty of North –East has no parallel and the people of this area are extremely talented. +A few days ago Sikkim won the prestigious Future Policy Gold Award, 2018 for encouraging the sustainable food system. +This award is given by the UN body ‘Food & Agriculture Organisation’ – FAO. +You will be delighted to know that this best policy making award is equivalent to an Oscar in the sector. +I extend my best wishes to all countrymen for these festivals. +I would request all of you to take best care of yourselves and take care of your health as well and also take care of social interests. +Your progress is a vital part of the country’s progress. +The more you progress, the more will the country progress. +My best wishes to you all. +Thank you very very much. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness and shock over the fire tragedy which happened at a temple in Kollam district of Kerala today morning. +Shri Modi will be rushing to Kerala to take stock of the situation arising due to the unfortunate incident. +” Fire at temple in Kollam is heart-rending and shocking beyond words. +My thoughts are with families of the deceased and prayers with the injured. +Spoke to CM Oommen Chandy about the fire at a temple in Kollam. +Arranging for immediate shifting of those critically injured via helicopter. +Have also asked my Cabinet colleague and Health Minister JPNadda to immediately reach the site of the fire tragedy in Kollam. +I will be reaching Kerala soon to take stock of the situation arising due to the unfortunate fire tragedy in Kollam”, the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets. +PM has asked airforce and navy to assist in making arrangements for immediate shifting of critically injured via helicopter. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Zimbabwe for cooperation in the field of geology, mining and mineral resources. +The MoU was signed on 3rd November 2018 at Harare, Zimbabwe. +The objectives of the MoU are, exchange of information on resources, laws and policy, organization of seminars to exchange views on development strategies, encouragement of transfer of technologies between the Parties, promotion of value addition and opportunities for investment in the mining sector. +These provisions, will enable taking up of activities like documentation, dissemination and would serve the objective of innovation. +The MoU will provide an institutional mechanism between India and Zimbabwe for cooperation in the identified fields. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has tweeted his prayers for all those people who are affected due to the adverse weather conditions caused by Cyclone Vardah. +The Prime Minister has also said that the Centre is working closely with the local administrations and army for safety of life and property of all those affected. +“My prayers are with all those people who are affected due to adverse weather conditions caused by #CycloneVardah. +Centre, @ndmaindia is working closely with local administrations and army for safety of life and property”, the Prime Minister said. +Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea; +Minister for Commerce & Industry, Government of India; +President and CEO of the Chosun-ilboGroup; +Business Leaders of Korea and India; +I am very happy to be here with you. +Such a large gathering of Korean companies in India is actually a global story. +I take this opportunity to welcome all of you to India. +The relationship between India and Korea dates back centuries. +It is believed that an Indian Princess travelled to Korea and became a queen in Korea. +We are also bound by our Buddhist traditions. +Our Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore composed a poem – ‘Lamp of the East’ – in 1929 about Korea’s glorious past and its bright future. +Bollywood films are also very popular in Korea. +And at the Pro-Kabaddi league in India a few months ago, some of the loudest cheers, were reserved for a Korean Kabaddi player. +It is also a good co-incidence that India and South Korea both celebrate their Independence Day on the 15th of August. +From Princess to poetry and from Buddha to Bollywood; we have so much in common. +As I have mentioned earlier, I have always been fascinated by Korea. +I visited Korea when I was Chief Minister of Gujarat. +I used to wonder how a country of the size of Gujarat can make such economic progress. +I admire the spirit of enterprise of the Korean people. +I admire the way in which they have created and sustained their global brands. +From IT and Electronics to Automobile and Steel, Korea has given exemplary products to the world. +Korean companies are appreciated for their innovation, and strong manufacturing capability. +My visit in 2015 led to a positive focus on India. +Your open market policies have found resonance with India’s economic liberalization and ‘Look East Policy’. +Over 500 Korean companies are operating in India too. +In fact, many of your products are house-hold names in India. +However, South Korea ranks only 16th in FDI Equity inflows to India. +India offers a lot of potential for the Korean Investors with its huge market and enabling policy environment. +Since many of you are already present in India, you already know the ground realities. +Also, through your interaction with Indian CEOs, you must have already discovered the direction in which India is going. +However, let me take a few more minutes. +I would like to use this occasion to personally invite to India those who are not yet present here. +If you see around the globe, there are very few countries where you have three important factors of economy together. +They are: Democracy, Demography and Demand. +In India, we have all the three together. +By Democracy, I mean the system based on liberal values which ensures free and fair play towards one and all. +By Demography, I mean a vast and talented pool of young and energetic workforce. +By Demand, I mean a big and growing market for goods and services. +A rising middle class is creating further growth in the domestic market. +We have worked towards creating a stable business environment, ensuring the rule of law, and removing arbitrariness in decision making. +We seek positivity in day to day transactions. +We are widening the areas of trust; rather than digging into doubts. +This represents a complete change of the Government’s mindset. +We are on a de-regulation and de-licensing drive. +Nearly 65 percent to 70 percent of the items previously under licensing can now be produced without a license. +We have said that factory inspections will only be need-based and only on authorization of the higher authority. +In Dime are one of the most open countries now. +Most of the sectors of our economy are open for FDI. +More than 90 percent approvals have been put on automatic route. +There is practically no requirement of Government approval for investments in manufacturing sector except for Defense sector. +Incorporating a company along with allotment of statutory numbers is now just a one day affair. +We have carried out thousands of reforms on the business, investment, governance and cross border trading front. +Some of them like GST are historic. +Many of you might already be experiencing the ease in operations due to GST. +FDI inflows have grown the most in the last three years. +There is a new energy and vibrancy in the domestic industry. +A new start up eco-system has been un-veiled. +With unique ID and mobile phone penetration, we are fast moving towards becoming a Digital Economy. +Our, strategy is to leverage the strength of hundreds of millions of Indians who have come online in recent years. +Thus, a New India is emerging which will be modern and competitive and yet caring and compassionate. +On the global platform. +India has climbed 42 places in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index in the last three years. +We moved up 19 places on the Logistics Performance Index of 2016 of World Bank. +We have improved 31 places in last two years in the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum. +We have also moved up twenty one places on the Global Innovation Index of WIPO in two years. +We are among the top 10 FDI destinations listed by UNCTAD. +Ours is a globally cost competitive manufacturing eco-system. +We have a vast pool of skilled professionals with knowledge and energy. +Now, we have a world class engineering education base and strong R&D facilities. +We are working with the mission of Transforming India from. +An old civilization into a modern society. +Very soon, we will become the world’s fifth-largest economy by nominal GDP. +We are also the fastest growing major economy of the world today. +We are also a country with the one of the largest Start up eco-systems. +Our vision is to create a globally competitive industry and services base equipped with skill, speed and scale. +Therefore, we are continuously working to improve our investment climate. +We particularly want to promote manufacturing in a big way to create jobs for our youth. +For this purpose, we have launched a campaign called “Make in India”. +This includes bringing our industrial infrastructure, policies and practices to best global standards and to convert India into a global manufacturing hub. +This initiative has been well supplemented by programmers like ‘Digital India’ and ‘Skill India’. +Cleaner and greener development and Zero defect Zero effect manufacturing is another commitment. +We have committed to the world and are moving aggressively for adoption of better environmental technologies. +I have said earlier that there is huge potential for cooperation between India’s software and Korea’s IT industry. +Your car making and our designing capabilities can be put together. +Though we have become the third biggest producer of steel, we need to add lot of value in it. +Your steel-making capacity and our resources of iron ore can be put together for better products. +Similarly, your ship-building capacity and our agenda of port led development can become a driver of our partnership. +Housing, smart cities, railway stations, water, transportation, railways, sea ports, energy including renewables, IT infrastructure and services, electronics, are all very promising sectors in my country. +India and Korea are major economies in the region. +Our partnership has immense potential to promote regional growth, development, stability and prosperity in Asia. +India is turning to the East for bigger economic engagement. +Similarly, South Korea is trying to diversify its overseas markets. +Both stand to gain by deepening their partnership. +India a huge and emerging market. +It can also be a bridge for Korean business to penetrate the Middle East and African markets. +You may recollect that the need for a hand-holding agency was felt during my visit to Korea. +It was announced that a dedicated team would be established for Korean Investments in India. +Accordingly, “Korea Plus” was formed in June 2016. +The mandate of Korea Plus is to promote, facilitate and retain Korean investments in India. +It is envisaged as the first reference point for Korean Investors in India. +Korea Plus has facilitated more than 100 Korean Investors in a short span of about two years. +It acts as a partner throughout the investment cycle of Korean companies. +This shows our commitment towards welcoming Korean people and companies; ideas and investments. +I would like to conclude by saying that India is now ready for business. +India is now a free destination for enterprise. +You will not find such a free and growing market anywhere in the world. +At a personal level too, I assure you of my full support whenever required. +The first meeting of the Governing Council of the National Skill Development Mission (NSDM) was held under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on 2 June 2016. +Further, he said a similar exercise should also be done to map the skilled manpower requirements at the global level, so that India can meet the global requirement of skilled workforce. +Senior bureaucrats, and corporate leaders, including, Shri Cyrus P. Mistry, Chairman, Tata Group; Shri Sachin Bansal, Founder and CEO Flipkart’ and Shri Manish Sabharwal, Chairman and Founder, Team Lease Services also participated in the Governing Council meeting. +Some of the major decisions taken at the meeting included the following: +· Skill training to be scaled up to cover at least 1.5 crore people during 2016-2017. +· The Central Board for Skills Certification to be set up by September 2016 to infuse quality into India’s skill development ecosystem. +· Unutilized infrastructure in existing engineering colleges to be leveraged for skill training courses. +· Profit making Public Sector Units (PSUs) will be mandated to scale up apprenticeships, upto 10% of total manpower, over the course of this year. +Private corporations are also expected to follow suit. +· 500 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras, which will provide skill training free of cost to be opened this year, to impart training to India’s aspiring youth. +· 50 Overseas Employment Skill Training Centres to be opened this year, in migratory pockets of the country. +· 500 Rozgar Utsavs will be held across Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Central Training Institutes, PMKVY training centres, toolrooms etc., to make skill training aspirational amongst youth. +· A national skills competition, known as ‘India Skills’ will be launched during 2016-2017, to recognize the skills of India’s youth. +This will be an annual event. +· This year, a national level Convocation will be held for candidates who successfully complete ITI courses, to recognize their success. +· Over the next one year, the capacity of ITIs to be further enhanced from 18.5 lakhs to 25 lakhs and over 5000 new ITIs will be created. +· Traditional skills will be recognized, nurtured and promoted through informal apprenticeships, under various programmes. +65% of Indians are under the age of 35. +By 2025, almost 1 in 5 of the world’s working age population (18.3%) will be Indian. +In order to leverage India’s demographic dividend and prioritise skill development, a dedicated new Ministry for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) was set up, for the very first time, by the newly elected NDA government in November 2014 to steer and coordinate skill development efforts. +Skill India is anchored within this new Ministry. +Conflicting norms between schemes, poor monitoring mechanisms, varying assessment and certification systems and the absence of a coherent vision of success, limited the effectiveness of these initiatives. +While there were previous attempts to consolidate this ecosystem through centralised organisations such as the National Skill Development Coordination Board or the Prime Minister’s National Council of Skill Development, 2008 – the fact that multiple bodies existed under different organisations and the lack of focus on execution, made these institutions ineffective. +MSDE has made great strides in a relatively short span of time. +Both these policy initiatives were formally launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 15 July 2015. +The Mission seeks to converge, coordinate, implement and monitor skilling activities on a pan-India basis. +The Governing Council of the Mission is headed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, and is guided by his vision of a ‘Skilled India’. +Skill India has led to transformational change in India’s vocational training ecosystem. +Over the last one year, over 1.04 crore youth have been trained under the Mission. +This figure is 36.8% higher than the previous year’s recorded data. +In the current arrangement, 60% of the trainings are directly under MSDE while 40% are across other Central Ministries. +Speed, Scale, Standards and Sustainability are the four core principles of the NSDM. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the US President Mr Barack Obama will share their thoughts together on next episode of “Mann ki Baat” on All India Radio, to be aired on 27 January, 2015. +“This month’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episode will be a special one, where our Republic Day guest President Barack Obama and I will share our thoughts together. +I am eagerly looking forward to the special ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme with President Barack Obama, which will be aired on 27th January. +‘Mann Ki Baat’ with President Barack Obama will not be complete without your participation! +Send your Qs till the 25th, using #AskObamaModi +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and the Prime Minister of Belgium, Mr. Charles Michel, today jointly carried out the remote technical activation of a 3.6 metre optical telescope located at Deosthal in Uttarakhand. +This is a state-of-the-art world class telescope, which will contribute to observations for several frontline scientific applications. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated the scientists of both the countries for the successful installation of this sophisticated “fully steerable optical telescope in the lap of the Himalayas. +He said this is not just a government to government effort, but it also involves an autonomous organization – ARIES – and a private company – AMOS. +He said the remote technical activation from Brussels, 6500 km away, shows that nothing is impossible, once efforts are coordinated. +He added that in this case, even the sky is not the limit! +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the Indian contingent on the outstanding performance at Special Olympic World Summer Games-2015, held in Los Angeles, United States of America. +“The Los Angeles 2015 Special Olympics were a triumph of determination, hardwork and sportsman spirit. +Congratulations to all athletes who participated. +Achievements of Indian contingent at Los Angeles 2015 Special Olympics are truly gladdening. +They are India’s pride,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted Indian Navy personnel and their families on Navy Day. +“Navy Day greetings to all valorous personnel of the Indian Navy and their families. +India is grateful to our Navy for protecting the nation and the commendable role the Navy plays during disaster relief”, the Prime Minister said. +Let us begin today’s Mann Ki Baat with a phone call. +Thank you very much for your phone call. +My young friends have asked me many questions related to Science; they keep writing on quite a few points. +All of us have seen that the sea appears blue, but we know from routine life experiences that water has no colour at all. +Have we ever thought why water acquires colour in rivers and seas? +The same thought occurred to a young man in the 1920s. +The same question gave rise to a great scientist of modern India. +He was awarded the Nobel Prize for his outstanding work on light scattering. +One of his discoveries is famous as the Raman Effect. +This land has given birth to many a great scientist. +On the one hand, there has been a tradition of great Mathematicians like Bodhayan, Bhaskar, Brahmagupt and Aryabhatt; on the other, in the field of medicine, Sushrut & Charak have bestowed upon us a place of pride. +Right from Sir Jagdish Chandra Bose and Hargobind Khurana to Satyendranath Bose have brought laurels to India. +The famous particle BOSON has been named after Satyendranath Bose. +Recently I got an opportunity to take part in a programme in Mumbai – the inauguration of the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence. +It was interesting to know about the ongoing miraculous accomplishments in the field of Science. +Artificial Intelligence aids in making robots, Bots and other machines meant for specific tasks. +Through self learning, machines today can enhance their intelligence to a smarter level. +This technology can be harnessed to better the lives of the underprivileged, the marginalized and the needy. +In that programme on Artificial Intelligence, I urged the scientific community to deliberate on how Artificial Intelligence could help us make life easier for our divyang brothers & sisters. +Can we make better predictions of natural disasters using Artificial Intelligence? +Can we use it to provide assistance to farmers on crop yield? +Can Artificial Intelligence be used as tool to simplify the outreach of health services and modernize medical treatment? +A few days ago, I got an opportunity to accompany the Prime Minister of Israel to Ahmedabad, Gujarat for the inauguration of ‘I create’. +I feel we can harness Artificial Intelligence in many such fields. +Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, failed many a time in his experiments. +Coincidentally, I am fortunate today to be in Auroville, the land, the karmabhoomi of Maharshi Arvind. +As a revolutionary, he challenged British rule, fought against them and questioned subjugation. +Thus, as a great sage, he questioned every facet of life. +Extracting answers, he showed the right path to humanity. +The relentless quest to ask questions for knowing the truth is very important. +And this is the very essence, the real inspiration behind scientific inventions and discoveries. +Never rest till every ‘why’, ‘what’ & ‘how’ are answered. +I congratulate our scientists, and all those connected with Science on the occasion of National Science Day. +Friends, safety in the times of crises, disasters are topics on which many messages keep coming in- people keep writing to me. +In a comment posted on Narendra Modi Mobile App, Shriman Ravindra Singh from Pune has referred to occupational safety. +He writes that in our country, safety standards at factories and construction sites are not upto the mark. +Since the 4th of March is National Safety Day, the Prime Minister should include safety in the Mann Ki Baat programme in order to raise awareness on safety. +When we refer to public safety, two aspects are very important- proactiveness and preparedness. +Safety is of two kinds – one is safety during disasters and the other is safety in everyday life. +Beyond that, these sentences serve no purpose in our lives. +Leave aside natural disasters; most of the mishaps are a consequence of some mistake or the other on our part. +If we stay alert, abide by the prescribed rules & regulations, we shall not only be able to save our own lives but we can prevent catastrophes harming society. +There are times when we come across many slogans on safety at the work place but none following their letter and spirit. +I urge the fire brigade under corporations and municipalities to visit school children once a week or once a month and perform mock drills for them. +As far as disasters are concerned, this country has borne the brunt of many a natural as well as man made disaster, such as chemical & industrial mishaps. +Today, the National Disaster Management Authority, NDMA is the vanguard when it comes to dealing with disasters in the country. +During earthquakes, floods, cyclones, landslides, NDMA reaches the area within no time. +They have issued guidelines; simultaneously they keep imparting training on a regular basis for capacity building. +In Districts prone to floods and cyclones, an initiative names ‘Aapada Mitra’ has been launched for training Volunteers. +Training and awareness have a very important role to play. +Two- three years ago, thousands of people would lose their lives every year due to heat-wave. +Mass participation led to good results. +In 2017, the death toll on account of heat wave remarkably came down to around 220 or so. +This proves that if we accord priority to safety, we can actually attain safety. +I laud the role played by innumerable individuals, citizens who immediately embark upon rescue and relief operations wherever a disaster strikes. +And there are numerous such unnamed, unsung heroes. +Our Fire & Rescue services, National Disaster Response Forces Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces… these brave hearts go beyond the call of duty to help people in distress, often risking their own lives. +Organisations like NCC and Scouts are also contributing in this task; they are getting trained too. +Recently we have made an attempt to have joint exercise for disaster management between countries on the lines of joint military exercise involving different countries of the world. +We’ll have to make it part of our life, our being. +We experience this in all walks of life. +An effort was initiated which was named GOBAR-Dhan – Galvanizing Organic Bio Agro Resources. +The aim of this GOBAR- DHAN scheme is ensuring cleanliness in villages and generating wealth and energy by converting cattle dung and solid agricultural waste into Compost and Bio Gas. +Under the Swachch Bharat Mission (Rural), we are taking rapid strides in this direction. +A target has been set to use cattle dung, agricultural waste, kitchen waste to produce Bio gas based energy. +Under the Gobardhan Scheme our farmer brothers & sisters in rural India will be encouraged to consider dung and other waste not just as a waste but as a source of income. +Biogas generation will increase self-reliance in energy utilized for cooking and lighting. +Farmers and cattle herders will be helped in augmenting their income. +There will be novel opportunities for newer jobs linked to waste collection, transportation, biogas sales etc. +An online trading platform will be created for better implementation of ‘Gobar Dhan Yojana’, it will connect farmers to buyers so that farmers can get the right price for dung and agricultural waste. +My dear countrymen, till date, we have been hearing about the myriad types of festivals – be it music festivals, food festivals, film festivals and many other kinds of festivals. +But in a unique endeavor in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, the state’s first ‘Trash Mahotsav’ was organized. +A plethora of activities were organized during this festival, which found full participation of students and adults. +Different types of artifacts were made utilizing garbage. +Many Workshops were organized to inform people on the entire aspects of waste management. +Raipur inspired various types of such garbage or trash festivals in other districts too. +Many individuals taking initiative on their own behalf shared innovative ideas, held discussions, conducted poetry recitals. +A festive atmosphere regarding cleanliness got geared up. +The way the school children took part in the entire endeavor was amazing. +For the innovative manner in which importance of waste management and cleanliness were displayed in this festival, I congratulate the people of Raipur Municipal Corporation, the entire populace of Chhattisgarh, its government and administration. +Every year on March 8, ‘International Women’s Day’ is celebrated. +There are many programs that are held in our country and the world. +On this day, women are also felicitated with ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar’ who have performed exemplary tasks in different sectors in the past. +On this occasion, I remember the words of Swami Vivekananda. +He’d said ‘The idea of perfect womanhood is perfect independence’ – This idea of Swami ji about one hundred and twenty five years ago expresses the contemplation of woman power in Indian culture. +Today, it is our duty to ensure the participation of women in every field of life, be it social or economic life, it is our fundamental duty. +Not only has she advanced herself but has carried forward the country and society to newer heights. +After all, our dream of ‘New India’ is the one where women are strong and empowered and are equal partners in the development of the country. +A few days ago, a gentleman had given me a very sound proposition. +You can imagine what a mammoth undertaking it was! +These women of Jharkhand have shown that women power is an integral component of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, which will change the course of the campaign of cleanliness in general life, the effective role of hygiene in the nature of the people ingeneral. +My dear Brothers and sisters, I was just watching the TV news two days ago that electricity has reached three villages of the Elephanta island after 70 years of independence, and this has led to much joy and enthusiasm among the people there. +You all know very well, that Elephanta is located 10 kms by the sea from Mumbai. +It is a very important tourist destination. +For 70 years, the lives of the denizens of three villages of the Elephanta Island, Rajbunder, Morbandar and Centabandar, were engulfed by darkness, which has got dispelled now and there is brightness in their lives. +I congratulate the administration and the populace there. +I am glad that now the villages of Elephanta and the caves of Elephanta will be lighted due to electrification. +This is not just electricity, but a new beginning of a period of development. +There is no greater contentment and joy than the fact that the lives of the countrymen be full of shine and there be happiness in their lives. +My dear brothers and sisters, we just celebrated the festival of Shivaratri. +And now the month of March beckons us with ripe crops in the fields, playful golden earrings of wheat and the captivating blossom of mango pleasing to the mind are the highlights of this month. +But this month is also very special to all of us because of the festival of Holi. +On 2nd March the entire country immersed in joy will celebrate the festival of Holi. +In The festival of Holi, the importance of colors is as important as the ceremony of ‘HolikaDahan’ because it is the day when we burn our inherent vices in the fire. +Holi makes us forget our rancours and gives us an opportunity to be a part of each other’s happiness and glad tidings, and it conveys the message of love, unity and brotherhood. +I wish a very joyous festival of Holi to all my countrymen, I further wish you colour laden felicitations. +I wish and hope that this festival forever remains a festival of colourful cheer in the lives of all the countrymen- this is my wish. +My dear countrymen, thank you very much +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the extension of the term of the Commission to examine the issue of Sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes in the Central List till November, 2018. +The Commission has held extensive meetings with the stake holders including the State Governments, the State Backward Classes Commissions, various community associations and general public belonging to various Backward Classes and Commissions. +It had also obtained records, caste-wise, of OBCs admitted in higher educational institution as well as similar caste-wise data of recruits in Central Departments, Central Public Sector Undertakings, Public Sector Banks & Financial Institutions. +Based on the emanating information from the data as processed and analyzed, the Commission has expressed that a round of discussion with the States and their Backward Classes Commission was required before finalizing the sub-categorized lists and the Report. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval forsigning of an Agreement between India and Maldives for the avoidance of double taxation of income from international air transport. +The Agreement provides for relief from double taxation for airline enterprises of India and Maldives by way of exemption of income derived by the enterprise of India from the operation of aircraft in international traffic, from Maldivian tax and vice-versa. +Under the agreement, profits from the operation of aircraft in international traffic will be taxed in one country alone.Accordingly the taxing right is conferred upon the country to which the enterprise belongs. +The Agreement will provide tax certainty for airline enterprises of India and Maldives. +The Agreement further provides for Mutual Agreement Procedure for resolving any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the Agreement. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Mandla in Madhya Pradesh tomorrow, 24th April on the National Panchayati Raj Day. +He will launch the Rashtriya Gramin Swaraj Abhiyan, at a public meeting, and address Panchayati Raj representatives across the country, from Mandla. +The Prime Minister will unveil a Road Map for overall development of tribals during the next five years, on this occasion. +He will unveil a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of an LPG bottling plant of Indian Oil Corporation at Maneri, Mandla District. +He will also launch a Local Government Directory. +In keeping up with the Government’s commitment towards clean, healthy, and electrified India, the Prime Minister would felicitate the Sarpanches of the villages which have achieved 100 percent smokeless kitchens, 100 percent vaccination under Mission Indradhanush, and 100 percent electrification under Saubhagya Scheme. +The winners of Rashtriya e-Panchayat Puraskar, and Gram Panchayat Vikas Puraskar Yojana under Sarvasreshtha Panchayat Puraskar Yojana will be felicitated on this occasion. +Later, the Prime Minister will interact with the District Collectors of the Aspirational Districts from Madhya Pradesh. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has hailed India’s historic jump of 30 ranks in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report, 2018 released today. +India’s rank has risen to 100 in the latest report compared to 130 in the Doing Business Report, 2017. +While terming the improvement in the rankings as historic, the Prime Minister in a series of tweets, said that the jump is the outcome of the all-round and multi-sectoral reform push of Team India. +“Historic jump in ‘Ease of Doing Business’ rankings is the outcome of the all-round & multi-sectoral reform push of Team India. +Easier business environment is leading to historic opportunities for our entrepreneurs, particularly MSME sector & bringing more prosperity. +Over the last 3 years we have seen a spirit of positive competition among states towards making business easier. +This has been beneficial. +It has never been easier to do business in India. +India welcomes the world to explore economic opportunities our nation has to offer! +Guided by the Mantra of ‘Reform, Perform & Transform’ we are determined to further improve our rankings & scale greater economic growth.”, the Prime Minister said. +Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, +The foundations of the United Nations were laid by the brave soldiers on the battlefields of Second World War. +By 1945, they included 2.5 million men of the Indian Army, the largest volunteer force in history. +More than 24000 lost their lives and nearly half of that went missing. +The legacy of that sacrifice is shared by three countries present here. +They remain today among the largest contributors to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. +Over 180,000 Indian troops have participated in UN peacekeeping missions – more than from any other country. +India has participated in 48 of the 69 UN peacekeeping missions so far. +161 Indian peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice while serving in UN missions. +India was the first country to contribute a Female Formed Police Unit to UN Mission in Liberia. +India has been providing training to peacekeeping officers from a large number of countries. +Till date, we have trained nearly 800 officers from 82 countries. +I thank President Obama for hosting this Summit on Peacekeeping. +Today’s peacekeepers are called upon not only to maintain peace and security, but also address a range of complex challenges. +Mandates are ambitious; but, resources are often inadequate. +Mandates sometimes make peacekeepers party to conflicts, putting at risk their lives and success of their missions. +The problems arise to a large extent because Troop Contributing Countries do not have a role in the decision-making process. +They do not have adequate representation in senior management and as Force Commanders. +Peacekeeping missions should be deployed prudently, with full recognition of their limitations and in support of political solutions. +We are pleased that the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations has recognized these issues. +We look forward to their early consideration. +India’s commitment to UN Peacekeeping remains strong and will grow. +We have announced new intended contributions that to the UN Peacekeeping Operations. +These include additional battalion of up to 850 troops in existing or new operations; additional 03 Police units with higher representation of female peacekeepers; commitment to provide critical enablers; deployment of technical personnel in UN missions; and, additional training for peacekeepers at our facilities in India and in the field. +In conclusion, l wish to emphasise that the success of UN peacekeeping ultimately depends not on the weapons that the soldiers carry, but on the moral force that decisions of the UN Security Council command. +We must complete the long-pending task of reforms within a fixed time frame of the UN Security Council to preserve the relevance and effectiveness of the UN. +I would like to pay homage to the peacekeepers who have laid down their lives in defending the highest ideals of the United Nations. +It would be most fitting if the proposed memorial wall to the fallen peacekeepers is created quickly. +India stands ready to contribute, including financially, to this objective. +Your Excellency, the President of Cyprus, Distinguished delegates, Friends from the Media, +I am delighted to welcome you, Excellency, on your first State Visit to India. +I know that India has enjoyed a special place in the heart of every Cypriot President. +Almost all of them have visited India. +So, it is indeed an honour for me to welcome such a great friend and strong supporter of India. +In modern times, our relationship goes back to the pre-independence era, when our founding fathers supported the freedom struggle of Cyprus. +And, Cyprus too has always reciprocated with its warmth and friendship. +India has always stood by Cyprus on all crucial issues. +In 1974, India took a firm stand in support of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus . +India has contributed personnel to the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus. +Three force commanders from India served in this capacity, and it is heartening for me to know that all of them are fondly remembered in Cyprus. +I am aware of your initiative for resolving the Cyprus issue. +You have led from the front in trying to bring a new era of peace, development and security. +Not just for Cyprus, but for the whole region. +We wish you every success in your efforts. +Under your leadership, Cyprus has successfully overcome its recent financial and banking challenges. +And, recorded one of the highest growth rates in the Euro zone in 2016. +Excellency, we commend your vision and leadership for taking your country out of this crisis and on to the path of economic prosperity. +Today, the President and I have had detailed discussions. +Our conversation covered the full range of bilateral relationship. +We also exchanged perspectives on important global and regional issues of mutual concern. +Cyprus and India enjoy close economic ties. +Cyprus is the 8th largest investor in India. +Last year, to boost our capital and investment linkages, we have revised the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. +The President and I agreed that India offers excellent investment opportunities for Cypriot entrepreneurs. +The industry and business in our two economies can shape attractive partnerships through the flagship programmes launched by my Government. +The beautiful landscapes of Cyprus and the wide horizons of ‘Incredible India’ can be a source of tourism promotion in both our countries. +India and Cyprus share the common objective of bringing about an early reform of the United Nations Security Council. +Excellency, in this context, I deeply appreciate your support for India’s claim for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council. +The President and I also discussed ways to strengthen our partnership in other inter-governmental organizations and regimes. +Given its location, Cyprus appreciates the threat that terrorism poses to the global peace and stability. +India itself has been battling cross border terrorism for decades. +We agreed that there is an urgent need for all countries to decisively act against those states who generate, support, shelter and sustain these factories of violence in our regions. +The President and I discussed the need for creating a comprehensive global legal framework, particularly through early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. +I share with you the strong commitment to take our bilateral engagement to a new level. +I am confident that our discussion and decisions today will give a new direction and depth to our partnership. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and the Ministry of Agriculture in the State of Palestine on agriculture cooperation. +The MoU was signed in May 2017 during the visit of the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs to India. +The MoU provides for cooperation in the fields of agricultural research; veterinary field including capacity enhancement of Palestinian Veterinary services and Animal Health; irrigation and climate change. +It will also be extended to areas such as plant and soil nutrition; exchange of experiences in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary legislation and plant protection Animal husbandry, modern irrigation technology including exchange of experiences, and training and capacity building, etc. would also come in its purview. +Under the MoU, an Agricultural Steering Committee will be constituted to determine the programs and action plans to achieve the objectives provided in the MoU It will also set the agenda for cooperation. +PM describes the imminent passage of GST as a victory for Indian Democracy +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today described the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a “Great Step by Team India,” a “Great Step Towards Transformation,” and a “Great Step Towards Transparency.” +He was intervening during the debate in the Lok Sabha on the GST Bill. +The Prime Minister noted the date – 8th August – and recalled that in 1942, on this very day Mahatma Gandhi had given the call for the Quit India Movement. +He said that today, the country would begin its march towards freedom from tax terrorism. +He described the imminent passage of the Bill as a victory not for any political party, but for Indian democracy. +Recalling the discussions and parleys on the Goods and Services Tax, the Prime Minister said that he had invited both Ms. Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to discuss the same. +He noted that one of them was a Lok Sabha MP and the other was a Rajya Sabha MP. +He described the GST as one more pearl in the necklace of Ek Bharat – much on the lines of the Railways, the All India Services, and visions such as Bharat Net and Sagarmala. +With GST, we intend to bring uniformity in taxation, said the Prime Minister, adding that the consumer would be supreme in the new dispensation. +The Prime Minister said GST would also help bring in real time data, as its strength was in technology. +He said most of the things that can impact consumer inflation have been kept out of the ambit of GST. +He said GST would help reduce corruption in collection, as well as the cost of collection. +The Prime Minister asserted that small businesses will also gain tremendously from GST, and will feel more secure with GST. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is focusing on economic and educational empowerment of the poor, so that we can mitigate poverty. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Tourism, Government of the Republic of India and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism. +The main objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding are: +a) Exchanging information and expertise in Legislations in the tourism development, Hotels, resorts and tourist accommodation facilities, Tourism data and statistics, Exhibition events and other tourism activities in States of the Parties, Tourism development, planning and investment; Licensing, operating and marketing tourism facilities, Agricultural Tourism, Desert tourism etc. +b) Exchanging media publications, tourism related films, and encourage exchanging of visits between experts and tourism media representatives in the States of the Parties. +c) Introducing tourism investment opportunities available in the States of the Parties; encourage mutual tourism investment in tourism projects. +d) Encouraging organizing joint tourism events; participate in exhibitions, conferences and seminars held in the States of the Parties thus contributing to tourism development and crystalizing a joint tourism vision. +e) Encouraging public and private education facilities working the tourism education and training field in the States of the Parties. +f) Exchanging innovative experience and technologies in the tourism field, and consultation services. +g) Cooperation and coordinating in international forums and organizations concerned with tourism affairs. +India and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed a strong diplomatic and long economic relationship. +The two parties now desiring to strengthen and further develop the established relationship have signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Tourism, Government of the Republic of India and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism. +Saudi Arabia is one of the potential tourist generating market for India from Middle East. +The signing of Memorandum of Understanding with Saudi Arabia will be instrumental in increasing arrival from this source market. +PM to family members of Netaji – I will take your suggestions forward. +PM: Will take up the matter with other Nations also, beginning with Russia in December. +35 family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at his residence, 7 Race Course Road. +During the hour-long interaction, the family members requested for declassification of the files relating to Netaji, available with the Government of India. +They suggested that the Government of India initiate the process to get the files on Netaji available with foreign Governments to also be declassified. +The Prime Minister said that he finds the suggestions of the family members of Netaji to be similar to his own thinking and the view of the Union Government. +He said he sees no reason to strangle history. +He declared that the process of declassification of files will begin on January 23rd, 2016, the birthday of Netaji. +The Prime Minister also agreed to take up the suggestion to request foreign Governments to declassify files on Netaji available with them. +The Prime Minister said that those nations who forget history also lose the power to create it. +He also shared with the family members some instances of how he had recalled Netaji during his term as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. +“Consider me a part of your family,” the Prime Minister said to the family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. +‘A-1’ and ‘A’ category stations (about 400) shall be offered for redevelopment by inviting open bids from interested parties. +These stations are to be developed by leveraging real estate development of land and air space in and around the stations. +This approval will enable the Ministry of Railways to accelerate the redevelopment of ‘A-1’ and ‘A’ category stations. +These category of stations are generally located in metros, major cities, pilgrimage centres and important tourist destinations across the country. +It will also encourage innovative ideas from interested parties at no cost to the Railways. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for signing of Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) between India and Germany for minor amendments in the earlier MoU for facilitating implementation of the programme “Indo-German Partnerships in Higher Education”. +The strengthened education relationship through this Joint Declaration of Intent will enable the higher education institutions in both the countries to benefit mutually to enhance innovative partnerships in the field of education, research and skill development. +It will be beneficial for faculty development and to foster advanced research in the identified priority areas of challenges for India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Agriculture Export Policy, 2018. +The Cabinet has also approved the proposal for establishment of Monitoring Framework at Centre with Commerce as the nodal Department with representation from various line Ministries/Departments and Agencies and representatives of concerned State Governments, to oversee the implementation of Agriculture Export Policy. +Infrastructure and logistics support +Holistic approach to boost exports +Greater involvement of State Governments in agri exports +Attract private investments into production and processing +Establishment of strong quality regimen +Research & Development +My dear countrymen, Namaskar! +We recently lost 18 brave sons of our country in a terrorist attack in Uri Sector in Jammu and Kashmir. +I salute these valiant soldiers and pay my tributes to them. +This cowardly act has shocked the entire Nation. +In fact, it is a national loss. +And, therefore, I will just reiterate to you, my countrymen, what I had said that very day, that the guilty will certainly be punished. +My dear countrymen, we have full faith in our armed forces. +They will foil with their valour every such conspiracy, and they are the ones to reach the pinnacle of bravery so that we, their 1.25 billion fellow countrymen, can live peacefully and be happy. +We are proud of our army. +I also wish today to specially talk to those living in Kashmir. +Kashmiris are now beginning to recognize well the true face of the anti-national forces. +And as they understand the truth better, they are now separating themselves from such elements and have started moving on the path of peace. +Every parent wants the schools and colleges to be functioning properly at the earliest. +Farmers also feel that their ripened crops and fruits should reach markets across the country. +Economic activities too should be back on track. +And during the last few days there has been a movement towards restoration of trading activities. +We all know that peace, unity and harmony are the only way to solve our problems and also the way to our progress and development. +We have to scale greater heights of development for the sake of our future generations. +I am very sure that by sitting together we shall definitely find solutions to our problems, find ways to move ahead and also pave a better path for future generations in Kashmir. +Providing security to people in Kashmir is the responsibility of the administration. +The government has to take some steps to maintain law and order. +Recently, Harshvardhan, a young student of Eleventh Class has put before me a different type of thought. +So, I was trying to find some way to be of some service to the nation. +And I have resolved that I would devote three more hours daily towards my studies. +I shall become a capable citizen so that I can serve the country well. +Brother Harshvardhan, I am happy to know that despite this atmosphere charged with anger, you are able to think in a healthy manner at such a young age. +But, dear Harshvardhan, I shall also like to add that the anger in the hearts of our countrymen is of a very high value. +It symbolises our national consciousness. +This anger has the resolve to do something. +Then, Lal Bahadur Shashtri Ji had very aptly tried to touch the emotional universe of the country. +He gave the mantra-“Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” which inspired the common people of the country to work for the nation. +Lal Bahadur Shashtri Ji showed that even amidst the deafening sounds of gunfire and bombardment, there existed an alternative way for every citizen for expressing patriotism. +During the freedom movement, Mahatma Gandhi also used to mount highly successful experiments to divert the strong energy of that movement towards constructive social work, whenever a lull was needed amidst the extreme intensity in that movement. +Now, if all of us, that is, our armed forces, people in the government, fulfill our respective responsibilities sincerely, and all of us countrymen, each citizen make some constructive contribution imbued with the feeling of patriotism, our country will most definitely scale greater heights. +My dear countrymen, Shri T.S. Kartik has written on NarendraModiApp that our athletes who participated in the Paralympics have created a new history and their performance is a triumph of the human spirit. +Not only the two of you but each one of our countrymen has felt an emotional attachment with our athletes who participated at the Paralympics. +Perhaps going beyond sporting achievements, these Paralympics and the performance by our athletes have transformed our attitude towards humanity, towards specially-abled, DIVYANG people. +And, I shall never be able to forget what our victorious sister Deepa Malik had to say. +When the medal was awarded to her, she said – “Through this medal I have actually defeated the disability itself.” +There is great strength in this remark. +This time 19 athletes, including three women, took part in Paralympics from our country. +Compared to normal sporting activities, when the DIVYANG play, in addition to physical ability and sporting skills, what are needed even more are will power and resolve. +You will be pleasantly surprised to learn that our sportspersons put up their best ever performance this time and won 4 medals including two gold, one silver and one bronze. +And, he was not born a DIVYANG. +He lost one of his hands due to suffering electric current shock. +Just think about the perseverance and the huge effort put in by him in repeating the feat of winning a second gold medal at 35 years of age 12 years after winning the first one at 23. +Mariyappan Thangavelu won a gold medal in High Jump. +Thangavelu had lost his right leg when he was just 5. +Even poverty could not come in the way of his resolve. +He is not from a big city, he does not come from a middle class or rich family. +Yet despite facing all sorts of difficulties and physical challenges, at the age of 21, through his unwavering determination he won the medal for the country. +As far as Athlete Deepa Malik is concerned, she has won laurels many a times by emerging victorious repeatedly. +Varun C. Bhati won a bronze medal in High Jump. +Medals in Paralympics have a significance of their own, but going beyond that these medals have made a very big contribution in transforming the attitude towards our DIVYANG brothers and sisters in our country, our society and our neighborhoods. +These have not only inspired our empathy but also changed the way of looking at the DIVYANG people. +Only very few people might be knowing as to what stupendous feats were performed by these DIVYANG people in the Paralympics this time. +Olympic Games were held at the same venue only a few days ago. +Can anyone ever imagine the DIVYANG athletes breaking a record set during the general Olympic Games? +In the 1500 meter race, Abdellatif Baka of Algeria set a new record by completing the 1500 meters race taking 1.7 seconds less than the time taken by the gold medalist in the same event at the general Olympics. +Not only this, what really surprised me was the fact that the athlete, who finished fourth in this event amongst DIVYANG persons and thus missed winning any medal, actually took less time than the gold medalist of general category in completing the race. +I once again congratulate all our Paralympic athletes and India is progressing in the direction of preparing an effective plan for developing our athletes and also the facilities for the Paralympics. +My dear countrymen, last week I had many wonderful experiences in Navsari, Gujarat. +It was a very emotional moment for me. +Government of India had organized a Mega Camp for DIVYANG persons and a number of world records were established that day. +She rendered certain portions before me and when I presented her performance before other persons there, everyone was amazed. +These were very inspiring incidents. +Government of India created a world record in Navsari which I believe to be very important. +The task of fitting hearing aids to 600 hearing impaired DIVYANG people in just eight hours was completed successfully. +This deed found a mention in Guinness Book of World Records. +Three world records in a single day by DIVYANG people is a matter of great pride for our countrymen. +My dear countrymen, we had launched ‘Swachha Bharat Mission’ two years ago on 2nd October, the birth anniversary of our revered Bapu. +That day too I had said that cleanliness should become our nature, a duty for every citizen and there should be an atmosphere harbouring a sense of revulsion against filth. +Now it is going to be nearly two years on 2nd October and I can confidently say that one hundred and twenty five crore people of the country have now become more aware about cleanliness. +I had said ‘one step towards cleanliness’ and today we can say that each one of us has definitely tried to take one step further. +This means that the country has taken 125 crore steps in the direction of achieving cleanliness. +I also know that we still have to go much farther. +I visited Gujarat recently and the officers there informed me that Porbandar, the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi, will achieve the target of total ODF on 2nd October, 2016. +Let us forge ahead with a strong resolution. +I specially want to suggest a scheme to my young friends who are currently technology savvy. +By dialing this number 1-9-6-9 you will be able to know the progress of construction of toilets in your city and will also be able to submit an application for construction of a toilet. +You must avail this facility. +Not only this, a cleanliness, that is Swachchhata App has been launched for people to lodge complaints concerning cleanliness and also to know about the progress in resolving these complaints. +Please make full use of this facility; especially the younger generation must utilize it optimally. +Government of India has also appealed to the corporate world to come forward in this endeavour. +They can sponsor young professionals willing to work for Swachchhata Mission. +They can also be sent to various districts as Swachchha Bharat Fellows. +It will not be sufficient to keep this Cleanliness Campaign confined to beliefs and habits. +Imbibing cleanliness as a nature is not enough. +In this age, just as cleanliness is related to health, connecting cleanliness to a revenue model is also equally necessary. +Solid waste should be processed and be converted into Compost and the government has initiated a policy intervention in this regard. +Fertilizer companies have been asked to buy the Compost made out of waste. +They should supply this to the farmers who are willing to adopt organic farming. +This should also be supplied to those farmers who care about the health of their soil and are willing to improve its quality and also to those farmers whose soil quality has deteriorated because of over use of chemical fertilizers. +And for this, Shrimaan Amitabh Bachchan Ji is making a significant contribution as a brand ambassador. +Ministers, Chief Ministers as also Mayors and Commissioners of metropolitan cities will participate in brainstorming sessions on the sole issue of cleanliness. +What can be achieved with technology? +What can be the financial model? +How to mobilize public participation? +How can employment opportunities be increased in this sphere? +All these topics will be discussed. +And I see clearly that the news about cleanliness keeps pouring in. +I recently read in a newspaper that students of Gujarat Technological University launched a Jagran Abhiyan (Awereness Campaign) to build toilets in 107 villages. +They themselves put in physical labour and contributed significantly in constructing around 9000 toilets. +It might have come to your notice some time ago that under the leadership of Wing Commander Param Veer Singh, a team covered a distance of 2800 kilometres by swimming in Ganga from Dev Prayag to Ganga Sagar to spread the message of cleanliness. +Government of India has also chalked out an annual calendar for its departments. +Each department is to focus exclusively on cleanliness for a period of 15 days. +In the coming October month, from 1st October to 15th October, Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Panchayati Raj Department and Rural Development Department – these three are going to work under a designated roadmap in their respective areas. +Then during last two weeks of October from 16th October to 31st October, three more departments, namely – Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Food Processing Industries and Consumer Affairs are going to take up cleanliness campaigns in the concerned areas. +I request the citizens also to get involved, wherever they feel that they too can pitch in these programmes. +You might have seen that a cleanliness survey campaign is also carried out these days. +Earlier, the cleanliness status was presented before the countrymen after conducting a survey of 73 cities. +In this manner an atmosphere of competition for cleanliness has been created. +I expect that all of us citizens should contribute as much as we can in the cleanliness mission. +2nd October is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji. +Swachchh Bharat Mission is completing two years on this day. +I keep on urging everyone to buy some khadi items between Gandhi Jayanti to Diwali. +This year also I request that each family should buy one or the other khadi item so that the poor may also be able to light an earthen lamp and celebrate Diwali. +This year 2nd October is a Sunday so can we involve ourselves in the cleanliness mission in some way? +You will see that with our joint efforts, this movement will get a fresh boost, a new dynamism. +Let us all remember Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri and take a pledge to do something for the country. +Now, many youngsters, small groups, people from the corporate world, schools and some NGOs are jointly going to organize ‘Joy of Giving Week’ from 2nd October to 8th October. +Under this campaign, food items and clothes will be collected and supplied to the needy persons. +When I was in Gujarat, all our workers used to walk the streets seeking donations of old toys from families and then presented these toys to Anganwadis in poor neighbourhoods. +These toys provided great pleasure to the poor children, which was a great sight to behold. +I feel that we should encourage and help these young people who are organising ‘Joy of Giving Week’ in many cities. +This is a kind of a ‘Donation Festival’, a Daan Utsav. +I convey my best wishes to all those young persons who are undertaking this mission. +My dear countrymen, today is 25th September, the birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Ji and his birth centenary year commences from today. +‘Sarvajan Hitay – Sarvajan Sukhay’, the principle of ANTYODAY – these are his gifts to us. +Mahatma Gandhi also talked about the last man standing in the queue. +How can the poorest of the poor avail of benefits of development? +‘Work for every hand, water to every field’ – through only these two words he presented his entire economic agenda. +The country should celebrate his centenary year as GARIB KALYAN VARSH, ‘Year for Welfare of the Poor’. +We can alleviate poverty when everyone including society and governments focuses attention on measures to provide benefits of development to the poor. +The place where I live was known as Race Course Road since British rule but now in the centenary year of Pandit Deen Dayal Updhyay this has been named ‘Lok Kalyan Marg’. +This is a symbolic representation of the ‘Year for the Welfare of the Poor’, the centenary year of Pt. +Despite numerous pressures during these past two years – sometimes being tempted due the surrounding atmosphere, at times with provocations to say something with indignation – overcoming all such impulses over these two years with your blessings, I have moved through these obstacles and earnestly tried to connect with the common man through Mann Ki Baat. +How the common man of this country keeps on inspring me all the time? +What are the hopes and aspirations of the common man in the country? +And this common man, who occupies my mind all the time, always gets projected in Mann Ki Baat. +On completion of two years of Mann Ki Baat this week, I wish to express my sincere gratitude from the core of my heart to all you listeners who appreciated it, who contributed to improving it and thus blessed me. +I am grateful to All India Radio also which not only broadcast my views but also put in their best efforts to transmit it in all languages. +I am also thankful to those countrymen who knocked on the doors of the government by writing letters and by sending in suggestions and highlighting shortcomings of the government and All India Radio mounted special programmes on these letters by inviting concerned government functionaries and thus provided a platform to address the problems. +Thus, Mann Ki Baat became a new opportunity of social transformation rather than just remaining a mere talk show of 15-20 minutes. +My dear countrymen, from next week festive season will be ushered in with Navratri and Durga Puja, Vijayadashmi, preparations for Deepavali and all such activities. +Be it Navratri or Durga Puja – how can this SHAKTI-UPASANA become the festival of celebrating social unity? +How to make it a festival of social bonding? +And that would be the true prayer to Shakti, only then can we celebrate together the festival of victory. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of the Technical Arrangement between India and Switzerland on the identification and return of Swiss and Indian Nationals and its implementation. +Conclusion of the Bilateral Technical Arrangement (BTA) has been linked to the Visa Free Agreement for holders of Diplomatic passports as a package deal. +The BTA essentially aims to formalise the existing procedure for cooperation on the return of irregular migrants between the two countries without introducing any additional obligations or exacting timeframes. +It is noteworthy that the estimated number of irregular migrants in Switzerland who are thought to be from India is less than 100. +If the BTA with Switzerland is approved as proposed, it would offer an opportunity to use the same as a model template for negotiations on the subject with other EU countries, which have been raising the issue regularly with us. +It would also help to leverage the Readmission Agreement to liberalise visa and work permit regimes for legitimate Indian travellers. +This has been envisaged as a key goal in the recently concluded India-EU Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility (CAMM). +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has conveyed his best wishes to the people of Goa, on Goa Liberation Day. +“On Goa Liberation Day I convey my best wishes to people of Goa. +We remember all those who dedicated their lives to the movement to free Goa,” the Prime Minister said. +The Cabinet also approved the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to repeal the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959 and the State Bank of Hyderabad Act, 1956. +Existing customers of subsidiary banks will benefit from access to SBI’s global network. +The acquisition under Section 35 of the State Bank of India Act, 1955 will result in the creation of a stronger merged entity. +This will minimize vulnerability to any geographic concentration risks faced by subsidiary banks. +It will create improved operational efficiency and economies of scale. +It will also result in improved risk management and unified treasury operations. +The acquisition of subsidiary banks of State Bank is an important step towards strengthening the banking sector through consolidation of public sector banks. +It is in pursuance of the Indradhanush action plan of the Government and it is expected to strengthen the banking sector and improve its efficiency and profitability. +The MoU was signed on 8th April, 2.017. +The MoU intends to promote cooperation between CERT-In and BGD e-Gov CIRT and includes exchange of information on Cyber attacks and cyber security incidents; Cyber security technology cooperation; exchange cyber security policies and best practices and Human Resource Development in this field in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of each country and on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefits. +The MoU between CERT-In and BGD e-Gov CIRT would be implemented through a duly set up Joint Committee on Cyber Security. +Hence, CERT-In is collaborating with overseas Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) for incident response and resolution. +The agreement comes in the backdrop of Governments, business and consumers are increasingly faced with a variety of cyber threats. +Besides, there is a need to further improve cyber security readiness and raise awareness around the importance of keeping systems secure and security practices and procedures current and recognizing the importance of cooperation by the two organizations in the area of cyber security. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met about 50 beneficiaries who have been provided artificial limbs by the Yuvak Pratishthan, Mumbai. +Shri Kirit Somaiya, MP, who accompanied the young beneficiaries, informed the Prime Minister that these limbs have been manufactured with state-of-the-art technology, which provides a relatively high level of agility. +The Prime Minister interacted with the beneficiaries, and was impressed with their self-confidence, enthusiasm and spirit. +Dear friends! +I welcome you at the launch of the Russian-Indian enterprise for production of Kalashnikov assault rifles. +Military and technical cooperation has traditionally been one of the key areas of special and privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India. +For more than seven decades, we have been supplying reliable and high-quality armaments and equipment to Indian friends. +Around 170 military and industrial facilities have been set up in India with assistance from our country. +The new joint venture will manufacture world famous Kalashnikov assault rifles of the newest 200 series and eventually will reach full localization of production. +Thus, the Indian defence-industrial sector will have the opportunity to fulfill the needs of national security agencies in this category of small arms, resting upon advanced Russian technologies. +Let me remind you that it was during my official visit to India last October that my counterpart and friend Mr Modi and I reached the agreement on setting up Kalashnikov production in this country. +The respective intergovernmental agreement was prepared and signed in the shortest possible time. +In this regard, I would like to express gratitude to Russian and Indian specialists, to all those who so promptly made this project happen. +I am convinced that commissioning of the new enterprise will contribute to stronger defence potential of India, to further advance of the scientific and industrial basis of the national economy, will be instrumental in terms of creating new jobs for qualified work force, and will provide an impetus to professional education and personnel training. +The plant itself will become another symbol of friendship and constructive cooperation between our two countries. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United States of America (USA) concerning Scientific and Technical Cooperation in the Earth Sciences. +The MoU was signed on 1st November 2018. +The collaboration between India and the USA will enable sharing of the expertise available with organizations in both countries, and adoption of the latest state-of-the-art technology in the field of Earth Science. +Specific areas of cooperation include ecosystems, climate variability and land-use changes, energy, minerals, environmental health, natural hazards, risk and resilience of assessments, water resources, and informatics and data integration. +The cooperation under this MoU is envisaged through various modes viz. exchange of technical information, visits, training and cooperative research consistent with on-going programmes of both countries in the above fields. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the passing away of former Maharashtra Home Minister, Shri R. R. Patil. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission at a high-level meeting comprising top officers of the Ministries of Urban Development, Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, NITI Aayog and PMO. +The Prime Minister was briefed on the progress towards toilet construction in all States. +After comprehensively reviewing the situation, the Prime Minister directed concerned officers to specially coordinate with States which are lagging in toilet construction. +Reviewing the Namaami Gange programme, he further directed that construction of toilets in habitations on the banks of the River Ganga should receive the highest priority. +Reviewing efforts at generating awareness and attitudinal change towards cleanliness, the Prime Minister said spiritual leaders should be associated with such efforts, especially during major congregational events such as the Jagannath Yatra and the Kumbh Mela. +He said motivational incentives such as awards should also be instituted through official channels. +In rural areas, the Prime Minister suggested quiz competitions among students to promote awareness. +The Prime Minister also called for leveraging the huge interest that Swachh Bharat has generated among the Indian diaspora. +Minister for Urban Development Shri Venkaiah Naidu, and Minister for Rural Development Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh were present. +At the invitation of the President of People’s Republic of China, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Xiamen in China’s Fujian province during September 3-5, 2017 to attend the 9th BRICS Summit. +Subsequently, Prime Minister will pay a State visit to Myanmar from September 5-7, 2017 at the invitation of H.E. U Htin Kyaw, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. +This will be Prime Minister Modi’s first bilateral State visit to Myanmar. +Apart from his engagements in the capital city of Nay Pyi Taw, he will visit Yangon and Bagan. +As a part of “Vigilance Awareness Week” beginning today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh took pledge against corruption along with officers and staff members of Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in South Block here today. +Prominent among those who took the pledge included Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Nripendra Mishra, Additional Principal Secretary to Prime Minister P K Mishra, Additional Secretary to PMO Bhaskar Kulbe, Private Secretary to MoS (PMO) M Saravanan. +Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, eradication of corruption is one of the top priorities of the Narendra Modi Government and ever since the new Ministry took nearly five months ago, wide range of measures have been contemplated for the eradication of corruption and bringing to book those found guilty in different scams. +Corruption in high places works as a fountain head of corruption percolating to the lower rungs of administration and therefore, the process of eradication of corruption must start from the top, he said. +Dr. Jitendra Singh said, in order to accomplish the Modi Government’s commitment of “maximum governance, minimum Government”, the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) under the guidance of PMO, recently came out with the decision of having a single self-attested affidavit. +This will go a long way in eliminating the middlemen and other potential loop holes of corruption which were prevalent in the earlier more tedious procedural system, he observed. +The new innovative initiatives for e-governance and digitalization will also seal the areas of pilferage and misappropriation in administration. +Pertinent to mention here that the theme of Vigilance Awareness Week this year is “Combating Corruption – Technology as an enabler”. +The pledge against the corruption administered on the occasion read as follows: “We, the public servants of India, do hereby solemnly pledge that we shall continuously strive to bring about integrity and transparency in all spheres of our activities. +We also pledge that we shall work unstintingly for eradication of corruption in all spheres of life. +We shall remain vigilant and work towards the growth and reputation of our organization. +Through our collective efforts, we shall bring pride to our organizations and provide value based service to our countrymen. +We shall do our duty conscientiously and act without fear or favour”. +Also approves introduction of new Scheme, NESIDS till March 2020 +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of the existing Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) scheme with funding pattern of 90:10 till March, 2020 with an outlay of Rs.5300.00 crore. +It would enable completion of ongoing projects. +The Union Cabinet also approved the introduction of new Central Sector Scheme of “North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme” (NESIDS) from 2017-18 with 100% funding from the Central Government to fill up the gaps in creation of infrastructure in specified sectors till March, 2020. +Features of NESIDS: +The new scheme will broadly cover creation of infrastructure under following sectors:- +a) Physical infrastructure relating to water supply, power, connectivity and specially the projects promoting tourism; +b) Infrastructure of social sectors of education and health. +The assets to be created under the new scheme of NESIDS will not only strengthen health care and education facilities in the region but will also encourage tourism thereby the employment opportunities for local youth. +The scheme will act as a catalyst in overall development of the region in the years to come. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his greetings to the UN on United Nations Day. +Prime Minister Rasmussen is accompanied by a business delegation including CEOs of major Danish companies. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Rasmussen held bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in Gandhinagar on 18 January 2019. +The two Prime Ministers had earlier met during the first India- Nordic summit in Stockholm in April 2018. +Around 130 Danish companies have invested in India in areas such as shipping, renewable energy, environment, agriculture and food processing and are keen to expand their engagements in other sectors like smart urban development and waste-to-energy. +Several major Danish companies are also present in Gujarat in shipping and renewable energy sectors. +During the visit, Prime Minister Rasmussen will inaugurate the Danish Cultural Institute and the new building of Danish Embassy in New Delhi on 19 January 2019. +He will also visit Agra. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China, South Africa, regarding Cooperation in the Social and Labour Sphere. +The MoU was signed on 3rd August, 2018 during BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers (LEM) Meeting. +In the MoU, the parties including India have agreed to cooperate and hold mutual events in the prominent areas viz. labour legislation and enforcement, protection of workers’ rights with focus on vulnerable groups, Employment and labour market policies, Professional education, skills and training and Social protection. +The member countries may utilize the BRICS Network of Labour Research Institutes and BRICS Social Security Cooperation Framework for cooperation on Social Security and other labour issues. +The Memorandum is not an International Treaty and does not create rights and obligations for the parties governed by international law. +The MoU provides a mechanism for cooperation, collaboration and maximum synergy amongst BRICS member countries with the common objective of inclusive growth and shared prosperity in the newindustrial revolution. +This would facilitate member countries to share knowledge and also implement joint programmes on .matter of Labour and Employment, Social Security and Social dialogue. +This network would specifically focus on the theme of youth employment and research on new forms of employment. +This network will also explore new learning technologies, including virtual network to deepen cooperation, exchange of information and capacity building. +The BRICS Social Security cooperation framework will deepen social security cooperation among BRICS nations and would facilitate cooperation for improvement of social security systems and social security agreements among member countries. +The 2ndmeeting of BRICS Employment Working Group was held on 30th July to 1st August 2018 and BRICS Labour and Employment Ministerial meeting took place from 2nd August, 2018 to 3rd August, 2018 under the South African Presidency in Durban, South Africa. +The provisions of the MoU clearly indicate its objectives as cooperation in thenature of successful sharing of policy measures; exchange programmes; consultations; expert meetings and conference etc. in the social and labour sphere. +Nation is celebrating the Independence Day with the festival of Janamashtmi today . +I can see a number of Bal Kanahiyas here. +We are fortunate to have in our cultural and historical heritage from a Sudarshan Chakradhari Mohan to Charkhadhari Mohan. +From the ramparts of Red Fort, on behalf of our 125 crore countrymen, I bow and pay respects to all those men and women who have sacrificed their lives, who have undergone immense sufferings and made sacrifices for the independence, glory and pride of the country. +Sometimes, natural calamities are a big challenge for us. +Several parts of the country faced natural calamities recently. +Besides our innocent children lost their lives in a hospital. +Our 125 crore countrymen stand shoulder to shoulder with them in this hour of crisis and grief. +I assure the countrymen that in this hour of crisis we shall leave no stone unturned to ensure the wellbeing of all. +My dear countrymen, this year is a special year for independent India. +A collective resolve of the citizens was visible during 1942 to 1947 across the country which forced the British to Quit India within a span of five years. +We will have to exhibit the same resolve from now on in the 70th year of independence to 2022, the 75th year of independence. +We now have five years before we reach the 75th year of our independence. +We are aware of the power of the collective resolve, hard work, sacrifice and devotion of our 125 crore citizens. +Lord Krishna was immensely powerful, but it is only when the milkmen came out with sticks in his support that they could lift the Govardhan parvat. +When Lord Rama had to go to Lanka, the monkeys of vanar sena came to his help, Ramsetu was built and Lord Rama could reach Lanka. +Then there was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who empowered his countrymen to weave the fabric of independence with cotton and spinning wheel. +The collective resolve and strength of the people got freedom for our country. +If each one of us, irrespective of where he belongs to, strives with a new resolve, a new energy, a new strength, we can change the face of the country with our combined strength in the 75th year of our independence in 2022. +Our freedom movement is linked to our sentiments. +This idea is a great source of strength. +We are working, but if we do so in the spirit of working for the glory of mother India, for the divinity of mother India, if we do it to rid our countrymen of poverty, if we do it to properly weave our social fabric, if we discharge our duties with feelings towards the country, if we do it with a sense of devotion to country, if we do our work by dedicating it to the country, then the achievements will be much more. +That is why we should move forward with this spirit. +For these people, this is a decisive year of their lives. +I heartily welcome all these youth, honour them and offer my respects to them. +You have an opportunity to shape the destiny of our country. +A proud nation invites you to become a part of its developmental journey. +We have a strong determination, we are committed for a brighter India. +We have to think of ‘Badal Sakta Hai’- this attitude will help us as a nation. +Be it Left-Wing-Extremism, be it terrorism, be it infiltrators, be it the elements fomenting trouble inside our country- the uniformed forces of our country have made extreme sacrifices. +And when the surgical strike was carried out, then the world had to acknowledge India’s capability and strength. +An honest man now feels that his honesty matters. +Today, we are celebrating a festival of honesty and there is no place for dishonesty. +This gives us new hope. +The law against Benami property was lying in limbo for years. +Now, we have come up with a law against Benami Property. +In such a short time, the government has confiscated Benami properties worth over Rs.800 crores. +When these things happen, the common man develops faith that the country is for the honest persons. +The ‘One Rank – One Pension’ policy for our defence forces was stuck up for 30-40 years. +Our government implemented it. +When we fulfill the aspirations of our soldiers, then their morale goes high and their resolve to protect the nation grows manifold. +The country has many states and a Central Government. +New systems are emerging. +The poor tribals have gained faith in the system. +The person at the last mile of development now joins the mainstream and the nation is marching ahead. +More than 8 crore loans have been sanctioned without guarantee to the youth for self-employment. +The interest on bank loans have been lowered. +If a person belonging to the middle-class wants to build his house, then he gets a loan at a lower rate of interest. +In this way, the country is moving forward and people are joining the movement. +The times have changed. +In the labour sector alone, even a small businessman had to fill up to 50-60 forms, but we have now made it more convenient by reducing it to just 5-6 forms. +And that is why 125 crore countrymen have been able to repose faith in our governance. +You will be happy to know that we are not alone in our fight against terrorism. +Many nations are proactively supporting us. +We have joined hands with other nations in the combined fight against terrorism. +I extend my heartfelt greetings to all those countries who are standing in solidarity with us and acknowledge our prowess. +For the development and progress of Jammu & Kashmir, its prosperity, and fulfilment of the aspirations of the citizens, not only the J&K government, but we as responsible citizens also have a responsibility. +We are committed to restore the state to its former glory so as to experience the paradise that it was, once again. +On Kashmir there is rhetoric and politics. +But I am clear in my belief on how to win the war against separatism, which is spread by a handful of people. +There is no question of being soft on terrorism or terrorists. +The process of engagement can take place only by their joining the mainstream. +I deeply appreciate the efforts of security forces in curbing the Left Wing extremism which mobilized a lot of youth from these regions to surrender and joined the mainstream. +Security forces are keeping a tight vigil on our borders. +With the help of technology, we are trying to promote honesty and transparency in the country. +A common man living thousands of kilometres away can now supply his products to the Government. +He doesn’t need any middle man. +When a work is delayed, it is not only the project that is delayed. +It is not a matter of expenditure of money. +We have taken care of all these things. +You may recall that one of our Prime Ministers in his address from the ramparts of Red Fort had talked about the poor state of affairs of the power supply companies of the country. +He expressed his concerns over the issue. +Whether it is GST or Smart City Project, whether it is Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, or construction of toilets, or ease of doing business, all these are being accomplished by working together shoulder to shoulder with the States. +But we have reduced our democracy to mere ballot boxes. +However, democracy cannot be confined only to ballot boxes. +Lokmanya Tilak Ji had said “Swaraj is my birthright”. +In Independent India our Mantra should be “Good Governance is my birthright”. +‘Suraja’ or Good Governance should be our collective responsibility. +The citizens should fulfil their duties and the Government too should discharge its responsibilities. +When we move from “Swaraj” to “Suraja”, the citizens do not lag behind. +Now people are joining hands from every part of the country to take up this cleanliness drive forward. +With this new practice of people’s participation, our effort to take the country forward with people’s involvement will help us to reach our goal. +Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna has provided a security cover to our farmers. +Three years back, this scheme which was running under a different name earlier, covered only 3.25 crore farmers. +I have resolved to complete 99 big projects. +By completing those 99 big projects before 2019, we shall fulfill our commitment. +We cannot change the lot of our farmers until we hand hold him from procuring seeds to ensure that his produce reaches the market. +For this we need infrastructure and supply chain. +Government of India has launched ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojna’ to encourage infrastructure building. +With the changes in demand and technology, the nature of jobs in our country has been changing. +The Government has launched several new initiatives in the employment related schemes and also in the manner in which the training is imparted for the development of human resource according to the needs of the 21st century. +We have launched a massive program to provide collateral free loans to the youth. +It’s not just that, one youth is providing employment to one, two or three more people. +In the education sector, we have taken an important step to grant the universities freedom from restrictions to make them the world class universities. +Besides, the government is willing to provide funds up to Rs. 1,000 crores. +We have appealed to them and I am confident that the education institutions of our country will certainly come forward and make it a success. +Over the last three years, we have set up 6 IITs, 7 new IIMs and 8 new IIITs and we have also done the groundwork for linking the education with job opportunities. +My mothers and sisters, the women in the families seek employment in large numbers. +And therefore we have taken a very important step to reform the labour laws to provide them the employment opportunities in the night also. +Our mothers and sisters are an integral unit of our families. +In the context of women empowerment, I’d like to honour those sisters who have been forced to lead a very difficult life due to ‘Triple Talaq’. +There is no recourse for them, and such victims of ‘Triple Talaq’ have launched a massive movement in the country. +They shook the conscience of the intellectual class of the country, the media of the country also helped them and a movement against ‘Triple Talaq’ was started in the country. +India will fully support them and they will ultimately achieve success in this very important step in the direction of women empowerment; I am fully confident about this. +The country is governed by peace, harmony and unity. +The poison of casteism and communalism can never benefit the country. +We have to successfully carry it forward, and that is why in the name of faith, violence cannot be allowed. +If something happens to a patient in a hospital and the hospital is burnt down; some accident happens and the vehicles are burnt down; people launch a movement and the public property is burnt down; is it for a free India? +It is the property of 125 crore Indians. +Whose cultural legacy is this? +This is our cultural legacy, the legacy of 125 crore people. +Whose faith is this? +And that is why I’d like to appeal to all the countrymen that at that time our motto was ‘Bharat Chodo’ and today’s slogan is ‘Bharat Jodo’. +We have to take everyone and every section of the society along to take the country forward. +Some have been noticed, while the rest may not have been noticed. +But look at the working style of this government; when a train crosses a railway station and changes the track, the speed needs to be reduced from 60 to 30. +The speed of the train decreases while changing the track. +It has tremendous potential, rich human resources, immense natural wealth, work force and it has the power to change lives. +After forming the government, our first task was to constitute an SIT. +Today, after three years, I want to tell the countrymen proudly that we have confiscated black money worth Rs. 1.25 lakh crores, the culprits would be brought to book and forced to surrender. +Demonetization followed this move. +We have achieved several milestones through demonetization. +More than Rs. 1.75 lakh crores deposited in the banks is under the scanner. +Black money worth Rs. 2 lakh crore had to be deposited in the banks and this system has forced them to be accountable. +It has also stopped the flow of black money. +In a way it has more than doubled. +This is the result of our fight against black money. +Over 18 lakh people have been identified, whose income is much higher than what their declared income and therefore they have to clarify this. +Around 4.5 lakh people have now come forward and are trying to trade the right path after accepting their mistakes. +In our country, we tend to indulge in endless debates and discussions following the shutdown of companies. +People start speculating about economic meltdown and what not. +You will be surprised to know that black marketers used to own shell companies. +Even if five companies shut shop in India, there is huge public outcry. +And here, we have closed one lakh Seventy five thousand companies. +As many as 400 companies have been found to be operating from one address. +There was no one to question them. +There was a total collusion. +Therefore, Brothers and sisters, I have waged a big war against corruption and black money. +We are fighting corruption – for the bright future of India and the wellbeing of our people. +Today a truck driver on an average is able to save 30% of his travel time from one point to another after GST was introduced. +Hundreds of crores of rupees have been saved due to removal of check posts. +Can you imagine what it means to accomplish 30% more efficiency in the Indian transportation sector? +GST has brought this revolutionary change. +Banks are reducing their interest rates. +Even a common man is able to access inflow of funds through Mudra. +He is getting opportunities to stand on his feet. +The middle class and the underprivileged who aspire to have their own homes someday, are getting loans from the banks at low interest rates. +Such moves are giving a fillip to the economic growth of the country. +We are in the 21st Century. +Our country boasts of the world’s largest youth population. +India is known in the world for its prowess in IT and Digital World. +We should lead from the front to make a move towards Digital transactions. +We should adopt BHIM App for transactions and make it a part of our economic activities. +We should also work through prepaid systems. +I am happy that there has been an increase in Digital transactions. +It has increased by 34% compared to last year while the prepaid transactions have gone up by 44%. +We should move towards a less-cash economy. +My Dear Countrymen, some schemes of the Government are meant for ensuring savings for the common man. +If you use LED bulbs, you can save Rs.2000 to Rs. 5000 per year. +If we succeed in Swachh Bharat, poor will be able to save Rs. 7000 on medicines that they would otherwise have spent. +Curbing inflation has helped people in saving money in a way. +Cheap medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras are a boon to the poor. +There used to be a lot of expenditure on operations and stents. +We are striving to make it possible for knee operations as well. +We are striving to minimize this expenditure for the poor and the middle class. +Earlier there used to be Dialysis only at the State capitals. +Now we have decided to open Dialysis Centres at district level. +We have already opened this facility in 350 to 400 districts where free Dialysis services are available for the poor. +We can take pride in the fact that we have developed various systems to showcase to the world. +We have been able to develop the ‘NAVIC Navigation System’ through GPS. +We have helped the neighbouring countries by successfully launching SAARC Satellite. +We asserted our supremacy in the world by introducing Tejas aircraft. +BHIM Aadhaar App for digital transaction has come as a surprise to the world. +Crores of RuPay Cards are now available in the country. +When all the cards will be operational, it will be the largest number of cards in the world. +It implies that, if we don’t accomplish a work within the stipulated time then we shall not be able to get the desired results. +So for the ‘Team India’, for the 125 crore countrymen, we have to take the pledge to achieve the goal by 2022. +We will do it with dedication to see a great, majestic India by 2022. +So we will together build such an India where the poor will have Pucca House with electricity and water. +Together we will build such an India where the farmers can sleep without worry. +They will earn double by 2022 of what they are earning today. +Together we will build such an India where the youth, the women will have enough opportunities to fulfil their dreams. +Together we will build such an India which will be free from terrorism, communalism and casteism. +Together we will build such an India where nobody will compromise with corruption and nepotism. +Together we will build such an India which will be clean and healthy, and where the dream of Su-Raj will be fulfilled. +And that is why my dear fellow countrymen, we will together strive to move ahead in this march towards development. +With this thought I convey my hearty congratulations to all of you. +Thanking you all. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the Opening Ceremony of the Haryana Swarna Jayanti Celebrations in Gurugram. +Speaking on the occasion, he said today is a day to look back at the time when Haryana was formed and the aims with which the state was formed. +Haryana is a relatively small state but it has contributed in so many areas, he said. +The Prime Minister said that it is believed that Haryana has only farmers, but businessmen from the State have also had exemplary success. +People of Haryana have given their lives for the nation by serving in the Armed Forces, the Prime Minister said. +Let every citizen of Haryana pledge to protect the girl child, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that the people of Haryana should think about making the entire State, Open Defecation Free, within this Golden Jubilee year. +May the process of transformation begin in our villages and when this happens, the development of Haryana will receive an impetus, the Prime Minister said. +This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month after the Contracting Parties notify each other in through diplomatic channels, that the necessary national legal requirements for entry into force of this Agreement have been fulfilled. +The Agreement would provide a legal framework for sharing of information and intelligence between the Customs authorities of the two countries and help in the proper application of Customs laws, prevention and investigation of Customs offences and the facilitation of legitimate trade. +The draft text of the Agreement has been finalized with the concurrence of the two Customs Administrations. +The draft Agreement takes care of Indian Customs’ concerns and requirements, particularly in the area of exchange of information on the correctness of the Customs value declared and authenticity of certificates of origin of the goods traded between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, and the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, today jointly inaugurated a series of connectivity projects between the two countries. +These include, the second Bhairab and Titas Railway Bridges; and the International Rail Passenger Terminus at Chitpur in Kolkata. +The dignitaries also flagged off the inaugural run of the Bandhan Express between Kolkata and Khulna. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s address on the occasion: +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the demise of veteran music composer, Shri M S Viswanathan. +“The unfortunate demise of Shri M S Viswanathan is a major loss to music lovers. +People across generations enjoyed his compositions. +When it came to music, Shri M S Viswanathan was always ahead of his time. +Condolences to his family and his several admirers,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and United Kingdom (UK) and Northern Ireland for cooperation in the fields of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries. +The MoU was signed on 17.04.2018. +The MoU aims to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries for the purpose of increasing production and productivity of Indian livestock and fisheries. +• Matters of mutual concern or interest in relation to livestock husbandry, fisheries and related matters +• Collaboration in livestock health and husbandry, breeding dairying and fisheries +• Management and mechanism to enrich feed & fodder nutritionally and its bulk transportation in deficit areas to realise higher productivity and production in livestock +• Sanitary issues concerning trade in livestock, animal husbandry and animal products +• Development of high tech fodder tree species nurseries with fodder crops and promotion of agro-forestry tor planting fodder tree species under integrated farming system including soil moisture conservation in drought prone areas +• Areas of exchange of scientific personnel for study tour/training in mutually agreed areas +• Collaboration for joint research for cross-learning with regard to innovative Agriculture Extension approaches including the use of information and communication technology (ICT) +• Any other matter of joint interest +A Joint Working Group (]WG) consisting of representatives of each party shall be created to formulate joint programs and to facilitate cooperation & consultation. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on the day of their martyrdom. +“The martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev was a watershed moment in our history. +Every Indian is proud that these three great men belong to our land. +At the peak of their youth they sacrificed their lives so that others can live a life of freedom and dignity”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and interacted with the recipients of the Nari Shakti Puraskar. +Referring to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the Prime Minister said that its success is attributable in large measure, to the fact that women have given importance to it. +Mentioning the recently concluded Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, the Prime Minister said that this time, it has been the subject of discussion, because of the high standards of cleanliness and sanitation. +He added that Swachhta has now become a public movement. +The Prime Minister said that the next step in this movement of Swachhta, should be conversion of waste to wealth. +We are meeting at a time when the world is facing a high level of turmoil and uncertainty. +Global economic weakness also persists. +Restoring a climate of peace and stability is therefore an urgent need for global progress and prosperity. +I come from a land where the idea of the ‘whole world being one family` is rooted in our ethos – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. +The World must unite as one to decisively confront global challenges. +Corrective action must begin with the reform of institutions of global governance. +This has been on the BRICS agenda since its inception. +Institutions like the UN Security Council and IMF need urgent reform. +They must become more representative and reflect ground realities. +Excellencies, the region stretching from Afghanistan to Africa is experiencing turbulence and conflict. +This is causing grave instability that is fast seeping across borders. +This impacts us all. +Remaining mute spectators to countries being torn up in this manner can have grave consequences. +Afghanistan, is facing an uncertain future. +The Afghan people have suffered for decades. +The World must unite to support them in building a peaceful, stable, democratic and prosperous country. +We must help Afghanistan fight the forces of terrorism. +This is important for it to preserve the progress it has made in the last decade. +India will continue to assist Afghanistan in building its capacity; in governance, security and economic development. +We look forward to working with our BRICS partners in this regard. +The situation in West Asia poses a grave threat to regional, and global, peace and security. +India is particularly concerned because this affects the lives of seven million Indian citizens; living in the Gulf region. +We should explore how BRICS members can work together, in helping end the conflict in Iraq. +The developments in Syria continue to cause serious concern. +India has consistently called upon all sides to give up violence. +For a comprehensive solution there is no alternative to an inclusive political dialogue. +A military, or externally imposed solution, will not work. +India stands fully prepared to play a part in any peace process. +India is also concerned, at the recent outbreak of violence between Israel and Palestine. +We support, a negotiated solution. +This would inspire hope and confidence around the world. +India also supports, ongoing efforts to stabilize the situation in many African countries facing challenges of security and development. +Excellencies, Terrorism is a threat that has assumed war-like proportions. +It is in fact a proxy war aimed at innocent civilians. +Due to different yardsticks the international community has not been able to combat terror effectively. +I firmly believe that Terrorism, in any shape or form, is against Humanity. +There should be Zero Tolerance towards Terrorism. +Humanity must unite, and isolate terrorist forces,especially states that flout basic norms. +Selective targeting of terrorism will not work. +BRICS must translate our political resolve into a concrete and coordinated Plan of Action. +I call for an early adoption by the UN, of the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. +We must also put collective pressure on States to deny sanctuaries and support to terrorists. +Similarly, while cyber space is a source of great opportunity, cyber security has become a major concern. +BRICS countries, should take the lead in preserving Cyber Space, as a global common good. +I am happy we are cooperating on this through our National Security Advisors. +In conclusion, I would say that this unique grouping has the capacity to play an important role in advancing global peace and stability. +We should move in that direction in a focused manner. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Policy framework to promote and incentivize Enhanced Recovery (ER)/ Improved Recovery (IR)/ Unconventional Hydrocarbon (UHC) production Methods/techniques to improve recovery factor of existing hydrocarbons reserves for augmenting domestic production of oil and gas. +The strategic objective of the Policy is to build a supportive ecosystem through academic and research institutes, industry- academia collaboration and to support and encourage Exploration and Production (E&P) Contractors to deploy ER/IR/UHC Methods/ techniques. +The Policy will be applicable to all contractual regimes and Nomination fields. +This policy initiative is expected to spur new investment, provide impetus to economic activities and generate additional employment opportunities. +The Policy is expected to facilitate induction of new,innovative and cutting-edge technology and forging technological collaboration to improve productivity of existing fields. +The Policy envisages systemic assessment of every field for its ER potential, appraisal of appropriate ER techniques and fiscal incentives to de-risk the cost involved in ER Projects to make the investment financially viable. +Mandatory Screening of fields through designated institutions, to be notified by Government, and conducting Pilot before actual implementation of ER Project on commercial level, are other prominent features of the Policy. +An Enhanced Recovery (ER) Committee comprising of representatives of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), experts from upstream sector, and academia would monitor and implement the Policy. +The Policy, having a sunset clause, will be effective for 10 years from the date of its notification. +However, the fiscal incentives will be available for a period of 120 months from the date of commencement of production in ER/UHC projects. +In case of IR Projects, the incentives will be available from the date of achievement of the prescribed benchmark. +Defined timelines have been prescribed to complete the various processes under the Policy. +The fiscal incentives are extended in form of partial waiver of applicable Cess/Royalty on incremental production resulting from the adoption of ER methods on designated wells. +Technological interventions have significant potential in stimulating the recovery of hydrocarbon reserves from the matured/aging fields. +An increase by 5% in recovery rate of original in-place volume in oil production is envisaged producing 120 MMT additional oil in next 20 years. +In case of gas, an increase of 3% recovery rate on original in- place volume is envisaged, leading to additionalproduction of 52 BCM of gas in next 20 years. +3.President Enrique Peña Nieto elaborated on the structural reforms undertaken in Mexico to promote economic growth and development. +On his part, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi highlighted the initiatives undertaken by his Government for the economic growth and the improvement of standard of living of the people. +In this context, both leaders: +Political Dialogue +Economic Partnership +Bilateral Cooperation +13.Exchanged points of views and welcomed the opportunities offered by the convergence between the National Digital Strategy of Mexico and the Digital India Initiative, which share common objectives. +Dialogue on Global Affairs +16.Pledged to continue promoting the shared goals of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation as solutions with multilateral perspective, as well as to continue promoting cooperation on international security issues. +Similarly, Prime Minister Modi invited President Peña Nieto to pay a State visit to India. +They agreed that suitable dates would be worked out through diplomatic channels. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, arrived in Washington DC on Monday afternoon. +He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at the Arlington Cemetery. +He also laid a wreath at the Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial. +Mr. Jean Pierre Harrison, husband of Astronaut Kalpana Chawla – who perished in the Columbia tragedy – was present. +Astronaut Sunita Williams was also among those who were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister attended a ceremony for the return of idols to India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today handed over the “Chaadar” to be offered at Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Ajmer Sharif, to the Minister of Minority Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. +The Prime Minister has also conveyed greetings and best wishes to Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti’s followers across the world, on the occasion of his annual Urs. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji on his birth anniversary. +Dayananda Saraswati ji made a remarkable contribution to education. +His emphasis on social reform made him a personality ahead of his time”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved certain official amendments to the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill. +The Amendment to the NMC Bill comes in the backdrop of its consideration in the Lok Sabha on 02.01.2018 and subsequently being referred to the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee (DRPSC). +The Government has considered the recommendations made by the Standing Committee in itsreport tabled in the House on 20.03.2018 and general feedback, particularly the views of medical students and practitioners regarding certain provisions of the Bill. +The Amendments include: +Thus, the students would not have to appear in a separate exam after MBBS to get license to practice. +NEXT would also serveas the screening test for doctors with foreign medical qualifications in order to practice in India. +Provision of Bridge course for AYUSH practitioners to practice modern medicine removed: +The provision dealing with bridge course for AYUSH practitioners to practice modern medicine to a limited extent has also been removed. +It has been left to the State Governments to takenecessary measures for addressing and promoting primary health care in rural areas. +Fee regulation for 50% seats in private medical institutions and deemed universities: +The maximum limit of 40% seats for which fee would be regulated in private medicalinstitutions and deemed universities has been increased to 50% seats. +Further, it has been clarified that the fee would also include all other charges taken by the colleges. +Number of nominees from States and UTs in NMC increased from 3 to 6: +Responding to the demands from States to increase their representation in the NMC, thenominees of States and UTs in the NMC have been increased from 3 to 6. +The NMC willcomprise of 25 members of which at least 21 will be doctors. +Monetary penalty for a medical college non-compliant with the norms replaced with provision for different penalty options +Stringent punishment for unqualified medical practitioners or quacks: +The punishment for any unauthorized practice of medicine has been made severe by including a provision for imprisonment of up to one year along with a fine extending up to Rs. 5 lakhs. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for entering into Headquarters (Host country) Agreement between India and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and authorizing the Ministry of External Affairs for signing the Headquarter Agreement. +The Agreement was signed on 26th March, 2018. +The Headquarters Agreement will institutionalize the functional arrangements between India and ISA. +It will help in smooth transition of ISA as international inter-governmental organization. +Creation of ISA will lead to accelerated solar technology development and deployment in ISA member countries including India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today welcomed Village Pradhans from the Varanasi Parliamentary Constituency at his residence in New Delhi. +This is the second such group to meet the Prime Minister. +During the interaction, the Prime Minister encouraged the Pradhans to work towards educating every girl child, and promoting Swacchta in their respective villages. +He emphasized that there should be no discrimination between boys and girls. +He said Swachhta, or cleanliness, is the key to prosperity. +The Prime Minister urged each Pradhan to resolve to undertake specific development initiatives during his or her tenure, which would result in a lasting legacy. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Germany on Security Cooperation. +The MoU would further strengthen the relationship between India and Germany for building peace and stability in the region through exchange of information, expertise, best practices and technology. +It is an effective tool for combating terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and preventing cross border crimes through exchange of information, knowledge, technical expertise and capacity building. +The MoU is expected to increase effectiveness and cooperation in security matters between India and Germany. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said “the input of intellectual think tanks” should be substantially enhanced for better policy frameworks. +The Prime Minister released the book, “Getting India Back on track – an action agenda for reform”, in a function at 7, Race Course Road, New Delhi today. +Universities should be actively involved in research and analysis of the developmental process, to contribute in the best possible way for policy-related decisions, Shri Modi said. +The Prime Minister said urbanization should not be treated as a problem, but as an opportunity. +If we have to generate employment and change for the better, we plan to build 100 smart cities. +The Prime Minister cited the three colours of the National Flag, to suggest revolutionary agendas of futuristic growth. +Beginning with green, he said we need to bring about a second green revolution – focusing on increased agro-productivity, value addition, agro technology, and decentralization of warehousing. +Referring to white, he said a white revolution must now focus on increasing milk productivity, and developing a support system for ensuring cattle health. +He said that micro-irrigation had been successful in improving productivity and quality in crops like sugarcane in Gujarat. +He said we need to exploit the demographic dividend, as 65 percent of our population was below 35 years of age. +For this skill development needs to be a priority area. +Referring to skills such as teaching, nursing and paramedics, he said good teachers were one of the biggest needs of society, but there are very few good teachers available. +Can India become an exporter of good teachers who would capture the imagination of an entire generation globally, the Prime Minister asked. +He said if India has to compete with China, the focus should be on skill, scale and speed. +Talking about the need to combat the challenge of global warming and climate change, the Prime Minister said that a civilization that treated rivers as mothers, did not need to learn about environment protection from a western mindset. +Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Defence, Shri Arun Jaitley said there could not have been a more appropriate time for release of the book. +He said Governments should not only have the will to rule, but also the credibility to rule. +He said the international community was once again looking at India, and it is an opportunity that we cannot afford to miss. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will launch the Union Government’s Support and Outreach Initiative for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on November 02, 2018. +The Union Government has accorded high priority to the MSME sector in recent years. +The progress of this programme, to be implemented in mission mode, will be monitored on a continuous basis by senior officials of Union and State Governments. +Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley and the Union Minister of State (I/C) for MSME, Shri Giriraj Singh, are among those who will be present on the occasion. +May this special day deepen the spirit of harmony and peace in society. +Extended Eid greetings to HM King Salman, HH the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, HH the Emir of Qatar. +Spoke to President Rouhani, President Ghani, PM Nawaz Sharif, PM Sheikh Hasina and President Yameen and greeted them on Eid”, the Prime Minister said. +A group of children from the Vasundhara Charitable Trust, Nagpur, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +They were accompanied by Lok Sabha MP, Ms. Poonam Mahajan. +The children are from various parts of the country, including the North-East. +Infrastructure development a priority of Government, says PM +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visited Kollam in Kerala today. +He dedicated the 13 km, 2-lane Kollam bypass on NH-66 to the nation. +Addressing a gathering at the Asramam ground in Kollam, Prime Minister Modisaid that infrastructure development has been the priority of his Government and the Kollam bypass is an example. +He underlined the fact that the project got final sanction in January 2015 and now it has seen the light of the day. +The Prime Minister told that his Government believes in sabkasaath, sabkavikas for ease of living to the common man and appreciated the contribution and co-operation of Kerala government in completion of the project. +Kollam Bypass will reduce ravel time between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram and decongest the traffic in Kollam town. +Talking about the projects in Kerala, the PM said under Bharatmala, a detailed project report for the Mumbai-Kanyakumari corridor is under preparation. . +The Prime Minister said that the government is committed to ensure timely completion of all the projects. +He said that through PRAGATI,more than 250 projects worth Rs.12 lakh crores have been reviewed at his end. +Highlighting the progress in road connectivity, the PM Modi said that compared to the previous Government, the pace of construction in national highways, rural roads has almost doubled. +More than 90% of rural habitations have been connected today compared to only 56% in the previous government. +He expressed hope that the government will reach the target of 100% rural road connectivity soon. +We also connect aspirations with achievements, optimism with opportunities and hope with happiness.” +About Ayushman Bharat, he said that 8 lakh patients have been benefitted under this scheme while the government has sanctioned more than 1100 crores rupees till date for the scheme. +He urged the Government of Kerala to expedite the implementation of Ayushman Bharat scheme, so that the people of Kerala can be benefitted. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said that tourism is the hallmark of Kerala’s economic development and a principal contributor to the State’s economy. +He added that recognizing the tourism potential of Kerala, the government has sanctioned 7 projects in the State under the SwadeshDarshan and PRASAD schemes with funds worth Rs. 550 crore. +Speaking on the importance of Tourism Sector, PM highlighted the remarkable growth in this sector. +India posted a growth of 14% over 2016 in the tourism sector while the world grew at an average of 7%. +He added that India now stands at 3rd place in Power Ranking in the 2018 report of the World Travel & Tourism Council. +He described the introduction of the e-Visa as a game changer for Indian Tourism which is now available to nationals of 166 countries. +India will give Nepal a one billion dollar line of credit. +This will be in addition to any existing lines of credit. +Pancheswor Development Authority will be set up and DPR finalized in one year +India and Nepal have agreed to conclude Power Trading Agreement in 45 days. +India will provide assistance for construction of a motorable bridge over the Mahakali River. +India will expedite construction of postal roads and feeder roads to the Terai. +Prime Minister announced a gift of 2500 kg of sandalwood to the Pashupatinath Temple. +Work on a Dharamshala to be set up by Pashupatinath Development Authority will commence soon with Indian assistance. +Renovation and restoration of the Complex will be done using expertise of Archaeological Survey of India. +India will provide Rs. 25 crore for the same. +India will offer assistance for development of Janakpur-Lumbini, including Lumbini as part of Buddhist circuit. +Scholarships for Nepali students increased from 180 to 250. +Joint Working Group on Agriculture will meet quickly. +India will offer assistance in soil testing. +Nepal gave an assurance that Nepali soil will not be used for anything inimicable to Indian interests. +During his meeting with Nepali leaders from across the political spectrum, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi urged them – dal ke hit me mat socho, desh ke hit mein socho – Think in terms of the nation`s benefit, not the party`s benefit. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the death of persons in an accident in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh. +The Prime Minister has also announced ex gratia of Rs. 2 Lakhs from PMNRF for the next of kin of those killed in the accident and Rs. 50,000 for those seriously injured. +“My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the accident in Etah, UP. +May those injured in the accident recover quickly”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between India and France. +The Agreement is expected to be signed during the forthcoming State visit of the French President to India. +The Agreement represents a major milestone in enhancing people-to -people contacts, fostering mobility of students, academics, researchers and skilled professionals and strengthening cooperation on issues related to irregular migration and human trafficking between the two sides. +The Agreement is a testimony to India’s rapidly expanding multi-faceted relationship with France and symbolizes the increasing trust and confidence between the two sides. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval for revision of guidelines of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) Scheme with a view to achieve its intended objectives. +Two sets of changes have been made in the scheme: +I. Specific changes have been made in the attributes of the scheme to make it more attractive, mobilise finances as per the target and reduce the economic strains caused by imports of gold and reduce the Current Account Deficit (CAD). +Ministry of Finance (the issuer) has been delegated this power to amend / add to the features of the Scheme with approval of the Finance Minister to reduce the time lag between finalizing the attributes of a particular tranche and its notification. +Such flexibility will be effective in addressing the elements of competition with new products of investment, to deal with very dynamic and sometimes volatile market, macro-economic and other conditions such as gold price. +Following specific changes in the scheme have been approved: +i. The investment limit per fiscal year has been increased to 4 kg for individuals, 4 Kg for Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) and 20 Kg for Trusts and similar entities notified by the Government from time to time. +ii. The ceiling will be counted on Financial year basis and will include the SGBs purchased during the trading in the secondary market. +iii. The ceiling on investment will not include the holdings as collateral by Banks and Financial institutions. +iv. SGBs will be available ‘on tap’. +Based on the consultation with NSE, BSE, Banks and Department of Post, features of product to emulate ‘On Tap’ sale would be finalised by Ministry of Finance. +v. To improve liquidity and tradability of SGBs, appropriate market making initiatives will be devised. +Market makers, could be commercial banks or any other public sector entity, such as MMTC or any other entity as decided by Gol. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has decided to rescind the earlier decision of the Government to set up the Concurrent Evaluation Office (CEO) for managing Concurrent Evaluation Network (CENET) in Ministry of Rural Development. +The CEO was envisaged to undertake concurrent evaluation of Rural Development programmes in conjunction with Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the erstwhile Planning Commission. +The decision will pave the way for a need based strengthening of the Economic and Monitoring Wing of the Ministry of Rural Development for managing and carrying out evaluation studies of Rural Development programmes. +PM to also chair 2nd meeting of Governing Council of NITI Aayog. +Important development projects related to these states and the entire North-Eastern region, are likely to figure in this meeting. +The Prime Minister will also chair the second meeting of the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog tomorrow morning at 7, Race Course Road. +My greetings to the people of China on the occasion of your National Day. +Our relations date back to centuries, encompassing spiritualism, learning, art, trade and respect for each other’s civilisation and shared prosperity. +As I have said earlier, both our countries reflect, in many ways, similar aspirations, challenges and opportunities, and can be inspired by each other’s successes. +At a time when the world looks towards Asia, the progress and prosperity of China and India, and our close cooperation, have the potential to shape a peaceful and stable future for Asia. +This is a vision I share with President Xi and Premier Li. +In recent times, we have deepened our engagement across the full spectrum of our ties, and laid emphasis on deepening mutual trust and confidence, and expansion of people-to-people ties. +And we will continue our endeavours in this direction. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a Students’ Convention on the occasion of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Centenary Celebrations, and 125th Year of Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago Address, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister said that 125 years ago, on the same day that has recently come to be known as 9/11, with just a few words, a youngster from India won over the world and showed the world the power of oneness. +The 9/11 of 1893 was about love, harmony and brotherhood, he added. +The Prime Minister said that Swami Vivekananda raised his voice against the social evils that have entered our society. +Swami Vivekananda did not believe in sermonising, the Prime Minister said. +His ideas and idealism paved way for an institutional framework through the Ramakrishna Mission, he added. +The Prime Minister specially mentioned all those people who are working tirelessly to keep India clean, noting that they were the ones who had most imbibed the spirit of Vande Mataram. +Student organisations, while campaigning for university elections should give more importance to cleanliness, the Prime Minister said. +He said that only those who respect women, can take legitimate pride in the opening words of Swami Vivekananda’s address – “Brothers and sisters of America.” +The correspondence between Swami Vivekananda and Jamsetji Tata will show the concern Swami ji had towards India’s self-reliance, the Prime Minister said. +Both knowledge and skills are equally important, the Prime Minister added. +The Prime Minister said, that people now say that the 21st century is Asia’s century. +But long ago, Swami Vivekananda had given the concept of ‘One Asia,’ and said that the solutions to the world’s problems will come from Asia. +India is changing, India’s standing at the global stage is rising and this is due to Jan Shakti, the Prime Minister said. +“Follow the rules, and India will rule,” he exhorted the student community. +Distinguished dignitaries on the dais, +Guests from India and abroad, +I am very happy to be here at the inauguration of the World Sustainable Development Summit. +To those joining us from abroad: Welcome to India. +Welcome to Delhi. +On the side lines of the Summit, I hope you shall have some time to see the history and splendor of this city. +This summit is a re-inforcement of India’s commitment to a sustainable planet, for ourselves and for future generations. +As a nation, we are proud of our long history and tradition of harmonious co-existence between man and nature. +Respect for nature is an integral part of our value system. +Our traditional practices contribute to a sustainable lifestyle. +Our goal is to be able to live up to our ancient texts which say, “Keep pure For the Earth is our Mother and we are her children”. +We believe that all resources and all wealth belongs to Nature and the Almighty. +We are just the trustees or managers of this wealth. +Mahatma Gandhi too, advocated this trusteeship philosophy. +We have added more than14 Giga-Watts to solar energy generation which was just about three Giga-Watts three years back. +This will ensure that while we are working towards conserving our environment, we also safe-guard our most vulnerable areas. +One of our largest states, Maharashtra, has already adopted a plan of its own in this direction. +We are here today to act upon the belief that we as humans can make a difference to this planet. +We need to understand that this planet, our Mother Earth, is one. +And so, we should rise above our trivial differences of race, religion, and power, and act as one to save her. +With our deep rooted philosophy of co-existence with nature and co-existence with each other, we invite you to join us in the journey of making this planet a more safe and sustainable place. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan in the field of food processing sector. +Bilateral cooperation in the field of food processing between India and Japan will be mutually beneficial to the food processing sector in both countries. +It will promote understanding of best practices in food processing in the two countries and will help in improving the food processing sector as well as improved market access, leading to equity and inclusiveness. +The MoC will lead to betterment of the food processing sector in the country by introducing innovative techniques and processes. +It will help in increasing food processing in the country by getting access to best practices and better markets +Before arriving on the stage here, I visited an exhibition of stalls set up by Self-Help Groups comprising women from all eight North Eastern States. +The artefacts and products displayed in this exhibition are indeed impressive. +Let me begin by congratulating the ladies from these Self-Help Groups, who are present here today and have just given me a glimpse of their immense talent. +The promotion of Self Help Groups has got a boost from the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana. +A large number of Self Help Groups are also benefiting through credit linkages by North Eastern Development Financial Institution with the component of interest subsidy being provided by Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. +The Government is committed to the development of Self Help Groups, particularly Women Self Help Groups. +Keeping this in mind, in December 2015, the Union Cabinet approved a Special Package Fund for the North Eastern States. +The objective is to accelerate the implementation of the National Rural Livelihood Mission, so as to cover two-thirds of all rural households in North Eastern States by 2023-24. +Today, I unveiled a plaque for the foundation stone of a football stadium. +We are all aware of the love that the people of the North-East, and especially Meghalaya, have for Football. +Football is a passion here and is played in every nook and corner. +We are all familiar with famous football players such as Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Aibor Khongjee, and Marlangki Suting. +They have done both the country and the State proud, by representing India in International Tournaments, and their clubs in the Indian Super League. +I am told that the State Government’s Meghalaya Mission Football aims at detecting talent at the grass-root level and providing support for grooming and nurturing promising children and youngsters as professional footballers. +I am sure that the football stadium being constructed at a cost of 38 crore rupees with the support of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, will go a long way towards fulfilling this objective. +Next year, that is in 2017, India is hosting the Under-17 FIFA World Cup. +We need to take advantage of this event being held in India; and ensure the spread and development of this sport not only in the North Eastern Region, but also in other parts of the country. +Meghalaya has a large number of football clubs and associations. +Perhaps, you can organize competitive local tournaments and lead the way for other parts of the country, to build a series of major events leading to the Under-17 World Cup. +We all know Cherrapunji, for being the place that receives the highest rainfall in the World. +Today, another feather has been added to its cap. +The Doppler Weather Radar at Cherrapunji has been dedicated to the Nation. +I congratulate the Indian Space Research Organization; Bharat Electronics Ltd.; and the Indian Meteorological Department for setting up this Radar in Cherrapunji. +The North East, a land of beauty and adventure, has been hit by several natural calamities in the recent past, on account of heavy rain and landslides. +This Weather Radar System will enable better weather forecasts, especially for the North Eastern region. +This should help in minimizing the threat posed by extreme weather conditions. +Earlier today, I had an opportunity to participate in the North Eastern Council Meeting and interact with the Governors and Chief Ministers of this region. +This gave me an opportunity to get a glimpse of the development work being carried out in the North East. +A lot is being done. +Much more still needs to be done. +My Government has been proactively following the ‘Act East Policy’. +I consider the North Eastern Region as the Gateway to South-East Asia. +As part of this policy, it is our mission to upgrade the infrastructure in Road, Rail, Telecom, Power and Waterways in the region. +And today, as part of that mission, I have flagged off three new trains. +We are committed to connect all North Eastern States with the country’s railway network. +Since the formation of the NDA Government at the Centre, we have spent more than Ten Thousand Crore Rupees for development of the railway network in the North East. +The Railway Ministry plans to spend more than Five Thousand Crore Rupees during the current year for the same. +In November, 2014, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh were brought on the rail map of India. +Broad Gauge Passenger Trains will now connect the States of Manipur and Mizoram. +Today, Kamakhya in Guwahati has been directly connected with Vaishno Devi in Katra, near Jammu. +We are opening up both Road and Rail routes to our neighbouring countries. +This will give a boost to the economic development of the region. +The Union Government has incorporated a special Corporation named ‘National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation’ in July 2014, for the development of Highways in the North Eastern region. +This Corporation is constructing three new bridges on Brahmaputra River. +It is implementing 34 road projects in the North Eastern Region to construct around 1,000 kilometers of roads at a total cost of over Ten Thousand Crore Rupees. +The North East Road Sector Development Scheme has been started, with an aim to connect every district in the region with a National Highway. +The development of inland waterways has been given a boost. +The Union Government has declared 19 Waterways in the North East as National Waterways. +We are committed to provide 24 by 7 electricity to all the people. +Keeping this in mind, the Union Government is making heavy investment in the power sector. +Two projects covering all the eight North Eastern States are being implemented at a cost of around Ten Thousand Crore Rupees for improving power transmission. +The commissioning of the Bishwanath-Chariyali to Agra transmission network has made available 500 Megawatts of power in the region from outside. +Out of the 18,000 unelectrified villages in the country, we have already connected more than 7000 villages with electricity. +I expect that no village in the country, including the North Eastern States, will be left without electricity by 2018. +The Government is implementing a comprehensive Telecom Plan for the North Eastern Region at a cost of over 5,300 crore rupees. +Agartala has become the third city in India to be connected with an International Gateway through Cox Bazar of Bangladesh. +This has improved telecom connectivity and will give a boost to the economic development of the region. +During my last visit to Gangtok a few months ago, Sikkim was declared as the First Organic State in the country. +Other North Eastern States can take a lead from Sikkim to become Organic States. +In fact, the North Eastern Region has the potential to become Organic Food Basket of India. +This will increase the income of the farmers. +Today one need not go through the tedious scrutiny of a banker to get small loans. +The Union Government has launched the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, under which collateral free loans are provided to small business entrepreneurs. +During 2015-16, more than three crore forty eight lakh entrepreneurs have been sanctioned loans worth more than one lakh thirty seven thousand crore rupees. +Of these, six lakh loans have been sanctioned in the North Eastern States for a value of around 2800 Crore Rupees. +Similarly, 93 Lakh bank accounts have been opened in the region under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. +Around 21 Lakh people have been enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana. +Around 19 Lakh people have been enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. +The Textile Sector provides employment to most people after agriculture. +Within the sector, it is the apparel segment that provides maximum employment. +A large number of women are employed in the segment. +In order to boost industrial activity and employment under the North East Region Textile Promotion scheme, one apparel and garment making centre is being set up in each of the eight states at a cost of Rupees One Hundred and Forty Five Crores. +Out of the eight centres, seven centres have already been completed, each having three units. +Meghalaya has a distinct historical, cultural and ethnic heritage. +It is blessed with natural beauty and wildlife. +There is no reason for a tourist to not want to visit Meghalaya. +There is a tremendous opportunity for tourism, as well as adventure tourism, in the North Eastern Region, particularly, Meghalaya. +We need to develop Tourist Circuits by providing better facilities to tourists, in terms of improved road connectivity, hotels, and cleanliness. +The Union Government has launched a new scheme of Swadesh Darshan, under which it is developing Tourist Circuits in the country. +One such circuit is proposed for the North East. +Less than two years ago, on 2nd October, 2014, the Union Government started its journey to create Swachh Bharat by October 2019, as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, ‘The Father of the Nation’. +In exactly one year, from 15th August, 2014 to 15th August, 2015, under the Swachh Bharat – Swachh Vidyalay Programme, we have constructed four lakh seventeen thousand toilets in over two lakh schools. +The Swachh Bharat Mission is a public movement for cleanliness. +The biggest beneficiaries of this movement are the poorest of the poor. +I request all of you to actively participate in the movement and ensure an open defecation free society and clean environment. +I am happy to note that the traditions of hygiene and cleanliness in the region got a boost with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. +Mawlyynong village in Meghalaya, the cleanest village, and the entire state of Sikkim, including Gangtok, have become major tourist attractions. +I would like to congratulate all the winners of the run with the theme ‘North East leads the way – Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’. +I congratulate the North Eastern Council for organizing the run. +Gangtok deserves applause for being ranked the cleanest city of the North East. +Congratulations to the people of Meghalaya for hosting the North Eastern Council Plenary Meeting in Shillong. +I also express my gratitude to all of you for giving me the opportunity for a wonderful interaction. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Arunachal Pradesh tomorrow. +At a function in Itanagar, he will inaugurate the Dorjee Khandu State Convention Centre. +This Convention Centre has an auditorium, conference halls and an exhibition hall. +It is expected to become a significant landmark of Itanagar. +The Prime Minister will also dedicate the State Civil Secretariat Building to the nation, and lay the Foundation Stone of the Academic Block of the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Science. +From Arunachal Pradesh, the Prime Minister will proceed to Tripura on a non-official visit. +Inaugurating the first Global Exhibition on Services in New Delhi today, the Prime Minister said India should assess its “service” capabilities in the global perspective. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. +“He leaves us sad and devastated. +RIP Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. +The soldier in you remains immortal. +Proud that martyrs like you served India”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Malta for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism. +The MoU will be signed during the upcoming visit of the Vice President to Malta. +Main objectives of the MoU are: +1. To encourage the quality destination of tourism industry in both countries; +2. To increase tourist arrivals in both countries from the entire world through the territories of India and Malta; +3. Promoting human resource development in tourism and travel-related industries in both countries; +4. To contribute to a new tourism, offer, particularly through the promotion of natural and tangible, and intangible cultural heritage, the development of sustainable tourism and the use of information technologies; and +5. To recognize that tourism is a means to foster relationship between peoples of the two countries. +This MoU will help the two parties in creating an institutional mechanism for enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector. +It will also help India in increasing foreign tourist arrivals from Malta. +This, in turn, will result in economic development and employment generation. +The MoU will create favourable conditions for long-term tourism cooperation for the mutual benefits of all stakeholders within the broader framework and areas of cooperation. +It will also explore to incorporate the best practices in order to implement the measures that will realize its objectives. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the terrorist in Istanbul, Turkey. +May the injured recover quickly.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high level meeting on the drought and water scarcity situation in parts of Chhattisgarh. +The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Dr. Raman Singh, was present in the meeting. +Senior officials from the Government of India, and the State of Chhattisgarh, were also present. +An amount of Rs. 835.695 crore has been released to the State under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), after adjustments of the State balances. +This is in addition to Rs 249.725 crore released as central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2015-16 to the State. +A further amount of Rs. 94.875 crore has been released as first instalment of SDRF for 2016-17. +The Chief Minister mentioned the water conservation measures initiated by the State. +These include desilting of 8055 water bodies and farm ponds, construction of 44,181 new farm ponds, and construction of 9851 ground water recharge structures. +The drought relief measures initiated in the State include provision of drinking water and foodgrains in each village. +The Chief Minister said that one quintal of rice has been kept with each Panchayat, to ensure that no one starves in the villages. +The State has used Remote Sensing Technology to identify watersheds and plan irrigation strategies. +The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister for implementing the recommendations of the fourteenth Finance Commission. +Now all Piped Water Schemes in the State are functional. +The Chief Minister also spoke about the State’s programme to construct anicuts, and the State Government’s afforestation efforts. +He presented the State’s strategy for doubling farm income by 2022. +The Prime Minister appreciated the preparatory work done by the State for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. +He said other States can also study this as a model. +The meeting ended with a resolve on the part of the Centre and State to work together. +The Parliamentarians noted the historical ties and shared spiritual & cultural heritage of India and Sri Lanka and expressed appreciation for the deepening of relations between the two countries in recent years. +They also noted the benefits from a number of people-centric development cooperation projects being carried out with India’s assistance in Sri Lanka. +They agreed that speedy implementation of joint economic projects will bring benefits to the economies and the people of both the countries. +The Prime Minister welcomed the delegation and stressed the importance of such linkages. +He stated that the new initiatives for enhancing relations between provincial assembliesand local bodies of the two countries would further deepen significantly the close people-to-people ties and trust between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended an event to mark the Centenary Celebrations of Karnatak Lingayat Education Society, at Belagavi. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that in the 21st century, the youth will take India to new heights. +For this, he said, we need skilled youth, adding that research and innovation are vital for us. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government will never trouble innocent citizens, and at the same time the Government wants to ensure that those who are guilty are punished. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid homage to Former Prime Minister of India Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, on his Punya Tithi. +“We pay homage to Shastri Ji on his Punya Tithi. +His impeccable service and courageous leadership will be remembered for generations to come”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the amendment in relevant clauses of the Central Agricultural University Act (CAU), 1992 to include State of Nagaland under the jurisdiction of CAU, Imphal. +After inclusion of State of Nagaland under jurisdiction of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, the College of Veterinary Sciences in Nagaland will produce the much-needed professional manpower in the fields of animal husbandry, which will facilitate socio-economic growth in the region. +The new college will help familiarize the farmers with new techniques, thereby contributing to the production and productivity of domestic animals in the State of Nagaland. +The amendment will help the State of Nagaland reap the benefit of the CAU, Manipur, which is established for the entire North Eastern Region. +Later he also visited the Deendayal Museum in the Institute campus. +Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister said that Noidahas been completely transformed. +In this context, Prime Minister mentioned about the presence of various electronic companies in Noida, including the world’s largest mobile factory. +The Prime Minister said that the country’s biggest airport is being built in Jewar, in Uttar Pradesh. +He added that the Union Government is committed towards providing air connectivity to smaller cities through UDAN Yojana. +He said that such an approach has completely transformed the power sector and One Nation- One Grid has now become a reality. +The Government has also given right impetus to renewable energy sector also, PM said. +He added that his dream is ‘One World, One Sun, One Grid’. +Inaugurating the Pandit Deendayal UpadhyayaInstitute of Archaeology, Prime Minister said that the institute will provide modern amenities for research scholars and students from India and all over the world. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today described Varanasi as an important part of India’s heritage, and underlined his resolve to restore it to its position of global pre-eminence. +He was interacting with leading citizens from various strata of society in Varanasi. +He said he is talking to and receiving suggestions from a lot of people in this regard. +He said Kashi needs similar renewal. +Ruling out any big announcements, the Prime Minister mentioned some key elements of his vision for Varanasi’s renewal: +Making Banaras Hindu University a wi-fi university; modernizing it and placing it alongside the best universities of the world. +Separate toilets for boys and girls in schools. +Cleaning of the Ganga using latest technology. +Provision of clean drinking water. +Modernization of the Ganga ghats ensuring dignity of women. +Creating a contemporary ambience and feel for the Ganga aarti, using modern lighting. +Running a special “Palace on wheels” train for Kashi. +Small battery operated cars for Kashi. +Solid waste management for the town. +Enough seating for everyone at Varanasi railway station. +Modern restrooms in public places. +Solar lighting in public places. +Creating a global market for handlooms and handicrafts using e-commerce. +Free emergency ambulance service. +The Prime Minister remarked that thanks to modern tools of communication, he had perhaps received more support than even Mahatma Gandhi for the Swachhta Abhiyaan. +The Prime Minister said that on the basis of his experience over the last six months, he sees no reason why the country should remain where it is today. +Noting that the whole world is looking to India today, he said it is up to India to take best advantage of the situation. +Benefit cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year More than 10 crore families to be covered RSBY and SCHIS to be subsumed under Ayushman Bharat – NHPS +The scheme has the benefit cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. +AB-NHPM will subsume the on-going centrally sponsored schemes -Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and the Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS), +1. AB-NHPM will have a defined benefit cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. +This cover will take care of almost all secondary care and most of tertiary care procedures. +To ensure that nobody is left out (especially women, children and elderly) there will be no cap on family size and age in the scheme. +The benefit cover will also include pre and post-hospitalisation expenses. +All pre-existing conditions will be covered from day one of the policy. +A defined transport allowance per hospitalization will also be paid to the beneficiary. +2. Benefits of the scheme are portable across the country and a beneficiary covered under the scheme will be allowed to take cashless benefits from any public/private empanelled hospitals across the country. +For urban areas, 11 defined occupational categories are entitled under the scheme. +4. The beneficiaries can avail benefits in both public and empanelled private facilities. +As for private hospitals, they will be empanelled online based on defined criteria. +5. To control costs, the payments for treatment will be done on package rate (to be defined by the Government in advance) basis. +The package rates will include all the costs associated with treatment. +For beneficiaries, it will be a cashless, paper less transaction. +Keeping in view the State specific requirements, States/ UTs will have the flexibility to modify these rates within a limited bandwidth. +6. One of the core principles of AB-NHPM is to co-operative federalism and flexibility to states. +There is provision to partner the States through co-alliance. +This will ensure appropriate integration with the existing health insurance/ protection schemes of various Central Ministries/Departments and State Governments (at their own cost), State Governments will be allowed to expand AB-NHPM both horizontally and vertically. +States will be free to choose the modalities for implementation. +They can implement through insurance company or directly through Trust/ Society or a mixed model. +7. For giving policy directions and fostering coordination between Centre and States, it is proposed to set up Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission Council (AB-NHPMC) at apex level Chaired by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister. +It is proposed to establish an Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission Agency (AB-NHPMA) to manage the AB-NHPM at the operational level in the form of a Society. +AB-NHPMA will be headed by a full time CEO of the level of Secretary/ Additional Secretary to the Government of India. +At the district level also, a structure for implementation of the scheme will need to be set up. +9. To ensure that the funds reach SHA on time, the transfer of funds from Central Government through AB-NHPMA to State Health Agencies may be done through an escrow account directly. +The State has to contribute its matching share of grants within defined time frame. +10. In partnership with NITI Aayog, a robust, modular, scalable and interoperable IT platform will be made operational which will entail a paperless, cashless transaction. +This will also help in prevention / detection of any potential misuse / fraud / abuse cases. +This will be backed by a well-defined Grievance Redressal Mechanism. +In addition, pre-Authorisation of treatments with moral hazards (Potential of misuse) will be made mandatory. +11. In order to ensure that the scheme reaches the intended beneficiaries and other stakeholders, a comprehensive media and outreach strategy will be developed, which will, inter alia, include print media, electronic media, social media platforms, traditional media, IEC materials and outdoor activities. +Implementation Strategy: +At the national level to manage, an Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission Agency (AB-NHPMA) would be put in place. +States/ UTs would be advised to implement the scheme by a dedicated entity called State Health Agency (SHA). +They can either use an existing Trust/ Society/ Not for Profit Company/ State Nodal Agency (SNA) or set up a new entity to implement the scheme. +States/ UTs can decide to implement the scheme through an insurance company or directly through the Trust/ Society or use an integrated model. +In-patient hospitalization expenditure in India has increased nearly 300% during last ten years. +More than 80% of the expenditure are met by out of pocket (OOP). +AB-NHPM will have major impact on reduction of Out Of Pocket (OOP) expenditure on ground of: +i) Increased benefit cover to nearly 40% of the population, (the poorest&the vulnerable) +ii) Covering almost all secondary and many tertiary hospitalizations. (except a negative list) +iii) Coverage of 5 lakh for each family, (no restriction of family size) +This will lead to increased access to quality health and medication. +In addition, the unmet needs of the population which remained hidden due to lack of financial resources will be catered to. +This will lead to timely treatments, improvements in health outcomes, patient satisfaction, improvement in productivity and efficiency, job creation thus leading to improvement in quality of life. +The expenditure incurred in premium payment will be shared between Central and State Governments in specified ratio as per Ministry of Finance guidelines in vogue. +The total expenditure will depend on actual market determined premium paid in States/ UTs where AB-NHPM will be implemented through insurance companies. +In States/ UTs where the scheme will be implemented in Trust/ Society mode, the central share of funds will be provided based on actual expenditure or premium ceiling (whichever is lower) in the pre-determined ratio. +Number of Beneficiaries: +AB-NHPM will target about 10.74 crore poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban workers’ families as per the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data covering both rural and urban. +The scheme is designed to be dynamic and aspirational and it would take into account any future changes in the exclusion/ inclusion/ deprivation/ occupational criteria in the SECC data. +States/Districts covered: +AB-NHPM will be rolled out across all States/UTs in all districts with an objective to cover all the targeted beneficiaries. +To integrate RSBY into the health system and make it a part of the comprehensive health care vision of Government of India, RSBY was transferred to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) w.e.f 01.04.2015. +During 2016-2017, 3.63 crore families were covered under RSBY in 278 districts of the country and they could avail medical treatment across the network of 8,697 empanelled hospitals. +The NHPS comes in the backdrop of the fact that various Central Ministries and State/UT Governments have launched health insurance/ protection schemes for their own defined set of beneficiaries. +There is a critical need to converge these schemes, so as to achieve improved efficiency, reach and coverage. +The Cabinet today at the meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi gave its approval to the following:- +(i) To implement the Scheme for Revival of 23 unlicensed District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) in four States. +These are 16 in Uttar Pradesh, three in Jammu & Kashmir, three in Maharashtra and one in West Bengal. +Under the Scheme, the total capital infusion required for revival of these 23 DCCBs would be Rs. 2375.42 crore, out of which the commitment from the Central Government would be Rs. 673.29 crore, from State Governments Rs. 1464.59 crore and from NABARD Rs.237.54 crore. +The assistance from NABARD would be in the form of loan to the respective State Governments under Section 27 of NABARD Act, 1981. +The Scheme for revival of these unlicensed DCCBs will help in revival of these cooperative banks. +This will result in protecting the interests of depositors and catering to the credit needs of farmers. +This means 7 percent CRAR by 31st March, 2015 and 9 percent CRAR by 31st March, 2017. +The list of the places where the DCCBs are located is given below:- +15. Ghazipur and +Prime Mnister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released the book “Vande Bharatam”, written by Pandit Prabodh Kumar Mishra. +The book is an anthology of Nationalistic Poems in Sanskrit, which were published in different newspapers of Odisha on various occasions. +Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Shri Bhartruhari Mehtab, Member of Parliament, were also present on the occasion. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has saluted Navy personnel on Navy Day. +Concrete homes will lead to concrete dreams: PM +Security forces given free hand to deal with the perpetrators of Pulwama terror attack: PM +Lays the Foundation Stone of Road Project in Yavatmal worth Rs 500 Crores +Humsafar Ajni (Nagpur)-Pune Train flagged off +Sahastrakund Eklavya Model Residential School inaugurated by PM +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Yavatmal in Maharashtra today. +He unveiled multiple projects in the state. +Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari and CM of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis was also present on the occasion. +PM handed over the keys to selected beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). +He said “About 14500 new houses are built at Yavatmal under PMAY. +We will achieve our target of Housing for All by 2022. +These concrete homes will lead to concrete dreams of people inhabiting them”. +He distributed certificates/cheques to women SHGs under Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission. +Addressing a public gathering, the PM said, “We are undergoing a deep sorrow and anguish over the Pulwama attack. +Two brave sons of Maharashtra have also sacrificed their lives for nation. +Our thoughts are with the bereaving families. +Their sacrifices won’t go in vain. +We have given security forces full freedom to choose a time, place and manner to decide the future course of action. +If we are able to fulfil the dreams we aspired for or to develop nation it is because of the sacrifices of our brave soldiers.” +PM said that in order to conduct research on Sickle cell disease, a research center is being built at Chandrapur. +Sahastrakund Eklavya Model Residential School was inaugurated by PM on this occasion. +The school campus is spread across 15 acres and has all modern amenities. +He expressed hope that the School will fulfill the aspiration of tribal children. +It is a part of his mission to set up 1000 Eklavya Model Residential Schools across tribal areas. +PM said “we are specially committed to the cause of overall development of tribals from Jandhan to Vandhan. +While Jandhan has helped in the financial inclusion of the poor, Vandhan is helping in bringing additional income to the poor through Minor Forest Produce. +We are setting up Vandhan Kendras for value addition to Minor Forest Produce so that the tribals get a better deal for their produce. +We have also denotified bamboo as tree so that tribals can diversify their income from bamboo and its produce”. +Recalling the sacrifices made by tribal heroes in our freedom struggle, PM said that we are preserving their memories in museums and memorials across the country. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Indonesia on health cooperation. +The MoU covers the following areas of cooperation:- +Research and development, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and IT-based medical equipment; Human Resource Development; Health services; and Any other area as may be mutually agreed upon. +A Working Group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this MoU. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the people of India for wholeheartedly participating in the ongoing Yagna against corruption, terrorism and black money. +In a series of tweets, speaking about the benefits of the demonetization decision of the government, the Prime Minister has also urged the people to embrace increased cashless payments and integrate latest technology in their economic transactions. +“I salute the people of India for wholeheartedly participating in this ongoing Yagna against corruption, terrorism and black money. +The Government’s decision has several gains for farmers, traders, labourers, who are the economic backbone of our nation. +I always said that the Government’s measure will bring a degree of inconvenience but this short term pain will pave way for long term gains. +No longer will the progress and prosperity of rural India be curtailed by corruption and black money. +Our villages must get their due. +We also have a historic opportunity to embrace increased cashless payments and integrate latest technology in economic transactions. +My young friends, you are agents of change who will make India corruption free and ensure more cashless transactions. +Together, we must ensure #IndiaDefeatsBlackMoney. +This will empower the poor, neo-middle class, middle class & benefit future generations”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Gujarat and Maharashtra on Gujarat Day and Maharashtra Day, respectively. +Maharashtra is a land that has contributed immensely to the development of the Nation. +It is a land of thinkers, saints and it is the land of the brave and the courageous. +The hardworking nature of the people of Maharashtra has always been well-known. +My best wishes for the development journey of Maharashtra. +Text of the Prime Minister’s message to the people of Gujarat: +There is something unique about the soil of Gujarat! +The warm nature and the enthusiastic spirit of the people has benefitted the State immensely. +Once again, my best wishes on Gujarat Day. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Guru Ravidas on the occasion of Guru Ravidas Jayanti. +“I bow to Guru Ravidas Ji on the special occasion of Guru Ravidas Jayanti. +His pure thoughts and ideals have a profound impact on society. +Guru Ravidas Ji emphasised on values of harmony, equality and compassion, which are central to India’s culture and ethos.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will dedicate the Sardar Sarovar Dam to the nation, at Kevadia in Gujarat on September 17, 2017. +The height of the dam was recently raised to 138.68 metres, facilitating a usable storage of 4.73 Million Acre feet (MAF). +This will greatly benefit the participating States of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. +The project has helped transport the waters of the River Narmada, to the water-deficient areas of Gujarat through an elaborate canal and pipeline network. +Irrigation from the project is expected to benefit about 10 lakh farmers, and drinking water to be supplied to various villages and towns, is likely to benefit upto 4 crore people. +The project has been described as one of largest ever human endeavours for water transport. +Upto a billion units of hydropower are also expected to be generated annually. +From the dam site, the Prime Minister will travel to Sadhu Bet, where the Statue of Unity, an iconic statue and associated memorial complex for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is currently under construction. +The Prime Minister will be given an overview of the progress of work on this project. +The project comprises a 182 metre tall statue, an exhibition hall, a memorial garden, and a Visitor Centre. +The Prime Minister will attend the closing ceremony of the Narmada Mahotsav, and address the gathering at Dabhoi. +He will lay the foundation stone for the National Tribal Freedom Fighters’ Museum during the event. +The Prime Minister will later visit Amreli. +He will inaugurate a new market yard of APMC. +He will also inaugurate new plants of Amar Dairy, and lay the foundation stone of a honey production centre. +He will address a Sahakar Sammelan at Amreli. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will attend the Gita Aradhana Mahotsav at ISKCON-Glory of India Cultural Centre, East of Kailash, New Delhi, on 26 February 2019. +At the event, Prime Minister will unveil the Bhagwad Gita, prepared by ISKCON devotees to the world. +Measuring over 2.8 meters and over 800 kg, the Bhagwad Gita is one of the kind in the world. +It will have the original verses of Bhagwad Gita along with commentary. +Prime Minister will turn a page of the Bhagwad Gita to mark its official opening. +Prime Minister will also address the gathering. +He will be accompanied by UP Governor Shri Ram Naik, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. +The function will be held in the afternoon at Ring Road Tiraha, Hardua, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. +The 16.55 km Varanasi Ring Road Phase-I has been completed at a cost of Rs 759.36 crore, while the work of four-laning and construction of 17.25 km Babatput-Varanasi road on NH-56 has cost Rs 812.59 crore. +The Babatpur Airport highway will link Varanasi to the airport and go on to Jaunpur, Sultanpur and Lucknow. +With a flyover at Harhua and an ROB at Tarna, the road will reduce the travel time from Varanasi to the airport. +This will prove a big relief to the people of Varanasi and to tourists and other visitors to the city. +The Ring Road, with two ROBs and a flyover, will provide a way for traffic on NH 56 (Lucknow-Varanasi), NH 233 ( Azamgarh-Varanasi), NH 29 ( Gorakhpur-Varanasi ) and Ayodhya – Varanasi highways to by pass Varanasi city, thereby reducing traffic congestion in the city. +This will reduce travel time, fuel usage and pollution in the area. +The Ring Road will provide easier and more convenient access to Sarnath, an important site for Buddhist pilgrimage. +Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation an inland waterways terminal on river Ganga in Varanasi. +This is the first of the four multi modal terminals being constructed on NW-I ( River Ganga) as part of the World Bank aided Jal Marg Vikas project of the Inland Waterways Authority of India. +The other three terminals are under construction at Sahibganj, Haldia and Gazipur. +The project would enable commercial navigation of vessels with capacity of 1500-2,000 DWT on river Ganga. +PM will also receive the country’s first container consignment (post independence) to be sent on an inland waterways vessel. +This consignment containing cargo of the food and beverage company Pepsico set sail from Kolkata in the last week of October. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new premises of Central Information Commission, CIC at Munirka in the capital tomorrow. +The new building will enable the Commission to function from a single location. +Earlier it was working from two hired buildings. +The new CIC building is a State of the Art-Green Building constructed by National Building Construction Corporation ahead of its completion date. +The five storey structure houses all the hearing rooms of the Central Information Commission with state of the art, IT and Video Conferencing Systems. +CIC is the apex appellate body established by the Right to Information Act 2005. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today announced a landmark increase in remuneration for ASHA and Anganwadi workers. +The Prime Minister announced the doubling of routine incentives given by the Union Government to ASHA workers. +In addition, all ASHA workers and their helperswould be provided free insurance cover under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Prime Minister Suraksha Bima Yojana. +Prime Minister also announced significant increase in the honorarium given to Anganwadi workers. +Those receiving Rs. 3000 so far, would now receive Rs. 4500. +Similarly those receiving Rs. 2200, would now get Rs. 3500. +The honorarium for Anganwadi helpers has also been increased from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2250. +Prime Minister also announced that Anganwadi workers and helpers using techniques such as Common Application Software (ICDS-CAS), would get additional incentives. +The incentives ranging from Rs. 250 to Rs. 500, would be based on performance. +The Prime Minister interacted with teams of three As – the ASHA worker, Anganwadi worker and ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) from across the country. +He appreciated their efforts to work together, to use innovative means and technology, to improve the delivery of health and nutrition services and achieve the goal of the POSHAN Abhiyan – reduction of malnutrition in the country. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of MoU between India and Bangladesh in the field of judicial sector cooperation. +It is aimed at developing, promoting and strengthening mutual cooperation between the judiciaries of the two countries. +The MoU provides for promoting mutual interaction among judges and officials at various levels of the judiciary through exchange visits, training and academic programmes. +It will also encourage mutual exchange of information on latest developments in the field of law and justice. +It will enable exchange of knowledge in infrastructure and information technology in this field. +Congrats to all sports lovers on the inauguration of the synthetic track in ”Usha School of Athletics”. +This track is an important landmark in the development of Usha School and will provide modern facilities to the trainees. +I take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of our own Payyoli Express, ‘Udan Pari’ and ‘Golden Girl’ of India P.T. Usha ji for the development of this school. +P.T.Usha has been a shining light of sports in India. +In the history of Indian athletics very few have achieved a track record like hers. +Usha ji, the nation is proud of you. +What is even better is that Usha ji has continued her association with sports. +Her personal attention and focused approach have started bringing about good results and now her trainees like Miss Tintu Luka and Miss Jisna Mathew have already made their mark at the international level. +Like Usha ji, ”USHA School” is making the best use of every opportunity by utilizing simple and limited resources. +But then, Better late than Never. +One of the top-most priorities of our Government is speedy implementation and completion of projects in the designated time period. +In fact, the Project was sanctioned in 2011 but the work order for the synthetic track was awarded only in 2015. +I have been informed that this track is full PUR track. +It has been designed so as to minimize the chances of injuries and is compatible with the international standards. +Sports is closely linked with the human resource development of a society. +I have always been of the view that in addition to keeping the body healthy, sports also transforms the personality, bringing about holistic development. +It instills discipline and ethos of hard-work. +It provides learnings for life, which enrich our thought process. +The sports field is a great teacher. +One of the best things one learns on the sports field is equanimity – to face victory and defeat – as a part of life. +We learn to be humble in victory and at the same time, not to be bogged down by defeat. +A defeat is not the end, in fact it is only the beginning to rise up again and achieve the desired results. +Sports enhance teamwork. +It also brings a spirit of openness and powers us with the capability to accept others. +It is essential that we adopt sports as a part of the lives of the youth in our country. +To me, sports includes the following attributes. +I will expand the word sports to share them: +O for Optimism; +“Greetings to all soldiers, veterans & their families on Army Day. +We salute the courage & invaluable service of the Indian Army. +Indian Army always leads from the front, be it in protecting the sovereignty of our nation or helping citizens during natural disasters. +We remember with great pride all the sacrifices made by our Army. +They put their lives at risk so that 125 crore Indians live peacefully,” the Prime Minister said. +Ladies and Gentlemen: +Let me begin by congratulating NITI Aayog for organizing this global conference. +Perhaps the simplest definition of Arbitration comes from Mahatma Gandhi, who said: +“I had learnt the true practice of law. +I had learnt to find out the better side of human nature and to enter men’s heart. +I realized that the true function of a lawyer is to unite the parties involved in a dispute. +The lesson was so indelibly burnt into me that the large part of my time during the twenty years of my practice as a lawyer was occupied in bringing about private compromises of hundreds of cases. +I lost nothing thereby, not even money and certainly not my soul.” +India is today the fastest growing major economy, and one of the most attractive destinations for FDI. +Indeed, we stand out as a bright spot in the global economy. +This is the result of India’s fundamental strengths: democracy, demographic dividend and demand. +We need to fully harness these strengths. +This can happen only if businesses make long-term investments that create jobs and sustain economic growth. +Our domestic market has been fragmented. +Different taxes across different states have made goods and services more expensive. +This has hampered growth in inter-state commerce. +We are enacting a Goods and Services Tax law, to create an integrated national market. +This will further boost domestic demand, create more opportunities for Indian business and drive job creation. +India is experiencing a digital revolution. +This is bridging the digital and economic divide in Indian society in general; and rural society in particular. +A boost to the rural economy through this revolution will make the Indian economy even more robust. +Innovative business models and app-based start-ups have instilled a spirit of enterprise among Indians. +Yesterday’s job seekers are becoming today’s job creators. +The legal profession is also opening up to the promises of the digital world. +From cause-lists to case-laws, the lawyer’s library is now just a click away on your mobile phone. +Businesses seek assurance of the prevalence of rule of law in the Indian market. +They need to be assured that the rules of the game will not change overnight, in an arbitrary fashion. +And that commercial disputes will be resolved efficiently. +A robust legal framework backed by a vibrant arbitration culture is essential. +Towards this end, we have initiated far-reaching legal reforms. +Over a thousand archaic laws have been scrapped. +Further, in harmony with the Bankruptcy Code, we have amended the SARFAESI and DRT Acts this year to suit the changing credit landscape and augment ease of doing business. +However, legal reforms can deliver desired results only when there is an effective and efficient dispute resolution mechanism. +The independence of the judiciary is a basic feature of the Indian Constitution. +Common citizens as well as businesses repose immense faith in the integrity of the judicial process. +Our Government has taken various initiatives to improve the judicial infrastructure and administration. +We have enacted the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Act, 2015, for speedy resolution of commercial disputes. +A National Judicial Data Grid has been set up to provide data on cases pending in district courts across the country. +Steps are being taken under the e-Court Mission to computerize the entire court systems. +Our Government has been working on a strategy for convergence of existing tribunals. +This will help transform the existing complicated tribunal system into a simpler structure. +We need to simultaneously facilitate a vibrant ecosystem for alternate dispute resolution, including arbitration, mediation and conciliation. +This will provide additional comfort to investors and businesses. +More importantly, it will also ease the case-load on Indian courts. +Resolution of disputes through arbitration is not new to us. +In ancient India, there were several mechanisms for settlement of disputes between the parties. +These included the Kulani, or village council; Sreni, or corporation; and Puga, or assembly. +Likewise, commercial matters were decided by Mahajans and Chambers. +Today, corporates and financial institutions want legal experts who can help close business deals and transactions without any disputes and litigations. +If a dispute arises, corporates want to resolve them quickly through arbitration, without going to courts. +For this, they require specialized arbitration lawyers. +Alternative dispute resolution processes also preserve personal and business relationships that might otherwise be damaged by the adversarial process. +Recent trends indicate that Asian centres like Hong Kong and Singapore have emerged as preferred arbitration destinations. +As popular business hubs, they also rank high in the levels of Ease of Doing Business. +Thus, availability of quality arbitration mechanisms is an integral component of Ease of Doing Business, to which our Government is committed. +Creation of a vibrant ecosystem for institutional arbitration, is one of the foremost priorities of our Government. +Recently, major amendments have been made to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. +This has made the arbitration process easy, timely and hassle-free. +Our law is based on the UNCITRAL model law. +The objective is to ensure that in normal circumstances, arbitral tribunal makes its award within 12 months. +In case of a fast track procedure, such award can be given in 6 months. +Even the appointment of the arbitrator has to be decided by the Court within a period of 60 days. +The impediments encountered earlier in the grant and process of award, have been removed. +Further, as per the new law, any application challenging the award is to be disposed off by the Court within one year. +The enforcement of award can be refused by the Courts only as per international practices. +These amendments have brought our arbitration process in tune with global best practices. +This has given us an opportunity to emerge as a leading arbitration jurisdiction. +However, great opportunities pose great challenges. +These challenges include: Availability of excellent quality and globally recognized arbitrators; Observance of professional conduct, ensuring neutrality, and timely completion of proceedings; and, Cost effective arbitration proceedings. +India has no dearth of brilliant lawyers and judges. +India also has a large number of retired judges, engineers, and scientists who can function as competent arbitrators in various fields. +India’s economic interests shall be better served by a higher number of arbitration experts and lawyers. +This in turn requires widening the ambit of legal education in India. +There is need to develop specialized arbitration bar associations. +We also need professionally run arbitral institutions which can deliver international standards of services at reasonable costs to businesses in India. +We welcome internationally recognized institutions in this effort. +We must deliberate on ways and means to supplement the efforts of the judiciary and arbitration mechanisms. +Mediation is one such mechanism, the potential of which has not been utilized much in the country. +An enabling alternate dispute resolution ecosystem is a national priority for India. +We need to promote India globally as an arbitration hub. +This conference has provided the ideal platform to deliberate upon the crucial regulatory, policy and mindset reforms on this. +I am sure, the deliberations here shall help in further strengthening Arbitration in India and set a milestone in positioning India as a global hub for arbitration amongst international practitioners, corporate houses and the legal fraternity. +We look forward to effectively implementing your recommendations. +Dr. Fayez Tarawneh, Chief of The Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +They discussed the shared commitment to strengthen bilateral engagement and the many opportunities in this regard. +Dr. Fayez Tarawneh also exchanged views with Prime Minister on the situation in West Asia and the scourge of terrorism that calls for a comprehensive international response. +Dr. Fayez Tarawneh conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein to Prime Minister. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a telephone call today to H. E. Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, to congratulate him on his re-election as the President of the People’s Republic of China. +The two leaders agreed that as two major powers growing rapidly, bilateral relations between India and China are vital for the realization of 21st Century as ‘Asian Century’. +The two leaders also agreed to continue their close consultations on regional and international issues of mutual interest. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Lok Sabha MP Mahant Chand Nath. +My deepest condolences.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for Creation of two (2) posts of Commissioners in the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD), in terms of provisions of The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. +Out of the two posts of Commissioners, one Commissioner will be a person with disability. +The above two Commissioners will assist the CCPD in discharging his statutory functions as per provisions of the said Act. +This would enable the Office of CCPD to look into the complaints of persons with disabilities expeditiously, besides strengthening the monitoring mechanism overseeing the implementation of the RPwD Act, 2016. +The Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Prime Minister of Israel Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu replicas of 2 sets of relics from Kerala that are regarded as key artifacts in the long Jewish history in India. +The first set of copper plates is a cherished relic for the Cochini Jews in India. +It is regarded as a charter describing the grant of hereditary royal privileges and prerogatives by the Hindu King, Cheraman Perumal (often identified as Bhaskara Ravi Varma) to the Jewish leader Joseph Rabban. +Cranganore is where Jews enjoyed religious and cultural autonomy for centuries, before they moved to Cochin and other places in Malabar. +Local Jews once placed in each coffin a handful of earth from Shingli/Cranganore that was remembered as a holy place & a “second Jerusalem”. +The replica of these plates was made possible with the cooperation of the Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry, Kochi. +The second set of copper plates is believed to be the earliest documentation of the history of Jewish trade with India. +The plates bear their signatures that appear to have been cut into the plates by a local workman unfamiliar with the script. +The replica of these plates was made possible with the cooperation of Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church in Thiruvalla, Kerala. +In addition, Prime Minister also presented PM Netanyahu a Torah scroll donated by the Paradesi Jewish community in Kerala. +Handwritten over a hundred years ago, the scroll had been dedicated to the Paradesi Synagogue in Kochi that had been built in 1568. +Prime Minister expressed his intention to take the relationship to a higher level. +He looked forward to a productive, substantive and forward looking Summit with President Putin later in the year. +External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Nripendra Misra, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval were present at the meeting. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the functioning of the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and suggested several qualititative changes in the way the fund is managed. +Life-threatening diseases should be accorded priority, and cases should be decided on need and merit, the Prime Minister added. +Shri Narendra Modi has directed that pendency in appeals for help should be minimized. +He said the draw to select the cases should be conducted in a manner that does not leave out any genuine case. +It was decided that a letter from the Prime Minister should be sent to all beneficiaries. +Beneficiaries whose appeals have been approved for grant of relief, will be informed through an SMS alert. +Shri Narendra Modi also reviewed the functioning of the other Prime Minister’s funds, viz. the PM’s discretionary fund, the PM’s National Defence Fund, the PM’s fund for student’s aid, and the PM’s fund for folk art. +On 16th August, I begin my visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). +This will be the first Prime Ministerial visit in 34 years. +There are over 2.5 million Indians who have made UAE their home. +They have contributed immensely to the progress of UAE and also given back to India at every occasion. +India and UAE are fantastically connected be it via air or through the sea. +The economic strides taken by UAE are extremely admirable. +I will meet His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the attacks in Canada. +“I strongly condemn the attacks on the Canadian military personnel in Quebec and Ottawa and the shooting in the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa. +A Parliament is a temple of democracy and holds a special place in the hearts of those who believe in democratic ideals. +As a nation that has experienced a horrific terrorist attack on its Parliament, we share the sense of outrage and trauma of the people of Canada over the attack on the highest institution of democracy. +I express, on behalf of the people of India, our condolences to the people of Canada for the loss of their soldiers and our solidarity with them at this difficult moment. +Canada is one of India’s strongest partners and we will continue to strengthen our cooperation in combating terrorism and other crimes for a safer future for our people”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received a telephone call from US President, Mr. Barack Obama, on Tuesday, 8th December 2015. +The Prime Minister conveyed his condolences to President Obama on the loss of lives in the recent shooting incident in California. +The conversation focused on the ongoing Conference of Parties (CoP-21) in Paris. +They agreed to stay in regular touch. +Co-production of an Indian film with an international party means that Indian producer can access international funds and can collaborate on the script, talent and distribution at international level. +Co-production of a film under this treaty will qualify it to be national production both in India and Israel. +This will also enable a common pool of creative, artistic, technical, financial and marketing resources of the two countries. +The co-produced films will also be eligible for their participation as domestic productions in film festivals of both the countries and any other incentives which are available for carrying out production and post-production work in any of the countries. +The signing of the Film co-production agreement will lead to mutual exchange of art and culture, create goodwill and better understanding among the people of both the countries as well as various aspects of film making. +The Agreement will also help in generation of employment among artistic, technical as well as non-technical personnel. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, was apprised of the joint issue of UN Women HeForShe postage stamp. +A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Department of Posts and United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) in February, 2016 for this purpose. +In this Joint issue, the stamps were printed in the form of sheetlet of 20 se-tenants and Miniature Sheet of two stamps on the occasion of International Women’s Day. +This Joint issue is dedicated for the empowerment of women around the world. +This would promote great cause of gender equality which the Indian government has been championing in the recent times. +Thus, Department of Posts and UNPA have arrived an agreement to celebrate and to commemorate International Women’s day on 8th of March, 2016 by releasing a joint stamp. +“Moment of immense joy & pride for India. +Congratulations to ISRO on successful launch of PSLV-C35/SCATSAT-1 & 7 co-passenger satellites. +Our space scientists keep scripting history. +Their innovative zeal has touched the lives of 125 crore Indians & made India proud worldwide”, the Prime Minister said. +An all party delegation from the State of Karnataka, led by Chief Minister Shri Siddaramaiah called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The delegation sought the Prime Minister’s intervention for an out-of-Tribunal settlement on the Mahadayi River water issue, which concerns the States of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra. +The matter is currently before a Tribunal. +The Prime Minister suggested that a consensus in this regard would be necessary among various political parties in all three states, before an attempt can be made to resolve the matter through mutual consultations, out of the Tribunal. +The delegation raised the issue of severe drought in the State of Karnataka, especially in the northern parts of the State. +The Prime Minister said a Central Team is being sent to the State to assess the situation, at the earliest. +The delegation raised the problems being faced by sugarcane farmers, due to the fall in sugar prices. +The Prime Minister said these problems were being faced by sugarcane farmers across the country, and the Union Government is a taking a number of steps to address them. +The delegation also requested for a hike in the import duty of silk to 30 percent, to protect the interests of the mulberry growers in the State. +The Prime Minister said this request would be examined. +Union Ministers Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Shri Ananth Kumar and Shri Sadananda Gowda, and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri Mallikarjun Kharge were present at the meeting. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for extending the Discovered Small Field Policy notified on 14.10.2015 to identified 60 discovered small fields / un-monetized discoveries for offer under the Discovered Small Field Policy Bid Round-ll. +Out of these, 22 fields/ discoveries belong to of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited, 5 belong to Oil India Limited (OIL) and 12 are relinquished fields / discoveries from the New Exploration and Licensing Policy (NELP) Blocks. +In addition, 21 fields / discoveries are remaining from DSF Bid Round-l which were put on offer but could not be awarded due to insufficient response from the investor. +• These discoveries are estimated to have 194.65 Million Metric Ton (MMT) Oil and oil equivalent gas in place. +• These fields will be developed and monetized faster thereby augmenting production of oil and gas leading to enhance energy security of the country. +• It is estimated that investments into these fields will lead to generation of over 88,000 jobs as direct, indirect and induced employment. +• This policy has also been extended for future round of bidding. +Empowered Committee of Secretaries (ECS) comprising of Secretary (Petroleum & Natural Gas), Secretary (Expenditure) and Law Secretary will finalize and approve Model Revenue Sharing Contract, Notice Inviting Offer (NIO) and other documents for Discovered Small Fields Bid Round-ll. +• The award of contract will be approved by the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Finance based on the recommendations of ECS. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted people on National Voters Day. +The Prime Minister said, “Greetings on National Voters Day. +This is a day to reaffirm our commitment towards further strengthening our democracy by unfailingly participating in democratic processes at the local, state and national levels. +Your doing so will go a long way in building a New India. +Every vote cast enhances our democratic fabric”. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has given tributes to Guru Ravidas on his jayanti. +“On his Jayanti, tributes to Guru Ravidas ji. +The Union Cabinet Chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the exchange of scattered plots of land of Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships (DGLL) with land of M/s JSW Jaigarh Port Limited at Jaigarh Lighthouse, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. +The swapping of land will ensure separate and independent access to the facilities of DGLL and JSW-JPL besides allowing land consolidation to both of them for their unhindered development and better security management of their respective premises. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved Amendment to the Trade Unions Act, 1926 to make provisions regarding Recognition of Trade Unions. +The approval will facilitate: +The proposed Bill will ensure that the nomination of workers’ representatives in tripartite bodies by the government will become more transparent. +Trade Unions so recognized would be accountable in maintaining industrial harmony. +Recognition of Trade Unions at Central/State level would reduce duplicacy of such exercise by different departments. +Recognized Trade Unions may be assigned specific roles at Central or State level. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Tamilnadu on April 12. +He will inaugurate the 10th edition of Defence Expo, DefExpo-2018 in Chennai at Tiruvidanthal, in Kancheepuram district. +More than 670 exhibitors including over 150 international exhibitors will take part in the DefExpo. +MSME sector will have a fair representation this time around 15%. +Indian participation include majors like Tata, L&T, Kalyani, Bharat Forge, Mahindra, MKU, DRDO, HAL, BEL, BDL, BEML, MDL, GRSE, GSL, HSL, MIDHANI, Ordnance Factories, and many others. +Major international companies including Lockheed Martin, Boeing (USA), Saab (Sweden), Airbus, Rafael (France), Rosonboron Exports, United Shipbuilding (Russia), BAE Systems (UK), Sibat (Israel), Wartsila (Finland), Rhode and Schwarz (Germany) are among many others participating at DefExpo 2018. +The Prime Minister will also visit the Cancer Institute, Adyar in Chennai. +He will unveil the plaque inaugurating the diamond jubilee building, palliative care centre (Mahvir Ashray) at Shriperumbadur, Day care center and nurses quarter at the Adyar Cancer Institute. +The Prime Minister has also approved the request of Shri L. C. Goyal, IAS (KL:1979) seeking voluntary retirement from Government service due to personal reasons with immediate effect. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Thursday evening, reviewed the progress of the Namaami Gange programme. +During the course of a presentation on the subject, senior officials from various Government departments apprised the Prime Minister of action taken so far, and progress made on this programme. +Officials said that the Sewage Treatment Capacity in towns along the river is being enhanced substantially. +Considerable focus is being placed on large cities along the Ganga main stem, including Haridwar, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Bhagalpur, Howrah and Kolkata. +Intensive monitoring and inspection of Grossly Polluting Industries has been taken up. +Officials said that this has led to considerable improvement in the water quality of some of the tributaries of the River Ganga. +Parameters such as “Dissolved Oxygen” and “Biochemical Oxygen Demand” have been studied as part of this assessment. +The Prime Minister was also apprised of the considerable progress made in Rural Sanitation in villages along the banks of the River Ganga. +The Prime Minister stressed on the need to further increase public awareness and participation in the task of cleaning the River Ganga. +Top officials from the PMO, NITI Aayog, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, National Mission for Clean Ganga and Central Pollution Control Board were present at the meeting. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Proposal for allotment of land measuring30 acres to Pasteur Institute of India (PII) for establishmentof New Viral Vaccine Manufacturing Unit at Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. +The project entails production of Viral Vaccines (like TCA anti-Measles Vaccine, JE Vaccine etc.) and Anti Sera (like Anti Snake Venom and Anti Rabies Sera) at the PII, Coonoor. +A group of about 40 enthusiasts with experience in mountaineering, who are embarking on an expedition to raise awareness on cleaning the River Ganga, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +The group includes 8 mountaineers who have successfully climbed Mount Everest, and is led by Ms. Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. +The expedition, which has been inspired by the Union Government’s “Namami Gange” campaign, has been named “Mission Gange.” +The month long rafting expedition, will see the group travel through the river from Haridwar to Patna, with halts at Bijnor, Narora, Farrukhabad, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, and Buxar. +At each of these nine cities, the group will raise awareness about keeping the Ganga clean, and also undertake cleaning activities. +Interacting with the group, the Prime Minister appreciated the group members for undertaking this initiative. +He underlined the importance of a clean and vibrant River Ganga. +He particularly urged the group to reach out to schoolchildren as part of their awareness activities in the cities they are transiting through. +“Greetings on Milad-un-Nabi. +May this occasion deepen the spirit of harmony and unity in our society and may there always be peace and prosperity”, the Prime Minister said. +It is a truly a great honour to address you for the first time as the Prime Minister of India. +I stand here conscious of the hopes and expectations of the people of India. +I am also mindful of the expectations of the world from 1.25 billion people. +Every nation’s world view is shaped by its civilization and philosophical tradition. +India’s ancient wisdom sees the world as one family. +It is reflected in a tradition of openness and diversity; co-existence and cooperation. +This is why India speaks not just for itself, but also for the cause of justice, dignity, opportunity and prosperity around the world. +It is also because of this timeless current of thought that India has an unwavering belief in multilateralism. +Today, as I stand here, I am equally aware of the hopes that are pinned on this great assembly. +I am struck by the sacred belief that brought us together. +From 51 nations then, today 193 sovereign flags fly at this building. +69 UN peacekeeping missions since 1948 have made the blue helmet the colour of peace. +There is a new stirring for stability, progress and progress in Africa. +India desires a peaceful and stable environment for its development. +A nation’s destiny is linked to its neighbourhood. +That is why my Government has placed the highest priority on advancing friendship and cooperation with her neighbours. +This includes Pakistan. +India is part of the developing world, but we are prepared to share our modest resources with those countries that need this assistance as much as we do. +Europe faces risk of new division. +In West Asia, extremism and fault lines are growing. +Our own region continues to face the destabilizing threat of terrorism. +Africa faces the twin threat of rising terrorism and a health crisis. +Terrorism is taking new shape and new name. +Even today, states allow terrorist sanctuaries on their territory or use terrorism as instruments of their policy. +We welcome efforts to combat terrorism`s resurgence in West Asia, which is affecting countries near and far. +The effort should involve the support of all countries in the region. +Today, more than ever, the need for international compact, which is the foundation of the United Nations, is stronger than before. +First, let us work for genuine peace. +We should work together to ensure that all countries observe international rules and norms. +Let us continue redouble our efforts to pursue universal global disarmament and non-proliferation. +Second, we must pursue a more stable and inclusive global development. +Globalisation has created new poles of growth; new industries; and new source of employment. +We no longer are totally dependent on bricks and mortars. +If you think of the speed with which Facebook or Twitter has spread around the world, if you think of the speed with which cell phones have spread, then you must also believe that development and empowerment can spread with the same speed. +Each country must of course take its own national measures; each government must fulfil its responsibility to support growth and development. +The eradication of poverty must remain at the core of the Post-2015 Development Agenda and command our fullest attention. +Third, we must seek a more habitable and sustainable world. +There are debates and documents on these issues. +But, we see many things around us that should cause us alarm. +The world had agreed on a beautiful balance of collective action – common but differentiated responsibilities. +That should form the basis of continued action. +This also means that the developed countries must fulfill their commitments for funding and technology transfer. +Second, national action is imperative. +Third, we need to change our lifestyles. +Energy not consumed is the cleanest energy. +We treat nature’s bounties as sacred. +Yoga is an invaluable gift of our ancient tradition. +It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. +By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. +Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day. +Every age is defined by its character; and, each generation is remembered for how it rose together to meet its challenges. +We have that responsibility to rise to our challenges now. +Nowhere is this more pronounced than in this great assembly. +Next year we will be seventy. +“I am going to make an India of your dreams.” +Spirit of hope and change about India, across the world. +Unique combination of strengths: democracy, demography and demand which will help us transform India. +Let us make development a mass movement. +PM announces sweeping changes in procedures to facilitate travel between America and India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today exhorted Indians to join in the development effort as a mass movement. +“I am going to make an India of your dreams,” the Prime Minister said as he exhorted the Indian American community to join in the development effort for India. +He was addressing the Indian diaspora at a historic event at Madison Square Garden in New York. +The event was attended by over 18,000 people. +The Prime Minister said that following the election results, there has been a renewed sense of hope and expectation about India. +He said all Indian Americans today wanted to renew their links with India. +Shri Narendra Modi said winning the election is a huge responsibility and he will leave no stone unturned to make India a developed country. +He said that with the blessings of 125 crore Indians, he was confident that the common man’s hopes and aspirations will be fulfilled. +“I will do nothing to make you feel ashamed,” the Prime Minister said. +He said that the country now had the capability, the possibility and the opportunity to make the 21st century India`s century. +He said India is both the youngest nation and oldest civilization on earth. +Saying that development is ultimately achieved through public participation, the Prime Minister said he wants to make development a mass movement, just like Mahatma Gandhi had made the freedom movement a mass movement. +He highlighted various initiatives that have been initiated by the new Government including Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Make in India, Swachh Bharat and Clean Ganga. +The Prime Minister referred to the talent of Indian youth, as exemplified by the success of Mars Orbiter Mission. +The Prime Minister also highlighted his stress on skill development and said India could soon emerge as a global supplier of skilled workforce like nurses and teachers. +The Prime Minister invited the Indian diaspora to share their suggestions through the platform MyGov.in. +He said one of his key initiatives was to remove redundant laws, and he would be happy if he could do so at a pace of one a day. +He said governance should be for aspirations of common man. +People didn’t make me PM to do easy things, he remarked. +He said 2015 marked a century since the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India. +He invited all Pravasi Bharatiyas to join in the celebration, and contribute towards developing India. +He said Indians must present Swachh Bharat as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th anniversary in 2019. +Referring to his effort for a Clean Ganga, he said the Indian diaspora across the world revered the River Ganga. +He said a clean Ganga would improve economic prospects for up to 40 percent of India’s population, for which the river was like a lifeline. +He also referred to his vision of “Housing for All” on the 75th anniversary of Independence. +The Prime Minister unveiled a series of facilitation initiatives aimed at making travel from America to India easier: +Noting that there are certain differences between the PIO (Person of Indian Origin) and OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) schemes, the Prime Minister said PIO cardholders will be granted visa for life, and a new scheme will be announced soon, merging the two schemes. +He said there would be no need for long-stay visitors to India to visit police stations. +He also announced long term tourist visas for American citizens and said visa on arrival for American tourists will be announced soon. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the revised Air Services Agreement (ASA) with Malaysia. +The revised text of ASA was initialed in 2011. +However, due to some diversion on Article 13 i.e. related to remittance of earning, the Agreement could not be signed. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for implementation of umbrella scheme of “Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF)” for years 2017-18 to 2019-20. +The financial outlay for the scheme over the three year’s period is Rs.25,060 crore, out of which the Central Government share will be Rs.18,636 crore and the States’ share will be Rs.6,424 crore. +• Special provision has been made under the Scheme for internal security, law and order, women security, availability of modern weapons, mobility of police forces, logistics support, hiring of helicopters, upgradation of police wireless, National Satellite Network, CCTNS project, E-prison project etc. +• Under the umbrella scheme, central budget outlay of Rs.10,132 crore has been earmarked for internal security related expenditure for Jammu & Kashmir, North Eastern States and left wing extremism affected States. +• An outlay of Rs.100 crore has been earmarked in the North Eastern States for police infrastructure upgradation, training institutes, investigation facilities etc. +• Implementation of this scheme would bolster the Government’s ability to address challenges faced in different theatres such as areas affected by LWE, Jammu and Kashmir and North East effectively and undertake development interventions which will catalyze in improving the quality of life in these areas and help combat these challenges effectively at the same time. +• New initiatives are being introduced to provide assistance to States for upgradation of police infrastructure, forensic science laboratories, institutions and the equipment available with them to plug critical gaps in the criminal justice system. +• The umbrella scheme also provides for setting up of a State-of Art forensic science laboratory in Amravati and upgradation of Sardar Patel Global Centre for Security, Counter Terrorism and Anti Insurgency in Jaipur and Gujarat Forensic Science University in Gandhi Nagar. +It is expected that the umbrella scheme, “Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF)” will go a long way to boost the capability and efficiency of Central and State Police Forces by modernizing them. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Korea for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism. +The main objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding are: +1. To expand bilateral cooperation in tourism sector 2. +To increase Exchange of information and data related to tourism 3. +To encouraging cooperation between tourism stakeholders including Hotels and Tour Operators 4. +To establish exchange programmes for cooperation in Human Resources Development 5. +To encourage Investment in the Tourism and Hospitality sectors 6. +To exchange visits of Tour Operators / Media / Opinion Makers for promotion of two-way tourism 7. +To exchange experience in the areas of promotion, marketing destination development and management 8. +To encourage participation in travel fairs/exhibitions in each other’s country and 9. +India and Korea have enjoyed a strong diplomatic and long economic relationship. +The two parties now desiring to strengthen and further develop the established relationship for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism. +Korea is one of the leading tourist generating markets for India from East Asia. +Signing of the MoU with Korea will be instrumental in increasing arrival from this source market. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended, and delivered an address at the event to mark the launch of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. +He said the components of “Industry 4.0” actually have the ability to transform the present and future of human life. +He said the launch of this Centre, the fourth in the world after San Francisco, Tokyo and Beijing, opens the door to immense possibilities in the future. +He said emerging fields, including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Blockchain, and Big Data, can take India to new heights of development, and improve the quality of life of its citizens. +He said that for India, this is not just an industrial transformation, but a social transformation. +He said Industry 4.0 has the strength to drive irreversible positive change in India. +He added that it will help bring the required speed and scale to work being done in India. +The Prime Minister mentioned how the Digital India movement has brought data to villages of India. +He explained how tele-density, internet coverage, and mobile internet subscriptions have increased in the recent past. +He spoke of the rapid growth in number of Common Service Centres in India. +He said that India has the highest mobile data consumption in the world, and is also the country where data is available at the lowest price. +In this context he spoke of India’s digital infrastructure, and its interfaces including Aadhaar, UPI, e-NAM, and GeM. +He said that a national strategy for creating a robust infrastructure for research in Artificial Intelligence has been prepared a few months ago. +He said this new Centre will strengthen this process. +He said that Industry 4.0, and the expansion of Artificial Intelligence, would lead to better healthcare, and reduce expenditure on health. +He said it would also help farmers, and be of immense help in the agriculture sector. +He mentioned other areas such as transportation and smart mobility, where it could play a key role. +He said that as work progresses in India, in these areas, one of the targets is “Solve for India, Solve for the World. +The Prime Minister expressed confidence that India would be able to take advantage of the fourth Industrial Revolution. +He added that India would also make an immense contribution to it. +He said that Government initiatives including Skill India Mission, Start Up India, and Atal Innovation Mission are preparing our youth for new and emerging technologies. +PM to launch Gangajal Project to Provide Better and More Assured Water Supply PM to Address a Public Gathering in Agra +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Agra in Uttar Pradesh tomorrow on 9 January, 2019. +He will launch Gangajal project and other various developmental projects. +He will also lay foundation stone for Integrated Command and Control Centre for Agra Smart City, upgradation of SN Medical College, etc. +This will help provide better health and maternity care for the weaker sections of the society. +Integrated Command and Control Centre for Agra Smart City will be created at a project cost of Rs. 285 crore. +This will help to develop Agra as a modern world class smart city, befitting its stature as a premium tourist destination. +He launched rail infrastructure and services specific to the region. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Centenary Celebrations of Patna University. +He said that he considers it his honour to visit Patna University and be among the students. +“I bow to this land of Bihar. +This University has nurtured students who have contributed greatly to the nation,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that he had observed, that across States, the top levels of the civil services have people who have studied in Patna University. +“In Delhi, I interact with so many officials, many of whom belong to Bihar,” the Prime Minister said. +Shri Narendra Modi said that the commitment of Bihar Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar, towards the progress of the State is commendable. +The Union Government attaches topmost importance to the development of eastern India, he added. +The Prime Minister said that Bihar is blessed with both ‘Gyaan’ and ‘Ganga.’ +This land has a legacy that is unique, he added. +He said that from conventional teaching, our universities need to move towards innovative learning. +The Prime Minister said that in the era of globalisation, we need to understand the changing trends across the world and the increased spirit of competitiveness. +In that context, India has to make its place in the world, he added. +He urged the students to think about innovative solutions to the problems faced by people. +He said that by applying what they learn, and through the Start-Up sector, there is a lot that they can do for society. +On the way back from Patna University to the airport, the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister of Bihar, and other dignitaries, visited the Bihar Museum, which showcases the rich culture and history of the State. +My dear countrymen, namaskar! +A while ago, I had a chance to have an indirect dialogue, with young friends from Karnataka. +The Times Group Newspaper “Vijaya Karnataka” started a new initiative urging the children to write a letter to the Prime Minister of the country. +And, then they published some selected letters. +I read those letters and liked the initiative. +And if we impart knowledge about nature to our children then in future they may prove very useful in protecting the environment. +A child Reeda Nadaf from Laxmeshwara has written that she is the daughter of an army man and feels proud of being so. +Which Indian would not be proud of our soldiers? +And, you being a soldier’ daughter should naturally take pride in that. +Irfana Begum from Kalburgi has written that her school is 5 Kilometres away from her village and she has to start early in the morning and it gets quite late in the evening by the time she returns home. +But, my countrymen, I liked this initiative taken by a newspaper that helped these letters reach me and I got an opportunity to go through these. +This was a very good experience for me. +My dear countrymen, today is 26/11. +The 26th of November is our Constitution Day. +The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on this day in the year nineteen forty-nine. +Our constitution was implemented on the 26th of January, 1950 which we celebrate as our Republic Day. +The Constitution of India is the spirit of our democracy. +This is the day to remember the members of the Constituent Assembly. +They all worked hard for about three years to draft the Constitution. +And, whoever reads that debate will feel proud about what actually the vision of a life dedicated to the nation is. +Can you imagine how hard their task would have been to frame the Constitution of our country which has such big diversities? +They must have shown a great sense of understanding and farsightedness and that too at a juncture when the country was getting rid of the bondage of slavery. +Now, this is the responsibility of all of us to make a New India in the light of the thinking of the makers of our Constitution. +Our Constitution is all encompassing. +There probably is no area, no aspect of nature which remained untouched. +Equality for all and sensitivity towards all is the unique characteristic of our Constitution. +It is our duty that we abide by our Constitution in letter and spirit. +Citizens and administrators alike must move ahead in accordance with the spirit of our Constitution. +The message that our Constitution conveys is that no one should be harmed in any way. +It is but natural to remember Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on the Constitution Day today. +Seventeen separate committees were constituted by the Constituent Assembly on various important issues. +He was playing a pivotal role in it. +The Constitution of India, which we feel so very proud of, bears an indelible stamp of his able leadership. +He ensured the welfare of every section of society. +We remember him and bow before him on his Mahaparinirvan Diwas on 6th of December. +Babasaheb’s contribution in making the country prosperous and strong can never be forgotten. +15th of December is the death anniversary of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. +Sardar Patel rose from being a farmer’s son to be known as the Iron Man of the country, undertaking the extraordinary task of uniting India into one nation. +Sardar Saheb was also a member of the constituent Assembly. +He was also the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on fundamental rights, minorities and tribals. +26/11 is our Constitution Day but how can the nation forget that on this very day nine years ago, terrorists had launched an attack on Mumbai. +The country remembers and bows to those brave citizens, policemen, security men and each one who lost their lives then. +This country can never forget their sacrifice. +Terrorism has taken an ugly shape and has become a global threat almost as a daily routine. +We, in India, are facing to lot for the last 40 years on account of terrorism. +Thousands of our innocent people have lost their lives. +Terrorism has threatened humanity across the globe. +Terrorism has challenged humanity. +It is bent upon destroying the humanitarian forces. +So, not only India but all humanitarian forces will have to keep fighting unitedly to defeat the menace of terrorism. +Lord Budha, Lord Mahavir, Guru Nanak, Mahatma Gandhi – this is the land which gave the message of love and non-violence to the world. +Terrorism and extremism are trying to weaken and destroy our social fabric. +That is why, the need of the hour is that humanitarian forces should become more alert and cautious. +My dear countrymen, we shall observe Navy Day on the 4th of December. +Indian Navy secures and protects our maritime boundaries. +I congratulate all those who belong to the Navy. +All of you must be knowing that our civilization developed along river banks. +Be it the Indus, the Ganges, the Yamuna or the Saraswati – our rivers and seas are both economically and strategically important. +These are our gateway to the whole world. +This country, our land has an unbreakable bond with oceans. +And as we peep into our history, we come to know that about 800 to 900 (eight to nine hundred) years ago, during the rule of the Cholas, the Chola Navy was considered one of the strongest navies. +This navy had a big role in the expansion of the Chola-rule and in making it an economic super power. +Numerous references of voyages and expeditions of the Chola-Navy are found even today in “Sangam – literature”. +Very few people might be aware that most navies of the world allowed women on their warships pretty later. +The Chola rulers possessed a very rich and sound knowledge of ship building. +When we talk of navy, who can ignore Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the capabilities & might of his navy. +Konkan coast, where the sea has a significant role, was under Shivaji Maharaj’s realm. +Many forts associated with Shivaji Maharaj like Sindhu Durg, Murud Janjira, Swarn Durg, etc were either situated on the sea coast or were encircled by sea. +The security of these forts was the responsibility of the Maratha Navy. +There was a combination of large ships and small boats in the Maratha Navy. +His naval forces were very efficient and skilled in attacking the enemy and in defending their attacks. +And how can we refer to the Maratha Navy and not remember Kanhoji Aangre! +He took the Maratha Navy to newer heights and established Maratha Naval Bases at a number of places. +After Independence, our Indian Navy showed its valour on various occasions; be it the liberation struggle of Goa or the Indo-Pak war. +When we talk of the Navy, we see only war but the Indian Navy has come forward in humanitarian ventures as well. +In June this year when Cyclone Mora hit Bangladesh and Myanmar, our naval ship INS SUMITRA rendered a big help in rescue operations; many fishermen were rescued from the sea and handed over to Bangladesh. +In May-June this year when there was a severe flood in Sri Lanka, three ships of our navy reached there immediately and helped the government and the people there. +In September, during the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, our naval ship INS GHADIYAL delivered humanitarian assistance there. +The Government of Papua New Guinea sent an SOS-message to us in June and our navy rendered help in saving the fishermen of a fishing boat. +On 21st November, during an incident of piracy in a merchant vessel in the Western Gulf, our naval ship INS TRIKAND reached there to help them. +Carrying medical services to FIJI, sending urgent relief, or delivering humanitarian aid during crisis to a neighbouring country – our navy has always rendered glorious service. +We Indians, always nurture a feeling of pride and respect towards our security forces- be it the army, the navy or the air force and every countryman salutes the courage, bravery, valour, chivalry and sacrifice of our soldiers. +They sacrifice their youth for the country so that 125 crore countrymen may live in peace. +We observe ARMED FORCES FLAG DAY every year on 7th December. +This is a day to feel proud of and show respect to our country’s armed forces. +I am happy that the Ministry of Defence has decided to run a campaign from December 1 to December 7 during which they will reach out to the people of the country to disseminate information about our ARMED FORCES and to make them aware. +Throughout the week every one, old or young, should wear the flag. +A movement to instill respect for our forces will come into being in the country. +We can distribute ARMED FORCES FLAGS on this occasion. +Experiences and acts of valour of those from the armed forces who are our neighbours or acquaintances and related videos and pictures can be posted on hash-tag armed forces flag day (#armedforcesflagday). +People from the forces could be invited to schools and colleges to share information about the forces. +Our new generation can get a good opportunity to get information about the forces. +This is also an occasion to collect funds for the welfare of the jawans of our armed forces. +This amount is spent through the Sainik Kalyan Board on the dependents of those who lost their lives and also for those who got injured during wars, for their rehabilitation. +More information about sending in monetary contributions can be had on kbs.gov.in. +You can also make cashless payment for this. +Come, let us do something on this occasion which may raise the morale of our armed forces. +We should also contribute towards their welfare. +My dear countrymen, World Soil Day is on the 5th of December. +I want to tell something to my farmer brothers and sisters. +An important component of the Earth is “soil”. +Whatever we eat is linked only to this soil. +In a way, the complete food chain is connected to soil. +Just imagine, what will happen if there is no fertile soil in the world? +The very thought is dreadful. +There will be no soil, no plants and trees will grow; how will human life be possible? +How will animals and birds survive? +This concern was touched upon a long time ago in our culture and that is why we are aware of the significance of soil since ancient times. +In our culture, there has been efforts to foster a feeling of devotion and gratitude towards our farms, our soil among the people and at the same time scientific farming methods and techniques have been adopted which provide nutrients to the soil. +In the life of the farmer of this country both aspects have been important- reverence to his soil and preserving & nurturing it scientifically. +We all feel proud of the fact that the farmers of our country are rooted to traditions and also take interest in modern science, they keep trying and resolve. +I had heard about the farmers, of Tohoo village in Bhoranj block of Hamirpur district in Himachal Pradesh. +Farmers here were earlier using chemical fertilizers indiscriminately which deteriorated the soil-health. +Produce reduced which resulted in lower income and gradually the productivity of the soil also was going down. +Some enlightened and alert farmers in the village noticed and understood the gravity of the situation, and after that got their soil tested on time and followed the advice about the quantity of fertilizers, micro-nutrients and organic fertilizers to be used. +And, you will be surprised to know about the results achieved after the farmers received the information and guidelines about soil health. +In the Rabi season of 2016-17, wheat production per acre increased three to four times and their income also increased by four to six thousand rupees per acre. +I am very glad to see that my farmer brothers have come forward to implement the suggestions made in the soil health card and as better results are showing, they are getting more and more inspired. +And, now the farmer also realizes that proper soil care is needed if production is to be increased and that if we take care of our soil, it will also care for all of us. +Our farmers across the country have got more than 10 crore soil health cards made so that they may understand their soil better and accordingly sow the crop. +We worship mother Earth but have we ever thought as to how much damage is caused to the health of our mother- Earth because of the usage of fertilizers like Urea? +This has been proved by all scientific methods that a serious damage is caused because of an excessive use of urea. +The Farmer is the son of the soil, how can a farmer see the mother Earth falling sick? +The need of the hour is to revive the mother-son relationship. +Can our farmers, the sons of our soil make a resolve that by the year 2022, when we complete 75 year of our independence, they will cut down the urea usage to half of what is being used presently? +If this son of the soil, my farmer brother once make this resolve then we will see the health of mother Earth improve and production will increase. +A transformation shall start to usher into the life of the farmer. +All of us are experiencing Global warming, climate change now. +There was a time when winter would set in even before Diwali. +And now, December is knocking on our doors, yet winter is advancing at a leisurely pace. +But the moment winter sets in, we all have experienced that we don’t like coming out of our quilts one bit. +Despite such inclement weather there are some extraordinarily aware people who deliver results that are exemplary and inspiring for all of us. +You will be amazed to learn that Tushar, an eight year old differently – abled, divyang lad from Madhya Pradesh had taken a firm resolve to make his village Open defecation free. +It was a young boy vis-à-vis an enormous task at hand. +But his grit and determination were exponentially greater and mightier. +Covering 30 to 40 homes everyday, spreading the message of cleanliness, this boy transformed the village into Open defecation free. +Promoting the virtues of cleanliness, this little lad has done inspiring work. +This proves that cleanliness suffers from no barriers of age; there are no boundaries. +Our Divyang brothers and sisters are firm in their resolve; they are competent, capable, courageous and determined. +We get to learn something or the other every moment. +They are performing well in every walk of life. +Whether it be the field of sports, any kind of competition or a social initiative, our Divyang brethren are second to none. +Myriad competitions take place all over the country. +Recently, the 17th National Para-Swimming Competition was held in Udaipur. +Divyang brothers & sisters from different parts of the country participated & displayed their stellar skills. +I salute the spirit of the young Jigar Thakkar & wish him the best. +These days special emphasis is being laid on accessibilities & opportunities for persons with disabilities, our Divyang brethren. +Our endeavour is to ensure that each & every person in the country is empowered. +‘Hello Mr. Prime Minister, I am Neerja Singh calling from Kanpur. +(End of phone call) +You are quite right that 2017 is near completion, and the year 2018 is knocking on the door. +And you have given some sound advice. +But continuing from your point of view I feel like adding something more to it and modifying it a bit. +And as in our villages, our elders, the old people of the village are always reminding us – forget the sorrow but also do not forget the joy. +You too forget your sorrow and also do not forget the joy. +I think we should propagate this wisdom. +We must usher in the auspicious in 2018, enter the New Year with the resolution of the auspicious +We know that in our part of the world, and probably all around the world around the ending of the year we take a stock, contemplate, and draw plans for the next year. +In our media many interesting events of the year gone by are broadcast again to reflect on the previous year. +The previous year is both a mixture of both positive and negative memories. +But don’t you think that we should enter into the year 2018, remembering the positive events, to do some good? +I suggest to all of you that of all the 5-10 positive things that you might have heard, seen or would have had experienced were to be disseminated, so that other people would get to know of them and this would lead to a spirit of benevolence. +Can we not contribute in this endeavour? +Can’t we share 5 of our positive life experiences of the past year? +Come, let us share our positive experiences with #PositiveIndia (Hashtag Positive India) on the Narendra Modi App or MyGov portal. +Remember to recollect the incidents that inspire others. +If you remember positive events, then you will be in a mood to do good around you. +Positive events provide energy to do good. +Let all of us together witness the strength of this collective momentum and its impact. +And I will definitely share the positive thoughts that arrive on #positiveindia (hashtag positive India) with the rest of our denizens in the next episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat.’ +My dear countrymen, I will be back amidst you next month, with another episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat.’ +We will have another opportunity to talk a lot. +Many – Many thanks! +During this Session, the nation gets an opportunity to elect the new President and the Vice President. +In a way, this period is full of many significant events for the nation. +Therefore, it is natural that the public attention will be focused more on the Monsoon Session this year. +As the Monsoon Session of Parliament gets underway, we salute our farmers who have been ensuring food security for the country with their hard work. +It is my firm belief that the Monsoon Session will provide an opportunity to all the Political Parties and the MPs to enter into a dialogue of the highest quality with value addition for taking major decisions in the larger national interest together. +Many many thanks to you. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has written to Mr. Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, on winning the General Elections. +The text of PM’s letter as follows:- +I am delighted to extend to you, on behalf of the Government and people of India, my heartiest congratulations for leading the Liberal Party of Canada to a victory in the general election. +Your bring vision, youth and energy to your leadership, which will no doubt sustain and strengthen Canada’s success at home and abroad. +Your leadership will also be of great significance for the world at a time of many global challenges. +I fondly recall our meeting in April during my visit to your great country. +I was particularly struck by your desire to deepen our multifaceted ties, anchored in a common framework of democracy, pluralism, rule of law and close people-to-people relations. +Relations between India and Canada have made remarkable progress in recent years and were elevated to the level of strategic partnership during my visit. +Canada has emerged as an important and reliable partner in India’s socio-economic transformation. +Our partnership is not only blessed with enormous potential for mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation across a wide range of areas, it can also help shape a more peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. +I look forward to working closely with you to further expand and deepen the relationship between our two countries in the years ahead. +I take this opportunity to once again extend a cordial invitation to you and your family to pay an official visit to India. +I look forward to welcoming you in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved an ex- gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the collapse of an under-construction flyover in Varanasi on 15th May, 2018. +The Prime Minister has also approved Rs. 50,000 each for those seriously injured due to the collapse of an under-construction flyover in Varanasi. +The Bill provides for amendment of the legal framework to act as a deterrent to the erring NRI spouses and creating more accountability and offer protection against exploitation of Indian Citizens married to NRIs. +Once the Bill is passed, marriages performed by NRIs would be registered in India or Indian Missions & Posts abroad, and necessary changes would be carried out in the: +Passports Act, 1967; and +Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 by insertion of Section 86A. +This Bill would benefit Indian women married to NRIs worldwide. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the inauguration of the birth centenary celebration of Nanaji Deshmukh at IARI at Pusa in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister visited an exhibition on the theme “technology and rural life.” +The exhibition showcases good practices and applications, as well as schemes and initiatives of the Ministry of Rural Development. +He interacted with some innovators and beneficiaries. +The Prime Minister offered floral tributes to Nanaji Deshmukh and Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan. +He released a commemorative postage stamp on Nanaji Deshmukh. +The Prime Minister launched the DISHA Portal – a smart governance tool developed for MPs and MLAs for monitoring of implementation of various Programmes and Schemes of different Ministries in their constituency through a single portal. +As on date, integration of datasets of 41 programmes and schemes of 20 Ministries has been achieved on this Portal. +He also launched Gram Samvaad – a citizen centric mobile app to serve and empower the rural citizens of India, by facilitating single window access for citizens to information at Gram Panchayat level, on various Rural Development programs. +The App presently covers seven programs of the Ministry of Rural Development. +The Prime Minister digitally inaugurated 11 Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI) Buildings and a Plant Phenomics Facility at IARI. +The Prime Minister addressed an audience of over 10,000 people, drawn from Self Help Groups, Panchayats, water conservation innovators, and beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. +He said that today marks the birth anniversary of two great leaders – Nanaji Deshmukh and Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, who devoted their life to the betterment of the nation. +The Prime Minister said that Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan was deeply popular among youth. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the first Assembly of the International Solar Alliance at Vigyan Bhawan. +The same event also marked the inauguration of the second IORA Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting, and the 2nd Global RE-Invest (Renewable Energy Investors’ Meet and Expo). +The Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, was present on the occasion. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that in the last 150 to 200 years, mankind has depended on fossil fuels for energy needs. +He said nature is now indicating that options such as solar, wind and water, offer more sustainable energy solutions. +In this context, he expressed confidence that in future, when people talk of organisations for the welfare of mankind established in the 21st century, the International Solar Alliance will be at the top of the list. +He said this is a great forum to work towards ensuring climate justice. +He said the International Solar Alliance could replace OPEC as the key global energy supplier in the future. +The Prime Minister said that the effect of increased use of renewable energy is now visible in India. +He added that India is working towards the goals of the Paris Agreement through an action plan. +He said that the target is to generate 40 percent of India’s total energy requirements in 2030, by non fossil fuel based sources. +He said India is developing with a new self-confidence of “Poverty to Power.” +The Prime Minister said that along with power generation, power storage is also important. +In this context, he mentioned the National Energy Storage Mission. +He said that under this Mission, the Government is focusing on demand creation, indigenous manufacturing, innovation and energy storage. +The Prime Minister said that besides solar and wind power, India is working on biomass, biofuel and bio-energy. +He said efforts are being made to make India’s transport system clean fuel based. +He said that by converting bio-waste to biofuel, India is converting a challenge into an opportunity. +Tan Sri Dato Dr Mohd Munir Abdul Majid, Chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, +Distinguished Guests, +Ladies and Gentlemen. +I am very happy to be here with you. +I feel honoured to address this privileged gathering of the leaders who have transformed South East Asia into one of the most dynamic regions of the world. +I congratulate you for this achievement. +I also congratulate you on the creation of One ASEAN Community which you are going to sign off tomorrow. +India and ASEAN are natural partners. +Our ties date back to ancient times. +They continue to serve as a bridge between our countries and regions. +I say this because of the track record of the ASEAN countries. +Together, ASEAN’s ten member countries form an economic powerhouse. +ASEAN has emerged as one of the largest economic zones in the world. +Last fifteen years have seen your rapid and yet stable growth. +Your Macro-economic stability has been the main reason for growth and stability in South East Asia. +With good governance, futuristic infrastructure and focus on new age technologies, you have created excellence. +When I analyse the Asian miracle, I find that small countries of ASEAN and a big country like China, both have done well. +This shows that growth depends more on the spirit of people rather than the size of population. +I met a number of ASEAN leaders in the last Summit too. +My government took office nearly 18 months ago. +The Indian economy faced serious challenges. +A high fiscal deficit, a high current account deficit, a large number of stalled infrastructure projects and persistent inflation were among them. +It was obvious that reforms were needed. +• GDP growth is up and inflation is down +• Foreign investment is up and the Current Account Deficit is down. +• Tax revenues are up and interest rates are down. +• The fiscal deficit is down and the rupee is stable. +Obviously, this did not happen by accident. +And the world economy is not exactly doing well. +This success is the result of a series of concerted policies. +We have embarked on a course of fiscal consolidation. +We have entered, for the first time, into a monetary framework agreement with the Reserve Bank to curb inflation. +Even while cutting the fiscal deficit, we have substantially increased productive public investment. +This has been made possible in two ways. +Firstly, we have imposed carbon taxes on fossil fuels. +We have increased the cess on coal by 300%. +Globally, there is much talk of carbon taxes. +We have actually acted. +Secondly, we have reduced wasteful expenditure through innovative methods including targeting subsidies to the deserving through technology. +Overall, there is increased confidence within and outside the country. +The IMF and World Bank have expressed even better hope for our economy this year and after. +The Economist magazine this week stated that “India is in healthier shape than any other big emerging economy.” +We have undertaken major improvements in the transport sector. +We were committed to restore credibility in the process of allocation of natural resources. +My government has intervened with legislative and administrative measures to improve the supply of critical inputs and raw materials. +They include Coal, other minerals and spectrum. +The hallmark of this intervention is allocation through transparent auction. +We started the Jan Dhan Yojana. +In less than a year, we opened 190 million new bank accounts. +On Social security front, we have launched innovative and attractive schemes for insurance and pension. +We have also set up MUDRA Bank to fund the small traders who were unfunded so far. +More than six million small traders have already availed the loans. +While expanding the banking services, we are also taking steps to strengthen the Banking system. +Credible and capable bankers have been appointed to head banks. +These measures will also benefit our banks. +Let me now turn to issues of investment, which may be of more direct relevance to you. +Our aim is to create jobs for more than a billion young hands. +To provide this, the share of manufacturing must reach around 25% in our GDP. +We have launched a campaign called ‘Make in India’ and aggressively worked on the front of Ease of doing business. +That is how we have jumped up by 12 ranks in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report of 2016. +Industry is realizing the benefits of these changes. +Hence, our maximum focus is on building futuristic infrastructure. +To further augment such investments, we are encouraging the PPP model. +We are also setting up National Investment and Infrastructure Fund which will help us leverage public investments. +We are also coming up with Tax Free Infrastructure Bonds with a view to broaden the corporate bond market and to provide long term finance for infrastructure. +We are eager to work with Malaysia, Singapore and other ASEAN countries in this regard. +As a result of our initiatives, +• The sentiments for private investment and inflow of foreign investment have turned positive. +Foreign investment is up 40%. +• India has been consistently ranked as the most attractive investment destination by several global agencies and institutions. +• India has also improved its UNCTAD ranking of investment attractiveness. +• MOODY’s have upgraded the outlook for India. +Campaigns like Digital India and Skill India are designed to prepare the people to take part in this process. +We have witnessed exponential growth in the number of start-ups in the recent past. +To tap this energy fully, we have launched the Start up IndiaCampaign. +Therefore, to re-vitalize the flow of investments, we have launched the second wave of structural and financial reforms. +We are trying to further open up the economy and introduce an element of predictability and stability in taxation system. +To give you some examples:- +• We have allowed and enhanced FDI levels in key sectors including Insurance, Defence and Railways. +• Now, most of these FDI sectors have been put on automatic approval route. +• We have now allowed composite caps for Foreign portfolio investors in all sectors where FDI is allowed. +• We have ended retrospective taxation. +• We have notified the regulations for the Alternative Investment Funds. +• We have rationalized capital gains tax for Real Estate Investment Trusts. +• We have also decided to defer the implementation of General Anti Avoidance Rules. +• We have introduced the Goods & Services Tax Bill in Parliament. +We are hopeful of rolling it out in 2016. +This will create a unified system of taxation across the country. +• We have drafted a new bankruptcy code. +Formation of the Company Law Tribunal to expedite cases is on the way. +These are just a few examples. +Almost on a daily basis, we are trying to remove the bottlenecks that were affecting our growth process. +Even early this month, we have taken very dynamic steps to further open up the economy for FDI. +With this round of reforms, we are among the most open economies in the world. +Going further, I want to assure you that India is committed to protect Intellectual Property Rights of all innovators. +We have taken several initiatives for transparency and online processing in IP administration. +A comprehensive National IPR policy is expected by the end of the year. +We have to do all this in a short span of time. +Our democratic values and an alert judicial system ensure the safety of your investments. +We have set the tone of Governance with a long term vision and an open mind. +We are particularly working to make India the easiest place to do business. +Friends, Most of the ASEAN economies have done their bit for Asia’s resurgence. +Now, it is India’s turn. +And we know that our time has come. +We are at a take-off stage. +I invite you to come and see the winds of change in India. +Winds do take time to cross the borders. +That is why; I am personally here to invite you. +When you come, you will get the wings of a new business environment. +And once you are there, I assure you of my full co-operation. +The Cabinet today approved the draft National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine (NCIM) Bill, 2018, which seeks to replace the existing regulator Central Council for Indian Medicine (CCIM) with a new body to ensure transparency. +It also proposes a common entrance exam and an exit exam, which all graduates will have to clear to get practicing licenses. +Further, a teacher’s eligibility test has been proposed in the Bill to assess the standard of teachers before appointment and promotions. +The draft bill is aimed at bringing reforms in the medical education of Indian medicine sector in lines with the National Medical Commission proposed for setting up for Allopathy system of medicine. +The proposed regulatory structure will enable transparency and accountability for protecting the interest of the general public. +The NCIM will promote availability of affordable healthcare services in all parts of the country. +He assumed charge in March 1851 and his joining day is celebrated as the foundation day of the Geological Survey of India. +The Survey was later published over several years during 1903-28. +Two of his most important works are Seven Grammars of the Dialects and Sub-dialects of the Bihari Language (1883 – 87) and Bihar Peasant Life (1885). +The latter work, in addition to offering much linguistic information, describes the life, farming methods, and beliefs of the Bihar peasantry. +In 1994, the Government of India instituted an award in his honour that is given to foreign scholars who have made significant contributions to Hindi. +Cooperation on cyber issues is a key component of the bilateral relationship between India and the United States. +The two countries have a strategic cyber relationship that reflects their shared values, common vision, and shared principles for cyberspace. +Shared principles for the U.S-India cyber relationship include: +• A commitment to an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable cyberspace environment; +• A commitment to promote the Internet as an engine for innovation, economic growth, and trade and commerce; +• A commitment to promote the free flow of information; +• A commitment to promote cooperation between and among the private sector and government authorities on cybercrime and cybersecurity; +• A recognition of the importance of bilateral and international cooperation for combating cyber threats and promoting cybersecurity; +• A commitment to respect cultural and linguistic diversity; +• A commitment to promote international security and stability in cyberspace through a framework that recognizes the applicability of international law, in particular the UN Charter, to state conduct in cyberspace and the promotion of voluntary norms of responsible state behavior in cyberspace; +• A commitment to the multistakeholder model of Internet governance that is transparent and accountable to its stakeholders, including governments, civil society and the private sector, and promotes cooperation among them; +A recognition of the leading role for governments in cyber security matters relating to national security; +• A recognition of the importance of and a shared commitment to cooperate in capacity building in cyber security and cyber security research and development +• Sharing information on a real time or near real time basis, when practical and consistent with existing bilateral arrangements, about malicious cybersecurity threats, attacks and activities, and establishing appropriate mechanisms to improve such information sharing; +• Developing joint mechanisms for practical cooperation to mitigate cyber threats to the security of ICT infrastructure and information contained therein consistent with their respective obligations under domestic and international law; +• Undertaking skill development and capacity building programs jointly in the fields of cybersecurity, efforts to combat cybercrime, digital forensics, and legal frameworks; +• Promoting the applicability of international law to state conduct in cyberspace and further exploring how it applies to state conduct in cyberspace. +• Committing to voluntary norms under which +o A state should not conduct or knowingly support online activity that intentionally damages critical infrastructure or otherwise impairs the use of critical infrastructure to provide services to the public, +o A state should not conduct or knowingly support activity intended to prevent national CSIRTs from responding to cyber incidents. +States should also not use CSIRTs to enable online activity that is intended to do harm, +o A state should cooperate, in a manner consistent with its domestic law and international obligations, with requests for assistance from other States in investigating cyber crimes, collecting electronic evidence and mitigating malicious cyber activity emanating from its territory. +• Cooperating mutually on telecom security related issues such as telecom equipment security standards and testing, including accreditation of entities; +• Developing a common and shared understanding of international cyber stability, and destabilizing cyber activity; +• Discussing and sharing strategies to promote the integrity of the supply chain to enhance user’s confidence in the security of ICT products and services. +• Continuing to promote dialogue on incident response best practices; +• Facilitating joint tabletop exercises covering priority cybersecurity scenarios to advance specific cooperation. +• Supporting the multistakeholder model of Internet governance; +• Continuing our dialogue and engagement in Internet governance fora, including ICANN, IGF and other venues, and to support active participation by all stakeholders of the two countries in these fora; +• Holding consultations and taking steps towards improving the effectiveness of transnational cybercrime cooperation; +• Strengthening critical Internet infrastructure in India; +• Working to ensure shared understanding of technology access policy, including dual use technologies sought to be controlled by either country, including through such mechanisms as the bilateral High Technology Cooperation Group. +The complete Framework for the U.S.-India Cyber Relationship, is expected to be signed within 60 days. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, said he shares the sorrow and pain of all those affected by the devastation caused by Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu. +“The devastation caused by Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu is extremely unfortunate. +I share the sorrow and pain of all those who have been affected. +MEA will provide immediate financial assistance to people of Vanuatu. +We stand shoulder to shoulder with Vanuatu in this hour of grief,” the Prime Minister said. +Dr. Werner Hoyer, President, European Investment Bank called on Prime MinisterNarendra Modi today. +He was accompanied by the senior officials of the Bank. +The Prime Minister had met a high level delegation of the European Investment Bank a year ago at the EU-India summit and promised support for establishment of the bank’s regional office in Delhi. +This office was inaugurated today. +In course of the conversation today the Prime Minister explained India’s policies in the areas of climate change and environmental sustainability. +The European Investment Bank has lent over one billion Euros to India towards environmentally sustainable projects including the Lucknow Metro. +Dr. Hoyer appreciated India’s strong and proactive measures in the field of climate change, and expressed the bank’s continued support for India’s efforts in this direction. +PM addresses students of IIT, NIT and central universities of North-East. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today unveiled the plaque for the foundation stone of the campus for IIIT Guwahati. +In his address on the occasion to students of IIT, NIT and central universities of the North-east, the Prime Minister said the 21st century is the century of knowledge. +He said in history, whenever knowledge has been the driving force of the world, India has provided leadership. +He added that today India is demographically the youngest country in the world, with young dreams full of energy. +He said it is now both a challenge and an opportunity for India, to once again play a leading role in the world. +The Prime Minister said today, most global economic surveys say India is the fastest growing major economy. +He said the Union Government has focused on youth with a well thought-out series of initiatives. +He mentioned the Government’s efforts towards skill development, the Make in India initiative, and the Start-up movement. +The Prime Minister especially mentioned electronics and defence equipment manufacturing as priority areas. +The Agreement was initially signed in November, 2001 was in force till May 2015. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit at Fortaleza on Tuesday. +The Prime Minister conveyed his sincere appreciation and admiration for President Putin’s decisive leadership in deepening and expanding the India-Russia special and privileged strategic partnership. +The Prime Minister expressed deep appreciation for Russia’s friendship and unstinting bilateral and international support for India’s economic development and security since the early days of India’s independence. +The two leaders looked forward to their Annual Summit in Delhi in December 2014 as an opportunity to outline a bold vision and roadmap for their relationship in the years ahead. +Prime Minister recalled the warmth and goodwill he had experienced on his earlier visits to Russia and looked forward to visiting Russia in 2015. +This will also save Railways from the liability of payment of approximately Rs.9,700 crore annual dividend to the Government of India; +Advancement of the Budget presentation: +The Cabinet has also approved, in principle, another reform relating to budgetary process, for advancement of the date of Budget presentation from the last day of February to a suitable date. +Merger of Plan and Non Plan classification in Budget and Accounts: +He said Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s drive for public housing and cleanliness are models for us. +The Singapore Deputy Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, towards cooperative competitive federalism. +The Prime Minister met the President of Israel , Mr. Reuvin Rivlin. +Both leaders discussed ways to further enhance cooperation between the two countries. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the loss of lives due to the stampede in Saudi Arabia. +“Distressing news from Mecca. +Pained at loss of lives due to the stampede. +PM releases commemorative coin on Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and launches Kala Utsav website +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with school children from across the country, on the eve of Teachers’ Day. +In a unique event anchored entirely by school children themselves, the Prime Minister released commemorative coins of denomination Rs. 125, and Rs. 10, to mark the birth anniversary of India’s second President, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. +The Prime Minister also launched the website for Kala Utsav, an initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to promote arts in education by nurturing and showcasing the artistic talent of school students at the secondary stage in the country. +In his opening remarks on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that there is a special significance of interacting with school children on the eve of Teachers’ Day. +He said a teacher is known by the accomplishments of his students. +He said that while a mother gives birth, it is the teacher who actually provides life. +The Prime Minister explained that the teacher and the student, both have a unique importance for each other. +He said that teachers should also write about their experiences with various children. +He said teachers consider all students as important, and should remember them all – not just the ones who excelled academically. +The Prime Minister recalled former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, and said Dr. Kalam wanted to be remembered as a teacher. +He said that Dr. Kalam had a passion for teaching, and he was interacting with students even upto the final moments of his life. +The Prime Minister said India had great teachers even today, who were helping to create engineers, doctors and scientists that were making a mark globally. +He said the aim of teachers should be to avoid creating robots, but to nurture an entire generation. +We convey our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family, the people and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand. +We wish to express our appreciation for the opportunity of a Summit between BRICS and BIMSTEC Leaders to discuss matters of mutual interest and exchange views on important global and regional issues including the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. +We believe this joint Summit will lead to greater trust and understanding among countries of the two groupings, and will promote further cooperation for their mutual benefit. +Recalling the principles enshrined in the 1997 Bangkok Declaration, we reemphasize that cooperation within BIMSTEC will be based on respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful co-existence and mutual benefit. +We agree to intensify our efforts to realise the objectives and purposes of BIMSTEC as outlined in the 1997 Bangkok Declaration, and reaffirm that BIMSTEC has considerable potential for economic and social development through mutually beneficial cooperation in the identified priority areas. +We pledge to work collectively towards making BIMSTEC stronger, more effective, and result oriented. +We recall the Third BIMSTEC Summit Declaration issued in Nay Pyi Taw on 04 March 2014, and wish to reiterate our deep commitment to BIMSTEC as an organization promoting regional cooperation and integration in the Bay of Bengal region. +We recognize that our geographical contiguity, abundant natural and human resources, rich historical linkages and shared cultural heritage provide BIMSTEC the ideal platform to promote peace, stability and prosperity in our region. +Recognizing that terrorism continues to remain the single most significant threat to peace and stability in our region, we reiterate our strong commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and stress that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever. +We condemn in the strongest terms the recent barbaric terror attacks in the region. +We strongly believe that our fight against terrorism should not only seek to disrupt and eliminate terrorists, terror organisations and networks, but should also identify, hold accountable and take strong measures against States who encourage, support and finance terrorism, provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups, and falsely extol their virtues. +There should be no glorification of terrorists as martyrs. +We recognize the need for urgent measures to counter and prevent the spread of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization. +We express our determination to take concrete measures to step up cooperation and coordination among our law enforcement, intelligence and security organisations. +We commit to expedite the signing of the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, and to early ratification of the BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking. +Being acutely aware of the growing threat to our planet from climate change, and in particular to the lives and livelihoods of peoples in the Bay of Bengal region, we resolve to strengthen cooperation to protect and preserve the environment. +We stress the necessity of pursuing sustainable development and of the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change at the regional and national levels. +We encourage closer cooperation in disaster management through joint exercises, sharing of information including early warning system, adoption of preventive measures, joint action on relief and rehabilitation, and capacity building. +We agree to build on the existing capacities in the region and to explore the possibility of establishing partnerships with other regional and international entities in this sector. +Being convinced that the development of connectivity in various forms and manifestations is the key to promote regional integration, we express satisfaction at the continuing efforts and initiatives to advance multi-modal physical connectivity (air, rail, roads and waterways) in the BIMSTEC region. +We note with satisfaction the progress achieved in implementation of the recommendations of the BIMSTEC Transport Infrastructure and Logistics Study. +We agree to explore the possibility of having a BIMSTEC Motor Vehicle Agreement. +We reiterate our commitment to sustainable agriculture and food security and agree to deepen cooperation in the Agriculture Sector, including crops, livestock and horticulture as well as to intensified cooperative efforts towards increased productivity and yields of agricultural produce in the region. +We recognize the enormous potential that the development of the blue economy holds for our region, and agree to explore ways to deepen our cooperation in areas such as aquaculture (both inland and coastal), hydrography, seabed mineral exploration, coastal shipping, eco-tourism and renewable ocean energy with the objective of promoting holistic and sustainable development of our region. +We recognize that the benefits derived from mountain regions are essential for sustainable development. +We call for greater efforts towards the conservation of the mountain eco-systems including bio-diversity. +We welcome the growing cooperation in energy among BIMSTEC Member States. +We decide to expedite the signing of the BIMSTEC Memorandum of Understanding on Grid Interconnection. +We direct that steps be taken for early operationalization of the BIMSTEC Energy Centre. +Given the high potential of energy sources in the region particularly renewable and clean energy sources, we agree to accelerate our efforts to develop a comprehensive plan for energy cooperation with a view to augment interconnectivity and promoting regional energy trade. +We renew our commitment to the early conclusion of BIMSTEC Free Trade Area negotiations, and direct the Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) and Working Groups to expedite the finalization of its constituent Agreements. +We also direct the TNC to expedite the negotiations on the Agreements on Services and Investment. +We agree to take concrete steps to enhance trade facilitation. +We also agree to offer special and differential treatment for Least Developed Countries for their integration into the regional economy. +Recognizing the need for development, access and availability of technology- including for SMEs- for promoting sustainable development across sectors, we direct for early finalization of the Memorandum of Association on the Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka. +We agree to continue our collective efforts to address public health issues. +We direct the BIMSTEC Network of National Centres of Coordination in Traditional Medicine and its Task Force to expand and deepen cooperation in this sector. +We resolve to create a deeper understanding and trust across the region and reiterate our commitment to promote people-to-people contact at various levels among Member States. +We note with satisfaction that two Meetings of the BIMSTEC Network of Policy Think Tanks (BNPTT) have been held and encourage BNPTT to organize regular consultations and programmes with stakeholders from the Member States with a view to intensifying people-to-people contact. +We agree to expand linkages among our educational and research institutions. +Acknowledging the civilizational, historical and cultural linkages in our region, we recognize the rich potential for development of tourism and reiterate our keen interest in taking concrete steps to promote intra-BIMSTEC tourism including specialized tourist circuits and eco-tourism. +In particular, we encourage the development of Buddhist Tourist Circuit and Temple Tourist Circuit within the region. +We reaffirm our commitment to effective implementation of the BIMSTEC Poverty Plan of Action as adopted at the Second BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation held in Nepal in January 2012 and endorsed by us at the Third BIMSTEC Summit held in Myanmar in March 2014. +We note with satisfaction that the BIMSTEC Permanent Secretariat in Dhaka has become functional since September 2014 and also appreciate the contributions made by the Government of Bangladesh in operationalizing the Secretariat. +Recognizing the year 2017 as the Twentieth Anniversary of the establishment of the BIMSTEC, we direct the BIMSTEC Secretariat to plan a series of activities to celebrate the Twentieth Anniversary and also direct our authorities to undertake such activities. +Reaffirming the imperative of making regional cooperation under BIMSTEC effective, we remain committed to hold Meetings of all BIMSTEC mechanisms in a timely and regular manner at the designated level. +We the leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand wish to express our profound appreciation of the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to invite BIMSTEC Leaders’ to the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit, and for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangements during the Summit. +We look forward to meeting in Nepal for the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit in 2017. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its ex-post facto approval to official amendments in the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Bill, 2015, as introduced in the Lok Sabha. +The amendments will be as under: +i. In Clause 10 to the Bill, the words, “Commercial Appellate Division” will be substituted by the words, “Commercial Division”. +ii. First Proviso to Clause 7 of the Bill will also be amended to clarify that the said proviso will also be applicable to the pending cases. +It would reduce burden on the Division Bench. +Amendment in Proviso to Clause 7 of the Bill will bring more clarity about the said clause. +The Amendments are likely to be introduced in the current session of Parliament. +After amendment in Clause 10, all applications and appeals in Arbitration matters, which are filed in the High Court may be heard and disposed of by the Commercial Division in the High Court consisting of a single Judge Bench. +A Bill for replacement of Ordinance has been introduced in the Lok Sabha on 07.12.2015. +As provided in Clause 10(1) and (2) of the Bill, all applications and appeals in Arbitration matters, which are filed in the High Court are to be the heard and disposed of by the Commercial Appellate Division which consist of Two Judge Bench. +Concerns have been expressed that it may overburden the High Courts. +Accordingly, the President promulgated the Ordinance on 23.10.2015. +This festival of our freedom, this 70 years of our Independence, is the festival for our resolution to take the nation to new heights with a new resolve and a new fervour and new energy. +We are able to breathe in a free air as the result of the sacrifices, renunciation and penance of our millions of great forefathers. +We are also reminded of the youths who kissed the gallows. +India is a very ancient nation. +We have a history of thousands of years and our cultural heritage is also millennia old. +Right from the Vedas to Vivekananda, from the Upanishads to the satellites, the Sudarshan Chakradhari Mohan to Charkhadhari Mohan, from the Bhim of Mahabharat to the Bhimrao; we have a long historical journey and heritage. +We all have to work ceaselessly for the realization of the dream of ‘ One India, great India’. +Every Indian was a soldier in the battle for freedom. +Each one of them dreamt of an independent India. +May be every one of them was not fortunate enough to sacrifice, may be each of them was not fortunate enough to go to prison; but every Indian had a resolve and the leadership of Mahatma ji and also the inspiration of countless revolutionaries who had sacrificed every thing. +All these movements contributed to our attainment of Independence. +So, brothers and Sisters, if we have lakhs of problems, then we also have one hundred and twenty five crore brains also which are all capable to solve these problems. +I can present before you a very detailed account of work done and also multiple issues regarding the performance of the Government. +So instead of that temptation, I would like to draw your attention towards the work culture of the Government. +My Brothers & Sisters, My Countrymen, I would not talk solely about the policy, but also the intention and decisions of the Government. +Therefore, My Countrymen, when I talk about the Good Governance, it does implies bringing in transformation in the life of common man of my country. +Good governance means that the government should be sensitive, responsive and dedicated to the common man. +We remember the days when there used to be a very long wait to go to any big hospital. +People used to come to AIIMS, spend two three days and then only it would be decided what diagnostic tests were to be done. +Now we have been able to change this system. +Not only this but all his medical records are also available online. +And we wish to develop it as a countywide culture in the field of medical treatment. +There is a class across the country, particularly the middle class, higher middle class whom you see troubled more at the hands of the income tax officials rather than the police at times. +I have to change the situation and I am trying and I will certainly change it. +There was a time when a common and honest citizen used to give two rupees extra as a measure of caution at the time of paying his income tax. +He used to think that he might not be harassed, but once the money was deposited to the government exchequer, he had to run from pillar to post and seek recommendations for getting the refund. +It took months together before the rightful money of the citizen was returned to him from the government exchequer. +Today, we have made a system of issuing online refund. +Today, refunds are given in one, two say or three weeks. +So, this responsibility and accountability are the results of these efforts. +A middle class man wants to have his passport- there was a time when about 40 lakh, 50lakh applications were received for getting passport. +Today, approximately 2 crore people apply for the passport. +Brothers and Sisters, earlier 4-6 months were taken for scrutiny of applications if one did not have recommendations. +We changed that situation and today, I can say with pride that passports are issued to the citizens with all genuine details, in about one or two weeks and there is transparency no recommendation is required and there is no dilly-dallying. +Today, I can say, we have issued 1.75 crores passports (in 2015-16 itself.) +In Surajya there must be efficiency in governance and therefore, earlier, if a company had to set up a factory or desiring to do business in our country, applications were submitted. +Brothers and Sisters, if efficiency is brought, then the same government, same rules, same officials have got geared up to perform the same task of company registration within 24 hours and they are virtually doing it. +In the last July itself, they performed the task of more than 900 such registrations. +We have detected almost 9,000 posts for which thousands and lakhs of people need to be recruited. +Recommendations would not be needed, roads for corruption and agents will be shut and this work has been implemented. +It is accepted when things get implemented on ground and we cannot bring things on ground with the old pace. +We have to speed up our work, increase the pace further and then we can say that we have done something. +Even succeding governments continued this and the work continued. +We have made efforts to fast track it. +This pace will fulfil the aspirations of common man in the days to come. +We have aid emphasis on energy, specifically renewable energy in our country. +Whole world is focussing on Solar energy. +We have increased it approximately 116%-118%. +This is not only a substantial incremental change, it’s a huge leap forward. +We intend to enhance the things in quantum way. +So we have increased the pace here. +If we take the commissioning of railway lines in previous 10 years, where commissioning means capacity to ply the trains and to finish all the trials, so earlier it was at the rate of 1500 kilometre in 10 years . +But we have made it up to 3500 kilometre in last 2 years. +We are to increase this pace even further. +Brothers and Sisters, Now we are connecting government schemes to AAadhaar Card, focussing on stopping the leakages through direct benefit transfer. +Previous government had connected four crore people to government schemes via Aadhaar Card. +There was a time when gas stove at home was deemed as a standard and as a symbol of social status. +During the last 60 years of independence, 14 crore LPG gas connections were given. +Brothers and Sisters, it is a great satisfaction to me that on one side, 14 crore gas connections were given in 60 years, while on the other side, we have given 4 crore gas connections in just 60 weeks. +Please compare the two figures – 14 crore in 60 years and 4 crore in 60 weeks. +This is the speed, by which a change has become possible in the quality of life of common men. +We have also started the task of eradicating obsolete laws. +Brothers and Sisters, when we had launched “Prime Minister Jan-Dhan Yojana”, it was almost an impossible task. +There were banks and the governments, nationalisation had already taken place, but the common man of the country was not able to be a part of the mainstream of national economy. +The campaign for women pride in villages of the country is an important issue of today. +The practice of open defecation should be stopped; toilets should be built in villages. +We are working towards bringing change in the lives of common man. +I had earlier announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort that we would electrify those 18 thousand villages, which are still without electricity.We are going to complete 70 years of independence, but they had not seen electricity. +They were forced to live in the 18th century. +I have been told that there are many among those villages who are watching Independence Day celebrations for the first time today on television in their homes. +Today, from here I extend special greetings to those villages. +It takes only three hours to reach this Nagla Fatela. +Brothers and Sisters, the LED bulbs were developed by the science and the researchers for welfare of every citizen. +But in India it used to cost 350 Rupees. +Who would buy it? +It is the nature of the government that it intervenes where it is not required and shies away from intervening where it is needed. +350 Rupees on one hand and 50 Rupees on the other. +I do not want to ask where all this money used to go, however, thirteen crore bulbs have been distributed till date. +The politics of our country has become populist; the economic policies have become populist. +If three hundred Rupees subsidy for each bulb had been given from public exchequer, the Prime Minister would have been applauded for doling out five hundred crore to the people. +But we have ensured that they save thousands of crores by providing bulbs at only fifty Rupees. +Brothers and Sisters, you can save 125000 crore rupees of the country by using a LED bulb at your home. +They were entitled to get these 20000 crore rupees but the nature of relationship that we have with them and our policies have made it possible. +The negotiations have been going on during the tenure of all the Governments and efforts were also made for Chabahar Port, which is an important link for connecting us with Central Asia, but today I feel satisfied to see an impossible task becoming possible. +When Iran, Afghanistan and India collectively march ahead in a planned way for the construction of Chabahar Port, an impossible task becomes possible. +My brothers and Sisters, one thing, I want to talk about and which concerns the common man is inflation. +It is true that the inflation rate had crossed 10% mark during the tenure of previous government. +Due to our sustained efforts we were able to keep it below 6 percent. +Not only this, we have, recently, made an agreement with the Reserve Bank of India that the RBI should take steps to control the inflation at the level of 4 percent with allowance of plus minus 2. +But, Brothers and Sisters, if the inflation would have increased at the same pace as it had previously increased, I don’t know how the poor of my country would have survived? +We have tried our best to keep it under check, but still people have lot of expectations from this government and dear countrymen your expectations are natural and I will not leave no stone unturned in achieving them. +Whatever best I can do, I shall do that and keep the price of poor man’s meal under check. +Whose hearts are more pious than their? +Whose intentions can be more pure than theirs? +I thanks our farmers that despite two years of drought, they consistently endeavored to fill our granaries, I greet them for this. +Government of India stood with those states and citizen who suffered due to heavy rains. +Today, I specially want to thank our farmers, because, when we are facing shortage of pulses and our farmers have shifted to other crops, and rise in demand of pulses by common man, I have to say this with content that this time our farmers have increased the sowing by one and half times. +I want to thank our farmers because they have come forward to solve the problem of the crisis of pulses and find its solution. +We have decided the MSP for pulses and declared a bonus on it. +We have streamlined the process of purchase of pulses and promoting the farmers for cultivation of pulses. +This will benefit us in a big way. +Brothers and Sisters, when I was talking about work culture, one thing was clear that I do not look at the issues in isolation but as a whole. +Let us see it as integrated and just take agriculture under integrated things, we have developed such work culture with lot of hard work, the complete chain of which can produce a great result. +The farmers have land and if they get water, then the farmer of my country has the power to produce gold out of the soil. +The farmer of my country has this power and that is why we have emphasized upon water-management, emphasized upon water-irrigation, emphasized upon water-conservation. +We are emphasizing upon how every drop of water may be utilised by the farmer, how to increase the importance of water, and get per drop more crop, micro irrigation. +More than 90 percent irrigation projects were lying incomplete and stalled. +We have taken up the responsibility to complete those projects first of all and will work in the direction that lakh of hectares of land may get the benefit of irrigation. +We have succeeded in distributing 77 thousands solar pumps till now. +Brothers and Sisters, I would like to congratulate the scientists of our country. +Good quality seeds are also required along with soil, water and solar pumps. +The scientists of our country have developed more than 131 new farmable seeds compatible to the climate and nature of India, which have the capacity to enhance our per hectare production. +The values they retain are also being increased. +I heartly congratulate these scientists also. +The farmers require urea as well as fertilisers. +We have constructed new warehouses to preserve 15 lakhs tons of food grains. +Our country’s farmers will benefit only when we move towards value addition, and for this We have laid special emphasis on food processing for the first time. +Brothers and Sisters, Our country has a fancy for a trend. +Now a days, You must have observed the scope of our work in Railways. +While we are talking about having Bio-toilets in train, we also cherish the dream of Bullet train. +While We talk about “Soil Health Card” for farmers, we also want to march ahead in the direction of satellite and space technology. +While talking about “Stand-Up India”, we are also taking steps towards “Start-Up India”. +We are laying emphasis on Substance than on Symbolism. +We are stressing on integrated development than on isolated development. +Leaving aside entitlement, we are focused and emphatic on Empowerment because an empowering country, my brothers and Sisters, provides an identity to the Government through the prism of the newly declared schemes. +But sometimes the old schemes just tumble down. +The people living in the areas of these projects know all. +We identified such two hundred and seventy projects worth Rs. 10 Lakhs crores which were inaugurated by some earlier govts. and some crores of rupees were spent on all of them; but all that money was going down the drain. +But the approval took two years. +We have speeded up the approval process and have been able to shorten the approval time to three or four months, or maximum to six months. +So, due to the correct policies and the correct intentions our Government is taking unhesitant decisions and giving emphasis on the last man delivery. +Thousands of crores of the rupees was outstanding. +It has happened for the first time after many years. +I can point out in solace that all the sugarcane which was procured and which came for marketing this time for that almost 95 per cent of farmers have got the price of sugarcane produced and I am sure and I believe that the remaining 5 percent of farmers will also be paid in the coming days. +Brothers & Sisters, We have initiated a mission to provide LPG Connections to the poor families. +We have launched a dynamic mission under “Ujawala” scheme to get rid of smokes emanating from chulha for my poor mothers. +A target has been laid down to provide gas connections to 5 crores poor families within 3 years. +Post Offices are linked with poor and marginalised people. +Postman is the only representative of the Government who is linked with the feelings and affections of the common man. +Brothers & Sisters, PSUs in our country are merely set up for loss-making units or for turning into sick units slowly and steadily or for disinvestment. +This has been the common practice in the past. +We have strived to launch a new work-culture. +It is a fact that which all the Telcom companies of the world are profit-making units, the BSNL was turning into a heavy loss-making undertaking. +We have succeeded in bringing BSNL to operational profit for the first time. +Nobody believed that the Shipping Corporation of India could also rake in profit, now it is bringing profit. +There was a time when it was apprehended that how would a power factory last for a week. +Whether we would be able to get coal for them or not. +It also used to be reported that power factories have been shut down for want of coal. +Now, we have sufficient stock of coal at the threshold of the power factories. +It could be used for months by them. +I have observed it myself that how corruption has looked the poor people from the lowest strata of the society and how huge amount of money is being wasted. +These middlemen used to siphon off billions of rupees from it and nobody even took notice of it. +Now that has been checked. +We have worked in that direction to deliver it to the last man delivery and we have made it to reach it to them. +There was a time when the auction of spectrum was surrounded by allegations. +We auctioned it online and that has filled the coffers of the country, bringing about healthy competition and also fetching benefits for the nation. +Dear Brothers and Sisters, today the world is passing through an era of global economy. +Therefore, we’ll have to be alert all the time. +We’ll have to comply with the global standards to make ourselves up to date. +Recently, you must have seen how the World Bank, I.M.F., World Economic Forum, credit rating agencies and such other agencies in the world have all appreciated the progress of India. +The world is constantly watching these things due to the decisions taken one after another by India in respect of legal reforms, improvement in system and changes in approach. +We have left behind even the big economies of the world in matters of growth rate and GDP. +Dear brothers and Sisters, do you know what an U.N. institute has estimated about India for the next two years ? +They have estimated that in two years India will come up to the third spot in the economic sphere in place of its present level at number ten. +Brothers and Sisters, while making analysis regarding this logistic support and infrastructure of India, the World Economic Forum has said that India has reached above 19 ranks as compared to earlier positions and India is moving up and marching ahead rapidly. +Brothers and Sisters, the way we are marching ahead with a dynamic and predictable economy in our country and also in global reference- the recently passed GST law, is also an empowering step towards it and all those parties deserve appreciations for this. +Brothers and Sisters, I had talked about a campaign from the same place- “Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao”. +We do not do any work in piecemeal. +We have an integrated approach and I still need the cooperation of the society in the initiatives which we have taken in “Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao”. +Every single parent need to be aware. +We should honour the daughters, protect them and give them the benefit of government’s schemes. +We have covered millions of families under “Sukanya Samridhi Yojna” which guarantees benefits for the daughters when she grows up. +We have given greatest importance to the insurance schemes in which women are benefitted. +They are going to reap its benefits. +We have “Indradhanush Tikakaran Yojna”- because if we ensure two things for our mothers and sisters i.e. economic empowerment and empowerment against health problems and we educate them, you can take it as an assurance that if even a single woman is educated in the family, if she is strong physically and independent economically, she has power to pull the poorest of the poor family out of poverty and therefore we are working with emphasis on empowerment of women, health of women, economic prosperity of women, physical empowerment of women in our fight against poverty. +We have started schemes with this intention and effect is now visible. +Today farmers can sell their produce online in any of the markets of the country. +Now he is not constrained to compulsively sell his produce in the market which is 10 Kilometers from his field .Neither to sell at low prices which is not remunerative for his hard work. +Now a uniform sort of market network is establishing throughout the country with ‘E-NAM’. +Earlier it used to be Rs.10 per unit in summers but I went to Telangana few days back to find it to be one rupee ten paise per unit instead of that age old Rs. 10. +To solve this problem, we have issued a universal account number to each worker, which would enable easy transfer of fund to his new place of work. +Now, the worker would get his amount after retirement and it would no more be lying dormant in a government treasury. +We have strengthened various initiatives such as Bharat-Mala, Setu-Bharatam, and Bharat-Net etc. +We are working towards connecting the whole country and towards economic development of the country through all these initiatives. +Brothers and Sisters, this year is important due to various reasons. +He used to say that we should serve all the devotees of the Lord, irrespective of their caste and class. +He had said that we should never humiliate anyone and should give respect to all, without any discrimination on the basis of age and caste. +The issue that was given importance by Gandhi, Ambedkar, Ramanujacharya, Lord Buddha, our scriptures and by our all spiritual gurus too is the issue of ‘our social unity’. +If the society disintegrates, the empire straggles, gets divided into the highs and the lows, the touchables and the untouchables, then brothers and Sisters, that society cannot sustain. +There are social evils, centuries old social evils, but if the social evils have become chronic, they need a bit harsh and yet sensitive treatment. +The lackadaisical attitude will not solve the social problems and this is the responsibility of 125 crore citizens. +The government and the society together will have to steer through the social conflicts. +Brothers and Sisters, all of us will have to fight against the social evils. +Without empowering our society, we cannot make India strong. +Brothers and Sisters, today the entire world acknowledges the fact that India is a country of youths. +What cannot be achieved by a country through its youth power whose 65 percent population, about 800 Million people, is below the age of 35 years? +Therefore, my brothers and Sisters, it is the need of the hour that the youth get opportunity and employment. +Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya believed in the philosophy of ‘Antyodaya’. +Even a poor should get the opportunity to keep his shop open for 365 days. +Why should our Sisters not get the opportunity to work in night? +We have made legal provisions so that our Sisters could go to work in night also. +There should be arrangements for their safety and other requirements but they must get the opportunity to work. +Today when we are celebrating our freedom in the country, someone among the army jawans, who live and die for the country, would be ready for taking the bullets on the border, someone will be sitting in bunker and some other one would not be fortunate enough to meet his sister on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. +How many jawans are working in armed forces? +These are the people due to whom we can live a life of peace and happiness. +The issue of “One Rank One Pension” was pending for many years. +We do not keep the issues pending but we face them. +It was the feeling of our countrymen that the files pertaining to Netaji Subhash Babu should be declassified. +Today, I bow my head and say that without caring for the result we have decided to declassify these files; a task which was impossible and kept pending since long. +We invited Netaji’s family members and shown them the files and this process of declassifying will continue. +We have worked in that direction. +Bangladesh — When partition of India took place, a boundary dispute existed since then. +A boundary dispute prevailed since the formation of Bangladesh. +Many decades passed. +The important thing in both is that which we prefer or which is being used in the interest of mankind. +We are the people of a great, colossal culture. +This country is full of diversity, colours and beauty. +This is such a bouquet of mother India wherein all type of fragrances, all type of colours and all type of dreams exist. +Brothers and Sisters, a country having more than hundred languages, hundreds of dialects, innumerable attires, innumerable life styles, despite that this country remained united- its main reason is our cultural heritage. +We know how to respect, we know hospitality, we know how to assimilate, we have carried this great tradition and that is why there is no room for violence and atrocity in our country. +If the democracy of India is to be strengthened, the dreams of India are to be fulfilled then the path of violence would never bring success for us. +Nowadays a game of killing the innocents is being played on the pretext of Maoism in forests, on the pretext of extremism at border, on the pretext of terrorism at hilly areas by carrying guns on shoulders. +Forty years have passed, this mother soil has grown blood stained but the persons on the path of terrorism have not achieved anything. +Whenever a citizen from the neighbouring countries would get freedom from poverty, we will feel elated regardless of the fact whether the poor belongs to us or our neighbouring country. +Brothers and Sisters, what kind of people are those who got drive from humanity and, what is the kind of those who reward terrorism? +His tears had become unstoppable. +Every child, who was killed in Peshawar in the terrorist attack, ached our heart too. +This is the drive of our nurtured culture of humanity; this is our humanity, but if you look around, you will find a more to glorify terrorists. +Today I want to specially honour and thank to some people from the ramparts of Red Fort. +The freedom fighters who earlier used to get 25000 rupees, will now get 30000 rupees. +It is my small effort to pay my respects to the sacrifice and oblation of our freedom fighters. +They used to live in jungles. +But our forthcoming generations are not much aware of this history. +Brothers and Sisters, in the midst of the debate on inflation, we are realising one fact that the entire economy of a poor household is affected if somebody falls ill. +Healthcare is getting costlier and that is why, I am announcing an important scheme from the ramparts of the Red Fort for the healthcare of BPL families. +We should stride forward for building of one society, one dream, one resolution, one direction and one destination. +Let the voice reach to every corner of the world. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on India-Italy Cooperation in Renewable Energy between India and Italy. +The MoU was signed on 30th October, 2017 at New Delhi. +The MoU was signed by Shri Anand Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of the Republic of India and H.E. Mr. Lorenzo ANGELONI, Italian Ambassador to India. +India and Italy aim to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable issues on the basis of mutual benefit equality and reciprocity. +The MoU envisages establishing a Joint Working Committee to review, monitor and discuss matters relation to areas of cooperation. +It aims for exchange of expertise and networking of information and helps in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Mr. Justin Trudeau for the victory in Canadian Parliamentary elections. +“Congratulations Justin Trudeau for victory in Canadian parliamentary elections. +We attach high priority to close ties with Canada. +We share a strong bond of democracy and inclusiveness enriched by a vibrant Indian diaspora. +I have fond memories of my visit to Canada in April 2015 and my meeting with you”,the Prime Minister said. +53 students from Sikkim and Ladakh, who are part of two ITBP excursion groups visiting different parts of India, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Interacting informally with the Prime Minister, they shared their vision of a prosperous, corruption-free India. +The Prime Minister exhorted them to work towards achieving this vision. +He also urged students to keep fit, in order to be more productive. +In this context, the same significance of Yoga was also discussed. +The students showed keen interest in Digital India. +Cashless transactions also came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister explained how Direct Benefit Transfers are benefiting the common people. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a huge gathering of Dawoodi Bohra community, at Ashara Mubaraka, the commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Husain (SA), in Indore. +Remembering the sacrifices of Imam Husain, Prime Minister said that Imam always stood against injustice and attained martyrdom for upkeeping peace and justice. +He added that the teachings of Imam are still relevant today. +Appreciating the work done by Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, Prime Minister said that love and dedication towards the nation are the hallmarks of his teachings. +Prime Minister said that the culture of taking everyone along makes India different from all other countries. +“We are proud of our past, we believe in our present and are confident of our bright future”, he added. +Highlighting the contributions of the Dawoodi Bohra community, Prime Minister said that the community has always played a key role in India’s progress and growth story. +He expressed hope that community will continue their great work of spreading the strength of India’s culture throughout the world. +Praising the Bohra community, PM Modi said that it is his good fortune to have received the affection of Bohra community. +Remembering the assistance provided by the community during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi said that the affection of the community brought him to Indore. +Applauding the various social initiatives carried out by the Dawoodi Bohra community, Prime Minister said that various efforts are taken by the government to ensure improved living standards for citizens, especially the poor and needy. +In this context, he mentioned the various development oriented initiatives of the Government like Ayushman Bharat, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Pradhan Mantri Awaaz Yojana. +He mentioned that these initiatives are changing the lives of ordinary people. +Prime Minister congratulated the people of Indore for taking the mission of Swacchh Bharat forward. +He said that ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’ scheme will be launched tomorrow and urged the citizens to actively participate in this grand Swacchhta mission. +Talking about the honesty shown by the Bohra Community in business, Prime Minister said that the government encourages honest businessmen and workers through GST, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. +He said that India economy is growing and reiterated that New India is on the horizon. +Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan was also present on the occasion. +Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, earlier praised the Prime Minister for his exemplary work and wished him success for his work for the country. +It would be equally applicable to all sportspersons irrespective of their caste, creed, region, religion and gender. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the MoU between India and Thailand in controlling narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors and chemicals and drug abuse. +The MoU is an effective framework to deal with all issues requiring mutual assistance and cooperation in the above areas. +It will facilitate effective institutional interaction between India and Thailand. +The MoU, once in force, would help in curbing transnational narcotics trafficking. +This will be done by utilising the Export Development Fund (EDF). +The proposal provides for domiciling two contracts of export of steel rails by STC and for the Chabahar Port Development project previously approved by the Cabinet under EDF. +The proposal will promote the country’s exports with Iran. +It will also deepen India’s relationship with Iran as a strategic partner. +Background The Exim Bank of India and seven Iranian Banks led by Central Bank of Iran had negotiated a framework agreement in November, 2014 for financing the purchase of goods and services from India by Iranian entities to the tune of Rs.900 crore under EDF. +The increase to Rs. 3000 crore will enable the Exim bank to provide Buyer’s credit facility to Iran, secured via sovereign guarantee from Iran, for the export of goods and services. +This will provide opportunity to Indian Companies to penetrate and enhance their footprint in Iran along with facilitating the growing trade and investment with Iran. +This will also help in employment generation and development of ancillary activities in India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Jordan on Cooperation in the Field of Manpower. +The MoU aims at enhancing collaboration between the two sides in promoting best practices in the administration of contractual employment, reflects the latest reforms in recruitment processes and enhances the protection and welfare of Indian workers in Jordan. +Collaboration between the two sides in use of online portal for recruitment of Indian manpower is expected to usher in greater transparency and curb malpractices in the recruitment process. +The MoU will be valid for a period of five years, incorporates provision of automatic renewal and a monitoring mechanism through a Joint Technical Committee. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands on 29th-30th December 2018. +The Prime Minister will arrive in Port Blair on the evening of 29th December. +On 30th December, the Prime Minister will visit the Tsunami Memorial at Car Nicobar. +He will lay a wreath at the memorial, and light a candle at the Wall of Lost Souls. +He will inaugurate the ITI at Arong, and lay the Foundation Stone for some infrastructure projects. +He will address a public meeting. +Later in the day, the Prime Minister will lay a wreath at the Martyrs Column at Port Blair. +He will visit the Cellular Jail in the city. +The Prime Minister will hoist the high mast flag at South Point, Port Blair. +He will pay floral tributes at Statue of Netaji at Marina Park, Port Blair. +At Netaji Stadium, the Prime Minister will release a commemorative postal stamp, coin and first day cover to mark the 75th Anniversary of the hoisting of Tricolour on Indian soil by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. +He will also release the Innovation and Start-Up Policy for A&N Islands. +He will inaugurate a 7 MW Solar Power Plant, and Solar Village. +He will also lay the Foundation Stone for a number of development projects. +The Prime Minister will address the gathering. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has wished people on World Health Day. +PM said, “Good health is the foundation of human progress. +This World Health Day, I wish all of you remain in the best health and continue to scale new heights of growth. +I welcome the theme ‘Universal health coverage: everyone, everywhere’ that has been chosen by WHO and others. +It is the quest for Health For All that inspired us to create Ayushman Bharat, the largest healthcare programme in the world.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Australia for promotion and development of cooperation in civil aviation security. +The MoU will provide an opportunity to Indian aviation security authorities to share the expertise of their Australian counterparts and enhance the overall aviation security environment in India. +The MoU will provide compliance of international obligation as well as enhance promotion in the area of security cooperation between the two countries. +Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley thanked all the participants for their thought-provoking suggestions. +In his intervention, the Prime Minister thanked various participants for their suggestions and observations, on various aspects of the economy. +In particular, he appreciated the quality of suggestions that had come from various subject experts. +The meeting was attended by several Union Ministers who look after economic subjects. +The Vice Chairman NITI Aayog Shri Rajiv Kumar, and senior officers from the Union Government and NITI Aayog were also present. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Friday met and interacted with a group of over 90 Additional Secretaries and Joint Secretaries serving in the Government of India. +This was the last of five such interactions. +During the interaction, officers shared their experiences on subjects such as governance, social welfare, tribal development, agriculture, horticulture, environment and forests, education, project implementation, urban development and transportation. +The Prime Minister urged the officers to work towards simplification of governance processes. +He said well executed projects and schemes should serve as case studies, so that their success can be emulated. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, yesterday gave its approval for introduction of Common Norms across all skill development schemes being implemented by different Ministries / Departments of Government of India. +Currently, over 70-odd Skill Development Programmes (SDPs) are being implemented by Government of India, each with its own norms for eligibility criteria, duration of training, cost of training, outcomes, monitoring and tracking mechanism etc. +This multiplicity of norms and parameters has created a diffusive effect of SDPs, which need to be streamlined in order to achieve the final outcomes envisaged. +Common Norms seek to rationalise the whole spectrum of skill development processes and systems including inputs, outputs, funding/cost norms, third party certification and assessment, monitoring/tracking mechanisms, and empanelment of training providers. +Common Norms define the activities constituting ‘Skill Development’ in the country, skill development courses and their alignment with the National Skills Qualification Framework, broad input standards for training programmes and the outcomes expected from these programmes. +The outcomes of skill training programmes have been defined in terms of placement achieved in wage and self- employment, both for fresh trainees as well as existing workers who have undergone Recognition of Prior Learning. +Since the common norms are aimed at being outcome focused, the cost norms and fund flow mechanism for skill development programmes have also been linked to specific outcomes achieved. +Cost norms include support for components like mobilisation of candidates, trainers’ training, placement expenses, post-placement tracking/monitoring and infrastructure costs. +The proposal envisages the creation of a Common Norms Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to bring about uniformity and standardisation among the skill development schemes of the Central Government. +The Committee will also consist of eight other representatives from relevant Central Ministries/Departments, State Governments, National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), with a provision for inviting experts and other significant stakeholders who may be necessary in the decision making process. +It will be empowered to revise/amend the common norms, schedules of the notification, training costs and funding norms for skill development programmes. +While the common norms would be applicable to the skill development schemes of the Government of India being implemented through various Ministries/Departments, the State Governments are also expected to align their skill development schemes with the common norms so as to bring in uniformity and standardization. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will attend the Annual Conference of DGPs and IGPs on 7th and 8th January at the BSF Academy at Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh. +DGPs Conference is an annual event in which top police officers from all over the country share and discuss security related issues. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the conference earlier in Guwahati, Assam in 2014, Dhordo, Rann of Kutch, Gujarat in 2015 and National Police Academy, Hyderabad in 2016. +During the last meeting, issues such as cross-border terrorism and radicalization were discussed in detail. +The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of leadership, soft skills and collective training. +He specifically mentioned the importance of technology and human interface for the police force. +Holding the Annual DGP Conference outside the national capital, is in line with Prime Minister’s vision that such conferences should be held across the country, and not just confined to Delhi. +The MoUs envisage organizing Youth Exchange Programmes with Indonesia and Kyrgyz Republic, and cooperation in other youth and sports related matters. +International Youth Exchange programmes promote exchange of ideas, values and culture amongst youth and help in developing international perspective among the youth. +Further, these Programmes promote peace and understanding, and strengthen friendly relations between countries. +Cooperation in other youth and sports-related matters also helps in youth development and sports promotion in partner countries. +The benefits arising from bilateral exchange programmes in the field of Youth and Sports would be equally available to all youth irrespective of their caste, religion and gender. +The selection of youth for participation in youth exchange and other programmes shall be done in an objective and transparent manner and the outcomes of the programmes under the MoUs shall be open for public scrutiny. +Youth exchange and other programmes will help in developing international perspective among the youth and expanding their knowledge and expertise. +The Union Cabinet today approved implementation of ‘Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF)’ scheme at a total cost of Rs.1650 crore for a period of seven years beginning 2018-19. +The Prime Minister has emphasized the importance of innovation and technology for the progress and development of the nation. +This fellowship scheme is key to realizing his vision of development through innovation. +The scheme has been announced in the Budget Speech 2018-19. +Such students, who fulfill the eligibility criteria, and shortlisted through a selection process, as laid down in the PMRF Guidelines, will be offered a fellowship of Rs.70,000/- per month for the first two years, Rs.75,000/- per month for the 3rd year, and Rs.80,000/- per month in the 4th and 5th years. +Apart from this, a research grant of Rs.2.00 lakh will be provided to each of the Fellows for a period of 5 years to cover their foreign travel expenses for presenting research papers in international conferences and seminars. +A maximum of 3000 Fellows would be selected in a three year period, beginning 2018-19. +The scheme will go a long way in tapping the talent pool of the country for carrying out research indigenously in cutting edge science and technology domains. +The research under the Scheme will address our national priorities at the one hand and shortage of quality faculty in the premier educational institutions of the country, on the other. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United Arab Emirates on the Mutual Recognition of Certificates of Competency. +The proposed MoU will pave way for recognition of maritime education and training, certificates of competency, endorsements, training documentary evidence and medical fitness certificates for seafarers issued by the Government of the other country in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 1/10 of the Convention, and cooperation between the two countries in training and management of seafarers. +“India mourns the loss of a great scientist, a wonderful President and above all an inspiring individual. +He loved students and spent his final moments among them”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi released a book titled “The Birds of Banni Grassland” in New Delhi, today. +The book was presented to the Prime Minister by the Scientists of Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology (GUIDE). +The Book is a compilation of the research work, relating to more than 250 species of birds found in the Banni area of Kutch, Gujarat. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today granted ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of Maldives for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism. +The Memorandum of Understanding with Maldives will be instrumental in increasing arrival from this important source market. +The main objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding, are: +•Indian Railways on the path of modernization through widespread technological and infrastructure upgradation +•Contribute to ‘Make in India’ and ‘Skill India’ and help generate large scale employment +•Foster innovative entrepreneurship and support start-up India initiative +•Use of latest pedagogy and technology applications: Envisioned to be a best-in-class institute which will use latest pedagogy and technology applications to provide high-quality education and training. +•India will emerge as a global leader in transportation sector through cutting edge technology and skilled manpower. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Ministry of Railways’ transformative initiative to set up the first ever National Rail and Transport University (NRTU) in Vadodara to skill its human resources and build capability. +This innovative idea, inspired by the Prime Minister, will be a catalyst for transformation of rail and transport sector towards New India. +The University will be set up as a Deemed to Be University under de novo category as per the UGC [Institutions Deemed to be Universities] Regulations, 2016. +Government is working towards completing all approvals by April 2018 and to launch the first academic program in July 2018. +A not-for-profit Company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 will be created by the Ministry of Railways which shall be the Managing Company of the proposed university. +The company will provide financial and infrastructural support to the university, and appoint Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor of the university. +Board of Management, comprising professionals and academics, shall be independent of the Managing Company with full autonomy to perform its academic and administrative responsibilities. +Existing land and infrastructure at National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR) at Vadodara, Gujarat will be utilized, and suitably modified and modernized for the purpose of the university. +In its full enrolment, it is expected to have 3000 full time students. +The funding of the new University/Institute is to entirely come from Ministry of Railways. +This university will set Indian Railways on the path of modernisation and help India become a global leader in transport sector by enhancing productivity and promoting ‘Make in India’. +It will create a resource pool of skilled manpower and leverage state-of-the-art technology to provide better safety, speed and service in Indian Railways. +It will support ‘Startup India’ and ‘Skill India’ by channeling technology and delivering knowhow, and foster entrepreneurship, generating large scale employment opportunities. +This will lead to transformation of railway and transportation sector and enable faster movement of people and goods. +Through global partnerships and accessing cutting edge technologies, India will emerge as a global centre of expertise. +The university plans to use latest pedagogy and technology applications (satellite based tracking, Radio Frequency Identification and Artificial Intelligence) to improve on-the-job performance and productivity. +It will have ‘Centres of Excellence’ showcasing high-end, niche technology like High Speed Train. +Government of India has taken a very important decision whose impact will be felt through the next century and the decision is that country’s first railway university will be constructed in Vadodara” – Hon’ble Prime Minister speaking about rail university in Vadodara in October, 2016. +As Indian Railways is set to embark on ambitious projects such as High Speed Trains (popularly known as bullet train), massive infrastructure modernisation, Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs), highest focus on safety etc., Indian Railways will require high level of proficiency and skills. +Further, factors such as unprecedented growth in the transportation sector in India, increased requirement of qualified manpower and upgradation of skills and capability required to drive the transformation of Indian Railways have necessitated a world-class training hub. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the joint issue of a postage stamp between Department of Posts and Viet Nam Post. +Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications and Viet Nara Post mutually agreed to jointly issue Postage Stamps on India-Viet Nam: Joint Issue on the theme “Ancient Architecture”. +The joint stamps were released on 25-01-2018. +The Commemorative Postage Stamps on India-Viet Nam: Joint Issue depicts Sanchi Stupa of India and Pho Minh Pagoda of Viet Nam. +A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between postal administrations of India and Viet Nam for this joint issue on 18-12-2017. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to an accident in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh. +“Pained by the loss of lives due to an accident in AP’s Chittoor District. +Condolences to families of the deceased and prayers with the injured”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will address at the World Sufi Forum in New Delhi this evening. +The Forum has been convened by the All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board, to discuss the role of Sufism in countering rising global terror. +The Forum, will debate long-term alternatives to counter rising issues of radicalization and use of terror in the name of religion. +It is expected to emphasize and reassert India’s position as one of the global centres for moderate ideology in Islam. +The four-day event, beginning today is likely to be attended by several delegates, including foreign delegates from 20 countries. +Spiritual leaders, scholars, academicians and theologists from Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, UK, USA, Canada and Pakistan, among other countries, are expected to be present. +Interacting with the delegation, the Prime Minister said India would like to benefit from Singapore’s expertise in the fields of urban management, urban development and urban administration. +He also sought Singapore’s support in capacity-building in human resources for urban management and urban administration. +The members appreciated the Union Government’s Smart Cities initiative. +“Remembering Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya on his Jayanti. +His impact on India’s history is strong and unforgettable. +His efforts to further education and a spirit of patriotism will always be remembered”, the Prime Minister said. +The Government’s efforts to give a boost to the digital payment systems and the cashless economy, post-demonetization have generated enthusiastic response from the people. +People from different age groups, occupations and different walks of life have taken part in a big way in the Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi-dhan Vyapar Yojana giving a fillip to digital transactions. +More than 3.81 lakh consumers and 21,000 merchants have been declared the winners of prize money worth Rs.60.90 crore at 24 Digi-Dhan Melas across the country. +Giving the details, the Union Minister Law & Justice, Electronics and Information Technology Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the Common Service Centres under the Deptt. of Electronics and Information Technology have trained 1.94 crore citizens and 5.93 lakh merchants so far for carrying out transactions through digital payment systems. +The prize money worth Rs. 60.90 crore to over 3.81 lakh winners of NITI Aayogs’s lucky draw schemes ‘Lucky Grahak Yojana, LGY’ for consumers and ‘Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana, DVY’ for merchants has been declared at 24 Digi-Dhan Melas across the country – daily as well as weekly. +The lucky winners include 24 year old Ashutosh Mishra, a mobile shop owner in Rampur, Odisha, 24 year old Jadhav Amit Anil from Ghatkopar, Mumbai, 27 year old Mangesh Anantrao Jadhav from Nasik, 42 year old Suman Sapra from Ulsoor, Bengaluru, Tripta Devi, a 54 year old housekeeper from Andhra Pradesh, among others. +The list includes winners from different walks of life including the small farmers, Anganwadi workers, housewives, labourers, etc. +Data analytics provided by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has highlighted a positive response among the people to adopt digital payments. +Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka have emerged as the top 5 states with maximum number of winners. +The schemes are aimed at incentivizing the consumers and the merchants to promote digital payments. +Customers and merchants using RuPay Card, BHIM, UPI (Bharat Interface for Money/Unified Payment Interface) USSD based *99# service and Aadhaar enabled Payment Service (AePS) are eligible for participating in the daily and weekly lucky draws. +These lucky draws are being held at Digi-Dhan Melas across the country. +Over 100 Digi-Dhan Melas will be held across the country to inculcate digital payment among the people. +Till date, 24 Digi-Dhan Melas have been held across the country since 25th December, 2016. +The exercise has covered so far 12 states and 3 Union territories. +By 1st February, the exercise will have covered the cities from 21 States and 4 UTs. +The upcoming Digi-Dhan Melas are scheduled to be held as per the following schedule:- +Table – List of cities for Lucky Grahak Scheme draws till February 1, 2017. +His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Sweden; +His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Finland; +His Excellency, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Poland; +Ministers, Excellencies and Dignitaries from other countries; +Governor of Maharashtra; +Chief Minister of Maharashtra; +Minister of State for Commerce and Industry; +Invitees, Industry Leaders, Ladies and Gentlemen! +I am delighted to be part of the celebrations of the “Make in India Week.” +I welcome you all to Mumbai, the commercial capital of India. +I particularly welcome our friends from abroad and thank them for their active participation. +When I look back at the launch of the Make in India initiative over a year ago, I also recall the aspirations of our youth. +65 per cent of the population of India is under the age of 35. +This youthful energy is our greatest strength. +We launched the Make in India campaign to create employment and self-employment opportunities for our youth. +We are working aggressively towards making India a Global Manufacturing Hub. +We want the share of manufacturing in our GDP to go up to 25 per cent in the near future. +We want to present to the world the enormous opportunities that India offers as a base for manufacturing, design, research and development. +This event will show-case different aspects of the progress that we have made. +This is the biggest multi-sectoral event and exhibition ever held in India. +I encourage all of you to see for yourselves the direction that India is taking. +Let me take this opportunity to share my thoughts. +In a year’s time, Make in India has become the biggest brand that India has ever created. +Both within and outside the country, it has captured the imagination of people, institutions, industries, media and the political leadership. +This is because: +· It reflects our collective desire to engage in productive activities; +· It also reflects the global need to produce things at lower cost. +· It is forcing us to make corrections and increase efficiency; +· It has emboldened us to integrate with the world on equal terms. +Let me give you some concrete examples of what we have done: +Today, India is perhaps the most open country for FDI. +Most of the FDI sectors have been put on automatic approval route. +Our FDI inflows have gone up by 48 per cent since the day my Government came into office. +In fact, FDI inflow in December, 2015 was the highest ever in this country. +This is, at a time, when global FDI has fallen substantially. +We have carried out a number of corrections on the taxation front. +We have said that we will not resort to retrospective taxation. +We have laid all round emphasis on Ease of Doing Business. +In the manufacturing sector, we have taken decisive steps to simplify processes and rationalize provisions. +This includes licensing, cross-border trade, security and environmental clearances. +We have announced attractive schemes in several sectors including electronics and textiles. +We have made substantial policy corrections in the defence sector. +From licensing to offset regime and export regime, we have given what the defence industry was looking for. +This year, we will record the highest ever coal production. +Also, 2015 was the year when India’s highest ever generation of electricity was recorded. +On the issue of safety of properties and rights, we have already enacted a law for fast tracking of arbitration proceedings. +We are establishing dedicated Commercial Courts and Commercial Divisions in High Courts. +The formation of the Company Law Tribunal is at the final stage. +Soon we shall be putting in place an effective IPR Policy and patent regime. +We hope to pass the bankruptcy law which has been tabled in Parliament. +Hence, on the front of policy and procedure, we have made our systems cleaner, simpler, pro-active and business friendly. +I believe in Minimum Government and Maximum Governance. +Therefore, almost on a daily basis, we are trying to remove the bottlenecks that were affecting investments and growth. +It is good to see that changes and corrections are taking place not just at the level of the Federal Government but also at the state level. +States are now in healthy competition to provide ease of business and infrastructure linkages. +The results have been encouraging. +India has become the fastest growing large economy in the world. +We will end this fiscal year with well over seven per cent growth in GDP. +IMF, World Bank, OECD, ADB and other institutions have projected even better growth in the coming days. +In 2014-15, India contributed 12.5 per cent of global growth. +Its contribution to global growth is 68 per cent higher than its share of the world economy. +Let me also mention some other indicators: +· India has consistently been ranked as the most attractive investment destination by several global agencies and institutions. +· We have jumped twelve ranks in the latest global ranking by the World Bank on ease of doing business. +The momentum of the Make in India campaign has given us confidence. +It motivates us to make our policies and processes easier and friendlier. +With this background, I invite and encourage you to make India your work place; and also your home. +We are particularly keen to scale up investments in next generation infrastructure. +This includes roads, ports, railways, airports, telecom, digital networks and clean energy. +We are also investing in our social, industrial and agricultural infrastructure to give better income and quality of life to our people. +So far, it was our implementation capacity that was the biggest bottleneck. +We have speeded up processes. +The result is faster turn-around of projects. +India’s highest ever kilometers of new highway contracts awarded was in 2015. +Similarly, the increase in railway capital expenditure was the highest this year. +Thus, whether it is physical or social infrastructure; we are executing it much more efficiently than ever before. +Another bottleneck was financing. +To enhance financing, we are trying innovative ways. +We are opening up our Greenfield and Brownfield projects for Public Private Partnership. +With strong fiscal discipline, and by plugging leakages, we are trying to provide more resources for infrastructure. +We have also set up the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. +We have come up with the mechanism of Tax Free Infrastructure Bonds for projects in rail, road and irrigation sectors. +We are working with a number of countries, financial markets and funds on these financial instruments. +Ladies and Gentlemen! +India is a land of immense opportunities. +Fifty of our cities are ready for setting up Metro Rail Systems. +We have to build fifty million houses. +The requirement of road, rail and waterways is enormous. +There is no time for incremental changes. +We want a quantum jump. +We have also decided to do this in a cleaner and greener way. +That is why, we have made a commitment to the world community at the recent COP-21 meeting in Paris. +Hence, we are going for renewable energy in a big way – 175 Gigawatts. +I lay great stress on zero defect and zero effect manufacturing. +We place high emphasis on energy efficiency, water re-cycling, waste to energy, clean India and river cleaning. +These initiatives are directed at improving quality of life in cities and villages. +These initiatives provide you additional avenues for investment in technologies, services and human resources. +India is blessed with three Ds. +These are: Democracy, Demography and Demand. +To this, we have added the fourth D that is Deregulation. +Today’s India is this four dimensional India. +Our judicial systems are independent and time tested. +You will not find all these elements in any other country. +With these strengths, India offers you a solid platform to test and launch your making and designing capabilities. +In addition, our maritime location makes it easy to market products in several other continents. +We are trying to further enable and harness this vast potential with path-breaking initiatives. +Campaigns like Digital India and Skill India have been designed to prepare people to take part in this process. +We have launched financing schemes which are dedicated to promote entrepreneurship. +We are giving loans through MUDRA Bank without any collateral. +I have also impressed upon the Banks to particularly finance young entrepreneurs belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Tribes as well as women entrepreneurs. +We are soon going to strengthen this process further under the banner of Stand-up India. +I feel that today, our domestic industry and investors are feeling much more confident and optimistic in spite of an uncertain global situation. +When we started the Make in India campaign, manufacturing growth in the country was 1.7 per cent. +This year it has improved substantially. +In the current quarter, manufacturing growth is expected be around 12.6 per cent. +· The composite PMI output index has climbed to an eleven month high of 53.3 per cent in January 2016. +· The total number of investment proposals during the last eight months is higher by 27 per cent. +· We have recorded the highest ever production of motor vehicles in 2015. +· As many as fifty new mobile phone factories were set up in the country during past ten months. +· Electronic manufacturing has grown six-fold to 18 million. +· 159 Electronic System Design and Manufacturing units, popularly known as ESDM units were established in India in 2015. +· As per estimates of certain agencies, the Indian job market is now on a strong footing. +For example, the Monster Employment Index for India stood at 229 in January 2016 which is up by 52 per cent over January of last year. +Similarly, on the trade front: +These are very good signs. +I would like to give our industry some friendly advice. +There are immense opportunities in India. +You should take advantage of the renewed interest of Global Players to work in India. +Many of them are looking for technological and financial collaborations with Indian partners. +This includes high-tech sectors and high-value areas like defence production. +I assure you that if you take one step; we will walk two steps for you. +In a competitive world improving managerial and technological capacity is essential for survival and growth. +From space shuttles to pollution control; from health to education; from agriculture to services; our young entrepreneurs and start-ups are showing us newer and faster ways for enterprise and delivery. +My Government is committed to support them and tap their energy fully. +We want our youth to become job creators rather than job seekers. +That is why, we have launched the Start up India Campaign. +Make in India is a drive to fulfill unmet demands of the common man. +It is also an effort to engage and empower the unemployed. +I also emphasize on Make for India; so that human and sectoral needs can be fulfilled. +I have heard several global companies talk about their localization plans. +Thus, this campaign has the capacity to boost the Indian economy and also brighten the global scenario. +I have been saying that this century is Asia’s century. +My advice to you is to Make India your center; if you want this century to be your century. +Prime Miniter Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief on the sudden demise of film actor Sridevi. +PM said, “Saddened by the untimely demise of noted actor Sridevi. +She was a veteran of the film industry, whose long career included diverse roles and memorable performances. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today delivered closing remarks at the fourth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog. +Welcoming the constructive discussion and suggestions made by various Chief Ministers, the Prime Minister assured the gathering that these suggestions would be seriously considered in the course of decision-making. +He asked NITI Aayog to follow up with the States on the actionable points made by them within three months. +He said that on the lines of the 115 aspirational districts identified by NITI Aayog, States can define their own parameters to identify 20 percent of the total blocks in the State as aspirational blocks. +Speaking on the issue of environment, raised by Chief Ministers, the Prime Minister urged all States to use LED bulbs in their government buildings, official residences and streetlights. +He suggested that this could be implemented within a definite timeframe. +He appreciated several other suggestions made by various Chief Ministers, on matters such as water conservation, agriculture, MNREGA etc. +He called upon Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, to work together to make recommendations on a coordinated policy approach to the two subjects of “agriculture and MNREGA,” including both pre-sowing, and post-harvest phases. +The Prime Minister said that it is vital to identify the “last people in the line” so that benefits of governance can reach them. +Similarly, he said, social justice is an important governance objective. +He said that these noble causes require close coordination and constant monitoring. +He reiterated the Union Government’s commitment to provide universal coverage of seven key schemes to 45,000 additional villages in 115 Aspirational Districts, by August 15th, 2018. +Elaborating on the Union Government’s guiding principle of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, the Prime Minister said the schemes of the Union Government are no longer limited to certain people, or to certain regions, and are reaching everyone without discrimination, in a balanced way. +The Prime Minister said that all villages of the country are now electrified, and under Saubhagya Yojana, 4 crore houses are now being provided with electricity connections. +He said rural sanitation coverage has increased from less than 40 percent to about 85 percent in four years. +He said that after the implementation of the Jan Dhan Yojana, the entire population of the country will be connected to the banking system. +Similarly, he said the Ujjwala Yojana is providing access to cooking gas, and Mission Indradhanush is working towards universal immunization. +He said the Union Government is working towards providing housing for all by 2022. +He called upon all Chief Ministers to contribute their efforts towards this objective of 100 percent implementation of schemes for the welfare of the poor. +The Prime Minister said that the implementation of these welfare schemes is also bringing about a behavioural change in lives of people. +In this context, he mentioned neem coating of urea, Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan Accounts, and RuPay debit cards. +He explained how these schemes are improving the lives of the people. +The Prime Minister said that Swachh Bharat Mission is being discussed around the world. +In the last four years, 7.70 crore toilets have been constructed. +He called upon all present, to work towards 100 percent sanitation coverage by October 2, 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. +The Prime Minister called for efforts towards water conservation and water management on a war footing. +Speaking on the economy, the Prime Minister said that the world expects India to become a five trillion dollar economy soon. +He encouraged States to give fresh ideas to the Finance Commission, for incentivizing outcome-based allocations, and expenditure correction. +He expressed happiness that States are now organising investor summits. +He suggested that States should focus on exports. +He encouraged States to boost “Ease of Doing Business.” +He said NITI Aayog should call a meeting with all States to provide a further impetus to ease of doing business. +He said “ease of living” for the common man is also the need of the hour, and States should now take initiatives in this regard. +On agriculture, the Prime Minister said that corporate investment in this sector is very low in India. +He said States should formulate policies that promote corporate investment in areas such as warehousing, transportation, value addition and food processing etc. +The Prime Minister said that mining blocks which have been successfully auctioned, should start production at the earliest. +He urged States to take steps in this regard. +He said District Mineral Foundations will help the poor and the tribals in a big way. +The Prime Minister called for widespread debate and consultations on simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas, keeping in view various aspects such as the resulting financial savings and consequent better utilisation of resources. +In conclusion, the Prime Minister thanked the Chief Ministers once again for their suggestions. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has said that he bows to Shaheed Bhagat Singh on his birth anniversary. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, launched key development projects at Kalaburagi in Karnataka and Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu. +At Kalaburagi in Karnataka, the Prime Minister dedicated the ESIC Hospital and Medical College, Bengaluru to the nation, through the unveiling of the plaque. +He also inaugurated the Super Specialty Block of KIMS in Hubali, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal building in Bangalore and the Women’s Hostel for Students from North Eastern Region at Bangalore University, through the press of button. +Foundation stone forthe resitement of BPCL depot Raichur to Kalaburagi was also laid by the Prime Minister through the unveiling of plaque. +The Prime Minister also interacted with the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana: Ayushman Bharat. +He dedicated the 5 MMTPA capacity Ennore LNG Terminal to the nation. +The LNG terminal willhelp in meeting the LNG demand in Tamil Nadu and neighboring States. +He also dedicated the electrification of Erode-Karur-Tiruchchirapalli and Salem-Karur-Dindigul railway lines to the nation. +The Prime Minister also unveiled the statue of Dr. MG Ramachandran at Dr. MGR Janaki College of Arts & Science for Women, Chennai through video link. +The development works launched today will greatly benefit the people of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. +The scheme aims to provide cooking gas connections to five crore below-poverty-line beneficiaries over the next three years. +Noting that May 1st is observed as Labour Day, the Prime Minister said that in this century, the aim of all workers across the world should be to unite the world. +Reiterating that the Union Government’s primary focus has been the welfare of the poor, the Prime Minister mentioned various steps for labour welfare taken by the Union Government over the last two years. +The proposal is expected to result in reduction of three Posts of Members of the Commission in pursuance of the Governments objective of “Minimum Government – Maximum Governance”. +As part of the Governments objective of easing the mergers and amalgamation process in the country, the Ministry had revised de minimis levels in 2017, which have been made applicable for all forms of combinations and the methodology for computing assets and turnover of the target involved in such combinations, has been spelt out. +The faster turnaround in hearings is expected to result in speedier approvals, thereby stimulating the business processes of corporates and resulting in greater employment opportunities in the country. +The proposal is expected to result in reduction of three Posts of Members of the Commission in pursuance of the Governments objective of “Minimum Government – Maximum Governance”. +Section 8(1) of the Competition Act, 2002 (the Act) provides that the Commission shall consist of a Chairperson and not less than two and not more than six Members. +Presently, the Chairperson and four Members are in position. +An initial limit of one Chairperson and not more than ten Members was provided in the Act, keeping in view the requirement of creating a Principal Bench, other Additional Bench or Mergers Bench, comprising at least two Members each, in places as notified by the Central Government. +In the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007 (39 of 2007), Section 22 of the Act was amended removing the provision for creation of Benches. +The Commission has been functioning as a collegium right from its inception. +In several major jurisdictions such as in Japan, USA and U.K. Competition Authorities are of a similar size. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of the renowned Sufi singer, Shri Pyarelal Wadali. +“Saddened by the demise of Shri Pyarelal Wadali. +His renditions attained great popularity globally. +His work will continue to draw people towards the joys of Sufi music. +May his soul rest in peace”, the Prime Minister said. +Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Uzbekistan to attend the SCO Summit: +“I will travel to Uzbekistan for a brief visit to attend the SCO Summit and interact with leaders of SCO nations. +India is glad to be a member of the SCO and looks forward to fruitful outcomes particularly in the field of economic cooperation through SCO. +India attaches great importance to ties with Central Asia and always seeks to expand economic and people-to-people ties with the region.” +He will address the gathering. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved establishment of additional 6.5 Million Metric Tonne (MMT) Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) facilities at two locations, i.e. Chandikhol in Odisha and Padur in Karnataka, including construction of dedicated SPMs (Single Point Mooring) for the two SPRs. +The SPR facilities at Chandikhol and Padur will be underground rock caverns and will have capacities of 4 MMT and 2.5 MMT respectively. +Government had announced setting up of two additional SPRs during the budget announcement for 2017-18. +The in principle approval is to take up the project under PPP model to reduce budgetary support of Government of India. +The total 5.33 MMT capacity under Phase-I of the SPR programme is currently estimated to supply approximately 10 days of India’s crude requirement according to the consumption data for FY2016-17. +Cabinet’s approval for establishing additional 6.5 MMT Strategic Petroleum Reserve facilities will provide an additional supply of about 12 days and is expected to augment India’s energy security. +The construction phase of the SPRs at Chandikhol and Padur is likely to generate significant direct & indirect employment opportunities in the states of Odisha and Karnataka. +My friend President Macri and all the distinguished guests from Argentina, +I warmly welcome Mr. President, his family and the delegation. +It is a matter of great pleasure that two months after our meeting in Buenos Aires, I have this opportunity to welcome you today in India. +On this occasion, I once again congratulate President Macri and his team for the efficient and successful hosting of the G-20 Summit in 2018. +The leadership of President Macri was important for the successful hosting of the Summit. +During the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires President Macri made the pleasant announcement that during the 75th year of India’s independence in 2022 India will be hosting the G20 Summit. +For this I am thankful to him. +My fifth meeting with President Macri today reflects the fast and growing importance of bilateral engagement between the two countries. +We have proved that the distance of 15,000 kilometers between the two countries is just a number. +This visit of President Macri is taking place in a special year; This is the 70th year of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. +But the mutual relations of our people is older than this. +Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore had traveled to Argentina in 1924. +The immense effect of that journey has become immortal through his creations. +Considering our shared values and our interests to promote peace, stability, economic progress and prosperity both the countries have given their relations the status of a strategic partnership. +I and President Macri agree that terrorism is a very serious threat to global peace and stability. +The brutal terrorist attack in Pulwama shows that the time for discussions is over now. +Now the whole world unitedly needs to take concrete steps against terrorism and its supporters. +Hesitating to act against terrorists and their anti-humanitarian supporters is also equivalent to promoting terrorism. +As the G-20 countries, it is also important that we implement the 11-point agenda of ‘Hamburg Leaders’ Statement’ on countering terrorism. +The Memorandum of Understanding signed today in respect of Defense Cooperation will give a new dimension to our cooperation in the defense sector. +India and Argentina are complementary to each other in many ways. +It is our endeavor to take full advantage of this for our mutual benefit. +Argentina is the powerhouse of agriculture. +India sees it as an important partner for its food security. +The work-plan of Agro-Industrial Cooperation between us today is an important step in this direction. +India’s success in the ICT field, especially JAM i.e. Jandhan-Aadhaar-Mobile trinity and digital payment infrastructure, we are ready to share with Argentina. +We have set a goal in India that by 2030 at least 30% of our vehicles will run with electrical batteries. +Argentina is a part of the Lithium Triangle, and it has approximately 54% of the world’s lithium reservoir. +Our joint venture ‘KABIL’ has started discussions with Argentina for cooperation in the mining sector. +In the last 10 years, our bilateral trade has more than doubled and have become in excess of US $ 3 billion. +There are possibilities for significant increase in many sectors such as agriculture, metals and minerals, oils and gas, pharmaceutical, chemicals, motor vehicles and services. +Today we have identified specific methods to enhance our commercial engagement. +I am glad that representatives from many important Argentine companies have come with President Macri. +I am confident that his talks with business leaders in Delhi and Mumbai will be useful. +India was the first country to sign a Preferential Trade Agreement with MERCOSUR in 2004. +During the present Presidency of Argentina, today we discussed several measures for the expansion of the India-MERCOSUR trade. +There are millions of fans of Indian art, culture and spirituality in Argentina. +Argentina’s Tango dance and football is very popular in India. +In order to bring people closer, agreements have been made between tourism and Public Broadcasting agencies for cooperation and exchange of cultural programs. +India and Argentina have good cooperation in international forums. +For global peace and security and economic and social advancement of all people we accept the need of reformed multilateralism. +Argentina has strongly supported India’s membership in the Missile Technology Control Regime, Wassenaar Arrangement, Australia Group and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. +South-South Cooperation holds great importance for us. +I am happy to say that India will actively participate in the second high level conference of United Nations on South-South Cooperation in Buenos Aires in 2019. +Our views are similar in the fight against climate change. +I am very happy to welcome Argentina as a new member in the International Solar Alliance (ISA). +I once again express my gratitude for accepting my invitation to visit India. +I hope that this journey is enjoyable for you and your family. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has bowed to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on his Mahaparinirvan Diwas. +“I bow to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on his Mahaparinirvan Diwas. +Felt extremely blessed when I prayed at Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai. +Sharing some pictures from that visit“, the Prime Minister said. +The approval would pave the way of following activities to be undertaken: +A. Shastri Research Fellowship & Mobility Programme +B. Faculty-ln-Residence Programme (New) +C. Faculty Development Programme for Vocational Education (New) +Online journals for Indian scholars and institutions +E. Facilitation cum Information Services (New) +i. Resource Centre (To Provide Access & Linkages to Institutions in both Countries) ii. +Seminars, Conferences & Consultations iii. +Publication of Research Materials, Documents & Reports +SICI shall also undertake such other activities, which will be recommended by Ministry of Human Resource Development based on new programmes and areas of cooperation between the two countries. +The SICI would undertake a number of programmes of the HRD Ministry requiring international engagement like Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN), Impacting Research, Innovation & Technology (IMPRINT), National Digital Library programme etc. +The institute also carries out programmes as laid out in the MoU signed on Higher Education Cooperation between the two countries in 2010 and under consideration for renewal for a further period of five years. +Since then, with the approval of the Cabinet, the MoU with the Institute has been renewed from time to time by signing Supplementary Addenda. +The last of such Supplementary Addendum called Supplementary Addendum IX signed for a five year period, expired on 31st March 2011. +The Institute maintains offices in both India and Canada. +The role of SlCI is of facilitating fellowships and collaborative research initiatives that focus principally on the aspects that bring advantage to Indian-Canadian institutions and academics. +SlCI, in the past, had focused in the fields of Humanities and Social Sciences but expanded its area of interest from 2001 onwards into the fields of Law, Management, Information Science, Science and Technology and Human Interface of Science. +The membership of SlCI has expanded from the original four founding members to 35 Canadian Universities and 54 Indian Institutions including some of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Indian Institutes of Technology (lITs), National Law Schools, National Museum institute, apex bodies & institutions of research and premier Central and State Universities. +The SlCI is governed by Executive Council, formerly known as Board of Directors, which has three representatives each of Canadian and Indian Member Councils and representatives of Government of Canada and Government of India. +The Government of India provides financial assistance to SICI for maintenance of its Delhi office and for the promotion of Indian Studies in Canada. +The Institute also receives assistance from the Government of Canada, Canadian institutions and organizations. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has exrepressed grief and extended condolences on demise of former Civil Servant TSR Subramanian. +PM said, “Shri TSR Subramanian distinguished himself as an outstanding civil servant. +He also left a mark with his prolific writings and interventions on important public causes. +Saddened by his demise. +My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.” +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Mumbai Urban Transport Project Phase-III. +The estimated cost of project is Rs.8,679 crore with completion cost of Rs.10,947 crore. +The project is expected to be completed in the next 5 years during 13th Plan period. +Western Railway is running suburban services on the existing busy double line between Virar-Dahanu Road which is a part of main line Mumbai –Ahmedabad / Delhi route. +Main line is already over saturated and there is no scope for supplementing suburban services on this line. +Construction of additional double line between Virar-Dahanu Road will address the demand of commuters in this region. +This will provide extension of suburban services from Churchgate to Dahanu Road. +Panvel-Karjat double line suburban corridor will cater to the significant urbanization and population growth in recent years in this area. +Presently, passengers commuting from Kalyan to Vashi/ Panvel or in reverse direction, have to get down at Thane and take Trans Harbour link. +This results in congestion at Thane which is already a busy station on Central Railway. +Procurement of new coaches will enhance the quality of service and reduce congestion. +The works proposed under trespass control at 22 locations shall significantly reduce trespass and will provide safer environment for the public. +The areas covered by this project are Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Mumbai districts of Maharashtra. +The Mumbai suburban railway network on Central and Western Railways has 376 route Kms. +Everyday approximately 8 million people travel in suburban section in more than 2900 train services. +There is severe overcrowding in the suburban trains specially during peak hours. +Due to geographical constraints, spread of the population and location of business areas, the rail network will continue to be the principal mode of mass transport in Mumbai. +To meet the demands of the ever growing commuter traffic, new suburban corridor between Panvel-Karjat (28 Route km), new elevated corridor between Airoli-Kalwa( 3 Route km ), quadrupling of Virar-Dahanu Road (63 Route km), procurement of 565 new coaches and trespass control measures in mid sections have been included in Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)- Phase III. +This will be debited to the fund at the beginning of each half year; i.e. April 1 and October 1. +It has been pointed out to the Department during its interactions with various stakeholders that investors in the AIFs would prefer that the portfolio of AIFs is adequately diversified to manage the investment risks appropriately and if the entire pool of funds of the AIF is invested in Start-ups, it poses unacceptable risks to the investors of such AIFs. +The other issues raised by stakeholders were that the process of funding of Start-ups by AIFs is long drawn which starts from pitching by a Start-up, commitment by the AIF and then release of funds in tranches. +Thus it is possible that before release of the final instalment the turnover of the Start-up crosses Rs. 25 crores but it still needs funds to meet its growth requirements. +Besides, Start-ups need access to funds through various stages of their life cycle, viz. early stage, seed stage and growth stage. +It was also pointed out to the Department by SIDBI that the present provisions don’t provide for SIDBI to get compensated for activities done post sanction to AIFs. +These decisions have been taken to in the backdrop of the above concerns. +The MoU was signed on 13th March, 2018 at New Delhi. +The bilateral MoA shall encourage cooperation between India and WHO. +This will facilitate in improving the public health status of the people in India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh today. +He unveiled the plaque to mark the serving of 3rd billionth meal by Akshaya Patra Foundation at Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir. +PM served the 3rd billionth meal to underprivileged children from schools. +He also paid floral tributes at the Vigraha of Srila Prabhupada, the Acharya of ISKCON. +Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ram Naik, CM of UP Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chairman of Akshaya Patra Foundation Swami Madhu Pandit Dasa and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. +Speaking on the occasion, PM lauded the efforts of the Akshaya Patra Foundation, and said the movement that started from serving 1500 children today serves Mid Day Meal to 17 lakh children from Schools across the country. +He was happy to note that, first meal was served during the reign of Atal Behari Vajpayee jee and he has got the opportunity to serve 3rd billionth meal. +He said Good Nutrition and Healthy Childhood is the foundation of New India. +PM said the 3 aspects of Health-: Nutrition, Immunization and Cleanliness have been given priority by his Government and National Nutrition Mission, Mission Indradhanush and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan are major initiatives. +National Nutrition Mission was launched last year reflecting its commitment to provide proper nutrition to every mother and children. +“If we succeed in delivering the nutrition coverage to every mother, every child, many lives will be saved.” added PM. +Talking about Mission Indradhanush Programme, he said that 5 more vaccines have been added to the national program. +3 Crore 40 lakhs Children and 90 lakh Pregnant Women have been immunized so far. +PM lauded Mission Indradhanush for being selected as one of the 12 best practices globally by a leading Medical Journal. +About Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Sanitation, he noted that an International Report has noted that usage of toilets can help save lives of 3 lakh People. +The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is an initiative in this direction. +PM also highlighted other initiatives of the Government including Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana ,Ujjawala Yojana, Rashtriya Gokul Mission. +Under Ujjawala Yojana, he said, Government has provided 1 Crore Free Gas connections in Uttar Pradesh alone. +Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog is being set up for conservation, protection and development of cows. +Highlighting Government’s efforts to help those engaged in Animal Husbandry, he said credit of Rs. 3 lakh under Kisan Credit Card has been extended to them. +He said PM Kisan Yojana aimed at Farmer Welfare will benefits the Farmers of Uttar Pradesh the most, as most of the farmers of this state have landholdings less than 5 acres. +PM summed up his address, saying these efforts of the foundation showcase the importance of transition of ‘I’ to ‘We’, when we rise above ourselves and think about society. +In 2016, Akshaya Patra commemorated the serving of 2 billion cumulative meals in the presence of the then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. +The serving of 3 billionth food for the underprivileged children from schools by Prime Minister narendra Modi is yet another step to reach out to the poor and marginalized sections of the society. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his second interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +The Prime Minister defined the role of PRAGATI as a means to break the silos between various Government agencies that impede decision-making. +He said the key objective is to find ways to speed up government processes. +In the course of his review today, the Prime Minister reviewed the work done for tribal welfare, especially giving land titles under the Forest Rights Act. +He asked the officials to make use of satellite technology to expedite the process of identifying tribal habitations. +The Prime Minister, in particular, emphasized the need to speed up infrastructure projects to improve connectivity in the eastern and north-eastern parts of the country. +He said infrastructure development is the key to rapid development of the North-East. +In this regard, he reviewed the progress of key railway projects in West Bengal and Assam. +He also reviewed the progress of the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, and interacted with Indian Ambassadors in Yangon, Myanmar and Bangkok, Thailand. +Shri Narendra Modi reviewed public grievances relating to LPG distribution, and urged the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to resolve pending complaints at the earliest, and institute arrangements so that such complaints do not arise. +He also discussed public grievances relating to BSNL customers and asked the officials to come up with a strategy to strengthen BSNL’s services. +The Prime Minister noted the efforts of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for the roll-out of people-friendly initiatives. +The Prime Minister reviewed progress of the Green Energy Corridor project, and underlined India’s commitment to global leadership with regard to renewable energy. +At the end, the Prime Minister, urged all officers to proactively work upon various pending issues and projects. +He said the speed of implementation and project delivery should not be limited to only those projects which are coming up for review under PRAGATI, but should span all pending projects, keeping in view the welfare and facilitation of citizens. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved an Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income between India and Iran. +The Agreement will stimulate flow of investment, technology and personnel from India to Iran & vice versa, and will prevent double taxation. +The Agreement will provide for exchange of information between the two Contracting Parties as per latest international standards. +It will thus improve transparency in tax matters and will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance. +The Agreement is on similar lines as entered into by India with other countries. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today gave its approval to move official amendments in the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015. +Utilization of these amounts will facilitate timely execution of appropriate measures to mitigate impact of diversion of forest land, for which these amounts have been realised. +Apart from mitigating the impact of diversion of forest land, utilisation of these amounts will result in creation of productive assets and generation of huge employment opportunities in the rural areas, especially the backward tribal areas. +Apart from the amendments of drafting and consequential in nature, the official amendments provide for the following: +i. Amendment of clause 2 (e) of the Bill to make the list of environmental services inclusive and to delete some of environmental services for which credible model to assess their monetary value does not exist. +ii. Amendment of clauses 2 (I) and 30 (1) of the Bill to provide for prior consultation with States Governments for making rule under the new legislation. +iii. Amendment of clause 4 (1) of the Bill to provide for establishment of State Fund of a Union territory having no legislature under Public Account of the Union of India. +iv. Amendment of clause 6 (d) of the Bill to provide for use of monies realised from the user agencies in lieu for forest land diverted in protected areas for voluntary relocation from protected areas. +v. Amendrnent of clause 8 (4) (ii) of the Bill ‘to include Secretaries of Ministries dealing with Space and Earth Sciences as members of governing body of the National Authority. +vi. Amendment of clause 8 (4) (x) of the Bill to increase the number of expert members in governing body of National Authority from two to five. +vii. Amendment of clause 9 (2) (ix) of the Bill to increase the number of expert members in executive committee of National Authority from two to three. +viii. Amendments of clause 11 (2) and 11 (3) of the Bill to include an expert on tribal matters or representative of tribal community as a member in both steering committee and executive committee of a State Authority. +ix. Amendment of clause 15 (1) (i) of the Bill to fix time limit of three months for Executive Committee of National Authority to approval annual plan of operations of State Authorities and to empower Executive Committee Of National Authorities to make amendments in annul plan of operations of State Authorities. +x. Amendment of clause 29 of the Bill to provide for laying of the annual report and the audit report along with memorandum of action taken on recommendations contained therein of State Authority constituted in Union Territories having no legislature before each house of the Parliament. +The amendments do not involve any additional expenditure. +The legislation will extend to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. +While according prior approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of forest land for non-forest purpose, Central Government stipulates conditions that amounts shall be realised from the user agencies to undertake compensatory afforestation and such other activities related to conservation and development of forests, to mitigate impact of diversion of forest land. +In the absence of permanent institutional mechanism more than Rs.40,000 crores have accumulated with the said ad-hoc Body. +On 13th May, 2015 Lok Sabha referred the Bill to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests. +On 26th February, 2016 the Committee submitted its report to the Parliament. +The Central Government after examination of the report of the Department-related Parliamentary Committee propose to move official amendments in the Bill. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has welcomed the first Air Freight Corridor flight from Kabul to India. +Prime Minister thanked Afghan President H.E. Ashraf Ghani for the initiative. +“Happy to welcome the first Air Freight Corridor flight from Kabul. +Direct connectivity between India and Afghanistan will usher prosperity. +I thank President Ashraf Ghani for the initiative”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in his message issued on the International Day of the Girl Child, which is observed every year on October 11, has said :- +“The girl child has left a mark in every area, from studies to sports. +Saluting their accomplishments on International Day of the Girl Child. +We should collectively work towards an India where there is no discrimination based on gender & where girls get all opportunities to shine.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) and creation of one post of Chairperson, three posts of full-time Members and one post of Secretary for NFRA. +The decision aims at establishment of NFRA as an independent regulator for the auditing profession which is one of the key changes brought in by the Companies Act, 2013. +The inclusion of the provision in the Act was on the specific recommendations of the Standing Committee on Finance (in its 21st report). +The decision is expected to result in improved foreign/domestic investments, enhancement of economic growth, supporting the globalisation of business by meeting international practices, and assist in further development of audit profession. +Jurisdiction: +The jurisdiction of NFRA for investigation of Chartered Accountants and their firms under section 132 of the Act would extend to listed companies and large unlisted public companies, the thresholds for which shall be prescribed in the Rules. +The Central Government can also refer such other entities for investigation where public interest would be involved. +The inherent regulatory role of ICAI as provided for in the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 shall continue in respect of its members in general and specifically with respect to audits pertaining to private limited companies, and public unlisted companies below the threshold limit to be notified in the rules. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved ‘Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan’ (PMGDISHA) to make 6 crore rural households digitally literate. +The outlay for this project is Rs.2,351.38 crore to usher in digital literacy in rural India by March,.2019. +This is in line with the announcement made by Finance Minister in the Union Budget 2016-17. +PMGDISHA is expected to be one of the largest digital literacy programmes in the world. +Under the scheme, 25 lakh candidates will be trained in the FY 2016-17; 275 lakh in the FY 2017-18; and 300 lakh in the FY 2018-19. +To ensure equitable geographical reach, each of the 250,000 Gram Panchayats would be expected to register an average of 200-300 candidates. +The implementation of the Scheme would be carried out under the overall supervision of Ministry of Electronics and IT in active collaboration with States/UTs through their designated State Implementing Agencies, District e-Governance Society (DeGS), etc. +As per the 71st NSSO Survey on Education 2014, only 6% of rural households have a computer. +This highlights that more than 15 crore rural households (@ 94% of 16.85 crore households) do not have computers and a significant number of these households are likely to be digitally illiterate. +The PMGDISHA being initiated under Digital India Programme would cover 6 crore households in rural areas to make them digitally literate. +This would empower the citizens by providing them access to information, knowledge and skills for operating computers / digital access devices. +As the thrust of the Government is on cashless transactions through mobile phones, the course content would also have emphasis on Digital Wallets, Mobile Banking, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) and Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS), etc. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the introduction of the Indian Trusts (Amendment) Bill, 2014 in the current session of Parliament to amend section 20 and 20A of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882. +The amendments are intended to provide the trustees greater autonomy and flexibility to take decisions on investment of trust money. +This would enable the Central Government to notify securities or class of securities, for investment by trusts and to remove the outdated provisions occurring in section 20 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882. +It is a great pleasure to meet President Obama in New York. +Thank you for hosting this meeting. +I deeply value your friendship and your vision and commitment for the relationship between our two countries. +We have achieved significant progress in our bilateral cooperation and international partnership. +I was in Silicon Valley over the weekend. +I experienced the strength of American innovation and enterprise that provide the foundation of American success. +I also saw the driving force of our relationship – youth, technology and innovation; and, the natural partnerships of Indian and Americans in advancing human progress. +California also reminds us that India and the United States are part of the dynamic Asia Pacific Region. +Amid the problems that the world faces today and the global challenges that we see ahead, our partnership is of great significance for us and our world. +We can apply innovation and technology for achieving Sustainable Development Goals, including combating climate change and conserving Nature. +President and I share an uncompromising commitment on climate change, without affecting our ability to meet the development aspirations of humanity. +We have both set ambitious national agendas. +In India, our measures include not just a plan to add 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022, but a development strategy that will enable us to transition to a more sustainable energy mix. +This is an exercise we are undertaking in the spirit of our culture and tradition, but also because of our commitment to the future of this planet. +Our extraordinary bilateral partnership in the energy sector focuses on clean and renewable energy and energy efficiency. +I also thank President Obama for his positive response to my call for a global public partnership for developing affordable clean energy sources that will enable faster adoption of clean energy across the world. +We should work together to advance that goal. +And, it is equally important to develop mechanisms to ensure that the affordable also become accessible to those who need it the most. +We look forward to comprehensive and concrete outcome in Paris with a positive agenda on combating climate change, which also focuses on access to finance and technology for the developing world, especially the poor countries and small island states. +I thanked President Obama for U.S. support for India’s permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council. +I also sought U.S. support to complete the reform process within a fixed time frame. +I expressed our appreciation for continued U.S. support for India’s membership of the international export control regimes within our targeted time frame. +Our partnership addresses a broad range of strategic and security concerns. +Our defence cooperation, including defence trade and training, is expanding. +As existing terrorism threats grow and new ones emerge, we have resolved to further deepen cooperation on counter terrorism and radicalism. +We have just had a successful cyber security dialogue. +We have agreed to further strengthen our consultation and cooperation on helping the Afghan people combat terrorism and build a peaceful, stable and prosperous future of their nation. +I welcomed the progress in giving shape to our Joint Strategic Vision on Asia, Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions as also our joint engagement with regional partners like Japan. +This will also strengthen our maritime security cooperation. +To further increase our strategic engagement in the region, I look forward to working with the U.S. for India’s early membership of Asian Pacific Economic Community. +Our economic partnership is a key driver of our relationship. +I have had excellent meetings with business leaders in New York and San Jose. +I am very pleased with their confidence in India and value their constructive feedback and suggestions. +We will also continue to work towards a stronger bilateral framework of economic cooperation, including the Bilateral Investment Treaty and Totalisation Agreement. +This meeting and my engagements in the U.S. demonstrate the extraordinary depth and diversity of our relationship. +Our meeting today was very productive in advancing some of our immediate priorities as also our broader strategic partnership. +We, the leaders of India and Russia, in the year that marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, note that the Indian-Russian special and privileged strategic partnership is a unique relationship of mutual trust between two great powers. +Our bilateral relations are based on deep mutual understanding and respect, similar priorities in economic and social development, as well as in foreign policy. +We favor the same approaches to ensuring peace and security and shaping a global architecture that reflects cultural and civilizational diversity and at the same time strengthens unity of humankind. +India-Russia relations have stood the test of time and have been immune to external influences. +Russia unwaveringly supported India in its struggle for independence and helped it to achieve self-sufficiency. +In August 1971, our countries signed the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation, which outlined fundamental principles of mutual relations such as respect for each other’s sovereignty and interests, good neighborliness and peaceful co-existence. +This partnership was further elevated to the level of a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership on 21 December 2010. +Advancing the comprehensive development of the Indian-Russian relations is an absolute priority of the foreign policy of both States. +We will continue to widen our scope of cooperation by launching large-scale initiatives in different spheres and enhance and enrich our bilateral agenda so as to make it more result-oriented. +The economies of India and Russia complement each other in the energy sector. +We will strive to build an “Energy Bridge” between our States and expand bilateral relations in all areas of energy cooperation, including nuclear, hydrocarbon, hydel and renewable energy sources and in improving energy efficiency. +With concerted efforts on both sides, there has been a series of steady and demonstrable achievements in our civil nuclear partnership, including advancing nuclear power projects at the Kudankulam site and transforming it into one of India’s largest energy hubs. +We welcome the conclusion of the General Framework Agreement and Credit Protocol for Units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. +We will work towards the implementation of the Strategic Vision for Strengthening Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy signed between the two countries on December 11, 2014. +The future of Indian-Russian cooperation holds great promise across a wide spectrum covering nuclear power, nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear science and technology. +The growing partnership in the nuclear power sector between India and Russia has opened opportunities for developing advanced nuclear manufacturing capabilities in India in line with Government of India’s “Make in India” initiative. +India and Russia commit themselves to earnestly implement the “Programme of Action for Localization in India” signed on 24 December 2015, and to encourage their nuclear industries to engage closely and foster concrete collaborations. +We are interested in launching joint projects on exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Arctic shelf of the Russian Federation. +We will develop joint strategies to harness the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of deep sea exploration and development of hydrocarbon resources, polymetallic nodules, and other marine resources utilizing strengths in the field of maritime research and training to develop mutually beneficial cooperation. +We welcome cooperation among energy companies of both States in modernizing the existing power stations and building new ones in the territory of India. +We will endeavour to develop joint projects in each other’s countries through sharing of technologies, experience of working in different terrains and climatic conditions, and use of energy efficient technologies for creation and propagation of cleaner, climate friendly and affordable energy resources. +Our major economic objectives include expanding trade and investment and diversification of trade in goods and services, in particular increasing the share of high-technology products in bilateral trade, fostering industrial cooperation, improving the environment for entrepreneurship and investments and developing cooperation in banking and financial matters between the two countries. +As the next stage of our strategic partnership, we will extend our bilateral technical, economic and scientific cooperation to third countries by undertaking joint development projects in mutually agreed sectors. +We will coordinate our efforts to promote settlements of Indian-Russian trade in national currencies to reduce dependence of our bilateral trade on other currencies. +We will jointly encourage our business communities to use the existing workable schemes and mechanisms for settlements in national currencies elaborated by the Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Russia. +We will coordinate our positions in order to develop a credit rating industry that is transparent for the market participants and independent from political conjuncture. +In this sense we support work aimed at exploring the opportunities of harmonization of our legislation in the area of credit ratings, as well as the recognition of ratings of our local credit rating agencies. +We acknowledge the importance of developing economic cooperation at the regional level. +We will facilitate an early commencement of negotiations on a free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and the Republic of India. +We appreciate the compelling logic of regional connectivity for peace, progress and prosperity. +The Russian and Indian Sides being guided by the principles of transparency, sustainability and responsibility, reiterate their commitment to build effective infrastructure for the International North South Transport Corridor and implementation of the Green Corridor. +We take note of the fact that both States are committed to building knowledge based economies, on the basis of latest scientific advances and innovation. +We will broaden cooperation in designing, developing, manufacturing and bringing to foreign markets high-technology products and strengthen scientific collaboration in areas such as space technology, aviation, new materials, agriculture, information and communication technologies, medicine, pharmaceuticals, robotics, nanotechnology, supercomputing technologies, artificial intelligence and material sciences. +We welcome the establishment of the High Level Committee on Cooperation in High Technologies between the two countries. +We will work together to step up joint efforts aimed at modernizing infrastructure, explore ways to jointly respond to urbanization challenges, address issues related to ensuring food security, preserving water and forest resources, and share experience in carrying out economic reforms and national programs for the development of small and medium enterprises and in skill development. +We will work together to further develop the potential for cooperation in the diamond industry with an objective to take full advantage of existing strengths and resources of both our countries in this area. +We will also intensify our joint efforts to counter undisclosed synthetic stones entering diamond market and to support the development of generic marketing programmes for diamonds. +Recognizing the strength of Russia in shipbuilding, river navigation and desalination technologies, we will work together to develop joint projects through transfer of technology and experience sharing for developing inland waterways, river embankments, ports and cargo containers towards effective utilization of extensive river systems in India. +We note that India will become the third largest aviation market by 2020 and in this connection, recognize that the Regional Connectivity Scheme of the Government of India provides an opportunity for strengthening cooperation in joint production and setting up of joint ventures in India in the field of aviation manufacturing to serve the demand created and for export to third countries. +Our bilateral defense cooperation is built on strong mutual trust. +Russia exports its modern military technologies to India. +We will upgrade and intensify this cooperation, through joint manufacture, co-production and co-development of military hardware and military spares, with increasing reliance on the adoption and sharing of future technologies, in compliance with the obligations of the sides under the existing agreements on military-technical cooperation. +We will work towards a qualitatively higher level of military-to-military cooperation. +We will continue holding regular joint land and sea military exercises, and training in each others’ military institutions. +This year will see the first ever Tri-services exercise INDRA–2017. +We see ample opportunities for bilateral cooperation in space research, with a view to using relevant technologies for the benefit of society. +We will continue joint work to prevent and respond to natural disasters. +We intend to enhance and actively promote greater cooperation between our regions and states, with a particular emphasis on the Far East region of Russia. +India and Russia regard the establishment of the multi-polar global order in international relations as a reflection of natural and inevitable process of evolution of interstate relations in the 21st century. +In this regard, we will enhance collaboration to democratize the system of international relations based on the principles of the rule of law and the central role of the United Nations coordination of world politics. +We believe that there is a need to reform the United Nations and in particular, the United Nations Security Council to make it more representative of contemporary realities and to respond more effectively to emerging challenges and threats. +Russia reaffirms its strong support to India’s candidature for a permanent seat in a reformed United Nations Security Council. +We will support the advancement of a positive unifying global agenda, effectively engage in international efforts to strengthen peace and ensure global and regional stability and security, confront challenges and threats, and actively promote just and coordinated approaches to crisis resolution. +We will work to foster the democratization and reform of global political, economic, financial and social institutions, for them to better accommodate the interests of all members of the international community. +We oppose any recourse to unilateralism or lack of respect to sovereignty, ignoring the core concerns and legitimate interests of the countries. +In particular, we do not accept the unilateral use of political and economic sanctions as a means of exerting pressure. +We intend to further build up fruitful cooperation within BRICS, which, as a result of our joint efforts, enhances consistently its authoritative and influential role in global affairs. +We will continue to develop cooperation within other multilateral forums and organizations, including the WTO, G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as Russia-India-China cooperation. +India’s full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will considerably enhance the Organization’s capabilities to ensure peace and stability, achieve economic development and prosperity in Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as improve the Organization’s international standing. +We will continue facilitating efforts to build an open, well-balanced and inclusive security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region based on shared principles and taking into account the legitimate interests of all States of the region, including through the development of relevant dialogue in the framework of the East Asia Summit. +We will further coordinate our positions on the challenging issues of restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East and North Africa, settlement of the Syrian crisis, achievement of national reconciliation in Afghanistan, including in the agreed framework of the Moscow dialogue, using the laid down principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, while encouraging the countries to lead the change from within. +In this context, Russia welcomes India’s applications for the membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement and reiterates its strong support for India’s earliest admission to these export control regimes. +We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stress that there can be no justification whatsoever for any acts of terrorism, whether based upon ideological, religious, political, racial, ethnic or any other reasons. +Together, we will continue efforts to combat international terrorism, which poses a great threat to maintenance of peace and security. +We are convinced that the unprecedented spread of this threat requires decisive collective response on part of the entire global community, without double standards and selectivity, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. +We urge all countries and entities to work sincerely to disrupt terrorist networks and their financing, and stop cross-border movement of terrorists. +We call for early conclusion of negotiations on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism to strengthen the global counter-terrorism normative and legal framework to combat this scourge. +We welcome the organizing of events in different cities in both countries to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Russia in 2017-18. +Bilateral cooperation in the sphere of education offers great opportunities. +We will work to strengthen cooperation in the field of education through promoting direct contacts among universities and academic institutions and providing assistance to students from the two countries. +Our Bilateral cooperation in the sphere of Science & Technology offers great opportunities. +We are committed to work together to address global challenges like Climate change, Environmental protection, Clean energy, Cyber security, Affordable health care, Marine biology etc through scientific discoveries and to explore priority areas of common interest. +We are working together to create networks of knowledge centers, connectivity of minds and scientific corridors to augment innovation led technology development for societal development. +We intend to further foster development of tourism and people-to-people contacts, including by easing the visa regime. +We are confident that India and Russia will continue to remain a role model for harmonious and mutually beneficial partnership and strong friendship between two states. +Building on the shared vision of development of bilateral relations, we will succeed in further realizing the immense potential of India-Russia special and privileged strategic partnership for the benefit of our States and international community as a whole. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Gujarat tomorrow – 22nd October, 2017. +At a public meeting in Ghogha, the Prime Minister will inaugurate Phase 1 of the RO RO (Roll on, Roll off) ferry service between Ghogha and Dahej. +This ferry service shall reduce the travel time between Ghogha in Saurashtra, and Dahej in South Gujarat, from about seven or eight hours, to just over an hour. +When fully operationalized, it will also enable movement of vehicles. +On Sunday, the Prime Minister will inaugurate Phase 1, which is passenger movement. +The Prime Minister will travel in the maiden voyage of this service, from Ghogha to Dahej. +The Prime Minister shall also address the gathering at Dahej, after completion of the voyage. +Also at the public meeting in Ghogha, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Sarvottam Cattle Feed Plant of Shree Bhavnagar District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd. +From Dahej, the Prime Minister will travel to Vadodara. +At a public meeting there, he will dedicate to the nation, the Vadodara City Command Control Centre; the Waghodiya Regional Water Supply Scheme; and the New Head Office Building of the Bank of Baroda, at Vadodara. +The Prime Minister will hand over keys of houses to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban, as well as Rural). +He will lay the Foundation Stones of several infrastructure and development projects, including an integrated transport hub, regional water supply schemes, housing projects, and a flyover. +He will also lay the foundation stone for the capacity expansion of the Mundra-Delhi petroleum product pipeline, and a greenfield marketing terminal project of HPCL, at Vadodara. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the SUMUL cattle feed plant at Bajipura in southern Gujarat. +He also laid the Foundation Stone for three Lift Irrigation Schemes, and inaugurated the Drinking Water Supply Scheme for Vyara Town and Jesinhpur-Dolvan Groups of Tapi district. +Addressing a large gathering, the Prime Minister recalled having worked in this area for a long time. +Here, in SUMUL we see the positive results that can be achieved when Sahkar (Cooperatives) and Sarkar (Government) work together, the Prime Minister said. +He said SUMUL also illustrates the good that happens when farmers and dairies work closely. +The Prime Minister said that Tapi district is one of the newer districts of Gujarat, and he is happy to see it achieve remarkable progress. +The Prime Minister called for value addition in the agriculture sector, and focus on increasing per capita milk production. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has invited the questions for Townhall Question and Answer (Q&A) session at Facebook Headquarters on September 27, 2015. +The Prime Minister wrote in his Facebook post:- +“I thank Mr. Mark Zuckerberg for the invite to visit the Facebook HQ. +I look forward to the Townhall Q&A on Sunday 27th September at 10 PM IST (9:30 AM Pacific time). +The interaction will cover a wide range of issues and will surely be a memorable one. +This programme will be incomplete without your participation! +Share your questions on Facebook. +I urge you all to share your questions on the ‘Narendra Modi Mobile App.’ +Your questions will make this a programme to be remembered.” +“Chalein Saath Saath: Forward Together We Go” +Chalein Saath Saath, forward together we go. +As leaders of two great democratic nations with diverse traditions and faiths, we share a vision for a partnership in which the United States and India work together, not just for the benefit of both our nations, but for the benefit of the world. +The currents of kinship and commerce, scholarship and science tie our countries together. +They allow us to rise above differences by maintaining the long-term perspective. +Our strategic partnership is a joint endeavor for prosperity and peace. +Through intense consultations, joint exercises, and shared technology, our security cooperation will make the region and the world safe and secure. +We will support an open and inclusive rules-based global order, in which India assumes greater multilateral responsibility, including in a reformed United Nations Security Council. +At the United Nations and beyond, our close coordination will lead to a more secure and just world. +Climate change threatens both our countries, and we will join together to mitigate its impact and adapt to our changing environment. +We will address the consequences of unchecked pollution through cooperation by our governments, science and academic communities. +We will partner to ensure that both countries have affordable, clean, reliable, and diverse sources of energy, including through our efforts to bring American-origin nuclear power technologies to India. +We will ensure that economic growth in both countries brings better livelihoods and welfare for all of our people. +Our citizens value education as a means to a better life, and our exchange of skills and knowledge will propel our countries forward. +Even the poorest will share in the opportunities in both our countries. +Our people will be healthier as we jointly counter infectious diseases, eliminate maternal and child deaths, and work to eradicate poverty for all. +And they will be safer as we ensure the fullest empowerment of women in a secure environment. +The United States and India commit to expand and deepen our strategic partnership in order to harness the inherent potential of our two democracies and the burgeoning ties between our people, economies, and businesses. +Together we seek a reliable and enduring friendship that bolsters security and stability, contributes to the global economy, and advances peace and prosperity for our citizens and throughout the world. +We have a vision that the United States and India will have a transformative relationship as trusted partners in the 21st century. +Our partnership will be a model for the rest of the world. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of former Chief Minister of Manipur and senior politician Mr. Rishang Keishing. +Excellency President Filipe Nyusi, +I am delighted to welcome President Nyusi and his delegation to India. +President Nyusi assumed office earlier this year. +We are happy that India is his first destination in Asia. +The visit is special because this is the 40th anniversary year of independence of Mozambique and the 40th anniversary year of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. +Mozambique and India have centuries-old trade ties. +20,000 people of Indian origin in Mozambique are an important link between us. +Our colonial experiences and development aspirations have shaped a shared vision and a strong partnership. +Mozambique can be a large and a proximate source of natural gas, coal and other minerals that are so important to drive our growth. +It also offers huge opportunities in agriculture sector. +I am pleased that Indian investments in these sectors have grown significantly in recent years. +Mozambique hosts nearly 25% of Indian investments in Africa. +Our trade has multiplied five times in the last five years. +We are delighted to be a development partner for Mozambique in several areas, including agriculture, healthcare, energy, infrastructure and human resource development. +So, as we seek to deepen our relations with Mozambique and enhance our engagement in the Indian Ocean Region and Africa, we are pleased that President Nyusi is visiting us now. +In my discussions today, I have conveyed the importance that we attach to Mozambique as our regional partner. +I have also stressed our commitment to our development partnership, in accordance with Mozambique’s priorities. +We spoke of our economic synergies and cooperation. +I expressed hope that Mozambique would continue to provide an encouraging environment for investments from India, including in the areas of hydrocarbons, minerals and infrastructure. +We have agreed to explore ways to speed up the implementation of power supply project in Maputo, being funded by Indian line of credit. +I have assured him of India’s full assistance and collaboration in agriculture and food security. +In turn, India could also benefit from the development of Mozambique’s agriculture sector. +We have today finalised an MoU on Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy. +This is an important area in our respective efforts towards sustainable development. +It assumes special importance this year as the international community moves to finalise a Climate Change agreement in Paris later this year. +India has already partnered Mozambique in setting up a solar panel assembly plant. +India and Mozambique have large coastlines and are linked by Indian Ocean. +I have discussed ways in which we can intensify cooperation in maritime security and ocean economy. +In recent years, our cooperation has included ship visits and hydrography surveys for Mozambique. +Today, we have discussed other areas of cooperation in defence, building on his last visit to India as Defence Minister in 2011. +We greatly appreciate Mozambique’s support for India’s candidature for Permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council. +In this 70th year of the United Nations, I sought his support to press for urgently needed reforms of the United Nations, especially the Security Council. +We also welcome the finalisation of the Sustainable Development Goals with focus on elimination of poverty by 2030, and look forward to the adoption of the post-2015 Development Agenda in September. +We underlined the need for an effective climate change accord in Paris later this year, which also provides the means and technology to developing countries to transition to clean energy sources. +I briefed President Nyusi about the Third India-Africa Forum Summit to be held in October in New Delhi. +There are remarkable similarities in the development goals and priorities of India and Africa. +For the first time, we have invited leaders of 54 African countries to participate in the India-Africa Forum Summit. +We look forward to President Nyusi’s participation in the Summit. +Finally, let me extend our sincere appreciation for your government’s strong support that made the International Day of Yoga a big success in Mozambique. +Excellency, your visit has renewed the focus on this very important relationship, not just for our two countries, but also as a bridge across the Indian Ocean between Africa and India. +I am confident that your experience and wisdom will be a source of strength in taking our relationship to a new level. +Thank you very much, President. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Major Dhyan Chand on National Sports Day. +The Prime Minister has also congratulated the sportspersons and coaches to be honoured with various sports awards. +“Best wishes to sports enthusiasts and tributes to Major Dhyan Chand on National Sports Day. +May sports and sportsman spirit shine in India. +Congrats to sportspersons and coaches who will be honoured with various sports awards. +We are proud of their efforts and contribution to sports”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi received today His Excellency Mr. Shimon Peres, Former President of Israel. +Mr. Shimon Peres congratulated the Prime Minister on his victory in the elections. +He said that India’s development and growth will be beneficial to the entire world. +He conveyed Israel’s readiness to partner with India in its development efforts and, in this context, called for greater collaboration in the areas of new and higher technologies. +He also shared his own vision of the way the introduction of new technologies would transform the human lives and the system of governance. +The Prime Minister said that it was a great honour for him to meet Mr. Shimon Peres, whose life was a source of inspiration for the entire world. +He lauded the immense contribution of Mr. Shimon Peres to the world polity and the development of India-Israel relations, in particular. +The Prime Minister recalled his visit to Israel as Chief Minister of Gujarat following which he had promoted use of drip / micro irrigation in the State and also set up an incubation center to support start-up companies with Israeli collaboration. +The Prime Minister reiterated the strong desire of India to further expand and strengthen its relations with Israel both in traditional areas as well as in new areas of cooperation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today dedicated to the nation, the electrification of railway line between Mysuru and KSR Bengaluru. +At a function at Mysuru Railway Station, he also flagged off the Palace Queen Humsafar Express between Mysuru and Udaipur. +He also inaugurated the Bahubali General Hospital. +Addressing the gathering at Shravanabelagola, the Prime Minister said saints and seers from our land have always served society and made a positive difference. +The strength of our society is that we have always changed with the times and adapted well to new contexts, the Prime Minister said. +It is our duty to provide good quality and affordable healthcare to the poor, he added. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will be attending 9th BRICS Summit in Xiamen, China from 3-5 September 2017. +Prime Minister will also be on the state visit of Myanmar from 5-7 September 2017. +India had the privilege of hosting the previous Summit in Goa in October last year. +I look forward to building upon the results and outcomes of the Goa Summit. +I also look forward to productive discussions and positive outcomes that will support the agenda of a stronger BRICS partnership under the chairmanship of China. +We will also interact with the BRICS Business Council represented by captains of industry from all five countries. +In addition, I look forward to engaging with leaders of nine other countries, including BRICS partners, in an Emerging Markets and Developing Countries Dialogue, hosted by President Xi Jinping on 5 September. +I will have the opportunity to meet leaders bilaterally on the sidelines of the Summit. +India attaches high importance to the role of BRICS that has begun a second decade of its partnership for progress and peace. +BRICS has important contributions to make in addressing global challenges and upholding world peace and security. +I will visit Myanmar on 5-7 September 2017 at the invitation of His Excellency U Htin Kyaw, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. +I have visited this beautiful country earlier in 2014 for the ASEAN-India Summit, but this will be my first bilateral visit to Myanmar. +I am looking forward to meeting President U Htin Kyaw as also Her Excellency Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of President’s Office. +I have had the opportunity for discussions with both dignitaries during their visits to India in 2016. +During the visit, we will review developments in our bilateral relations, especially the extensive programme of development cooperation and socio-economic assistance that India is undertaking in Myanmar, and explore new areas in which we can work together. +We will also look at strengthening our existing cooperation on security and counter-terrorism, trade and investment, skill development, infrastructure and energy, and culture. +I also look forward to paying a visit to the famed heritage city of Bagan, where the Archaeological Survey of India has done stellar work on renovating the Ananda Temple, and where it will be undertaking further restoration work on a number of pagodas and murals that were damaged in last year’s earthquake. +I will end my visit in Yangon, where I look forward to visiting various historical spots that symbolise the shared heritage of India and Myanmar. +I am confident that the visit will open a bright new chapter in India-Myanmar relations and will help in charting a roadmap for closer cooperation between our Governments, our business communities and at the people to people level.” +They shared their perspectives on the long shared history and maritime links between the two countries. +During the interaction, the Prime Minister highlighted the scope for cooperation in Energy Security and Food Security between the two countries. +He also conveyed his greetings to the Sultan of Oman, and greetings on the occasion of the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramzan. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the demise of Sister Nirmala. +“Sister Nirmala’s life was devoted to service, caring for the poor and underprivileged. +Saddened by her demise. +May her soul rest in peace. +My deepest condolences to the Missionaries of Charity family on the passing away of Sister Nirmala”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Palestine on cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine. +The MoU was signed on 16th May, 2017. +The MoU covers the following areas of cooperation: – +A Working Group will.be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this MoU. +H. E. Mr. Taro Kono, Foreign Minister of Japan, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Mr. Kono briefed the Prime Minister about the follow-up action taken in recent months after the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Japan in October 2018. +The Prime Minister warmly recalled his successful visit to Japan in October 2018, and reiterated his strong commitment to further deepen the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan. +The Prime Minister said that India looks forward to the next round of Annual Summit with Japan, later this year. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Shri Balram Jakhar. +“Balram Jakhar ji was a popular leader who enriched our Parliamentary democracy in his long political journey. +Saddened by his demise. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the passing of Shri Gangaram Talekar. +“Very sad to know of the passing away of Shri Gangaram Talekar. +My condolences to his family and the entire family of Dabbawallas of Mumbai,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for forming an expert group under the Chairmanship of Shri Arvind Panagariya, Vice-Chairperson, NITI AAYOG, to classify the Caste names returned in the Socio Economic and Caste Census, 2011 (SECC). +The expert group will be serviced by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Tribal Welfare. +Other members will be nominated by the two Ministries. +The Central Government had decided to collect data on Caste through the SECC vide the then Cabinet’s approval dated 19th May, 2011. +The SECC was conducted by the respective State/UT Governments. +The field survey on economic data has since been completed and the socio economic data relating to rural areas has been released by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). +The work on urban data is under progress. +According to the earlier decision of the Union Cabinet of 19th May 2011, the Government was to constitute an expert group to classify the Caste/Tribe returns at an appropriate time. +Accordingly, the Cabinet reviewed the status of the SECC and has decided to form an expert group under the Chairmanship of Shri Arvind Panagariya. +The enumeration has thrown about 46 lakh Caste/Sub Caste names/ synonyms/ surnames/ clan/gothra names. +The Expert group has been assigned to classify this data. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted Lachit Borphukan, on his birth anniversary. +“On his birth anniversary, I salute Lachit Borphukan. +He is India’s pride and his valour during Saraighat war can never be forgotten”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated a new Airport Complex, and an Integrated Command and Control Centre for the Kumbh Mela, at Prayagraj. +The Prime Minister also performed Ganga Pujan, and visited the Swachh Kumbh Exhibition. +He visited the Akshay Vat in Prayagraj. +He also dedicated to the nation, inaugurated, or laid the Foundation Stone for various development projects at Andawa in Prayagraj. +Addressing a large gathering, he announced that pilgrims for the Ardh-Kumbh this time will also be able to visit the Akshay Vat. +He said the Government is making every effort to ensure good connectivity to Prayagraj. +He said the projects dedicated today, would help both infrastructure and connectivity. +He said the new airport terminal had been completed in a record time of one year. +The Prime Minister said that every effort is being made to ensure a unique experience for devotees coming for the Ardh-Kumbh. +He said the effort is to showcase India’s glorious past, and vibrant future. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is also working to ensure a clean Ganga. +He said the sewage treatment plants and beautification of Ghats would go a long way in this regard. +The Prime Minister described the Kumbh as a symbol of India and Indianness. +He said it unites us, and gives a glimpse of Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat. +He said that the organisation of the Kumbh is not just a matter of faith, but also a matter of prestige, and every visitor to the Kumbh should be well taken care of. +He said the Ardh-Kumbh would show how ‘New India’ encompasses both heritage and modernity. +The Prime Minister said that he wishes to caution the country that certain forces are trying to put undue pressure on the judiciary. +He said these elements consider themselves to be above all institutions. +First of all, I congratulate the newly elected deputy chairman Shriman HarivanshJi on behalf the entire house and myself. +It is a matter of happiness for all of us that today Arun Ji is also amongst us after the recovery. +Today is the 9thof August. +The August Revolution was an important milestone in the freedom movement and Balia district had played an important role in that event. +Balia had been at the forefront in the freedom struggle right from the war of independence of 1857 to sounding the bugle of August Revolution to sacrificing lives. +Whether it was Mangal Pandey Ji or Chittu Pandey Ji or be it the tradition of Chandra ShekharJi, and HarivanshJi is also in that series. +He was born in the village of Jay Prakash Ji and till date he has been attached to the village. +And he has also been working as a trustee in the trust that was formed for implementing the dreams of Jay Prakash Ji. +And he completed his M.A. in economics from Banaras only. +He went to Calcutta to work in Ravivar newspaper. +And all of us are aware that SP Singh was a stalwart, he was well known in the world of television. +He worked with SP Singh. +And as a trainee journalist he had worked with DharamvirBharati. +He had started his life from there. +He was attached to the world of journalism. +However, he never let his own newspaper get an idea of it that Chandra ShekharJi was about to resign. +While maintaining the dignity of his office he kept that secret to himself. +He did not allow the news to be published in his own newspaper so that the newspaper can win praise. +And the circulation of news paper of just 400 copies when he had joined it. +The person who had several opportunities in life, there were avenues if he had gone to the banking sector. +However, he was a talented person and he dedicated himself to a newspaper with a circulation of just 400 copies. +He had been running the newspaper as a public movement. +Once,Naxals had kidnapped a respected person. +HarivanshJi, whatever sources he had through his newspaper, on the basis of those sources, he courageously went to the Naxal area. +He reasoned with them and secured the release of the person. +However, most of the time the situation of the house is like this that umpires are in more trouble than the players. +Therefore, it is a huge task, it is a challenging task to compel everyone to play by the rules. +However, HarivanshJi will certainly be able to do this thing. +And she herself is a M.A. in political science so heracademic knowledge will be now more helpful to you. +I am confident that now this thing will become a mantra in the house that all of us members of the parliament will have the grace of God (Hari). +Now everyone will be banking on Hari (HarivanshJi). +And I am confident that all of us, be from this side or that side, all the MPs will have your support. +It was such an election in whichthere were candidates with ‘Hari’ name on either side. +One candidate has a prefix of BK before his name: BK Hari. +He has no such prefix or suffix of BK or VK. +So a lot of new people would have received the training for casting votes. +And I would like to thank all the dignitaries, all the honorable members for taking forward this entire process in a very good manner and also to the deputy chairman. +And I am confident that his experience, his dedication to the social cause.And it has been an unique thing about HarivanshJi, he had started a column in his news paper: ‘What kind of MP should we have?’ +And at that time he did not know that one day he would become MP. +But he had run a massive campaign that what kind of MPs we should have. +I know that he has gotten a huge opportunity to realise his dreams and also the training that all of us MPs will receive from him. +I heartily congratulate him and convey my best wishes. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, met the Prime Minister of UK, Mr. David Cameron, in the morning at Chequers. +He planted an oak sapling, and the two leaders exchanged gifts. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of UK, Mr. David Cameron, attended the UK-India CEO Forum. +In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Cameron referred to Prime Minister Modi’s vision and intent for transforming India. +Shri Narendra Modi spoke of the historical ties and complementarities between the two countries. +He said economic ties are extremely important elements of the relationship between countries. +He referred to the Union Government’s initiatives such as “Make in India”, emphasis on infrastructure, opening up of FDI in various sectors, and commitments towards 50 million new houses by 2022 and 175 GigaWatts of renewable energy. +He said investment by British companies in India would be a win-win partnership for both countries. +The Queen hosted lunch for Prime Minister Modi. +Gifts were exchanged during the meeting. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, said India’s immense diversity is its speciality, pride and strength. +Addressing a massive gathering of the British-Indian Community at the Wembley Stadium in London, in the presence of UK Prime Minister David Cameron, the Prime Minister spoke of the great contributions of the Sikh community and of India’s Sufi tradition. +He recalled his meeting with the Sikh community in London yesterday, and said he shared their pain, understood their problems and was working to resolve them. +Expounding his vision of India, in his speech which lasted more than one hour, the Prime Minister recalled Imran Khan of Alwar, Rajasthan, who has made about 50 education apps and distributed them free. +He also recalled a Sarpanch in Haryana, who had responded to his Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao call, with a “Selfie with Daughter” campaign, which eventually became a global success. +He said he was sure of India’s bright future because his vision of India, was the India of Imran Khan who created and gave education apps for free; and of the Sarpanch who had conceived Selfie with India. +He said there are countless such people in India. +The Prime Minister said all major religions of the world are present in India, and in big numbers too. +He said the Indian diaspora carries these values with it wherever they go, and hence they are great ambassadors for India. +The Prime Minister spoke of his Government’s initiatives so far, and of his plans especially on Swachh Bharat and Clean Energy, to transform the lives of India’s citizens. +He said India would lead a global “Solar Alliance” of countries blessed with abundant solar radiation, to pursue the goal of economical solar energy generation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Police Commemoration Day, has proudly recalled the valour of our courageous police personnel who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. +“On Police Commemoration Day, proudly recalling the valour of all courageous police personnel who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty”, the Prime Minister said. +PM to interact with CEOs on September 24th +He will also interact with top American CEOs at an event organized by Time Magazine and Fortune, in collaboration with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. +The American companies that will feature during this meeting include Lockheed Martin, Ford, IBM, PepsiCo, GE, Boeing and MasterCard, among many others. +The Prime Minister will also have a roundtable meeting on media, technology and communications. +The Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Mr. David A. Granger, President of Guyana. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated to the nation, Phase-1 (Link 2) of the SAUNI (Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation) Yojana, at Botad. +He also laid the Foundation Stone of Phase 2 (Link 2) of the SAUNI Yojana. +Earlier, he welcomed Narmada water into the Krishna Sagar Lake by pressing a button and offering flower petals. +Addressing a public meeting, he described water as a holy offering from nature. +He said water is reaching Saurashtra with the blessings of the River Narmada. +He said this is the result of a lot of effort, and would benefit the farmers. +He complimented the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the work done by him on river water conservation, and the Narmada. +He called for the extensive use of drip irrigation, and said the Union Government is working on ways to help double incomes in the agriculture sector. +· PM distributes 5100 e-rickshaws to beneficiaries, holds “Chai pe Charcha” with rickshaw drivers and their families +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the Stand Up India initiative, which aims to boost entrepreneurship among the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Women. +The initiative envisages loans to at least two aspiring entrepreneurs from these categories. +The loan shall be in the ten lakh to one crore rupee range. +5100 e-rickshaws were also distributed on the occasion. +The Prime Minister paid homage to Babu Jagjivan Ram on his birth anniversary, and recalled his great contributions and service to the nation at crucial periods in various official capacities. +Explaining his vision for converting job seekers into job creators, the Prime Minister said the Stand Up India initiative will transform the lives of the Dalits and the Adivasis. +The Prime Minister said that India’s development journey will be stronger when it is scripted by the poor. +He urged the gathering to educate their children, and especially the girl child. +Earlier, the Prime Minister interacted with the families of some of the beneficiaries, over a cup of tea. +The beneficiaries explained how e-rickshaws would change their lives for the better. +The Prime Minister exhorted them to ensure that they educate their children. +The Prime Minister booked an e-rickshaw, and took a brief e-rickshaw ride towards the stage, making the payment for the ride through a cellphone. +“On the start of Chingam, the first month of the Malayalam New Year, my greetings to the Malayali community. +May the year bring joy & peace,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of the Collaborative Agreement with French National Research Agency (ANR), France for supporting the Belmont Forum Secretariat from January, 2015 to December, 2017 at a total estimated expenditure of Euro 40,000. +The Cabinet also approved continued financial support to Belmont Forum Secretariat beyond 2017. +The Belmont Forum, created in 2009, is a high level group of the world’s major and emerging funders of global environmental change research and international science councils. +It provides an opportunity to identify study and deliver international environmental research priorities, for the society, in an accelerated way through trans­national research collaboration between natural and social scientists and alignment of international resources +India is a member of Belmont Forum, besides Australia, Brazil, Canada, European Commission, France, Germany, Japan, Netherland, South Africa, UK and USA etc. +Ministry of Earth Science (MoES), represents India in the Belmont Forum since 2012. +In order to coordinate the activities of the Belmont, a Secretariat is hosted by one of the Belmont forum member on rotational basis. +ANR, France is hosting the Secretariat from January, 2015 to December, 2017. +Expenditure for hosting the Secretariat will be borne by Belmont Forum member countries in kind or cash contribution. +The Agreement will help to maintain a certain degree of continuity in the operations of the Forum and also help in smooth coordination of the activities of Belmont Forum. +Since the inception of Belmont Forum in 2009, its operations were being handled by a part-time secretariat associated with the respective Chairs of the Belmont Forum. +As the Co-chairs are rotational, the Secretariat also rotates and some time co-chairs are from different Continents with different time zone. +In order to maintain a certain degree of continuity in the operations of the Forum, establishment of a Full-time Secretariat was agreed upon by Belmont Forum members, on rotational basis. +ANR, France has agreed to host the Secretariat from January, 2015 to December, 2017. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited his home town, Vadnagar, for the first time since assuming office of Prime Minister. +Residents of the town thronged the streets to welcome the Prime Minister. +He offered prayers at the Hatkeshwar Temple. +He also stopped briefly at the school in which he had studied as a child. +The Prime Minister visited GMERS Medical College, Vadnagar, and unveiled a plaque to mark its dedication. +He also interacted briefly with students. +At a public meeting, the Prime Minister launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush, to accelerate progress towards the goal of full immunization coverage. +It will provide greater focus on urban areas and other pockets of low immunization coverage. +He also launched some development works. +Addressing an enthusiastic gathering, the Prime Minister said that coming back to one’s home town and receiving such a warm welcome is special. +Whatever I am today is due to the values I have learnt on this soil, among you all in Vadnagar, the Prime Minister said. +I go back with your blessings and assure you that I will work even harder for the nation, the Prime Minister said to the people of Vadnagar. +The Prime Minister expressed happiness that he had got to inaugurate projects related to the health sector, particularly Intensified Mission Indradhanush. +He mentioned how the Government had brought down the prices of stents, and said that the Government is working constantly to make healthcare affordable for the poor. +Mentioning his interaction with students from the medical college, the Prime Minister said that as a society, we require more doctors who can serve the people. +Hello, my young friends. +I see you are having a good time. +Back in 2014, I had enjoyed attending the Global Citizen Festival in the beautiful Central Park of New York. +However, this time around, my schedule did not permit me to come in person. +But then, I just could not miss out on the first time this was happening in India. +So here I am on V C +Many of you have already connected with me over my Mobile App. +I look forward to your feedback and suggestions in the future as well. +I always look forward to being among young people. +It refreshes and re-energizes me. +You bring an Energy and Idealism that is unparalleled. +I can feel it now, even when I am hundreds of kilometres away from you. +This is a welcome break from my usual routine of old files and cold Delhi. +I congratulate Hugh Evans, Shiv Khemka, Gauri Easwaran, Poonam Mahajan and the many others who have worked hard to put this together. +To make public policy Cool, is no mean task! +Thank you guys for having me over. +You have been smart in asking me to only address the gathering, and not sing. +Else, I am pretty sure your audience would be asking you for their money back. +And that too in 100 rupee notes. +My dear young friends, on the whole, I am convinced that we can, and we will build a Swachh Bharat, free of all forms of filth within one generation. +Hence, I am deeply grateful for your walking shoulder to shoulder with me in this Cleanliness drive, and look forward to your continuing to do the same. +As I leave you to enjoy Cold Play, let me end on a musical note. +So to quote from one of Dylan’s transformative anthems which holds as much meaning today as it did when it was first sung in the 1960s. +Come mothers and fathers Through-out the land. +And don’t criticize What you can’t understand. +Elders must learn from these words of wisdom. +We better get out of the way, as indeed, the times they are a changing. +India is a Young Nation. +And our Future is built on the Choices YOU Make, and the Actions YOU Take. +Hence, I hope YOU too will seize the moment and be the winds of change that are transforming our nation. +Because, as Chris has said in his songs. +You can see the change you want to +Be what you want to be +Everything you want is a dream away +Under this pressure under this weight +We are diamonds taking shape +During the interaction, the Prime Minister urged the media-persons to keep the interests of the country in the mind, while performing their duties. +He also exhorted them to promote and highlight activities related to “Swachh Bharat.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Rajasthan tomorrow, 29th August 2017. +“Tomorrow I will be visiting Rajasthan, the land of the brave, where I will inaugurate and lay the foundation of key National Highway projects. +I will address a public meeting in Udaipur. +I will also visit the Pratap Gaurav Kendra and pay my respects to the great Maharana Pratap”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +On the occasion of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, congratulated the award winners, Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai. +“The entire nation watches the ceremony in Oslo with great joy and immense pride. +Congratulations Kailash Satyarthi! +I also congratulate the young Malala Yousafzai for the momentous achievement,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of new Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Fiji. +The Agreement is for updation of the existing Air Services Agreement (ASA) between the two countries which was signed on 28th January, 1974. +The updation is as per latest ICAO template keeping in view the latest developments in civil aviation sector and with an objective to improve the air connectivity between the two countries. +A draft text of Air Service Agreement has been finalized in consultation with Ministry of Law & Justice (Department of Legal Affairs), Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Revenue), Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Commerce and Ministry of Tourism. +The essential features of the Air Services Agreement are as follows: +i. Both countries shall be entitled to designate one or more airline. +ii. The designated airlines of either country shall have the right to establish offices in the territory of the other country for the promotion and sale of air services. +iii. The designated airlines of the two countries shall have fair and equal opportunity to operate the agreed services on specified routes. +The routes and frequencies shall be decided subsequently. +iv. The designated airline will be free to decide tariffs in respect of the agreed services at reasonable levels based on the commercial considerations. +v. The designated Airline of each party can enter into cooperative marketing arrangements with the designated carriers of same party and other party. +vii. The existing Route Schedule annex to the ASA has also been revised and new points of call have been added for enhanced connectivity. +Besides this, Kochi, Varanasi, Ahmedabad and Amritsar may be served through domestic code share operations. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the declaration of Vijayawada Airport as International Airport, as per the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. +The proposal will add to improved connectivity to the State capital. +Declaration of an airport as International Airport depends upon traffic potential and demand from airlines for operation of international flights. +Further, availability of Ground Lighting Facilities, Instrument Landing System for operation of aircrafts at night, adequate runway length to cater to medium capacity long-range aircraft or equivalent type of aircraft, availability of Customs, Immigration, Health and Animal & Plant Quarantine Services are also required for international operations. +The declaration of Vijayawada Airport as International has been taken up in accordance with the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 and keeping in view the passenger traffic growth, demands from airlines and Andhra Pradesh Government. +Airports Authority of India has undertaken upgradation of requisite infrastructure and facilities for international operations. +The Mission was launched in September, 2014. +• strengthening institutional capacity at the State level through upgrading AYUSH educational institutions, State Govt, ASU&H Pharmacies, +• Drug Testing Laboratories and ASU & H enforcement mechanism, +• supporting cultivation of medicinal plants by adopting Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) to provide sustained supply of quality raw-materials and development of infrastructure for medicinal plants storage and marketing. +The NAM is addressing the gaps in health services through supporting the efforts of State/UT Governments for providing AYUSH health services/education in the country, particularly in vulnerable and far-flung areas. +The expected outcomes of the Mission are as follows: +i. Better access to AYUSH healthcare services through increased number of healthcare facilities offering AYUSH services and better availability of medicines and trained manpower. +ii. Improvement in AYUSH education through well-equipped enhanced number of AYUSH Educational institutions. +iii. Improved availability of quality AYUSH drugs by increased number of quality pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories coupled with stringent enforcement mechanism. +iv. Increased awareness and acceptance of the Yoga & Naturopathy as promotive and preventive health-care systems. +v. To meet the increasing domestic demand of herbal raw-materials and also to promote export. +Background: +During and after the presentation, several members of the audience, including the Prime Minister and Union Ministers asked questions related to the theme of the presentation, and gave their suggestions. +Earlier, on the 12th January, the first group, on Energy Conservation and Efficiency, had made its presentation. +This is yet another giant step in Afghanistan’s march to progress. +And, it is a historic moment of emotion and pride in the relations between Afghanistan and India. +Thank you, Mr. President, for your invitation and for naming this dam as Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam. +We are truly humbled by the generosity of the Afghan spirit. +Rivers have been bearers of great civilisations of the world. +In the flow of rivers runs the course of human progress. +In the Holy Quran, river is central to the image of Paradise. +For the snow feeds the rivers that sustain life and agriculture. +So, today, we are not just launching a project that will irrigate land and light up homes. +We are reviving a region, restoring hope, renewing life and redefining Afghanistan’s future. +The dam is a generator not just of electricity but also of optimism and belief in the future of Afghanistan. +The lost decades speak to us about the ravages of a long drawn war. +They will not come in the way of the dreams and aspirations of the Afghan people. +The fields that produce the finest fruits and saffron shall once again come alive with the clear waters of the river. +The homes that lived through dark nights of dread will now be lit by the power of hope. +Children shall again believe in the possibility of a future of education and opportunity. +And, another young girl poet will not have to live a life of pain, denial and longing, or see a life of promise cut short. +The city that was the gateway to the West, South and Central Asia,will once again be the hub that will unite the regions in a peaceful pursuit of prosperity. +So, to the people and Government of Herat and the Government of Afghanistan, I express our deepest appreciation for your support, patience and understanding – and, above all, your belief in us. +Bonds that remind us of ancient links between this region and India. +For many, the Harirud River is one strand of our connected histories since the ancient Vedic times. +For, it is from here that the Chishti Silsila or Chishti tradition of Sufism came to India. +Its glorious tradition and teachings resonate through the dargahs of Ajmer, Delhi and Fatehpur Sikri. +It draws people from all faiths with its message of love, peace, compassion; of harmony among people of all beliefs; of respect for all of God’s creations; and service to humanity. +Indians and Afghans know that these values, not extremism and violence, define Afghanistan – a nation brimming with poetry of love and spiritual tradition of peace and harmony. +And, these are the values that give the great Afghan people the patience and persistence to seek peace with their own who have chosen the path of violence and also with those who support them. +Khwaja Moiunuddin Chishti, the first of the Chishti saints in India, said that human beings must have the affection of the sun, the generosity of the river and the hospitality of the earth. +Together, our partnership has built schools, health centres and irrigation facilities for rural communities. +It has empowered women with skills and the youth with the education to shoulder the responsibility for Afghanistan’s future. +We have joined hands to build roads that bridge the distances of your country, from Zaranj to Delaram, and transmission lines that bring power to your homes. +Our cooperation will extend to every part of Afghanistan. +For, divisions among Afghan people will only help those who seek to dominate the nation from outside. +As we work together, we draw strength and confidence from your deep commitment to protect our partnership from the designs of others. +When our people are under attack, the brave Afghans guard us as their own. +They put themselves in the line of fire so that their Indian friends are safe. +This is the nobility of your heart and the strength of your friendship. +I have seen this from the moment I assumed office as Prime Minister. +For on that day, when terrorists launched a massive attack on our Consulate in this city of Herat, the heroic efforts of Afghan soldiers, and of our personnel, saved many lives and prevented a big tragedy. +Mr. President, Friends, +Afghanistan’s success is a deeply held hope and desire of every Indian. +It comes from the love and admiration for Afghans in our hearts. +We want to see your democracy strike deep roots; your people unite; and, your economy prosper. +We want to see your art, culture and poetry thrive. +And, we want to see your cricketers join the ranks of test players and also seek glory in IPL. +But, it also comes from the recognition that when Afghanistan succeeds, the world will be safer and more beautiful. +When the values that define Afghans prevail, terrorism and extremism will be in retreat. +India will not forget or turn away. +As I said then, and I will say it again, your friendship is our honour; your dreams are our duty. +India’s capacity may be limited, but our commitment is without limits. +Our resources may be modest, but our will is boundless. +For others, their commitments may have a sunset clause, but our relationship is timeless. +We face barriers of geography and politics, but we define our path from the clarity of our purpose. +We see resistance and suspicion of others, but our resolve is strong and your faith and trust guides us forward. +Thank you for this honour, this affection and this friendship. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his twenty-second interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +The first twenty one meetings of PRAGATI have seen a cumulative review of 190 projects with a total investment of Rs. 8.94 lakh crore. +Resolution of Public Grievances has also been reviewed in 17 sectors. +Today, in the twenty-second meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to the banking sector. +The Prime Minister asked the Secretary, Financial Services, to look at ways to increase the use of RuPay debit cards that have been issued to Jan Dhan account holders. +The Prime Minister was briefed on the relief that has been received by the Jan Dhan account holders, as part of the insurance provisions that are linked to these accounts. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of nine infrastructure projects in the railway, road, power, coal and gas pipeline sectors, spread over several states including Telangana, Karnataka, West Bengal, Manipur, Mizoram, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Delhi. +The India Myanmar Friendship Bridge was also reviewed. +These projects are cumulatively worth over 37000 crore rupees. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of the National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), and the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) for the Divyang. +The Prime Minister said that while many Union Government departments are now using the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), only ten States have so far shown keenness in using it. +The Prime Minister said that GeM increases the pace of procurement, and boosts transparency, besides supporting enterprise at the local level. +He urged all Chief Secretaries to explore its use to the extent possible, to minimize leakages and delays. +On GST, the Prime Minister said that while traders across the country are positive and are accepting this new taxation arrangement, they need handholding so that their problems can be resolved. +He urged the Chief Secretaries to use the district administration in this regard, so that small traders are facilitated to access and adopt the new system. +He reiterated that small businesses must register with the GST network, to take advantage of business opportunities. +He said that the common man and the trader must benefit from this path breaking decision. +The Prime Minister also called for sustained efforts to boost digital payments and work towards a less cash society. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed Independence Day greetings to the people of Mozambique. +“Independence Day greetings to the people of Mozambique. +We cherish our strong ties with Mozambique and hope to deepen our cooperation further”, the Prime Minister said. +Noting that the Union Government is going to complete four years of assuming office in a few months, he said that a definite change is now visible. +He said this change in the economic and social content, represents the essence of the New Rules for the New India and the New Economy. +The Prime Minister said that within the last four years, the discourse has changed from India being a “Fragile Five” economy, to the target of India becoming a “Five Trillion Dollar” economy. +The Prime Minister presented facts and figures to indicate how India is playing a key role in the entire world’s growth. +He said that in nominal terms, India’s share of the world GDP has risen from 2.4% in 2013, to 3.1% in 2017. +He said India is performing better on various macro-economic parameters. +The Prime Minister said that this change has come about due to a new approach and a new work culture. +He said India’s competitiveness is being validated by the entire world today. +Shri Narendra Modi recalled that when he had last attended this Global Business Summit, GST was still, just a possibility. +Today, he added, it is a reality, which has delivered a better tax compliance system and a better revenue system. +The Prime Minister mentioned other reforms such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. +The Prime Minister said that speed, scale and sensitivity are important to ensure the success of the Government’s initiatives. +He gave some examples of the increase in pace in the infrastructure sector. +The Prime Minister said that there is unprecedented investment being made today in infrastructure, agriculture, technology, health sector, and education sector. +Talking about the Digital India Mission, the Prime Minister said that the trinity of 100 crore bank accounts, 100 crore Aadhaar cards and 100 crore mobile phones, would create a unique ecosystem, not seen anywhere else in the world. +He also spoke of initiatives taken for the MSME sector. +The Prime Minister recalled that in his last address at the Economic Times Global Business Summit, he had spoken of Housing for All,Power for All, Clean Cooking for All, Health for All,and Insurance for All. +He outlined the steps that have been taken in this regard in house construction, Saubhagya Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, and insurance. +The Prime Minister mentioned the announcement in the recent Union Budget, on MSP. +He made it clear that the Government would take strict action against irregularities in financial matters. +He said that the illegal accumulation of people’s money is unacceptable, and this is the basic mantra of “New Economy – New Rules.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Philippines in the field of agriculture and related fields. +The MoU will improve bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture and will be mutually beneficial to both countries. +It will promote understanding of best agricultural practices in the two countries and will help in better productivity as well as improved global market access. +This MoU provides for cooperation in the fields of rice production and processing, multi cropping system, dryland farming systems, bio-organic farming, solid and water conservation and management, soil fertility, sericulture, agro forestry, livestock improvement etc. +The MoU provides for constitution of Joint Working Group composed of equal number of representatives. +The Joint Working Group shall meet once every two years alternatively in the Philippines and India. +15 Technology Innovation Hubs, six Application Innovation Hubs and four Technology translation Research Hubs to be set up +The Mission addresses the ever increasing technological requirements of the society, and takes into account the international trends and road maps of leading countries for the next generation technologies. +The mission implementation would develop and bring: +Implementation strategy: +The NM-ICPS is a comprehensive Mission which would address technology development, application development, human resource development & skill enhancement, entrepreneurship and start-up development in CPS and associated technologies. +The Mission aims at establishment of 15 numbers of Technology Innovation Hubs (TIH), six numbers of Application Innovation Hubs (AIH) and four numbers of Technology Translation Research Parks (TTRP). +These Hubs & TTRPs will connect to Academics, Industry, Central Ministries and State Government in developing solutions at reputed academic, R&D and other organizations across the country in a hub and spoke model. +A strategic approach involving a suitable mix of Academic, Industry and Government is proposed to be adopted. +Volume, scale and complexity of emerging applications demand continued evolution of new technologies for the foreseeable future. +CPS is an integrated system of upcoming technology, which in turn is being taken up on priority basis by countries in the race for development. +CPS will indeed bring a paradigm shift in entire skill sets requirement. +The job opportunities will be enhanced through the Mission by imparting advanced skills and generating skilled manpower as per the requirement of the industry/ society. +As Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Start-up Ecosystem is an integral part of the proposed NM-ICPS, the start-ups will also create a number of technology driven job opportunities in CPS and allied areas. +Accordingly, it is estimated that, about 40,000 jobs will be created in the short term and about 2,00,000 in long term. +The Mission will feed the Central Ministries/ Departments and State Govts and also the Industry to effectively use the CPS technologies in their projects and schemes for the benefit of the society. +States/districts covered: +NM-ICPS is a Pan India Mission and covers entire gamut of India that includes Central Ministries, State Governments, Industry and Academia. +It has become imperative for government and industries to be prepared to adopt these emerging and disruptive technologies in order to remain competitive, drive societal progress, generate employment, foster economic growth and to improve the overall quality of life and sustainability of the environment. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to those who lost their lives in the gruesome 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. +“Tributes to those who lost their lives in the gruesome 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. +Our solidarity with the bereaved families. +A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has bowed to Guru Teg Bahadur, on his martyrdom day. +“I bow to Guru Teg Bahadur on his martyrdom day. +He was blessed with courage and the commitment to serve society. +He continues to inspire”, the Prime Minister said. +On the occasion of International Day of Yoga – 2017, the Prime Minister today participated in a mass Yoga demonstration event in Lucknow. +Thousands of people gathered for the event at the Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan despite continuous rain in the city. +Addressing the enthusiastic and vociferous gathering, the Prime Minister conveyed his greetings from Lucknow to all those joining the Yoga Day celebrations across India. +He said that today, Yoga has become a part of many people’s lives. +He said Yoga’s popularity is high even outside India; and Yoga has connected the world with India. +The Prime Minister said he is glad to see several Yoga institutes take shape over the last three years, and noted that the demand for Yoga teachers is increasing. +In addition to fitness, wellness is important, the Prime Minister said, adding that Yoga is a medium to achieve wellness. +Urging everyone to make Yoga a part of their lives, the Prime Minister said that Yoga is about health assurance, and it is not even expensive to practice. +Earlier, welcoming the Prime Minister to Lucknow, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, said that Yoga is a part of our tradition and it integrates us. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Italy for cooperation in Agriculture and Phytosanitary issues. +It replaces the earlier MoU signed in January, 2008 which is going to expire in January, 2018. +The MoU provides for cooperation in the fields of Phytosanitary issues, agricultural production and a wide range of other sectors including animal husbandry, agricultural research, food processing and other additional fields as may be mutually decided by both the sides. +The MoU has provision for exchange of information on the situation of agriculture and rural development, strengthening of technical exchange and production cooperation in respect of agricultural mechanization/farm machinery and agro-industrial infrastructures, removal of technical barriers and exchange experiences in animal husbandry sector including modern scientific researches and technologies etc. +The MoU provides for setting up of a Joint Working Group in order to promote bilateral exchanges in the field of agriculture, consider long-term initiatives for agricultural cooperation, and promote cooperation in order to reduce phytosanitary risks in exported goods also through the definition of specific joint procedures. +It will encourage and facilitate contacts between governmental agencies, scientific and academic institutions and business communities of both countries and promote further cooperation between the respective research institutes of the two countries. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Uzbekistan for increased cooperation in the areas of Trade, Industry, and Research & Development of Pharmaceutical products. +In view of the importance of the growth of the pharmaceutical Industry in both countries and importance of mutual cooperation in trade, production, research and development in the pharmaceutical sector, both Governments have been trying to establish a formal mechanism of bilateral cooperation. +The MoU will explore the possibilities for the production of medicines, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in different therapeutic segments in both countries. +It will also exchange information on trade and registration procedures, legal and regulatory requirements for export and import of pharmaceuticals products, including APIs. +The MoU will increase cooperation with the Republic of Uzbekistan in the areas of Trade, Industry and Research & Development of Pharmaceutical products. +Government committed to all round development of Odisha & Eastern India: PM +Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Balangir in Odisha today. +He launched several development projects worth Rs. 1500 crores and laid foundation stones of various Projects. +The Prime Minister arrived at the Swami Vivekanand Airport in Raipur this morning and then left for Balangir. +In Balangir, he dedicated Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) Jharsuguda to the Nation. +The MMLP will make Jharsuguda the prime hub of logistics in the region. +Giving a boost to rail projects, Mr. Modi inaugurated the Balangir-Bichhupali railway line built at an estimated cost of Rs. 115 crore. +In a reflection of his commitment towards the people of Odisha, the Prime Minister said that it was his third visit to Odisha over the past three weeks. +Addressing a gathering at the Railway Yard in Balangir, he said that the “Government is making continuous efforts for the development of Eastern India and Odisha. +Launch of a series of development projects at Balangir is a step in this direction.” +The PM also dedicated to the nation, the new bridge over Nagavali River, Doubling of Railway Lines between Barpali-Dungaripali and Balangir-Deogaon and Electrification of 813 km of Jharsuguda-Vizinagaram and Sambalpur-Angul lines. +The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Odisha’s Sonepur at an estimated cost of Rs.15.81 crore. +Inauguration of 6 railway projects is an effort of our endeavour to enhance connectivity. +It will facilitate movement of people, make mineral resources more accessible to industry and help farmers to take their produce to far-off markets, furthering ‘Ease of Living’ for Odisha’s citizens”. +Citing his commitment for the preservation of culture and heritage, the Prime Minister said that it will strengthen our cultural links and enhance the tourism potential in the state. +He expressed his happiness over the renovation and restoration works at the Nilamadhav and Siddheswar temples in Gandhaharadi (Boudh). +Mr. Modi also inaugurated restoration and renovation work of Ranipur Jharial group of monuments in Balangir & Asurgarh Fort in Kalahandi. +I am pleased to welcome Prime Minister Trudeau on his official visit to India. +We are delighted that you have come with your wife and children. +We are also delighted that you have visited several Indian cities prior to our today’s meeting. +My visit to Canada in 2015 was the first bilateral visit of any Indian Prime Minister in 42 years. +I had visited Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa during the visit. +I experienced the love and affection of the people of Canada towards India. +I believe that Prime Minister Trudeau would have also experienced the warmth and natural brotherhood towards Canada in India. +He would have experienced the diversity of our country and the vibrancy of our democracy. +India places high importance in taking forward its strategic partnership with Canada. +Our relations are based on democracy, pluralism, supremacy of rule of law and mutual contacts. +India and Canada can work together in every sector: from trade and investment to energy; from science and innovation to education and skill development; and from oceans to the space. +In our today’s meeting, we reviewed all aspects of our mutual relations and identified the solid measures for increasing the mutual cooperation. +First of all, we agreed to strengthen our security cooperation. +Terrorism and militancy are a threat for democratic and pluralistic society like India and Canada. +It’s important for us to come together to face these forces. +There should not be any place for those who use community for political purposes and for creating rift. +Also, those who challenge the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of our countries cannot be tolerated. +Prime Minister Trudeau and I have agreed to fight terrorism and militancy. +Our NSAs have also met earlier. +They have finalised the Framework for Cooperation on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism. +We have also reviewed our economic relations. +We have agreed that we will further deepen the economic relations between Canada and India. +India’s rapid and constant economic growth and economic reforms provide ample opportunities. +Canada’s pension fund continues to be a powerful partner in India’s infrastructure development. +It’s essential to provide for an institutional mechanism for our economic partnership. +In this context, we have instructed our negotiators to double their efforts to finalise a Bilateral Investment and Promotion Agreement and a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement. +Today we will also get an opportunity to talk to the CEOs of both the countries. +Canada is an important destination for Indian students for higher studies. +Today, more than one hundred and twenty thousand Indian students are there in Canada. +The MoU on higher education which has been renewed today will helpfacilitate the increased movement of students and teachers of both the sides. +In order to increase the movement of skilled professionals and to facilitate their movement, I have requested the Prime Minister Trudeau. +Both our countries will benefit from this and it will make the economy of Canada more competitive. +There are ample opportunities in our technology partnership. +Our scientists and researchers have been discovering the new technologies and systems and these will have a positive impact on both the countries – Canada and India. +Our governments have also agreed to strengthen the cooperation in the field of information and communication technology. +Canada has been an energy super power and it can meet our growing energy requirements. +Today we have decided to expand our energy dialogue and to prepare the contours of the future of our energy partnership. +The strength of our cooperation in the field of atomic energy is being reflected in the unhindered supply of uranium. +Today, we have been adding nuclear science, technology and innovation to our cooperation.\ +My friend Prime Minister Trudeau and I have exchanged our ideas on the regional and global situation. +The situation in Afghanistan was discussed in detail. +There is a clear need to help the government and people of Afghanistan in facing the challenges of cross-border terrorism and for making a peaceful, safe, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan. +Our views are similar on the issues of the freedom of navigation in Indo-Pacific; on the dangers of the links of proliferation related to North Korea; and on the restoration of democratic institutions in Maldives. +We have agreed to strengthen the cooperation in the field of establishment of peace and also on giving special attention for capacity building in the third countries. +People-to-people contact is the solid base for our strategic partnership. +India is proud of the achievements of Indian community in Canada. +I’m delighted to note that the Prime Minister has brought several of them along with him in this visit. +India-Canada is a natural partnership of shared values. +I wish for a stronger partnership between the two countries and hope for a bright future for both the countries becauseof this. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Civil Service Council of Mongolia (CSCM). +The MoU will strengthen the existing relationship between CSCM and UPSC. +It will facilitate sharing of experience and expertise of both the parties in the area of recruitment. +Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. +At this difficult moment, India stands with UK in the fight against terrorism”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Qatar for cooperation in Skill Development and Recognition of qualifications. +The MoU will facilitate workforce mobility, skill development and placement of youth in overseas jobs in Qatar. +The FMBAP Scheme will be implemented throughout the country for effective flood management, erosion control and anti-sea erosion. +The proposal will benefit towns, villages, industrial establishments, communication links, agricultural fields, infrastructure etc. from floods and erosion in the country. +The catchment area treatment works will help in reduction of sediment load into rivers. +RMBA component being specific to activities in border areas with neighbouring countries and in accordance with bilateral mechanisms, the projects / works will continue to be funded as 100% grant-in-aid / central assistance. +The Scheme “FMBAP” has been framed by merging the components of two continuing XII Plan schemes titled “Flood Management Programme (FMP)” and “River Management Activities and Works related to Border Areas (RMBA)”. +The aim of the Scheme is to assist the State Governments to provide reasonable degree of protection against floods in critical areas by adopting optimum combination of structural and non-structural measures and enhancing capabilities of State / Central Government officials in related fields. +The works under the scheme will protect valuable land from erosion and flooding and help in maintaining peace along the border. +The Scheme aims at completion of the on-going projects already approved under FMP. +Further, the scheme also caters to Hydro-meteorological observations and Flood Forecasting on common rivers with the neighbouring countries. +My dear countrymen, Namaskar. +Just a while ago, from the 4th of April to the 15th of April, the 21st Commonwealth Games were held in Australia. +71 countries, including India, participated therein. +With an event of such scale & magnitude, which saw the participation of thousands of sportspersons from myriad corners of the world, can you imagine the mood that must have pervaded the atmosphere there? +An air of excitement, zeal, enthusiasm, hope, aspirations, the determination to achieve – who would want to stay away from an atmosphere like that? +These were the times when people all over the country pondered eagerly everyday on the line-up of sportspersons, scheduled for their respective performances. +Our sportspersons too lived up to the countrymen’s expectations and displayed stellar performances, winning one medal after another. +26 Gold, 20 Silver, 20 Bronze, India bagged a tally of around 66 medals. +After the conclusion of a match, representing India, when the athletes draped in the tricolor rise, displaying their medals, the notes of the National Anthem being played evoke a sense of joy and fulfillment, glory and honour. +This is very, very special in itself. +It is a touching moment that fills one’s heart with thrill; it is a moment full of zest & warmth. +It is a wave of emotions that engulfs all of us simultaneously. +Perhaps, to express those sentiments I’ll run short of words. +But I want to share with you what I heard from these heroes. +I feel immensely proud; you too will feel so. +I was overjoyed to see people getting connected to it with a lot of enthusiasm. +Expressing support for this, many people have written to me, sent me letters, shared ‘fitness mantra- Fit India’ stories on social media. +Rooma Devnath writes, “I truly feel happy & healthy through my Morning Walks. +Devnathji, indeed, happiness is fitness, and there’s no doubt about it. +Dhawal Prajapati, sharing a photograph of himself trekking, has written; ‘For me, travelling & trekking is ‘Fit India’. +It was heartening to see many eminent personalities encouraging our youth in interesting ways for Fit India. +Cine artiste Akshay Kumar has shared a video on Twitter. +Another video of his has gained popularity; in this he’s trying his hand on the volleyball with others. +Many other young people have shared their experiences, having joined the ‘Fit India’ efforts. +Do begin preparing for the Day rightaway. +And not just yourself- your city, village, neighbourhood, school, college, men, women, everyone should make an attempt to connect with yog. +I congratulate those from the field of animation for highlighting nuances, just the way a teacher does. +You too will benefit from it. +The significance of Summer Internship is soaring; as it is, an altogether new experience in itself. +One gets an opportunity to experience life anew, away from closeted walls, away from paper & pen and computers. +Dear young friends, today I urge you to undergo a special internship. +Three Ministries of the Government of India; maybe four- Sports, HRD, Department of Drinking water have come together to launch a ‘Swachch Bharat Summer Internship 2018’. +Once again, I invite students & young people, boys & girls to avail of the benefits of the internship. +I hope our youth will lend a hand in taking this movement of cleanliness forward. +I too am eager to know more about your efforts. +Do send in your learning experience, do post your stories, photos and videos. +Let us turn this vacation into a learning opportunity, for a totally new experience. +I try to watch “Good News India” programme on Doordarshan whenever I get a chance and I would appeal to my countrymen that we all should also watch this “Good News India” programme wherein we get to know as to how many people in various parts of our country are doing many good things and that such good things are happening. +Recently, I saw that they were presenting the story of some youth from Delhi who are selflessly working in a dedicated manner to help in educating the poor children. +This group of youngsters has started a big campaign in Delhi for providing education to the street children and slum dwellers. +Initially, shocked to see the condition of children begging around or doing some menial jobs that this group of youngsters got dedicatedly, selflessly involved into this creative mission. +Dear brothers and sisters, in this very way, some farmers from hilly areas of Uttarakhand have become a source of inspiration for the farmers across the country. +With their collective efforts, they have not only changed their own fortunes but have changed fortunes of the whole region. +In Bageshwar in Uttarakhand, main crops sown are Mandwa, Chaulai, Corn or Barley. +Besides, there is a strong belief that the land in this area is iron-rich and these iron rich biscuits are very good for pregnant women as they overcome the deficiency of iron. +These farmers have formed a cooperative society in Munar village and set-up a biscuit factory there. +Impressed by the bold initiative of these farmers, the administration has also linked this to the National Livelihood Mission. +These biscuits are now being supplied upto Almora and Kousani besides being sold to about fifty Aanganwadi kendras in Bagheshwar district. +With the hard work of these farmers, the annual turnover of the society has gone up from 10 to 15 lakh rupees and with more than 900 families getting employment here, people have stopped migrating to other places. +Everyone talks about this but do we not have any responsibility towards conservation of water? +Do we not feel that water conservation must be a social responsibility? +This must be a collective responsibility. +Our forefathers have lived this as a way of life for centuries together. +They gave due priority and importance to each single drop of water. +May it be Mannarkovil, Chiran Mahadevi, Kovilpatti or Pudukottai – you will get to see massive stone inscriptions to this effect. +Several baodis (stepwells) are famous as tourist spots but please do not forget that these are the living symbols of the water conservation campaigns which our forefathers had accomplished. +If you happen to go to Rajasthan, you must visit Chand Baodi. +This is one of the biggest and the most beautiful baodis of India and the point to be noted is that this is situated in a water-scarce area. +April, May, June and July is the most suitable time when rain water harvesting can be done and if we make preparations in advance, we can reap a rich harvest. +Budget under MNREGA is also utilized for this water conservation activity. +During the last three years, everyone in his or her own way has contributed towards water conservation and water management. +An average of 32,000 crore rupees have been spent besides the MNREGA budget each year on water conservation and water management. +If we talk of 2017-18, 55 percent of the total outlay of Rupees 64 thousand crores, which comes to around rupees 35 thousand crores, has been spent on works like water conservation. +In last three years, nearly 150 lakh hectares of land got more benefit through water conservation and water management measures. +Some people have really benefitted very well from MNREGA budget provisions made by the Government of India for water conservation and water management works. +The Ganges and the Yamuna have plentiful of water but there are many other places in Uttar Pradesh like Fatehpur district where two small rivers namely Sasur-Khaderi got dried out. +After receiving the reports of Remote Sensing Imagery and Inter Department Coordination, the district administration took up the responsibility of soil and water conservation on a massive scale. +They succeeded in reviving the dried out Sasur Khaderi river with the help and cooperation of people from 40-45 villages of the area. +This grand achievement is a big boon for animals, birds, farmers, crops and villages. +I emphasis that once again April, May, June and July are before us and we must also take up some responsibility for water harvesting and water conservation, we should also chalk out some schemes, we should also do and show something. +When “Mann Ki Baat” approaches I receive messages, letters and phone calls from all sides. +Aayan Kumar Banerjee from Devi Tola village of North 24 Parganas in West Bengal in his comment on My Gov has written – “We celebrate Rabindra Jayanti every year but many people are not aware of the Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath’s philosophy of living peacefully, aesthetically and with integrity. +Kindly discuss this point in “Mann Ki Baat” programme so that more and more people may get to know about this.” +I thank Aayanji for drawing the attention of all listeners of “Mann Ki Baat” towards this point. +Gurudev Tagore was a personality full of knowledge and intellect whose writings left an indelible mark on everyone. +Rabindra Nath was a personality full of talent, a multi – directional personna but a teacher in his inner self can always be felt. +And, whenever I got a chance to listen to poems like Anandloke and Aaguner, Poroshmoni, I used to feel as if my mind was being energised. +You must also have been impressed by Rabindra Sangeet and his poems. +I pay my respectful homage to Rabindra Nath Tagore. +Within a few days from now the holy month of Ramazan will dawn upon us. +The month of Ramazan is celebrated with full reverence and respect throughout the world. +The sociological and collective aspect of fasting is that when a person experiences hunger himself, he comes to realize the hunger of others. +When he is thirsty, he realizes the thirst of others. +This is an opportunity to remember the teachings of Prophet Muhammad-peace be upon him- and his message. +The Prophet Saab said, “feeding a poor and needy and meeting everyone cordially, whether you know him or not!” +Prophet Mohammad Sahib (peace be upon him) believed in twin principles of knowledge and compassion. +He did not possess an iota of ego regarding himself. +He preached that knowledge alone defeats ego. +Prophet Mohammad Sahib(peace be upon him) believed that if you possessed anything more than your requirement, then donate it to the needy, thus donation or giving alms is important during Ramzan. +People donate generously to the needy during this holy month. +Prophet Muhammad Sahib believed that a person is rich because of his inherent spirituality, and not materialistic wealth. +I wish all the citizens an auspicious month of Ramazan and I hope this opportunity will inspire people to follow the Prophet’s message of peace and goodwill. +Buddha Purnima is a special day for every Indian. +We must be proud of the fact that India is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the very synonym of power of compassion, service and sacrifice, who guided millions of people around the world. +This Buddha Purnima reminds us of all of our obligation to emulate Lord Buddha’s teaching as well as, pledge ourselves to follow his footsteps. +Lord Buddha was the fountainhead of egalitarianism, peace, harmony and brotherhood. +These are human values, which are most desired in the world today. +Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar stressed that Lord Buddha has been a great inspiration in his social philosophy. +Baba Saheb strengthened the oppressed, exploited, deprived and crores of people standing on the brink of marginalization via the Constitution of India. +There cannot be a bigger example of compassion than this. +This form of compassion was one of the greatest qualities of Lord Buddha for the alleviation of suffering of the people. +I wish people spread all over the world who revere Lord Buddha and believe in the principles of compassion- I wish all of them an auspicious Buddha Purnima. +I seek benediction from Lord Buddha for the entire world, so that we can fulfill our responsibility in building a peaceful and compassionate world based on his teachings. +Now you will be wondering what is the connection between smiling Buddha and India’s military might? +You must remember, 20 years ago today, on 11th May 1998, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said while addressing the nation and his words filled the whole country with pride, courage and elation. +The Indian diaspora was infused with new confidence. +That day also was the day of Buddha Purnima. +On May 11, 1998, at India’s western end a nuclear test was conducted in Pokhran, Rajasthan. +It has been 20 years since Pokhranand this test was done on Buddha Purnima with the blessings of Lord Buddha. +India’s test was not only successful but in a way, India had demonstrated its might in the field of science and technology. +We can also say 11 May 1988 is engraved in the history of India as a demonstration of her military power. +Lord Buddha has shown the world- that the power of inner strength or that of the soul is necessary for peace. +Similarly, when you are sturdy as a nation, you can be at peace with others. +The month of May, 1998 is not just important for the country from the aspect that nuclear tests were conducted this very month, but the manner in which they were carried out is also important. +It has revealed to the entire world that India is the land of great scientists and with a strong leadership, India can reach loftier destinations and earn new laurels. +Synergize your energy with the strength of India. +Witnessing the journey that Atal ji started, we while continuing onwards on that very path with a renewed joy will derive great satisfaction in getting ahead. +My dear countrymen, looking forward to our conversation when we will meet for another episode of Mann Ki Baat. +Inaugurates and Lays Foundation stones of Development Projects worth Rs. 1400 Crores Unveils IT Policy of Dadra & Nagar Haveli +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated and laid the Foundation Stone for several development projects at Silvassa in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. +He laid foundation Stone of Medical College in Sayli, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. +Prime Minister released IT policy for Dadra and Nagar Haveli. +M-Aarogya mobile app and door to door waste collection, segregation and processing of Solid Waste in Dadra & Nagar Haveli was also launched. +He also distributed Gold cards to beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat and distributed Van Adhikar Patra to the beneficiaries. +Addressing the public gathering Prime Minister said today inauguration or foundation stone laying of Projects worth more than Rs 1400 crore has been undertaken. +He added that these projects are linked to various aspects of connectivity, infrastructure health, education etc. +He said New Industrial policy and new IT policy has been launched to give a boost to Industries. +PM reiterated his Government’s commitment for the welfare of the citizens of the country. +He said, we are working on the mantra of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. +He noted that both Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli have been declared open defecation free. +Both the Uts have also been declared Kerosene Free. +He added that today every household in both the UTs has LPG connection, electricity connection, water connection. +PM mentioned that under Pradhan Mantri Awas yojana, poor residents of both the UTs have been allocated houses. +Gold Cards have also also been issued to the people in both UTs entitled for benefits under Ayushman bharat. +He mentioned that over the past 3 years, Investment worth Rs 9000 crores has been made in both the UTs, which has led to a series of development projects. +He said that with the foundation stone laying of Medical College, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have got its first ever Medical College. +He added that efforts are being taken to make Medical College functional this year itself. +PM added that till date both UTs had only 15 Medical seats in a year and with the setting up of this Medical College , 150 seats will be available now. +He said Medical College will provide improved medical facilities to the people. +Speaking on Ayushman Bharat, he said it is the World’s biggest Heathcare Project and everyday 10 thousand poors are accessing the benefits of this scheme. +In just 100 days since its inception over 7 lakh poor patients have been benefited. +He said that Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, a massive campaign to provide a permanent house to the poors in cities and villages is underway. +He said compared to previous government which built only 25 lakhs houses in 5 years, we have built more than 1 crore 25 lakh houses in 5 years. +Prime Minister also underlined that in Dadra and Nagar Haveli alone , 13000 women have been provided Free Gas Connections. +He said efforts are being taken to ensure welfare of the tribal people. +Under Van Dhan Yojana, Centres are being established for value addition in Forest Produce while several measures have been taken for preservation of tribal culture. +PM told that Dadra and Nagar Haveli has a huge potential for Tourism. +Several initiatives are being taken to bring this area in the map of tourism. +He said under Blue revolution work is being done for increasing the income of Fishermen. +A special Fund was set up to improve the fisheries sector. +Rs. 7500 crores was arranged under this fund to give a boost to the sector. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that 125 crore Indians are his family and he is committed to working for their welfare. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 15th February, 2016 between India and Sweden on Technical Cooperation in the Railway Sector. +The MoU will enable technical cooperation in the following areas:- +1. Benchmark railways policy development, regulations, organization and specific characteristics for each country. +2. Exchange of knowledge, technical expertise, innovation, technology, sustainable solutions and research. +Holds bilateral talks with the UK PM. +Pays homage at Gandhi Statue in Parliament Square, London. +Delivers speech in British Parliament. +Addresses the City of London at Guildhall. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, arrived in London on November 12th, 2015. +He was accorded a guard of honour and an official welcome by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. David Cameron. +The Prime Minister held delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. +During his press statement after the talks, the Prime Minister said that he is delighted to visit the United Kingdom. +The familiarity of history, the extraordinary people-to-people ties and our shared values give it a special character. +We also have vibrant and growing partnerships across all areas – trade and investment, defence and security, science and education, clean energy and health, technology and innovation, and culture. +We have a broad range of shared interests at the international level that are vital to both countries. +We have agreed to intensify our political dialogue and hold regular bilateral summits. +We attach great value to defence and security cooperation with UK, including regular exercises and defence trade and collaboration. +This cooperation will grow. +I am also pleased that UK will participate in the International Fleet Review in India in February 2016. +UK will also be a strong partner in India’s defence modernization plans, including our Make in India mission in defence sector. +Our economic partnership is quite robust and a key pillar of our partnership. +I expressed confidence that this relationship grow rapidly in the years ahead, given the size and scale of opportunities in a rapidly expanding India and Britain’s own formidable economic strengths. +UK is already the third largest investor in India. +There is more investment from India in UK than in rest of European Union combined. +We will launch a new fast track mechanism for UK investments in India. +The revival of India-UK CEO Forum is a welcome step. +We will also increasingly raise funds in London’s financial market. +I am pleased, but also believe it is natural, that we will issue a Railways Rupee Bond in London. +This is where the journey of Indian Railways began.” +In the course of his interaction with media after the Joint Press Statement, the Prime Minister said India cannot tolerate any incident which violates the fundamental values of society. +He said India is a vibrant democracy which is committed to protection of individual rights under the Constitution. +In his speech at the Parliament of UK, the Prime Minister said:- +“the motto of Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas, is our vision of a Nation, in which every citizen belongs, participates and prospers. +It is not just a call for economic inclusion. +It is also a celebration of our diversity; the creed for social harmony; and, a commitment to individual liberties and rights. +This is the timeless ethos of our culture; this is the basis of our constitution; and, this will be the foundation of our future.” +The Prime Minister addressed the business community of the City of London, at Guildhall. +The Prime Minister said, “UK and India have known each other very well since several centuries. +That is the reason that UK is among India’s major trading partners. +India has emerged as the third largest source of FDI for UK. +However, there is significant potential for India and UK to further strengthen their economic ties. +We have to effectively leverage the mutual understanding which is there for each other. +We are particularly keen to develop the sectors where UK is strong. +We are working hard to create conducive conditions for this engagement. +A strong Indian community here keeps pushing us for better and better integration with UK.” +The Prime Minister paid homage at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament Square. +The iconic London landmarks of Tower Bridge and London Eye were draped in the colours of India – saffron, white and green. +Prime Minister Cameron hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a private dinner at Chequers, his country-house retreat. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on 1 March 2019. +He will unveil a series of development projects for Kanyakumari and Tamil Nadu. +These projects will play a vital role in enhancing rail and road connectivity throughout Tamil Nadu. +The Prime Minister will launch various railways projects at Kanyakumari . +These include- +* Flagging-off of Tejas Express between Madurai and Chennai +Tejas Express will provide direct and faster connectivity between Madurai and Chennai. +Equipped with modern amenities, the Tejas Express will benefit number of day time passengers in the section. +* Laying of Foundation stone for the Restoration of Rail connectivity between Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi +Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi are major pilgrimage and tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu +Dhanushkodi railway station was destroyed during the 1964 Rameshwaram cyclone and have been lying abandoned since. +Restoration of the rail connectivity in the region, will be a huge boost to the tourism sector and will benefit thousands of pilgrims visiting the area. +*Laying of foundation stone for the Restoration of Pamban Bridge (Bridge across Pamban viaduct) +The Pamban Bridge provides rail link between the main land and the island of Rameshwaram. +The present bridge is 104 years old. +The new bridge will replace the old one and will be built parallel to the present rail bridge. +The bridge will enhance the tourism potential of Rameshwaram region. +Road Transport +The Prime Minister will also launch various road transport projects at Kanyakumari, through the unveiling of plaque. +Dedication to the Nation of:2/4 Laning of Madurai- Ramanathapuram Section of NH-87 +Laying of Foundation Stone of: Four Laning of Madurai – Chettikulam Section of NH-785 +Four Laning of Chettikulam-Natham Section of NH-785 Launch of Road Safety Park and Transport Museum in Kanyakumari +These road infrastructure projects will strengthen the road connectivity in various regions in Tamil Nadu. +It will ensure safe and fast journey for travellers. +Prime Minister will also address the gathering at Kanyakumari. +PM Modi urges citizens to send their messages to jawans +The great respect and admiration that the nation has for our Armed Forces, will find expression this festive season, through a unique campaign being led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. +A holistic campaign has been launched to urge and invite people to send letters and messages to the Armed Forces. +Leading this effort, the Prime Minister shared through social media, a special video, featuring his appeal to the people to send messages to our brave Armed Forces personnel. +Within hours, the video has generated tremendous interest on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. +Doordarshan shall also be mounting a programme to share people’s emotions with the Armed Forces. +A special module has been launched on the Narendra Modi App, which enables people to send greetings or their hand-written messages to the Armed Forces. +The #Sandesh2Soldiers campaign is expected to generate increased interaction between the people and the Armed Forces. +Earlier this month, at an event in Bhopal, the Prime Minister had focused on the human element of our brave jawans. +His appeal to people to applaud jawans when they meet them, has also created a buzz on social media. +Since becoming Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has spent both Diwalis with the Armed Forces. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi spoke on telephone with French President Francois Hollande today. +He expressed confidence that President Hollande and the people of France will deal with this moment of grief and challenge with fortitude and that they will succeed in combating the forces of terrorism. +Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to counter-terrorism cooperation as a key element of the growing strategic partnership between the two countries. +President Hollande thanked Prime Minister for the telephone call and the for the solidarity and support France had received from the people, government, political parties and media of India. +He added that this support from the world’s largest democracy meant a lot to the people of France. +He underlined his commitment to deepen India-France defence and security cooperation and looked forward to receiving Prime Minister in France this year. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved an ex- gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to dust storm in various states of Northern India on 2nd May 2018. +The Prime Minister has also approved Rs. 50,000 each for those seriously injured due to storm. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted citizens on National Technology Day. +“Greetings to our citizens on National Technology Day. +Best wishes to all citizens, especially our outstanding scientists and technology enthusiasts on National Technology Day. +Lets further increase the use of technology in our daily lives and use technology to bring a positive difference in our society. +Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan! ”, the Prime Minister said. +The mega festival of Chatth, celebrated 6 days after Diwali, is one of those festivals which are celebrated in accordance with strict rituals & regimen. +In everything associated with it like cuisine or attire, traditional norms are adhered to. +The unique festival Chhath Pooja is deeply linked with nature & worshiping nature. +Surya & Jal –The Sun & Water are central to the veneration in Chhath, whereas utensils made of bamboo & clay and tubers are an essential part of the Pooja articles. +In this mega festival of faith, veneration of the rising sun and worship of the setting sun convey a message that is replete with unparalleled Sanskar. +The world respects & venerates those who rise; the Chatth Pooja bestows upon us the sanskaar to respect & revere those whose setting, whose dusk is imminent. +The expression of the significance of cleanliness in our lives is intrinsic to this festival. +Before the advent of Chatth, people come together to clean up their homes, and along with that cleansing of rivers, lakes, pond banks and pooja locations, that is ghats, with utmost enthusiasm & fervour. +Sun worship or Chhath Pooja is a festival of protecting the environment, ushering in wellness and discipline. +It is natural for each one of us to feel proud of this great tradition of India. +My dear countrymen, ‘Mann – Ki – Baat’ has garnered accolades; it has also attracted criticism. +But whenever I look at the overall outcome of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, it reinforces my belief, that it is intrinsically, inseparably woven into the warp & weft of our common citizens’ lives, cent per cent. +Take the examples of Khadi and handloom. +On Gandhi Jayanti I have always advocated the use of handloom and Khadi. +What has it led to? +You will be glad to know that on the 17th of this month on the day of Dhanteras, the Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan store in Delhi witnessed a record sale of Rupees one crore, twenty lakhs. +You too must be feeling happy with a sense of satisfaction at this mega sale in just one Khadi & Handloom store. +During Diwali, Khadi gift coupon sales recorded an overwhelming 680 per cent rise. +Compared to last year, the total sales of Khadi & Handicrafts have risen almost by 90%. +One can clearly see that today, the youth, the elderly, women, in fact every age group is taking to Khadi & handloom. +I can imagine how many weaver families, poor families, and the families working on handlooms must have benefitted from this. +Khadi was Khadi foundation earlier and we talked of Khadi fashion but with my recent experience I can say that after Khadi for nation and Khadi for fashion now, it is becoming Khadi for transformation. +Khadi and handloom have transformed the lives of the poorest of the poor and are emerging as a powerful means of empowering them. +It is playing a very important role for gramodaya. +Shriman Rajan Bhatt has written on NarendramodiApp that he wants to know about my experience of celebrating Diwali with security forces and he also wants to know how the security forces celebrate Diwali. +Shriman Tejas Gaikwad has also written on NarendramodiApp whether there could be an arrangement to send our homemade sweets to the security forces. +We also remember our brave security forces. +We also feel that our homemade sweets must reach our country’s soldiers. +All of you must have celebrated Deepawali with traditional fervour. +To me, Diwali brought a special experience. +Luckily I got another chance to celebrate Deepawali with our courageous and brave heart security personnel. +Memories of Diwali celebrations with our security forces in Gurez sector of Jammu & Kashmir will stay long cherished in my heart. +On behalf of all our countrymen, I salute every soldier of our security forces who guard the country’s borders with utmost dedication and a spirit of sacrifice, braving all odds. +Whenever we get a chance or whenever there is an opportunity we must try to know the experiences of our soldiers and listen to their tales of valour. +Many of us may not be aware that the jawans of our security forces play an important role not only on our borders but they play a very vital role in establishing peace the world over. +As UN Peacekeepers, they are bringing glory to the nation in the comity of nations. +United Nations Day was observed recently all over the world on the 24th of October. +Everybody recalls the efforts and constructive role of the UN in establishing peace throughout the world. +And, we are believers in “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam” which means the whole world is our family. +And with this belief, India has been cooperating very actively in various important initiatives taken by the UN. +You may be aware that the preface of the Indian Constitution and the preface of the UN Charter; both start with the words ‘We the people’. +India has always stressed on the importance of equality for women and the UN Declaration of Human Rights is a living example of this. +In its initial phrase, it was proposed as ‘all men are born free and equal’ which was amended and adopted as ‘all human beings are born free and equal’ with the efforts of the Indian representative Hansa Mehta. +It appears to be a minor change but it reflects a vision of a healthy thought. +India’s most important contribution under the UN umbrella is its role in UN Peacekeeping Operations. +India has always been extending active support to UN Peace Missions. +Many of you may be getting to know this for the first time. +More than 18 thousand Indian security personnel have lent their services in UN Peacekeeping Operations. +Presently, about seven thousand Indian soldiers are associated with UN Peacekeeping initiatives which is the third highest number of soldiers from any country. +Till August 2017, Indian soldiers had lent their services in about 50 of the total of 71 Peacekeeping operations undertaken by the UN the world over. +These operations have been carried out in Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Congo, Cyprus, Liberia, Lebanon, Sudan and many other parts of the world. +In Congo and Southern Sudan more than twenty thousand patients were treated in hospitals of the Indian army and countless lives were saved. +Indian security forces have not only saved people in various countries but also won their hearts with their people friendly operations. +Indian women have played a leading role in peace keeping efforts. +Very few people may know that India was the first country which sent a female police unit to Liberia for the United Nations Peace Mission. +And see how this initiative from India became a big source of motivation for other countries too. +Later, all countries started sending their women police units. +You will surely feel proud to know that India’s contribution is not limited to just peacekeeping operations but it is also providing training to peacekeepers from about eighty five countries. +The brave peacekeepers from this land of Mahatma Gandhi and Gautam Budha have sent a message of peace and amity around the world. +Peacekeeping operation is not an easy task. +Jawans from our security forces have to perform duties in difficult and remote areas. +They have to live amongst many different people. +They need to know and adapt to various situations and different cultures. +They have to mould themselves according to the local needs and environment. +While remembering our brave UN Peacekeepers today, who can forget the sacrifice of Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria who laid down his life while fighting in Congo in Africa? +Every Indian feels proud while remembering him. +He was the only UN peacekeeper, a brave-heart, who was awarded the Param Veer Chakra. +Lieutenant General Prem Chand ji is one among those Indian Peacekeepers who carved a special niche for themselves in Cyprus. +In 1989, at the age of 72, he was appointed the Force Commander for an operation in Namibia and he gave his services to ensure the Independence of that country. +General Thimaiyya, who had been India’s army chief, lead the UN Peacekeeping force in Cyprus and sacrificed everything for those peace efforts. +India has always been giving a message of peace, unity and harmony to the world. +We believe that everyone must live in peace and harmony and move ahead to carve a better and peaceful tomorrow. +My dear countrymen, our holy land has given great souls who selflessly served humanity. +Sister Nivedita, whom we also know as Bhagini Nivedita, was one such extraordinary person. +She was born in Ireland as Margret Elizabeth Noble but Swami Vivekanand gave her the name NIVEDITA. +And Nivedita means the one who is fully dedicated. +She later proved herself true to her name. +Yesterday was the 150th birth anniversary of Sister Nivedita. +She was so impressed by Swami Vivekanand that she renounced her happy- prosperous life and dedicated herself to the service of the poor. +Sister Nivedita felt very hurt by the atrocities of the British rule. +The Britishers not only made us slaves but they tried to enslave us mentally as well. +Constant efforts to belittle our culture and make us feel inferior were on. +Bhagini Nivedita ji revived the dignity and pride of Indian culture. +She brought the people together by infusing a sense of national-awakening. +She travelled to various countries and raised her voice against the mischievous propaganda against Sanatan Dharma and ideology. +Renowned nationalist and Tamil poet Subramanya Bharati is well known for his revolutionary poem Pudhumai Penn or New woman and is renowned for his efforts for Women empowerment. +It is said that Bhagini Nivedita was the inspiration. +Bhagini Nivedita ji also helped the great scientist Jagdish Chandra Basu. +She helped publication of Basu’s research and publicity through her articles and conferences. +This is India’s unique beauty that spirituality and science complement each other in our culture. +Sister Nivedita and Scientist Jagdish Chandra Basu are a powerful testimony to this. +In 1899, plague broke out in Calcutta and hundreds of people lost their lives in no time. +Sister Nivedita, without caring for her health, started cleaning drains and roads. +She was a woman who could live a luxurious life but she dedicatedly worked for the poor. +Getting inspiration from her sacrifice, people came forward and joined her. +Through her work, she spread the message of the importance of cleanliness and service to mankind. +And, it is inscribed on her grave – “Here reposes Sister Nivedita who gave her all to India”. +Undoubtedly, she did so. +There cannot be any other befitting tribute to this great soul than every Indian taking a lesson from her life and emulating her. +Thank you for your phone call. +First of all, many felicitations to all the children on the occasion of Children’s Day celebrated on the birthday of our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru ji. +Children are the emerging heroes in the creation of new India. +Your concern is correct that the diseases which surfaced in old age, or emerged around the last lap of life – have started to appear in children nowadays. +It is indeed surprising today, when we hear that children are suffering from diabetes. +Such diseases were very rare in young people. +But our lifestyle has changed. +Today these diseases are known as ‘lifestyle disorders.’ +One of the main reasons for being afflicted with such diseases at a young age is the lack of physical activity in our lifestyle and the changes in our eating habits. +Society and the family need to pay attention towards this crisis. +If you’ll start paying attention to it, you will see that there is no need to do anything extraordinary. +You just need to make small regular changes in order to transform your habits, making them a part of your way of life. +I would like the family to consciously try to inculcate in children the habit of playing in open grounds. +If possible, we can make the elder family members accompany these children to the playground and play with them. +The children can be made to take the stairs instead of taking the lift. +After dinner, the entire family can go for a walk with the children. +Yoga will be helpful for especially our young friends, in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and protecting them from lifestyle disorders. +The practice of Yoga 30 minutes before school can impart much benefit. +There are several studies being conducted on how Yoga is effective in curbing diabetes. +These studies are being carried out in AIIMS too and the results that have emerged so far are very encouraging. +Do not look at Ayurveda and Yoga as a means of medical treatment only; instead of this we should make them a part of our life. +My dear countrymen, especially my young friends, we have been getting glad tidings from the field of sports. +In different games, our athletes have made the country proud. +In hockey, India has won the Asia Cup hockey title through its dazzling performance. +Our players performed magnificently and on the basis of their sterling efforts, India has become the Asia Cup champion after an interval of ten years. +India had earlier won the Asia Cup in Hockey in the years 2003 and 2007. +I extend felicitations on behalf of the entire nation to the entire team and support staff. +After hockey, good news for India also came in badminton. +Badminton star Kidambi Srikanth has filled every Indian’s heart with pride by clinching the Denmark Open title with his excellent performance. +After Indonesia Open and Australia Open, this win has completed the triad of the super series premiere title. +I congratulate our young friend, Kidambi Srikanth for this feat and enhancing the prestige of India. +Friends, the FIFA Under-17 World Cup was organized this month. +Teams from all over the world came to India and all of them exhibited their skills on the football field. +I also got an opportunity to go and watch a match. +Such a big spectacle, I was astounded to see the energy, enthusiasm, and zeal of all the young players. +The world cup was successfully organized and all the teams performed their best. +Regardless of the fact that India could not win the title, the young players of India won the hearts of everyone. +The whole world including India enjoyed this mega festival of sports and this whole tournament was both full of interest and entertainment for football lovers. +The signs that the future of football is very bright have started to appear. +I extend my congratulations and good wishes to all the players, their colleagues, and all the sports lovers once again. +My dear countrymen, a multitude of people write to me about ‘Swachch Bharat’, I feel that if I have to do justice to their feelings then I will have to do the program ‘Mann Ki Baat’ every day and every day ‘Mann Ki Baat’ will be dedicated solely to the subject of cleanliness. +Some listeners send photo graphs of the efforts undertaken by children whereas others mention the role of youth in these efforts. +Sometimes there is a story of an innovation to bring about cleanliness or winds of change that get ushered due to an official’s zeal. +A few days ago I received a very detailed report highlighting the story of transformation of Chandrapur Fort in Maharashtra. +An NGO called Ecological Protection Organization launched a cleanliness campaign in Chandrapur Fort. +In this campaign lasting for two hundred days, people performed the task of cleaning the fort, non-stop, without any fatigue and with team-work. +Just on seeing these pictures, your disappointment will transform into hope. +This mammoth effort of bringing about cleanliness is a wonderful example of fostering aesthetics, co-operation and continuum. +Forts are symbols of our heritage. +And it is the duty of all countrymen to keep our historical heritage safe and clean. +I congratulate Ecological Protection Organization, their entire team and the people of Chandrapur. +My dear countrymen, we’ll celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti on the 4th of November. +Guru Nanak Dev ji is not only the first guru of Sikhs; he’s guru to the entire world. +He envisioned the welfare of all humanity and considered all castes to be equal. +He stressed on women empowerment and respect for women. +Guru Nanak Dev ji undertook a 28 thousand kilometre journey on foot and throughout the journey spread the message of true humanity. +He entered into a dialogue with people and showed them the path of truth, sacrifice & dedication. +He advocated the message of equality in society, not through mere words but through concrete endeavour. +He ran a LANGAR which sowed the seeds of the spirit of service amongst fellow beings. +Partaking of LANGAR together created a feeling of unity & oneness in people. +Guru Nanak Dev ji voiced three messages for a meaningful, fulfilling life- Chant the name of the Almighty, work hard and help the needy. +In order to convey his ideals, Guru Nanak Dev ji composed the Gurbani. +Come 2019, we are going to celebrate the 550th PRAKASH VARSH of Guru Nanak Dev ji. +Come, let us try & advance on the path of his ideals & teachings. +My dear countrymen, we shall celebrate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ji, two days from now, on the 31st of October. +All of us know that he was the one who laid the foundation stone of modern, unified India. +We can learn a lot from the unparalleled saga of this great son of Mother India. +Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s speciality was that he not only put forth revolutionary ideas; he was immensely capable of devising practical solutions to the most complicated problems in the way. +Translating a thought into reality was his forte’. +Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel took on the reins of weaving a unified India. +He ensured that millions of Indians were brought under the ambit of one nation & one constitution. +His decision making ability infused in him the strength to overcome all obstacles. +He had said “No division of caste or creed should be able to stop us, all are the sons & daughters of India, all of us should love our country and we should carve out our destiny on the foundation of mutual love & harmony. +These lofty ideals of Sardar Sahab are relevant to and inspiring for our vision for a New India, even today. +And that is why his birthday is celebrated as National Unity Day. +His contribution in giving a unified texture to the nation is without parallel. +On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Sardar Sahab, Run for Unity will be organized throughout the country, which will see the participation of children, youth, women, in fact people of all age groups. +I urge you to participate in Run for Unity, the festival of mutual harmony. +My dear countrymen, you must’ve returned to your respective routines after the Diwali vacation, with a new resolve, with a new determination. +May all your dreams come true, my best wishes to you. +Many many Thanks. +This Convention Centre has an auditorium, conference halls and an exhibition hall. +The Prime Minister also dedicated the State Civil Secretariat Building to the nation, and laid the Foundation Stone of the Academic Block of the TomoRiba Institute of Health and Medical Science. +Addressing a large and enthusiastic gathering, he said he is delighted to visit Arunachal Pradesh and be among the wonderful people of the State. +He expressed happiness at the inauguration of the Convention Centre in Itanagar. +This is more than a building, it is a vibrant centre that will further the aspirations of Arunachal Pradesh, he said. +He said that conferences and cultural activities will draw government officials and private companies. +He said he would personally suggest to people that they could go to Arunachal Pradesh, and hold important meetings at this Convention Centre. +He recalled that he had visited Shillong for a North-East Council meeting, and an important meeting related to agriculture was held in Sikkim. +The Prime Minister said Union Ministers, and officials from the Union Government are visiting the North-East regularly. +Speaking about the health sector, the Prime Minister said that there is need to focus attention on human resource development, infrastructure, and use of modern technology in this sector. +He said the Union Government is working towards building medical colleges in all parts of the nation. +He said this is because, when one studies in a particular area, one becomes better acquainted with the local health challenges. +He said healthcare has to be of good quality and it must be affordable. +He said the prices of stents had been brought down so that the poor and middle class families benefit. +He said the Ayushman Bharat scheme will take the lead in providing quality and affordable healthcare. +The Prime Minister complimented the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Pema Khandu, for his good work in the State. +He said the Chief Minister has prepared a top quality roadmap on how Arunachal Pradesh should be in 2027. +He added that inputs for this plan were taken not just from officials but also from people from all walks of life. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tribute to the legendary hockey player, Major Dhyan Chand, on National Sports Day. +“Our tributes to the legendary Major Dhyan Chand on National Sports Day. +His determination & dedication towards sports continues to inspire. +We salute all our sportsmen & women who have been enhancing the pride of the Tricolour by their exemplary performance on the field. +Congrats to the sportspersons who would be honoured with the various National Sports Awards today. +India is proud of them,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi reviewed progress of key infrastructure sectors including roads, railways, airports, ports, digital, and coal. +The review meeting, which lasted for about four and a half hours, was attended by top officials from PMO, NITI Aayog and all infrastructure Ministries of the Government of India. +In course of the presentation made by CEO NITI Aayog, it was noted that remarkable progress has been made in several areas and infrastructure sectors. +In a broad overview of the progress in the roads and railways sectors, the Prime Minister called for a consolidated approach to existing projects, and working towards their completion within strict timelines. +The highest ever average daily construction rate of 130 km, has been achieved for rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. +This has led to an addition of 47,400 km of PMGSY roads in 2016-17. +11,641 additional habitations have been connected with roads in the same period. +Over 4000 km of rural roads have been constructed using green technology in FY17. +The use of non-conventional materials such as waste plastic, cold mix, geo-textiles, fly ash, iron and copper slag is being pushed aggressively. +The Prime Minister directed efficient and stringent monitoring of rural roads construction and their quality. +For this, he emphasized on use of space technology in addition to the technologies already being used, such as the “Meri Sadak” App. +He called for expeditious completion of vital links which will connect the remaining unconnected habitations at the earliest. +The Prime Minister directed the use of new technologies in road construction also. +He asked NITI Aayog to examine global standards in the application of technology for infrastructure creation, and their feasibility in India. +In the railways sector, 953 km of new lines were laid in 2016-17, as against the target of 400 km. +Track electrification of over 2000 km, and gauge conversion of over 1000 km was achieved in the same period. +More than 1500 unmanned level crossings have been eliminated in 2016-17. +Among measures to enhance customer experience, Wi-Fi access was enabled in 115 railway stations, and 34,000 bio-toilets added. +The Prime Minister called for speeding up of work related to redevelopment of Railway Stations, and greater creativity in the generation of non-fare revenue. +Progress of important projects in the roads and railways sectors, such as the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, Char Dham Project, the Quazigund-Banihal Tunnel, the Chenab railway bridge, and the Jiribam-Imphal project was also reviewed. +In the aviation sector, the Regional Connectivity Scheme will connect 43 destinations, including 31 unserved destinations. +The passenger capacity in the aviation sector has reached 282 million passengers per annum. +In the ports sector, under the Sagarmala project, 415 projects have been identified with investment of Rs. 8 lakh crore, and projects worth 1.37 lakh crore rupees have been taken up for implementation. +The Prime Minister stressed on better outcomes for turnaround time of ships and clearance for Exim cargo. +The highest ever capacity addition of 100.4 MTPA in major ports has been recorded in 2016-17. +All 193 lighthouses are now powered by solar energy. +Digitization of land records has been completed in all major ports. +In the digital infrastructure sector, 2187 mobile towers have been installed in districts affected by Left Wing Extremists, in 2016-17. +Progress of the National Optical Fibre Network was reviewed. +The Prime Minister emphasized that the emerging digital connectivity network, which will connect thousands of Gram Panchayats within the next few months, should be backed up by appropriate governance steps, so that it can lead to better quality of life, and greater empowerment of people in the rural areas. +In the coal sector, rationalization of coal linkages and movement yielded an annual saving of over Rs 2500 crore in 2016-17. +Noting the decline in coal imports in the last year, the Prime Minister asked for even more vigorous efforts towards coal import substitution, and application of new coal technologies including gasification technology. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and interacted with 20 top American CEOs at a roundtable meeting in Washington DC. +Welcoming the CEOs, the Prime Minister said that the world is focused on India’s economy. +He said that in the last three years, the Union Government in India has focused on improvement in quality of life of the people. +The Prime Minister spoke of the recent reforms, and noted that the Union Government alone has initiated 7000 reforms. +He said this indicates India’s quest for global benchmarks. +He mentioned the Government’s emphasis on efficiency, transparency, growth and benefit for all. +On GST, the Prime Minister said that this is becoming a reality after years of effort. +He added that its implementation is a complex task that may well be the subject of future case-studies. +He added that this shows India can take big decisions and implement them swiftly. +Several CEOs showed their willingness to be partners in skill development and education initiatives. +They also mentioned social initiatives being undertaken by their companies in India, in spheres such as women empowerment, digital technology, education and food processing. +Themes such as infrastructure, defence manufacturing and energy security also came up for discussion. +He said if America becomes stronger, India will be a natural beneficiary. +He also added that India believes that a strong America is good for the world. +He reiterated that his primary interest is improving the quality of life in India. +This involves financial implication of Rs.4949 crore. +The proposed institution shall have a hospital with capacity of 960 beds. +In addition, there shall be a teaching block, administrative block, AYUSH block, auditorium, nursing college, night shelter, hostel and residential facilities. +It will augment the facilities of quality medical education and would also address the shortfall of health care professionals in these regions. +The large populations of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra (Vidarbha) and West Bengal along with adjoining States and region will be beneficiary of this project. +Six new AIIMS under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY) have been made functional. +Also construction of AIIMS, Rae Barely is under progress. +This also fulfils the promise made under the Andhra Pradesh re-organization Act 2014 that provides for establishment of one AIIMS type institute in the successor State of Andhra Pradesh. +Reflecting the close ties between our two great democracies, India and the United States agree to elevate our long-standing strategic partnership, with a Declaration of Friendship that strengthens and expands the relationship between our two countries +“Sanjha Prayaas, SabkaVikaas; Shared Effort, Progress For All”. +Each step we take to strengthen the relationship is a step towards shaping international security, regional and global peace, prosperity and stability for years to come. +Signaling the natural affinity enjoyed by our two nations, this Declaration proclaims a higher level of trust and coordination that will continue to draw our Governments and people together across the spectrum of human endeavor for a better world. +The Declaration makes tangible and enduring the commitment of our two countries to harness the inherent potential of our two democracies, and upgrades the unique nature of our relationship, committing our Governments to work through areas of difference. +Through this Declaration of Friendship and in keeping with our national principles and laws, we respect: +Equal opportunity for all our people through democracy, effective governance, and fundamental freedoms; +An open, just, sustainable, and inclusive rule-based global order; +The importance of strengthened bilateral defense ties; +The importance of adapting to and mitigating the impact of climate change through national, bilateral and multilateral efforts; +The beneficial impact that sustainable, inclusive development will have on our two countries and the world; +The centrality of economic policies that support the creation of strong and sustainable jobs, inclusive development, and rising incomes; and +Transparent and rule-based markets that seek to drive the trade and investment necessary to uplift all members of society and promote economic development. +As part of this Declaration of Friendship, we commit to: +Hold regular Summits with increased periodicity; +Elevate the Strategic Dialogue to a Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, of which the Strategic elements would continue to be chaired by the External Affairs Minister of India and the U.S. Secretary of State and the Commercial components of the Dialogue would be led by India’s Minister of Trade and Commerce and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. +This reflects the United States` and India`s commitment to strengthen commercial and economic ties to advance mutual prosperity, regional economic growth and stability; +Establish secure hotlines between the Prime Minister of India and the President of the United States of America and National Security Advisors; +Cooperate to develop joint ventures on strategically significant projects; +Build meaningful security and effective counterterrorism cooperation; +Hold regional and multilateral consultations; +Consult and hold regular consultations in multilateral forums; and +Leverage the talents and strengths of our people to enhance sustainable, inclusive development around the globe. +It will perhaps be difficult for us to forget the year’s summer.. +But, we are now awaiting the rains. +As I am talking to you today , the holy month of Ramzan has already commenced . +I convey my hearty greetings to all fellow Indians and everyone across the world, especially the Muslim brethren at the advent of this auspicious month of Ramazan. +Prayer, spirituality and charity are accorded the highest priority during Ramzan. +We, Indians, are very lucky that our ancestors have created such a tradition that today India and its 1.25 billion people can take pride in the fact that people from all communities and faith are available here.. +In the ultimate , any religion, faith, ideology or tradition- give us the message of peace, unity and goodwill. +This holy month of Ramzan will definitely be helpful in further strengthening these values of peace, unity and goodwill. +I, once again convey my best wishes to all. +I am glad that many people have given me feedback. +All of them showed enthusiasm by personally speaking out their minds to me. +Some are learning cooking, some others are learning dance and drama ; Some have written that they have now started to write poems. +They are making efforts to know about nature and are learning the art of living and trying to understand the world. +I am extremely happy and want to share one of the phone-calls with you. +“I am Diksha Katiyal speaking. +When I started reading about the freedom struggle , it was then I realized that how much struggle was involved in getting India freed, how much sacrifices were given and how so many freedom fighters spent years in prison. +I am delighted that younger generation is taking interest in knowing about our history, about our freedom fighters and about those who made sacrifices for the country. +They suffered despicable miseries and that is how we can now breathe in a free India. +Many years ago, I visited Andaman & Nicobar Islands. +I went to see the Cellular Jail there. +Today is the birth anniversary of Veer Savarkarji. +Veer Savarkarji had written a book “Majhi Jannmathep” while in incarceration . +He used to write poems on the walls of his prison cell. +He was confined to a very small cell. +These seekers freedom must have gone through immense torture. +I was inspired to visit the Cellular Jail only after reading Savarkarji’s book “Maazi Janmthep”. +A light and sound show is also shown there which is very inspiring. +Today is the birth anniversary of Veer Savarkarjee. +And, who can explain this in a better way than Mahatma Gandhi? +You might have also observed that whenever we feel tired and exhausted, splashing a glass of water on our face has a wonderful rejuvenating effect. +If you return after a tiring day’s work, just open the windows and doors of the room and take a deep breath of fresh air – this will fill you with fresh energy. +Our body is made up of five basic elements and whenever we come in contact with these elements we get fresh energy. +All of us have experienced this but we do not register this, we do not connect this in a single thread of sequence. +And we are reaping the benefits of the efforts made by our ancestors to save the environment. +And if we shall protect the environment, our future generations will reap the benefits. +And, Atharva Veda, written thousands of years ago, is the most authentic guiding scripture about nature and environment. +In India, it has been said – “Earth is the mother and I am her son”. +According to Vedas, the purity within us is because of the Earth. +The Earth is our mother and we all are her children. +If we recall Lord Buddha, a fact comes to light that his birth, his enlightenment and his Mahaparinirvana, all three happened under a tree. +These days , I keep receiving news from our states. +Almost in every state, a big plantation campaign gets underway with the onset of monsoon. +Millions of trees are planted. +Let us also make our contribution in enhancing this campaign. +My dear countrymen, 21st June has become a well known day world over. +The whole world observes this as World Yoga Day. +In a very short time, 21st June has got worldwide recognition as World Yoga day and is connecting people. +At a time when separatist forces are raising their ugly heads this has been India’s great contribution to the world.. +We have successfully connected the whole world through Yoga. +Like Yoga connects body, mind, heart and soul: similarly it is connecting the world now. +Because of life style, because of the mad race to achieve success and because of increasing responsibilities, leading a stress- free life has become very difficult. +It is seen, this situation is coming up even at a comparatively younger age. +At a time when People are gobbling up medicines indiscriminately and passing their days, Yoga plays a very vital role in helping people to lead a stress-free life. +Yoga is not merely an exercise. +How to mount on the journey of life with the inter-play of body, mind, thoughts and behavior can be better realized and understood through Yoga. +Just two days back, I have written letters to all governments and all leaders of the world about the Yoga Day. +Last year, I made announcements of some Yoga competitions and some awards as well. +We shall gradually advance in that direction. +I have received one suggestion and I compliment the gentleman who has made this creative suggestion. +It is a very interesting suggestion. +He has said since this is the Third International Yoga Day I should make an appeal that on this third international Yoga Day, three generations of the family should do yoga together. +Grand parents, parents and children should together perform Yoga and also upload their photos. +It will be such pleasant blend of Yesterday, today and tomorrow that it will lend a new dimension to Yoga. +I express my gratitude for this suggestion and I feel that as our ‘Selfie with Daughter’ campaign had proved to be a very inspiring experience. +So will this campaign of posting pictures of three generations together performing yoga will evoke curiosity across the nation as well as across the world. +You should certainly send the pictures of three generations doing yoga together to me on Narendra ModiApp or on Mygov. +This will be the picture of “yesterday, today and tomorrow” and will be a guarantee of a brighter tomorrow. +I invite all of you. +We are still left with about three weeks for the International Yoga Day. +Start practicing from today itself. +You too kindly spread the message of Yoga and connect people with it. +This, in a way, is a movement on preventive health care. +I invite you all to get connected to it. +This phone call will also attract your attention. +“Pranam Modi ji, I’m Naina from Mumbai. +Modi ji I watch whether on TV or Social Media, wherever you go, one can see people in that city pay special attention to cleanliness. +Mumbai or Surat, your clarion call has led people to adopt cleanliness as a mission. +Not only the elders but children also have become aware about cleanliness. +Many a time we see them telling elders not to litter on the roads. +The cleanliness drive that you had begun from the Ghats or Banks of the Ganges in Kashi has now taken the shape of a movement inspired by you.” +Five, seven or ten days before my visit a large number of cleanliness drives are held. +A big cleanliness drive was conducted there. +I also did not see a connect is in this. +But, after receiving this phone call, I also started thinking that the point made there was pertinent. +You can very well imagine how much pleasure I derive by knowing this fact and also by noticing that the country is also closely monitoring the programme. +There cannot be any bigger pleasure for me than to know that my visit has been connected with the cleanliness campaign. +Besides usual arrangements to welcome the Prime Minister, cleanliness will also be high on the agenda. +This is very pleasing and inspiring for any cleanliness loving person. +I congratulate everyone connected with this Cleanliness programme providing strength to it. +Someone gave me a suggestion. +This is in a way a humorous suggestion. +I do not know whether I would be able to do it or not. +Modi ji, when someone asks for your visit , your stay, you should ask as to what would be the standard of cleanliness, if they wish to invite you. +The idea is very good but I will have to think. +But, one thing is right that this movement should be encouraged and it would definitely be better if cleaning tonnes of waste are cleaned and and given as presents in place of other gifts. +How many people shall we be able to save from ill health. +This will be a big service to humanity. +One thing I would certainly like to say is that we should always consider these waste as resources and wealth. +Do not see it as just garbage. +Once we start looking at garbage and waste as a wealth, we shall also find newer, techniques of waste management. +The Central Government has along with State Governments and with the cooperation of municipal representatives of cities decided to launch a massive and important campaign of waste management. +On the occasion of World Environment Day on 5th June, there are going to be litter bins made available to collect solid waste and liquid waste in 4000 towns of the country. +Two types of waste bins will be available, one would be of green colour and the other blue. +There are two types of waste generated, is the liquid waste and the other is dry waste. +This campaign was owned by Versova Residence volunteer or VRV. +For this outstanding work, United Nations Environment Programme or UNEP awarded ‘Champion of the Earth’ Award to Sh. +Afroz Shah, and thus he has become the first Indian to achieve this distinction. +My dear countrymen, an audit and assessment of the performance of the present government in the last three years is happening all over on newspapers, social media or TV for the last 15 days.. +Three years ago you vested the responsibility of ‘Pradhan Sewak’- the Chief Servant of the People upon me. +I see this entire process as a very healthy sign. +The works done during these years were tested on every touch stone . +It was analyzed by every segment of society. +And this is a great process in democracy. +I firmly believe that governments must be accountable in democracy and the public at large must be provided with report card of works done. +I wish to congratulate those who took out time for an in depth analysis of our work, there were some praises some support and sometimes shortcomings were also pointed out, I understand the importance of all these things. +I thank those people, who provided critical and important feedback. +The mistakes and the shortcomings once highlighted can be rectified. +Whether something is good, little less effective or bad, whatever it is, one has to learn from it and move ahead in life putting the learning from it into practice. +Constructive criticism strengthens democracy; for an aware nation, an awakened nation, this churning is very important. +My dear countrymen, I too am an ordinary citizen like you and like any ordinary citizen I too am influenced by good or bad things. +I’m grateful to the Hon’ble President, Hon’ble Vice President and Madam Speaker that inspite of their such high stature they took out time and they accorded importance to ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +In fact it in itself has given a new dimension to ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +Some of our friends, while working on this book had discussed it with me also. +I am grateful to Akbar Sahab. +My dear countrymen, when we shall meet next time by then monsoon rains would be lashing every corner of the country, the weather would have changed, examination results would have arrived, the journey of education will begin anew and the rains would bring a hope, pleasant fragrance, a new aroma ! +Come let us move ahead while loving nature in such a pleasant atmosphere. +My many felicitations and best wishes to you. +A 30 member delegation of the All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg today. +The All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference is an apex body of Panchayat leaders of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. +The organization represents 4000 village Panchayats of Jammu and Kashmir, with 4000 Sarpanches and 29000 Panches. +The delegation was led by the Chairman of the All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference, Shri Shafiq Mir. +Members of the delegation briefed the Prime Minister on development issues concerning the State, and said that benefits of central assistance to the State have not reached the villages due to non-empowerment of the Panchayats, in line with the rest of the country. +They also submitted a memorandum. +They said that elections held in 2011 had witnessed enthusiastic turnout of voters. +Extension of these Constitutional Provisions to the State would empower the Panchayats to undertake basic development activities in the rural areas, they said. +Members expressed hope that this would accelerate the development process in the State, and enable the people of the State to take benefit from various Central Government schemes. +The delegation apprised the Prime Minister of the prevailing situation in the State. +They strongly condemned the burning of schools by anti-national elements. +The body, which represents people at the grassroot level in Jammu and Kashmir, reiterated its faith in the democratic institutions and processes in the country. +Shri Shafiq Mir said that a vast majority of the people of the State wanted a life of peace and dignity. +He said vested interests have exploited youngsters and are playing with their future. +He urged the Prime Minister to take personal initiative to restore peace in Jammu and Kashmir. +The Prime Minister assured the delegation that the Union Government will look into their demands. +He stressed that growth and development of Jammu and Kashmir is high on his agenda. +He added that development of the villages where a majority of people live, is vital to the overall economic development of the State. +He reiterated stress on a humanitarian approach, and said that ‘Vikas’ and ‘Vishwas’ will remain the cornerstones of the Union Government’s development initiatives for the State of Jammu and Kashmir. +The Prime Minister has described the tribal communities of India as a great force for national development. +Chairing a high-level review on tribal welfare on Tuesday, the Prime Minister called for the development of strategies to stop the spread of Left Wing Extremism. +He said a key role in this has to be played by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. +The Prime Minister said various Ministries and wings of the Government of India should work in coordination to achieve this goal. +Shri Narendra Modi has asked the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to identify growth centres within tribal areas, and ensure proper development of education, health and sports facilities in the country. +The Prime Minister said one of the key objectives should be to work towards “technology penetration” – for instance, electricity and mobile phone reach – in the tribal areas. +Another important objective should be to link relatively undeveloped tribal areas with developed areas through good infrastructure. +Speaking of the cultural aspects of tribal life, and their vast repository of ancient knowledge, the Prime Minister urged the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to work towards digital documentation of the same. +The Prime Minister has asked officials to work towards organizing a Tribal Cultural Troupe Carnival, on the lines of the Republic Day Parade. +He has also called for exploring the possibility of online marketing of products produced by tribals through e-commerce platforms. +On health aspects, the Prime Minister stressed the need for mapping of sickle cell anaemia among the tribal population, on a scientific basis. +The Prime Minister has also called for concerned departments to explore the possibility of a cure for this disease through stem cell therapy. +He said that if we perceive our human body to be a unique creation, then Yoga is similar to a “user manual” that made one aware of the immense capabilities of that creation. +In his remarks at the International Conference on Yoga for holistic health, on the occasion of the first International Day of Yoga, the Prime Minister described Yoga as a “state of mind,” (avasthaa), as opposed to being a commodity or a system (vyavasthaa). +He said that the solidarity being expressed through Yoga, in the coming together with brothers and sisters in other countries, brings our hearts and minds closer. +This support is not just for India, but for the great tradition of Yoga, the Prime Minister noted. +He described Yoga as a means to achieve harmony with oneself, one’s body, surroundings and nature. +He said that when practised correctly and with discipline, Yoga leads to greater fulfilment in life. +The Prime Minister said that as the world united in celebrating the International Day of Yoga, there would be a lot of expectations, regarding Yoga, and India stands ready to the shoulder the responsibility of these expectations, for the greater good of the world. +The Prime Minister described Yoga is a collective gift to humanity. +He added that it may have originated in India, but it draws its energies from the millions who practice it around the world. +He reiterated India’s resolve to reach out and foster a culture of inclusiveness, of fraternity, of one global family – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. +The Prime Minister also released commemorative coins and a stamp, to mark the occasion of the first International Day of Yoga. +The Minister for AYUSH (I/C) Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, the Minister of State for Finance Shri Jayant Sinha, and Yoga exponents Baba Ramdev, Dr Nagendra and Dr. Veerendra Heggade were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has saluted the services of civilian and defence officials and organisations in helping evacuate Indian citizens from Yemen. +“I salute the services of our civilian and defence officials and organisations in helping evacuate our citizens from Yemen. +Continue your efforts! +Seamless co-operation between organisations – Ministry of External Affairs, Navy, Air Force, Air India, Shipping, Railways and State Govts greatly helped in rescue work. +Colleagues Smt Sushma Swaraj and General VK Singh (who has been on the ground for days), have co-ordinated evacuation efforts in an exemplary manner. +I am also glad that India has rescued several non-Indian citizens from Yemen. +Our evacuation efforts in Yemen reflect willingness to serve our people and readiness to help others in distress, which is India’s ethos,” the Prime Minister said. +Founder of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, – Swami Dayananda Saraswati – called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +They blessed the Prime Minister to serve the country with courage and compassion. +Ahtosh Kumar, who were martyred in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir recently. +Prime Minister, who was returning from a visit to Uttar Pradesh, paid his last respects to the martyrs at Delhi Airport. +The Prime Minister was addressing scientists after witnessing the insertion procedure at ISRO in Bangalore. +The Prime Minister said history has been created by the Indian scientists reaching Mars in the first attempt. +He said India is the first to have succeeded in the very first attempt. +The Prime Minister said that Indian scientists, through their hard work and dedication, have stretched the boundaries of human enterprise and imagination. +He described the Mars Orbiter Mission as an indigenous pan-Indian effort, stretching from Bangalore to Bhubaneswar, and Faridabad to Rajkot. +Praising the scientists, Shri Narendra Modi said, the hunger of exploration and the thrill of discovery are not for the faint hearted. +He remarked that he had chosen to be present at ISRO today, unmindful of success or failure of the mission. +He exhorted scientists to set even more challenging targets for themselves, and said he had confidence that they would be able to achieve even those targets. +You have “made a habit of achieving the impossible,” the Prime Minister said. +He said Modern India must continue playing its role of Jagadguru Bharat. +Shri Narendra Modi said the success of the space programme is a shining symbol of what we are capable of as a nation. +A successful space programme generates applications across multiple domains, he added. +He said the efforts of India’s space scientists are deepening our governance, strengthening our economy and improving our lives. +Noting that the whole nation celebrates when the cricket team wins a tournament, the Prime Minister described the success of the Mars Orbiter Mission as a thousand times greater, and said all Indians must celebrate the success of our space scientists today. +The Governor of Karnataka, Shri Vajubhai Vala, the Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri Siddaramaiah, and Union Ministers Shri Ananth Kumar and Shri Sadanand Gowda were present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has approved implementation of Shahpurkandi Dam Project, Punjab on river Ravi. +Implementation of this project would help minimising some of the water of the River Ravi which at present is going waste through the Madhopur Headworks downstream to Pakistan. +• On completion of the project an Irrigation Potential of 5,000 ha in Punjab State and 32,173 ha in J&K State would be created. +On completion, Punjab would also be able to generate 206 MW of hydropower. +Out of the this, Rs 485.38 Cr would be provided as Central Assistance. +Irrigation in 5000 ha of land in Punjab and 32172 ha in J&K would be provided. +The implementation of scheme would generate 6.2 lakh man-days employment for unskilled workers, 6.2 lakh man-days employment for semi-skilled andl 1.67 lakh man-days employment for skilled workers. +Indus Waters Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 for sharing of Indus waters. +According to the Treaty, India got the full rights for utilization of waters of the three Eastern Rivers namely Ravi, Beas and Satluj. +Some of the water of the River Ravi at present is going waste through the MadhopurHeadworks downstream to Pakistan. +Implementation of the project would minimise such wastage of water. +A Bilateral agreement was signed between Punjab and J&K in Jan, 1979. +As per the agreement, construction of RanjitSagar Dam (Thein Dam) and Shahpurkandi Dam was to be taken up by Punjab Govt. +RanjitSagar Dam was commissioned in Aug, 2000. +The ShahpurKandi Dam project is proposed on River Ravi, 11 d/s of RanjitSagarDam and 8 km u/s of Madhopur Head Works. +The Project was initially approved by the Planning Commission during November, 2001 and was included under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Scheme (AIBP) of this Ministry for funding its irrigation component. +Series of meetings were held bilaterally as well as at Govt. of India level. +Finally, an agreement was reached between Punjab and J&K states under the aegis of MoWR, RD&GR at New Delhi on 8th September, 2018. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called upon the NCC cadets to dedicate their lives to the nation and the welfare of its people. +Addressing cadets from across the country on the occasion of the NCC Rally, the Prime Minister urged NCC cadets to imbibe the good things that they would have observed over the last one month, during their stay in Delhi for the Republic Day celebrations, and also to spread these values, such as cleanliness and patriotism, when they go back to their towns and villages. +He said the NCC is an institution which connects youth from across the country, and hence contributes towards a sense of unity in the nation. +The Prime Minister mentioned that this Republic Day marks the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution of India. +He said that despite facing adversity throughout his life, Babasaheb Ambedkar was able to use the churning that this hardship would have caused within him, to produce the nectar of the Constitution, which helps us walk shoulder to shoulder, even after so many decades. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released the Dictionary of Martyrs of India’s Freedom Struggle, at an event in Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi. +Speaking on the occasion, he said this five-volume dictionary contains an account of the martyrs from India’s First War of Independence in 1857, to India’s Independence in 1947. +He said that this includes the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the non-cooperation movement, the Quit India Movement, and those soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj, who attained martyrdom, among many others. +He said that this was the first attempt at compiling the names of martyrs on this scale. +He appreciated all those involved with the compilation, and the effort behind it. +The Prime Minister asserted that a nation that does not honour and remember those who created, or are an important part, of its history, often does not have a secure future. +In that sense, he added that this effort, is not just a way to cherish the past, but is also a way to secure the future. +He said that youth should especially be made aware of this effort. +The Prime Minister said that the effort of the Union Government is to nurture and recall the brave deeds of the heroes of our freedom struggle. +He said this has a positive influence on the future generations, and inspires them to think of “India First.” +The Prime Minister said that India, so far, did not have a war memorial since independence. +He said that recently, he dedicated the National War Memorial, or Rashtriya Samar Smaarak, to the nation. +Similarly, he said the National Police Memorial has also been built. +He also mentioned the world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, in honour of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. +He said that in memory of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Azad Hind Fauj, the Kranti Mandir has been established at Red Fort. +He said museums are also being built to commemorate the brave deeds of the Adivasi heroes who were part of our freedom struggle. +The Union Minister of State for Culture (I/C) Dr. Mahesh Sharma was present on the occasion. +The project for compilation of “Dictionary of Martyrs” of India’s Freedom Struggle was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, to the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) to commemorate the 150th anniversary of uprising of 1857. +In this dictionary a martyr has been defined as a person who died or who was killed in action or in detention, or was awarded capital punishment while participating in the national movement for emancipation of India. +It includes ex-INA or ex-military personnel who died fighting the British. +It includes the martyrs of 1857 Uprising, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919), Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22), Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34), Quit India Movement (1942-44), Revolutionary Movements (1915-34), Kissan Movements, Tribal Movements, Agitation for Responsible Government in the Princely States (Prajamandal), Indian National Army (INA, 1943-45), Royal Indian Navy Upsurge (RIN, 1946), etc. +Information of about 13,500 martyrs has been recorded in these volumes. +The publication has been brought out in five volumes (zone wise) as given below: +“Dictionary of Martyrs: India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)”, Volume 1, Parts I & II. +In this volume, more than 4400 martyrs of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have been listed. +“Dictionary of Martyrs: India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)”, Volume 2, Parts I & II. +In this volume more than 3500 martyrs of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir have been listed. +“Dictionary of Martyrs: India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)”, Volume 3. +The number of martyrs covered in this volume is more than 1400. +This volume covers the martyrs of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Sind. +“Dictionary of Martyrs: India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)”, Volume 4. +The numbers of martyrs covered in this volume is more than 3300. +This volume covers the martyrs of Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura. +“Dictionary of Martyrs: India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)”, Volume 5. +The number of martyrs covered in this volume is more than 1450. +This volume covers the martyrs of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today announced the decision of the Government of India to introduce four new vaccines as part of India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). +Vaccines against rotavirus, rubella and polio (injectable) will collectively expedite India’s progress on meeting the Millennium Development Goal 4 targets to reduce child mortality by two-thirds by the year 2015 and meet global polio eradication targets. +In addition, an adult vaccine against Japanese encephalitis will be introduced in districts with high levels of the disease. +Along with the recent introduction of the pentavalent vaccine, this decision represents one of the most significant policy leaps in 30 years in public health, preventing at least 1 lakh infant deaths, deaths of adults in working age group and up to 10 lakhs hospitalizations each year. +With these new vaccines, India’s UIP will now provide free vaccines against 13 life threatening diseases, to 27 million children annually, the largest birth cohort in the world. +The Prime Minister said “The introduction of four new lifesaving vaccines, will play a key role in reducing the childhood and infant mortality and morbidity in the country. +Many of these vaccines are already available through private practitioners to those who can afford them. +The government will now ensure that the benefits of vaccination reach all sections of the society, regardless of social and economic status.” +Diarrhea caused by rotavirus kills nearly 80 thousand children each year, results in up to 10 lakh hospitalizations, pushing many Indian families below the poverty line. +It also imposes an economic burden of over 300 crore rupees each year to the country. +India has developed and licensed its first indigenous rotavirus vaccine, developed under a public-private partnership by the Ministry of Science and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. +India will introduce this vaccine in a phased manner. +It is estimated that nearly 2 lakh babies are born with congenital defects each year in the country. +The Universal Immunization Programme is also introducing an adult vaccine against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in 179 endemic districts in 9 states. +Reaffirming its commitment to the global goal of a polio free world, India is set to introduce Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV), together with 125 countries in a globally synchronized manner. +India has been certified polio free in March 2014, and the introduction of IPV in addition to the oral polio vaccine (OPV) will provide long lasting protection to the population against the virus. +Shri Narendra Modi, who has consistently placed an emphasis on health as part of the nation’s development, said “India is committed to tackle child mortality and provide health for all through multiple initiatives taken up by the government. +Strengthening routine immunization is an essential investment in India’s children and will ensure a healthy future of the country.” +The recommendations to introduce new vaccines have been made after numerous scientific studies and comprehensive deliberations by the National Technical Advisory Group of India (NTAGI), the country’s apex scientific advisory body on immunization. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the exchange of tariff concessions, on Margin of Preference basis, under the Fourth Round of Negotiations under the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement and related amendments. +The current membership of APTA consists of six countries or Participating States (PSs), namely, Bangladesh, China, India, Lao PDR, Republic of Korea, and Sri Lanka. +Since this is a preferential trade agreement, the basket of items as well as extent of tariff concessions are enlarged during the trade negotiating rounds which are launched from time to time. +Till date, three rounds of trade negotiations have taken place. +This will deepen the concessions being offered under this Agreement. +Other amendments to incorporate the Sectoral Rule of Origin to the Agreement were also approved. +The Fourth Session of the Ministerial Council of APTA, which is scheduled to be held shortly, will formally implement all the above decisions. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for amendment in the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) to further incentivize investments in Electronic Sector and moving towards the goal of ‘ Net Zero imports’ in electronics by 2020. +Besides expediting investments into the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector in India, the amendments in M-SIPS are expected to create employment opportunities and reduce dependence on imports. +The projects already received under the scheme have the potential to generate employment to the extent of upto one million persons (direct and indirect). +The Policy covers all States and Districts and provides them an opportunity to attract investments in electronics manufacturing. +The salient features of the amendment are: +a) The applications will be received under the scheme upto 31st December 2018 or till such time that an incentive commitment of Rs 10,000 crore is reached, whichever is earlier. +In case the incentive commitment of Rs 10,000 crore is reached, a review will be held to decide further financial commitments. +b) For new approvals, the incentive under the scheme will be available from the date of approval of a project and not from the date of receipt of application. +c) The incentives will be available for investments made within 5 years from the date of approval of the project. +d) Approvals will normally be accorded to eligible applications within 120 days of submission of the complete application. +e) A unit receiving incentives under the scheme, will provide an undertaking to remain in commercial production for a period of at least 3 years. +f) The Appraisal Committee recommending approval of project will be chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT. +g) A separate Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary and comprising of CEO, NITI Aayog, Secretary Expenditure and Secretary, MeitY will be set up in respect of mega projects, envisaging more than Rs. 6850 crore (approx. +USD 1 Billion) investments. +The Cabinet had, in July, 2012 approved the M-SIPS to provide a special incentive package to promote large scale manufacturing in the Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector. +The scheme provides subsidy for capital expenditure – 20% for investments in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 25% in non-SEZs. +The Scheme was amended in August, 2015 for scope enhancement and simplification of procedure. +The M-SIPS has been able to create positive impact on investment in electronics sector. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, on his birth anniversary. +Remembering our inspiration, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya ji on his Jayanti.”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met the Prime Minister of Bhutan Mr. Tshering Tobgay, on the sidelines of the Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar. +The two leaders discussed security cooperation in the light of recent incidents of violence in Assam. +The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts made by Bhutan for intensive vigilance in the border areas and real time sharing of information. +Cooperation in the Hydropower sector was also discussed. +A total of ten Indian-assisted hydropower projects will have a combined capacity of well over 6400 MW by 2022-23. +In his meeting with Lord Ian Livingstone, the Minister of Trade and Investment, United Kingdom, the Prime Minister appreciated the extensive cooperation extended by the UK as a partner country for the Vibrant Gujarat summit. +Both sides expressed keenness to deepen cooperation in areas such as education, science and technology. +The Prime Minister invited investment from UK, especially in sectors such as telecom, defence, railways and other manufacturing. +Counter-terror cooperation was also discussed particularly in light of the recent attacks in Paris. +The Prime Minister met Australian Trade Minister Mr. Andrew Robb and the Premier of New South Wales Mike Baird. +Trade and counter-terror cooperation dominated the discussions. +The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) also came up for discussion. +In his meeting with Mr. S Iswaran, Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore, the Prime Minister expressed happiness at Singapore’s participation in Vibrant Gujarat as a partner country. +The Prime Minister said he looked forward to Singapore President Tony Tan`s visit to India next month. +Both sides discussed cooperation in sectors such as smart cities, urban planning, water management and skill development. +The Prime Minister welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, Mr. Janusz Piechocinski, on his first visit to India. +Both sides discussed cooperation in the mining sector, and cooperation in defence manufacturing as part of the Make in India vision. +The Prime Minister met Mr. Yosuke Takagi, Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan. +Both sides agreed to quickly implement the agreement between Prime Minister Abe and Prime Minister Modi on doubling Japanese investment in India. +Madam Speaker, Mrs. Santi Bai Hanoomanjee, +Prime Minister Sir Aneerood Jugnauth ji, +Leader of the Opposition Mr. Paul Berenger, +Greetings on the Independence Day of Mauritius! +It is always a great honour to speak to a National Assembly. +But, it is truly special to do so in the Assembly of a people with which we share the deepest bonds of history and culture; and, of a nation that we are proud to call a friend and a partner. +To be here with you in this Assembly on your National Day is a blessed moment for me. +On Independence Day, we not only celebrate liberty, but also remember the struggles and sacrifices that gave birth to freedom. +Today is also a special day in the history of India`s freedom struggle. +On this day, in 1930, Mahatma Gandhi began his Dandi March. +And, India took a great step forward to Independence. +Today, I also pay homage to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam for leading Mauritius to freedom, and for his vision and leadership in building our partnership. +I stand here today not just in celebration of our relationship, but also in admiration of your achievements. +There are many countries that have seen the joys of freedom fade into the gloom of lost direction. +In Mauritius, though, the hopes and promises of independence have become brighter by the passing day. +Mauritius has stood as a bright beacon of democracy. +This is a nation of a little over a million people of huge diversity living in great harmony. +It is a nation moving firmly on the path of prosperity. +I have always admired how Mauritius has made smart choices; and encouraged hard work and enterprise. +It has gone from an agricultural economy to a middle income and diversified economy, tapping the opportunities in textile and tourism and now to offshore finance and information technology. +Generations ago, people from India charted an unknown course to an uncertain new life in an unfamiliar world. +As they built their lives, they lived on the memories of Himalaya and Ganga; through the rituals of Shivratri and Kavedee; the colours of Holi and the joy of Eid; through songs that welcomed the rains and dances that celebrated the harvest. +Today, they are proud citizens of Mauritius; thriving in the dynamism of their country; contributing to its success. +The island pulsates with the beauty of their preserved beliefs and culture. +Yet, they blend easily into a way of life that has been formed by the winds and waves from different parts of the world. +This morning I went to Ganga Talao. +I felt a personal connection that comes from the banks of Ganga in my parliamentary constituency – Benaras. +And, I understood the powerful links of heart that have endured time and distance in this magnificent land. +Today, these links form the firmest foundation of our relationship. +They have created goodwill and warmth rarely seen in international relations. +They have built an unbreakable chain of trust between us. +Today we are equally proud to have a relationship that speaks to the needs of our times. +We relate to each other from the comfort of our shared democratic values. +We are partners in our economic progress. +We shoulder our shared responsibility to advance security in the Indian Ocean. +We speak in one voice in the cause of the developing world and the future of our planet. +I see Mauritius as a leader in the Indian Ocean Community and as a bridge to Africa. +Your leadership is helping promote Hindi in the world. +This is the richness of our partnership. +Last year, we had democratic transition in both countries. +There are two things that are similar to both. +After a long time a single party won absolute majority in both countries. +And, in both Parliaments – this is very interesting – in both Parliaments, I have the honour to say “Madam Speaker”! +We know that democratic changes make no difference to the strength of our relationship. +What we now have, though, in both nations is a stable platform to speed up economic development. +Over the last nine months, we in India have moved with a clear vision of inclusive development. +We have acted with speed, resolve, innovation and boldness to increase economic growth; reform our economy and transform the lives of our people; and create opportunities for the most excluded youth, the remotest farmer and the farthest village. +I am confident that under Prime Minister Jugnauth, development in Mauritius will become more impressive. +And, I can assure you that as always we will be with you – in support of your efforts and in joy for your success. +Yesterday, I told Prime Minister Jugnauth that we understand the importance of the offshore banking sector for your economy. +We are conscious of its dependence on India. +We will work together for our shared objective to avoid the abuse of our double taxation avoidance convention. +I thank you for your support. +But, I also assure you that we will do nothing to harm this vibrant sector of one of our closest strategic partners. +It has been a great privilege to be a development partner for Mauritius. +We will always be ready to do more, in accordance with your wishes. +Yesterday, we announced a new Line of Credit of 500 million U.S. dollars for the development of civilian projects in Mauritius. +Prime Minister Vajpayee had supported the construction of the first cyber city in Mauritius in 2003. +That became a symbol of our thriving economic partnership. +I am pleased to announce our support for a second cyber city in Mauritius. +While we are on the subject of information technology, the e-health project in Mauritius is a laudable initiative. +And, we would be happy to support its development. +We are honoured to be Mauritius`s partner for meeting its petroleum requirements. +We are embarking on a new project to build the petroleum storage facility here. +This will further strengthen the position of Mauritius as a regional economic hub. +Mauritius has shown great vision in the development of its ocean economy – from fishing to tourism. +India is also highly dependent on the seas. +We are seeking to develop our marine economy and discover new possibilities. +We are doing this in a sustainable manner that preserves the delicate ecosystem of our oceans. +Indeed, the oceans hold vast potential to advance our prosperity and meet the challenges of the world. +That is why I consider the blue chakr in our national flag as a symbol of Blue Revolution; just as saffron represents Energy Revolution, white the Milk Revolution and, green the Energy Revolution. +This offers a great opportunity for cooperation between our two countries. +We can learn from you. +Together, we can better understand our marine ecology and the new opportunities. +We can improve our ability to pursue more sustainable practices. +Our partnership must also cover the challenge of climate change. +For India, it is a mission that we are pursuing on an entirely new scale and with a new sense of urgency. +We have set an ambitious target of 100 Gigawatts of solar energy and 60 Gigawatts of wind energy by 2022. +We will seek to dramatically increase our energy efficiency, which is the cleanest form of energy. +This is a choice that is driven by commitment to the future, but also by principles. +And for me, it is an Article of Faith. +We can pursue our dreams of a sustainable and prosperous future if we are confident about peace, security and stability in our world. +For India and Mauritius, our destinies are linked by the currents of the Indian Ocean. +Our security partnership has been a strong pillar of our relationship. +And, it has stood the test of time. +It is founded on unmatched mutual confidence and trust. +It is rooted in the responsibility to each other that comes naturally from our friendship. +It stems from our shared commitment to peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region. +Later today, I will have the honour to commission the Barracuda into the service of your National Coast Guard. +Today, proudly flying the flag of Mauritius, she will sail as a symbol of our partnership. +India is grateful for the faith you have placed in us. +And, as Mauritius assumes greater responsibility for securing this part of the Indian Ocean, we know that our region will be a safer place. +But, we share a broader vision for lasting stability and prosperity in the region. +We believe that all nations in our region should come together to shoulder our shared responsibility. +We seek a comprehensive partnership of closer security, economic, cultural, scientific and people-to-people ties in our region. +That is why we are grateful that Mauritius hosts the Indian Ocean Rim Association. +Your leadership will remain important to realize our vision. +Your steadfast support in global institutions gives us more strength to speak on our common interests. +I want to thank Mauritius for the strong support for United Nations Resolution declaring June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. +This resolution was passed by a record co-sponsorship in a record time frame. +This is a tribute to our shared heritage. +I know you will celebrate it with fervor in Mauritius. +This relationship will always be a source of great joy and strength to our two countries. +And, it will also be of immense value to our region and our world. +Thank you for this honour. +Once again, I give you my best wishes on this National Day. +“Let us fulfil Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Clean India – Swachh Bharat.” +“PM: “Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan” should be approached with a bipartisan spirit of patriotism.” +“PM invites nine public figures to contribute to Swachh Bharat and share their experience on social media.” +“Film Actor Aamir Khan joins Prime Minister on stage as PM administers pledge to people at Rajpath.” +PM also makes surprise visit to Mandir Marg Police Station. +PM initiates cleanliness drive at Valmiki Basti. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today exhorted people to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Clean India. +He recalled how the nation’s farmers had responded to Shri Shastri’s call of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” and made India self-sufficient in food security. +He said that out of Gandhiji’s two dreams – Quit India, and Clean India, the people had helped to ensure that the first became a reality. +However, the second dream – Clean India – still remained unfulfilled. +The Prime Minister said it was our social responsibility as citizens of India to help fulfil Gandhiji’s vision of Clean India, by his 150th birth anniversary in 2019. +The Prime Minister applauded and appreciated the work done by all previous Governments and social, religious and cultural organizations towards cleanliness. +The Prime Minister said that according to the World Health Organization, an average of Rs. 6500 per person was lost in India due to lack of cleanliness and hygiene. +He said Swachh Bharat would therefore make a significant impact on public health, and in safeguarding income of the poor, ultimately contributing to the national economy. +He exhorted people to devote 100 hours every year towards the cause of cleanliness. +The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of building toilets. +He said sanitation should not be seen as a political tool, but should only be connected to patriotism (rashtrabhakti) and commitment to public health. +He urged people to share their contributions on social media using the hash-tag #MyCleanIndia. +Union Ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari also addressed the gathering. +Earlier, the Prime Minister visited Rajghat and Vijay Ghat to offer floral tributes to two great sons of India, Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, on their birth anniversary. +The Prime Minister also paid a surprise visit to the Mandir Marg police station in New Delhi. +He himself picked up a broom to clean dirt. +He later exhorted police officials to maintain cleanliness. +Senior CEOs from the Republic of Korea today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +They are currently in New Delhi for the Indo-Korea Business Summit. +The CEOs discussed possibilities of enhancing business cooperation between the two countries. +The Prime Minister appreciated the ethics and professionalism of Korean industry, which had made Korean brands household names in India. +The Prime Minister invited Korean companies to enhance their investments in India, and to “Make in India,” which would also imply “Make for India.” +He suggested that major Korean companies can plan to invest as a group in a region of India, similar to the pattern they follow in Korea. +He will be remembered as a fine scholar and educationist, devoted to the principles of Sri Aurobindo. +As advisor to Gujarat CM, Kireet Bhai played a key role in setting up of Children`s University and Institute of Teacher Education,” the Prime Minister said. +A six member delegation from the Naga organization – Naga Hoho – called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +The delegation was led by Mr. Chuba Ozukum, President of Naga Hoho. +The members appreciated the Prime Minister’s vision of development of the North-East. +They emphasized their commitment to peace in the entire Northeastern region. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the teaching community, on Teachers’ Day. +Prime Minister has also paid tributes to Former President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, on his birth anniversary. +“On Teachers’ Day, I salute the teaching community that is devoted to nurturing minds and spreading the joys of education in society. +My tributes to Dr. S Radhakrishnan, an outstanding teacher and statesman on his birth anniversary. +Teachers have a central role in realising our dream of a ‘New India’ that is driven by cutting edge research and innovation. +Let us make the next 5 years about ‘teach to transform, educate to empower and learn to lead'”, the Prime Minister said. +But this year the sweltering heat has spoilt the fun for everybody. +Hence, in such places they are very sensitive about water and are equally active in doing something to deal with the shortage of water. +I was recently told that in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, the Hivrebazaar Gram Panchayat and its villagers have addressed the problem of water shortage by treating it as a major and delicate issue. +They have decided to give up cultivation of those crops that require a lot of water, like sugarcane and banana. +It sounds very simple, but in reality it is not so. +What a big collective decision this must have been? +If one tells the owners of factories that consume a lot of water about the consequences of this consumption and requests them to shut down their units, one can well imagine what the response would be. +Instead of sugarcane, they have taken to such crops like fruits and vegetables that require much less water. +Farmers in this village have taken so many initiatives such as using sprinklers, drip irrigation techniques, water harvesting and water recharging, that today their village is strong enough to cope with the water crisis that they face. +I might be talking of a small place like Hivrebazaar, but there must be many other such villages. +I extend my hearty felicitations to such villagers for their fine work. +Not only has water been saved, the quality of water has also vastly improved with the water level increasing. +When the government used railways to transport water to Latur, it became news for the world. +It is human nature that no matter how many perils people face, when they hear a good news from any corner, they feel as if the entire crisis is over. +Thus ever since the day it became public knowledge that rainfall this year is expected to be between 106% and 110% it seems as if tidings of peace and happiness have come. +There is still some time for the monsoon to arrive, but the news of good rains has already brought joy. +At the same time we must remember that a good monsoon offers both an opportunity and a challenge. +Can we start a drive to save water in every village from now on itself? +Farmers need fertile soil in their fields to grow crops. +Thus we should strive to retain as much water as possible. +The water of a village will be preserved there if we work for it in a determined manner collectively. +His concern is quite natural because it has been nearly 30 years since work began in this direction. +For those who are religiously inclined, Ganga is the path to salvation for them. +The flow of Ganga adds momentum to the economic pace of the country. +Bhagirath did bring down the river Ganga for us, but to save it, we need crores of Bhagiraths. +We shall have to continuously keep on repeating this thing. +There are many efforts being made by the government. +We are seeking the full cooperation of all the states through which Ganga flows. +Every day, effluents and garbage in a large quantity flow into Ganga through drains. +At Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Patna – trash skimmers have been deployed which clean the river while floating on it. +All local bodies have been given this facility and they have been urged to carry on with this work continuously and clean all the garbage from the river. +I have been told a few days ago that in places where this work is being carried out properly nearly 3 to 11 tonnes of garbage are being taken out of the river every day. +So it would be correct to say that pollutants in such a large quantity are being stopped from getting into the river. +In the coming days, we have plans to deploy such trash skimmers at other places also and the benefits of it will be felt by the people living on the banks of Ganga and Yamuna. +All these things are a sign that we are moving in the right direction and awareness has also increased. +I have seen that not just on the banks of Ganga, even in far off South if one meets a person, he is sure to ask, “ Sir, will Ganga be cleaned?” +This faith and hope of the common people is going to ensure success in the cleaning of Ganga. +People are even giving donations for this. +Thus this effort is being made quite meticulously. +My dear fellow citizens, today is the 24th of April. +This is observed as Panchayati Raj Day in India. +We celebrated 14th April as the 125th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedekar and today we celebrate 24th April as Panchayati Raj Day. +This campaign has worked in a major way to generate awareness. +How can the democratic institutions at the village level, in every corner of India, be strengthened? +How can the villages become self-reliant? +How can villages plan programmes for their own development? +There should be due importance laid on physical and social infrastructure. +There should be no school dropouts in villages and the campaign to educate the girl child (Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Abhiyan) should be successfully carried out. +The awareness that has come about in villages guarantees a new progress for India. +The foundation for the progress of India is the rise of its villages; so if we all keep laying stress on the progress of the villages, we shall continue to get the desired results. +I have a question for you about the school and college education. +For the last so many years, a strong need for reforms has been felt in the education sector. +Either the required amount of schools and colleges are not there or else the quality in education is lacking. +Today in every home, the first thing that the parents dream of is to give their children good education. +So I would appeal to all guardians and parents to give not just enough time and attention to their children but also to everything that’s happenings in their school. +And if something strikes your attention, please go to the school and discuss it with the teachers yourself. +It is true that for a long time our focus has been on setting up educational institutions, expanding the system of education, building schools, building colleges, recruiting teachers, ensuring maximum attendance of children. +We have already done a lot towards expanding education. +We will have to shift our priority from literacy campaign to good education. +You must have seen the Budget of the present government. +An effort is being made to provide quality education. +But it is true we still have a long way to go. +If we, 125 crore Indians, resolve, we can cover that distance. +Sharmila ji has rightly said that we do need to bring reforms for quality education. +You must have noticed in the Budget that we have decided to do something unconventional. +We have done this with the intention of giving them a free hand. +Indian universities can also compete with world class universities, and they should. +For the youth in today’s age, along with studies, sports are also of great importance. +They should have a feeling of team spirit and the qualities of a good leader for their overall holistic development. +I state this from my own experience because I have served in the Bharat Scouts and Guides and this had a very good impact upon my life. +You people have been sending me so many suggestions that one day I felt that first of all I must talk to these people. +It was under pressure from you people, following your suggestions, that I recently called for a meeting with the chiefs of NCC, NSS, Bharat Scouts and Guides, Red Cross and the Nehru Yuva Kendra. +I asked them if they have ever had a meeting before, and they said that since Independence, this was the first time that they were attending a meeting like this. +So first I would like to felicitate my young friends who put pressure on me, the result of which was that I held this meeting. +I felt glad that I met them. +I felt the need for greater coordination. +This time I put some issues before them. +I told them that for this season why don’t all these organizations and our youth make an effort for water conservation. +We could collectively try and stop open defecation in so many blocks and so many districts. +What kind of programmes can we make to unite our country? +Can we have a common youth song for all these organizations? +We spoke on many issues. +Do we need to add anything new in their functioning and their programmes? +I view it also as something that is going to shake us all. +Crores of rupees would be spent on these committees. +But the matter would remain at a standstill. +This has been everybody’s experience. +No one ever thought beyond this. +At times we political leaders should trust our people more than we trust ourselves. +My dear fellow citizens, this is not a small matter. +This can surely be done. +Ambassador Ms. Nikki Haley, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations called on Prime Minister Modi, today. +Ambassador Haley conveyed greetings from President Trump. +Prime Minister requested her to convey his best wishes to President Trump and warmly recalled their earlier meetings and interactions. +Ambassador Haley noted the deepening relations between India and the US particularly in strategic and defence sectors. +They expressed confidence that strong India-US partnership will continue to be an important factor for global peace and prosperity. +PM expressed appreciation for President Trump’s South Asia and Indo-Pacific strategies and commended his initiative for denuclearization of Korean Peninsula. +Let me begin by expressing my deepest condolences on the loss of lives in the terrorist attack on a civilian Russian aircraft and in the unfortunate downing of the military jet in Syria. +In this moment of grief and challenge, we stand in solidarity with the people of Russia. +Mr. President, thank you for generous and warm hospitality. +You are the architect of the India-Russia strategic partnership. +And, in a changing world, your leadership has kept our relations on a steady course of progress and growth. +Mr. President, I have always had great respect and appreciation for our strategic partnership. +And, there is genuine goodwill and mutual respect between our people. +As I look to the future, I see Russia as a significant partner in India’s economic transformation and in shaping a balanced, stable, inclusive and a multi-polar world. +We have laid the foundation of the future character of this strategic partnership. +The Inter-Governmental Agreement on manufacture of Kamov 226 helicopter in India is the first project for a major defence platform under the Make in India mission. +It is rightly with our most important defence partner. +We have made progress on a number of other defence proposals. +The pace of our cooperation in nuclear energy is increasing. +We are making progress on our plans for twelve Russian nuclear reactors at two sites. +The agreement today will increase Indian manufacturing content in these reactors. +It supports my mission of Make in India. +I thank President Putin for his support. +With one of the world’s largest reserves of hydrocarbons, Russia can be a critical source of energy security for India, especially because of our strategic partnership. +With President Putin’s support, we are enlarging Indian investments in Russian hydrocarbon sector. +President Putin and I are moving creatively in expanding our economic relations. +Second, we are working on logistics. +Our Green Corridor project has taken off. +The International North South Transit Corridor through Iran will significantly reduce transportation time and cost. +Third, we are moving forward on the India-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement. +This will also benefit us in Central Asia. +Fourth, we are encouraging our private sector to connect with each other more. +We have just had an excellent meeting of CEO Forum. +The agreements and the announcements today give me confidence that we will see huge increase in investments and trade in both directions. +President Putin and I have a high degree of convergence in our positions on global issues and a strong commitment to deepen our international cooperation. +We have strong collaboration in the United Nations. +Our membership of BRICS, East Asia Summit, G20 and now Shanghai Cooperation Organisation gives our partnership a global character. +It is particularly important in the arc from Eurasia to Asia Pacific, including in Central Asia and Afghanistan. +We are one in our belief that the world must unite and take concerted action on combating terrorism, without distinction and discrimination between terrorist groups and target countries. +I am very pleased to have deepened my association with President Putin. +Just as I have had the pleasure of visiting Russia twice this year, I look forward to welcoming President Putin in India next year for the BRICS Summit as well as the Annual Summit. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised about an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space between India and Armenia. +The MoU has already been signed in April, 2017. +This MoU shall enable the areas of cooperation such as, space science, technology and applications including remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication and satellite based navigation; space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system; and application of space technology. +The MoU would lead to setting up of a Joint Working Group, drawing members from Department of Space/ Indian Space Research Organisation (DOS/ISRO), and the State Committee of Sciences of the Ministry of Education and Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementing this MoU. +It will provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication; satellite navigation; space science and exploration of outer space. +MoU would lead to develop a joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. +Thus all sections and regions of the country will get benefited. +Financing of works carried out under this MoU shall be provided by the respective executive organisation with due consideration of national norms and rules concerning budgetary regulations in force in their respective States and within the limits of available resources. +Joint projects and works carried out under this MoU depending on the type and field of activity shall be on non-commercial or commercial basis and shall be executed either without mutual payments or on the basis of compensatory arrangements or contracts. +Armenia has expressed interest in cooperating with India in the area of space. +Accordingly, a template of framework MoU for space cooperation was provided for further processing at Government level, for which Armenia side has given its concurrence in April 2017. +Accordingly, an MoU between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Armenia on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, was signed at Yerevan on April 25, 2017 during the visit of Hon’ble Vice President of India. +There is also a Digital exhibition and virtual museum here stablished on the life of revered Bapu. +You also visit the Gandhi Kutir. +An understanding of Bapu’s life specially his emphasis on cleanliness will surely strengthen our resolve to turn Mahatma’s dreams into a reality. +2019, the year of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. +Pujya Bapu used to say that India resides in villages. +Further he said,” Given a choice to pick between freedom and cleanliness, I will ask for cleanliness.” +This commitment shows Gandhiji passion for cleanliness. +Indeed every government has contributed to the realisation of Ganhiji’s dream right from the days of Gandhiji. +Here are those Sarpanch sisters who had made it possible in their villages. +A couple of moments ago you watched a film that showed our cleanliness ranking at 42% before independence. +In such a short span of time we reached 62 in ranking. +If in such a short span we can go up by 20 percent then in next one and half year much more can be done and it is clearly your achievement. +Some people think that only city dwellers who are fluent in English are capable for such tasks. +However, these sisters who are able to communicate only in their specific language have also done this. +Attachment of a person with his life objective enables him to cross all kind of hurdles. +Many persons are ignorant about their life objective. +Your becoming Sarpanch is not a small achievement. +Some of you may not have faced hurdles but the majority had to toil hard to reach this position in a the democratic tradition. +Fifteen years ago when meeting of Sarpanchs were held, there were talks of 33 % reservation. +But in meetings I had seen while working out of Gujarat and elsewhere in different states that while inquiring for women members it was man who occupied the scene introducing themselves as SP. +Strange thing for me that how a government official has turned up in a party meeting. +She makes an environment of her priorities in her family for acceptability. +And it has been experienced that a Women Sarpanch works more efficiently in comparison to his male counterpart. +A Male Sarpanch engages himself in many more activities. +His becoming Sarpanch is for a new higher chair in District Board. +They work whole heartedly and continuously with full capacity to achieve the tasks assigned to them. +They are not quite till the work is over. +Hence work with Beti Bachao Beti Padhao doctrine is direly needed in our country. +With this grave imbalance a society can not move further. +It’s a sin and the society must stand against it. +Women Sarpanch can be more successful here. +Hence have bring change in society by standing firmly against this discriminatory approach. +Surely the change is being witnessed. +Just tell who have brought laurels to India’s pride in Olympics. +They all are daughters of my country. +Inhuman treatment should be unacceptable in our society. +Even our scriptures value the importance of daughter in the following way: +These are the verses in our scriptures for a daughter. +Hence take up Beti Bachao Beti Padhao without discrimination. +I urge our Women Sarpanchs to kindly uphold this theme vigorously. +If a boy goes to school so be for a daughter even for a poorest of the poor. +A Sarpanch should not think that no budget is required for this. +The village nothing to incur expenditure upon it additionally, this just requires your monitoring only that whether girls are going to school or not and which those families are not sending their daughters in school. +You are all Sarpanchs, do one thing when you have time. +Ask children in school to write the name of village Sarpanch. +Only of that village and not the other one. +There you are holding the job for last two-three years but the kids in your school may not be knowing your name and you are the Sarpanch of his village. +He may be aware of the Chief Ministers or Prime Ministers name but not about your name. +I don’t know whether you cater your villagers whole heartedly or not? +But invite all the teachers for tea once in a month at your residence for half an hour. +Ask teachers whether they have any grudge or complain? +While in villages there used to live one or two persons in their homes. +Yor village need not spend a single rupee on this. +Often we have thought about the causes of diseases occurring in villages . +Now a days our focus is on toilets. +But have thought about the benefits of sanitation? +According to a World Bank report the average expenditure of a poor family on treatment of diseases arising out of unhygienic environment is seven thousand rupees per annum. +Keeping our villages clean and doesn’t allowing any disease to happen in villages will definitely save those 7 thousand rupees. +This money will be spent by the poor on milk procurement. +Now also in the year of Women. +Rabindra Nath Tagore wrote: A village is just like a women and her image. +And in the existence of women prevails the welfare of humanity. +Compared to cities villages are more close to nature and are tuned more with the flow of life. +In them lies the natural power of healing the wounds. +Villages provide all happiness as well as food to all like women just as an easy life poem. +Sometimes we had thought of the draining of village resources . +Should the nature be saved or not? +Such a village can be a reality. +Government is also working on Rurban Mission. +A place with rural spirit and city facilities. +Work is going on to connect every panchayat in the country through Optical Fibre Cable.. +Government is also working for modernity of villages. +Here while seeing this exhibition my Secretary informed me that the sarpanch sisters are also taking this exhibition very attentively and every one was busy there taking Selfie. +Being a forest area with no ground the public addressing was fixed some three kilometres away in a school ground. +Amazed, I went near them and asked you are not in photo frame and what will you do of my photo? +Do you know of culling out photo’s. +Their was answer was: we will get it downloaded. +I was taken aback, these sisters are illiterate but still saying of downloading. +Now the technology is in the life of a common person. +In our system the Government of India has opened up Common Service Centres. +Have you ever inquired about the employment provided to youth using technology in these Common Service Centres? +What kind of services are being rendered by these computers and how these services could be used for village and how you can be benefitted from these amenities? +I mean to say that we should try to bring technology and its use in our villages also. +And this will definitely bring a visible change in your villages too. +May be we are not knowing every thing but we can take those along with us who have knowledge of it. +Man is egoistic so he will not take it but you can ask this from a class 12th student in your family itself and he/she will definitely come to your help. +And see doing this will enhance your strength manifold. +Every village must have 15-20 such persons associated with Government in one way or other. +Does all these persons know about some higher officers? +You have so far not taken these along with you so I request you all to do so and see it will help a lot in your working. +Do one more thing also. +Many people from your village might have migrated to cities. +Now they would be a visitor for a while to attend marriages and other family festivities. +And now time has come to reverse the trend of leaving village after attaining the age of 18 for a better life. +If you are capable of doing this I am sure your village will become a vital one. +As I said every village have live stock in abundance. +I have been told that there are some villages near Gandhinagar housing Live stock hostels. +Some of you may have seen there how the garbage of villages gets converted to wealth. +And what we call Waste is actually a Wealth. +The poor will be benefitted most from this exercise. +Dirty conditions most adversely affects the poor, Slum dwellers and to the people consuming contaminated water. +I publically accept it that the day you speak something officially the media begins finding loopholes in it. +But Cleanliness is an exception as the media has welcomed and adored it and they are working one step ahead of Government in this area. +Everyone has accepted this across the country. +And a work acceptable to all is bound to succeed so naturally it has to be done systematically. +Mere chanting of Cleanliness hymns will be of no use. +This we have to do physically. +And clean village will be taken as transformed India and our life will appear as a changed one. +I congratulate to all those who have been honoured. +Their work, life, entrepreneurship and resolve will motivate us. +On the occasion of International Women Day there is a clear cut connection between Cleanliness and a women . +Because it is the women power of our country who has contributed most for cleanliness. +Every type of hygiene, cleanliness of each and every facet of social life, values , virtues and kind deeds are if thriving today are just because of the contribution of Mother-Power. +Hoping that this cleanliness drive will have blessings of Mother-power and it will witness success in leaps and bounds I once again greet you all. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will address the golden jubilee and foundation day celebrations of Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation, Pune, at 5 PM today via video conferencing. +“At 5 PM, I will address golden jubilee and foundation day celebrations of Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation, Pune, via video conferencing.”, the Prime Minister said in a tweet from his account. +My colleagues of the Council of Ministers, Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot ji, +Shri Vijay Goyal ji, +Secretary Social Justice and Empowerment, Lata Krishna Rao ji; +I am really fortunate to dedicate the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC) to the country. +Moreover, my joy has doubled due the fact that I had laid the foundation-stone for this international centre in April 2015. +This grand International Centre is ready not only in a very short time but before its scheduled time. +I congratulate every department associated with the construction of this centre. +I sincerely hope that this Centre will prove to be a great inspiration for spreading Babasaheb’s teachings. +Dr Ambedkar International Centre for socio-economic Transformation is a part of the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre. +The centre will also play a significant role for research in social and economic issues. +Friends, several great souls were born in our country from time to time, who not only became the face of social reform but also played a significant role in building the future of the country and shaping the thought process of the country. +The strength of Babasaheb is evident from the fact that over the years attempts have been made to suppress his ideas and to negate his contribution in the nation building process but no one could erase the ideas of Babasaheb from the minds of the Indians. +I won’t be wrong to say that the people today are more influenced by the ideas of Babasaheb than the family which was behind the conspiracy. +We are indebted to Babasaheb for his contribution to the nation building. +Therefore this government is trying to develop those places that are associated with the life of Babasaheb as pilgrimage centres. +Dr Ambedkar National Memorial is being built in the house where Babasaheb had died in Delhi’s Alipur. +Similarly, the birthplace of Babasaheb which is Mhou of Madhya Pradesh is being developed as a pilgrimage centre. +The London residence of Babasaheb is being transformed into a memorial by the BJP government of Maharashtra after its purchase. +Similarly, Ambedkar Memorial is being built on the land of Indu mill in Mumbai. +Deekshabhoomi is also being developed in Nagpur. +The ‘Panchteerth’ or the five pilgrimage centres are in a way tribute to Baba Saheb on behalf of today’s generation. +By the way, a sixth pilgrimage Centre has also been developed in the virtual world last year. +This pilgrimage Centre is empowering the country and providing impetus to it digitally. +Bharat Interface for Money i.e. the BHIM app that was launched last year was a tribute to Babasaheb’s financial vision by this government. +BHIM app has proved to be a boon for the poor, the Dalit, the backward and the exploited people. +But besides the struggles, his life is also full of inspirations. +Far from the despair he had dreamt of an India that will be free from all the evils and will be inclusive of all. +A few days after the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly, on December 17, 1946 he had said- +With all our castes and creeds I have not the slightest hesitation that we shall in some form be a united people. +The type of conduct suggests that we have that capability of moving towards the path of unity by moving together with all the components.” +There is no strain of disappointment! +Some people give more importance to the caste in which they have taken birth than the land on which they have taken birth. +I believe that today’s new generation is capable of eliminating these social evils. +Mainly the changes that have taken place in the past 15 to 20 years are only due to the efforts of the new generation. +They understand that the country is being divided on the basis of caste and the country cannot progress at the desired pace with these divisions. +So I have an unwavering trust in the youth whenever I talk about freeing the ‘New India’ from the bondage of caste system. +Today’s youth holds the power to fulfil Babasaheb’s dreams. +“We should not be satisfied only with the political democracy. +We also have to make our political democracy a social democracy. +Political democracy cannot survive without a base of social democracy.” +The social democracy was the Mantra of freedom and equality for every Indian. +This equality is not only in terms of the rights, but also of the way of living. +But even after so many years of independence there is no equality in the lives of millions of people. +Even the basic amenities such as electricity connection, water connection, a small house, Life Insurance are far from accessible. +If you closely look at our government’s way of working and our work culture for the past 3 to 3 and a half years, you will notice that we have been trying to fulfil that dream of Babasaheb’s social democracy. +They have been elevated to that class of people that have bank accounts and debit cards. +The government has helped to open bank accounts of more than 30 crore poor people under the scheme. +RuPay debit cards have been provided to more than 23 crore people. +How many of you get the opportunity to visit your village after every 4 or 5 months? +I request those who have not been to their villages for a long time to now visit their village and see. +Go and ask someone from your village about the Ujjwala scheme. +You will see how the Ujjwala scheme has eliminated the difference between the households which was created by gas connections in some houses and firewood in the rest of the households. +This is a major example of how the government has eliminated the social discrimination. +Now even the poor households cook their food on gas ovens. +Now the poor woman does not have to spend her life in the smoke of the firewood. +This is one difference which can be easily understood by the people who are more connected to their villages. +The government has also come up with insurance plans to strengthen social democracy. +So far 18 crore poor people of the country have joined the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana. +Through these schemes, a premium of only 1 Rupee per month is required for accident insurance and 90 Paisa per day for Life Insurance. +You will be surprised to know that under the schemes, a sum of rupees 1800 crores approximately has been given to the poor. +Just imagine today the poor in the rural areas are living a tension-free life. +Brothers and sisters, the essence of Babasaheb’s ideology has been rooted in many forms: +Such issues have been raised by Babasaheb in his lifetime. +He always hoped that the governments in India would follow the Constitution without discriminating against different castes. +Today, in every scheme of this government you will see a glimpse of the efforts to give equal rights to all without discrimination. +Just recently the government has launched another scheme – ‘Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Har Ghar Bijli Yojana or Saubhagya scheme’. +Under the scheme, 4 crore such households will be provided free electricity connection that have been compelled to lead a life similar to the 18th century era, even after 70 years of independence. +The Saubhagya scheme is going to end this inequality that was prevailing since the past 70 years. +Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is another such scheme that aims at removing the inequality. +Even today there are millions of people in the country who do not have their own house. +It is important to have a house first, be it a small or a big one. +Efforts are being made to provide equality in terms of residence so that no one is deprived of a house. +Brothers and sisters, these programmes are moving at their determined speed and will be completed before their scheduled time. +Today this Dr Ambedkar International Centre is a living example of the fact that this government’s schemes do not get stuck midway. +This government has utilised its full strength in order to fulfil the set goals. +This is our work culture. +We not only just synchronise our goals with the plans but also finish them on time. +You might remember, I had said from the ramparts of the Red Fort in 2014 that within one year all the government schools in the country will have a separate toilet for the daughters. +We have built more than 4 Lakh toilets in schools within a year. +There are still several months left for the 1000 days to be completed and till now only 2000 villages are yet to be electrified. +Talking about the other schemes, the scheme for providing ‘soil health cards’ to the farmers was launched in February 2015. +Our target was to provide soil health cards to the country’s 14 crore farmers by the year 2018. +Similarly, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana was launched in July 2015. +Our target was to complete 99 irrigation projects of the country that were stuck midway for years by 2019. +So far 21 projects have been completed. +Next year more than 50 projects will be completed. +The progress of the scheme is also within the purview of the target. +We have launched the e- National Agriculture Market scheme (e-NAM) in April 2016 so that the farmers are able to get fair prices for their crops that will help them to sell their crops easily. +Under the scheme, the government has planned to connect more than 580 Mandis in the country online. +So far more than 470 agricultural markets have been added online. +Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which I mentioned earlier, was launched on 1st May last year. +The government has set a target of providing gas connections to 5 crore poor women by 2019. +In just 19 months, the government has given free gas connections to more than 3 crore 12 lakh women. +Brothers and sisters, this is our way of working. +The government is working on the same vision of Babasaheb of providing equal rights to the poor. +The government considers delays in the schemes as a criminal negligence. +Now if we consider this Centre, the decision of making it was taken in the year 1992. +But nothing happened for 23 years. +After coming to power this government had laid the foundation-stone of this centre and the same government has inaugurated it. +The political parties who ask for votes in the name of Babasaheb will probably not even be aware of this. +Well, nowadays they are thinking of Baba Bhole instead of Baba Saheb. +That’s enough. +Since all the schemes have come on track and the plans have gained momentum we are thinking of reducing the deadline so that the work gets completed as early as possible. +Recently we have reduced the deadline for ‘Indradhanush Mission’ by 2 years. +Under the Indradhanush Mission the government is holding vaccination campaigns in those areas which were not covered under the on-going vaccination campaigns. +Lakhs of children and pregnant women were left out of vaccination. +But under this campaign, more than 2.5 crore children and more than 70 lakh pregnant women have been vaccinated. +The ‘Intensified Mission Indradhanush’ has been launched along with ‘Mission Indradhanush’ in order to achieve this goal. +But even after so many years not all villages of the country are connected with roads. +Within 3 years of persistent efforts more than 80% of the villages are now connected to roads. +Now the government is working at a very fast pace to connect hundred per cent villages to road network. +The government’s emphasize is on encouraging Dalit and backward brothers and sisters living in far-flung areas of the country for self-employment. +You will be surprised to know that about 60% of the beneficiaries of the Mudra Yojana, that changed the meaning of employment, belong to Dalit, backward and tribal classes. +Under the scheme loans of nearly 9.75 crore rupees have been sanctioned so far and loans of over 4 lakh crore rupees without a bank guarantee has been provided to the people. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin of Russia exchanged warm greetings for the Year 2019 in a telephonic conversation today. +The Prime Minister also wished the President and Russian people on the occasion of Christmas, which is being celebrated in Russia today. +The two leaders appreciated the major milestones achieved in the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries in the past year. +Recalling successful wide-ranging discussions, inter alia, in Sochi in May and during President Putin’s visit to New Delhi in October for the Annual Summit, the leaders agreed to maintain the momentum in the bilateral relations. +President Putin reiterated the invitation to the annual Eastern Economic Forum in September 2019. +Bilateral cooperation in the key areas including defence and counter-terrorism was also discussed. +Both leaders agreed that India-Russia cooperation plays an important role in the global multilateral order. +Both countries, therefore, will continue their close consultations in the United Nations, the BRICS, the SCO and other multilateral organizations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed students and teachers at the event “Nayi Disha, Naya Sankalp” (New Direction, New Resolve) organized by the Dayananda Anglo Vedic College Managing Committee. +Speaking on the occasion, he said that Swami Dayananda, continues to inspire even today. +The Prime Minister said that the Naya Sankalp – new resolve – should be to raise India’s stature globally. +This, he said, would be true homage to Swami Dayananda. +He said that with DAV’s huge strength of students and alumni, if they resolve to work on certain issues, they can together achieve significant results in a short span of time. +He said the attempt should always be to create a modern and scientific India of the 21st century. +The Prime Minister noted that the DAV College Management Committee had offered to support his Clean Ganga initiative. +Welcoming this, the Prime Minister said that this was an initiative that could only succeed through people’s involvement. +The Prime Minister also spoke of various Government initiatives for the benefit of the youth, such as Mudra Yojana, Start-Up India and Skill Development. +It was a historic day because it was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Jaffna. +Today is another landmark day. +When, once again, we celebrate our partnership with the people of Sri Lanka and with residents of Jaffna. +Today, along with President Sirisena, we dedicate the renovated Durraiappah Stadium to the people of Sri Lanka. +After a wait of nearly 20 years, your applause and cheer will once again rekindle the soul of Durraiappah Stadium. +Even while we are sitting thousands of kilometres away in Delhi, we can feel the pulse of vibrancy and atmosphere of change in Jaffna. +An arena for a prosperous and healthy future for Jaffna’s youth. +It demonstrates your determination to shed the legacy of violence and pursue the path of economic progress. +Its foundations are supported by your courage and great sacrifices. +Its successful completion is a signal that you have left the past behind and are looking to the promise of a prosperous future. +I also salute your visionary leadership and of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe the Governor and the Chief Minister of the Northern Province in ensuring the success of this project. +Our relations are not limited to the confines of our two governments. +They reside in the rich contacts of our history, culture, language, art, and geography. +India strongly believes that its economic growth must drive and bring benefit to its neighbours. +Durraiappah Stadium embodies the spirit of our cooperation. +Indeed, India’s support for Sri Lanka’s development is a promise of our friendship. +And, that it will be based on your priorities and your needs is an assurance that you can rely on. +This is what makes our enduring ties relevant to our present, as also to our future. +India’s desire is to see an economically prosperous Sri Lanka. +A Sri Lanka where: -unity and integrity; -peace, harmony and security; and -equal opportunity and dignity. +prevails throughout the country among all its people. +Excellency Sirisena and Friends, +In about seventy-two hours from now, the world would be celebrating the second anniversary of the International day of Yoga on 21 June. +Sri Lanka was among the first supporters of the UN resolution on this subject in 2014. +And, today, we have celebrated the start of the International day of Yoga with a curtain raiser from Jaffna, from this Durraiappah Stadium. +The ‘Surya Namaskar’, performed just a short while ago, has sent the message of holistic healthcare, harmonious and sustainable living with nature to the world. +We could not have asked for a more fitting start and tribute to the International Day of Yoga. +I once again thank you; the entire leadership present on your side, and the lovely people of Jaffna for this opportunity. +Durraiappah Stadium will stand as yet another symbol of our lasting friendship. +India will walk side by side with Sri Lanka as it charts its own path to progress and prosperity for all of its citizens. +I once again convey greetings to the people of Sri Lanka from 1.25 billion people of India. +This is a landmark occasion, as for the first time, the Global Call to Action Summit is being held outside USA. +My Government is honoured to host this Summit. +All those delegates who have travelled a long distance to attend this Summit – I heartily welcome you to India and to New Delhi. +I am delighted to be with you this morning. +This two-day Summit, celebrating the achievements of the participating countries in the area of Maternal and Child Health, was conceptualized to accelerate joint leadership for ending preventable deaths among mothers and children. +It will showcase the power of new partnerships, innovations and systems to bring about improvements in life-saving interventions. +I firmly believe that this Summit will provide a highly effective platform to address common challenges that will help us achieve the desired goals. +How we shape the world in the next 15 years will make the difference between prosperous, optimistic Nations, and insecurity and unrest. +I am glad to see 24 Nations present here to join together in their commitment to end preventable maternal and child death. +This is a “Call to Action” to all of us to seize this opportunity and think big. +The 24 priority countries participating in the Summit contribute nearly 70% of the preventable maternal and child deaths. +For India, with its birth cohort of 26 million, the challenges are formidable but the commitment to succeed is also as strong. +What, however, does offer hope is that most of these deaths can be prevented through simple yet effective and proven interventions. +This forms the key peg for this Summit. +This also formed a crucial part of the joint statement issued subsequent to the visit of the US President in January this year, where we agreed to further accelerate the joint leadership to end all preventable maternal and child deaths. +Keeping aside the work that still needs to be done, there have been significant achievements on the global front in the area of maternal and child health. +Looking at the big picture, we find that in 1990, India’s under-five mortality rate stood at 126 while the global average was 90. +In 2013, this figure dropped to 49 against a global average of 46. +Therefore, the gap to the global average reduced from 36 points in 1990, to just 3 points in 2013 reflecting that India has achieved under-five mortality rate decline at an accelerated pace compared to global rate of decline. +What this translates into is this: India is likely to reach close to achieving the MDG target if the current trend of annual decline is sustained. +In addition to this remarkable achievement, another truly historic accomplishment has been the victory over Polio. +India was declared as “Polio-Free” on 27 March 2014. +From being a country which accounted for more than half of the global polio cases in 2009, to being declared free of the wild polio virus: the journey reflects India’s deep commitment to child health. +I am also happy to share with you today another major milestone achieved by India. +India has eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus. +The validation for this has happened much before the global target date of December 2015. +This gives us the confidence to achieve other targets well before the target date. +To sustain the efforts of being a Polio-free and maternal and neonatal tetanus free Nation, and to accelerate the full immunization coverage in the country, my Government has added to the world’s largest immunization drive another mission known as “Mission Indradhanush”. +It focusses on vaccinating the left-outs. +It also targets to accelerate the current increase in annual rate of immunization from existing 1% to more than 5% per year. +This will help us achieve more than 90% coverage by 2020, which otherwise would take more than 25 years at the current pace. +The first phase has been successfully implemented. +We want to ensure that no child in India dies of a vaccine-preventable disease. +India has always partnered with the global efforts on issues of child and maternal health. +India is the first country to respond to the global commitment to reduce newborn mortality, subsequent to the launch of Global Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) at the World Health Assembly in June 2014. +India launched the India Newborn Action Plan (INAP) in September 2014, targeting reduction in Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) and still births to single digit by 2030. +India also responded by acting on the first “Call to Action” through its commitment and launch of RMNCH+A. +These remarkable successes in the field of maternal and child health have been possible through our National Health Mission (NHM). +The Mission, with its urban and rural health components – perhaps one of the largest public health programmes in the world – has resulted in improved health outcomes. +52% of India’s under-5 mortality is contributed to by deaths of newborns in the first month of life. +Under the NHM, our approach emphasises a continuum of newborn care both at the community and facility level. +Our focus has been to get pregnant women to have safe delivery in our institutions. +We launched an ambitious program – Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) – wherein incentives were given for delivering in public institutions to the beneficiaries directly. +As a result, today, more than 75% of the deliveries take place in our institutions. +This has directly contributed to reduction in maternal mortality. +We are fully aware that out-of-pocket expenses remain a key barrier for women to access timely health care and services. +To overcome this, we have launched a programme called Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) under which every woman delivering in a public health institution as well as the newborn is entitled to free and cashless health services, with an assured provision of free drugs, diagnostics and diet besides free to and fro transport. +This has helped to further improve our institutional deliveries. +Not only are the mothers provided focused health services, but individual beneficiary tracking is being done through the countrywide Maternal and Child Health Tracking System, which ensures close tracking of inputs and outputs at the level of service provision. +More than 92 million mothers and 78 million children have already been registered so far in the system. +One of our major concerns is equity. +As a step towards ensuring equitable health services across regions that suffer from intra-state disparities, and to bring about sharper improvements in health outcomes, a total of 184 poorest performing districts all over the country have been identified. +Special efforts are being made to put in more resources and focussed programmes in these areas. +One of the flagship programmes of my Government is the ‘Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan’ (The Clean India Campaign). +As a part of this large campaign, the Health Ministry has launched the Kayakalp scheme to encourage public health facilities to maintain high standards of hygiene and sanitation, as I firmly believe that clean and hygienic environment is the stepping stone to a healthy Nation. +To save and educate the girl child we have launched an ambitious program – Beti bachao Beti padhao. +We need to ensure that the girl child survives, thrives and plays a very crucial role in society. +I have witnessed people getting poorer because of unfortunate health episodes. +We need to institutionalise a system where marginalised communities receive universal health care and financial protection. +We must experiment and learn from each other. +India stands ready to boost its commitment and partner with other countries and move forward on our promise to end maternal and child deaths and provide a better life to the adolescent. +I invite you, to commit to bold measures and hold each other accountable to these promises. +As we assemble here, we need to send a very very strong message not only to ourselves, not only to the 24 countries present here, but to the entire world. +The message is of our commitment, that we will ensure that every woman, every child who can be saved will be saved. +We also need to make a clarion call to the world to join hands in taking such steps that would ensure this. +India stands committed to not only allocate resources towards this in our country, but also to help the world and all those countries which needed any support. +It is my personal vision and my Government’s firm commitment. +While every country present here has something to offer, India also has a wealth of experience. +India has done well in many ways and would be extremely happy to share its experience with other countries. +Last year, I had made a commitment of assisting the SAARC countries in keeping it Polio free. +We have also made a commitment to provide Pentavalent vaccines to such SAARC countries as would need it. +We will offer whatever experience we have to the world community. +India would be happy to assist any country with technology, system strengthening and programme implementation capsules. +We could train personnel and skill them for better management of child sickness in our Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) as well as share our experience at home based new born care. +India’s rich experience in Universal immunization and particularly its experience this year with the Mission Indradhanush could be shared with all the countries. +We had offered this to SAARC countries earlier. +Today I repeat this offer to all countries present here. +This will be apart from our offer of support for Polio eradication. +I again warmly welcome you all to this important international Summit. +I hope the next two days would provide a new direction to the global community in its journey towards ending maternal and child deaths. +I wish you a pleasant stay in New Delhi. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Cadre review and formation of a new service in the name of Índian Enterprise Development Service (IEDS)’ in the Office of Development Commissioner (MSME), Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME). +The creation of the new cadre and change in structure will not only strengthen the organization but will also help to achieve the vision of “Startup India”, “Stand-up India” and “Make in India”. +The measure will enhance the capacity and efficiency of the organization and also help in achieving growth in MSME sector through a focussed and dedicated cadre of technical officers. +Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi greeted people of Odisha on the occasion of its formation day today. +In a message, Prime Minister said, “Country is proud of Odisha’s great culture and heritage. +The people of the state have left an indelible mark in the path of development of the nation by reaching the pinnacle of distinction in various fields. +Lord Jagannath always bless us and I wish people of Odisha to touch the height of progress in coming days.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the news of plane crash in Indonesia. +“News of the plane crash in Indonesia is deeply unfortunate. +My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with those injured”, the Prime Minister said. +India stands ready to render any assistance required. “, the Prime Minister said. +The Union cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for implementation of scheme titled ‘Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase II (FAME India Phase II)’ for promotion of Electric Mobility in the country. +The scheme with total outlay of Rs 10000 Crores over the period of three years will be implemented with effect from 1st April 2019. +The scheme will help in addressing the issue of environmental pollution and fuel security. +· In 3W and 4W segment incentives will be applicable mainly to vehicles used for public transport or registered for commercial purposes. +· In the e-2Ws segment, the focus will be on the private vehicles. +· Through the scheme, it is planned to support 10 Lakhs e-2W, 5 Lakhs e-3W, 55000 4Ws and 7000 Buses. +To encourage advance technologies, the benefits of incentives, will be extended to only those vehicles which are fitted with advance battery like a Lithium Ion battery and other new technology batteries. +· On such highways, charging stations will be established on both sides of the road at an interval of about 25 km each. +The BRICS leaders’ declaration for the 9th BRICS Summit calls for energizing the practical cooperation between the member countries. +It states enhancing communication and coordination in improving global economic governance to foster a more just and equitable international economic order. +It underlines international and regional peace and stability. +Click here to know more about the BRICS Leaders’ Xiamen Declaration +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people on the occasion of Rath Yatra. +“On the occasion of Rath Yatra, my warmest greetings to you all. +May Lord Jagannath continue to shower his blessings on everyone. +May the blessings of Lord Jagannath lead to development of villages, well-being of poor & farmers and take India to new heights of progress”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Thursday reviewed progress of key infrastructure sectors of roads, PMGSY, rural housing, urban housing, railways, airports and ports. +The review meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours, was attended by top officials from infrastructure-related Ministries, NITI Aayog, and PMO. +In course of the presentation made by CEO NITI Aayog, Shri Amitabh Kant, it was noted that the pace of road construction has picked up significantly. +The average road length constructed per day in FY 17-18 was 26.93 km, as compared to 11.67 km in FY 13-14. +The Prime Minister was informed about progress made in digitisation of the transport sector. +Over 24 lakh RFID tags have been issued so far, and over 22 percent of toll revenue now comes from electronic toll collection. +The Prime Minister called for faster progress in electronic toll collection. +Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, rural roads have now connected 88 percent of all eligible habitations. +Over 44,000 villages have been connected in the period from 2014 to 2018, as compared to about 35,000 in the preceding four year period. +The “MeriSadak” App has been launched in 10 regional languages, and has seen 9.76 lakh downloads so far. +GIS Mapping of roads is underway, and 20 States have so far been hosted on the Geospatial Rural Road Information System (GRRIS). +Green technologies, and non-conventional materials such as waste plastic and fly ash, are being used in rural road construction. +Similarly, in the aviation sector, passenger traffic has grown by over 62 percent in the four year period between 2014 and 2018, as against 18 percent in the preceding four year period. +Under the UDAN scheme, 27 airports are now operational in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. +In the ports sector, traffic volume in major ports increased by 17 percent in the period between 2014 and 2018. +In the rural housing sector, the Prime Minister was informed that over one crore houses have been constructed in the period from 2014 to 2018, as compared to about 25 lakh houses in the preceding four year period. +This has boosted employment in the housing sector and related construction industries. +54 lakh houses have been sanctioned under Pradhan MantriAwaas Yojana (Urban), since the inception of the scheme. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the PM has given it’s approval the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016. +Briefly, the Order envisages: +§ an action plan with specific activities, milestones, and timeliness for achievement of the objective of rejuvenation and protection of River Ganga, +§ a mechanism for monitoring implementation of its action plans. +It will also ensure co-ordination amongst the Ministries and Departments and State Governments concerned for implementation of its action plans in a time bound manner. +3. Declaration of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) as an Authority with powers to issue directions and also to exercise the powers under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to enable it to carry out efficiently its mandate. +The NMCG will have a two-tier management structure with a Governing Council (GC), to be chaired by DG, NMCG. +The other main features of the proposal are as follows: +§ This will give more teeth to the NMCG for Clean Ganga for the environmental protection/rejuvenation of River Ganga. +It will also ensure proper co-ordination with the local bodies and compliance with the directions of NMCG for pollution abatement of the river Ganga. +§ NMCG will, however, take action only in the event when required action is not taken by CPCB. +CPCB shall also take action jointly with NMCG under the provisions of said Act. +§ A special focus of the revamped structure would be to maintain required ecological flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development. +For taking up fast track creation of sewerage treatment infrastructure in Ganga basin, an innovative model based on Hybrid Annuity has also been approved. +This will ensure that the infrastructure created under the project is operational on a sustainable basis. +In order to ensure transparency and cost effectiveness, a provision for concurrent audit, safety audits, research institutions and financial framework has been made. +Although, the NMCG has been functional as a registered Society since 2012 its role has been largely limited to fund the projects to implementing organisations. +It neither had the mandate to take cognizance of various threats to river Ganga nor the powers to issue directions to the concerned authorities/polluters. +While the organisation has been made responsible as custodian of river Ganga in both public eye as well as various courts, the mission is grossly ill-equipped to handle such expectations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Katra, in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, tomorrow. +The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital. +He will deliver the Convocation Address at the 5th Convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. +He will also inaugurate a sports complex, and address a public meeting, in Katra. +President Erdogan, +I thank President Erdogan and Turkey for their warm hospitality and excellent arrangements in this beautiful setting of Anatalya. +We gather as G20 to build a prosperous future for the world. +Today, we meeting the tragic shadow of dreadful acts of terrorism,united by a sense shock, pain and outrage. +We are united in condemning the barbaric attacks in Paris this week; and, the recent bombings in Ankara and Lebanon. +We share the sorrow of Russia for the lost lives in the fallen aircraft in Sinai. +It is a major global challenge of our times. +It not only takes a tragic toll of lives, it also extracts a huge economic cost and threatens our way of life. +It calls for a comprehensive global response. +Combating it must be major priority for G20. +I thank Turkey for scheduling a session on this challenge. +Excellencies, we are herein this session to discuss two other major global challenges– development and climate change. +We are days away from charting a sustainable future for our planet. +G20 must align itself with the SDGs. +In doing so,we will also stimulate faster and a more broad-based economic growth. +India’s development goals are aligned with the SDGs. +We are promoting growth and investing in skills to create employment for our youth;increasing the pace and quality of infrastructure expansion;and, investing in making far more productive and resilient. +We have the world’s largest financial inclusion programme. +And, we have definite target dates for meeting all the basic needs of our people. +Through bold economic and governance reforms, we have achieved a growth rate of nearly 7.5% with strong prospects for a higher growth rate in the near future. +Given our size and scale, India can become a pillar of global growth and stability. +Excellencies, We in India don’t see development and climate change as competing objectives. +This is centered on the belief in the unity of humanity and Nature. +We have ambitious plans for addressing the challenges of climate change. +This includes additional capacity of 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022; +cut in subsidies on fossil fuel and tax on coal; and, National Clean Energy Fund of US$3 billion to promote clean technologies. +With our highly ambitious/Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs),India would remain in step with the world. +We look forward to a concrete outcome in Paris within the framework of the UN Convention on Climate Change. +The framework has an appropriate balance of collective action: Equity and Common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities. +At G20,we can play an effective role in supporting the multilateral goals of increasing research and development to develop affordable renewable energy. +We should also ensure that finance and technology is available to meet the universal global aspiration for clean energy. +We must meet the target of US$100 billion goal per year by 2020. +G20 countries should increase the share of traffic on public transportation in cities by 30% by 2030. +We should shift from “carbon credit” towards “green credit”. +When we speak of targets, we must not only reduce the use of fossil fuel, but also moderate our life style. +Development in harmony with nature is the goal of my proposal to launch, along with the French President Hollande, an alliance of solar-rich countries at the time of COP-21 meeting. +Excellencies, let me conclude with a few points on development. +We are still short in our efforts to fulfill our last year’s commitment to raise our collective GDP by an additional 2% by 2018. +I propose that we consider how G20 can build support systems that focus on countries with maximum growth potential, help address specific bottlenecks there and facilitate implementation of country strategies. +G20 must continue to focus on infrastructure, as we did In Brisbane in 2014. +Clean energy and environment friendly infrastructure will address both development and climate change. +Bridging the current gap in infrastructure finance in the developing countries should remain our key priority. +I am happy with the focus on small holders and food losses in the G20 Action Plan on Agriculture. +Remittances are a key source of income for households and support for the economy in developing countries. +We should define a target date before 2030 to reduce the high costs of transferring remittances. +I look forward to fruitful discussions and substantive outcomes. +Providing electricity to everyone across the country is the topmost priority of the Union Govt. +Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana to be launched on August 28th. +But he reiterated his Government’s resolve to provide power to all. +The Prime Minister mentioned the stress he had laid on hydropower during his recent visits to Bhutan and Nepal, as well as to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. +He said the aim of the Government was to tap all sources of energy, with emphasis on clean energy, especially solar energy. +The Prime Minister recalled the plight of debt-ridden farmers in Vidarbha, who were forced to commit suicide. +He said, if they had access to electricity, they could have pumped the water necessary to irrigate their fields, saved their crop, and hence avoided falling into debt. +The Prime Minister announced the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana on August 28th, and appealed to the farmers to avail of the benefits of the scheme, which included a bank account, a debit card, and an insurance amount of Rs. One lakh. +He also spoke of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, which aimed at providing sufficient water to the farmer for irrigation. +The Governor of Maharashtra Shri K. Sankaranarayanan, Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari, and MoS(I/c) for Power Shri Piyush Goyal were present on the occasion. +The approval will help in promoting projects such as cross border infrastructure. +Such projects will help improve intra-SAARC trade and growth potential of the SAARC region, and also in promoting financial inclusion and social security to disadvantaged/vulnerable sections of society in the region. +There are no additional financial implications for India, as it only entails a restructuring of India’s capital contribution to the SDF. +The SDF was set up in 2008 to improve the livelihood of the people and to accelerate economic growth, social progress and poverty alleviation in the region. +The SDF Charter provides for utilization of the Fund, for projects in three windows: +In light of the pressing need to address infrastructure bottlenecks for improved growth of the SAARC region, it is pertinent to use India’s capital contribution to SDF for its Economic and Infrastructure Windows in addition to the Social Window. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will dedicate the world’s tallest statue, the “Statue of Unity”, to the Nation, at Kevadiya in Gujarat on October 31, 2018. +The 182 metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, will be dedicated to the nation on his birth anniversary, at Kevadiya in Narmada District of Gujarat. +The Prime Minister will address the gathering. +He will then arrive at the Wall of Unity, and inaugurate it. +At the feet of the Statue of Unity, the Prime Minister will perform a special prayer. +He shall visit the Museum and Exhibition, and the Viewers’ Gallery. +This gallery, at 153 metres height, can accommodate upto 200 visitors at one time. +It offers a spectacular view of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, its reservoir, and the Satpura and Vindhya mountain ranges. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the demise of Shri Nek Chand, the creator of Chandigarh’s rock garden. +“Nek Chand ji will always be remembered for his artistic genius and fabulous creation that is cherished by many. +May his soul rest in peace,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi yesterday has approved setting up of National Nutrition Mission (NNM) with a three year budget of Rs.9046.17 crore commencing from 2017-18. +1. The NNM, as an apex body, will monitor, supervise, fix targets and guide the nutrition related interventions across the Ministries. +2. The proposal consists of: +• mapping of various Schemes contributing towards addressing malnutrition +• introducing a very robust convergence mechanism +• ICT based Real Time Monitoring system +• incentivizing States/UTs for meeting the targets +• incentivizing Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) for using IT based tools +• eliminating registers used by AWWs +• introducing measurement of height of children at the Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) +• setting-up Nutrition Resource Centres, involving masses through Jan Andolan for their participation on nutrition through various activities, among others. +The programme through the targets will strive to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anemia and low birth weight babies. +It will create synergy, ensure better monitoring, issue alerts for timely action, and encourage States/UTs to perform, guide and supervise the line Ministries and States/UTs to achieve the targeted goals. +Benefits & Coverage: +More than 10 crore people will be benefitted by this programme. +All the States and districts will be covered in a phased manner i.e. 315 districts in 2017-18, 235 districts in 2018-19 and remaining districts in 2019-20. +An amount of Rs. 9046.17 crore will be expended for three years commencing from 2017-18. +This will be funded by Government Budgetary Support (50%) and 50% by IBRD or other MDB. +Government budgetary support would be 60:40 between Centre and States/UTs, 90:10 for NER and Himalayan States and 100% for UTs without legislature. +Total Government of India share over a period of three years would be Rs. 2849.54 crore. +Implementation strategy and targets: +Although the target to reduce Stunting is atleast 2% p.a., Mission would strive to achieve reduction in Stunting from 38.4% (NFHS-4) to 25% by 2022 (Mission 25 by 2022). +There are a number of schemes directly/indirectly affecting the nutritional status of children (0-6 years age) and pregnant women and lactating mothers. +Inspite of these, level of malnutrition and related problems in the country is high. +There is no dearth of schemes but lack of creating synergy and linking the schemes with each other to achieve common goal. +NNM through robust convergence mechanism and other components would strive to create the synergy. +On Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan’s birth anniversary: PM to attend Loktantra Prahari Abhinandan at Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi; PM to visit Mumbai, lay foundation stone of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will attend the Loktantra Prahari Abhinandan at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi tomorrow. +This event is being organized on the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan. +The Prime Minister will later visit Mumbai. +He will pay respects to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar at Chaitya Bhoomi, and unveil a plaque to mark the laying of the Foundation Stone of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial at the Indu Mills Compound. +The Prime Minister will lay the Foundation Stone for the fourth container terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port, and for two metro corridors. +The Prime Minister will address a public meeting at the MMRDA Grounds in Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mumbai. +On International Women’s Day, I salute the indomitable courage and stellar achievements of women. +Today, we renew our pledge to make women an equal and integral part of our development journey. +My Government has initiated several measures aimed at bringing about a positive change in the lives of women. +That is central to our vision of India’s progress and a life of dignity and opportunity for all our citizens. +The ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ Yojana seeks to usher in a paradigm shift in attitudes towards the girl child and places emphasis on educating the girl child. +The Sukanya Samruddhi Yojana will provide support for marriage and education of young women. +MUDRA Bank will help thousands of women achieve financial independence. +The Union Budget which has been presented recently, unveils broadbased social security schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana. +These will benefit women in a big way. +Our heads hang in shame when we hear of instances of crime against women. +We must walk shoulder-to-shoulder to end all forms of discrimination or injustice against women. +The Government is setting up One-Stop-Centres that will provide assistance, legal advice and psychological counselling to women who face violence or abuse. +The Government is also commencing a mobile helpline to enable women to dial 181 for access to counselling and referral services. +I seek the support of one and all, in transforming our vision into reality. +PM calls for more effective redressal of Consumer Grievances +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his thirteenth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +In the beginning, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of consumer grievances. +He asked the concerned officials about the large volume of complaints related to the e-commerce sector, such as booking of tickets and hotel reservations, and the steps being taken to decisively address such issues. +The Prime Minister was informed about the steps being taken in this regard, including augmenting the capacity of the National Consumer Helpline. +Calling for increased efficiency, and more effective redressal of consumer grievances, the Prime Minister asked the officials for a comprehensive review of the nature of issues, and work towards fixing responsibility and identifying solutions for them. +He asked for an effective follow-up action within ten days. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the road, railway, power, coal and mining sectors, spread over several states including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar, Odisha, and Uttarakhand. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards installation of solar pumps across the country. +It was noted that solar pumps with a total capacity of 208 MegaWatts have already been installed so far across the country. +The Prime Minister discussed various related issues with the Chief Secretaries of several states including Jharkhand, Telangana, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. +He was informed that solar pumps are helping provide clean drinking water in remote and Naxalite affected areas of the country, particularly in South Bastar area of Chhattisgarh. +During a review of the preparations for dealing with floods, the Prime Minister emphasized that States should identify vulnerable areas, properly conduct mock drills, and carry out desiltation work to ensure the efficacy of flood-relief mechanisms. +He also emphasized the need for efforts towards water conservation. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the implementation of the rural housing scheme of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin. +Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided for construction of pucca house to all houseless and households living in dilapidated houses. +The expenditure involved in implementing the project in a span of 3 years from 2016-17 to 2018-19 is Rs.81975 crore. +It is proposed that one crore households would be provided assistance for construction of pucca house under the project during the period from 2016-17 to 2018-19. +The scheme would be implemented in rural areas throughout India except Delhi and Chandigarh. +The cost of houses would be shared between Centre and States. +The details are as follows:- +Implementation strategy and targets:- +i. Identification of beneficiaries eligible for assistance and their prioritisation to be done using information from Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) ensuring total transparency and objectivity. ii. +The list will be presented to Gram Sabha to identify beneficiaries who have been assisted before or who have become ineligible due to other reasons. +The finalised list will be published. iii. +The cost of unit assistance to be shared between Central and State Governments in the ratio 60:40 in plain areas and 90:10 for North Eastern and hilly states. iv. +Annual list of beneficiaries will be identified from the total list through participatory process by the Gram Sabha. +Gram Sabha will need to justify in writing with reasons for any alteration of priority in the original list. v. Funds will be transferred electronically directly to the account of the beneficiary. vi. +Inspection and uploading of geo referenced photographs will be done though a mobile app. +Beneficiary will also be able to track the progress of his payments through the app. vii. +Locally appropriate house designs, incorporating features to address the natural calamities common to the region will be made available to beneficiaries. ix. +To address the potential shortage of masons training for masons will be undertaken as an ongoing process. x. +To meet the additional requirement of building materials, manufacture of bricks using cement stabilised earth or fly ash will be taken up under MGNREGA. xi. +The beneficiary would be facilitated to avail loan of up to Rs.70,000/- for construction of the house which is optional. xii. +The unit size is to be enhanced from the existing 20 sq.m to up to 25 sq.m including a dedicated area for hygienic cooking. xiii. +Intensive capacity building exercise for all the stake holders. xiv. +Support will be provided at district and block levels for technical facilitation and addressing quality issues in house construction. xv. +A National Technical Support Agency will be set up to provide technical support to the Centre and States to facilitate construction of the houses targeted and to ensure their quality. +A house is an economic asset and contributes to upward social mobility with salutary impact on health and educational achievement. +The tangible and intangible benefits flowing from a permanent house are numerous and invaluable to both the family and the local economy. +Construction sector generates the second largest employment opportunities in India. +The sector has strong backward and forward linkages to over 250 ancillary industries. +The development of rural housing creates jobs for those living in the rural community to meet the new demand in the construction-related professions. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of an Agreement between India and Poland on cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. +The agreement covers various activities in the field of agriculture and allied sector including exchange of information on the current situation in agriculture, the phytosanitary conditions of crops, threats posed by harmful organisms and the threats posed by animal infectious diseases. +The Agreement provides for constitution of a Joint Wording Group (JWG) comprising of representatives from both countries. +The JWG will prepare plans of cooperation and to provide solutions to the problems arising during the implementation of the Agreement. +The Prime Minister’s Office today completed a special cleanliness drive under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan spanning over the fortnight. +The drive has resulted in the weeding out of over 10,000 files, and the transfer of 1000 files of important archival value, to the National Archives of India. +The voluntary and participative effort by officers and staff of the PMO, under the guidance of Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Shri Nripendra Misra, also resulted in the cleaning and beautification of lawns at the western entrance of PMO, removal of scrap and dismantled material, and disposal of e-waste. +On taking over as Prime Minister in May 2014, Shri Narendra Modi had inspected the PMO, and called for maintaining cleanliness, which in turn would raise productivity. +This is the third such major drive, after Shri Narendra Modi took charge. +Further, on line VVIP letter Monitoring System (VLMS), Meeting Management System and Dash Board System have been introduced, which increased the efficiency of the system and decreased the time consumed in the process considerably. +Over the period since May 2014, more than one lakh files have been weeded out. +As a result two record rooms became available for alternative use. +Auction of old unused items also resulted in freeing two rooms. +New workstations have been installed as part of progressive standardisation of work environment. +These efforts helped to free 1800 square feet of office space within the PMO premises at South Block. +Thus the effects of drive for cleanliness and system improvement inspired by the ideals of the Prime Minister are clearly visible. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a Samajik Adhikarita Shivir in Rajkot, and distributed aids and assistive devices to divyang beneficiaries. +He asserted that the Union Government is fully dedicated to the poor of the nation. +He urged the start-up sector to look at ways through which innovation and technology can transform lives of Divyang sisters and brothers. +He complimented Union Minister Dr. Thawar Chand Gehlot and his team, and said what they are doing for the welfare of the Divyang sisters and brothers is historic and commendable. +He reiterated that by 2022, when we mark 75 years of freedom, no Indian should be homeless; and the home must have proper facilities too. +Former President of Sri Lanka, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga Bhandaranaike called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Mr Kumaratunga is visiting India to attend the ongoing international conference “Samvad- Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative on conflict avoidance and environment consciousness”. +Prime Minister welcomed the successful holding of the parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka in a peaceful and participative manner as reflective of the strength of democracy in the country. +He deeply appreciated the leadership role played by Ms Chandrika in the country and in strengthening relations between India and Sri Lanka. +He expressed confidence that Ms Chandrika would continue to play an important role in Sri Lanka to move towards genuine reconciliation and social harmony where the aspirations of all the communities would be met within the framework of united Sri Lanka. +Prime Minister reiterated that India attached the highest importance to its relations with Sri Lanka. +Both countries enjoyed deep and enduring links of kinship, history and culture. +He looked forward to continue to work closely with the President and the Prime of Sri Lanka to take the relationship to new heights. +PM bows to all brave soldiers who fought for the Motherland, on the 50th anniversary of 1965 war +We recall the dynamic leadership of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri. +In 1965 he led from the front and was a key source of strength for the Nation”, the Prime Minister. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will chair the fourth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Sunday, the 17th June. +The day-long meeting will be attended by Union Ministers, Chief Ministers from the States, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories and senior officials from the Government of India. +The Governing Council of NITI Aayog is the premier body tasked with evolving a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors and strategies with the active involvement of States in shaping the development narrative. +The Governing Council reviews the work done during the previous year and deliberates upon the future developmental priorities. +The Council is expected to discuss important subjects including measures taken to double farmers’ income; progress of flagship schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, National Nutrition Mission and Mission Indradhanush; development of aspirational districts; and celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. +Prime Minister lauded the role of Indian scientists in the project. +“Historic detection of gravitational waves opens up new frontier for understanding of universe! +Immensely proud that Indian scientists played an important role in this challenging quest. +Hope to move forward to make even bigger contribution with an advanced gravitational wave detector in the country.”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Jharkhand on their Statehood Day. +Shri Vineet Jain Distinguished Guests Ladies and Gentlemen, +I am very happy to be here today. +The global economy is going through a period of uncertainty. +At a time like this I am glad that so many participants not only from India, but also from abroad have taken the time to come here. +I am sure all of us in India will benefit from the experience of other countries. +I will take this opportunity to present to you some of my thoughts on the progress of the Indian economy and on the business environment. +Some of you may recall what I have said before – that true reforms are those which result in transformation in the lives of citizens. +As I have said before, my goal is “reform to transform”. +Let me start with the basics. +What should be the basic guiding principles of economic policy in any country, particularly for the developing countries? +Firstly, we have to improve the use of our natural and human resources, to increase the value addition we can get from them. +This means increasing the efficiency in allocation of resources. +It means greater managerial efficiency. +It means removing unnecessary controls and distortions. +Secondly, we should create new opportunities for citizens to progress and also give them a choice of opportunities. +Opportunity is like oxygen to the aspirational citizen and we are keen that this is never in short supply. +In simple terms, it means Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. +Thirdly, we have to increase the quality of life of the common citizen and even more so, the quality of life of the poor. +Quality of life may have an economic aspect, but it is not economics alone. +If a government is progressive, and runs an honest and efficient administration, the biggest beneficiaries are the poor. +I know from my experience, that poor governance hurts the poor more than it hurts others. +Therefore, improved governance is as important as economic reform. +We live in a globally connected world. +Actions of one country affect another. +Such actions are not only based on trade and investment but also in matters of pollution and environment. +A poet had said that no man is an island. +Today it can be said that no country can live alone. +It is often said that all politics is local. +To me, all economics is global. +Indeed the distinction between domestic affairs and foreign affairs is increasingly losing relevance. +For a country in the modern day, it is not sufficient that its economic policies should only address its domestic priorities. +To me, India’s policies must be such that they make a positive contribution to the rest of the world. +Many of you are aware of the contribution India can make to the global economy at a time of economic stagnation in many parts. +For the last four quarters, India has been the fastest growing large economy in the world. +In 2014-15, India contributed 7.4% of global GDP in purchasing power terms. +But it contributed 12.5% of global growth. +Thus its contribution to growth is 68% higher than its share of the global economy. +FDI in India has increased by 39% in the last 18 months, at a time when global FDI has fallen. +But a country’s contribution goes beyond economics. +Protecting our planet from climate change is one of the most important tasks for this generation. +If one country reduces its environmental footprint, it creates benefits for all others. +It is for this reason that in the COP 21 Summit, India made far reaching commitments towards the larger welfare of the planet. +In history, every country that has grown has increased its per capita emissions footprint. +We are committed to re-writing that history. +We are committed to reducing the emission intensity of our GDP by 33% by 2030 even while growing at a fast pace. +For a country which is already at a very low base of per capita emission, this is a very ambitious target. +We have committed that by 2030, 40% of our electric power capacity will be from non-fossil fuel. +We have also committed to building an additional carbon sink of over 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. +This will be done by creating additional forest cover by 2030. +This commitment is from a country with a very low per capita land availability. +We have taken the lead in launching an international solar alliance, involving 121 countries falling between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. +This initiative will help many developing countries, from Africa to South America, to take advantage of developments in renewable energy around the world. +Let me now return to the three policy objectives I mentioned. +I will start with the performance of Indian economy. +Economists talk about GDP growth, inflation, investment, and the fiscal deficit as key economic parameters. +Since this Government took office, growth has increased and inflation has decreased. +Foreign investment has increased and the fiscal deficit has decreased. +And despite a slow-down in global trade, the balance of payments deficit has also decreased. +Yet, such broad statistics give only a partial picture of what we are attempting, and what we are achieving. +It is often said “the devil is in the detail”. +But I believe that God is in the proper execution of many so-called details. +It is these so-called details which, when done well, add up to a big picture. +You may be interested to know that: +Not only have many indicators improved, but they have improved by large margins. +For example, in 2013-14, the total number of National Highway kilometres awarded was about 3500. +This more than doubled in the first year of this Government to nearly 8000 kilometres, an all-time high. +This year we are planning to award 10,000 kilometres. +Let me give you more examples of quantum leaps. +The Shipping Corporation of India which made a loss of Rs. 275 crores in 2013-14 made a profit of Rs. 201 crores in 2014-15. +This is a turnaround of Rs. 575 crores in one single year. +In 2013-14, India accounted for just 0.1% of global demand for energy efficient LED lighting. +Indian LED bulbs are now the cheapest and most competitive in the world, costing less than a dollar versus a global average of 3 dollars. +In 2013-14, India commissioned 947 megawatts of solar power plants. +In 2015-16, this will rise to over 2500 megawatts. +It is expected to reach 12,000 megawatts in 2016-17. +India’s share of the global solar energy market will rise from 2.5% in 2014 to 18% in 2016. +In the power sector as a whole, the cost of power has declined by over 30%. +Let me turn to the second aspect — improving opportunities. +I believe in the politics of empowerment. +I believe in empowering the people to improve their own lives. +We undertook the world’s largest and most successful financial inclusion programme. +It has brought over two hundred million unbanked people into the banking system. +In the early days of this programme, sceptics felt that these accounts would have no balances. +You will be surprised to know that today these accounts have a balance exceeding Rs. thirty thousand crores or over four billion dollars. +We have also issued a record number of debit cards to them. +India is now one of the few countries where the market share of an indigenous credit card brand exceeds 33%. +We have introduced a new and comprehensive program of crop insurance. +This empowers farmers to give their best, with the State providing cover against risks beyond the farmer’s control. +We have introduced soil health cards to empower our farmers. +The card will tell every farmer the exact character of his soil. +This will enable him to increase crop yield, reduce over-use of chemical inputs and fertilizer and restore soil health. +Entrepreneurship is one of India’s traditional strengths. +It was sad to see it neglected in the last few years. +“Business” and “profits” had become bad words. +We have changed that. +We need to value enterprise and hard work, not wealth. +Our programs ranging from MUDRA to Start Up India and Stand-Up India provide opportunity to the hard working and to the enterprising. +In so doing, we have placed special emphasis on Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and women. +We are empowering them to become masters of their own destinies. +Creating opportunities for cities and towns to grow is very crucial. +Urban areas are an engine of growth. +A key initiative for urban transformation is the Smart City Mission. +The Mission has several ‘firsts’. +It is the first time that certain areas in cities will be comprehensively developed in a systematic and qualitative way. +These areas will act as ‘light houses’ which will eventually influence the rest of the city. +It is the first time that there has been such extensive citizen consultation. +Nearly 2.5 million people participated through contests, discussions, polls, blogs and talks on the MyGov platform. +This is a major break from the top-down approach to urban planning. +It is the first time that allocation of funds in a government scheme is done not by decisions of Ministers or officers but on the basis of competition. +This is a good example of competitive and cooperative federalism. +As I mentioned earlier, the role of a Government does not end with the economy alone. +There are many non-economic dimensions which are vital for ensuring the welfare of the citizens. +Good governance is crucial. +We have taken numerous steps which have transformative potential. +We have ended the era of high level corruption. +This is a fact acknowledged by Indians and foreigners, and by critics and supporters of this Government. +This is not an easy achievement. +We have ended political interference and crony capitalism in nationalized banks. +We have for the first time appointed several heads of public sector banks from the private sector. +Transparent auctions have cleaned up the natural resources sector which was riddled with scandals. +Many experts have commented on the need to reduce subsidies. +The new universal access to banking through the Jan Dhan Yojana, has enabled plugging of huge leakages in subsidies. +In developing countries, fuel subsidies are generally very difficult to tackle. +We have successfully decontrolled cooking gas prices. +This has substantially reduced the subsidy. +Another subsidized fuel is kerosene, used by the poor for cooking and lighting, and distributed by state governments. +There is clear evidence that a large quantity of subsidized kerosene is misused and diverted. +We have begun a pilot in thirty three districts where kerosene will be sold at market prices. +The difference between market price and the subsidized price will be transferred directly to bank accounts of those who are poor. +The poor will be properly identified through bank accounts and biometric identification through Aadhaar. +This will eliminate duplicate, non-eligible and bogus consumers. +This elimination will reduce the total subsidy. +We have decided that 75% of the savings from this will be passed on to the states. +Thereby, we have encouraged state governments to implement this in all districts. +The experience of Chandigarh, shows that this is possible. +In April 2014, there were 68,000 beneficiaries of subsidized kerosene in Chandigarh. +A campaign was launched to issue gas connections to all eligible families. +10,500 new gas connections were issued. +Kerosene quotas were stopped for 42,000 families who already had gas connections. +By 31st March, 2016, Chandigarh will be declared kerosene-free. +Believe it or not, till date, the saving achieved in kerosene consumption through this initiative is 73%! +Two days ago at a meeting with Chief Secretaries of the States, I was reviewing implementation of various pension schemes. +I was pleasantly surprised to see that there had been noteworthy reduction in leakage, simply by eliminating those who were double counted and who were ineligible. +In some states, a reduction of 12% in subsidies has been achieved without any harm to the poor. +Another major subsidy is on fertilizer. +A substantial quantity of subsidized urea is diverted illegally to use in the production of chemicals. +We have introduced a simple but effective technical solution: neem-coating of urea. +The organic neem coating makes the fertilizer unsuitable for diversion. +We have now achieved 100% neem coating in both domestic and imported urea. +A significant side benefit has also happened. +The collection of neem leaves for urea has become a new income earning opportunity for rural women. +I know that several of you are economists. +Economists generally believe that human beings are rational. +They believe people will not give up a benefit for which they are entitled. +Last year, I gave a call to citizens. +I asked them to give up their cooking gas subsidies, if they felt they were not poor enough to get it. +Poor women in rural India use firewood or biomass and suffer greatly because of smoke. +This scheme is entirely voluntary. +You may be surprised to learn that nearly 6.5 million people in India have responded to my call. +It warms my heart, to see that so many of them have come forward, with no compulsion to benefit the poor and give up their subsidies. +Already, over 5 million new connections have been given to the poor. +It is a sign of the public spirit and the self-respect which prevails among Indians and shows the potential of citizen action. +Another example where citizens have responded is in the case of Khadi. +In October 2014, I had appealed to all Indians to buy at least one Khadi garment. +In response, Khadi sales have increased substantially. +We have taken a creative approach to tackling the problem of loss making power distribution companies. +Under the UDAY programme, short term debt relief is given by state governments taking over bank loans. +But this is accompanied by strong long term conditions to hold both the distribution companies and the states. +This will create the conditions for rolling out 24×7 power supply. +Our country suffers from an excess of old and unnecessary laws which obstruct people and businesses. +We began the exercise of identifying unnecessary laws and repealing them. +1,827 Central laws have been identified for repeal. +I have given just a few examples of the potential of improved governance. +The benefits of improved governance and reduced corruption are lasting and profound. +If our policies are studied closely, you will find that many are popular, but none are populist. +Every one of the changes we have made is in the direction of good governance and rationality. +I have been referring to cooking gas, fertilizer and kerosene subsidies. +We must ask ourselves whether this difference in language also reflects a difference in our attitude? +Why is it that subsidies going to the well-off are portrayed in a positive manner? +Let me give you an example. +The total revenue loss from incentives to corporate tax payers was over Rs. 62,000 crores. +Dividends and long term capital gains on shares traded in stock exchanges are totally exempt from income tax even though it is not the poor who earn them. +Since it is exempt, it is not even counted in the Rs. 62,000 crores. +Double Taxation avoidance treaties have in some cases resulted in double non-taxation. +This also is not counted in the Rs. 62,000 crores. +Yet these are rarely referred to by those who seek reduction of subsidies. +Perhaps these are seen as incentives for investment. +I wonder whether, if the fertiliser subsidy is re-named as “incentive for agricultural production”, some experts will view it differently. +I am not arguing that all subsidies are good. +My point is that there cannot be any ideological position on such matters. +We have to be pragmatic. +We have to eliminate bad subsidies, whether or not they are called subsidies. +But some subsidies may be necessary to protect the poor and the needy and give them a fair chance to succeed. +When the people of a nation make up their minds to go forward and when the power of the people is with us, hard challenges become huge opportunities. +This confidence of mine is not formed in a vacuum, but founded on my experience over the last 19 months. +We inherited a struggling economy, just recovering from a currency crisis. +In less than two years, we have taken India to the top of global league tables of foreign investment and growth. +Friends, we have a long way to go but I feel ours is a journey well begun. +Like all long journeys, there may be obstacles on the way, but I am confident we will reach our destination. +We have created a platform for a new future and for a new India: +The DG thanked the Government of India for taking the initiative of starting a conversation to explore ways to reinvigorate the multilateral trading system. +The Prime Minister reiterated that India is a strong supporter of the multilateral trading system. +He stated that it is imperative to prioritise the WTO’s activities so that it addresses the concerns of developing countries. +Urging DG, WTO to make special efforts so that the benefits of free trade and globalisation become more visible in developing countries, the Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes for the success of the informal meeting of Ministers of WTO. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed among the BRICS Nations on Environmental Cooperation. +The MoU was signed during the 10th BRICS Summit in July, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. +The MoU identifies the following stress of cooperation: +e) Waste Management; +f) Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals; and +g) Other areas of cooperation as mutually agreed upon by the Participants. +The concerns of rising environmental issues are not limited to any country hut pose a serious challenge to the entire Globe. +The MoU shall facilitate exchange of experiences, best practices and technical knowhow through both public and private sectors among the participating BRICS nations and shall contribute to sustainable development, protection and preservation of Environment. +The Memorandum of Understanding also provides the possibility to have projects in areas of mutual interest. +Ties between the United States and India are rooted in the shared desire of our citizens for justice and equality. +When Swami Vivekananda presented Hinduism as a world religion, he did so at the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago. +When Martin Luther King Jr. sought to end discrimination and prejudice against African Americans, he was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent teachings. +Gandhiji himself drew upon the writings of Henry David Thoreau. +As nations, we’ve partnered over the decades to deliver progress to our people. +The people of India remember the strong foundations of our cooperation. +The food production increases of the Green Revolution and the Indian Institutes of Technology are among the many products of our collaboration. +Today our partnership is robust, reliable and enduring, and it is expanding. +Indeed, so much has happened that, in 2000, then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee could declare that we are natural allies. +After many years of growing cooperation since, on any given day, our students work together on research projects, our scientists develop cutting-edge technology and senior officials consult closely on global issues. +Our militaries conduct joint exercises in air, on land and at sea, and our space programs engage in unprecedented areas of cooperation, leading us from Earth to Mars. +And in this partnership, the Indian American community has been a vibrant, living bridge between us. +Its success has been the truest reflection of the vitality of our people, the value of America’s open society and the strength of what we can do when we join together. +Still, the true potential of our relationship has yet to be fully realized. +The advent of a new government in India is a natural opportunity to broaden and deepen our relationship. +With a reinvigorated level of ambition and greater confidence, we can go beyond modest and conventional goals. +It is time to set a new agenda, one that realizes concrete benefits for our citizens. +This will be an agenda that enables us to find mutually rewarding ways to expand our collaboration in trade, investment and technology that harmonize with India’s ambitious development agenda, while sustaining the United States as the global engine of growth. +When we meet today in Washington, we will discuss ways in which we can boost manufacturing and expand affordable renewable energy, while sustainably securing the future of our common environment. +We will discuss ways in which our businesses, scientists and governments can partner as India works to improve the quality, reliability and availability of basic services, especially for the poorest of citizens. +In this, the United States stands ready to assist. +An immediate area of concrete support is the “Clean India” campaign, where we will leverage private and civil society innovation, expertise and technology to improve sanitation and hygiene throughout India. +While our shared efforts will benefit our own people, our partnership aspires to be larger than merely the sum of its parts. +As nations, as people, we aspire to a better future for all; one in which our strategic partnership also produces benefits for the world at large. +While India benefits from the growth generated by U.S. investment and technical partnerships, the United States benefits from a stronger, more prosperous India. +In turn, the region and the world benefit from the greater stability and security that our friendship creates. +We remain committed to the larger effort to integrate South Asia and connect it with markets and people in Central and Southeast Asia. +As global partners, we are committed to enhancing our homeland security by sharing intelligence, through counterterrorism and law-enforcement cooperation, while we jointly work to maintain freedom of navigation and lawful commerce across the seas. +Our health collaboration will help us tackle the toughest of challenges, whether combating the spread of Ebola, researching cancer cures or conquering diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and dengue. +And we intend to expand our recent tradition of working together to empower women, build capacity and improve food security in Afghanistan and Africa. +The exploration of space will continue to fire our imaginations and challenge us to raise our ambitions. +That we both have satellites orbiting Mars tells its own story. +The promise of a better tomorrow is not solely for Indians and Americans: It also beckons us to move forward together for a better world. +This is the central premise of our defining partnership for the 21st century. +Forward together we go – chalein saath saath.” +The Prime Minister has condoled the death of the farmer Gajendra, in New Delhi today. +“Gajendra’s death has saddened the Nation. +We are all deeply shattered and disappointed. +Condolences to his family. +At no point must the hardworking farmer think he is alone. +We are all together in creating a better tomorrow for the farmers of India,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of UK, Mr. David Cameron, today attended the UK-India CEO Forum. +In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Cameron referred to Prime Minister Modi’s vision and intent for transforming India. +Shri Narendra Modi spoke of the historical ties and complementarities between the two countries. +He said economic ties are extremely important elements of the relationship between countries. +He referred to the Union Government’s initiatives such as “Make in India”, emphasis on infrastructure, opening up of FDI in various sectors, and commitments towards 50 million new houses by 2022 and 175 GigaWatts of renewable energy. +He said investment by British companies in India would be a win-win partnership for both countries. +CEOs from both sides made brief observations. +It was observed that the current time represents a ” tidal wave of opportunity” in India for investors. +The Indian Union Muslim League has extended all support for the Prime Minister’s relief activities. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in Renewable Energy between India and Guyana. +The MoU was signed on 30th January, 2018 in New Delhi by Shri R. K. Singh, Minister of State (IC) for Power and New and Renewable Energy (NRE) and H.E. Mr. Carl B. Greenidge, 2ndVice President and the Foreign Minister of the Co-operative, Guyana. +Both sides aim to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy issues on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity. +The MoU envisages establishing a Joint Working Committee to review, monitor and discuss matters relation to areas of cooperation. +The MoU aims for exchange of expertise and networking of information. +The Memorandum of Understanding will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. +He said that the two countries are neighbours, geographically; and family, emotionally. +He said the proposed pipeline will further energize, not just Bangladesh’s economy, but also the relationship between the two countries. +He expressed confidence that the proposed railway project will contribute to the process of strengthening national and urban transport in Bangladesh. +Following is the full text of the Prime Minister’s address: +• Space diplomacy has touched new heights with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unique gift in the sky to South Asian neighbours. +• The gift of a communications satellite for use by neighbours at no cost has perhaps no precedent worldwide. +• The satellite, which weighs over 2 tonnes, has been fabricated in three years at a cost of over Rs. 230 crore. +• Its footprint that extends all over South Asia. +• The South Asia Satellite has 12 Ku band transponders which India’s neighbours can utilise to increase communications. +• Each country will get access to at least one transponder through which they could beam their own programming. +The satellite will facilitate DTH television, VSAT links, tele-education, telemedicine and disaster management support. +It will provide critical communication links in times of disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones, floods, and tsunamis. +• Heads of Government from all the seven South Asian nations who are benefiting from the satellite, connected via video conference, in a unique celebration of the successful launch. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with 30 Saudi CEOs and Indian business leaders in Riyadh. +He described India and Saudi Arabia as old friends, ready to take bold new steps to a golden future. +Emphasizing the strength of ties between the two countries, he recalled King Salman mentioning that he was taught by an Indian teacher. +He said India had a unique combination of democracy, demography and demand, and several policy initiatives had been taken over the last two years to spur growth and progress. +Speaking about the health sector, he said there was tremendous scope for investment in the manufacturing of medical devices. +He said India’s health sector which is globally extremely cost competitive, offers immense scope for health tourism. +He added that Indian nurses, present in large numbers in the Gulf, are a testament to our well-trained manpower. +He called for taking the economic relationship beyond export and import, to technology transfers and joint investment. +He assured Saudi investors that retrospective taxation was a thing of the past, and his Government believes in a predictable long term taxation regime. +He mentioned petroleum, renewable energy, infrastructure, and defence manufacturing, as possible areas for Saudi investment. +He said Saudi investment in fertilizers, warehousing, cold chain facilities and agriculture, would be a win-win partnership, as it would ensure good quality food products for Saudi Arabia. +He said India and Saudi Arabia should look at working together in the field of cyber-security. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Continuation Programme of fifteen operational flights of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C36 to PSLV-C50. +The PSLV continuation Programme will enable the launch of satellites required for Earth Observation, Navigation and Space Sciences along with the possibility of clinching commercial launch service contracts. +We also express gratitude to our hardworking farmers, who work continuously to feed our nation. +India is proud of the diversity we are blessed with. +People across the nation are celebrating various festivals. +Greetings to everyone on these special occasions. +Best wishes to the Tamil people on the special occasion of Puthandu. +I pray that all your aspirations are fulfilled in the coming year. +Happy Vishu! +Greetings on PoilaBoishakh to all Bengalis. +May this new year bring peace, prosperity and happiness in everyone’s lives. +To all my Odia friends across the world, greetings on MahaVishubaSankranti! +Have a wonderful year ahead. +We take immense pride in the rich Odia culture.” the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets. +ONGC’s Vashishta & S1 development project located in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Offshore Basin in Andhra Pradesh will be inaugurated by PM. +He will lay the foundation stone for setting up a new terminal of Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) at Krishnapatnam. +The projects will give major push to the gas-based industrial units in Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states. +Prime Minister will then proceed to Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu. +PM in Tamil Nadu +PM will unveil several development projects at Perumanallur village in Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu. +He will lay the foundation Stone of ESIC Hospital, Tiruppur. +This State-of-the-art, 100- bedded Hospital will cater to the medical needs of over one-lakh workers and their family members in Tiruppur and nearby areas covered under ESI Act. +Foundation stone for a new integrated building at Trichy Airport and for the modernization of Chennai airport will be laid by PM. +He will dedicate to the nation, ESIC Hospital Chennai. +This 470-bedded hospital with state of art facilities will provide quality treatment on all disciplines of medicine. +BPCL’s Ennore Coastal Terminal will be dedicated to the nation on this occasion. +Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate new Crude Oil Pipeline from Chennai Port to Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (CPCL) Manali Refinery. +Passenger Service for a section of Chennai Metro from AG-DMS Metro station to Washermenpet Metro Station will be inaugurated by PM. +The 10 km section is a part of Phase-1 of Chennai Metro. +PM will then proceed to Hubli in Karnataka. +PM in Karnataka +Last leg of PM’s visit tomorrow will be in Hubli, Karnataka. +He will unveil several projects at Gabbur in Hubli. +PM will lay the foundation stone of Indian Institute of Technology –Dharwad and Indian Institute of Information Technology –Dharwad. +City Gas Distribution Project at Dharwad will be dedicated cto the nation on this occasion. . +Government has put strong emphasis on expansion of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network coverage across the country to increase the availability of cleaner fuel to citizens. +In yet another move to ensure energy security for the country, PM will dedicate to the nation, the 1.5 MMT Mangalore Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) facility and 2.5 MMT Padur SPR facility of ISPRL. +Doubling of 18 km long Chikjajur-Mayakonda Section is another highlight. +This section is a part of 190 km long Hubli – Chikjajur Doubling project and is located on Bengaluru – Hubballi route of South Western Railway. +Doubling will increase line capacity of this important route connecting Bengaluru to Hubballi, Belagavi, Goa, Pune and Mumbai, resulting in faster movement of trains. +PM will also inaugurate the commencement of electrification work of 346 km long Hospet-Hubli-Vasco da Gama line. +It will reduce running time and result in reduced GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions due to reduction in diesel consumption. +In keeping with his commitment of Housing for All, PM will witness the E-Griha Pravesh of 2384 houses constructed under PMAY(U) at Dharwad. +Speaking on the Punchhi Commission’s recommendations, the Prime Minister said that the deliberations today marked a good beginning. +He said that discussions on the subject will continue, and as consensus evolves on the recommendations, the process of implementation will follow thereafter. +The Prime Minister expressed happiness at the near-total acceptance of Aadhaar as a tool to promote good governance and transparency. +He said there are significant savings to the exchequer as a result of Aadhaar. +He asked senior officials of the Union Government to collect data from States on the extent of savings achieved. +He added that all post offices have now been recognized as payment banks, and this will be of great help in implementing Direct Benefit Transfer. +On education, the Prime Minister said that going forward, just expansion of education is not enough, and the focus should be on quality. +He said that the deficit of quality in education can be bridged through technology. +Speaking on law and order, the Prime Minister emphasized that both the Union and the State Governments in India cannot ignore what is happening across the world today. +On this issue, he urged all concerned to keep politics aside, and keep national security paramount. +He recalled that he had interacted with State Directors General of Police during a three-day conference, and urged all Chief Ministers to follow-up on the discussions that took place in that conference. +He stressed on maintaining a visible presence of police forces, and underscored the importance of a good CCTV network in curbing crime. +He said that privately installed CCTVs are also extremely useful in this regard. +He also spoke of the importance of Inter-State Coordination to curb unlawful activities. +In conclusion, the Prime Minister said that all suggestions given by the Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors will be carefully examined. +The proposed land at Patna Airport will be used for expansion of the airport and construction of new terminal building along-with other associated infrastructures. +The State Government has also agreed in principle for transfer of the land. +This has led to extreme crowding in the terminal building. +US Senator John McCain called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +He also conveyed the keen desire in the United States to work with Prime Minister Modi to revitalise the India-U.S. Strategic Partnership +Prime Minister conveyed his desire to further deepen and expand the strategic partnership, based on our shared values and interests; sensitivity to each other`s concerns; and, tangible progress across the full spectrum of bilateral relations. +Prime Minister also observed that success of democratic countries and their cooperation will advance peace, stability and prosperity in the world. +Shri Modi hoped for a forward looking, result-oriented visit to the United States in September 2014 to take the relationship to a new level +The situation in Iraq and Afghanistan was discussed. +The Prime Minister expressed concern over the increased threat of terrorism across the world, and reiterated that the fight against terror should be a global priority for humanitarian forces. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi on the occasion of 70th Independence Day today. +Following are the brief highlights of the speech: +1. Today on this special day, I convey my greetings to 125 crore Indians & the Indian community living overseas. +May this energy guide the nation to scale newer heights of progress in the years to come +2. We remember Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Pandit Nehru, countless people who sacrificed their lives so that we attained Swarajya. +6. It is our responsibility to convert our Swaraj into Suraaj, which can not be done without sacrifice, discipline and staunch resolution 7. +12. Interviews for more than 9,000 posts in Group C and D jobs have been abolished. +For me more than what the world thinks of the government, what the image of the country is, is important. +32. Ramanujacharya used to say that we must look at everyone with the same gaze, never humiliate anyone. +This was said by Ambedkar, Gandhi too. +If society practices this discrimination it will break society. +If discrimination is entrenched, our determination to fight it and our sensitivity to fighting it should be that much higher. +Just economic progress is not enough, social equity is more important. +We have to fight social evils together. +33. GST will give strength to our economy and all parties are to be thanked for its passage. +34. This govt does not believe in postponing things. +We have fulfilled our promise of one rank one pension. +We have released all files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. +That was another promise we had made. +Our Adivasi brothers fought valiantly largely unsung, many have heard of Birsa Munda but few others. +In the next few days, it is our intention to record the history of such Adivasi freedom fighters in the areas of their origin on a museum. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Monday reviewed the progress of preparations towards the launch of the ambitious Health Assurance programme under Ayushman Bharat. +The Prime Minister was apprised of the preparation done so far, including consultations with States, for the smooth and expeditious rollout of the Health Assurance programme. +The scheme will provide a cover of upto Rs. 5 lakh per family. +It will be targeted to cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families. +The Prime Minister stressed on providing maximum benefit to the poor and marginalized sections of society, under this scheme. +Top officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NITI Aayog and PMO, briefed the Prime Minister on various aspects of the scheme. +Last month, on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti, the Prime Minister had inaugurated the first ‘Health and Wellness Centre’ under Ayushman Bharat, in the aspirational district of Bijapur in Chhattisgarh. +The Goods and Services Tax came into force at midnight, amid a historic midnight session in the Central Hall of Parliament. +President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addressed the gathering, before the President and the Prime Minister pressed a button to mark the launch of GST. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the day marks a decisive turning point, in determining the future course of the country. +He recalled that the Central Hall had been witness to several historic occasions in the past as well, including the first session of the Constituent Assembly, India’s independence, and the adoption of the Constitution. +He described GST is an example of Cooperative Federalism. +He quoted Chanakya to say that hard work can overcome all obstacles and help us accomplish even the most difficult of objectives. +He said that just as Sardar Patel had ensured political integration of the country, GST would ensure economic integration. +Recalling the famous scientist Albert Einstein who said that income tax is the most difficult thing to understand in the world, he said that GST would ensure one nation, one tax. +He said that GST would lead to immense savings of time and cost. +Savings of fuel due to elimination of delays at State border crossings will help the environment as well, he added. +The Prime Minister said GST would lead to a modern tax administration which is simpler, more transparent, and helps curb corruption. +He described GST as a “Good and Simple Tax” which would ultimately benefit the people. +The Prime Minister also quoted a shloka from the Rig Veda to describe the spirit of common goal, common determination, leading to mutual and shared benefit for the society. +While considering the proposal, the Cabinet has approved following modalities: +i. MMRDA will pay the difference in cost of land of 40 acres, as per the stamp duty ready reckoner rate based on 2016-17 arrived at Rs. 472.70 crore or as per the ready reckoner rate at the time of final handing over of land, whichever is higher. +ii. MMRDA will hand over the 40 acres of land at Gorai after leveling, grading and demarcating the boundary in all respects. +MMRDA will also hand over all the land documents, revenue maps of Gorai land duly mutated in the Records of Rights in the name of AAI. +iii. MMRDA will identify / demarcate 40 acres of land retaining 24 acres of land for AAI, with clear access / approach from the nearby city road. +iv. AAl will also handover at least 2000 sqm. of land at Dahisar in advance on temporary basis. +Employment Generation Potential: +The present proposal will generate employment for skilled, semi-skilled labourers along with job opportunities for technical experts, also there will be creation of jobs in manufacturing industries involved in the metro construction work. +After operationalisation of Metro Car Shed, there will be generation/ creation of direct/indirect employment. +Maharashtra Government is implementing Mumbai Metro Rail Master Plan (146.50 Km) in phases to augment the overall public transport capacity of Mumbai. +A special purpose vehicle namely, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) under the MMRDA has been erected for implementing the Mumbai Metro project. +MMRC has planned to construct a car shed on the Dahisar (E) to Andheri (E) metro corridor. +Some part of the land is encroached. +The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Medicinal Plants between India and Equatorial Guinea +The MoU will further enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the area of Medicinal Plants. +The financial resources necessary to conduct research, training courses, conferences / meetings will be met from the existing allocated budget and existing plan schemes of the National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of AYUSH. +Medicinal plants are not only a major resource base for the traditional medicine & herbal industry but also provide livelihood and health security to a large segment of Indian population. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Vietnam in the field of Cyber Security. +It was signed between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), India and the Cyber Security Department, Ministry of Public Security, Vietnam on 3rd September 2016 at Hanoi. +The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation for exchange of knowledge and experience in detection, resolution and prevention of cyber security-related incidents between India and Vietnam. +Implementation of the MoU will result in significant mutual benefits in the cyber security sector, through institutional and capacity-building in the field of cyber security in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. +He made notable contributions to the nation as a Parliamentarian, Minister and Governor. +He worked extensively for the development of Kerala. +My thoughts are with his family and well-wishers in this sad hour”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for hiving off mobile tower assets of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) into a separate company, fully owned by BSNL. +This approval authorizes BSNL to monetize its telecom tower infrastructure with the formation of a separate subsidiary company. +There are around 4,42,000 mobile towers in the country out of which more than 66,000 mobile tower are of BSNL. +An independent, dedicated tower company of BSNL with a focused approach will lead to increasing of external tenancies and consequentially higher revenue for the new company. +The telecom tower industry has emerged as an independent business to harness the potential for sharing of infrastructure. +The business model arose from the need to achieve economies of scale and to reduce capital investment costs for providing mobile services. +The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) policy allows sharing of passive infrastructure i.e. the tower structure, Diesel Generator sets, battery units, power interface unit, air-conditioning etc., which has facilitated the growth of the telecom infrastructure industry. +A tower infrastructure company essentially owns the passive infrastructure asset and leases it to telecom service providers enabling them to minimize duplication of investments and economize on costs of Operation and Maintenance (O&M), thereby improving profitability. +Besides the captive model in BSNL and MTNL where the service provider owns their passive infrastructure also, there are three different business models within the telecom tower industry:- companies created by hiving off the tower assets portfolios of service providers into subsidiaries, companies established as independent joint venture entities by service providers jointly and companies promoted by specific service providers but established as independent entities with the promoter being the anchor tenant for the tower company. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has saluted Indian Air Force personnel on Air Force Day. +Opening Statement by Prime Minister. +A very warm welcome to all of you. +Some of you have probably had the opportunity of visiting India before and for some probably it is the first time that you are visiting India. +I hope that for your comfort you have been well looked after here. +I know that there is an official programme but if you have any suggestion of what you would like to do here in addition to the programme that has been set up for you, that can be accommodated. +I feel that this India-Africa Forum Summit is very important from many points of view. +Of course for India it is very important given that we are the host country, but this is the first summit where all the 54 countries of Africa have been invited and all the 54 countries are participating. +In that sense the India-Africa Forum Summit is the biggest event of its sort and partnership at this scale. +Till now as per the information that we have received, 40 countries will be represented at the Head of State, Head of Government level, the rest are being represented by senior Ministers. +This time, in association with the India-Africa Forum Summit there is also the Conference of Trade Ministers because we would want that in the days and months and years to come the economic relations between India and Africa should be further strengthened. +The India-Africa Forum Summits have had two summits earlier, in 2008 and 2011, and now this is the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit taking place. +This I think is going to take relations between India and Africa to new heights. +I think it is this partnership and this equality that is being given to all the countries. +This is an initiative on our part and I think this is what makes this summit different from the two earlier versions. +There are going to be meetings at various levels, at the top level. +I think it is this partnership with all which is going to bring a new freshness in every corner of Africa. +This new freshness is not just for Africa but also for India that this summit is going to bring new freshness in our relations. +I think this itself indicates the importance that is being attached to this summit. +The relations between India and the countries of Africa, these relations and these bonds that we have, are not just political and economic but we also have a very rich cultural tradition. +The west coast of India and the east coast of Africa in fact are linked by the sea. +I hail from the west coast of India from the State of Gujarat. +It was in fact the Gujaratis who started trade and commerce with Africa and maritime relations earlier on. +In fact I too have had my links with Africa not only when I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat but even before that. +I have always had relations with the African continent and whenever guests came they always met me. +I have always had very good relations with various personalities of Africa. +So, from a personal point of view I have always had very close links with this region. +The population of India equals in fact the population of the entire African continent. +Africa in fact represents the youngest region in the world and India too is the youngest country. +The bilateral trade between India and Africa has been growing very rapidly and in the past few years it has grown by eight to nine times. +I feel that after this summit it is going to see another major jump. +India also is a major investor in Africa today and this is especially so in the oil sector and this is giving a new dynamism to the African economy. +Following the two previous India-Africa Forum Summits, India has given to the tune of 7.4 billion dollars of concessional credit and this has been used to enhance in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, industry, energy and water. +In more than 40 countries today there are more than 100 projects which are under implementation. +In the same vein, India has invested 1.2 billion dollars in more than 100 institutes and this is contributing in a major way to human resource development. +For me I think the point which makes me the most happy is that there is this partnership between India and Africa that is human resource development, the capacity building. +Today in Africa many of the leaders who are now in power and in top position have had their education and training in India. +I think between India and Africa there is another aspect that links us with many countries in Africa and that is solar power from which many African countries are benefiting. +I think this is going to become a very strong community of nations and in the times to come the problem of climate change that the world is trying to counter and fight, we are going to be playing a very major role in mitigation and lessening the effects of climate change. +I think both India and Africa can feel proud of the fact that today the world is facing the problem of climate change, of the concerns regarding global warming, I think both India and Africa have had a tradition and it is in their culture not to pollute or not to damage the environment, and we have perhaps sinned the less and contributed the minimum to this big problem to the world. +I think this also is a common factor between India and Africa. +Once again a very warm welcome to you. +I will also have the opportunity of greeting you during the summit once again. +Text of Prime Minister’s written interview with African journalists at the Editors Forum for 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit. +Question: What is the strategic importance of Africa to India in socio-economic and political terms? +Is India’s engagement with Africa a catch-up process with China in the scramble for resources? +Answer: The participation of all African countries, including over 40 at the level of Heads of State or Government, in the Summit is a testimony to the deep bonds of friendship and mutual faith between India and Africa. +This is a relationship that is beyond strategic considerations. +It is a relationship with a strong emotional link. +It has been forged by our intersecting history; our centuries-old ties of kinship, commerce and culture; our common struggle against colonialism; our quest for equality, dignity and justice among all people; and, our shared aspirations for our progress and a voice in the world. +We are blessed with vast reservoir of mutual goodwill and confidence. +India and Africa constitute one-third of the world’s population. +A large majority of them are in their youth. +Indeed, India and Africa will have a significant part of the global youth population in this century. +Their future will shape the course of this world to a great extent. +India and Africa are now the bright spots of hope for the global economy. +India is the fastest growing major economy today. +Africa is experiencing rapid growth, too. +We have complementary resources and markets; and, the power of our human capital. +We have shared global vision. +Our approach to partnership with Africa is driven by the aim of empowerment, capacity building, human resource development, access to Indian market, and support for Indian investments in Africa, so that the people of Africa have the capacity to make their own free choices and the capability to shoulder the responsibility of their continent’s development. +Our relationship with Africa is unique and does not need any point of reference. +Question: How and to what extent have the relations between India and Africa helped in the development process of the African continent? +How is it a win-win situation for both? +Answer: Africa’s development in recent years has been impressive. +First and foremost, it is the result of African vision, leadership and efforts to strengthen peace and support economic development in the continent. +There are many inspiring models and examples of African success stories in sustainable development and empowerment of people, especially youth and women. +India is privileged to be a development partner for Africa. +From the time African nations started gaining independence, we have been supporting human resource development in African countries. +Our cooperation now takes many forms and is expanding rapidly in scale and range. +34 African countries now enjoy duty free access to the Indian market of 1.25 billion people. +Over the last two IAFS, we have committed USD 7.4 billion in concessional lines of credit, which is contributing towards development of infrastructure, light manufacturing, public services and clean energy in Africa. +We have committed grant assistance of USD 1.2 billion that is helping finance human resource development and establishment of over 100 capacity building institutions in Africa. +In the past three years alone, 25000 Africans have been trained or educated in India. +Indian tourist flow to Africa is also increasing. +Africa’s development is a huge opportunity for India, just as Africa’s resources, including oil, power India’s economic growth and create wealth and jobs in Africa. +The continent’s progress will add great stability and momentum to the global economy and benefit India as well. +Question: Some analysts say that the effects of colonialism and neo-colonialism are acting as an impediment to peace, stability and development of Africa. +India too underwent such a historical legacy, but has been able to break free of this cycle of strife and fragmentation, and to concentrate on governance, development and growth. +What lessons does India hold in this regard for Africa? +Answer: India’s independence had a strong positive impact on anti-colonialism and freedom movements in Africa. +We are also proud to have stood firmly in the cause of independence of African countries and to end apartheid. +Africa does not need any lessons from us. +Colonial legacy left a long and deep impact on all of us. +The continent is more settled and stable. +African nations are coming together to take responsibility for their development, peace and security. +Africans are exercising their franchise in increasingly large numbers. +We see growing efforts at economic reforms and regional economic cooperation and integration. +Economic growth has accelerated. +Around 95% of Africa is on mobile telephone now. +There are laudable initiatives on education, innovation, empowerment of women, skill development and conservation of Nature. +Of course, Africa continues to face many familiar development challenges. +There are also new security problems, including from terrorism and extremism, which also affect other parts of the world. +I have full confidence in the African leadership and the African people to realise the vision of “Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want”. +India will always be there, as a friend and partner, to share our experience, expertise and resources to support African nations in whatever manner they want. +Since many of our challenges are similar to what Africa faces, our solutions may be relevant in the African context. +Question: What can both India and Africa do to benefit from greater bilateral trade and investments? +What are the achievements in this sphere since the first India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-I) in 2008? +Answer: I see enormous opportunities for trade and investment ties between India and Africa. +India will be the most populous country and Africa the most populous continent in this century. +We both have young populations. +Africa is also blessed with huge resources. +Both India and Africa will grow, modernise and urbanise at a rapid rate. +Our economic partnership is gathering momentum. +India’s trade with Africa, which was about US$ 30 billion in fiscal 2007-08 more than doubled to about US$ 72 billion in fiscal 2014-15. +Besides economic growth in India and Africa, trade has also benefited from India’s decision in 2008 to offer duty free access to Indian markets to all Least Developed Countries, in the context of the first India-Africa Forum Summit. +34 African countries are direct beneficiaries of the scheme. +India has emerged as a major investor from the developing world in Africa, surpassing even China. +Our Lines of Credit to Africa, which is cumulatively USD 7.4 billion from the first two IAFS is creating infrastructure in Africa and boosting bilateral trade. +I should also add that Africa’s laudable efforts at integrating Africa’s markets would also stimulate bilateral trade and investment. +Question: In what ways can the New Development Bank established by BRICS countries in July 2015 benefit African countries? +For one, it is, perhaps, the first major initiative on a multilateral financial institution along with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in recent times. +The lending practices will be designed keeping the interests and experiences of the developing world in mind. +It has opened a new avenue for financing infrastructure investments in developing countries. +I think Africa will be a major area of focus and we would also, hopefully, have an African window or regional presence of the Bank in the future. +Question: Agricultural and related activities are fundamental to the people of the African continent? +It also sustains a majority of the people of India. +How can India assist Africa in adopting and maintaining sustainable agricultural practices and development? +Answer: Africa has 60% of the arable land in the world, but produces 10% of the global food output. +Development of the agriculture sector can not only drive Africa’s economic development, employment and food security, it could also turn Africa into the food bowl for the world. +African achievements in recent times give us confidence in the future of agriculture in Africa . +India has made considerable progress in agriculture and dairy sectors over the last few decades. +We are among the leading global producers in these sectors. +Indeed, agricultural experts from India have been deployed in various African countries since the 1960s. +Scholarships for agriculture-related courses in India are very popular in Africa. +Agriculture remains an area of priority in our development partnership with Africa. +It takes many forms: human resource development, creation of agriculture-related institutions in Africa, irrigation projects, technology transfer and modern agriculture practices. +As we now look to the future, we will continue to work with Africa in these areas, but also address emerging challenges: climate resilient agriculture and adaptation to climate change. +We will also focus on post-harvest processing and supply chain. +I also look forward to hearing African priorities in this regard. +Question: The economic partnership between India and Africa extends beyond trade and investment to technology transfer, knowledge sharing and capacity building. +What more can be expected from India in the next few years? +Answer: India-Africa economic partnership is not transactional. +It rests in the belief of our shared destiny and the power of South-South cooperation in transforming the lives of our people. +The roadmap for the future will reflect our shared vision and goals, and our respective strengths and capabilities. +Our areas of focus will continue to be on human resource development, institution building, infrastructure, clean energy, agriculture, health, education and skill development. +We will also work together on addressing climate change and sustainable development of blue economy. +We will certainly raise our partnership to a much higher level in the years ahead. +We will also make our partnership more effective, based on a comprehensive review of our Development Partnership programme with Africa, particularly in terms of capacity building, infrastructure support and technology sharing, and discussions with our African partners. +Question: Does India’s commitment to reform of the global political and economic order, dovetail with its aspirations to become a member of the UN Security Council? +Answer: The world is undergoing political, economic and technological transition on a scale rarely seen in recent history. +We have four times as many member countries in the United Nations as we had at its inception. +Awareness of rights and aspirations for progress is more widespread now. +Global power is more distributed. +We live in a digitally networked world, which is changing the character of the global economy. +Terrorism, cyber and space are entirely new frontiers of threats, opportunities and challenges. +Climate change is a pressing global challenge. +The developing world is dealing with complexities of a new wave of urbanization. +Yet the global order, its institutions and our mindsets continue to reflect the circumstances that existed at the end of the last World War. +These institutions have served us well, but they must be reformed in order to remain effective and relevant in the new era. +If global institutions and systems do not adapt, they will risk irrelevance. +We might have a more fragmented world and our collective ability to deal with the challenges and changes of our era will also be weakened. +That is why India advocates reforms in global political, economic and security institutions. +They must become more democratic, inclusive and representative of our world. +No institution will have that character today, if it does not give voice to Africa or the world’s largest democracy, constituting one-sixth of humanity. +That is why we ask for reforms of the United Nations Security Council and global financial institutions. +India and Africa, constituting one-third of the global population, must continue to speak in one voice for these reforms. +Question: What will the Summit (IAFS-III) produce as a tangible result in terms of cooperation between India and Africa? +Answer: Our objective is to deepen the spirit of partnership, strengthen our international solidarity and expand our cooperation. +When I look at the Africa’s vision for itself, captured so eloquently in Agenda 2063 document, I believe that our development goals and international aspirations are closely aligned. +This will be the foundation of our partnership in the years ahead. +At the third India-Africa Forum Summit in Delhi, we hope to set substantially higher and ambitious targets for our development partnership. +We also aim to make it more effective, drawing upon our experience over the past decade. +As in the past, our primary aim is to support our African partners in their efforts to accelerate the momentum of their development. +We will also address key challenges of our times, including food, health and environmental security. +We will create conditions that stimulate trade and investment flows between our countries. +We will work together to address the problems of climate change. +We will explore new areas like a sustainable Blue Economy. +Our initiatives will aim to use the power of science and technology, Space science and the networked world to transform lives. +We will also reinforce our partnership on the global platform and deepen our security cooperation, including on maritime security, countering terrorism. +The third Summit, which will see the participation of all African nations for the first time, will launch a new era of India-Africa partnership. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at AIIMS today. +The Prime Minister interacted with family members of Shri Vajpayee. +He also spoke to Doctors and inquired about the health of Shri Vajpayee. +Shri Narendra Modi was at AIIMS for about 50 minutes. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and South Asian Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) for cooperation on the response to Oil and Chemical Pollution in the South Asian Seas Region. +The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation between India and other maritime nations comprising the South Asian seas region namely Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka for protection and preservation of marine environment in the region. +Implementation: +Further, ICG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) will be the national emergency response centre for marine incidents. +In order to promote and support protection, management and enhancement of the environment in the South Asian region, the Governments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka established the SACEP in 1982 in Sri Lanka. +The SACEP jointly with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) developed a “Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan” to facilitate international co-operation and mutual assistance in preparing and responding to a major oil pollution incident in the seas around the Maritime States of Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited Palamu, Jharkhand. +He witnessed the e-Grih Pravesh of 25,000 beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana. +He laid the Foundation Stone for the revival of North Koel (Mandal Dam) project, Kanhar Sone pipeline irrigation scheme, and strengthening of various irrigation systems and lining works. +These projects are cumulatively worth over 3500 crore rupees, the Prime Minister said. +Addressing the gathering the Prime Minister said that these projects are a key part of the Government’s effort to raise farmers’ incomes, by lowering the cost of irrigation. +The Prime Minister pointed out that the North Koel (Mandal Dam) project has remained incomplete for nearly 47 years. +He said this amounts to criminal negligence towards the farmers of this area. +He reiterated his commitment to make an honest effort to solve the problems faced by farmers. +He said 99 big irrigation projects, which have been stalled for decades, are now being fast tracked, at a cost of almost 90,000 crore rupees. +He said that the Union Government is working firmly with the vision of treating farmers as “Annadaata.” +The Prime Minister said that the Government is working with a new vision for agriculture and farmers, by trying to fundamentally solve problems associated with agriculture. +The Prime Minister mentioned the 25,000 houses being given under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana, which aims at providing housing for all by 2022. +He explained at length, how this scheme is different from other similar schemes launched in the past. +The Prime Minister said a new system has been developed for monitoring the quality of houses constructed under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana. +This includes photography and geo-tagging. +He said that houses being given now have power and cooking gas connections, and toilets. +He said alternative designs are now available, and area of the houses has also been increased. +Efforts are also made to use local materials in house construction. +He said the pace of construction has been increased, and nearly 1.25 crore houses have been built in less than five years. +He said the average time taken for construction of a house has fallen from 18 months to 12 months. +He said that now 1.25 lakh rupees is reaching the beneficiary’s account in four instalments, easily. +Earlier, the amount used to be only 70,000 rupees, he added. +He said the house is becoming a means for the overall empowerment of the poor. +He said that for the first time since independence, the Government is now thinking of the housing needs of the middle class as well, and they are being given relief on interest, along with financial assistance. +The Prime Minister said that the PM Jan Arogya Yojana, launched from Jharkhand three months ago, is today providing medical assistance to lakhs of poor. +He said over six lakh people benefited from it in the first 100 days, and today, nearly 10,000 people are benefiting from it on a daily basis. +Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Chamal Rajapaksa ji, +Honourable Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Shrimaan Ranil Wickremesinghe ji, +Honourable Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Nimal Siripala De Silva, +Honourable Members of Parliament, +Distinguished Guests, +I am truly delighted to visit Sri Lanka – a land of beauty, culture and friendship. +I am deeply honoured to be in this Parliament. +I am conscious of its rich history. +This Parliament represents one of Asia’s oldest democracies; and, one of its most vibrant. +Long before many others in the world, Sri Lanka gave every individual a vote and voice. +To the people of Sri Lanka, ayubuvan, Vanakkam. +I bring the greetings of 1.25 billion friends; and millions of fans of Sri Lankan cricket. +I bring the blessings from the land of Bodh Gaya to the land of Anuradhapura. +I stand here in respect for our shared heritage; and, in commitment to our shared future. +Last May, when I took the oath of office, I was honoured by the presence of South Asian leaders at the ceremony. +Their presence was a celebration of democracy’s march in our region. +It was also recognition of our common destiny. +I am convinced that the future of any country is influenced by the state of its neighbourhood. +The future that I dream for India is also the future that I wish for our neighbours. +We in this region are on the same journey: to transform the lives of our people. +Our path will be easier, the journey quicker and destination nearer when we walk step in step. +As I stand here in Colombo and look north towards the Himalaya, I marvel at our region’s uniqueness – of our rich diversity and our common civilisational links. +We have been formed from the same elements; and, from our interconnected histories. +Today, we stand together as proud independent Nations – sovereign and equal. +India and Sri Lanka do not have a land boundary, but we are the closest neighbours in every sense. +No matter where you look in India or Sri Lanka, the many strands of our links – religion, language, culture, food, customs, traditions and epics – come together into a deep and strong bond of familiarity and friendship. +Ours is a relationship that is beautifully defined by the journey of Mahindra and Sanghamitra. +They carried the message of peace, tolerance and friendship more than two millenniums ago. +It is evoked by Kannagi, the central character of the great Tamil epic Silapathikaram, who is worshipped as goddess the Pattini in Sri Lanka. +It lives in the Ramayan trail in Sri Lanka. +It expresses itself in devotion at the dargah of the Nagore Andavar and the Christian shrine of Velankanni. +It is reflected in the friendship of Swami Vivekananda and Anagarika Dharmapala, the founder of the Maha Bodhi Society in Sri Lanka and India. +It lives in the work of Mahatma Gandhi’s followers in India and Sri Lanka. +Above all, our relationship thrives through the inter-woven lives of ordinary Indians and Sri Lankans. +Our independent life began at about the same time. +Sri Lanka has made remarkable progress since then. +The nation is an inspiration for our region in human development. +Sri Lanka is home to enterprise and skill; and extraordinary intellectual heritage. +There are businesses of global class here. +Sri Lanka is a leader in advancing cooperation in South Asia. +And, it is important for the future of the Indian Ocean Region. +Sri Lanka`s progress and prosperity is also a source of strength for India. +So, Sri Lanka`s success is of great significance to India. +And, as a friend, our good wishes, and our support and solidarity have always been with Sri Lanka. +And, it will always be there for you. +For all of us in our region, our success depends on how we define ourselves as a nation. +All of us in this region, indeed every nation of diversity, have dealt with the issues of identities and inclusion, of rights and claims, of dignity and opportunity for different sections of our societies. +We have all seen its diverse expressions. +We have faced tragic violence. +We have encountered brutal terrorism. +We have also seen successful examples of peaceful settlements. +Each of us has sought to address these complex issues in our own ways. +However we choose to reconcile them, to me something is obvious: +Diversity can be a source of strength for Nations. +When we accommodate the aspirations of all sections of our society, the Nation gets the strength of every individual. +And, when we empower states, districts and villages, we make our country stronger and stronger. +Today, my top priority is to make the states in India stronger. +I am a firm believer in cooperative federalism. +So, we are devolving more power and more resources to the states. +And, we are making them formal partners in national decision making processes. +Sri Lanka has lived through decades of tragic violence and conflict. +You have successfully defeated terrorism and brought the conflict to an end. +You now stand at a moment of historic opportunity to win the hearts and heal the wounds across all sections of society. +Recent elections in Sri Lanka have reflected the collective voice of the nation – the hope for change, reconciliation and unity. +The steps that you have taken in recent times are bold and admirable. +They represent a new beginning. +I am confident of a future of Sri Lanka, defined by unity and integrity; peace and harmony; and, opportunity and dignity for everyone. +But, I can assure you of this: +For India, the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka are paramount. +It is rooted in our interest. +It stems from our own fundamental beliefs in this principle. +Hon’ble Speaker and Distinguished Members, +In India, the growth momentum has been restored. +India has become the fastest growing major economy in the world. +The world sees India as the new frontier of economic opportunity. +I will be happy if India serves a catalyst in the progress of our neighbours. +In our region, Sri Lanka has the potential to be our strongest economic partner. +We will work with you to boost trade and make it more balanced. +India’s trade environment is becoming more open. +Sri Lanka should not fall behind others in this competitive world. +That is why we should conclude an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. +India can also be a natural source of investments – for exports to India and elsewhere; and to build your infrastructure. +We have made good progress today. +Let us get together to harness the vast potential of the Ocean Economy. +Our two Nations must also take the lead in increasing cooperation in the South Asian Region and the linked BIMSTEC Region. +Connecting this vast region by land and sea, our two countries can become engines of regional prosperity. +I also assure you of India’s full commitment to development partnership with Sri Lanka. +We see this as a responsibility of a friend and neighbour. +India has committed 1.6 billion U.S. dollars in development assistance. +Today, we have committed further assistance of up to 318 million dollars to the railway sector. +We will continue our development partnership. +Last month we signed the agreement on cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy. +We hope that Sri Lanka will take full benefit of India’s satellite for the SAARC Region. +This should be in Space by December 2016. +People are at the heart of our relationship. +When we connect people, bonds between nations become stronger. +That is why we have decided to extend the visa-on-arrival facility to Sri Lankan citizens. +We will also increase connectivity between our countries. +We will strengthen ties of culture and religion. +We will bring our shared Buddhist heritage closer to you through an exhibition. +Together, we will develop our Buddhist and Ramayana Trails. +My birth place Varnagarh was an international centre of Buddhist learning in ancient times. +Excavations have revealed a hostel for 2000 students and in plans to redevelop the centre. +Mr. Speaker, +A future of prosperity requires a strong foundation of security for our countries and peace and stability in the region. +The security of our two countries is indivisible. +Equally, our shared responsibility for our maritime neighbourhood is clear. +India and Sri Lanka are too close to look away from each other. +Nor can we be insulated from one another. +Our recent histories have shown that we suffer together; and we are more effective when we work with each other. +Our cooperation helped deal with the devastation of Tsunami in 2004. +For both of us, local threats remain. +But, we see threats arising in new forms and from new sources. +We are witnessing globalisation of terrorism. +The need for our cooperation has never been stronger than today. +The Indian Ocean is critical to the security and prosperity of our two countries. +And, we can be more successful in achieving these goals if we work together; build a climate of trust and confidence; and we remain sensitive to each other’s interest. +We deeply value our security cooperation with Sri Lanka. +We should expand the maritime security cooperation between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives to include others in the Indian Ocean area. +I often say that the course of the 21st century would be determined by the currents of the Indian Ocean. +Shaping its direction is a responsibility for the countries in the region. +We are two countries at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean. +Your leadership and our partnership will be vital for building a peaceful, secure, stable and prosperous maritime neighbourhood. +In our deeply interconnected lives, it is natural to have differences. +Sometimes, it touches the lives of ordinary people. +We have the openness in our dialogue, the strength of our human values and, the goodwill in our relationship to resolve them. +Mr.Speaker, +Sri Lanka and India are at a moment of a great opportunity and responsibility – for realising the dreams of our people. +This is also a time for renewal in our relationship; for a new beginning and new vigour in our partnership. +We have to ensure that our proximity always translates into closeness. +We were honoured that President Sirisena chose India as his first destination last month. +This is part of the old India –Lanka rail link. +I recall the lines of a famous song ‘Sindu Nadiyin Misai’ composed by the great nationalist poet Subramanian Bharati in the early 20th century: +‘Singalatheevukkinor paalam ameippom’ (we shall construct a bridge to Sri Lanka) +I have come with the hope of building this bridge – a bridge that rests on strong pillars of our shared inheritance; of shared values and vision; of mutual support and solidarity; of friendly exchanges and productive cooperation; and, above all, belief in each other and our shared destiny. +Thank you once again for the honour to be with you. +Thank you very much. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Agreement for collaborative activities to be signed in the area of Traditional Medicine between Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India and the World Health Organization, Geneva. +The expenditure for carrying out collaborative activities will be met from the allocated budget under the existing plan schemes of Ministry of AYUSH. +The activities will start subsequent to the signing of agreements by the two parties as per terms of reference mutually decided. +As a first step in the long-term collaboration, India would assign to WHO activities for development of the following WHO technical documents/publications which will help in better international acceptability of Indian Systems: +i. Benchmarks for training in Yoga; +Construction of own permanent school building by KVS will enable the school authorities to build optimal infrastructure to meet the educational requirements of the serving personnel. +The remaining 18.5 acres of land will be handed over to the Army on completion of construction of the school building. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will confer the Awards for Excellence in Public Administration for effective implementation of identified Priority Programs and Innovation to districts/implementing units and other Central/State organisations at Vigyan Bhawan in the capital tomorrow on April 21. +He will address Civil Servants on this occasion. +PM Awards for Excellence in Public Administration have been instituted with a view to acknowledge, recognize and reward the exemplary work for citizen’s welfare by Districts & Organisations of the Central and State Governments. +Four priority programs identified for the award: i) Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, ii) Promoting Digital Payments, iii) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban & Rural, and iv) Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana. +In addition, there are awards for Innovation for Central, State organisations including Districts. +Prime minister will release two books on this occasion. +‘New Pathways’ is a compilation of Success stories on implementation of identified Priority Programmes & Innovations while ‘Aspirational Districts: Unlocking Potentials’ is an account of evolving strategies for transforming Aspirational Districts. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation with Mr. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister-designate of Canada and leader of the Liberal Party. +Prime Minister warmly congratulated Mr. Trudeau for leading the Liberal Party to a victory in the recently concluded general election in Canada. +He wished Mr. Trudeau success in his new responsibilities to lead Canada on the path of progress and prosperity. +Prime Minister recalled his meeting with Mr Trudeau in April this year during his visit to Canada. +Prime Minister noted that India-Canada relations were anchored in a common framework of democracy, pluralism, rule of law and close people-to-people relations. +India attached high priority to deepening and further expanding its strategic partnership with Canada. +Mr. Trudeau thanked Prime Minister for the felicitations. +Mr. Trudeau expressed his strong desire to work closely with Prime Minister to further strengthen the relationship and make progress in all areas of cooperation, including political, economical and security. +Prime Minister extended an invitation to Mr. Trudeau to pay an official visit to India which Mr. Trudeau accepted with pleasure. +Both the leaders also agreed to meet on the margins of the forthcoming G-20 and COP Summits. +The Niti Aayog Chief Minister’s sub group on Swachh Bharat chaired by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Shri Chandra Babu Naidu submitted its report to Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +Following are the Highlights of the reports:- +(1). Toilet construction and Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) have to be given an equal priority as the success of an ODF programme will ideally be measured against the increase in toilet usage. +(2). A professional agency needs to be involved both at the Central and State level to design the strategy, mode of implementation and to monitor and evaluate the progress of the campaign. +(3). The proportion of funds for BCC may be increased uniformly to about 25% of total funds, both in urban and rural areas, entirely funded by the Central Government. +(4). Involve political and social/thought leaders and celebrities on pro bono basis in conveying the message of sanitation. +(5). A chapter on sanitation practices should be included in school curriculum from the first standard itself. +In each school and college, a team of students called the ‘Swachhta Senani’ may be formed to spread awareness about sanitation and cleanliness. +(6). Skill Development courses/ Diploma courses may be introduced in State ITIs and polytechnics/ colleges. +This may also be integrated with the on-going programme for Skill Development. +(7). Centres of Excellence may be set up in the Institutes of Higher learning to promote research in the specialized fields of sanitation & waste management for producing quality doctoral and post-doctoral level researchers. +A Swachh Bharat Cess may be levied by the Central Government on petrol, diesel, telecom services and also on accumulated waste produced by mineral waste generation plants like coal, aluminum, and iron ore. +A State Level Swachh Bharat Kosh may be set up on the lines of the Swachh Bharat Kosh constituted at the Central level. +(9). A certain part of the CSR contributions by PSUs/Companies may be spent in the States where they are located. +(10). The first charge on the expenditure on 14th Finance Commission grants to Local Bodies may be given to the activities undertaken under Swachh Bharat Mission. +Further, Government of India may consider releasing grants to States in rural areas in some of the North-Eastern States which are not covered under the 14th Finance Commission recommendations. +(11). The Centre and State Government may issue Swachh Bharat bonds. +(12). A dedicated Mission for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan may be set up both at National and State Level for coordination, guidance, support and monitoring of the programme. +(13). A National Technical Board may be set up to provide knowledge and handholding to State Governments and local bodies in the entire process from identification to final procurement of technology. +(14). Reputed research institutions, both at Central and State level, may be made technical partners for evolving cost effective waste management technologies. +(15). Tariff policy for power generated from waste to energy plants may be formulated by Ministry of Power and tariff for power from these plants may be fixed by the Electricity Regulatory Commission in a manner that such projects are viable. +Also, the State Electricity Boards or Distribution companies may be mandated to compulsorily buy the power generated from the waste to energy plants. +(16). Output based subsidy may be provided to the private sector for sale of by-products like compost. +The subsidy on chemical fertilizers may be reduced and correspondingly subsidy on compost may be increased to promote the use of compost. +(17). Provision of tax exemptions by the Centre and the State Governments to the private sector for setting up waste processing facilities to make waste processing a viable activity. +(19). Liquid Waste Management projects may be undertaken through PPP mode. +There is a need to locate bulk users of treated water like industries. +(20). Waste to Energy plants may be set up on PPP mode and the PPP framework may specify the responsibilities of the local body and PPP partner. +(21). Bio-Toilets may be provided where toilets constructed in slum areas cannot be connected to sewer lines. +(22). Operation & Maintenance of Community and Public Toilets in Rural and Urban areas need different approach; in rural areas O&M of public toilets may be done by Gram Panchayats while in urban areas pay and use system would be more feasible. +(23). Capacity building of local bodies and Government officials at all levels is required by regular training and updation of skills. +(24). Anybody contesting an election for local bodies must have an individual household toilet. +(25). Review all laws and rules on waste management for strict enforcement and penal provisions like bio-medical waste and e-waste including municipal laws etc. +(26). Mainstreaming of rag pickers in waste management activities. +(27). Eradication of manual scavenging activity through strict enforcement of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. +(28). Swachh Bharat Grading/Rating may be done for all Gram Panchayats, Municipalities, Blocks, Districts and States every year to promote competition among them. +(29). Assign one day each month and one week each year (culminating with 2nd October) for the activities of the SBA and to reward best performing Gram Panchayat, Block, ULB, District and State as per the ratings. +This programme may include Prime Minister and Chief Ministers to give the awards. +(30). Dysfunctional toilets constructed under Total Sanitation Campaign to be treated as no toilets and therefore should be made eligible for fresh one time financial assistance. +(31). Incentive amount for construction of one unit of IHHL in urban and rural areas should be equal and enhanced to Rs 15,000/- in both urban and rural areas. +(32). NITI Aayog may provide a common platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues. +NITI Aayog should develop, in consultation with Ministries and State Governments, an objective assessment framework for (i) assessing ODF and (ii) assessing ODF plus, that is, cleanliness. +Further, it shall evolve verification protocol and National level guidelines to ensure that uniform procedure is followed in evaluating the ODF status by States. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high-level meeting to review preparedness for Cyclone Fani. +The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the PM, the Additional Principal Secretary to the PM, the Home Secretary, and other senior officials from the IMD, NDRF, NDMA and PMO etc. +These include provision of adequate resources; deployment of teams from NDRF and the Armed Forces; arrangements to provide drinking water; and standby systems to restore power and telecom services. +In a significant boost to development of infrastructure, connectivity, energy security and health care services in Bihar, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled projects worth Rs.33,000 crores in Barauni today. +Governor of Bihar, Laljee Tandon, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi Union Minister of Food and Consumer Affairs Ramvilas Paswan along with several other dignitaries were present on this occasion. +PM addressed a public gathering after launching the projects. +Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Patna Metro Rail Project at an estimated cost of Rs. 13,365 crores digitally by press of a button. +It will have two corridors — Danapur to Mithapur and Patna Railway Station to New ISBT and is likely to be completed in five years. +The project will ease the public transport in Patna and adjoining areas. +PM inaugurated the Phulpur to Patna stretch of the Jagdishpur-Varanasi Natural Gas pipeline on this occasion. +Citing it as yet another example of his vision that projects for which foundation stone is laid by him are kickstarted by him, PM reminded that he had initiated the project in July 2015. +PM said, “It will ensure the supply of gas to the local industries and to the revived Barauni Fertilizer factory besides the start of piped gas supply in Patna. +A gas based ecosystem will create employment opportunities for the youth in the area.” +In a reflection of his priorities for the region, PM said, “ Government is committed for the overall development of Eastern India and Bihar.” +Under Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Yojana, Varanasi, Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack, Patna, Ranchi and Jamshedpur are being connected through gas pipeline. +PM inaugurated Patna the Patna City Gas Distribution project which will provide piped gas supply in Ptana city and adjoining areas.. +These projects will enhance connectivity, especially in the city of Patna and nearby areas and augment the availability of energy in the city, and the region. +Expressing his commitment to uplift the poor, PM said, “ NDA government’s vision of development is on two lines, infrastructure development and upliftment of the marginalized sections of society who have been struggling to avail basic amenities for over 70 years.” +Unveiling the expansion of health care system in Bihar, he said, “ It is a historic day for Bihar in terms of health care infrastructure development. +New Medical Colleges will now be coming up in Chapra and Purnia while Medical colleges in Gaya and Bhagalpur are being upgraded. +He added that AIIMS has come up in Patna while work is on to set up another AIIM in the state to meet the healthcare needs of the people.” +PM inaugurated the first phase of River Front Development at Patna . +He also laid the foundation Stone for the Karmalichak Sewerage Network spanning 96.54 kilometres. +Works related to Sewage Treatment Plants at Barh, Sultanganj and Naugachia were kicked off by PM. +He also laid the Foundation Stone for 22 AMRUT projects at various locations. +Foundation Stone of the 9 MMT AVU of the Barauni Refinery Expansion Project was laid by PM. +He also laid the foundation Stone for the augmentation of the Paradip-Haldia-Durgapur LPG pipeline from Durgapur to Muzaffarpur and Patna. +PM also inaugurated the electrification of Railway Lines on the following sectors: Barauni-Kumedpur, Muzaffarpur-Raxaul, Fatuha-Islampur,· Biharsharif-Daniawan. +Ranchi-Patna AC Weekly Express train was inaugurated on this occasion. +Next destination of PM after Barauni is in Jharkhand where he will visit Hazaribagh and Ranchi. +He will lay the foundation stone for hospitals in Hazaribagh, Dumka and Palamau and inaugurate a series of development projects. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated to the Nation, the National Institute of Science Education and Research at Bhubaneswar. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said innovation is the need of the hour for every society and every era. +In this context, he mentioned India’s space programme, which had begun from scratch, and the whole world was now taking note of. +He called upon young scientists to be similarly inspired to achieve and to serve the people through their work. +He said it is important to develop a scientific temper among students. +The Prime Minister hoped that an environment of innovation would be fostered among scientific institutions. +In the context of NISER, situated in Odisha, he mentioned the possibilities for innovation in areas such as coal gasification and clean energy, the blue economy, and housing for all by 2022. +The Prime Minister urged the students of NISER to work towards making NISER India’s greenest campus, and a zero-emission, zero-discharge campus which uses only renewable energy. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the indomitable courage and valour of Indian Army, on the occasion of Army Day. +“On Army Day I salute the indomitable courage and valour of our Army. +Weaver brothers and sisters, Awardees Ladies & Gentlemen, +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high level meeting on the drought and water scarcity situation in parts of Uttar Pradesh. +The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Akhilesh Yadav, was present in the meeting. +Senior officials from the Government of India, and the State of Uttar Pradesh, were also present. +Initiating the discussion, the Prime Minister stated that the Centre and States have to work together to mitigate the problems faced by the people due to the drought. +He also called for focus on medium and long term solutions for drought-proofing. +The Prime Minister stressed on the use of technologies like remote sensing and satellite imaging for planning of water conservation and recharge structures. +The need to change cropping patterns based on scientific advice, use of drip and sprinkler irrigation, and fertigation for increasing water use efficiency, community participation, especially women, for better water management, was stressed. +The Prime Minister also called for treated urban waste water to be used for farming in the adjoining areas. +He mentioned the need to monitor delivery of water through tankers in the affected areas, using technology such as GPS. +The meeting also discussed how best the period before the upcoming monsoon can be utilized for water conservation and recharge efforts. +This includes efforts at desilting, recharging of rivers, check dams and other water storage mechanisms. +The Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister of efforts undertaken for mitigation of problems faced by people because of drought conditions. +These include provision of drinking water, food to the needy in Bundelkhand, employment, water and fodder for cattle, and efforts for long and medium term solutions. +He further said that the State has undertaken preparatory steps to implement the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in right earnest. +The State shared the action plan for revival and restoration of 78,000 water-bodies including tanks, ponds, and farm ponds; one lakh new water-bodies and recharge structures. +This will be achieved by utilizing funds available in schemes such as MNREGA and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. +An amount of Rs. 934.32 crore has been released to the State under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), after adjustments of the State balances. +This is in addition to Rs 506.25 crore released as central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2015-16 to the State. +A further amount of Rs. 265.87 crore has been released as first instalment of SDRF for 2016-17. +The State has submitted a fresh memorandum on 5th May, 2016 for assistance for the Rabi 2015-16 season. +The Prime Minister directed that the process be completed, and assistance be provided without delay. +The NITI Aayog also outlined the steps taken already for the release of funds under the Bundelkhand package. +The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister for this meeting, which he said was a welcome development, given the acute problems being faced by people on account of water shortage, especially in the Bundelkhand region. +The meeting ended with a resolve on the part of the Centre and State to work together. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high level meeting on the drought and water scarcity situation in parts of Gujarat. +Senior officials from the Government of India, and the State of Gujarat, were also present. +Piped water supply is being provided to 77 per cent of households in the State. +In spite of deficient rainfall for the second consecutive year, the work done for the state water grid has resulted in only 568 tankers being required for water distribution in some remote tail areas. +The Prime Minister, while appreciating this effort, called for further action to completely eliminate the need for tanker supply. +The State has made significant progress in micro-irrigation. +One hundred per cent coverage of drip/sprinkler irrigation has been achieved in 3789 villages. +The measures undertaken by the State have resulted in a reasonable amount of drought-proofing, despite deficient (about 80 per cent of long-term average) and skewed temporal distribution of rainfall. +Despite two successive years of drought, crop production in the State has been estimated at 95 per cent of the normal. +The creation of an elaborate canal network under the Sardar Sarovar Irrigation Scheme, has led to a significant increase in crop yields, and a positive impact on farm incomes. +In this context, the Prime Minister emphasized on value addition in horticulture and cash crops. +Measures to boost progress in fishery, bee-keeping, pearl culture, and seaweed, were also discussed. +The meeting ended with a resolve on the part of the Centre and State to work together. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the spirit of ‘Nari Shakti’ on International Women’s Day. +“On International Women’s Day, we salute our indomitable Nari Shakti. +We are proud to have taken numerous decisions that have furthered women empowerment. +Every Indian is proud of the stupendous accomplishments of women in various spheres”, the Prime Minister said. +Mr. Yang Jiechi, State Councillor of the People’s Republic of China and Special Representative of China on the Boundary Question called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +Mr. Yang Jiechi conveyed the greetings of President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang to Prime Minister. +Mr. Yang Jiechi also briefed Prime Minister on the preparations for his upcoming visit to China. +Prime Minister outlined his vision for closer India-China relations and the significance of the India-China bilateral relationship to the region and the world. +Recalling the visit of President Xi Jinping to India in September 2014, Prime Minister expressed hope that his visit to China will have concrete outcomes and take the relationship to a new level. +Prime Minister said that he is looking forward to meeting President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in China. +Mr. Yang Jiechi and Mr. Ajit Doval also briefed Prime Minister on the 18th Round of Talks between Special Representatives of China and India on the Boundary Question, held on 23 March 2015. +Shares pain and anguish of the flood affected people. +Reviews situation in flood affected areas. +Announces Rs. 1000 crore additional special project assistance for flood relief and rehabilitation. +Medicines, tents, boats, solar lamps being moved to affected areas immediately. +Priority to restore bridges and communication links. +PM: This is a national-level disaster. +The briefings gave an overview of the extensive damage caused to life and property and the disruption to normal life. +Thousands of villages have been affected. +In view of the seriousness of the situation, the Prime Minister had held a crisis review meeting with the Cabinet secretary and other senior officials. +The Prime Minister said this is a national level disaster, and the Central Government stands shoulder to shoulder with the State Government and the people of the state in this hour of crisis. +The Prime Minister observed that the Rs 1100 crores being made available to the state government through the State Disaster Relief Fund, would not prove adequate in view of the magnitude of the tragedy. +He said an additional special project assistance of Rs 1,000 crore will be made available by the Union Government to the State for flood relief and rehabilitation. +He added that more assistance would be provided, if required, after a proper survey of the situation had been made. +Rs 2,00,000 will be provided to the next of kin of each person whose life has been lost in this calamity and Rs 50,000/- would be provided to each person who is grievously injured. +This would be provided from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. +To meet the immediate need of providing shelter to those who have lost their homes, the Central Government will provide 5,000 tents from the Armed Forces and the Central Paramilitary Forces. +These will be moved from Monday onwards to various locations in the state. +Rs 5 crores will be provided from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund to purchase 1,00,000 blankets to the needy in this cold weather. +In order to supplement food supply to children, the Central Government will airlift 50 tons of milk powder. +One consignment of essential medicines is being airlifted today evening to meet the emergency needs. +More will be supplied subsequently as required. +Teams of the Department of Telecom have been directed to restore telecommunication links in the fastest possible manner to the affected areas. +Army engineers are working to repair damaged bridges. +Boats have been requisitioned from Gujarat and Maharashtra. +2000 solar lamps will be provided to help those where power supply has been lost. +The Prime Minister called upon other States to also pitch in with relief assistance in whatever way they could. +The Prime Minister said planes bringing relief material to the state would airlift stranded tourists on the way back. +The Prime Minister appreciated the rescue and relief work being done by the Armed Forces and NDRF personnel working in close coordination. +The Prime Minister also expressed his anguish at the loss that has been caused in neighbouring areas in POK. +The Cabinet observed two minute silence in her memory and passed a condolence resolution. +The text of the resolution is as follows: +“The Cabinet expresses profound sorrow at the sad demise of Selvi J. Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 5.12.2016 at Apollo Hospital, Chennai. +In her passing away, the country has lost a veteran and distinguished leader, affectionately called “Amma”. +2. Born on February 24, 1948 at Mysore, Selvi J. Jayalalithaa got her education at the Bishop Cotton Girls’ High School at Bengaluru and the Presentation Convent Church Park at Chennai. +She had a prolific career in films made in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, English and Malayalam. +She also made her mark in classical dances such as Bharatnatyam, Mohini Attam, Kathak and Manipuri. +She was honoured with Kalaimamani award by the Tamil Nadu Government in 1972. +3. Selvi J. Jayalalithaa entered politics and became a member in AIADMK in 1982. +She was elected as a Member of Parliament to the Rajya Sabha in 1984. +She was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1989. +She was instrumental in the victory of AIADMK in the General Elections to the Lok Sabha and to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1984. +In 1989, she became the first woman Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. +4. She became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1991 and served the State as Chief Minister from June, 1991 to May, 1996, from May, 2001 to September, 2001, from March, 2002 to May, 2006, from May, 2011 to September, 2014 and from May, 2015 to 5.12.2016. +5. People of Tamil Nadu have lost their popular leader. +The Cabinet extends its heartfelt condolences to the people of Tamil Nadu on behalf of the Government and the entire nation.” +Our long standing and deep-rooted civilisational and cultural ties are well known. +It has created a sense of familiarity and goodwill between our people. +It is a strong foundation of close relations between our two countries. +India attaches great importance to this relationship. +There is enormous potential for cooperation between India, a Nation of 1.25 billion people with a large and rapidly growing economy, and Turkmenistan, a Nation rich in resources. +As India deepens its relations with Central Asia, Turkmenistan will play a crucial role in it. +We have shared interests in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and Central Asia. +We also have common purpose in combating terrorism and extremism in our region. +Connecting South and Central Asia will open up new economic opportunities in our region and beyond. +I thank Mr. President for sharing this vision and for his strong support to the relationship. +The most significant initiative in our relationship is the TAPI Gas Pipeline. +This could transform regional economic cooperation and bring prosperity along the route. +We welcomed the agreements between the four countries for the pipeline. +We underlined the need to implement the project quickly. +If we use the Iran route, Ashgabat is the first capital we would reach in Central Asia. +We are grateful for Turkmenistan’s support to India joining the Ashgabat Agreement on trade and transit. +India will enhance its training scholarship programme. +I welcome the upgrading of the Turkmen India Industrial Training Institute in Ashgabat. +The agreements on sports and tourism will deepen the contacts between our people. +Later today, I will have the pleasure of unveiling the bust of Mahatma Gandhi. +It will be a reminder of our shared commitment to the cause of a peaceful, inclusive and a just world. +I am looking forward to the inauguration of the Centre of Yoga and Traditional Medicines. +It is a tribute to our cultural links. +It also gives us opportunities to revive our very old tradition of fruitful cooperation in traditional medicines. +I also proposed to him that Ashgabat could be developed as an International Centre for Holistic Healthcare. +I offered full support for it. +The defence agreement is a reflection of our shared interest in closer security cooperation, including in combating terrorism. +I am grateful to President and the people of Turkmenistan for the support in making the International Day of Yoga on June 21 a huge global success. +I congratulated the President on the 20th anniversary of the adoption of Permanent Neutrality by Turkmenistan. +India acknowledges the contributions of this policy to peace and stability in Turkmenistan and the wider region. +Again, Mr. President, this has been a short but very productive visit. +I am confident that our relationship will grow in strength in the coming years. +I look forward to receiving you in India, Mr. President, in the near future. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for Amendment in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 to make punishment more stringent for committing sexual crimes against children. +The POCSO Act, 2012 was enacted to Protect the Children from Offences of Sexual Assault, Sexual harassment and pornography with due regard for safeguarding the interest and well-being of children. +The Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age, and regards the best interests and welfare of the child as matter of paramount importance at every stage, to ensure the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child. +The act is gender neutral. +The amendment in Section-4, Section-5, Section-6, Section-9, Section-14, Section-15 and Section-42 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, is made to address the aspects of child sexual abuse in appropriate manner. +The modification is made to address the need for stringent measures required to deter the rising trend of child sex abuse in the country. +To discourage the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent Section-4, Section-5 and Section-6 are proposed to be amended to provide option of stringent punishment, including death penalty, for committing aggravated penetrative sexual assault crime on a child to protect the children from sexual abuse. +The amendments are also proposed in section-9 to protect children from sexual offences in times of natural calamities and disasters and in cases where children are administered, in any way, any hormone or any chemical substance, to attains early sexual maturity for the purpose of penetrative sexual assault. +Section-14 and Section-15 of the POCSO Act, 2012 are also proposed to be amended to address the menace of the child pornography. +It is proposed to levy fine for not destroying/or deleting/ or reporting the pornographic material involving a child. +Penal provisions have been made more stringent for storing/possessing any pornographic material in any form involving a child for commercial purpose. +The amendment is expected to discourage the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent due to strong penal provisions incorporated in the Act. +It may protect the interest of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensures their safety and dignity. +The amendment aims to establish clarity regarding the aspects of child abuse and punishment thereof. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a review meeting on the goal of “Housing for All” by 2022. +The same commitment was made in the Budget for 2014-15 where the Finance Minister had announced a Housing for All programme. +The Finance Minister had said “Our government is committed to endeavour to have housing for all by 2022. +For this purpose, I intend to extend additional tax incentive on home loans to encourage people, especially the young, to own houses. +I propose setting up a Mission on Low Cost Affordable Housing which will be anchored in the National Housing Bank. +Schemes will be evolved to incentivize the development of low cost affordable housing.” +In pursuance of this commitment, the Prime Minister has been holding a series of meetings to give shape to this vision and commitment. +In the last meeting on this held on 22 December 2014, the Prime Minister had concurred with the basic elements of the programme and had asked for some fine-tuning and phasing of the proposals. +The Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation recrafted its programme in alignment with the decisions in the meeting and presented the final design of the programme to the Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister was briefed on the approach that is planned to be followed to meet this vast housing requirement. +He was also given an overview of the delivery mechanisms envisaged at the central and state levels. +The programme proposes to build 2 crore houses across the nation by 2022. +This would cover both slum housing and affordable housing for weaker sections. +It will cover urban poor living in slums, urban homeless and new migrants to urban areas in search of shelter. +It would cover metros, small towns and all urban areas. +The programme would begin with a baseline survey to assess the demand for such housing and identify resource requirements. +The houses that need to be built are over 6 lakhs in Delhi, 16 lakhs in Mumbai, 4 lakhs in Chennai and 4 lakhs in Kolkata. +These figures may go up after the demand assessment is completed. +The Programme involves an urban reform component to generate the resources and capacities for urban housing, a set of guidelines, an element of government support and a significant contribution from beneficiaries, in addition to bank financing. +A large portion of the programme is to be financed in a PPP mode by leveraging land and other resources in urban areas. +A large number of process improvements and policy changes are also inherent in the programme. +The Prime Minister directed all concerned departments to immediately finalise the programme and finalise the financing models for alternate sets of housing requirements. +He emphasized the need to ensure that there is no compromise in quality during the roll-out of this ambitious programme. +He further directed that safety concerns of specific areas, such as coastal zones, eco-sensitive zones and disaster-prone areas be factored into the planning process in cities. +He said existing success stories and innovative technologies must be carefully studied so that the best practices can be adopted during the implementation of the scheme. +The Prime Minister said that the first priority under the new scheme should be on towns and cities along the banks of the River Ganga and its tributaries. +The meeting was attended by Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Minister for Urban Development, Shri Babul Supriyo, Minister of State for Urban Development, and senior officials. +The soldier was airlifted from the glacier and admitted to the Army R&R Hospital in New Delhi earlier today. +The Prime Minister was briefed on the condition of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. +He spent about ten minutes with the soldier. +He met the team of doctors and medical staff attending to Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, and emphasized that no effort should be spared in his treatment. +“No words are enough to describe the endurance and indomitable spirit of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. +He is an outstanding soldier,” the Prime Minister said. +The Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Dalbir Singh was also present. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the strengths, skills and achievements of the girl child, on National Girl Child Day. +“Saluting the strengths, skills and achievements of the girl child on National Girl Child Day. +India will progress when the girl child shines. +Let’s further the spirit of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ and create a discrimination free and opportunity filled environment for the girl child”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Maghar in SantKabir Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh on June 28, 2018. +Later, at a public meeting in Maghar, the Prime Minister will witness a cultural programme and address the gathering. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the sphere of Civil Aviation between India and Spain. +The cost of the project is Rs.1351 crore. +Residential complexes and allied facilities / services, broadly on the pattern of AIIMS, New Delhi. +The hospital will have 20 Speciality/Super-Speciality Departments including 15 Operation Theatres. +It will also have an AYUSH department with 30 beds for providing treatment facilities in traditional system of medicine. +Under this scheme, AIIMS have been established in Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Raipur, Jodhpur, Rishikesh and Patna while work of AIIMS Rae Bareli is in progress. +In a major move to empower the Ministries and Departments, the Prime Minister today decided to abolish all the existing nine Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoMs) and twenty-one Groups of Ministers (GoMs). +This would expedite the process of decision making and usher in greater accountability in the system. +The Ministries and Departments will now process the issues pending before the EGoMs and GoMs and take appropriate decisions at the level of Ministries and Departments itself. +Wherever the Ministries face any difficulties, the Cabinet Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office will facilitate the decision making process. +“On Kargil Vijay Diwas I bow to every valiant soldier who fought for India till the very last breath. +We recall with pride, the firmness demonstrated by India’s political leadership in 1999, which ensured a decisive victory in Kargil,” the Prime Minister said. +My condolences to his family. +The members of the delegation included Maulana Kalbe Jawwad – Shia Cleric; Shri Kamar Agha – expert on International Islamic Affairs; and Shri Shahid Siddiqui, among others. +Members of the delegation congratulated the Prime Minister on his recent successful visit to Saudi Arabia. +They said people in West Asia, Central Asia and North Africa, especially the youth, are extremely impressed with the development agenda of Shri Narendra Modi, and want good relations with India. +Members of the delegation also praised Shri Narendra Modi’s development agenda, and his successful implementation record. +The Prime Minister thanked the delegation, and reiterated his commitment to development, laying special stress on education, and especially girl child education. +He expressed hope that the Muslim community in India shall be able to derive huge benefit from the welfare schemes initiated by the NDA Government, such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and Mudra Yojana. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Status-cum-Progress Report and constitution of “Special Committee for Inter-Linking of Rivers” in compliance of Supreme Court judgment dated 27.2.2012 in the matter of Writ Petition (Civil) 512 of 2002: Networking of Rivers along with Writ Petition No. 668 of 2002. +Approval of the Union Cabinet will help in monitoring of the precious Inter-linking of River Projects to be carried out under National Perspective Plan 1980 of Government of India. +The Status-cum-Progress Report of Special Committee for Inter-linking of Rivers will be submitted bi-annually for information of Cabinet, which will facilitate faster and appropriate decisions in the interest of the country as expeditiously as possible. +The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has has approved the signing and ratification of Agreement between India and Brunei Darussalam for the Exchange of Information and Assistance in Collection with respect to Taxes. +1. The Agreement enables the competent authorities of India and Brunei Darussalam to provide assistance through exchange of information that is foreseeably relevant to the administration and enforcement of the domestic laws of the two countries concerning taxes covered by this Agreement. +Information may be disclosed to any other person or entity or authority or jurisdiction with the prior written consent of the information sending country. +3. The Agreement also provides for automatic exchange of information between India and Brunei with respect to categories of cases. +4. The Agreement also enables assistance in collection of tax revenue claims between both countries. +5. The Agreement provides for Mutual Agreement Procedure for resolving any difference or for agreeing on procedures under the Agreement. +6. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of notification of completion of the procedures required by the respective laws of the two countries for entry into force of the Agreement. +The Agreement will stimulate the flow of exchange of information between India and Brunei for tax purposes which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance. +It will also enable assistance in collection of tax revenue claims between both countries. +As such, the Agreement does not have any financial implications. +Only in the event of extraordinary costs exceeding USD 500 as per Article 9 of the Agreement, the same will be borne by the Government of India. +India has similar provisions in other such tax information exchange agreements. +The Central Government is authorized under section 90 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 to enter into an Agreement with a foreign country or specified territory for exchange of information for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of income tax chargeable under the Income Tax Act, 1961. +Negotiations for entering into an Agreement for the Exchange of Information with respect to Taxes were conducted at Brunei from 10th to 11th January, 2017. +Pursuant to the same, the Governments of India and Brunei Darussalam have agreed on the text of the Agreement. +Therefore, he added, they should keep the student mindset in them alive, so that they could scale great heights in their profession. +He urged the graduating students to follow the examples set by the doyens of the medical fraternity who were being given lifetime achievement awards today. +He said the student mindset keeps one energetic throughout life. +He urged them to keep this in mind in their daily conduct. +He said some doctors become popular because they bond with the patient, thereby giving the patient the confidence and strength to fight the disease. +Explaining to the graduating students through several illustrations, that many people and sections of society, had done something, or made sacrifices, so that they could become doctors, the Prime Minister urged them to keep this in mind in their profession. +He exhorted them to work with patients with the spirit that the patients have a ‘right’ over them. +He expressed hope that society would gain from their work, and the dream of a healthy India would be achieved. +He also urged them to work towards achieving a higher number of publications in scientific journals. +He urged the graduating students to keep a cheerful attitude towards life, even as they fulfilled their responsibilities as doctors and medical professionals, in all seriousness. +The Prime Minister also presented lifetime achievement awards to eminent professionals in the field of medical science, and medals and prizes to meritorious students. +Considering the historical links of friendship and cooperation that unite both countries; +In accordance with the rights and guarantees provided in their respective national legislations and in the relevant international treaties and conventions,to which they are Parties; +Convinced that the movement of people between two countries contributes to proximity between their nationals and may constitute a factor of economic, social and cultural development to their countries and populations; +Considering the knowledge accumulated by both countries and the expertise developed on the subject of consular assistance, support to overseas nationals and relations between their Governments and their respective diasporas; +Aware of the need for establishing a bilateral mechanism for information exchange and coordination in the areas of application of this Memorandum, as well as to address specific issues and exigencies related to the movement of people between the two countries; +Stressing the need to develop legal instruments for legal bilateral cooperation; +Bearing in mind the desire to deepen the bilateral dialogue with regard to international legal cooperation in civil and criminal matters, +Have reached the following understanding: +Establishment of a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism +The Parties decide to establish a bilateral mechanism for consultation on bilateral consular and mobility issues and on bilateral legal cooperation, including issues related to the movement of people between the two countries. +The consultation mechanism will be operationalized by a Working Group which will ensure that dialogue and regular exchange of information are held between the Parties. +The objectives of the mechanism will be to: +a) exchange information on the use of new technologies in the areas of consular service and assistance and issuance of travel documents; +b) exchange information on the experience of both countries with their overseas nationals, as well as on current initiatives to support their respective expatriate communities; +c) exchange information on forms of relation between Government and diaspora, representation of overseas nationals, dialogue and representation mechanisms for expatriate communities and use of new technologies and procedures to support them; +g) examine any issues related to movement of people that may be presented by a Party and serve as a means to forward such issues to the competent national authorities; +h) exchange and disseminate information as well as coordinate actions aimed at promoting legal migration and informing about the risks of human trafficking, irregular movement of people; +i) support police bilateral cooperation, notably through the exchange of best practices, and includingoccasional visits of officials of both countries; +j) identify ways of improving the bilateral relationship in the field of international legal cooperation. +Composition of the Working Group and frequency of meetings +1. The Working Group mentioned in Article I shall meet once a year, alternately in the territory of one or the other country, and, in addition, upon request of either Party. +2. The Working Group will be chaired jointly by a representative of each Party. +3. In addition to representatives of the Parties, the Working Group may include representatives of other Ministries and public agencies involved in items of the agenda. +1. This Memorandum of Understanding will take effect from the date of its signature and will remain valid indefinitely. +2. This Memorandum of Understanding may be amended at any time upon mutual writtenagreement of the Parties. +3. Either Party may at any time notify the other of its intention to terminate this Memorandum of Understanding. +Termination shall take effect three (3) months after the date of notification. +4. Any differences related to the interpretation or application of this Memorandum of Understanding shallbe solved by mutual agreement of the Parties, within the working Group mentioned in Article 1 or, if necessary, through diplomatic channels. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has appreciated the comments and ideas received for ‘Mann ki Baat’ Radio Programme. +“Have been going through the wonderful comments, ideas and good governance examples received for ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme on 2nd November, 2014. +It is very gladdening to read views on diverse range of issues, rich insights and interesting anecdotes shared by all of you. +Read several thoughts on Swachh Bharat Mission, agriculture, irrigation issues, empowerment of women, Skilled India among other topics. +Do keep sharing your ideas on the MyGov Open Forum. +I will read them and share some of them during the Radio programme: http://mygov.in/groupissue/mann-ki-baat-on-sunday-2nd-november-2014/show,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for transfer of land belonging to the Indian Institute of Soil & Water Conservation (IISWC) Research Centre at Chandigarh to the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for construction of 60 meters Peripheral Master Road in Mansa Devi Complex (MDC), Panchkula in the following manner- +a) Transfer of 13,290.30 square meters of land belonging to IISWC Research Centre to HUDA at the collector rate applicable as on date. +b) Transfer of 178.75 square meters of land belonging to HUDA to the IISWC Research Centre, Chandigarh. +c) Mutual exchange of 410 square meters of land between IISWC Research Centre and HUDA. +The transfer of Government land for construction of Peripheral Master Road in Mansa Devi Complex (MDC), Panchkula will usher in growth and development in the region leading to more employment generation. +The decision is also part of the Government’s plans to boost infrastructure in key sectors for pushing overall economic growth. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the MoU between India and Vietnam on Cooperation in the field of IT. +The MoU aims to develop a long-term and sustainable cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual interest in the areas of IT in line with each country’s laws and regulations. +Implementation of the MoU will result in significant mutual benefits in the IT sector, through institutional and capacity-building in the field of IT and Human Resource Development. +The MoU will remain in force for a period of five years and will be renewable by mutual written consent between India and Vietnam. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Friday, reviewed the progress of key infrastructure sectors including power, coal, housing, ports, and Digital India. +The Prime Minister was informed that the progress of electrification of all unelectrified villages is proceeding at a rapid pace. +Out of the approximately 18,500 unelectrified villages, about 6000 have already been electrified. +Officials explained that off-grid solutions such as solar panels are being used to reach remote and inaccessible areas, in States such as Arunachal Pradesh. +The progress in distribution of LED bulbs across the country was reviewed. +Significant progress has been achieved towards the target of 175 Giga-Watts (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2022. +The total installed renewable energy capacity has already reached 39.5 GW. +The Prime Minister called for immediate measures to scale up the speed of providing broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats. +He also inquired about the progress in providing Wi-FI connectivity at important tourist destinations across the country. +He was informed that so far, 12 such locations have been provided public Wi-Fi connectivity. +The Prime Minister was informed of the progress being achieved in providing mobile connectivity to villages in LWE affected areas. +1371 towers have so far been installed in these areas. +The Prime Minister reviewed progress towards housing for all. +He directed concerned officials to expedite the implementation of this scheme, using a judicious mix of modern technology, and local building materials and techniques. +Reviewing the ports sector, the Prime Minister instructed officials to work urgently on improving the average vessel turnaround time at major ports, to bring it in line with international standards. +Drastic reduction in the timelines for border compliance, and measures for a boost to coastal shipping within the country, were also discussed. +Interacting with the awardees, the Prime Minister said their deeds of bravery show their decisiveness as much as their courage. +He encouraged the children to ensure that this award does not become the end of their life’s purpose, and added that this award should only mark the beginning for them. +Therefore, he added, we need to make the mind strong. +He urged the children to ensure that the adulation and fame that they are getting, should not become an obstacle to their future progress. +The National Bravery Award Scheme was initiated by the ICCW – Indian Council for Child Welfare – to give due recognition to the children who distinguish themselves by performing outstanding deeds of bravery and meritorious service and to inspire other children to emulate their examples. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, arrived in New York on Friday. +He was received at JFK Airport by Dr. S Jaishankar, Ambassador of India in the United States. +The Prime Minister was greeted by hundreds of people who were waiting for him at Madison Avenue in New York, close to the hotel where he will be staying. +He mingled with the people for a few minutes. +During the discussion, he briefed the Prime Minister on public housing projects New York City. +The Prime Minister also referred to the goal of “Housing for all” in India, and the possibility of sharing best practices for affordable housing. +Mr. Blasio gave a brief overview of steps taken by New York City to tackle terrorism post 9/11. +Prof. Harold Varmus, the Director, US National Cancer Institute, called on the Prime Minister. +Issues related to public health, sanitation, malnutrition and immunization were discussed. +The Prime Minister is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Saturday. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of the Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Georgia. +The Agreement between the two countries is based on latest International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) template keeping in view of developments in Civil Aviation sector and with an objective to improve the air connectivity between the two countries. +Presently there is no Air Services Agreement between these two countries. +ASA is the basic legal framework for any air operation between the two countries. +The agreement will help establish air connectivity between the two countries. +The features of the Air Services Agreement are as follows: +i. Both countries shall be entitled to designate one or more airline. +ii. Now the Indian carriers can operate to any points in Georgia from any points in India. +Whereas the carriers of Georgia can establish direct operation to six points namely New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Goa. +Apart from this through routing flexibility any intermediate and beyond point can also be served by the designated carriers of both sides. +iii. The designated airlines of either country shall have the right to establish offices in the territory of the other country for the promotion and sale of air services. +iv. The designated Airline of each party can enter into cooperative marketing arrangements with the designated carriers of same party, other party and that of a Third party. +In view of this, it will not only facilitate the direct connectivity but also connectivity through 3rd country carriers. +It will provide viable options for the carriers of both countries. +The Air Services Agreement between India and the Georgia has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries bringing it in tune with the developments in the civil aviation sector. +It will provide enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the carriers of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed Swachh Shakti 2017 – A Convention of Women Sarpanches, at Gandhinagar. +He said that this event is an occasion to honour Sarpanches who have contributed immensely to the movement towards a Clean India. +He said that in 2019, we will mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who, he recalled, had stated that cleanliness is even more important than political freedom. +He urged the gathering to maintain the momentum which has been generated towards cleanliness. +The Prime Minister asserted that Swachhata, or cleanliness, has to be become our habit. +He said the poor gain the most when we achieve cleanliness and eliminate dirt. +The Prime Minister said that the women who were being honoured today have shattered many myths, and have shown how a positive change has begun in rural India. +Shri Narendra Modi asserted that he can see the determination to make a positive difference when he meets women Sarpanches, who, he added, wish to bring about a qualitative change. +Talking about the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative, he said that villages with women Sarpanches can play a key role in the drive to end female foeticide. +The Prime Minister said that a discriminatory mindset cannot be accepted, and both boys and girls should get equal access to education. +Speaking on the theme of technology, the Prime Minister said that it can bring about a phenomenal change to our villages. +Congratulating the award winners, the Prime Minister said that they inspire the entire nation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, welcomed Village Pradhans from the Varanasi Parliamentary Constituency at his residence in New Delhi, today. +This was the fourth such group to meet the Prime Minister. +During the interaction, the Prime Minister encouraged the Pradhans to work towards ensuring attendance of children and quality of Mid Day Meals in schools. +He also motivated them to keep cleanliness in their respective villages. +The Prime Minister urged the group to eliminate any discrimination between daughters and sons. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his sixth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +In course of his review today, the Prime Minister reviewed in particular, the progress of development of solar energy parks in 17 States across the country. +He exhorted States to work proactively towards creating conducive policy frameworks to enable speedy implementation of solar power projects. +The Prime Minister expressed concern at the undue delay in processing of requests for patents and trademarks. +The Prime Minister directed these processes to be brought in line with global standards, within a reasonable timeframe. +He also called for an overhaul of the patent application filing process, and a drastic reduction in the number of forms required for this process. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of key infrastructure projects in the Railway, Metro Rail, Coal and Iron Ore Mining, Road, Power, and Aviation sectors, spread over several States. +The Prime Minister, on the request of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, reviewed the Lucknow Metro Rail Project (Phase 1A), and expressed satisfaction that several clearances have been given after the project was flagged for review under PRAGATI. +The Prime Minister also reviewed the Khurda-Bolangir new Broad Gauge Rail link, on the request of the State of Odisha. +Among other projects reviewed were the Mumbai Metro Project Line 3 (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ), and crucial coal and iron-ore mining projects in the eastern States. +The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of important Indian projects in Afghanistan, including the Parliament Building and the Salma Dam. +The Prime Minister asked all concerned departments to ensure that development projects being implemented by India in the SAARC region, are implemented expeditiously. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of implementation of National Food Security Act, 2013 and Aadhar card enrolment, across the country, and emphasized speedy implementation so that citizens can avail the benefits of these initiatives. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the exchange of Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) land measuring 11.45 acres at Visakhapatnam Airport with an equivalent area of land offered by Visakhapatnam Port Trust for setting up of Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) by M/s. +Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) at Visakhapatnam. +The exchange of land measuring will be beneficial to both AAI and VPT. +The land offered for exchange by VPT is in continuation to existing AAI land and will be useful for AAI, in view of future developmental plans for Visakhapatnam Airport. +The setting up of Multi Modal Logistics Park and other customer related facilities by M/s. +Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways is setting up a Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) near Visakhapatnam on 98 acres (approx.) of land, taken on lease from Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT), which is a port handling trust under the Ministry of Shipping. +Handing over the full extent of 98 acres for the CONCOR project involves exchange of 11.45 acres of land between VPT and AAI. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a State Level Youth Convention at Tumakuru, Karnataka, via video conference, on the theme – Youth Power: A vision for New India. +The Convention at Tumakuru is being organised to mark the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Ashram, Tumakuru, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s address in Chicago, as well as celebrate Sister Nivedita’s 150th birth anniversary. +The Prime Minister said that he tries his best to meet youth as much as possible, to understand their hopes and aspirations, and work accordingly. +He said the focus of today’s commemorations is Swami Vivekananda. +He said that during the freedom struggle, there was a united resolve at various levels to achieve independence. +This included efforts at social reform. +The Prime Minister said that over the last four years, the Union Government has resolved for emotional integration of the North-East, and has achieved success. +He said only integration can counter radicalization. +He urged to youth to make a resolve and dedicate one’s life towards achieving it. +He said the youth should devote their energy to nation-building. +In this context the Prime Minister spoke of the Mudra Yojana, self-employment and skill development. +The Prime Minister said that the youth of today, wishes to learn from the past, for a better present and future. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the loss of lives caused by a stampede in West Bengal. +The Prime Minister has also approved ex-gratia from PMNRF, of Rs 2 lakh for next of kin of those deceased and Rs. 50,000 for those injured in the stampede. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has extended his best wishes to the people of Vietnam, on their National Day. +“My best wishes to the people of Vietnam on their National Day. +Our Government attaches great importance to strong ties with Vietnam”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of Department of Heavy Industry for enabling M/s Richardson & Cruddas (1972) Limited (R&C), a Central Public Sector Enterprise, to come out of purview of Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR). +For this purpose Cabinet approved the conversion into equity of the Government of India loan of Rs 101.78 crores given to the Company, alongwith the interest amounting to Rs 424.81 Crore accrued on this loan. +The Cabinet further approved in principle, the strategic disinvestment of Nagpur and Chennai units of the Company and shifting of operations from Mumbai land to other locations of company. +However the Company’s land at Mumbai will be converted from lease hold to “Occupation Class II” so as to enable the company to identify the best use of this piece of land for optimal utilization as per Government guidelines. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for accession of India to (i) The Nice Agreement concerning the International classification of Goods and Services for the purposes of registration of marks, (ii) The Vienna Agreement establishing an International Classification of the figurative elements of marks, and (iii) The Locarno Agreement establishing an International classification for industrial designs. +Accession to the Nice, Vienna and Locarno Agreements will help the Intellectual Property Office in India to harmonise the classification systems for examinational of trademark and design applications, in line with the classification systems followed globally. +It would give an opportunity to include Indian designs, figurative elements and goods in the international classification systems. +The accession is expected to instill confidence in foreign investors in relation to protection of IPs in India. +The accession would also facilitate in exercising rights in decision making processes regarding review and revision of the classifications under the agreement. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti. +“On Mahavir Jayanti, we recall the pure thoughts & ideals of Lord Mahavir & reaffirm our commitment towards a harmonious & peaceful society”, the Prime Minister said. +The MoU will promote bilateral cooperation, aimed at building technical assistance / capacity support for Suriname envisaging cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched various projects of Kandla Port Trust at Gandhidham in Gujarat. +He unveiled plaques to mark the laying of Foundation Stone for construction of the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Convention Centre; and the development of the 14th and 16th General Cargo Berth. +He handed over Letters of Award for Construction of Interchange-cum-ROB at Kutch Salt Junction; Deployment of two Mobile Harbour Cranes; and Mechanization for handling of fertilisers at Kandla Port. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people for the warm welcome accorded to him on the way from the helipad to the venue of the function. +He said the people of Kutch are well aware of the importance of water. +He spoke of the rich and glorious history and culture of the Kutch region. +The Prime Minister said that if India wants to make a place for itself in global trade, it should have the best of arrangements in the port sector. +The Prime Minister asked the people to resolve to make whatever contribution they can for the nation over the next five years, in the run-up to the seventy-fifth anniversary of Independence. +Prime Minister of Nepal, Shri Sushil Koirala called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on telephone this morning. +He briefed Prime Minister on the steps his government is taking for rehabilitation and reconstruction in Nepal following the earthquakes in April and May 2015. +Prime Minister Koirala invited Prime Minister Modi to visit Nepal on June 25, 2015 to address the First Donors’ Conference being hosted by Government of Nepal in Kathmandu. +Prime Minister Koirala also mentioned that he has sent his Finance Minister, Shri Ram Chandra Mahat to Delhi with a personal invitation for Prime Minister Modi. +Prime Minister Koirala also briefed Prime Minister Modi on the recent political developments, including drafting of the Constitution. +Prime Minister Koirala congratulated Prime Minister Modi on a successful visit to Bangladesh, describing it as yet another example of Prime Minister Modi’s successful “Neighbours First Policy” and his commitment to deepen relations with India’s neighbours. +He congratulated Prime Minister on the historic agreements signed in Dhaka and welcomed Prime Minister’s support for sub-regional connectivity between Bhutan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal. +He assured Prime Minister Koirala that India would respect and be with Nepal in all its decisions in this regard. +Prime Minister reaffirmed that India has always been guided by humanitarian concerns in a spirit of equality and friendship. +Prime Minister Modi conveyed his best wishes for the Donor’s Conference in Kathmandu. +He thanked Prime Minister Koirala for the invitation, conveyed that he would participate, if his schedule permitted, and assured him that India would, in any case, be represented at a high ministerial level. +Prime Minister also conveyed his appreciation to Prime Minister Koirala on the progress in the political process on drafting of the Constitution and conveyed his best wishes for the successful conclusion of the peace process and adoption of a Constitution. +He reiterated that India’s only desire was success, peace and progress for the people of Nepal. +• To instil confidence and distribute creative works in digital environment with return on investment; and +• To spur business growth and contribute to the development of a vibrant creative economy and cultural landscape. +Also a joint study was undertaken with WIPO. +Let me begin by expressing our solidarity with the people of France as they mourn their loss and come to terms with the brutal terrorist attack. +As we see it spread around the world, let us pledge to work together to make sure that it will not succeed against the life that we have all gathered here to build, and the values that we stand for. +On behalf of the people of India and on my personal behalf, I welcome you all to this Summit. +In January, 2013, while concluding the sixth Summit, I had extended an invitation for today’s event. +Your response has been outstanding. +I am glad to be here to welcome you. +On this occasion, I express my gratitude to the old partners of this event – both countries and organisations. +These include Japan and Canada. +Without their support, this event could not have come this far. +I also welcome warmly and thank new partners like USA, UK, Netherlands, Australia, Singapore and South Africa for joining this event. +I particularly thank the Secretary General of the United Nations and the President of the World Bank for their presence. +It shows their commitment towards progress and prosperity in emerging economies. +That is why, during one of the previous events, I had called it ‘Davos in Action.’ +India has always believed that the whole world is one family (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam). +Few have seen this in practice. +I am informed that more than hundred countries are participating in this event. +We are here as a family not only in terms of space, but also because we recognise that +This is what a family does. +The ultimate objective is welfare of all. +I am sure all of us, from the Secretary General of UN to the President of the World Bank, from leaders of the strongest economies to delegations of small countries, from CEOs of Fortune 500 companies to start-up entrepreneurs, all want the planet earth to become a better place to live. +Thus, our meeting here is not just – +I welcome you all once again. +I hope your stay here is comfortable. +I trust you will enjoy our hospitality. +This is the time of Kite Festival in Gujarat. +This festival gives us the message of high spirits. +Do participate in it. +After becoming Prime Minister, I have travelled to the remotest parts of India and also to various parts of the world. +I have been to the UN, BRICS, ASEAN, East Asian Summit, G-20 and SAARC summits. +Some common worries have been expressed everywhere. +The biggest concern is about the global economy. +We all have to find ways for its stability and recovery. +We also have to work for sustainable and inclusive growth. +We, in India, believe that problems present us with opportunities to become stronger, disciplined and innovative. +My Government is trying to generate confidence. +We have prepared a team to secure a robust future. +We believe that changes start with a change in mindset. +This has, of course, generated expectations from us. +India’s present as well as its rich past is being recognised. +I thank the UN Secretary General for giving a formal international stature to Yoga. +A record number of 177 countries supported the Indian proposal. +Yoga is both a science and an art for improving human life. +In today’s world, it teaches us to remain stable even in adverse situations. +Friends, the 2009 edition of this event created vibrancy when the state of the global economy was depressing. +The summits of 2011 and 2013 succeeded in strengthening investor confidence. +It is only because of persistence with positivity that this event of Gujarat Government has become an event for the entire country. +This platform has been enlarged so that other states too can take advantage. +Today, many other states have adopted this approach. +The Government of India is committed to support such initiatives by any state government. +We will have to change the way we have been approaching problems. +Recession is often seen just in the context of business and Industry. +Have we ever thought of recession as being the result of low per capita income in countries where a majority of the global population lives? +Have we ever thought of its solution in terms of enhancing the common man’s employability, income and purchasing power? +This is the biggest task at hand in India. +Mahatma Gandhi rightly talked about the last man. +And Gandhiji’s message can show us the way. +It is therefore appropriate that this summit is taking place in Mahatma Mandir. +An excellent multimedia exhibition on the life of the Mahatma has been set up in Dandi Kutir nearby. +It portrays the life journey of Gandhiji in brief. +In addition, just a few steps away from here, there is a world class mega exhibition which showcases products and services by leading companies from India and abroad. +I am sure you will not miss the chance to see these magnificent exhibitions. +To me, the best outcome of this event should be inclusiveness and involvement of communities needing care and development. +Thus, this event stands for- +Be they issues of poverty or ecology, we want to contribute to welfare of the global community. +We are aware that with one sixth of the world’s population, our activities will have a global impact. +We are ready to learn and make this impact positive. +However, India has to be seen from a different angle. +Thus, whatever we will do, it will be aligned with our culture, ethos and beliefs. +Because, we know, this is what will work in India. +They indicated the high aspirations of our people. +This was amply reflected in the record voter participation and a clear verdict in favour of one political party after a gap of 30 years. +My government is committed to changing and improving the economic and social condition of India including the quality of life. +In a short span of seven months, we have been able to change the atmosphere of despair and uncertainty. +Since the first day, my government is actively working to revive the economy. +My government is committed to create a policy environment that is predictable, transparent and fair. +To start this process, we are making efforts to change the work culture. +We have to strengthen our institutions and systems of delivery. +To drive this change forcefully, we have recently re-constituted our Planning Commission. +Now, it is known as NITI Ayog. +We want to promote co-operative federalism in the country. +At the same time, we want a competitive element among the states to create and attract whatever is needed there. +I call this new form of federalism: Co-operative and Competitive Federalism. +You may be aware that our economic growth had slowed down during the last few years. +Now, my Government is putting all efforts to ensure faster and yet inclusive growth. +The initial results are encouraging. +On the economic front, during the first two quarters, we registered a growth rate which was one percent higher than the previous year. +The IMF has observed that India will be the 2nd fastest growing economy in the coming years. +According to the latest forecast of the OECD, India would be the only country among world’s top economies which would increase its pace of growth this year. +On the political front also, people of various states have supported us in the recent Assembly elections. +This gives us the confidence that we are moving in right direction. +We are also backing them up with concrete action at the level of policy and practice. +For example, I announced a Financial Inclusion programme. +In four months, we have opened more than 100 million bank accounts. +We are planning to build smart cities equipped with world-class amenities. +For this purpose, we have further liberalized the FDI policy in construction sector. +I announced that a modern rail system including high speed rails will be set up. +Immediately, we opened up railways for 100% FDI. +I announced that defence production in the country would be encouraged. +The next step was to open the defence sector for FDI up to 49%. +We have taken similar steps in many other areas. +These include bringing 49% FDI in insurance. +It also includes liberalization of FDI norms for manufacturing of medical devices. +Simultaneously, on the administrative front, we are actively working to provide policy driven governance. +We have taken far reaching decisions to ensure supply of key natural resources. +This includes coal, iron ore and other minerals. +We have also amended legal provisions to facilitate availability of land. +This has been done to enable development in remote areas while ensuring better returns to the farming community. +We are trying to complete the circle of economic reforms speedily. +We are also keen to see that our policies are predictable. +We are clear that our tax regime should be stable. +In the last few months, we have taken several decisions in this direction. +We have put focus on building Infrastructure through public and private Investments. +This will include national roads, national grids of gas, electricity and water. +It also includes rural infrastructure, 24×7 electric supply, farm irrigation and cleaning of rivers. +In order to execute the infrastructure plan, a fast track PPP mechanism is being put in place. +We are undertaking the Sagarmala project to ensure port led development. +Existing ports are being modernized. +New world class ports will be developed along India’s coast. +Ports will be better connected to the hinterland through road and rail. +Inland and coastal waterways will be developed as major transport routes. +Low cost airports are being planned to improve regional connectivity, especially to tier-two towns and places of economic and tourist importance. +We are also keen to move towards the next generation infrastructure. +Just as we need highways, we need I-ways too. +To upgrade manufacturing Infrastructure, we are setting up world-class investment and industrial regions along the dedicated freight corridors and industrial corridors. +Government of India is working towards single window clearance at the Federal and State levels. +Four months back, we launched Make In India initiative to encourage the growth of manufacturing in the country. +We are working hard to make India a global manufacturing hub. +We are promoting, in particular, labour intensive manufacturing. +I have launched these initiatives in a campaign mode so that they force us in the Government to make faster corrections. +They challenge us to do away with the red tape and become pro-active. +With this purpose, our applications and processes are being aggressively put online. +India has three things to its credit – Democracy, Demography and Demand. +This is what you are looking for. +And I am sure, you will not find all of them together at any other destination. +India offers you the potential of low cost manufacturing. +India has low cost and high quality manpower. +65% of our population is below 35 years of age. +We are trying to further harness these strengths through better management and good governance. +In the recently launched Mars Orbiter Mission, everything was made indigenously. +In fact, most mission components were made in very small factories. +And, we have even larger number of dreams to be realised. +Therefore, employment opportunities are being enhanced by promoting manufacturing, agro-based industries, tourism as well as services. +We have undertaken labour reforms to encourage enterprise and to create a bigger job market for our youth. +I have always said that development process should benefit the common man as well as the business sector. +For this, we are placing equal emphasis on knowledge, technology, innovation and research and development. +This includes the use of ICT for improving governance and resource management. +We have to build fast track roads and railways. +We have to energise homes and factories on a continuous basis. +We have to build infrastructure for cities where almost half of our population lives. +We have to take the taste of modern amenities to every village. +We have to propel our growth through value addition in our natural resources and agri-produce. +We have to provide services to our people which are of global standards. +At the same time, the whole world is looking for certain services. +If our human resource can be equipped with skills and technology, we may serve the world in many areas. +Thus, there are immense possibilities for global investors in India. +The process of development we are taking up is not incremental. +We are planning to take a quantum leap. +It is not limited to one sector or region, it is truly unlimited. +And we want to do things in a cleaner and greener way. +We are open to ideas, investments and innovations: +We know that to do this, we need an enabling policy framework. +We are working constantly to improve it further. +We assure you that we will be available to hold your hands whenever you need us. +You will find us standing with you in your journey. +If you walk one step; we will walk two steps for you. +At the end, I urge you to see and realise for yourself that- +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met the Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Li Keqiang, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. +Both sides reviewed the global scenario with regard to the economic slowdown, climate change and international terrorism. +The Chinese Premier observed that India had maintained its growth momentum despite the slowdown. +Both sides reviewed the preparations for the CoP-21 conference in Paris. +Shri Narendra Modi briefed the Chinese Premier on the solar alliance initiative, and invited China to join it. +Both sides agreed that terrorism is the biggest challenge, and the international community must come together to counter it. +Bilaterally, both sides discussed trade and investment, with the Prime Minister once again reiterating the concern over India’s large trade deficit with China. +Mr. Shinzo Abe reiterated that the India-Japan bilateral relationship has the greatest potential of any bilateral relationship across the world. +The Prime Minister acknowledged the Japanese Prime Minister’s vision for the bilateral relationship, and said he looks forward to the visit of Mr. Shinzo Abe to India. +The Prime Minister said that Japan was partnering India in a number of initiatives such as the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), which had transformative potential. +Regional connectivity, maritime security, the upcoming CoP-21 conference, reform of the UN Security Council, and the issue of terrorism were some of the other subjects that came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the Indian scientists, who are among the recipients of the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. +“Congratulations to the Indian scientists who are among the recipients of the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. +These scientists have been awarded for detection of gravitational waves, an exceptional scientific accomplishment”, the Prime Minister said. +2. Prime Minister Modi and President Park held substantive discussions in areas of mutual interest. +They welcomed the rapid expansion and diversification of bilateral ties in recent years. +Both sides shared the view that President Park’s State Visit to India in January 2014 provided impetus to development of bilateral relations in a comprehensive manner. +The two leaders agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a ‘Special Strategic Partnership’. +3. Recalling the historical and cultural bonds that connect the two peoples, the two sides noted that their shared commitment to values of democracy, open society and liberal international economic order has further strengthened the foundation of the ROK-India Special Strategic Partnership. +The two leaders resolved to add new substance, speed and content in the partnership in a wide range of areas including foreign affairs, defense, trade and investment, science and technology, culture and people-to-people exchanges and regional cooperation to take the bilateral relations to a qualitatively higher level. +Political and Security Relations. +President Park informed Prime Minister Modi about RoK’s Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative (NAPCI). +Prime Minister welcomed RoK’s desire to enhance cooperation and security among countries in the Asia-Pacific region. +The two leaders agreed that the two sides should work together to find complementarities between NAPCI and Act East Policy to achieve shared goals. +5. The two sides agreed to further intensify bilateral high-level exchanges. +They shared the view that bilateral defence and security cooperation has large potential to grow. +6. Welcoming the visit of the Speaker of the Korean National Assembly to India in May 2015, the two sides hoped for increased exchange of India-Korea parliamentary delegations. +They shared the view that the exchange of India-Korea parliamentary delegations will contribute towards greater interaction and understanding between the two Parliaments. +7. To substantiate the Special Strategic Partnership the two sides agreed to the following: +(a). Establish annual Summit meetings, in either country, or on the margins of plurilateral events; +(b). Hold Joint Commissions led by the two Foreign Ministers annually; +(c). Facilitate greater parliamentary exchanges to strengthen democratic institutions in their respective regions; +(d). Strengthen the partnerships between Indian and Korean institutions of defense education, including the National Defence College of India and the National Defense University of Korea, by activating the dispatch of military officers for education; +(e). Further strengthen regular consultations between the National Security Council structures of the two countries on security, defence and cyber related issues; +(f). Establish a joint Vice Ministerial level defence and foreign affairs dialogue in the “2+2” Format; +(g). Encourage greater cooperation between their shipyards for defence needs; +(h). Pursue further deepening of defence cooperation through commencement of staff level talks between the two navies and regular exchanges of visits between the two armed forces; +(i). Seek the means of the cyber security cooperation to prepare against transnational cyber threats; +(j). Cooperate appropriately in the area of UN Peacekeeping; and +(k). Hold a track 1.5 dialogue annually between Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security of RoK (IFANS) – Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). +8. President Park welcomed India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative as it provides new avenues to enrich and add substance to the bilateral relations. +Both leaders acknowledged that trade and investment between both countries have enormous potential for further development. +They directed their respective officials to undertake in-depth consultations to leverage fully the potential of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of India and to make full use of the current discussion mechanisms under the CEPA, such as the Joint Committee, for that purpose. +9. Recognizing the salience of trade and investment to the bilateral partnership, the leaders called upon the business community from India and Korea to leverage the enormous synergies between their economies for mutual prosperity. +The leaders welcomed: +(a). Signing of the revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement; +The two governments and the EXIM Banks of the two countries will hold consultations to chalk out a roadmap in order to materialize the envisioned financial support for priority sectors; +(c). Commencement of negotiations to amend the India-Korea CEPA by June 2016 with a view to achieving qualitative and quantitative increase of trade through an agreed roadmap; +(d). Mutual cooperation to be explored for enabling cities with updated technologies including smart grids for building of smart cities, in view of their crucial influence on improving the quality of residential environments and achieving sustainable economic development; +(e). Cooperation in the steel sector by encouraging the steel industry of both countries to develop mutually beneficial projects; +(f). Interest of companies of the two countries in cooperation in the area of shipbuilding, including the construction of Indian vessels such as LNG carriers. +The Indian government expressed its hope to discuss partnership with Korea with an aim to modernize the Indian shipbuilding industry. +The governments of both countries decided to provide support for facilitating private sector discussion on ways to cooperate in this area. +A Joint Working Group that includes the government and private sectors of the two countries will be established to facilitate cooperation in the shipbuilding sector; +(g). Cooperation for stable maritime transport, possible joint business projects in the area of shipping and logistics, and promotion of employment of both countries’ seafarers; +(h). Cooperation to expedite the necessary procedures for mutual export of fresh fruits and horticultural products; +(i). Progress made in establishment of the Korean Industrial Park in the State of Rajasthan. +They agreed that the Industrial Park will help Korean small and medium enterprises to benefit from ‘Make in India’ initiative. +They shared the same view that it is desirable to establish more offices of both countries’ respective trade agencies, including KOTRA, to facilitate trade, investment and industrial cooperation between the two countries; +(j). The first meeting of the Korea-India CEO Forum which will be held in Seoul on 19 May 2015. +The CEO Forum will play a significant role to boost exchanges and dialogues between enterprises of the two countries, enhance mutual investment and further pragmatic bilateral business cooperation; and +Technology, Energy and Environment. +11. President Park lauded Prime Minister’s Swacch Bharat Abhiyan as an effort to transform India. +Recognizing that Saemaul Undong (SMU), Korea’s successful rural development initiative in the 1970s, can make a substantial contribution to accomplishing the vision of Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, the two leaders agreed that both sides would promote cooperation to create synergies by combining development experiences of both sides. +12. Recognizing the integral link between economic growth, preservation of environment and clean energy, India and Korea agreed to enhance exchanges between their respective Ministries and agencies. +13. Lauding the Korean Green Economy initiative, India expressed willingness to work with Korea for mutually-beneficial partnerships in deploying innovative policies and technologies to improve urban water and air quality and to protect natural resources. +14. The two leaders expressed their appreciation on ongoing cooperation in science & technology and noted that joint R&D projects are being implemented in focused areas of Renewable Energy, Materials Science, Robotics & Engineering Sciences and Health Sciences. +The leaders further emphasized that both sides should develop strong academia-industry connect programmes in areas such as Cleantech, Robotics & Automation and Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM), which can address economic and societal challenges of the two countries. +15. Two sides agreed that cooperation in space sector has many possibilities. +They welcomed the agreement between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) to pursue cooperation in the areas of lunar exploration, satellite navigation and space science and application as below: +(a). Deep space cross tracking and communication support for Korean and Indian deep space missions; +(b). Sharing of data of lunar surface and radiation data collected by Chandrayan–1; +(c). Collaboration in GAGAN-KASS interoperability and sharing experience in GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation system) and KASS (Korea Augmentation Satellite System); +(d). Technological cooperation in the field of space science and its application, satellite launch, and other areas they agree; and +(e). Holding working-level talks regularly between ISRO and KARI to strengthen the substantive way of cooperation in the areas mentioned above. +Culture, Education and People-to-People Exchanges. +16. In view of the long history of cultural contact between the Indian and Korean people, President Park welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s decision to send a full Festival of India in Korea in autumn of 2015. +India also welcomed an opportunity to host a Festival of Korea in India in 2016. +In this context, the two leaders also welcomed efforts to strengthen their historic connection by enhancing linkages of Korean people with Ayodhya, and agreed to upgrade the monument for Queen Suriratna /Hur Hwang-ok in Ayodhya as a joint project between the two sides. +President Park expressed deep appreciation of Korean people for the gift of holy Bodhi tree sapling. +17. The President and the Prime Minister called for an intensification of youth delegations to encourage greater understanding and interaction between the future leaders of the two countries. +Indian side expressed interest in enhancing cooperation among educational institutes of the two sides, including among relevant technological institutes and in language teaching. +18. Both leaders agreed to encourage establishment of twin city and twin province/state relationships to deepen and broaden people-to-people exchanges. +19. Korea invited India to participate in the exhibition titled “Masterpieces of Early Buddhist Sculpture, 100 BCE-700CE” which will commemorate National Museum of Korea’s 10th anniversary of reconstruction and opening to the public. +India welcomed the invitation and agreed to actively cooperate for the exhibition. +The two leaders hoped to promote mutual understanding and appreciation between the two countries, and to broaden cultural relations of the two countries. +In addition, they agreed to further explore cooperation on preservation, restoration, and joint research in the field of cultural heritage of both countries. +20. India invited Korea to participate in the two day seminar on “Shared Heritage as New Variable in the Indo-Korean Relations: Historicizing the Legend of Princess from Ayodhya and its Legacy” being organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in collaboration with India International Center in New Delhi. +Korea welcomed the invitation. +Regional and Multilateral Cooperation. +21. The two leaders underlined the paramount importance of peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. +In this regard, they expressed concern over the development of DPRK’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, which is in violation of its international obligations and commitments. +They urged the DPRK to fully comply with all of its international obligations, including under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and to fulfil its commitments under the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. +Prime Minister Modi expressed support for President Park’s efforts to build trust in the Korean peninsula and to lay the groundwork for peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula. +22. Recognizing the increasing and evolving threat posed to world peace and stability from international terrorism, the two leaders reiterated their commitment to the eradication of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and called on international community to work closely to address this challenge. +They called for an early conclusion of negotiations on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. +They recognized the need to eliminate terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, disrupt terrorist networks and their financing, and stop cross-border movement of terrorists, including by implementing the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, as well as enhancing countering violent extremism efforts. +They called on all States to work sincerely to achieve these objectives. +23. President Park highlighted her Eurasia Initiative and the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative (NAPCI), and agreed to explore ways to work with India’s Act East and Connect Central Asia policies for the common prosperity of the region. +Prime Minister Modi also expressed his willingness to explore ways to work with the NAPCI and the Eurasia Initiative for the peace and stability of the region and beyond. +24. India and the ROK underlined their shared interest in strengthening global non-proliferation objectives. +The ROK took note of India’s wish to join the international export control regimes and agreed that India’s entry will have a positive influence on strengthening the global non-proliferation regimes. +The ROK expressed its support for India’s early membership of the four multilateral export control regimes, namely, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Missile Technology Control Regime, Australia Group and Wassenaar Arrangement, based upon consensus within each regime. +25. Recognizing the need for comprehensive UN reforms including Security Council expansion to make the body more representative, accountable and effective, both sides agreed to work towards UNSC reforms to reflect contemporary realities and include major developing countries. +26. Prime Minister Modi thanked President Park and the Government and People of the ROK for the warmth of their hospitality. +The two leaders agreed that this Summit meeting had qualitatively raised the partnership to the next level. +Prime Minister Modi invited President Park to visit India again soon to ensure that the high momentum of this partnership is sustained. +President Park accepted the invitation with pleasure. +27. During the visit following Agreements and MOUs were signed in the presence of the two leaders: +(a). Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Korea for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income; +(b). Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Korea on Cooperation in Audio-Visual Co-production; +(c). MOU for Cooperation between the National Security Council Secretariat of the Republic of India and the Office of National Security of the Republic of Korea ; +(d). MOU between the Ministry of Power of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea concerning Cooperation in the field of Electric Power Development and New Energy Industries; +(e). MOU between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea on Cooperation in Youth Matters; +(f). Framework of Cooperation in the Field of Road Transport and Highways between the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea; and +(g). MOU between the Ministry of Shipping of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea on Cooperation in the Fields of Maritime Transport and Logistics. +PM: Today is Mangal-Parv – Celebration of the success of Mangalyaan. +Addressing students of the Mutt, the Prime Minister described the day as “Mangal-Parv” due to the success of Mangalyaan – “Mars Orbiter Mission.” +He urged the gathering to give a standing ovation for India’s space scientists who had accomplished this mission in the first attempt. +The Prime Minister urged students to devote one hundred hours every year towards Swachh Bharat, and pledge that that they will work towards a clean India. +Praising the saints, rishis and munis of India, the Prime Minister referred to the donation of Rs. 25 lakhs from the Siddaganga Mutt for the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, for the assistance of flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir. +He said this was a shining example of our spirit of unity and national integration. +The Prime Minister urged the students and scholars of Sanskrit present in the gathering to spread the message and knowledge of India’s ancient Shastras, among all people. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released the book “Judicial Reforms – Recent Global Trends” and presented the first copy to President Pranab Mukherjee. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that India has to keep pace with changing technology, and the new, interdependent global order. +He said India has the opportunity to play a key global role. +In order to do so, it must adapt fast to these rapid changes, through framing of appropriate policies. +The Prime Minister recalled that he had promised to repeal one law a day, and till date, the Union Government has repealed about 1200 laws. +He said efficient governance can lessen the burden of the judiciary. +Priti Patel MP, UK Secretary of State for International Development calls on PM +The Prime Minister recalled that Ms. Patel has had a long association with India in her previous roles, and visited India many times. +Ms. Patel briefed the Prime Minister on the activities and future plans of Department for International Development in India. +Ms. Patel also discussed bilateral cooperation in the spheres of skill development, infrastructure financing, innovation, energy, and ease of doing business. +At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, will undertake an official visit to India on September 13 and 14, 2017. +Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abe will hold the 12th India-Japan Annual Summit, at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on the 14th of September. +The two leaders will deliver statements to the media. +An India Japan Business Plenary is scheduled the same day. +This will be the fourth Annual Summit between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abe. +The two leaders will review the recent progress in the multifaceted cooperation between India and Japan under the framework of their ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ and will set its future direction. +The two leaders will attend a public function to mark the commencement of work of India’s first high-speed rail project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, on 14th of September. +The train is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities. +Japan is a pioneer in high-speed rail networks, and its Shinkansen bullet train is among the fastest in the world. +The city of Ahmedabad will greet Prime Minister Abe with an elaborate civic reception on 13th of September, showcasing the cultural diversity of India, through a series of performances. +The two Prime Ministers will visit Sabarmati Ashram, established by Mahatma Gandhi on the banks of the Sabarmati River. +They will then visit the “Sidi Saiyyid Ni Jaali” – a famous 16th century mosque in Ahmedabad. +The two leaders will also visit Dandi Kutir, the museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, at the Mahatma Mandir. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Trinidad and Tobago on their Republic Day. +Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2014, Shri Kailash Satyarthi, called on the Prime Minister today. +The Prime Minister congratulated him warmly on winning the award. +Shri Kailash Satyarthi expressed enthusiasm about the Prime Minister’s initiatives on “Swachh Bharat” and “Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana” and said he was keen to contribute to these causes. +He expressed his commitment towards a child-labour free India. +The Prime Minister shared with Shri Satyarthi his views on the use of social media and internet for tracking missing children. +He also mentioned that he had established the world’s first “Children University” in Gandhinagar. +He wished Shri Satyarthi well in his future endeavours. +Shri Satyarthi’s family members including Mrs. Sumedha Kailash, Miss Asmita Satyarthi, Mr. Bhuvan Ribhu, Mrs. Priyanka Ribhu and Shri Rama Shankar Chaurasia accompanied Shri Satyarthi. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC) in New Delhi. +MGISC has been a 4-day international conference that has brought together Sanitation Ministers and other leaders in WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) from around the world. +The Prime Minister visited a Digital Exhibition, accompanied by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres. +From the dais, the dignitaries launched commemorative postage stamps on Mahatma Gandhi, and a medley CD based on Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite hymn – “Vaishnav Jana To.” +The Swachh Bharat Awards were also distributed on this occasion. +In his address, the Prime Minister mentioned the emphasis that Mahatma Gandhi placed on cleanliness. +He recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s “Constructive Programme”, published in 1945, where rural sanitation was an important subject. +The Prime Minister said that an unclean environment, if not cleaned, leads to a situation where one starts accepting circumstances. +On the contrary, if one cleans up dirt in the surroundings, he gets energized, and then does not resign himself to existing adverse circumstances. +He said it was Mahatma Gandhi’s inspiration, that led to the Swachh Bharat Mission. +He added that inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Indians have made the Swachh Bharat Mission the world’s biggest people’s movement. +He said that rural sanitation, which stood at 38 percent in 2014, has now reached 94 percent. +More than 5 lakh villages are now ODF, he added. +He said India is on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. +He highlighted the importance of the “4 Ps” in making the world clean: Political Leadership, Public Funding, Partnerships, and People’s participation. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on the 139th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, today received some of the Sardar’s personal belongings from Ms. Sheila Ghatate, of Manjiri Trust, Delhi. +The Prime Minister said the items constituted a unique part of India’s heritage. +He added that appropriate arrangements would be made for their storage and preservation. +It has increased by 2% over the existing rate of 2% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise. +This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. +This will benefit about 48.85 lakh Central Government employees and 55.51 lakh pensioners. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Agreement between the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) on Scientific and Technological Cooperation for mutual benefit in the areas of science, technology, agriculture, etc. +The Agreement was exchanged on 12th September, 2017 at New Delhi during the visit of Belarus President H.E. Mr. Alexander Lukashenko. +The Agreement is aimed at identifying, assessing, developing and commercializing globally competitive technologies from India and Belarus. +It will support institutions in both countries by way of research, technology transfers, exchange of visits and joint workshops leading to scientific and economic benefit. +Expansion of scope of work of the erstwhile International Centre for Drinking Water Quality, to rename as National Centre for Drinking Water, Sanitation and Quality (NCDWS & Q) and to authorize it to work as a receptacle for receiving EBR for SBM(G). +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the following: +Raising funds up to Rs.15,000 crore as Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR) (Gol Fully Serviced Bonds) for Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) [SBM(G)] during the financial year 2018-19 through NABARD. +Expansion of the scope of work of the Society named International Centre for Drinking Water Quality to authorise it for receiving EBR funds for SBM(G), disbursement of the same to the Sates/UTs implementing agencies, and its repayment. +To change the name of the Society to “National Centre for Drinking Water, Sanitation and Quality” in place of “International Centre for Drinking Water Quality”. +This decision will benefit around 1.5 crore rural households eligible for incentive under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), and also Gram Panchayats for Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) activities. +The funds will be utilized to achieve and sustain Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in the villages across the country. +The loan amount of Rs.15,000 crore will be repaid to NABARD as single bullet payment at the end of 10th year from the date of loan disbursement as per the agreed terms and conditions. +The EBR funds will be raised through NABARD after considering (he exact requirements/expenditure of the States/UTs and released to the States/UTs implementing agencies. +For receiving the funds for SBM(G), disbursement of the same to the Sates/UTs implementing agencies, and repayment of loan and interest amount, National Centre for Drinking Water, Sanitation and Quality shall work as a receptacle agency. +This will help provide adequate and timely funds to the States/UTs for achieving the goal of SBM(G) within the targeted timelines. +The pace of progress is constantly accelerating and India is on track to achieve ODF by October 2019. +In order to meet the financial requirements for achieving the goals of SBM(G), for the year 2018-19, in the Budget announcements made by Finance Minister, an amount of Rs.30,343 crore was allocated for SBM(G). +This was proposed to be met by Rs. 15,343 crore from General Budgetary support and remaining Rs. 15,000 through Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR). +Thereafter, the Steering Group on EBR under the chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs had recommended for raising of the EBR up to Rs.15,000 crore during 2018-19 for SBM(G) through NABARD. +“Spoke to President Aashraf Ghani and offered condolences on loss of lives due to the Kabul attack. +We are one when it comes to fighting terror. +President Aashraf Ghani expressed sadness on the unfortunate demise of Indian citizens in the attack in Kabul”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the opening session of the 49th Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhawan. +The Prime Minister spoke at length about how Governors could leverage their experience in different walks of life, so that people derive maximum benefit of various central development schemes and initiatives. +He said the institution of Governor has a pivotal role to play within the federal structure and Constitutional framework of our country. +He said Governors of States with significant tribal population can help in ensuring that the tribal communities benefit from Government initiatives in fields such as education, sports and financial inclusion. +He said the tribal communities had played a key role in the freedom struggle, and this should be recognised and recorded for posterity through avenues such as digital museums. +The Prime Minister noted that Governors are also Chancellors of Universities. +He said that International Yoga Day on June 21st can be utilized as an opportunity to generate greater awareness about Yoga among the youth. +Similarly, he emphasized that Universities can also become the focal point of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. +The Prime Minister mentioned some key themes of development such as the National Nutrition Mission, electrification of villages and development parameters in aspirational districts. +He suggested that Governors could also visit a few recently electrified villages to witness first-hand the benefits of electrification. +He said that during the recent Gram Swaraj Abhiyan from 14th April, seven key schemes of the Government were implemented fully in over 16000 villages. +He said that these villages have been freed from seven problems through Jan Bhagidaari. +He said Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is now being extended to 65000 more villages, with a target date of 15th August. +The Prime Minister suggested that planning for the 50th Governors’ Conference next year should begin immediately. +This effort should focus on making this annual event even more productive. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met the Chief Executive of Afghanistan, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah today afternoon. +Prime Minister extended a warm welcome to Dr. Abdullah, who is in India on a two-day working visit. +Both leaders reaffirmed the strength and closeness of the multifaceted strategic partnership between India and Afghanistan. +They welcomed the accelerated cooperation, including through the recent announcement of a New Development Partnership during the meeting of the bilateral Strategic Partnership Council in New Delhi. +They discussed enhancing bilateral economic and development cooperation and the abundant opportunities in this regard. +Dr. Abdullah conveyed Afghanistan’s deep appreciation for India’s continuing support for infrastructure development and capacity building in Afghanistan. +Prime Minister reiterated India’s commitment to extend full support to Afghanistan’s efforts for building a peaceful, united, prosperous, inclusive and democratic Afghanistan. +The two leaders exchanged views on the security environment in Afghanistan and the extended region, and, in this context, agreed to continue close coordination and cooperation. +An MoU for Technical Cooperation on Police Training and Development was exchanged in the presence of the two leaders at the conclusion of the meeting. +Prime Minister deeply appreciated the mosaic portrait prepared by an Afghan master craftsman, which was presented to him by Dr. Abdullah. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has strongly condemned the horrific blasts in Sri Lanka. +“Strongly condemn the horrific blasts in Sri Lanka. +There is no place for such barbarism in our region. +India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka. +My thoughts are with the bereaved families and prayers with the injured”, the Prime Minister said. +Rameshwaram is the land which has shown the way to the spiritual life of the country as a light house for thousands of years. +It is a very emotional moment for me to have come to Rameshwaram on the death anniversary of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. +Last year, we had made a resolution and had promised you that in the memory of Dr. Kalam, a memorial will be built in Rameshwaram. +I am happy that this resolution has been fulfilled today. +The Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) has prepared this memorial in a very short span of time. +This memorial will inspire the present and the future generations of the country. +I congratulate Venkaiah ji and his entire team, the Tamil Nadu Government, all the Departments of the Government of India and DRDO for building such a monument. +However, we should not forget that all the work was not done merely by the government, money, planning or power. +I would like to share another secret behind the success of this monument which will make 125 Crore people of this country feel proud of. +And that secret ingredient, apart from the government, money, planning and focussed work is manifest in the form of those artisans, labourers, artists and architects who came from every corner of the country. +People from every corner of India were engaged in this work. +The labourers who were engaged in this work had been working as per the government norms from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. +Then they used to rest for one hour from 5 to 6 p.m., had their evening tea, and then used to do work for extra time from 6 pm. till 8 o’clock. +And they said that they would not charge for overtime works between 6 to 8pm. +I bow to all my poor labourers who have fulfilled this sacred task with this devotion. +These workers, these craftsmen have done a great job and I urge all of you present here to applaud for them and give an standing ovation to them. +I am missing Amma here, and can feel the void. +If Amma was here today, in our midst, she would have been very happy to see the work done by the labourers and would have extended her good wishes. +She is a leader we all remember. +I believe her soul will continue to shower blessings for Tamil Nadu’s bright future. +Today, I want to request the people of the country from this holy land of Rameshwaram. +People from every corner of India come to visit Rameshwaram. +Today, our fishermen take small boats to the sea. +Under our scheme, our fellow villagers will get loan from the government, grant, and subsidy. +Rameshwar’s land is also associated with Lord Ramchandra ji. +And today I am happy that I got an opportunity to inaugurate the railroad Rameshwaram to Ayodhya, Shradhha Setu, a railway train linking Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama. +The Indian Ocean and seven thousand five hundred kilometers long coastal line of India is full of investment potential. +Government of India has initiated the Sagarmala Project keeping it in mind. +The objective of this project is to transform India’s logistics sector by taking advantage of the country’s coastline. +We are trying to reduce the logistics cost of trade and imports and exports under the Sagarmala project. +We are trying to bring about a massive change in the lives of people living in the coastal areas through this program. +Government of India has started programs like Startup India, Standup India so that the youth can realize their dreams. +Training centres and skill development centres have been opened in every district of the country for the skill development of youth. +Centre has started Mudra Scheme so that the youth do not have to face the problem of capital for staring their own enterprise. +Under the Mudra Scheme, loans worth more than 4 lakh crore rupees has been disbursed to 8 crore accounts holders so that they can choose their path in life and progress. +And, I’m happy that among the beneficiaries more than one crore people are from Tamil Nadu alone. +This figure shows the enthusiasm and inclination of the youth of Tamil Nadu towards the self employment. +Centre is focusing on the development of infrastructure in the state. +New India is not possible without a New Tamil Nadu. +That’s why the state government has been provided every help for the development of basic facilities. +And I’m grateful to the chief minister of Tamil Nadu as he has publicly welcomed and thanked the central government for the programs which have benefitted the people of Tamil Nadu, I thank you for him for this cooperation as well. +Central government has released over Rs. 900 crore rupees for these cities; nearly one thousand crore rupees. +33 cities of Tamil Nadu have been included in the Amrit Mission. +In addition the centre has approved Rs.4700 crores for Tamil Nadu. +This money will be used in strengthening the facilities like electricity, water, sewage, cleaning and gardens in those 33 cities. +This scheme will immensely benefit Rameshwaram and as well as the 33 other cities including Madurai, Tutikorin, Tirunveli and Nagar Coil. +Central government has also approved the expansion of the first phase of Chennai Metro at a cost of nearly 4,000 crore rupees. +Besides the centre has released nearly 18,000 crore rupees in the last three years for the rural roads in Tamil Nadu, for the expansion of self-help-groups, for the skill development of rural youth. +I’d like to make an appeal to the people and the Tamilnadu government. +There is a competition among all the cities under the Clean India Mission, there is a competition to declare itself free from open defecation before others. +And I’m hopeful that Tamil Nadu will not lag behind in this race and it will strive to achieve this goal.. +I’d appeal to the state government to send the proposal, fast track the process of construction of the approved houses. +Dr. Abdul Kalam continued to work throughout his life to realize the dream of a developed India. +He always continued to inspire more than 1.25 billion citizens for achieving this goal. +This inspiration is going to help us realize the dream of New India by 2022 when India will complete 75 years of its independence. +Our country will celebrate 75 years of its independence in 2022. +Every effort by us to fulfill the dreams of our freedom fighters, who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence, will be a tribute to Dr. Kalam. +From one end of the country to the other, Rameshwaram, the ocean begins here; and such a massive crowd reflects that how much respect you had for Dr. Abdul Kalam and how you want to dedicate yourself for the bright future of the country. +I can see this thing very clearly. +Once again I bow down to this massive crowd. +I respectfully offer tributes to Abdul Kalam Ji and also to late Amma. +Thank you very much to all of you. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate two–day Uttar Pradesh Investors’ Summit 2018 in Lucknow tomorrow. +Several Union Ministers including Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, Suresh Prabhu, Smriti Irani, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Dr Harsh Vardhan, V K Singh, Dharmendra Pradhan will attend the summit and chair individual sessions to attract investment for the state. +While the PM will inaugurate the summit on February 21, President Ram Nath Kovind will be present at the closing ceremony. +The event has been organized by Uttar Pradesh Government to showcase the investment opportunities and potential in the state. +It will provide a global platform, to bring together ministers, leaders from the corporate world, senior policy makers, heads of international institutions and academia from around the world to further the cause of economic development in the state and promote cooperation. +Seven nations – Finland, Netherlands, Japan, Czech Republic, Thailand, Slovakia and Mauritius have been identified as country partners for the event. +Several memorandums of understandings (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the summit. +The event comes in the backdrop of Prime Minister’s clarion call to the states to engage in the spirit of co-operative and competitive federalism for all round development of states showcasing their potential and attracting investors. +In keeping up with his promise and commitment, the Prime Minister inaugurated Global Investors summit in Guwahati on February 4 and Magnetic Maharashtra on February 18 this year. +Prime Minister Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu today visited the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Vadrad in Sabarkantha District of Gujarat. +They were briefed on various achievements of the Centre. +They also inaugurated through video link, the Centre of Excellence for date palms at Kukama in Kutch district. +They interacted with farmers from Kutch district. +Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Modi said that Israel has shown the way on how to transform a nation with the agriculture sector at the core. +He said it is important to use technology in the agriculture sector. +He outlined how India is working towards doubling farmers’ incomes by 2022. +He said it is important to devote attention to irrigation and innovative methods of farming. +Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), met the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +Ms. Lagarde complimented the Government on the focused way in which it has been working to revive the economy. +She expressed hope that India would continue on this growth path. +The Prime Minister thanked Ms. Lagarde for her words. +He stressed the importance of having a clear direction and focus. +He said reforms are not restricted to legislation alone, and implementation and direction are equally important. +He said that his focus, while promoting growth, is to create jobs, have inclusive growth, and focus on development of backward regions in Eastern and North-Eastern India. +This region is rich in natural and human resources and we need to capitalize on this. +The priority is on all fronts – agriculture, manufacturing and services, he added. +The Prime Minister also emphasized the need to have greater representation for Indians at the higher level of IMF, particularly at the Deputy MD level. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the skills, strengths and fortitude of the girl child on National Girl Child Day. +“We salute the skills, strengths and fortitude of the girl child. +We are proud of the accomplishments of the girl child in various fields”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2014 and approval for renewal of MoU between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) & Saudi Organisation for Certified Public Accountants (SOCPA) in Saudi Arabia to promote mutual co-operation framework in the areas of Corporate Governance, Technical Research & Advice, Quality Assurance, Forensic Accounting, issues for Small and Medium Sized Practices (SMPs), Islamic Finance, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and other subjects of mutual interest related to Accountancy profession. +The aim is to work together to develop a mutually beneficial relationship inthe best interest of ICAI members, students and their organizations. +Saudi Certified Public Accountants’ Regulations issued under Royal Decree entrusted the “Saudi Organisation for Certified Public Accountants (SOCPA)” for promotion of the Accountancy and Auditing profession in that country. +The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for construction and operationalisation of 100 bedded General Hospital at Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC), Najafgarh, New Delhi at an estimated cost of about Rs. 95 Crore. +The Project envisages setting up of the 100 bedded hospital in Najafgarh in two years to cater to the local population of 13.65 Lakh spread across 73 villages. +This hospital will address a long-standing healthcare access issue for the local population, especially for the vulnerable sections including women and children. +It will provide child and maternal services, trauma care and basic primary diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive and curative services in the area. +The hospital is expected to be fully operational by May 2020 along with all departments and requisite human resources. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the President of Iran Hassan Rouhani on his re-election. +“Heartiest congratulations to my friend, President Hassan Rouhani on his re-election. +Iran will continue to achieve new heights under the dynamic leadership of President Hassan Rouhani. +India remains committed to strengthening our special relationship with Iran.” , the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Shri Jagdish Thakkar, the PRO in the PMO. +“Extremely saddened by the demise of Shri Jagdish Thakkar, the PRO in the PMO. +He was known for his simplicity and warm-hearted nature. +Several journalists would have regularly interacted with Jagdishbhai over the years. +He had previously served with many Chief Ministers of Gujarat. +We have lost a wonderful person, who loved his work and did it with utmost diligence. +Condolences to his family and well wishers”, the Prime Minister said. +As a follow-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s exhortation, Groups of Secretaries to the Government of India, today began the second of round of presentations on ideas for transformative change in various areas of governance. +The first such set of eight presentations had been made in January 2016. +Nine such presentations are envisaged this time. +Today, the first group presented their ideas on the “transport and communications” sectors. +Union Ministers, and officials from the NITI Aayog were also present on the occasion. +The Institute will have the governance structure as well as legal mandate to grant degrees in a manner similar to that enjoyed by IITs. +A separate Act will also impart the required status to the Institute to become a “Centre of Excellence” in petroleum and energy studies. +The Cabinet has also approved Rs 655.46 crore as capital expenditure to set up IIPE and contribution of Rs 200 crore towards its Endowment Fund (in addition to a contribution of Rs 200 crore from Oil Companies towards the Endowment Fund). +As committed under the 13 Schedule of Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, it has been decided to set up this Institute. +The objective is to meet the quantitative and qualitative gap in the supply of skilled manpower for the petroleum sector and to promote research activities needed for the growth of the sector. +The academic and research activities of IIPE will derive strength from the Institute’s proximity to sector-related activities such as KG-Basin, Visakhapatnam refinery and the planned Petrochemical complex at Kakinada. +Andhra Pradesh Government has allocated 200 acres of land, free of cost, for setting up of IIPE at Sabbavaram Mandal in Visakhapatnam district. +IIPE has been registered as a Society under the AP Society Registration Act, 2001 on 18/04/2016. +IIT, Kharagpur has taken up the responsibility of mentoring the Institute. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated people for getting their State Doordarshan channels on DD Free Dish for the first time. +“Glad to note that Prasar Bharati has brought 11 more State DD Channels on the Satellite footprint of India through DD Free Dish. +This includes five channels for Northeastern states. +This will go a long way in strengthening regional cultures and fulfilling people’s aspirations. +Congratulations to the people of Chhattisgarh, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Uttarakhand for getting their own Doordarshan channels on DD Free Dish for the first time!”, the PM said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has appealed to the people of India to “Say No To Tobacco”. +“On World No Tobacco Day, lets pledge to spread awareness on the risks of tobacco consumption & work to reduce tobacco consumption in India. +Tobacco not only affects those consuming it, but also people around. +By saying no to tobacco, let us lay the foundation of a healthier India.” +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India and Department of Natural Resource Mines and Energy, Queensland Government, Australia through the Safety in Mines, Testing and Research Station (SIMTARS). +The MoU will help in establishing a partnership between DGMS and SIMTARS for: +implementation of risk based safety management system, providing training, +organising, conference, seminar and other technical meetings, setting up occupations safety and health academy and national mine disaster centre, and +modernising R&D laboratory of DGMS. +Implementation strategy: +The memorandum of understanding will become operative from the date of signing and remain in effect for three years. +Mining accident rates in Australia is the lowest in the world. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to review of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy on investments by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs). +Following are the amendments approved by the Cabinet to incorporated in FDI policy:- +(ii) To provide that investment by NRIs on on-repatriable basis is domestic. +Following new para is approved to be added: +This will be my twelfth meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe since my first visit to Japan as Prime Minister in September 2014. +Thereafter, I had visited Japan in 2016 for the Annual Summit. +Last year, I had the pleasure of hosting Prime Minister Abe and Mrs. Akie Abe in my home state Gujarat also. +Japan is India’s valued partner. +We have a Special Strategic and Global Partnership. +Our ties with Japan, both economic and strategic, stand completely transformed in recent years. +It is today a partnership of great substance and purpose. +It rests on the strong pillars of India’s Act East Policy, and our shared vision and commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. +As democracies, we have shared values. +We seek peace and prosperity for all. +Our complementarities make India and Japan a winning combination. +Japan today is one of the most trusted partners in India’s economic and technological modernisations and one of the top investors in India. +Projects like Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflect the high level and strength of our economic engagement. +Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as ‘Make in India’, ‘Skill India’, ‘Digital India’, ‘Start Up India’, etc. +Japanese investors have faith in India’s economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities. +We value Japan’s global leadership in innovation, technologies and best practices. +During this visit, I will have a chance to see some of Japan’s high-tech capabilities in robotics. +I will have wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and interact with business leaders and captains of industry from both countries. +I will also address the Indian community. +These interactions will help to further strengthen our trade and investment ties, and cooperation in new areas, such as healthcare, digital technologies, agriculture and food processing, disaster risk reduction and disaster resilient infrastructure. +I greatly welcome the growing ties between our parliamentarians, and between our states and Japan’s prefectures. +It is a matter of happiness that direct relations between the peoples of our two countries continue to grow through active interaction in areas such as education, skill development, culture and tourism. +My visit will promote our traditional friendship that is deeply rooted in history, and consolidate our partnership for a better and more prosperous future.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, held one on one meeting, with the leaders of various automotive and transportation companies from all over the world, in New Delhi. +Top level delegation from various companies like Toyota, SAIC Motor Corporation Shanghai, Bosch, ABB Ltd, Hyundai Motor Company, Ford Smart Mobility LLC and Uber Aviation met the Prime Minister. +These companies are participating in the Global Mobility Summit- MOVE, being held in New Delhi. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation with the Republic of Korea in the fields of maritime transport and logistics. +The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) envisages cooperation in the fields of maritime transport and logistics between the two countries, to enhance cooperation between the two countries in: +(i). the fields of maritime transport and logistics through sharing of technologies, +(ii). information and experiences, +(iii). training of seafarers and port operation, +(iv). development of relationship in the field of international maritime transport on the principle of equality and mutual benefits, +(v). facilitate cooperation and partnerships between the maritime transport and logistics-related organizations and companies of the two countries, +(vi). utilization, development and management of domestic and overseas ports, +(vii). joint businesses, +(viii). exchange of experts in the field of maritime transport and logistics, +(ix). conducting research on maritime developments and +(x). other forms of cooperation that may be jointly decided upon by the two sides. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Sunday, dedicated to the nation, two newly built expressways in the Delhi NCR Region. +The first of these is the 14 lane, access controlled, Phase-I of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, stretching from Nizamuddin Bridge to Delhi UP Border. +The second project to be dedicated to the nation is the 135 km long Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), stretching from Kundli on NH 1 to Palwal on NH 2. +The Delhi Meerut Expressway, once completed, will significantly reduce travel times from the National Capital to Meerut, and to several other parts of Western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. +After the inauguration of the Delhi Meerut Expressway, the Prime Minister was greeted by people along the newly constructed road, as he travelled in an open jeep for a few kilometres, inspecting the highway. +The Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), will contribute towards the twin objectives of decongesting and de-polluting the national capital by diverting traffic not destined for Delhi. +Addressing a public meeting in Baghpat on the occasion, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the entire stretch of the Delhi Meerut Expressway would be completed soon. +He said the Eastern Peripheral Expressway would help decongest traffic in Delhi. +He said modern infrastructure has an important role to play in raising the standard of living of the people. +He outlined the steps being taken in building infrastructure, including roads, railways, waterways etc. +He gave examples of the increase in pace of infrastructure development. +In the field of women empowerment, the Prime Minister explained how toilets built under Swachh Bharat Mission, and LPG connections under Ujjwala Yojana are making the lives of women easier. +He said that out of 13 crore loans given under Mudra Yojana, more than 75 percent have been given to women entrepreneurs. +The Prime Minister also mentioned the steps taken for Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Castes. +The Prime Minister said that in this year’s Union Budget, a provision of 14 lakh crore rupees has been made to strengthen rural and agricultural infrastructure. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a telephone call to Rt. Hon. Sher Bahadur Deuba, Prime Minister of Nepal, today. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has approved an Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit between India and Bhutan. +The bilateral trade relations between India and Bhutan are governed by the Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit between the Government of India and Bhutan. +The Agreement provides for a free trade regime between two countries. +The Agreement also provides for duty free transit of Bhutanese merchandise for trade with third countries. +The Agreement was renewed on 29th July 2006 for a period of ten years. +The validity of this Agreement was extended, with effect from 29th July 2016, for a period of one year or till the new agreement comes into force, through exchange of Diplomatic notes. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Tunisia on 2nd June 2016 for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Digital Economy. +The MoU intends to foster active cooperation and exchange between private entities, Governments, institutions involved in enhancing capacity building and other public and private organisations of the two countries in the field of ICT and Digital Economy. +Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, +I am truly honoured to address UNESCO. +I feel specially privileged to visit this great institution in its 70th anniversary year. +There have been doubts and skepticism. +There is need for urgent reforms. +“Our world is and will remain a better place because of the United Nations.” +It is this faith that has given birth to so many of its institutions that deal with every aspect of human challenges. +all people have an identity; +all cultures are flowers in a garden; +every human being has a life of dignity; +every child a future of opportunity; +and our planet the chance to preserve its glory. +No organization serves our cause more than this one. +The seeds of our collective destiny are sown in human minds. +It is nurtured by the light of education and the spirit of enquiry. +It makes progress through the marvels of science. +And, it draws strength from the basic character of Nature – the harmony and unity in diversity. +That is why UNESCO was among the first missions of the United Nations. +That is why India values the work of UNESCO so deeply; and, cherishes our partnership so immensely. +I am conscious of the extraordinary legacy of our relationship from the time of UNESCO’s birth. +I recall Mahatma Gandhi’s message to UNESCO, calling for urgent action to address the needs of education to secure lasting peace; +And, the leadership of Dr. Radhakrishnan, later our first President, in the early years of this institution. +We are grateful for UNESCO’s support for education and science, in India and for preservation of our cultural heritage. +Equally, we are privileged to have worked with UNESCO in support of its mission around the world. +For, in the challenges India faces and the dreams that Indians seek, our approach mirrors the ideals of UNESCO. +We have built a modern state in an ancient land, with a timeless tradition of openness and co-existence; and, a society of extraordinary diversity. +the strength of the nation is determined by the joined hands of every citizen; +and, real progress is measured through empowerment of the weakest. +This has been our creed since we assumed office nearly a year ago. +And, we shall judge our progress not just by the cold statistics of growth, but by the warm glow of belief and hope on human faces. +For me, it means many things. +We will defend and protect the rights and liberty of every citizen. +Education always had a special place in our tradition. +As our ancient saying goes, it is +The wealth that increases by giving. +That wealth is knowledge. +and is supreme of all possessions. +We have launched the most ambitious programme to provide skills to our youth; and education for every child in the remotest villages. +Our progress will remain a mirage unless women no longer suffer from daily fear, or barriers to opportunity; and, when they are no longer victims of exclusion and prejudice. +And, this change must begin with the girl child. +So, the programme to educate and support the girl child in India is one that is closest to my heart. +We will ensure that they can go to school; and, also, that they can attend it in safety and dignity. +Today, the digital age has created opportunities beyond imagination; but, digital divide can expand disparities. +On the other hand, digital connectivity and smart phones have create a revolution of possibilities to educate, deliver services and extend development. +This is the most exciting change in our era. +The link between habitat and fulfillment of human potential is deep and strong. +So, the highest priority for my Government is to provide a roof over every head; power in every house; sanitation and clean water within everyone’s reach; a hope for every child to survive; and a chance for every new mother to love her child. +It also means clean rivers, air that we can breathe and forests filled with the sound of birds. +To achieve these goals, we need not just policies and resources, but even more the power of science. +For us, science is driven by the larger purpose of human development; and, for a safe, sustainable, prosperous future for India. +Science also unites people across borders in a shared purpose. +And, when we share its fruits with those who don’t have it, we connect lives and make our world a better place. +India never forgets the help we have received in our early years; today, we are fulfilling our responsibility to others. +Therefore, science is a key priority of India’s international engagement. +Culture is a sublime expression of a people; and, the foundations of a society. +UNESCO’s initiatives to preserve the world’s cultural heritage, including in India, are inspiring. +We see India’s rich and diverse cultural heritage as humanity’s wealth. +And, we will do everything to preserve it for future generations. +We have launched ‘Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana – HRIDAY or heart in Hindi – to preserve the cultural heritage of our cities. +We have started a special scheme called “PRASAD”, or offerings – “Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive” – for rejuvenation of our pilgrim centres. +I speak of our vision and initiatives, because in our own aspirations and efforts, we see the value of UNESCO to our world with great clarity. +In the challenges of our times, we see its purpose with a sense of urgency. +The fault lines in our world are shifting from the boundaries of nations into the web of our societies and the streets of our cities. +The threats are changing from domination by states to destruction by groups. +We fight today not only over what we claim, but also for who we are. +And, in many parts of the world, culture remains a source of conflict. +We have access to communication at the click of a mouse. +We live in a world of information. +Yet, we know that familiarity does not always lead to fraternity; or reduce prejudice. +When Ebola threatens an entire region; the fury of unseasonal storms destroys crops and lives; and, diseases still defeat our most courageous fight, we understand how fragile we are. +When we see people living at the edge of existence; children shut out of classrooms; and, nations without the human resources to shoulder the responsibility of progress, we know that we still have a long way to go. +To be sure, our world has made incredible progress over seven decades. +So, our progress should inspire us to meet our challenges. +UNESCO can play a vital role in addressing them. +Culture must connect, not divide, our world. +It should be a bridge to greater respect and understanding between people. +It should join nations in peace and harmony. +Across India’s neighbourhood, Asia and Indian Ocean, we are retracing our cultural connections to form a closer bond of friendship in this dynamic region. +We must turn deep into our cultures; traditions; and religions; to overcome the rising tide of extremism, violence, and divisions across the world. +We must intensify exchanges between the youth of the world to sow the seeds of a more peaceful world. +Cultures also hold great wealth of traditional knowledge. +Societies across the world have evolved them through wisdom gathered over the ages. +And, they hold the secrets to economic, efficient, and, environment friendly solutions to many of our problems. +But, today they are at risk of extinction in our globalised world. +So, we must here make more efforts to revive, preserve and nurture traditional knowledge. +This will also redefine a fundamental truth about human civilization: as our cultures are diverse, knowledge has many sources. +In doing so, we will give ourselves a greater chance to meet our challenges. +We must do more to harness science for human welfare in some of the most vulnerable parts of the world – especially for health and food security. +We must draw upon our entire wealth of wisdom; the strength of every institution; all possibilities of innovation; and, the power of science. +In India, faith and Nature have had a deep link since ancient times. +For us, the only path to prosperity is the sustainable one. +We make this choice with the natural instincts of our culture and tradition. +But, we also do this with a commitment to our future. +We have, for example, set a target of adding 175,000 MW of clean and renewable energy in the next seven years. +And, it is for the same reason that I call for a change in lifestyle. +Because, the emission reduction that we seek will be the natural outcome of how we live. +And, it will also mean a different path to economic well being. +It is with this vision that I had called the United Nations General Assembly last September to declare June 21st as the International Day of Yoga. +Yoga awakens a sense of oneness and harmony with self, society and Nature. +By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change and create a more balanced world. +Last December, the UNGA adopted it with a record co-sponsorship in a record time. +It was not just an act of friendship for India. +It reflected our collective ability to go beyond our familiar boundaries in search for solutions to common challenges. +The campaign to clean our Ganges River is a mission that connects culture, science, traditional knowledge, education, economy, and, environment; but, it is also about attitudes and lifestyles. +Madam Chairperson, +Outside this hall, I paid respect at the statue of a great Indian philosopher and sage, Shri Aurobindo. +There is much that we can learn from his humanism and spiritualism, from his belief in the unity of individual consciousness with the world outside; the enlightened purpose of education; the service of science; and, the unity of world, founded on national freedom, diversity of civilizations and autonomy of culture. +It is a guiding spirit for the purpose of this institution – the defence of peace in the mind of men. +The 70th anniversary is a moment to celebrate our remarkable journey so far. +It is also a time to look ahead with wisdom that has come with time and experience. +UNESCO’s responsibilities to our future have become bigger; and, so our resolve must be stronger. +Thank you very much for this opportunity. +The Prime Minister condemned the incident and directed the authorities to bring to book and punish the culprits for committing such inhuman act. +Earlier in the day Urban Development and Information & Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu visited the family of the e-rickshaw driver at GTB Nagar in New Delhi. +He also handed over a cheque of Rs. 50,000 from his salary to the family terming the act as condemnable. +Shri Naidu said that the culprits must be punished. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Ireland on September 23rd, 2015, and held bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of Ireland, Mr. Enda Kenny. +Shri Narendra Modi was received on arrival at Dublin Airport by Mr. Leo Varadkar, the Irish Minister for Health. +He was later warmly received by the Prime Minister of Ireland, Mr. Enda Kenny, at the Government Buildings in Dublin. +The Prime Minister presented to Mr. Kenny, reproductions of a selection of manuscripts and papers pertaining to two Irish officials, Thomas Oldham and Sir George Abraham Grierson, in recognition of their contributions in India. +The Irish Prime Minister presented to Shri Narendra Modi, an Ireland cricket jersey, and a “hurling” kit. +Hurling is one of the major sports in Ireland. +Shri Modi also signed the visitors’ book at the Irish Prime Minister’s Office. +In their opening remarks during the working luncheon, both leaders noted that an Indian Prime Minister was visiting Ireland after nearly 60 years. +Shri Modi referred to the common shared values between the two countries. +Shri Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for closer partnership and cooperation between the two countries. +The two sides exchanged views on a broad range of international challenges, including terrorism, radicalization, and the situation in Europe and Asia. +The Prime Minister sought Ireland’s support for the reforms of the UN Security Council within a fixed time frame. +He also sought Ireland’s support for India’s membership of the NSG and other international export control regimes. +The Prime Minister later interacted with members of the Indian community in Ireland. +20 Irish students of the John Scottus school, a local school which teaches Sanskrit, recited Sanskrit shlokas to welcome the Prime Minister. +In his remarks, the Prime Minister expressed profound admiration for the teachers of these students, as well as for the students, for the high quality of their recitation. +The Prime Minister spoke of the vast shared values and common heritage between India and Ireland, which, he said, included the struggle for freedom. +He said India would be a part of Ireland’s celebrations of the centenary of their freedom struggle, in 2016. +The Prime Minister talked about the changes happening in India. +He said India is the fastest growing major economy in the world. +Not long ago, he mentioned, the “I” in BRICS (referring to the BRICS countries) was shaky, but today it is the strongest element of the BRICS. +Shri Narendra Modi mentioned how Yoga had been accepted the world over, with the adoption of the International Yoga Day by the United Nations. +Governor of Tamil Nadu, +Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, +Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, +My Ministerial colleagues, +Distinguished visitors, +This is the 10th edition of Def-Expo. +Some of you may have attended this event several times. +A few may even have been attending it since inception. +But for me, this is the first time at Def-Expo. +I am both delighted and over-whelmed to see such a keen gathering here in this historic region of Kanchipuram in the great State of Tamil Nadu. +This is the land of our glorious maritime legacy. +More than forty countries have sent their official delegations as well. +It is an opportunity like none other, not only to discuss India’s defense requirements, but also to show-case, for the first time ever, in such a manner, India’s own defence manufacturing capabilities to the world. +Armed Forces, the world over know the importance of supply chains. +But it is not just on the battle-fields, but also on the factory floors of defence manufacturing enterprises, that strategic decisions are made. +Today, we live in an inter-connected world. +The efficiency of supply chains is a key factor in any manufacturing enterprise. +Therefore, the strategic imperative to Make in India, to Make for India, and to Supply to the World from India is stronger than ever before. +In modern times more than one hundred and thirty thousand Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives in World Wars in the last century. +Independent India has also sent one of the largest numbers of UN Peace-Keepers to places all over the world. +At the same time, an important responsibility of the State is to protect its own citizens. +The Great Indian thinker and strategist Kautilya wrote the Arth-shastra more than two thousand years ago. +He said that the King, or the ruler, must protect his people. +And, he also said that peace is preferable to war. +India’s defence preparedness is guided by these thoughts. +Our commitment to peace is just as strong as our commitment to protect our people and our territory. +We know that a lot needs to be done, and many pieces of this puzzle need to fit together. +We are also aware/ that the defence manufacturing sector is unique in terms of government involvement. +You need the government to grant a license to manufacture. +Since the government is almost the only buyer in India, you also need the government to grant an order. +And, you need the government even to grant permission to export. +Therefore, over the last few years, we have made a humble beginning. +On defence manufacturing licenses, on defence offsets, on defence exports clearances, on Foreign Direct Investment in defence manufacturing, and on reforming our defence procurement, we have taken many steps. +Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers are now not required to indicate the details of Indian Offset Partners and products at the time of signing of contracts. +We have also re-instated Services as an avenue of discharging offsets. +The Standard Operating Procedure for issue of export authorizations has been simplified and put in public domain. +The requirement of Government-signed End User Certificate for export of parts and components and other non-sensitive military stores, sub-assemblies, and sub-systems has been done away with. +We have taken a step forward and revised the Foreign Direct Investment cap of 26 percent to 49 percent through the automatic route, and even up to 100 percent on a case-to-case basis. +We have also de-notified some items earlier made exclusively by Ordnance Factories, so that the private sector, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises can enter this space. +For encouraging the development of Micro and Small enterprises in the defence sector, the Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises– which was notified in 2012 – has been made mandatory from April 2015. +And we have seen some encouraging initial results. +In May 2014, the total number of defence licenses issued stood at 215. +In less than four years, we have issued 144 more licenses through a much more transparent and predictable process. +In May 2014, the total number of defence export permissions granted stood at 118, for a total value of 577 million dollars. +In less than four years, we have issued 794 more export permissions, for a total value of over 1.3 billion dollars. +From 2007 to 2013, the targeted offsets obligations were 1.24 billion dollars, of which only 0.79 billion dollars worth of offsets were actually discharged. +That is, an achievement rate of only about 63 percent. +From 2014 to 2017, the targeted offsets obligations were 1.79 billion dollars, of which 1.42 billion dollars’ worth of offsets were realized. +This is an achievement rate of close to 80 percent. +Procurement from Micro and Small Enterprises by the Defence Public Sector Undertakings and Ordnance Factories has gone up from about Rs. 3300 crores in 2014-15 to over Rs. 4250 crores in 2016-17. +This is an increase of close to 30 percent. +It is heartening to note that the contribution of small and medium scale sector to defence production has grown by 200 percent in the last 4 years. +And, they are increasingly also becoming part/ of the global supply chains. +I am also pleased that the share of Indian vendors in the procurement orders placed through defence capital expenditure has gone up from about 50 percent during 2011-14 to over 60 percent during the last three years. +I am sure that this will improve further in the years ahead. +Having said that, I am aware that we need to do a lot more.And, we are committed to do so. +We are committed to building a defence industrial complex that has room for everyone – public sector, private sector, as well as foreign firms. +These defence industrial corridors will utilize the existing defence manufacturing ecosystems in these regions, and further build upon it. +These corridors will become the engines of economic development and growth of defence industrial base in the country. +We have also established a Defence Investors Cell to assist and handhold the investors involved in Defence Production. +Government’s support for technology, innovation, research and development is essential for defence sector. +Today, we have launched the ‘Innovation for Defence Excellence’ scheme. +It will set up Defence Innovation Hubs throughout the country to provide necessary incubation and infrastructure support to the start-ups in defence area. +Private venture capital into the defence sector, especially for start-ups will also be encouraged. +New and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Robotics are perhaps the most important determinants/ of defensive and offensive capabilities for any defence force in the future. +India, with its leadership in Information Technology domain, would strive to use this technology tilt to its advantage. +The former President and a great son of Tamil Nadu and India, Bharat Ratna Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam had called upon all of us to “Dream! +Dreams transform into thoughts, and thoughts result in action”. +Our dream is to Develop the Ecosystem to Foster an Environment of New and Creative Entrepreneurship in the defence manufacturing sector. +And for this, in the weeks ahead, we will undertake extensive consultations with all stakeholders, including both Indian and Foreign companies, about our Defence Production and Defence Procurement policy space. +I call upon all of you to actively participate in this exercise. +Our aim is not just to discuss, but to draw the right lessons. +Our intention is not to lecture, but to listen. +Our goal is not merely to tinker, but to transform. +There was a time when, like many other aspects of governance, the critical issue of defence preparedness was also hampered by policy paralysis. +Issues that should have been long addressed by previous governments, are being resolved now. +You would have seen how the issue of providing bullet proof jackets to Indian Army soldiers was kept hanging for years. +And, you would have also seen that we have brought the process to a successful conclusion with a contract that will provide a boost to defence manufacturing in India. +You would also recall the long-drawn process of procurement of fighter aircraft that never reached any conclusion. +We have not only taken bold action to meet our immediate critical requirements, but have also initiated a new process to procure 110 fighter aircraft. +We do not want to spend ten years in discussions without any tangible outcomes. +This sacred land brings to mind the legend Thiruvalluvar, a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher. +I am confident that Def-Expo will provide the opportunity to professionals and industry to find new meeting ground for developing military industrial enterprises. +On the occasion of Navy Day today, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, presented four innovation trophies to recognize innovations by personnel of the Navy. +The Prime Minister was also given a demonstration of salient innovations and indigenisation initiatives by young personnel of the Indian Navy, during the Navy Day reception. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated Phase 1 of the RO RO (Roll on, Roll off) ferry service between Ghogha and Dahej. +This ferry service shall reduce the travel time between Ghogha in Saurashtra, and Dahej in South Gujarat, from about seven or eight hours, to just over an hour. +Phase 1, inaugurated today, enables passenger movement. +When fully operationalized, this ferry service will also enable movement of vehicles. +The Prime Minister inaugurated the Sarvottam Cattle Feed Plant of Shree Bhavnagar District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd. +Addressing a large gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that he is happy to be in Gujarat to personally convey new year greetings. +He said that this programme, for the launch of a ferry between Ghogha and Dahej, is of vital importance for the entire nation. +Noting that this ferry service is a first of sorts, the Prime Minister said it is a dream come true for people of Gujarat. +He said that the history of human civilisation illustrates the vitality of rivers and maritime trade. +Gujarat is the land of Lothal; how can we forget these aspects of our history, he added. +This programme is to bring back to life our glorious past; and connect Saurashtra with South Gujarat, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that people from these two regions frequently travel to and fro; and this ferry service will save a lot of time, as well as fuel. +The Prime Minister said that in the last three years, a lot of importance has been given to the development of Gujarat. +He said Gujarat has a long coastline, and we should harness the opportunities that arise out of this. +He said that steps have been taken in developing coastal infrastructure. +This ferry service too, he added, would not be restricted to this one route. +He said that other places too would be linked through ferries. +He said the goal of the Union Government is to make the transport sector integrated, and state-of-the-art. +The Prime Minister travelled on the maiden voyage of this service, from Ghogha to Dahej. +During this voyage, he was given a briefing about the ship, and the ferry service. +He also interacted with divyangjan children on board the ship. +Addressing a gathering in Dahej, the Prime Minister said that the Government’s vision is ports for prosperity. +India needs better ports and more ports, he added. +The Prime Minister mentioned the Government’s stress on the blue economy, which he said is integral to the vision of a new India. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the progress of the Swachh Vidyalaya Programme at a high level meeting comprising top officials from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the NITI Aayog and the PMO. +The Prime Minister had announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort during his Independence Day address last year, his Government’s intention to construct toilets in all schools within one year. +The Prime Minister was informed about the current status of construction of toilets in schools across various states. +Toilets are being constructed by States, PSUs, as well as some private sector entities. +Based on the available data, the Prime Minister noted that several states are already close to achieving the hundred percent target. +He directed concerned officials to focus on these states immediately, so that these states complete the task at the earliest. +The Prime Minister has directed the Cabinet Secretary Shri Ajit Seth, and OSD in the Cabinet Secretariat Shri P. K. Sinha to personally review the figures being reported from various parts in the country, so that any bottlenecks in the full implementation of the vision of “Swachh Vidyalaya” initiative can be removed expeditiously. +Observing specifically the gaps in implementation of the targets accepted by some PSUs and some private sector entities, the Prime Minister directed that these be looked into, so that these organizations can also meet their targets within the stipulated timeframe. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will be participating in 8th BRICS Summit and first BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit on 15-16 October, 2016 in Goa. +Prime Minister has welcomed the leaders of the BRICS and BIMSTEC families, ahead of the summits. +In a Facebook post the Prime Minister said: +“India is delighted to host the 8th BRICS Summit in Goa on 15-16 October 2016, followed by a first-ever BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit. +I look forward to extending a warm welcome to the ten leaders of the BRICS and BIMSTEC families. +In Goa, I will also have the honour to receive President Vladimir Putin of Russia for the India-Russia Annual Summit and President Michel Temer of Brazil for a bilateral visit. +President Putin’s visit will give us an opportunity to consolidate and reaffirm a unique time-tested friendship and partnership with Russia. +President Temer’s visit will open up new areas for cooperation with Brazil, an important strategic partner. +I also look forward to useful conversations with my fellow leaders from China, South Africa, Brazil and Russia on addressing pressing international and regional challenges that stand in the way of our goals. +As Chair of the BRICS this year, India has embraced a stronger emphasis on promoting people-to-people linkages in diverse fields including trade, sports, education, films, scholarship, and tourism. +It is anchored in the belief that our people are pivotal partners in our effort to craft responsive, collective and inclusive solutions. +We will launch new initiatives in Goa even as we mark the successful operationalization of initiatives like the BRICS New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement. +I am optimistic that the BRICS Summit will strengthen intra-BRICS cooperation and advance our common agenda for development, peace, stability and reform. +In a first, I am happy that India is facilitating an outreach Summit with the BIMSTEC leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sir Lanka and Thailand. +Representing nearly two thirds of humanity together, we hope to tap the potential for cooperation and the dividends this will bring. +India looks forward to building bridges to new partnerships and finding common resolve and solutions to our entrenched problems.” +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Malaysia and the President of the Malaysian Indian Congress. +Prime Minister lauded the over 2 million strong Indian community in Malaysia for enriching the fabric of Malaysia’s pluralist society and for contributing to Malaysia’s economic development. +Prime Minister highlighted the importance of close cooperation between India and Malaysia as well as other ASEAN countries in advancing collective regional action for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. +Prime Minister also expressed his desire for enhancing trade, investment, tourism, educational and cultural ties between the two countries. +Minister Palanivel sought enhanced cooperation in the areas of conservation of forests, wildlife protection, climate change technology and promotion of people to people contacts. +Minister Palanivel, on behalf of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, extended invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Malaysia. +Prime Minister Modi agreed to visit Malaysia at a mutually convenient time. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been conferred with Amir Amanullah Khan Award, Afghanistan’s highest civilian honour. +He was bestowed the honour by President Ashraf Ghani after the inauguration of the landmark Afghan-India Friendship Dam in Herat yesterday. +The Prime Minister shared his sentiments on Twitter saying, “My deepest gratitude to the Government of Afghanistan for conferring the Amir Amanullah Khan Award.” +It is the Highest Civilian honour bestowed by Afghan government to Afghan national as well as foreigners in appreciation of their services. +The citation on the reverse of the medal reads: “nishan-e dawlati Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan”, or “State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan.” +Background:- +The Amir Amanullah Khan medal is highest civilian honor of Afghanistan. +The award is named after the Afghan national hero, Amanullah Khan (Ghazi), who championed the cause of Afghanistan’s freedom. +King Amanullah advanced Afghanistan’s modernist constitution, incorporated equal rights and individual freedom. +He modernised the country, creating cosmopolitan schools for both boys and girls and also increased Afghanistan’s trade with Europe and Asia. +The vision of King Amanullah for an independent and modern Afghanistan remains as relevant today as ever. +King Amanullah had strong ties with India, and moved here briefly in 1929. +His affectionate ties for the country continue to be reflected in the strong partnership between the two nations. +PM Modi received the Amir Amanullah Khan award following the inauguration of the Afghan-India Friendship Dam in Heart on 4 June. +This award was instituted by the Afghanistan government in 2006. +Previous recipients include: US President George Bush, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, NATO General James Jones, former Afghan President spiritual leader Sibghatullah Mujaddedi, and Afghan Chief Justice (CJ) Abdul Salam Azimi +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Indian Junior Hockey Team, on winning the Junior Hockey World Cup. +“Extremely proud of our youngsters! +Congratulations to our junior hockey team for winning the Junior Hockey World Cup. +The Junior Hockey World Cup win augurs well for the future of Indian hockey and will make the sport even more popular among youngsters”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today described former President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam as one who was a “Rashtra-Ratna” before a “Rashtrapati.” +He was speaking at the birth anniversary celebrations of Dr. Kalam, at DRDO Bhavan in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister said that a memorial for Dr. Kalam would be built at Rameswaram, to inspire future generations. +The Prime Minister said that while most people look for opportunities in life, Dr. Kalam always sought fresh challenges to overcome. +He recalled how he worked closely with Dr. Kalam during the post-earthquake reconstruction work in Kutch. +Recalling that Dr. Kalam wished to be remembered as a teacher, the Prime Minister said that the former President was well-aware of the importance of nurturing future generations. +He said that on the birth anniversary for Dr. Kalam, we must explore how we can encourage innovation in India. +The Prime Minister said that Dr. Kalam had not only risen himself, from humble beginnings to the highest office in India, but had also built great institutions, virtually from scratch. +He said all of us should draw inspiration from his example. +Earlier, the Prime Minister unveiled a statue of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam at DRDO Bhavan. +He opened and witnessed a photo exhibition titled – “A Celebration of Dr. Kalam’s Life.” +The Prime Minister released a commemorative postal stamp on Dr. Kalam. +Union Ministers Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Shri Manohar Parrikar, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Dr. Harsh Vardhan were present on the occasion. +Your Excellency, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, +It was in the month of June 2015 that I had the opportunity of welcoming you in India. +I have said at that time that June usually is characterized by very high temperatures in India, it’s very hot and yet you chose that month to come to India and that was a symbol of your commitment towards our bilateral relations. +Today, after exactly two years I too have come to the Netherlands in the month of June, but of course between Delhi and the Hague there is a lot of difference as far as temperatures are concerned. +It’s almost like day and night. +The weather here, as I can see, is very pleasant. +Excellency, this visit of mine to the Netherlands was decided at a very short notice and yet I have to put on record that the way the visit has been organized, not only did you agree to accommodating this visit at such a short notice but in this very short period of time a very substantive program has been put together and it is a very result oriented program. +I would like to laud your leadership and I think it is a manifestation of your excellent leadership. +Excellency, you are absolutely right, the relations that exist between India and Netherland are centuries old and it is also both our country’s intention to always make them deeper and closer. +This year, as you said Excellency, we mark the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the Netherlands and it is absolutely, therefore natural that we focus even more on our bilateral relations. +As far as international issues are concerned there is a lot of convergence of views between our two countries and it is with the help of Netherlands that India successfully got membership of the MTCR last year and for that I would like to thank you heartily. +As far as bilateral investments are concerned, till now Netherlands stands at the fifth largest source of Foreign Direct Investments. +In fact during the last three years it has become the third largest source of Foreign Direct Investments. +I don’t think there is any need to repeat the fact that in India’s economic development, in our priorities for development, Netherlands is a natural partner. +Today we will also get an opportunity to have a meeting with the CEOs of Dutch companies and I hope they continue to have a positive outlook as far as India is concerned and I am eager to hear their views. +Today I will also have an opportunity to meet people of Indian origin living in the Netherlands. +The Indian diaspora here is a living link and bridge between the two countries. +It is also our endeavor to further strengthen these people-to-people contacts. +For me indeed it is a matter of good fortune that I will also be calling on His Majesty, the King and Her Majesty, the Queen and indeed I am looking forward to my meeting with them. +Once again I express my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Rutte, and the Government and the people of Netherlands. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Sampla, Rohtak on October 9, 2018. +He will unveil a statue of Deenbandhu Sir Chhotu Ram. +Sir Chhotu Ram was a prominent leader, who worked ceaselessly for the welfare of farmers, and the emancipation of the backward and downtrodden. +He is also remembered for his work in the education sector, and other social causes. +At a public meeting, the Prime Minister will unveil a plaque to mark the laying of Foundation Stone of the Rail Coach Refurbishing Karkhana, Sonepat. +Once complete, this will be a major repair and maintenance facility for rail coaches in the northern region. +It is being set up using modular and prefabricated construction techniques, modern machinery, and environment-friendly features. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Silver Jubilee Foundation Day function of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). +He said that in the last two and a half decades, NHRC has contributed to nation building, by becoming the voice of the deprived and the oppressed. +He said that the protection of human rights has been an important part of our culture. +He said that after independence, elements such as an independent and impartial judiciary; an active media; an active civil society, and organizations such as NHRC are in place to protect human rights. +The Prime Minister said that human rights should not be merely a slogan, but also a part of our ethos. +He said that in the last four years or so, a lot of serious efforts have been made to improve the quality of life of the poor. +He said that the Government’s focus has been to ensure that all Indians have access to the basic needs of human beings. +In this context, he mentioned the achievements of schemes such as BetiBachao, BetiPadhao, Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, Pradhan MantriAwaasYojana, UjjwalaYojana, and SaubhagyaYojana; and the transformation that has been brought about in the lives of the people as a result of these schemes. +He said that the construction of more than 9 crore toilets, has ensured sanitation, and a life of dignity, for crores of poor people. +He also mentioned the recently launched health assurance initiative – PMJAY – under Ayushman Bharat. +He also spoke of the financial inclusion initiatives of the Union Government. +He said that the law which provides relief to Muslim women from triple talaq, is also part of this series of steps taken to ensure basic rights for people. +The Prime Minister said that the success of these initiatives has also been because of Jan Bhagidaari – public participation. +He said that along with awareness of human rights, citizens should also be aware of their duties and responsibilities. +He said those who understand their responsibilities, also know how to respect the rights of others. +The Prime Minister said that the role of NHRC is also crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. +PM calls for building a ‘SMART’ police force, and emphasizes focus on police welfare. +PM pays homage to martyred police personnel, and calls for institutionalizing their memory. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has called for the creation of a “SMART” police force: a police which is strict yet sensitive; modern and mobile; alert and accountable; reliable and responsive; techno-savvy and trained. +He was addressing the All India Conference of Directors General/Inspectors General of Police – 2014, in Guwahati. +The Prime Minister also called for a task force to suggest ways to institutionalize the memory of the over 33,000 martyred police personnel, who have laid down their lives in line of duty since independence. +The sacrifices of these police personnel should not go in vain, the Prime Minister emphasized. +He said police academies of each state should have a book dedicated to the memory of these personnel from their state. +The Prime Minister stressed on the welfare of the police personnel and their families. +He said personnel cannot perform well if their families are not taken care of. +He said issues such as health of the families and education for the children of police personnel was a priority. +The Prime Minister said the police is a protector force, but is often not portrayed as such in Bollywood cinema. +He said the mental image that people have with regard to police has to change. +He said every police thana should have a website to propagate good deeds done by the force. +He said each thana should upload one positive story a week, which shows the good work done by them. +The Prime Minister said that from Chanakya’s time, the primary source of security for any society is an effective intelligence network. +The Prime Minister said taking this conference out of Delhi will bring more focus to the main agenda at hand, besides increasing the morale of police forces in the North-East. +He also presented the President’s police medals for distinguished service. +Earlier, the Prime Minister was given a guard of honour on arrival. +Shri Nehchal Sandhu, Deputy National Security Advisor and Secretary, National Security Council Secretariat, resigned from his position with effect from 31 July 2014 for personal reasons. +MoU between SINTEF, Norway and CPWD in the field of Recycling of Construction and Demolition Waste +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SINTEF, Norway and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for cooperation in the development of human resource capacity building and scientific research in the field of Recycling of Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste in India. +On 2nd October, 2014 Hon’ble Prime Minister launched “Swachch Bharat Mission”, a massive mass movement that seeks to create a clean India. +Construction industry in India generates about 10-12 million tons of waste annually. +While some of the items like bricks, tiles wood, metal, etc. are re-used and recycled, concrete and masonry, constituting about 50% of the C&D waste is not currently recycled in India. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described the publications being released on the occasion as “Granths” (texts) which will leave a mark on history. +He said the museum inaugurated today is a great attempt to bring the past back to life. +He said the contribution of President Mukherjee to India is immense, and he has given a lot to the office of the President also. +He added that we can learn from President Mukherjee how people from diverse political backgrounds can work together. +The Prime Minister noted that be it renewable energy, water conservation, or Digital India, all these initiatives have been implemented at Rashtrapati Bhavan. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his birth anniversary. +“Tributes to our inspiration, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his birth anniversary. +His contribution to our Nation is invaluable. +If there was something that mattered most to Dr. Mookerjee it was serving the people. +He always spoke about education for the youth. +Let us devote ourselves to fulfilling Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee`s ideals.” +Guru Nanak Devji’s teachings of love, peace, equality and brotherhood have eternal value. +The following are the highlights of the decisions taken in the Cabinet meeting: +Development of Kartarpur Sahib corridor: +In a significant decision, the Union Cabinet approved the building and development of the Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the international border, in order to facilitate pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur on the banks of the Ravi river, in Pakistan, where Shri Guru Nanak Devji spent eighteen years. +Pilgrims would then be able to visit the holy shrine throughout the year. +The Kartarpur corridor will be implemented as an integrated development project with Government of India funding, to provide smooth and easy passage, with all the modern amenities. +Government of India will put in place suitable facilities for smooth passage of pilgrims. +Government of Pakistan will be urged to recognize the sentiments of the Sikh community and to develop a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory as well. +Development of Sultanpur Lodhi: +The Union Cabinet also decided that the historic town of Sultanpur Lodhi, associated with the life of Shri Guru Nanak Devji, shall be developed as a heritage town and on the Smart City principles, including energy efficiency, to highlight Shri Guru Nanak Devji’s emphasis on sustainability and reverence for nature. +As a major attraction for pilgrims and tourists, a heritage complex at Sultanpur Lodhi, “Pind Babe Nanak da” will be established to depict life in the times of Shri Guru Nanak Devji. +Sultanpur Lodhi railway station will be upgraded and developed with all the modern amenities. +Centre for inter faith studies and Chairs in foreign Universities: +A centre for inter faith studies will be set up at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. +Chairs on Shri Guru Nanak Devji will be set up in one University each in UK and Canada. +An International seminar on the life and teachings of Shri Guru Nanak Devji will be organised in New Delhi. +Celebrations throughout the country and globally: +States/Union Territories will also be requested to celebrate 550th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Devji in a befitting manner. +Indian missions overseas will organize special events on the occasion. +Commemorative coin and stamps: +Commemorative coin and postage stamps will be released by the Government of India to mark this momentous occasion. +Religious activities and publications: +Religious activities will be organised throughout the country. +Doordarshan will telecast programmes on Shri Guru Nanak Devji and the Gurubani. +National Book Trust will publish Gurbani in different Indian languages. +UNESCO will be requested to publish Shri Guru Nanak Devji’s writings in world languages. +Special train for pilgrims: +PM: Celebrations should be conducted in such a way that the common man becomes a part of them. +The Prime Minister said this opportunity must be used to increase awareness about “Chacha Nehru” among the younger generation, and seek inspiration from his life and work. +He called upon the committee members to work towards a clear delineation of the events and programmes. +The Prime Minister highlighted the proposed “Bal Swachhta Mission” to be organized in schools across the country between 14th and 19th November and proposal to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Shri Nehru as “Year of Bal Swachhta.” +He also said “promotion of scientific temper among children” would be a prominent objective of the celebrations. +The Prime Minister invited suggestions on these and any other related subjects. +Various members welcomed and appreciated the objectives mentioned by the Prime Minister. +They expressed a range of views and gave constructive suggestions on the agenda. +The Prime Minister said the suggestions would be reviewed by the Executive Committee chaired by Shri Rajnath Singh. +The Executive Committee will work out the action plan for the entire year. +1. Restructuring of Deferred Payment Liabilities of telecom Service providers for spectrum +The total amount received will be higher by Rs. 74446.01 crore till 2034-35. +2. Revision of limits of cap for spectrum holding +Based upon the recommendations of TRAI and Telecom Commission, the Cabinet also approved the revision of limits of cap for spectrum holding as follows:- +The overall spectrum cap is revised from the current limit of 25% to 35%. +The current intra-band cap is removed. +Instead, there is a cap of 50% on the combined spectrum holding in the sub-1 GHz bands (700 MHz, 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands). +There will be no cap for individual or combined spectrum holding in above 1 GHz band. +The revised spectrum caps limits may be revisited after Final Acts of World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) 2019. +TRAI had recommended revision in the existing limits of cap for spectrum holding taking into consideration the technological advancement, efficient use of spectrum, measures to facilitate consolidation etc. +With the restructuring of the deferred payment liability, the cash flow for the telecom service providers will increase in the immediate timeframe providing them some relief. +Revising the limit for the spectrum cap holding will facilitate consolidation of telecom licensees and may encourage the participation in the future auction. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has Congratulated the Indian Men’s Kabaddi team on winning the Gold Medal in the Incheon Asian Games 2014. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched “Setu Bharatam” – an ambitious programme with an investment of Rs. 50,000 crore to build bridges for safe and seamless travel on National Highways. +The programme aims at making all national highways Railway Level Crossing free by 2019. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the Union Government wishes to make a quantum jump in this direction. +Emphasizing the importance of good infrastructure for the development of the country, he said the importance of roads for a nation, is the same as the importance of arteries and veins in the human body. +The Prime Minister spoke of the Government’s initiatives in other infrastructure sectors as well, including railways, irrigation and digital connectivity. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for continuation of the scheme on Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) for another three financial years (FYs 2017-18 to 2019-20) and providing Grants-in-aid of Rs.18 crore to the Institute. +It will make the Institute self-sustainable by the end of FY 2019-20. +· The training programs, research activities and projects conducted by the Institute in partnership with public and private sector in the niche areas of Corporate Governance will enhance the skill sets resulting in increased employability of students as well as professionals. +· The thrust of the Institute is to become a prestigious Institute in the field of Corporate Laws while enhancing its resources and revenues. +· It is envisaged that IICA will be an Institute of National importance thereby becoming an engine of growth leading to increased economic activity. +· The improvement in the professional competence is also expected to help the professionals in tapping employment opportunities in emerging corporate areas including those in overseas. +The National Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility (NFCSR) at IICA is responsible for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. +The Foundation has been designed around the new provisions of Companies Act, 2013. +The NFCSR conducts various activities in partnership with Corporates in the field of CSR, oriented towards social inclusion. +IICA is a think-tank and repository of data and knowledge to support rational decision-making for the policy makers, regulators as well as other stakeholders working in areas related to the corporate sector. +It offers services to stakeholders in the field of corporate laws, corporate governance, CSR, accounting standards, investor education, etc. +Various activities of IICA also help first-generation entrepreneurs and small business for imparting multi-disciplinary skills as they are unable to afford to employ separate experts in management, law, accountancy, etc. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, on his birth anniversary. +“On his birth anniversary, tributes to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. +We recall his role in the freedom struggle and efforts towards nation building”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Faculty Exchange Agreement signed between the National Defence College, New Delhi and National Defence College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. +The objective of the Agreement is to institutionalize regular exchange programs and establish sustainable mechanisms between the two National Defence Colleges with an aim to enhancing mutual cooperation in the field of national security, development and strategic studies. +Given the geographical and cultural closeness between the two countries, there are many common challenges like countering terrorism that needs joint action. +The Agreement establishes the framework for enhanced cooperation in the field of military education concerning strategic and operational studies. +During the visit, he will unveil the plaque to mark the dedication to the nation of Integrated Refinery Expansion Complex, BPCL Kochi on January 27,2019. +He will also lay foundation stone for Petrochemical Complex at the same venue. +PM will inaugurate Mounded Storage Vessel at IOCL LPG bottling plant, Kochi and lay foundation stone for Skill Development Institute at Ettumanoor. +Integrated Refinery Expansion Complex will be a modern expansion complex and transform Kochi refinery into the largest PSU Refinery in India with world class standards. +It will be equipped for production of cleaner Fuels for India. +It will double the production of LPG & diesel and commence production of feedstock for petrochemical projects in this plant. +Mounded Storage Vessel, IOCL LPG Bottling Plant, Kochi will have a total storage capacity 4350 MT. +Storage capacity at the plant is enhanced to meet the LPG requirement of nearly 6 days bottling capacity of plant. +It is the safest storage vessel ensuring highest level of safety for plant and adjacent areas. +LPG receipt through pipeline will bring down movement of LPG tankers on roads. +Petrochemical complex, BPCL Kochi refinery is a Make in India initiative aimed at reducing dependence on imports. +Propylene derivative petrochemical & polyol project will catalyse many downstream industries. +Skill Development Institute at Ettumanoor backed by the Ministry of Petrochemical & Natural Gas will provide vocational training and enhance employability and entrepreneurship for deserving youth both in oil & gas and other industries. +PM earlier visited Kerala on January 15, 2019 to inaugurate Kollam bypass and also visited Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today received Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. Nick Clegg. +Mr. Clegg was accompanied by UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey. +During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Clegg conveyed UK’s strong desire to further strengthen and deepen relations with India. +Expressing deep appreciation for the ambitious goal of Indian’s economic and social transformation that the new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi had set, he conveyed the desire of the UK to work together with India in realising this goal. +The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for Prime Minister David Cameron’s personal interest and commitment to the India-UK relationship. +He called for greater collaboration between India and UK in the areas of education, skills development, clean energy, infrastructure development, and cleaning of rivers. +Both sides also discussed international issues relating to WTO and climate change. +On WTO, the Prime Minister reiterated India’s commitment to the understandings reached in Bali, including on Trade Facilitation. +He expressed support for trade facilitation measures. +He, however, emphasized the need to move forward simultaneously on all the agreements reached in Bali, including on food security, to address the interests of all sections of society, particularly the poor people. +The UK side conveyed their appreciation for the work done in Gujarat in the area of clean energy and preservation of environment. +The Prime Minister said that this was a priority area for the Government. +The Government planned to develop 500 model towns in India with facilities for solid waste management and waste water treatment. +Further, the government wanted to develop all Himalayan States as “Organic States” which would also have environmental benefits. +He also articulated his vision of creating mass participation in energy efficiency. +The Prime Minister invited the UK to partner in these efforts. +He also called upon the international community to take steps to provide clean technology to developing and under-developed countries at affordable prices. +Deputy Prime Minister Clegg reiterated Prime Minister Cameron’s invitation to the Prime Minister to visit the UK. +The Prime Minister said that he looked forward to visiting the UK at the earliest convenience. +My dear countrymen, Namaskar to all of you! +It is now a full three years since I started speaking to you over “Mann Ki Baat”. +“Mann Ki Baat” has provided me with a unique opportunity to get connected with various feelings and positive energy of the country; emotions of our people which include their desires, expectations and at times, even grievances, which come to their minds. +And I have never said that these are the expressions of my mind; Mann Ki Baat reflects our countrymen’s minds, their expressions, their expectations. +And when I say things in Mann Ki Baat, people from across the country send their ideas, experiences and feelings to me. +There are personal grievances and complaints and sometimes attention is drawn to community problems. +I just take half an hour of your time in a month but people keep sending suggestions, ideas and other material over Mann Ki Baat during all 30 days of the month. +And, the result of this whole exercise is that the government has started realizing the sensitivities and powerful ideas of the people of far off places. +And, this is why the three-year journey of Mann Ki Baat is in fact a journey of our countrymen, their emotions and their feelings. +I am thankful to our countrymen for having provided me an opportunity to understand the feelings of the common man. +In Mann Ki Baat, I have always remembered one sentence of Acharya Vinoba Bhave. +He always used to say ‘A- sarkari, Asarkari’, meaning non government is effective. +I surely believe and feel that now after three years, social scientists, universities, research scholars, media experts would undertake its analysis and highlight its every aspect, positive as well as negative. +And I am sure that this brainstorming could be useful for Mann Ki Baat in future and will infuse a new energy into it. +And, in one episode of Mann Ki Baat I had said that while having our food, we must also be conscious of consuming only as much as we need and see to it that there is no wastage. +And then I saw that a lot many people came forward to donate for this cause. +Once, I saw a selfie of a sarpanch with a daughter and referred to the same in Mann Ki Baat. +In no time, “Selfie with Daughter” became a big campaign not only in India but across the whole world. +This is not only an issue of social media. +It became an incident to create a new self-confidence and a feeling of self pride in every daughter. +Every parent started feeling that they should take a selfie with their daughter. +Every daughter started regaining her own self confidence & self esteem. +I was in a meeting with the Tourism Department recently. +I asked people who were planning to go travelling that where-ever they visit ‘Incredible India’, they must send photographs of those places. +Lakhs of photographs from every corner of India were received which actually became a treasure for those working in the tourism sector. +I’ve experienced through ‘Mann Ki Baat’ that even a tiny incident can launch a massive campaign. +Today I felt like sharing it, since I thought that it has been three years, and events & incidents over those three years ran across my mind. +The nation is always ready to move in the right direction. +This is the most valuable capital and enormous strength for any country. +I heartily bow to my countrymen. +I have noticed that these days interest in Khadi has increased very much and I had just said that I was not asking people to makeover into wearing Khadi permanently; rather, since there are a number of fabrics then why not Khadi also be one of the fabrics of your choice? +Sale of Khadi has increased and as a result of this, the poor man’s household has directly got connected to employment. +Discount is offered on Khadi from 2nd October and people get quite a good rebate. +I once again urge that we should try and take forward the Khadi movement. +We should follow the spirit of helping the poor to be able to light a Diwali lamp. +The poor of our country will derive strength from this and we must do it. +The increasing interest in Khadi has infused a new thinking in those working in the Khadi sector as well as those connected, in any way, with Khadi. +How do we bring in new technology, how do we increase productivity, how do we introduce looms driven by solar power? +How do we rejuvenate our traditional heritage which was lying inactive for 20, 25 or 30 years? +Sewapuri Khadi Ashram at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh was lying closed for 26 years but has got a fresh lease of life now. +A number of thoughts were implemented. +New employment opportunities were created for a number of people. +Khadi Gramodyog revived its training centre at Pampore in Kashmir and in this sector Kashmir has so much to offer. +With the reopening of this training centre, the new generation will get a boost in jobs in manufacturing , in weaving, in creating new things and it feels so good to see that even big corporate Houses have started including Khadi items as Diwali gifts. +Even people have started exchanging Khadi items as gifts. +We now experience how something grows naturally. +My dear countrymen, we had taken a resolve in last month’s Mann Ki Baat and had decided to observe a 15-day Cleanliness Festival before Gandhi Jayanti. +We shall connect people through cleanliness. +Our Honourable President inaugurated this programme and the country got connected. +The old or the young, men or women, city or village everyone has become a part of this Cleanliness campaign now. +And when I say “Sankalp Se Siddhi”, we can see for ourselves as to how a Cleanliness Campagin is advancing towards Sankalp Siddhi, that is Attainment through Reslove. +Everyone accepts this, co-operates in this and makes a contribution in realizing this. +I am grateful to our Honourable President. +But, every section of society has taken this as its own campaign, everyone has got connected to this. +Whether it be people from the sports world, academicians, schools, colleges, universities, farmers, workers, officers, government employees, police, or army jawans – every one has got connected with this. +A kind of a pressure has been created in public places and now people resist if someone tries to spoil or to make a public place dirty in any way and even those spoiling public places are also feeling this pressure. +I noticed something else this time – one is that we clean up a place, and the second is that we become aware and do not spread filth; but if we have to inculcate cleanliness as a habit, we must start an idea- based movement also. +This time a number of competitions were organized on the theme “Cleanliness is Service”. +More than two and a half crore children took part in an Essay Competition on cleanliness. +Thousands of children made paintings. +They drew pictures based on their own imaginations. +Many people wrote poems and these days I post drawings made by our young children on social media and praise their efforts. +Whenever there is a reference to cleanliness, I do not forget to express my gratitude to media persons. +They have taken this campaign in a religious manner. +They have made a big contribution in creating a positive environment and are leading the Cleanliness Campaign in their own ways. +We can see in “Swachhata Hi Sewa” movement as to how the electronic media and the print media in our country can render a big service to the country. +Just a few days ago some one drew my attention towards Bilal Dar, a young man of 18 years from Srinagar. +Bilal Dar got connected to the ‘Swachhata Abhiyan’ or Cleanliness Campaign since the age of 12-13 years and has been working for the last 5 to 6 years. +He clears plastic, polythene, used bottles, dry or wet waste – every piece of dirt from Aisa’s biggest lake near Srinagar. +He also earns from this activity. +His father had died of cancer at a very young age but he connected his livelihood with cleanliness. +And I am glad that they have not only appointed Bilal as their ambassador but also given him a vehicle, and also a uniform and he goes to other areas and educates people about cleanliness and inspires them and keeps tracking them till results are achieved. +Bilal is very young age wise but is a source of inspiration for all of us who are interested in cleanliness. +I congratulate Bilal Dar. +My dear countrymen, we will have to accept the fact that history begets history and when there is a reference to history, it is but natural to recall our great men. +The month of October is a month to remember so many of our titans. +From Mahatma Gandhi to Sardar Patel, there are many great leaders who gave us the direction towards the 20th and 21st century, led us, guided us and faced so many hardships for the country. +2nd October is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, 11th October is the birth anniversary of Jai Prakash Narain and Nanaji Deshmukh and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay’s birth anniversary falls on 25th September. +This is the centenary year of Nanaji and Deen Dayal ji. +And, what was the main focus of all these great men? +One thing was common and that was to live for the country, do something for the nation; they led the people not by mere sermons but by their actions. +Gandhiji, Jai Prakashji, Deen Dayalji were such great personalities who remained far away from the corridors of power but lived every moment for the people, kept fighting all odds following the principle “Sarv Jan Hitay – Sarv Jan Sukhay”, they kept endeavouring tirelessly. +Nanaji Deshmukh left politics and joined the Gramodaya Movement and while celebrating his Centenary year, it is but natural to honour his contribution towards Gramodaya. +India’s former President Shriman Abdul Kalamji used to speak of Nanaji’s contribution in rural development while talking to the youth. +He used to mention Nanaji’s contribution with great respect and he even went to a village to see Nanaji’s work there. +Like Gandhiji, Deen Dayal Upadhyayji also talked about the last person at the farthest fringes. +Deen Dayalji talked about the poorest of the poor the deprived, distressed ones and spoke of how, through education, employment or otherwise his life could be transformed. +We are not obliging these great men by remembering them but we remember them so that we may be able to foresee our forays into the future and the direction we choose. +In the next Mann Ki Baat, I will surely mention Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel but on 31st October, Run for Unity – Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat – will be organized throughout the country. +There should be a number of Run for Unity programmes in every city, every town and the weather is also such that one would enjoy running – It is essential for developing a will power of steel, like that of Sardar Saheb. +Sardar Saheb unified the country. +We also have to run for unity in order to promote the mantra of unity. +The element of Unity in diversity being India’s speciality comes naturally to us. +We feel proud of diversity but have you ever tried to feel this diversity? +I would like to re-iterate to my countrymen, and specially to my young friends that we are alive & aware beings. +We should feel India’s diversity, touch it, feel its fragrance. +You may see for yourself, that for your inner development also, these diversities of our country work as a big teaching tool. +There are vacations, Diwali is drawing near, all around in our country, there is an inclination to travel to some place or the other; people go as tourists and it is very natural. +You travel around the world, I have no issues but have a look at your own country too. +People of North India may not be knowing what all is there in the South! +People of West India may not be knowing what all is there in the East! +Our country is full of such myriad diversities. +If you refer to Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmanya Tilak, Swami Vivekanand, our former President Abdul Kalamji then you will notice that when they toured around India, they got to see and understand India and they got inspired to do and die for the country. +All these great men travelled widely in India. +Can we make an effort as a student to learn, understand and try to live as per the traditions, culture, attire, eating habits and beliefs of different states, different societies, different groups of our country? +There will be a value addition in tourism only when we travel not only as a visitor but also like a student and make efforts to assimilate, understand & adapt. +This is my personal experience, I had a chance of visiting more than five hundred districts of India. +That helps me a lot in understanding things. +I request you too, to feel the “Unity in Diversity” which is not a mere slogan but is a storehouse of enormous energy. +The dream of “Ek Bharat – Shreshtha Bharat” is inherent in this. +How many varieties of cuisines there are ! +If we eat a new dish every day, we won’t have to repeat any variety throughout our life. +This is the power of our tourism. +I would request that during these vacations do not go out just for a change but leave with the intention to know, understand –& gain something. +Internalize India within yourselves. +Internalize the diversities of millions of denizens of India within you. +These experiences will enrich your lives. +Your vision will expand. +And, who can be a better teacher than experience! +Generally, October to March is the suitable time for tourism. +People travel. +I am sure that even this time if you go, you will lend further fillip to my campaign. +If you happen to meet people there, send their photos too. +Write not only about architecture or natural beauty but write something about their daily life too. +Write good travelogues. +A thought comes to my mind, that in order to promote tourism in India what could be the seven best tourist destinations in your state – every Indian must know about these seven tourist spots of his state. +If possible, one must visit these seven places. +Can you provide some information about that? +You see, if all the people of one state will do this, then I will ask the government to do a scrutiny of it and prepare publicity material based on seven common things received from each state. +In other words, how can tourist destination be developed keeping public aspirations in mind? +Come, get connected with me. +You can also act as a major catalyst in promoting the tourism of our country by utilizing the time from this October to March. +My dear countrymen, being a human being, there are many things that touch me too. +They agitate my heart. +They leave a deep impression on my heart. +After all I am also a human being just like you. +You might have noticed one recent incident, a unique example of grit, determination and patriotism that was witnessed by all countrymen. +The Indian Army has got two extraordinary brave women officers; they are Lieutenant Swati and Nidhi. +Their husbands laid down their lives in the service of mother India. +One can imagine one’s agonizing mental state if her world gets shattered at such a early age! +It is very natural for every countryman to have a deep sense of respect for these two bravehearts, our Matri Shakti. +I convey my heartiest congratulations to both of them. +They have evoked a new inspiration and a new awakening among millions of our countrymen. +Many congratulation to these two sisters. +My dear countrymen, there is a big opportunity for our younger generation between Navratra festivities and Diwali. +FIFA under- 17 world cup is being organized in our country. +I am sure reverberations of the spirit of football will be heard all around. +It will evince more interest in Football in every generation. +There should not be a single school-college ground in India where we will not see our youngsters at play. +Come on, the whole world is coming to play on Indian soil, let us make sports a part of our lives. +My dear countrymen, Navratras are going on. +It is a time for praying to Ma Durga. +The whole environment is filled with sacred fragrance. +All around there is an atmosphere of spirituality, an air of festivities, an atmosphere of bhakti, of reverence. +This is revered as a festival of Shakti Sadhana. +This is also known as Sharadiya Navratri, the beginning of autumn. +On this pious occasion of Navratri, I convey my best wishes to our countrymen and pray to Ma Shakti to let our country attain newer heights so that the desires and expectations of all our countrymen get fulfilled. +May our nation be blessed with the strength to face any challenge. +My good wishes to all of you. +Celebrate festivities, enjoy with enthusiasm. +Many Many thanks. +Dr. Abidi has translated the works of several Persian scholars into Hindi and Sanskrit, with the objective of spreading this knowledge among the people of India. +The Prime Minister appreciated her work. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the occasion of Cheti Chand. +“On the auspicious occasion of Cheti Chand, my best wishes to the Sindhi community. +May Lord Jhulelal always shower us with his noble blessings and may the coming year be filled with joy”, the Prime Minister said. +These 5 Presses will be redeveloped and modernised by monetisation of their surplus land. +Land measuring 468.08 acres of the other merged Presses will be given to Land & Development Office, Ministry of Urban Development. +Land measuring 56.67 acres of the Government of India Text Books Presses (GITBPs) at Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar and Mysuru will be returned to the respective State Governments. +Modernisation of the Presses will enable them to undertake important confidential, urgent and multi-colour printing work of the Central Government Offices all over the country. +This will be carried out at zero cost to the exchequer and without any retrenchment. +PM to launch Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana from Ballia +PM to attend various functions in Varanasi +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Uttar Pradesh tomorrow. +He will launch the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana from Ballia. +This scheme aims to provide LPG connections to 5 crore women beneficiaries from BPL families over the next three years. +The Prime Minister will also visit his constituency, Varanasi. +He will distribute e-rickshaws to beneficiaries. +He will visit Gyan Pravah – Centre for Cultural Studies and Research – at Varanasi. +He will hold a meeting with prominent citizens in Varanasi. +The Prime Minister will launch a scheme for environment-friendly “E-Boats” at the famous Assi Ghat. +The Agreement aims to improve the effectiveness of both countries in the prevention, investigation, prosecution and suppression of crimes including crime relating to terrorism, transnational organized crime and drug trafficking. +It will help establish framework for enhancing cooperation between the officials of intelligence and law-enforcement agencies of the two countries. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his fourth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +In course of his review today, the Prime Minister expressed concern at the grievances relating to delivery of passports. +He directed the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, to hold a joint workshop to examine ways and means to reduce time in various clearances, to enable quicker processing of passport services. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of key infrastructure projects worth over Rs. 60,000 crore in the Railway, Road, Power, Coal, Petroleum, and Renewable Energy sectors, spread over several states including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Maharashtra and Karnataka. +The Prime Minister focused especially on vital road and rail links in the state of Odisha, in view of the upcoming Nabakalebara festival there. +Noting that similar major festivals were also coming up in the near future in the states of Madhya Pradesh (Simhastha, Ujjain) and Maharashtra (Kumbh, Nasik), the Prime Minister urged sharing of best practices, especially in the areas of sanitation, security and transportation. +Expressing dismay at the delay in vital infrastructure projects due to repeated litigation, the Prime Minister asked concerned departments to proactively pursue these matters judicially, and highlight the difficulties faced by the people due to the non-completion of these projects. +The Prime Minister complimented several states for the efforts that they were putting in, to speed up infrastructure projects. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for Policy to provide Purchase Preference (linked with Local Content (PP-LC) in all Public Sector Undertakings under Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. +The Policy will be applicable for five years. +Under the Policy, the targets of Local Content (LC) will be stipulated for certain oil and gas business activities. +The manufacturers/ service providers who meet the local content targets and whose quoted price is within 10% of the lowest valid price bid would be eligible for purchase preference for a stipulated portion of the purchase order on matching such price. +The Policy is expected to encourage suppliers and service providers to progressively adopt ‘Make in India’ practices and add value to their goods and services within the country. +The Policy will apply to all the Public Sector Enterprises and their wholly owned subsidiaries, Joint Ventures that have 51% or more equity by one or more Public Sector Enterprises, attached and subordinate offices of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. +In tune with this campaign, the Government has decided to incentivize the growth in local content in goods and services while implementing oil and gas projects in India through a policy for providing Purchase Preference to the manufacturers/ service providers who meet the local content targets in oil and gas business activities. +It’s almost a month with several new friends, everybody came here with his or her distinct identity, with his or her own distinct background but within a month such an atmosphere was createdwhich produced an unbreakable bond amongst all of you. +A bond of kinship and when you will be meeting from the cadets from other states then you would be surprised to know about their uniqueness and their diversity. +You will leave this place with so much curiosity that you will feel like that as a citizen of India the more you know the country, the more you know about every corner of the country, the more you know India’s diversity the more you feel one with the country. +The seed of this value systemis naturally sown within us in every NCC camp. +When you showed your extreme courage then every countrymen felt that the courage of the country was going to the top. +This environment, this atmosphere should not be confined to this place only. +The real test begins after that. +NCC is known for its discipline and unity. +NCC is not a mechanism. +We should take pride in the fact that after the independence of the country the NCC act was enacted before the enactment of rules and regulation for the armed forces. +Nation building was linked with the young generation of the country and given priority over security of the nation. +The journey of seven decades, and millions and millions of NCC cadets like me moved on the path of life by receiving the values of patriotism. +On the completion of 70 years of NCC the time demands that we should take a look at these things like: where we came from, where we have come and where we want to take the country. +What should be the form of this NCC and what are the new things that should be added in the NCC? +Today, when we are completing 70 years then we should prepare a mission for 75 years with this resolve. +Will this thing be enough? +Then we will have to continue to wage this battle for a prolonged period, it is not going to stop. +This fight against corruption, this fight against black money is aimed at making the future of the youth of my country. +And if the future of the youth of my country is secured then it is going to make the future of our country. +I know that you will never disappoint me. +The youth of my country will not disappoint me. +If I want your help, the help of youth of my country, then I want your help for setting this country free from this corruption which is like a termite. +You might feel that what you could do. +If accountability is there, if transparency is there, then there is an automatic change in the situation. +Can you make a pledge that wherever we go for purchasing things, wherever there is an exchange of money, then we will not do it in cash, all of us have become mobile users. +Whether we will download the BHIM App and make every purchase through BHIM App? +If my NCC cadets take up this task on a mission mode then no one will have courage to drag the country towards corruption. +Even if an extremely corrupt person succeeds in occupying a high office even then he will be forced to follow the path of honesty. +Sometimes there was a lot of despair in the country that lofty things are discussed against the corruption but nothing could be done against powerful people. +Who can say that there is no God, who can say that there is no justice in the house of God? +Now there is no one to protect them. +And that is why today I would like say this thing before the NCC cadets, and through them to the NCC cadets across the country and be it the youth of NSS or be it the youth of Nehru Youth Centre and be it the students of schools and colleges or be it the youth of the country who live and die for the country, I seek your help. +Please come forward and join me in this fight as a soldier. +Please come forward, by working together if we will rid the country of this termite then we will be able to win the fight for providing the rights of the poor people of the country. +If we eradicate these evils then it benefits the most to the poor people of the country. +When the money is spent in the proper manner then a poor household gets the affordable medicine. +When the money is spent in the proper manner then it creates the facilities for providing good schools, good teachers to the children of a poor person. +When the money is spent in the proper way then the roads are being laid up to villages, when the money is properly utilized then an opportunity for doing something for the oppressed, exploited and excluded people of the country is created. +That day is not far away when the country which will have data will be considered powerful. +In the digital world, in the world of data, Aadhaar has given a big reason to India to take pride in this field. +And now due to Aadhaar those benefits which should accrue to poor people, to common man but were earlier siphoned off into wrong hands; that was also a method of corruption. +The girl that never born used to grow up into an adult, marry and become widow in the records of a government office and widow pension was paid to her from the government exchequer. +This kind of business was going on but now the legitimate claimants could be identified due to Aadhaar and they have started getting their rights due to direct transfer of benefits. +And youth of my country, this has been implemented in some schemes, at present it’s not 100%, it’s just a start but because of it around Rs.60,000 crore has been saved which was siphoned off into wrong hands. +All this is possible. +And therefore my youth should move forward in the direction of a cashless society with the mantra of less cash and by optimally using the BHIM App for all the selling and purchasing and even if we need to pay the fee then we will pay it through BHIM App. +Then you will see how the changes will come about in the country. +My young friends, you people have got a good experience in the life. +You people have got the opportunity to experience the country by living with the people from all corners of the country in a very short span of time. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people on Teachers’ Day. +We salute all teachers, who tirelessly light the lamp of knowledge,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister also paid his tributes to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on the occasion. +“Teacher, scholar and statesman, he remains an inspiration for the entire Nation,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on November 11, 2016 at Tokyo, Japan between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for cooperation in the field of outer space. +The purpose of this MoU is to pursue future cooperative activities in the exploration and use of outer space exclusively for peaceful purposes in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable in each country and their international obligations. +This MoU provides scope for pursuing cooperation in various areas of space science technology and applications including: eearth observation, satellite communication and navigation; exploration and space sciences; Research and development (space systems and space technology); and Space industry promotion. +ISRO and JAXA will bear the costs of their respective activities under this Memorandum, unless they decide otherwise in writing. +Ability to fulfil their respective roles and activities under this Memorandum and its relevant separate Implementation Arrangement is subject to their respective funding procedures, the availability of appropriated funds and their respective national laws. +Framework MoU would lead to joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. +Thus all sections and regions of the country will get benefited. +India and Japan pursue space cooperation for more than 5 decades and carried out studies in the field of atmospheric study, observation of universe and scientific investigation in remote sensing. +With the formation of JAXA in 2003, an “arrangement concerning the considerations of potential future cooperation in the field of outer space” was signed in October 2005 between ISRO/ Department of Space (DOS) and JAXA. +Subsequently both agencies have signed cooperative documents addressing lunar exploration, satellite navigation, X-ray astronomy and Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF). +During the ISRO-JAXA bilateral meeting held at New Delhi on April 05, 2016, both sides stressed the need for updating the contents of ‘2005 Arrangement’ with enhanced scope of cooperation. +Accordingly, both sides have arrived at the draft of new ‘Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ISRO and JAXA concerning cooperation in the field of outer space’ and got it signed on November 11, 2016 at Tokyo during the visit of Prime Minister of India to Japan. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Belarus in the oil and gas sector. +The MoU was signed on 12th September, 2017 during the visit of President of Belarus to India. +The MoU will promote bilateral relationship between India and Belarus and it is envisaged to enhance the economic and commercial cooperation between the two sides in oil and natural gas sector. +Under the MoU, both sides will work towards establishing cooperation in the areas of upstream and downstream activities, capacity building, technology transfer, enhanced oil recovery and development of mature fields in India. +The MoU shall remain in force for three years for the day of its signing. +PM calls for introspection on “Shiksha Ki Sanskriti” – the culture of education. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching at the Swatantrata Bhawan in Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described the land of Kashi, as one which gave us “Shiksha Ki Sanskriti” (a culture of education). +We need to introspect whether we are losing this culture of education, the Prime Minister said. +He said the education system is not meant to produce robots, but to develop a holistic humanist vision (Poorna Maanav Mann) along with science and technology. +The Prime Minister said “good education” is in great demand across the world and among all sections of society. +He said India`s youth can fulfil this global requirement of teachers, if they are trained effectively. +He said if a teacher goes abroad, he benefits and captures the imagination of an entire generation. +He said the Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching is a step in this direction. +The Prime Minister also unveiled the plaque of the Inter-University Centre, and launched the Campus Connect wi-fi of Banaras Hindu University by remote control. +The Prime Minister also launched the Varanasi Mahotsav. +He gave away prizes to six craftsmen under the YUKTI initiative. +Speaking about this initiative, the Prime Minister said it will make it possible to skill our craftsmen through the use of appropriate technology interventions. +The Prime Minister said events such as the Varanasi Mahotsav would help boost tourism. +He called upon schools and educational institutions of Varanasi to develop expertise in various aspects of Varanasi’s rich culture, which would help them contribute towards drawing the attention of tourists visiting Varanasi. +Describing the strength of India’s heritage, the Prime Minister spoke of the recent adoption of International Yoga Day by the United Nations. +He said a record number of 177 countries had supported India’s resolution, and it had been adopted within a record time of 90 days. +The Prime Minister exhorted artists and poets to touch upon contemporary issues such as “swachhta” (cleanliness) and the welfare of the girl child, so that greater awareness is generated about these vital subjects, in the society. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for moving official amendments in the “Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016”. +The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 proposes to regulate surrogacy in India by establishing National Surrogacy Board at the central level and, State Surrogacy Boards and Appropriate Authorities in the States and Union Territories. +The proposed legislation ensures effective regulation of surrogacy, prohibit commercial surrogacy and allow altruistic surrogacy to the needy Indian infertile couples. +Once the Bill is enacted by the Parliament, the National Surrogacy Board will be constituted. +The States and Union Territories shall constitute the State Surrogacy Board and State Appropriate Authorities within three months of the notification by the Central Government. +Once in effect, the Act will regulate the surrogacy services in the country and will control the unethical practices in surrogacy, prevent commercialization of surrogacy and will prohibit potential exploitation of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy. +All Infertile Indian married couple who want to avail ethical surrogacy will be benefited. +Further, the rights of surrogate mother and children born out of surrogacy will be protected. +The Bill shall apply to whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. +The 228th report of the Law Commission of India has recommended for prohibiting commercial surrogacy and allowing ethical altruistic surrogacy by enacting a suitable legislation. +The “Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016”, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on the 21st day of November 2016 which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare on the 12th of January 2017. +The One Hundred Second Report of the Departmental-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare on Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill,2016 was laid on the Table of the Rajya Sabha and simultaneously on the Table of the Lok Sabha on 10th of August, 2017. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for signing of the Definitive Agreement on Oil Storage and Management between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd (ISPRL) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) of UAE. +According to the Agreement, the ADNOC will fill up 0.81 MMT or 5,860,000 million barrels of crude oil at ISPRL storage facility at Mangalore, Karnataka. +Out of the crude stored, some part will be used for commercial purpose of ADNOC, while a major part will be purely for strategic purposes. +The signing of the Agreement will augment India’s energy security. +India and UAE are strategic partners. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised about signing of an agreement between India and Russia in May 2015. +The Agreement provides for competitive research grants to Indian and Russian researchers for joint implementation of research projects in areas of Basic and Exploratory Sciences. +The Agreement is valid for a period of six years and could be extended through mutual consent between Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Russian Science Federation (RSF). +This competition would be conducted in the areas of Mathematics, Computer & System Science; Physics & Space Science; Chemistry & Material Science; Biology and Life Science; Basic research for Medicine, Agricultural Science, Earth Science and Engineering Science. +Decision to identify research projects for funding would be taken jointly by DST and RSF. +The results of this cooperation will lead to generation of new knowledge, joint scientific publications, manpower training and IP generation through collaboration. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his ninth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +Taking strong exception at complaints and grievances from people, related to the customs and excise sector, the Prime Minister asked for strict action against responsible officials. +He urged all Secretaries whose departments have extensive public dealing, to set up a system for top-level monitoring of grievances immediately. +Among the significant projects reviewed today were the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link, the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and the Jal Marg Vikas Project from Allahabad to Haldia. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress of the Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY). +The Prime Minister reviewed the implementation of the National Old Age Pension Scheme, and emphasized the need to ensure that beneficiaries receive the payment on time. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the MoU between India and Uzbekistan on Mutual Cooperation in Combating Illicit Trafficking in Narcotics, Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors. +The MoU will facilitate effective institutional interaction between both the Governments. +The MoU, once in force, would help in curbing transnational narcotics trafficking. +PM to hold Digital Dialogue with tech enthusiasts +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will hold a Digital Dialogue with tech enthusiasts in which he will talk about the Digital India initiative. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the filling of Padur Strategic Petroleum Reserves(SPR) at Padur, Karnataka by overseas National Oil Companies (NOCs). +The total 5.33 MMT capacity under Phase-I of the SPR programme is currently estimated to supply approximately 95 days of India’s crude requirement according to the consumption data for FY 2017-18. +Government has given ‘in principle’ approval in June 2018 for establishing additional 6.5 MMT SPR facilities at Chandikhol in Odisha and Padur in Karnataka, which is expected to augment India’s energy security by 11.5 days according the consumption data for FY 2017-18. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remembered noble ideals and thoughts of Maharshi Valmiki, on Valmiki Jayanti. +“Remembering the noble ideals and pure thoughts of Maharshi Valmiki on Valmiki Jayanti. +His impact on our society is phenomenal”, the Prime Minister said. +Following is the text of the Op-Ed written by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, published in the Wall Street Journal today:- +There is a high tide of hope for change in India. +This May, across India’s immense diversity, 1.25 billion people spoke unequivocally for political stability, good governance and rapid development. +India has a government with a majority in the Lok Sabha, our lower house of parliament, for the first time in 30 years. +A young nation with 800 million people under age 35, India is brimming with optimism and confidence. +The young people’s energy, enthusiasm and enterprise are India’s greatest strength. +Unleashing those attributes is my government’s biggest mission. +It has been said that doing the thing right is as important as doing the right thing. +“Make in India” is our commitment—and an invitation to all—to turn India into a new global manufacturing hub. +We will do what it takes to make it a reality. +We ran our election campaign on the promise of inclusive development. +To me, that means many things: skills education, and opportunity; safety, dignity and rights for those in every section of our society, especially women; a bank account for every Indian; affordable health care within everyone’s reach; sanitation for all by 2019; a roof over every head by 2022; electricity for every household; and connectivity to every village. +I also strongly believe in the possibilities of technology and innovation to transform governance, empower people, provide affordable solutions for societal challenges and reach people in ways that were unimaginable not so long ago. +The number of cell phones in India has gone up from about 40 million to more than 900 million in a decade; our country is already the second-largest market for smart phones, with sales growing ever faster. +When I think of the growth in computing power and storage capacity and its miniaturization that the world has witnessed over the past two decades, I am confident that this can be replicated in renewable energy. +With solar and wind power, thousands of Indian villages will be able to get access quickly to reliable, affordable and clean energy, without waiting for large, faraway conventional power plants to be built. +For this reason, India’s journey to prosperity can be a more sustainable and environmentally sensitive one than the path followed by countries that came of age in earlier eras. +This is a journey of our choice, rooted in our tradition that worships nature’s bounties. +India will pursue its dreams in partnership with our international friends. +History tells us that India’s natural instinct is to be open to the world. +India will be open and friendly—for business, ideas, research, innovations and travel. +The thriving Indian-American community in the U.S. is a metaphor for the potential of our partnership, and for the possibilities of an environment that nurtures enterprise and rewards hard work. +Our strengths in information technology are especially important for leadership in the digital age. +The partnership between our businesses takes place in the comfort and certainty of similar political systems and shared commitment to rule of law. +In education, innovation, and science and technology, the U.S continues to inspire India. +India and the U.S. have a fundamental stake in each other’s success—for the sake of our values and our many shared interests. +That is also the imperative of our partnership. +The complementary strengths of India and the U.S. can be used for inclusive and broad-based global development to transform lives across the world. +Because our countries’ values and interests are aligned, though our circumstances are different, we are in a unique position to become a bridge to a more integrated and cooperative world. +With sensitivity to each other’s point of view and the confidence of our friendship, we can contribute to more concerted international efforts to meet the pressing global challenges of our times. +This is a moment of flux in the global order. +I am confident in the destiny of our two nations, because democracy is the greatest source of renewal and, with the right conditions, offers the best opportunity for the human spirit to flourish. +It is indeed a matter of great pleasure to be with you again. +Today, we once again come together to celebrate yet another achievement of our friendship and, take another step in the fruitful journey of our cooperation. +Fewer things give greater joy than getting together with good friends to celebrate successful completion of joint initiatives. +You and I have been fortunate to have done so on important occasions in the past months. +In December last year, you and the Afghan people stood with me to inaugurate the Afghan Parliament. +The inauguration signaled and showed our joint commitment to strengthening the foundations of modern Afghanistan. +It manifested our clear and common determination to build new pathways for Afghanistan’s economic progress and prosperity and, a month later, in June this year, we joined hands and inaugurated the Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam. +I say this because it brings back to life a valuable landmark of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage. +The Stor palace has been the setting for many momentous historical events. +To those who cannot see beyond shadows of violence in Afghanistan, the restored Stor palace is a reminder of the glory of Afghanistan’s rich traditions. +And for our Afghan brothers and sisters, it revives the beauty, the richness and splendor of lost memories of Afghan society. +It, therefore, saddens us to see that your proud nation continues to be challenged by externally sponsored instruments and entities of violence and terror. +Let me assure the people of Afghanistan that in your quest: +the 1.25 billion people of India will always be on your side. +The pledge of our partnership and strength of our friendship with Afghanistan is unwavering . +Today’s event is a testimony to the resolve and range of our cooperative endeavours . +We want each Afghan to flourish and your society to be benefited from fruits of economic growth. +Whatever may be the odds, India will work with you for a bright future for all Afghans. +In the end, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your Government for protecting Indian Embassy and Consulates and ensuring the safety and security of Indian experts working in Afghanistan. +The sacrifices made by our Afghan brothers will not be forgotten. +I once again thank you for your presence today. +I look forward to seeing you in person soon. +I also hope to have an opportunity to visit the renovated Stor palace someday. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the rehabilitation package and upgradation of infrastructure of the Bangladeshi enclaves and Cooch Behar district after transfer of enclaves between India and Bangladesh. +The total financial implication for implementation of various components is around Rs. 1005.99 crores. +This includes Rs. 898.50 crores as the fixed cost of strengthening and creation of infrastructure in Cooch Behar district and Bangladesh enclaves in India. +Besides, a variable cost of Rs. 107.49 crores is likely to be incurred for the rehabilitation. +The actual variable cost would depend upon the actual number of families returning to India. +All the works will be implemented by the State Government or its agencies in a time-frame of 3-5 years, and funds would be released by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the State Government as grant-in-aid. +The rehabilitation package and upgradation of infrastructure of the Bangladeshi enclaves and Cooch Behar district after transfer of enclaves between India and Bangladesh follows the two proposals received from the Government of West Bengal. +The rehabilitation measures such as infrastructure development and rehabilitation assistance will help seamless integration of areas and people. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of versatile actor Shashi Kapoor. +“Shashi Kapoor’s versatility could be seen in his movies as well as in theatre, which he promoted with great passion. +His brilliant acting will be remembered for generations to come. +Saddened by his demise. +Condolences to his family and admirers”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, on the margins of the G20 Summit. +Economic Cooperation, including in the “Make in India” and “Smart City” initiatives, came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister sought the support of Turkey for membership of the four export control regimes. +UN Reform, civil nuclear cooperation, and cooperation in space and agricultural research also came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister met the Prime Minister of Spain, Mr. Mariano Rajoy. +Cooperation in counter-terrorism came up for discussion. +Cooperation in the areas of Railways modernisation, defence manufacturing, renewable energy and marine security were also discussed. +The Prime Minister also met King Salman bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia. +Reply to question on Climate Change: +India is a sovereign country. +No pressure from any country or any person has any effect on it. +Pressure about what kind of earth we shall leave for our future generations. +And whoever worries about the future generations, has a responsibility to be conscious about Climate Change; adopt practices and policies which will ensure a good life and good environment for future generations. +I believe this pressure should be on every Government, every person. +We understand and respond to the same pressure. +Reply to question on personal friendship with US President Barack Obama: +As far as our conversation is concerned, let it remain concealed. +Why do we meet often in this fashion. +But on the basis of my limited experience, I can say that the relationship between two countries depends less on commas and full-stops on paper. +How much openness is there between leaders, how many opportunities do they have to get to know each other, how does the chemistry match, this is very important. +When we interact away from cameras, we get to know each other intimately. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Monday reviewed progress of key infrastructure sectors including petroleum and natural gas, power, renewable energy and housing. +The review meeting, which came soon after the review of connectivity-related infrastructure sectors in the last week of April, lasted for about three hours, and was attended by top officials from PMO, NITI Aayog and all infrastructure Ministries of the Government of India. +In course of the presentation made by CEO NITI Aayog, it was noted that remarkable progress has been made in several sectors, including generation of renewable energy, affordable and rural housing, LED bulbs etc. +The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana has benefited 1.98 crore BPL households so far. +The contribution of gas to the primary energy mix has risen to 8%. +81 cities are being covered under City Gas Distribution networks. +The Prime Minister called for greater emphasis on ethanol blending, and evolution of mechanisms so that farmers can benefit the most from this process. +He said that setting up of 2nd generation bio-ethanol refineries should be expedited, to utilize agricultural residues for this purpose. +Over 22 lakh rural BPL households were electrified in 2016-17, and over 40 crore LED bulbs were distributed in the same period. +The total renewable generation capacity has crossed 57 GigaWatts, with an increase of 24.5% being registered in the last fiscal year. +The capacity addition in solar energy in FY17 was the highest-ever, at 81%. +Solar and wind tariffs have now achieved grid parity, with rates well below 4 rupees per Kilowatt-Hour. +The Prime Minister called for establishment of some model solar cities, where the power requirement is fulfilled solely by solar energy. +A similar effort can be made to make certain localities kerosene-free, he added. +Under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana, remarkable progress has been achieved in rural areas. +IT and space-based applications are being extensively used to monitor progress of the scheme. +Over 32 lakh houses have been completed in rural areas in FY17. +The Prime Minister enquired about the training and skills being given to rural masons, who were involved with this scheme. +Seeking a consolidated approach to various schemes, such as electrification, IT networks and housing, the Prime Minister called for a focused approach on the 100 worst performing districts in each case. +He directed that future reviews should focus on problems at the district-level, so that the progress of poorly performing districts can be better monitored. +Resolution of Public Grievances has also been reviewed in 17 sectors. +Today, in the twenty-fourth meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress of the Kedarnath reconstruction work in Uttarakhand. +The State Government presented the progress of works through drone imagery. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to the Delhi Police. +He stressed on the importance of improving the quality of disposal of grievances. +These projects are cumulatively worth over 40,000 crore rupees. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress in implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Matri Vandana Yojana. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO on its 40th successful Polar satellite launch carrying 31 satellites from 15 countries. +“Congratulations to ISRO on its 40th successful Polar satellite launch carrying 31 satellites from 15 countries. +You make us proud”, the Prime Minister said. +The Special Envoy of the Sultan of Oman Foreign Minister Yousuf Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at South Block in New Delhi today. +He conveyed the greetings of the Sultan and reaffirmed the importance of the relations with India. +The Prime Minister conveyed his deep appreciation of the Sultan of Oman`s gesture and said he looked forward to further strengthening the close ties between the two countries. +They discussed ways to increase the trade and investment between the two countries. +The Prime Minister also thanked the Sultan of Oman for looking after the welfare of 700,000 Indians living in Oman. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the nation is changing and it has been possible because people have decided to change for a better India. +India is changing because Indians have decided to change”. +Talking about India’s strength, PM said ,“Terrorists attacked Mumbai, what happened after it? +In our government, Uri happened, what happened after it? +This is the change. +The fire that was in the hearts of our jawans, it was in the heart of the PM too, Surgical Strike was the result. +Uri terror attack didn’t let me sleep, and what happened after that everyone knows. +This is the change”. +PM said his Government’s drive against black money was a bold and decisive step. +Three lakh companies were shut down after demonetisation and nobody thought black money could be curbed, said the PM. +He added, ” The public sentiment among the Indians has changed and this will change the country too, I have faith in it. +Earlier, people felt that everything will be done by the people but we changed it. +The country is bigger than any of us.” +He also dedicated state of the art Rasilaben Sevantilal Venus Hospital, Surat to the nation. +PM also dedicated National Salt Satyagraha Memorial in Dandi, to the nation. +The program of cultural exchanges between the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of India for 2017-2019. +The General Framework Agreement for the construction of the third stage of the Kudankulam NPP (KK5 & KK6) along with the Credit Protocol +Shri Satish Kumar Sharma, Chairman NPCIL +Mr Alexei Likhachev, CEO ROSATOM +Agreement between the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) and the Council of India on Scientific and Industrial Research on granting access to Rospatent experts to the Indian Digital Library of Traditional Knowledge (TKDL) +The contract between JSC «Russian Railways» and the Ministry of Railways of the Republic of India on the preparation of the justification for the implementation of the high-speed service at the Nagpur-Secunderabad section +Oleg BeloserovPresident of Russian Railways +Memorandum of cooperation between ALROSA Joint Stock Company (Public Joint Stock Company) and the Council for the Promotion of the Export of Precious Stones and Jewellery of India +Shri Praveen Shankar Pandya,Chairman,Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the proposal for India’s taking full membership of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) Governing Council. +The move involves payment of annual contribution of US $ 5,00,000 to the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Seoul, South Korea. +Background +In the year 2007, with the approval of Cabinet, India joined IVI. +India is a long-term collaborator and stake-holder of IVI. +In December, 2012 the Board of Trustees (BOT) of IVI approved the formation of its new governance structure. +As per the new governance structure of IVI, a member State has to contribute to the IVI by paying a portion of its core budget. +Since India is classified in Group-I, it has to pay an annual contribution of US $ 50,000. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of the agreement between India and Iran on visa facilitation for Diplomatic, Official/Service and Ordinary passport holders. +Salient features of the agreement are as given below:- +(i). Consequent upon this, upon presentation of an official note by the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with the visa application, the resident Diplomatic Missions in the host country would, within 20 working days, issue a gratis visa valid for 90 days for the holders of valid Diplomatic/Official/Service passports, assigned on long-term missions to the Diplomatic Missions or the Consulates General. +Appropriate gratis visas of three months’ validity for visiting close family members (blood relations such as parents, siblings, adult children as well as in-laws) and visas for other close relatives of the assignees, on payment of visa fees due would be issued. +(ii). On presentation of an official note by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating the purpose of the visit, a non-extendable gratis entry visa will be issued within three working days, with a validity of up to fifteen days, to political authorities and officials travelling for specific bilateral purposes or to participate in a conference or seminar. +(iii). A multiple-entry gratis visa of three months’ validity, for stays up to 20 days during each visit, for the audit/financial and IT/computer officials who travel on stated official business to their respective Diplomatic Missions and Consulates General will be issued within 15 working days. +(iv). Under special administrative exigencies, a single-entry gratis visa of validity up to three months for temporary deployments to the Diplomatic Missions or Consulates General in the host country will also be issued within 15 working days. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today presented a reproduction of a 1841 map of a stretch of the River Salween to President of Myanmar H.E. Mr. U Htin Kyaw. +Prime Minister also presented a sculpture of Bodhi tree to the Myanmar President. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of an Undertaking between India and Korea on Mutual Recognition of Certificates. +It is in pursuance of the Regulation 1/10 of International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers, 1978, as amended. +Signing of the Undertaking will pave way for recognition of maritime education and training, certificates of competency, endorsements, training documentary evidence and medical fitness certificates for seafarers issued by the Government of the other country. +It is done in accordance with the provisions of regulation 1/10 of the STCW Convention, and cooperation between the two countries in the training, certification and management of seafarers. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the occasion of various festivals across India. +Pongal greetings to everyone! +Best wishes on Magh Bihu. +Have a happy and blessed Uttarayan” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has expressed pain over the loss of lives in the bus accident at Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand. +“My prayers and solidarity with those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate bus accident in Uttarkashi. +May the injured recover soon.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs from PMNRF for the next of kin of those killed and Rs. 50,000 for those seriously injured in the bus accident. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will launch the first Khelo India School Games at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on January 31, 2018. +In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, Khelo India is expected to help scout young talent from the schools in various disciplines and groom them as future sports champions. +Talented players identified in priority sports disciplines at various levels by a High-Powered Committee will be provided annual financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh per annum for 8 years. +The Khelo India School Games are being held from 31st January to 8th February, 2018 in New Delhi. +Under-17 athletes have been invited to participate across 16 disciplines: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Football, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Shooting, Swimming, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wrestling. +The games will highlight India’s young sporting talent and showcase India’s sports potential. +199 gold medals, 199 silver medals and 275 bronze medals are at stake in the Khelo India School Games. +The country’s brightest talent in the under-17 age group will compete in the Games. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the filling of Aji Dam near Rajkot under Sauni Yojana. +Addressing a public meeting on the occasion, he said that Gujarat has come a long way from the days of the past, when it faced tremendous water shortage. +He said that the last two decades have seen several positive changes in Gujarat’s development journey. +The more people have access to water, the more doors of progress will open, the Prime Minister said, adding that the Government’s priority is to give water as early as possible. +He said that it is also a responsibility to be careful and conserve as much water as possible. +He called for embracing the latest technology in the sphere of water conservation. +The 13th edition of PETROTECH – 2019, India’s flagship hydrocarbon Conference was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh today. +In his inaugural address PM underlined the importance of energy as a key driver of socio-economic growth. +“Suitably priced, stable and sustainable energy supply, is essential for rapid growth of the economy. +It also helps the poor and deprived sections of society, to partake of economic benefits,” he added. +Stating that the there is a shift in energy consumption from West to East, PM said that United States has become the world’s largest oil and gas producer after the shale revolution. +However there are signs of convergence, between cheaper renewable energy, technologies, and digital applications which may expedite the achievement of many sustainable development goals.. +PM told that it is the need of the hour “ …move to responsible pricing, which balances the interests of both the producer and consumer. +We also need to move towards transparent and flexible markets for both oil and gas. +Only then can we serve the energy needs of humanity in an optimal manner.” +Reminding the global community to join hands in tackling the challenge of climate change, he said targets we set for ourselves at COP-21 in Paris can be achieved. +In this context, he mentioned that India has made rapid strides in meeting its commitments.. +PM congratulated His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber for his contribution to the energy sector and vision for the future. +He said that Industry 4.0 will change the way industry operates, with new technology and processes. +Our companies are adopting latest technologies to improve efficiency, increase safety and reduce costs, he added. +PM emphasized that people must have universal access to clean, affordable, sustainable and equitable supply of energy as he lamented that although,” we are entering an era of greater energy availability. +But more than a billion people across the globe still do not have access to electricity. +Many more do not have access to clean cooking fuel”. +He added that India has taken a lead in addressing these issues of energy access.. +With energy demand expected to more than double by 2040 and India remains attractive market for energy companies, he added. +PM recalled the last PETROTECH Conference in December 2016, where he mentioned about four pillars for India’s energy future – energy access, energy efficiency, energy sustainability and energy security. +Energy justice is also a key objective and now a top priority for India. +He said, “Towards this end, we have developed and implemented many policies. +The results of these efforts are now evident. +Electricity has reached all our rural areas”, he added. +PM emphasized that energy justice can be done only when people believe in their collective power. +“ India today has the fourth largest refining capacity in the world. +This will further grow by about 200 million metric tons by 2030.”, he added. +He noted that India is making rapid strides towards a gas based economy. +Over sixteen thousand kilometres of gas pipeline has been constructed and an additional eleven thousand kilometers is under construction. +The tenth bid round for City Gas Distribution cover over four hundred districts and extend coverage of City Gas Distribution to seventy percent of our population”,he added. +Leading lights from the oil and gas sector are attending PETROTECH 2019. +Over the last quarter century, PETROTECH has served as a platform to discuss solutions to challenges faced in the energy sector.. +PETROTECH provides the perfect setting to ponder over the future of the energy sector and provides the platform to reflect upon how global shifts, transitions, policies and new technologies will influence market stability and future investments in the sector. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Shri O P Mehra. +“Am pained on passing away of a brave and distinguished patriot, Shri O P Mehra. +He will always be remembered for his contribution to India. +Shri O P Mehra spent years in service of the nation, first in the Air Force and then through sports administration and as Governor of states. +My thoughts are with the family and all those whose lives Shri O P Mehra touched. +May his soul rest in peace”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Cadre Review of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) under the Ministry of Defence. +The Cadre review of IDAS has come in the wake of the functional requirements, cadre structure and career progression of the officials belonging to the service. +I am delighted to address the International Workshop on Rule of Law and Sustainable Development. +I welcome our friends from abroad and thank them for their active participation. +This workshop is being organized soon after two important international agreements which happened during 2015. +Therefore, this conference provides a timely and useful opportunity to discuss the way forward. +This is important not only in the national context but also in the global context. +I hope you will keep in mind the welfare of mankind and the concerns of the international community in your deliberations. +The role of rules and laws in achieving sustainable development goals is going to be very important in the days to come. +However, rules should be such that they facilitate the achievement of these goals. +Unfortunately, some times, the concern for environment is defined narrowly. +We all have to realize that if there is conflict, no one’s purpose will be served. +I hope that you will show us the way to build and ensure climate justice across the globe based on legal as well as social frameworks. +Last year, in September, I attended the meeting of the UN General Assembly where the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 were adopted. +These goals reflect our evolving understanding of the social, economic and environmental linkages that define our lives. +This was followed by the COP-21 where we contributed significantly in shaping the narrative. +Our commitments at COP-21 underline the Indian ethos which aims at changing human lifestyle along with changes in the manner in which we engage in economic activity. +The problems of environment are largely the effect of our consumptive lifestyles. +If we want to make a meaningful impact, we all need to look within; before we read the books of law. +I have always felt that anything which is not sustainable cannot be called development. +This cannot happen unless the development process is inclusive and sustainable. +Anything which compromises on the ability of future generations to meet their requirements cannot be called development. +We in India have always believed in sustainability. +For us, the law of nature holds great value. +If we all observe it, then many man-made laws will not be required. +In modern terminology, there is a word called stakeholder. +A path becomes sustainable, if all stakeholders are benefitted. +It should be inherent. +Nature is pure. +Hence, only pure intentions can keep it intact. +We, in India, have a strong tradition of living in harmony with nature. +We worship nature. +Moreover, in Indian mythology, most of the Gods and Goddesses are associated with an animal and a tree. +Thus, respect for Nature is an integral part of our culture, and has been passed across generations. +Protection of environment comes naturally to us. +This strong tradition has been a guiding principle for all of us. +There is a well-known Sanskrit saying: +We always pray for welfare, peace, fulfillment and sustainability of all; at all places and for all times. +This is our commitment; not of today but since time immemorial. +If we remember this, follow this and act accordingly, India could provide leadership in sustainable development. +When I talk of yoga, it is not just its physical dimension. +Yoga is very comprehensive. +The ideas of YAM, NIYAM, PRATYAHAR teach us discipline, austerity and control. +Much before the debate on sustainable development began, Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, had said that we should act as ‘trustees’ and use natural resources wisely. +It is our moral responsibility to ensure that we leave a healthy planet for future generations. +I am sure all of us agree that poverty is the biggest challenge for environment. +Therefore, eradication of poverty is one of the fundamental goals of my government. +Guided by our core values, we are working towards achieving this goal with sincerity. +We want to ensure a conducive environment for 1.25 billion Indians to develop, and prosper. +We are encouraging education, skill development, digital connectivity and entrepreneurship to provide an enabling ecosystem for our youth to blossom. +We aim to do all this in a sustainable manner. +We realize that fulfilling the demand for energy is vital to the achievement of our development goals. +This is why, one of the first challenges that we took up was generation of 175 Giga watts of renewable energy. +We are well on our way to achieving this objective. +We have also taken up the Swacch Bharat and Clean Ganga Initiatives. +I am happy to note that millions of people across the country have joined the cleanliness drive. +I take this opportunity to invite the participants to explore as to how we can strengthen this collective endeavour. +I am glad to learn that this workshop will also discuss issues related to pollution and waste management. +These are issues that need to be addressed proactively. +I look forward to your recommendations towards strengthening such initiatives. +The problems we face in India today are not unique. +Other civilizations have also faced similar problems and were able to overcome them. +I believe that through our collective efforts we will succeed as well. +While doing so, we must ensure that we avoid contradictions between our need to develop and develop sustainably. +Our culture teaches us Union between the व्यक्ति and समस्ती. +If we become one with the universal order, there are no conflicts of interest. +Therefore, my Government is treating the challenge of adapting to climate change as an opportunity rather than a problem. +I have written some of my thoughts on this theme in my book, Convenient Action: continuity for change. +The rule of law dictates that no one can be punished for another’s misdeed. +We need to recognize that there are many people who are least responsible for the problem of climate change. +They are also the people who still wait for access to modern amenities. +They face the adverse impact of climate change more than anyone else. +This includes cyclones, droughts, floods, heat waves, and rising sea levels. +The poor, vulnerable and marginalized groups have fewer resources to cope with climate disasters. +Unfortunately, their present and future generations are also burdened by laws and agreements on environment. +That is why I talk about Climate Justice. +Moreover, the rules, laws, practices and principles of one country cannot be applied to another uniformly. +Every country has its own challenges and its own ways of dealing with them. +If we apply the same set of rules for all countries and for all people; it will not work. +Sustainable development is our responsibility. +I am confident that we can achieve it, collectively. +I am also confident that we can find ways for development which are in harmony with nature. +We can find them along the road travelled by our forefathers. +I hope the deliberations during this workshop will help in developing a shared understanding of these imperatives. +I wish this conference a grand success. +Following is the text of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s message on Earth Day: +“Earth Day is a day of gratitude to Mother Earth and a day to reiterate our firm resolve to keep our planet clean and green. +It is our duty to live in harmony with the plants, animals and birds we share the Earth with. +We owe this to our future generations. +I hope this year’s theme of ‘Environmental and Climate Literacy’ helps create awareness on protecting nature and natural resources.” +I congratulate the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Jee for presenting an excellent Budget. +The budget has provisions to fulfill the expectations of everyone- from construction of highways to expansion of I-ways, from the cost of pulses to the data speed, from the modernization of railways to simple economic constructions, from education to health, from entrepreneurs to industry, from textile manufacturers to tax deduction. +The Finance Minister and his entire team deserve praise for this historic budget. +This Budget is a reflection of the development measures undertaken by the Government over the past two and a half years and the vision to carry forward the momentum in this direction. +The merger of the Railway budget with the Union Budget is a major step. +It will help in integrated planning of the transport sector. +Railways can now contribute in a much better way in meeting the transport needs of the country. +Agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries, watershed development, Swachcha Bharat Mission are the areas which hold lots of potential to uplift the economic situation in rural India and also bring a sea change in the quality of life there. +Budget allocation for Skill development has been enhanced considerably keeping in mind the youth of our country and the need to gain the advantage from the demographic dividend. +We have undertaken the exercise to launch Digital economy in a mission mode which will go a long way in achieving the target of 2500 crore digital transactions in 2017-18. +The Finance Minister has brought in tax reforms and amendments which will provide relief to the Middle Class, result in setting up of industries, create job opportunities , will put an end to discrimination and will provide incentives for private investments. +The move to reduce the personal income tax is significant as it touches the middle class most. +Bringing down the rate from 10 to 5 percent is a bold move. +Most of the taxpayers in India would be benefitted by this decision. +The small and medium industries across the country have been a major source of employment generation. +These industries have been demanding that they are facing difficulties in competing at the global level and if the taxes are lowered, then around 90 percent of our small scale industries would be benefitted. +Therefore, the Government has amended the definition of Small scale industries, widened their scope and reduced the tax rate from 30 to 25 percent. +This implies that over 90 percent of our Small scale industries will be benefitted. +I am hopeful that this decision will help a lot in making our SSIs globally competitive. +It is my belief that the budget will carry forward the development agenda of the Government, generate a new climate of confidence and help the nation to scale new heights. +Once again, my heartfelt congratulations to the Finance Minister and his team for the budget. +Know more about #BudgetForBetterIndia +He also participated in cleanliness drive at Jagannath Gali near Assi Ghat. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratification of protocol amending the Agreement between India and China for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income. +Besides other changes, the Protocol updates the existing provisions for exchange of information to the latest international standards. +Further the Protocol will incorporate changes required to implement treaty related minimum standards under the Action reports of Base Erosion & Profit shifting (BEPS) Project, in which India had participated on an equal footing. +Besides minimum standards, the Protocol will also bring in changes as per BEPS Action reports as agreed upon by two sides. +The highlights of this scheme are as under:- +One Nation – One Scheme: best features of all previous schemes incorporated + all previous shortcomings / weaknesses removed. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high level meeting on the drought and water scarcity situation in parts of Maharashtra. +Initiating the discussion, the Prime Minister stated that the Centre, States, Local Bodies, NGOs and citizens have to work together to resolve the problems posed by drought. +The Chief Minister of Maharashtra said that the State Government is working on a plan to ensure that 100 per cent of the sugarcane growing area in Maharashtra comes under drip irrigation in three years. +The Prime Minister also stressed the need to adopt a judicious mix of traditional and modern water conservation and storage mechanisms. +He said that a lot can be learnt from the water management practices and measures adopted by Chhatrapati Shivaji. +The Chief Minister stated that the State is working to rejuvenate the water-bodies of that era. +The Chief Minister informed that good progress has been made in preparatory works for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. +The Prime Minister also called for modern solid and liquid waste management practices in urban areas, which could yield enhanced water and organic fertilizer availability in adjoining rural areas. +The Chief Minister informed the Prime Minister that the State is focusing on Climate Resilient Agriculture; and has proposed a Climate Resistant Agriculture Modernization Project for a World Bank loan, to ensure water security at the farm level. +He thanked the Government of India for expeditiously recommending this project to the World Bank. +The Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister about the progress of the Jal Yukt Shivar Abhiyan for water conservation and storage. +He said the State has set a target of 51,500 farm ponds for Financial Year 2016-17, which may be scaled up further, in view of the enthusiastic response of farmers. +The Chief Minister also explained the State’s efforts to complete critical irrigation projects in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions in a time-bound manner. +He also spoke of the work done to bring more farmers under the umbrella of institutional credit. +The Chief Minister also informed about the efforts towards “doubling farm incomes and drought-free Maharashtra.” +Appreciating the efforts of the State Government, the Prime Minister emphasized crop diversification, value-addition, and broadbasing the sources of income for farmers, by connecting dairying, fishery, poultry, bee-keeping etc. +He also underlined the natural hedging from vagaries of nature because of broadbasing of income. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the closing ceremony of National Youth Parliament Festival Awards 2019, at Vigyan Bhawan, in New Delhi. +He conferred the National Youth Parliament Festival Awards 2019,and distributed the certificates to the winners. +He also launched the Khelo India App at the event, which will provide information +Congratulating the participants and winners of the National Youth Parliament Festival 2019, Prime Minister appreciated their energy and devotion. +He said that the festival represents the image of a New India. +He asked the youth to connect with the vision of New India. +He added that the youth of the country should be prepared to play a bigger role for the development of the nation and the society +The Prime Minister urged the youth of the country to develop better communication skills for the betterment of the society. +He said that the words one speak may or may not be impressive but it should definitely be inspiring. +He asked the youth of the nation to take up various issues and debate on it. +Young people have the advantage of freshness and new ideas, enabling them to face new challenges more effectively, PM said. +Prime Minister expressed hope that National Youth Parliament Festival platform would provide direction and shape to the energy of the youth and a better dialogue process. +He said that such events would aid those aspiring to become Parliamentarians. +Earlier, the award winners had the opportunity to share their thoughts with the Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister also interacted with the participants of the festival. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary. +“Scholar, freedom fighter and a man who devoted his life towards nation building, I salute Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary”, the Prime Minister said. +Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, President-elect of the United Nations General Assembly called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister congratulated Ms. Espinosa on her election to the post of President of the 73rd UN General Assembly. +Ms. Espinosa shared her priorities for the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly. +Prime Minister assured her of India’s full and constructive cooperation in discharging her new responsibilities. +They discussed the need for stronger UN action on major global challenges including terrorism, United Nations reform and climate change. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today presented over 100 volumes of Urga Kanjur to Jampa Donor, Buda Balzheivich Badmayev, Head Priest, Datsan Gunzechoinei Buddhist Temple, St Petersburg. +It was presented to him by the Prime Minister of the Mongolian People’s Republic, as a unique bibliographic rarity. +This Kanjur was revised, edited and xylographed from 1908 to 1920 under the patronage of the last Jibcundampa of Mongolia. +It was collated with the Derge and two Chinese editions (Rgya-par-mag Uis). +It retains the order of the Tshal-pa Kanjur, which is based on the old catalogue Hphan-than-ma. +Its size (35x25cm) is smaller than that of the known xylographed editions. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the National Tribal Carnival in New Delhi. +Speaking on the occasion after witnessing an enthralling carnival parade, he said this is the first time that tribal groups from across the country would be in Delhi at the time of the festive occasion of Diwali. +He said the tribal carnival would showcase the capabilities of the tribal communities, in the national capital. +The Prime Minister said India is a land of great diversity. +He said the carnival parade presented at the function today had offered just a small glimpse of this diversity. +The Prime Minister said the life of the tribal communities was marked by intense struggle. +Yet, he added, the tribal communities had imbibed the ideals of community living, and of living cheerfully despite troubles. +Shri Narendra Modi said he was fortunate to have had the occasion for social work among the tribals in his youth. +He recalled that it is difficult to hear a complaint escape their lips. +In this respect, he added, the people living in urban areas can draw inspiration from them. +He said adivasis had the skills to make innovative products from local materials. +These could be in great demand, and create great economic opportunity, if marketed well, he added. +The Prime Minister gave several illustrations of innovations that had made a positive difference in the lives of the tribal communities. +He recalled that it was former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had created a separate Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the Government of India. +The Prime Minister said change could not come for the tribal communities through a top down approach. +He said it was necessary to make the tribal communities real stakeholders in the development process. +In this context, he mentioned the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana. +The Prime Minister complimented the tribal communities for their role in the conservation of forests. +The Prime Minister said most of our natural resources and forests were found in the same parts of the country, as tribal communities. +He said while resources had to be harnessed, exploitation of tribals could not be allowed. +The Prime Minister said the District Mineral Foundation, envisaged in the last Union Budget, would help channelize funds for the development of the tribal communities. +He said this decision would unlock huge amounts of money for development of the mineral rich districts. +The Prime Minister said the Government was committed to using modern technology such as underground mining and coal gasification, which would minimize disturbance to tribal settlements. +He also spoke of the Rurban Mission, which would focus on development of rural growth centres. +“We remember the horrific terror attacks in Mumbai on this day in 2008 and pay homage to the innocent men and women who lost their lives. +We salute the brave security personnel who laid down their lives to protect several lives on that fateful day. +They are our true heroes. +Today is a day to reaffirm our commitment to work together to combat the menace of terror and uproot it from the face of humankind,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji on his birth anniversary. +“My tributes to the great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary. +The valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji is legendary. +Words can’t do justice to indomitable courage & fighting spirit. +Chhatrapati Shivaji is remembered as a torchbearer of good governance and as an accomplished administrator. +He remains an inspiration for all of us.” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, accepting the Fitness Challenge given by Virat Kohli, shared his fitness video today. +The Prime Minister said, “Here are moments from my morning exercises. +Apart from Yoga, I walk on a track inspired by the Panchtatvas or 5 elements of nature – Prithvi, Jal, Agni, Vayu, Aakash. +This is extremely refreshing and rejuvenating. +I also practice breathing exercises. #HumFitTohIndiaFit. +I appeal to every Indian to devote some part of the day towards fitness. +“I am delighted to nominate the following for the #FitnessChallenge: +India’s pride and among the highest medal winners for India in the 2018 CWG, Manika Batra +The entire fraternity of brave IPS officers, especially those above 40”, the Prime Minister said. +10 days ago, Mother India had to bear the loss of many of her valiant sons. +These brave hearts made the supreme sacrifice in securing the lives of a hundred & twenty five crore Indians. +In order to ensure that their fellow countrymen could sleep peacefully, these brave sons toiled relentlessly, day or night. +The outrage that singes your being and mine on account of the terrorizing violence replicates itself in the collective inner psyche’ of every citizen of the country; it also echoes in pro-humanity communities of the world, which sincerely believe in humanity. +We shall have to take up this challenge facing our country, forgetting all barriers of casteism, communalism, regionalism and other difference, so that, our steps against terror are firmer, stronger and more decisive. +Our armed forces have consistently displayed unparalleled courage and valour. +On the one hand, they have displayed exemplary capabilities in restoring peace; on the other, they have retaliated in equal measure, in a language the attackers understand. +You must have seen how within a hundred hours of the attack, retributive action was accomplished. +The Army has resolved to wipe out terrorists and their harbourers. +The country salutes the indomitable courage of Meenaji, wife of Martyr PrasannaSahu of Jagatsinghpur, Odisha. +She has vowed to send her only son to join the CRPF. +Whether it be the family of Martyr Vijay Maurya of Devariya, the parents of Martyr Tilakraj of Kangra or the six year old son of Martyr Hemraj of Kota – the story of every family of martyrs is full of inspiration. +I urge the young generation to know and understand the fortitude and the sentiment displayed by these families. +To understand the virtues of patriotism, sacrifice and perseverance, one doesn’t need to revert to historical events. +These are but living examples before your eyes… these very examples are a source of inspiration for the future of a rising & glowing India. +And I took a resolve that the country must have such a Memorial. +We decided to erect the National War Memorial and I am contented to see it attaining completion in so little a time. +Tomorrow, that is on the 25th of February, crores of we Indians will dedicate this National Soldiers’ Memorial to our Armed Forces. +On part of the nation, this will be a small step towards repaying a great debt. +This new memorial has been instituted in the heart of Delhi, in close vicinity of India Gate and Amar JawanJyoti. +I do believe that for our countrymen a visit to the National War Memorial will be akin to a pilgrimage to a holy place. +The National Soldiers’ Memorial is a symbol of the nation’s gratitude to those men who made the supreme sacrifice after we gained Independence. +The Memorial’s design symbolises the indomitable courage of our immortal soldiers. +The concept of the National Soldiers’ Memorial is based on the notion of four concentric circles, which depicts the journey of a soldier from coming into being, culminating in his martyrdom. +The flame of the Amar Chakra symbolizes the immortality of the martyred soldier. +The second circle, Veerta Chakra, depicts the courage and bravery of our soldiers. +It is a gallery whose walls are inscribed with soldiers’ tales of valour. +This bears the names of soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice, in letters of gold. +Following that is the Rakshak Chakra which depicts the spirit of security. +This circle houses a row of dense trees. +These trees represent soldiers and send a reassuring message to the country’s citizens that our soldiers vigilantly guard borders round the clock and that they, the citizens are safe. +One falls short of words in assessing the enormous contribution of our Armed Forces, Police and Para Military Forces in the strides of progress achieved by the country. +In the month of Octoberlast year, I was blessed with the opportunity to dedicate the National Police Memorial to the nation. +That too echoed the same sentiment, and we believe that we should be ever grateful to those policemen & police women, who relentlessly ensure our safety & security. +I do hope that you will pay a visit to the National Soldiers’ Memorial and the National Police Memorial. +Whenever you are there, do capture images and share them on social media so that others get inspired to come & visit this sacred site with eagerness. +My dear countrymen, for ‘Mann Ki Baat’, I keep getting thousands of letters and comments from your side, on various platforms. +Once while I was going through your comments, I came across an interesting point by AtishMukhopadhyayji. +He further states that despite both personalities hailing from diverse family backgrounds, they enriched the legacy and the history of Jharkhand. +Paying tributes to BirsaMunda and Jamsetji Tata is, in a way, salutation to the glorious legacy and history of Jharkhand. +The country is indeed grateful for their contribution. +Today, if an inspiring personality is required for ably guiding our youth, it certainly is that of BhagwanBirsaMunda. +The British tree treacherously arrested him when he was asleep, in a covert manner. +Do you know why they had to resort to such a cowardly operation? +Because even the British who raised a mighty empire used to be terrified of him. +BhagwanBirsaMunda took on the might of the guns & cannons of the British, using traditional bows and arrows, to shake them apart. +The fact is, when people are blessed with exemplary leadership, the might of arms pales in comparison to the collective will power of the people. +BhagwanBirsaMunda not only waged a struggle against the British for political freedom; he also actively fought for the social & economic rights of the tribal folk. +And he accomplished all this in his rather short life. +He let sunshine peep into the darkened lives of the deprived and the oppressed. +BhagwanBirsaMunda sacrificed his life at the tender age of twenty five. +Illustrious sons of Mother India, such as BirsaMunda have come into being in each & every part of the country. +There must’ve been hardly any part of India, which did not produce someone who contributed in the long freedom struggle,that spanned centuries. +But it’s a misfortune that these tales of valour and sacrifice did not reach the new generations. +If the valourousBhagwanBirsaMunda made us aware of our existence & identity, far-sightedJamsetji Tata created great institutions for the country. +Jamsetji Tata was a true visionary, who not only foresaw India’s future, but also duly laid strong foundations. +He knew very well that making India a hub of science, technology and industry was imperative for her future. +It was his vision that culminated in the establishment of the Tata Institute of Science, which we know as Indian Institute of Science today. +It is said… this very discussion led to the founding of the Indian Institute of Science. +My dear countrymen, our former Prime Minister Morarji Desai was born on the 29th of February. +All of you know that this day comes just once in four years. +A simple, peace loving personality, Morarjibhai was one of the most disciplined leaders. +In Independent India, the record of presenting the budget the maximum number of times is held by Morarjibhai Desai. +The government of that time arrested and incarcerated him. +But when the Janata Party won the general elections in 1977, he became the Prime Minister of the country. +During his tenure, the 44th constitutional amendment was introduced. +This was important because the 42nd amendment which was brought during the emergency, curtailed the powers of the Supreme Court and implemented provisions which stood to violate our democratic values, was struck down. +The 44th amendment, made it mandatory that the proceedings of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies were made public through the newspapers. +For the first time constitutional safeguards guaranteed that the President could only announce the emergency upon the written recommendation of the Cabinet, and that the period of emergency could not be extended more than six months at any stretch of time. +In this way, Morarji Bhai ensured that the way democracy was assassinated in 1975 by imposition of emergency, could never be repeated againin the future. +You must have been a witness yourself to the curiosity in the air when the Padma awards are announced, and people are inquisitive about the awardees. +In a way, I consider this to be a huge pat on the back because these are people who are not on the front page of a Magazine or Newspaper or on our TV screens. +They are far removed from the world of glitter and glare, and are people who do not care about name or fame but simply believe in toiling at the proletarian level. +Theybelieve in living in the manner as preached by the shloka of Srimadbhagvad Gita ‘Yoga: KarmasuKaushalam’, or excellence in action is yoga. +I would like to tell you about some of these people. +Take the case of Abdul Ghafoor Khatri of Gujarat, whohas done an amazing job of reviving the traditional Rogan painting form of Kutch. +He is doing a great job of extending this rare painting art form to the present generation. +I had gifted a Roganpainting titled ‘Tree of Life’ done by Abdul Gafoor, to the former President of USA, Mr. Barack Obama. +Among the recipients of the Padma award, ShabbirSayyed of Marathwada is known as the servant of Gau-Mata. +The manner he has spent his entire life in the service of Gau-mata, is unique in itself. +JamunaTudu, famous nicknamed ‘Lady Tarzan’ in Jharkhand, most valiantly took on the Timber Mafia and Naxalites, and not only saved the 50 hectares of forest but also inspired ten thousand women to unite and protect the trees and wildlife. +Generally, very few people associated with the agricultural world or those very few who can be labeled as real farmers have ever found their name in the list of Padmashree awards. +This in itself presents the live and vibrant image of a changing India. +My dear countrymen, today I wish to narrate a heart rending experience with you which I’ve beenwanting to do past few days. +At present, whenever I’m touring, it is my sincere effort to meet people beneficiaries of ‘PMJAY’ scheme under Ayushman Bharat’s umbrella. +I have found that it brings about a transformation in the life of the have-nots. +My dear countrymen, exam time in schools throughout the nation is soon going to dawn upon us. +In the next few weeks various education boards across the country will initiate the process for the board examinations of the tenth and twelfth standards. +My best wishes to all the students who’re going to appear for their examinations, their parents and all the teachers as well. +A few weeks ago, an immense event entitled ‘ParikshaPeCharcha’ was organised in Delhi in the format of a Town Hall programme. +In this Town Hall programme, I had the opportunity to talk with crores of students from India and abroad, and also with their parents and teachers; a possibility through the aegis of technology. +One of the focal points of ‘ParikshaPeCharcha’ was that there were lively interactions on various topics related with the entire process of examinations. +There are many such aspects which emerged out of these discussions which are definitely going to be beneficial for the students. +All the students, their teachers and parents can watch the recording of this entire event on YouTube, and I take this opportunity to wish all the best to all my’exam warriors’, for their upcoming examinations. +It is just not possible that a day passes without any significance associated with it, or does not herald a festival! +Our culture has a continuum spread over many millennia and it is a part of our heritage. +In a few days from now, Mahashivrartri will be celebrated, and that too on a Monday, and when a Shivratri falls on a Monday, it becomes all that special in our heart of our hearts! +I extend felicitations on this pious occasion of Mahashivratri to you all. +Many topics were discussed in their company and their confidence was really striking –it was inspiring. +And he told me that he could mimic the Prime Minister. +I was very happy to hear that people not only listen to ‘Mann KI Baat’ but also remember it on many occasions. +I was really impressed with the prowess of that divyang young man. +My dear countrymen, connecting with all of you, courtesy the ‘Mann KiBaat’ program has been a really wonderful experience for me. +Through radio I connect every month with millions of families. +Many times while conversing with you, reading your letters or listening to your thoughts sent on the phone, I feel that you have adopted me as part of your family. +This has been a very sublime experience for me. +Friends, elections are the biggest celebration of democracy. +In the next two months, we will be busy in the hurly-burly of the general elections. +I myself will also be a candidate during this election. +In maintainingrespect for healthy democratic traditions, the next episode of ‘Mann KiBaat’ will be broadcast on the last Sunday of the month of May. +Once again, I thank all of you from the core of my heart. +A group of over 100 Anganwadi workers from across the country, called on the Prime Minister today to express their happiness, and thank the Prime Minister for the recent announcement of increase in honorarium and other incentives. +Acknowledging the greetings of the Anganwadi workers, the Prime Minister expressed his happiness that they had assembled from all parts of the country to meet him today. +Referring to the ongoing Poshan Maah (nutrition month), the Prime Minister said that the momentum that has been built up during this campaign should not flag. +He said nutrition requires constant focus and development of good habits, which can be provided by Anganwadi workers. +He exhorted them to ensure that the nutritional assistance being made available to beneficiaries is used judiciously. +Children will listen more to Anganwadi workers. +They have a key role in generating awareness. +He encouraged healthy competition among Anganwadis, as a motivation for better nutritional care and efforts among various Anganwadi workers. +The awards were given in recognition of great achievements in the face of adversity. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the awardees were people whose life journey had been like a diamond, that passes through great travails before being recognized and acknowledged by the world at large. +The Prime Minister regretted that in India, most of the narrative has been built around the lives of those in power, or the ruling class. +Those who have struggled and achieved noble objectives, or served society, despite severe obstacles and adversity, are rarely recognized and celebrated, he added. +The Prime Minister said that today in India, a teacher who might have inspired hundreds of young children to become responsible members of society, often remains unnoticed and unheard, while even a relatively junior political functionary is feted. +The Prime Minister said that the world over, most of the great achievers have been those, who overcame personal hardships, or difficult circumstances, and yet contributed to society. +The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for Extension of tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK) beyond 31.3.2019 for three years. +The NCSK was established in the year 1993 as per the provisions of the NCSK Act 1993 initially for the period upto 31.3.1997. +Later the validity of the Act was initially extended upto 31.3.2002 and thereafter upto 29.2.2004. +The NCSK Act ceased to have effect from 29.2.2004. +After that the tenure of the NCSK has been extended as a non-statutory body from time to time. +The tenure of the present Commission is upto 31.3.2019. +The NCSK has been giving its recommendations to the Government regarding specific programmes for welfare of SafaiKaramcharis, study and evaluate the existing welfare programmes for SafaiKaramcharis, investigate cases of specific grievances etc. +Also as per the provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, the NCSK has been assigned the work to monitor the implementation of the Act, tender advice for its effective implementation to the Centre and State Governments and enquire into complaints regarding contravention/non-implementation of the provisions of the Act. +Though the Government has taken many steps for the upliftment of the SafaiKaramcharis, the deprivation suffered by them in socio-economic and educational terms is still far from being eliminated. +Further the practice of manual scavenging is still prevalent in the country and its eradication continues to be an area of the highest priority for the Government. +Hence, the Government feels that there is a continued need to monitor the various interventions and initiatives of the Government for welfare of SafaiKaramcharis and to achieve the goal of complete eradication of the practice of manual scavenging in the country. +Therefore, the Cabinet has approved the present proposal for grant of extension of the tenure of National Commission for SafaiKaramcharis (NCSK) for three more years beyond 31.3.2019. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of the Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Parliament subject to modifications of drafting or consequential nature, if any, as may be considered necessary by the Legislative Department by amending the Dentists Act, 1948 (16 of 1948). +The amendment will reduce the redundancy. +The clauses being amended include those pertaining to certain modifications in the provisions of the Dentists Act, 1948 with regard to: +As per the existing Act, it was required to have the representation of dentists registered in Part B as Central Government nominees in the Dental Council of India and the election of four/ two members from Part B to the State/ Joint State Dental Councils. +However, it has lost relevance. +With a view to reducing the redundancy of the provisions of their representation, the Central Government has decided to delete these provisions so that their representation does not remain mandatory any more. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the revised Model Text for the Indian Bilateral Investment Treaty. +The revised Indian model text for Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) will replace the existing Indian Model BIT. +The revised model BIT will be used for re-negotiation of existing BITs and negotiation of future BITs and investment chapters in Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreements (CECAs)/ Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) / Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). +The new Indian Model BIT text will provide appropriate protection to foreign investors in India and Indian investors in the foreign country, in the light of relevant international precedents and practices, while maintaining a balance between the investor’s rights and the Government obligations. +A BIT increases the comfort level and boosts the confidence of investors by assuring a level playing field and non-discrimination in all matters while providing for an independent forum for dispute settlement by arbitration. +In turn, BITs help project India as a preferred foreign direct investment (FDI) destination as well as protect outbound Indian FDI. +Shri Tarun Vijay, Member of Parliament, today presented a book on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, published in Chinese language, to the Prime Minister. +The book was presented in the Central Hall of Parliament, on 22 July 2014, in the presence of Union Ministers Shri Venkaiah Naidu and Shri Arun Jaitley, and other senior leaders. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Combined Commander’s Conference 2014 in New Delhi today. +The Prime Minister said that India’s Armed Forces, which represent the world’s largest democracy, were second to none in professionalism, valour, commitment, service and duty. +The Armed Forces have always vindicated the faith and confidence that people of India placed in them, whether it is for our nation’s security or for relief in times of natural calamities. +He thanked the Armed Forces for their extraordinary service to the people during the floods in Jammu and Kashmir and the cyclone on the East Coast. +He paid tribute to the tradition and training that inculcated the highest ideals and professional capabilities in our Armed Forces. +The nation’s trust was the biggest strength of our Armed Forces. +The Prime Minister noted that the world was looking at India with renewed interest, confidence and excitement and there was a universal current of expectation from India to emerge not only as one of the poles of the global economy, but also as one of the anchors of regional and global security. +The Prime Minister emphasized that an atmosphere of peace and security was essential to enable India to achieve its goals of economic development. +For this purpose, he said, his Government has focused on creating a favourable external environment and on strengthening India`s security. +The Prime Minister outlined India`s key strategic and security challenges and priorities. +He also observed that in addition to the familiar challenges, India had to be prepared for a changing world, which demanded new thinking on our part with regard to economic, diplomatic and security policies. +Prime Minister, Shri Modi noted, that “beyond the immediate, we are facing a future where security challenges will be less predictable; situations will evolve and change swiftly; and, technological changes will make responses more difficult to keep pace with. +The threats may be known, but the enemy may be invisible. +Domination of cyber space will become increasingly important. +Control of space may become as critical as that of land, air and sea. +Full scale wars may become rare, but force will remain an instrument of deterrence and influencing behavior, and the duration of conflicts will be shorter.” +The Prime Minister assured the Armed Forces of his commitment to provide adequate resources to ensure full defence preparedness, overcome shortages and meet modernization needs. +He also asked the defence establishment, including the Armed Forces, to reform procurement processes as also suggest corrective measures to avoid delays in domestic development and production of defence equipment. +The Prime Minister urged the Armed Forces to focus on efficiency and economy in the use of resources and our military assets, including by greater integration and sharing of resources among the Services and draw up long term acquisition plans keeping in view availability of resources, future operational requirements and technology trends. +The Prime Minister also noted, “We should remember that what matters is capability of the force.” +The most important task, Prime Minister observed, was to transform our defence forces. +He called for increased jointness and urged the three wings of the Services to work as a team all the way from the lowest levels of the Services to the top. +He suggested a number of practical steps to achieve that goal. +He also felt that Commanders Conferences should be organized alternately on sea, in forward Army camps and at air bases, and not just in Delhi. +Prime Minister also assured the Commanders that he would continue the practice that he had started of meeting the three Chiefs at least once a month. +The Prime Minister also mentioned that he attached the highest priority to the welfare of Armed Forces personnel, both during and after their service careers. +He assured the Commanders that he would do everything to fulfill the promises made on One Rank One Pension; improving service conditions; and, creating better safety nets and opportunities for services after retirement. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Shri Mohammad Asrarul Haque. +“Saddened by the passing away of Shri Mohammad Asrarul Haque, the Lok Sabha MP from Kishanganj in Bihar. +My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this hour of grief”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today witnessed the successful launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle – PSLV-C23 from Sriharikota. +In his congratulatory address at the Mission Control Centre after the landmark launch, the Prime Minister called upon the space community to proactively engage with all stakeholders to maximize the use of space science in governance and development. +India must fully harness this expertise in space technology in the developmental process for social change, economic development and resource conservation, he added. +Speaking of India’s age-old ethos of the whole world being one family, the Prime Minister said India’s space programme is driven by a vision of service to humanity, not a desire of power. +He said India has a rich heritage of science and technology, including space. +Shri Modi said the works of our ancestors, who included visionaries like Bhaskaracharya and Aryabhata, still continue to inspire generations of scientists. +He added that India must share the fruits of its advancement in space technology with the developing world, and neighbours in particular. +He called upon the space community to take up the challenge of developing a SAARC satellite that can be dedicated to our neighbourhood as a gift from India. +Shri Modi said we can be proud of the Indian space programme, which is fully indigenous, developed in the face of great international pressure and hurdles. +He described it as a domain where “we have pushed beyond mediocrity to achieve excellence.” +He said the moon mission was inspired by the vision of former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. +Among ongoing projects, Shri Modi referred to the Mars Mission, and the satellite-based navigation system. +Referring to the benefits of space technology for the common man, the Prime Minister said it drives modern communication, empowers children in remote villages with quality education, and ensures quality healthcare to all, through telemedicine. +He said it has a critical role in realizing the vision of a Digital India – the power of 125 crore connected Indians. +The Prime Minister said continued progress in space must remain a mission of high priority. +He called for developing more advanced satellites and expanding our satellite footprint. +He said India has the potential to be the launch service provider of the world and must work towards this goal. +The Prime Minister called for involving India’s youth with space. +Shri Modi said he was pleased to have met the young scientists as Sriharikota, and admired their work and their achievements. +He commended Dr. K. Radhakrishnan for his leadership, and said India’s space programme is the best example of his vision of scale, speed and skill. +He wished the team of scientists the best as they prepare to insert our spacecraft into the orbit of Mars in a few months. +In a speech made in a combination of English and Hindi, Shri Modi spoke of the Tapasya made by generations of scientists, in a long journey from Upanishad to Upagrah. +He remarked that he had met four generations of scientists during his visit to ISRO. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) between Department of Science & Technology (DST), India and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany on Indo German-Centre for Sustainability (IGCS). +The JDI was concluded on 30th May, 2017 in Germany during the fourth Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) between India and Germany between Prime Minister of India and the German Federal Chancellor in Berlin. +The JDI was signed by the Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, India, Dr Harsh Vardhan and Germany’s Minister for Education & Research Prof. Dr. Johanna Wanka. +The objective of the JDI on IGCS is to promote cooperation between German and Indian scientists on fundamental and applied scientific research. +It includes areas such as policy support, teaching, training and dissemination of information in the area of sustainable development and climate change through inter-disciplinary/trans-disciplinary research. +The IGCS will nurture future collaboration by widening the network with other Universities, Institutes and industries both in India and Germany. +On the Indian side, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras will act as the host institution for IGCS. +Under this JDI, the required institutional framework will be developed to provide fund support to the IGCS at IIT, Madras by DST and BMBF. +DST will provide grant-in-aid support to IGCS for undertaking research in the areas of climate change for sustainable development. +DST and BMBF will jointly support the IGCS for a period of five years starting from January 2018. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the proposal of the Ministry of Shipping for provision and operationalization of credit of 150 million USD from EXIM Bank for development of Chabahar Port in Iran. +Ownership of equipment will be transferred to Iranian side on completion of 10 year period or for an extended period, based on mutual agreement. +The Iranian side had requested for provision of a credit of USD 150 million in accordance with the MoU. +As per the MoU, operation of two berths will commence within a period of maximum 18 months after the signing of the Contract. +The Union Cabinet has now authorized the Ministers of Finance, External Affairs and Shipping to approve the final contract with Iran and for resolution of any issue arising in implementation of the project. +The Union Cabinet has also authorized the Ministry of Shipping to form a Company in Iran for implementing the Chabahar Port Development Project and related activities. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2015, as reported by the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha. +The Bill will now be taken up for consideration and passing by the Parliament. +The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill is a pioneering initiative to protect the interest of consumers, promote fair play in real estate transactions and to ensure timely execution of projects. +The Bill provides uniform regulatory environment to ensure speedy adjudication of disputes and orderly growth of the real estate sector. +It will boost domestic and foreign investment in the Real Estate sector and help achieve the objective of Government of India to provide ‘Housing for All’ by enhanced private participation. +The Bill ensures mandatory disclosure by promoters to the customers through registration of real estate projects as well as real estate agents with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority. +The Bill aims at restoring confidence of consumers in the real estate sector; by institutionalizing transparency and accountability in real estate and housing transactions which will further enable the sector to access capital and financial markets. +The Bill will promote orderly growth through consequent efficient project execution, professionalism and standardization. +The salient features of the Bill are as under: +1. Applicable both for commercial and residential real estate projects. +2. Establishment of ‘Real Estate Regulatory Authority’ in States/UTs to regulate real estate transactions. +3. Registration of real estate projects and real estate agents with the Authority. +4. Mandatory disclosure of all registered projects, including details of the promoter, project, layout plan, land status, approvals, agreements along with details of real estate agents, contractors, architect, structural engineer etc. +5. Deposit of specified amount in a separate bank account to cover the construction cost of the project for timely completion of the project. +6. Establishment of fast track dispute resolution mechanisms for settlement of disputes through adjudicating officers and Appellate Tribunal. +7. Civil courts jurisdiction prohibited from taking up matters defined in Bill, however, consumer court allowed to hear real estate matters. +8. Promoters barred from changing plans and design without consent of consumers. +9. Provision of Appropriate Government to make rules for the matters specified in the Bill, and the Regulatory Authority to make necessary regulations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna and other Central Government health care schemes from across the country, through video bridge. +This is the fifth interaction in the series by the Prime Minister through video bridge with various beneficiaries of Government schemes. +Explaining the importance of healthcare and wellness, Prime Minister said that health is the basis for all success and prosperity. +He added that that India would become great and healthy only when its 125 crore citizens are healthy. +Interacting with the beneficiaries, Shri Modi said that illness not only creates a huge financial burden on families, especially poor and middle class, but also affects our socio economic sectors. +Hence, it is the endeavour of the government to ensure affordable healthcare to every citizen. +Prime Minister added that Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna was launched with this intention so that poor, lower middle class and middle class get access to affordable medicines and their financial burden is reduced. +Government has opened more than 3600 Jan Aushadhi Kendras all over the country, where more than 700 generic medicines are available at affordable price. +Talking about health stents, Prime Minister Shri Modi said that earlier citizens had to sell or mortgage property to purchase health stents. +He added that, the government has reduced the prices of stents substantially to help poor and middle class. +The cost of heart stents have reduced from around Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 29000. +During the interaction, Shri Narendra Modi said that the Government has reduced knee transplant prices by 60 – 70%, thereby bringing down the cost from Rs. 2.5 lakh to around Rs.70, 000 – 80,000. +It is estimated that around 1 to 1.5 lakh knee operations happen in India every year. +On that account, the reduction in knee transplant prices has saved close to Rs.1500 crore for public. +Through Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Dialysis Program, Government has performed more than 22 lakh dialysis sessions for 2.25 lakh patients in more than 500 districts. +More than 3.15crore children and 80 lakh pregnant women have been vaccinatedin 528 districts through Mission Indradhanush. +In order to ensure more beds, more hospitals and more doctors, Government has opened 92 medical colleges and increased MBBS seats by 15000. +Prime Minister said that to make healthcare affordable and accessible, Government launched the Ayushman Bharat scheme. +Under Ayushman Bharat, 10 crore families will be covered with health insurance of Rs. 5 lakh. +Talking about ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’, Prime Minister said that the scheme is playing a central role in creating a healthy India. +Due to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, there are now 3.5 lakh open defecation free villages in India and the sanitation coverage has increased by 38%. +Interacting with the Prime Minister, beneficiaries explained how Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna brought down the cost of the medicines and made it affordable. +Beneficiaries also talked about how reduced prices of heart stent and knee transplants have changed their life. +Prime Minister also appealed to the public to take up Yoga, make it part of life style and thereby help in building a healthy nation. +Your Excellency Dr. Angela Merkel! +It is a great pleasure for me to join you in Bengaluru. +Welcome to this Indo German Summit. +I fondly recall my visit to the city of Hannover and Hannover Messe in April. +15 States, a number of CEOs and hundreds of companies from India, had participated. +The exposure to Hannover Messe will go a long way in shaping our vision and strategy of manufacturing. +This is particularly important at a time when we are on the path of making India a global manufacturing hub. +Dr. Merkel and Friends! +There is tremendous potential in India-Germany economic collaboration. +Germany ranks 7th among foreign investor countries in India. +About 600 Indo-German Joint ventures are already operating in India. +However, as of now, our economic partnership remains below our full potential. +We are particularly keen to develop the sectors where Germany is strong. +We are working hard to create conducive conditions for the same. +At a time of global slowdown, India represents a bright spot for investments. +We are fortunate to be sailing in the right direction. +The recent data on global economic activity reinforces this assertion. +However, we cannot afford to be complacent. +We are committed to doing everything possible to convert these analyses into reality. +With a very open and global mindset, we have worked aggressively in the last fifteen months to make India an easy place to do business. +We are committed to creating favorable conditions for business and industry because we believe that they are necessary for improving the lives of ordinary citizens in India. +A recent study conducted with the help of the World Bank Group has brought out the urgency among our provincial governments on ease of doing business. +They are moving hand-in-hand with the federal government in this direction in a true spirit of cooperative and competitive federalism. +One of the biggest challenges in India today is to productively employ our youth. +For meeting this challenge, we need to provide a huge push to manufacturing which has stagnated at around 16% of the GDP for several decades in India. +This percentage must reach around 25 in the short and medium term. +With this in view, we have launched the “Make in India” initiative. +To make it a success, apart from vigorous implementation of measures for ease of doing business, we have fast tracked approvals and clearances for industry and infrastructure. +Transparent auction and allocation of spectrum and of key natural resources like coal, iron ore and other minerals in the last 15 months have created a level playing field for investors. +We are aware that our domestic financial resources are not sufficient to meet our needs. +Therefore, to enhance the flow of foreign investments, we have liberalized the FDI regime allowing 100% FDI in railways and enhancing the FDI limit to 49% in Defence and Insurance. +We have also refined our FDI Policy for construction and medical devices. +We are keen to build futuristic physical and social infrastructure. +Through self-imposed discipline in the management of our financial resources, we have been able to allocate more resources for infrastructure sectors. +In addition, we are setting up an India Investment and Infrastructure Fund. +We have targeted an annual flow of Rs 20,000 Crore (which is approximately 2.7 billion euros) into this fund from our own resources. +We are putting in place a professional team for asset management. +We have also come up with the mechanism of Tax Free Infrastructure Bonds for projects in rail, road and irrigation sectors. +There were a number of regulatory and taxation issues which were adversely impacting on the sentiments of foreign investors. +We have taken very decisive steps to remove a number of long pending concerns of investors. +To give you some examples:- +• We have expedited regulatory clearances including security and environmental clearance; +• Across the board, we have increased the validity period of Industrial Licences; +• We have de-licenced a number of defence items and liberalised a number of restrictions like end-use certificate; +• We have increased the validity period of defence industrial licences up to eighteen years from three years; +• We have clearly articulated that we will not resort to retrospective taxation and reinforced this position by not going for imposition of Minimum Alternate Tax on FPIs; +• We have notified the regulations for the Alternative Investment Funds allowing foreign investments in such funds; +• We have rationalized the capital gains tax regime for Real Estate Investment Trusts; +• We have modified the Permanent Establishment norms; +• We have also decided to defer the implementation of the General Anti-Avoidance Rules for two years; +• We have introduced the GST Bill in parliament; we are hopeful to roll it out in 2016; +• We are working on a new bankruptcy code; the Company Law Tribunal is soon going to be formed. +We want to make sure that our tax regime is transparent and predictable. +We are also keen to see that genuine investors and honest tax payers get quick and fair decisions on tax matters. +As a result of our initiatives, the sentiments for private investment and inflow of foreign investment have turned positive. +Many international financial institutions including the World Bank, IMF, OECD and others are predicting even faster growth in the coming years. +MOODY’s have upgraded the rating of India as positive. +India has improved its UNCTAD ranking of investment attractiveness. +Against 15th so far, now we are at 9th place. +India has also jumped 16 places on the World Economic Forum’s global competitive index after five years of decline in the list. +Similarly, in a ranking of the top global destinations for greenfield investment in the first half of 2015, India is at number one. +Foreign Policy magazine of USA has ranked India as number one FDI destination. +Thus, just in Fifteen Months, we have successfully restored the credibility of India in the eyes of global players. +I have always said that government has no business to do business. +Hence, through PPP or otherwise, we are encouraging private investments in areas where earlier only government used to invest. +We are also divesting our stake in the public sector enterprises, to instill market discipline. +We have taken several initiatives for transparency and online processing in IP administration. +A comprehensive National IPR policy is being finalized. +Last week I myself reviewed the situation. +I can say that this will be a progressive, and forward looking policy. +We want your active involvement in translating our dreams into reality. +Our commitment and aggressiveness to achieve the goal in a faster and effective manner offers immense opportunities to German Companies. +These opportunities range from building 50 million houses to setting up 100 smart cities; modernization of our railway network and stations to setting up of new railway corridors; generation of 175 GW of renewable energy to construction of transmission and distribution networks, National Highways, bridges, and Metro rails. +Such a huge potential for creation and production will not be available in any one country. +More importantly, no one place on the earth can offer the potential for consumption on such a massive scale. +We are trying to power this potential through our campaigns like Digital India and Skill India. +To tap the energy fully, we have launched the Start up India Campaign. +I thank NASSCOM for becoming our active partner in this journey. +Recently, we tried to ignite this energy through an interface of our youth with the eco-system of Silicon Valley. +India, in fact, is on the threshold of a big IT revolution. +We are at the tipping point where technology is going to be leveraged to meet the aspirations of our 1.25 billion citizens. +These initiatives provide additional avenues for investment in modern technology and human resources. +Ours is a country of the young and it is going to remain so for many more years. +There is a huge domestic market in India. +Unlike a decade ago, talented young minds in India are no longer looking merely for high paying jobs. +Instead, they have now begun taking risks and preferring to become entrepreneurs. +We have witnessed exponential growth in the number of start-ups in the recent past. +Some of these have begun to challenge established global players. +To conclude, I can assure you that we will be open to welcome your ideas, innovations and enterprises. +I had said in Hannover and I am saying it again, that we are also open to carry out necessary corrections in our policies and procedures. +I can say that, never before, India was so well prepared to absorb talent, technology and investment from outside. +To our understanding, the necessary conditions to propel the Indian economy to a high growth trajectory do exist today. +I am eagerly looking forward to working with you. +Therefore, it makes strong business sense to be in India. +It makes even better business sense to Make in India. +At his request, the Chairman of Tehreek-e-Insaf Party and the Member of Parliament of Pakistan Mr. Imran Khan called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +He invited the Prime Minister to visit Pakistan. +In the courtesy call, they welcomed the recent developments in bilateral relations and expressed the hope that these would lead to closer cooperative ties between the two countries. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has wished the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, on his birthday. +Have always cherished my interactions with him,” the Prime Minister said. +Addresses public meeting in Srinagar; announces Rs. 80,000 crore package for the State. +Inaugurates 450 MW Baglihar Hydro Electric Project Stage-II; lays Foundation Stone of 4-laning of Udhampur-Ramban and Ramban-Banihal section of National Highway 44 at Chanderkote, Ramban. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today announced a development package of eighty thousand crore rupees for the State of Jammu and Kashmir. +In his address at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar, Shri Narendra Modi recalled former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s message of Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat, Insaniyat. +“India is not complete without Kashmiriyat,” the Prime Minister said, mentioning the Sufi tradition of India. +He praised the people of the state for reposing their faith in Jamhooriyat (democracy) and said that the progress of Jammu and Kashmir had to be based on Insaniyat. +The Prime Minister said his Government worked for “Sabka saath, sabka vikas,” and therefore, it was essential for development to reach all parts of the country. +He said the State of Jammu and Kashmir should return once again to the days when people from all parts of India saved money to visit the State. +He said that besides tourism, attention was being given to sectors such as Pashmina, and Saffron. +He spoke of the initiatives of the Union Government in renewable energy generation, and the ambitious target of 175 GW of renewable energy. +He said this was the best way to combat the global issue of climate change. +The Prime Minister said the Rs. 80,000 crore package for Jammu and Kashmir, which he announced in Srinagar, would give new strength to the State, and generate employment for youth. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called upon states to work together with the Centre, with a long-term vision, to develop the country, and pave the way for the prosperity of future generations. +He was addressing a large public meeting at Rourkela, after dedicating to the nation, the 4.5 MT expansion of Rourkela Steel Plant. +He said he has come to Rourkela today to deliver ‘vikas’ (development). +He described Rourkela as the town which has given India the strength of steel. +He said Rourkela Steel Plant plays a key role in the nation’s defence as well. +He said value addition was necessary in India’s mineral wealth, in order to build a strong economy. +The Prime Minister said the world was looking at India again with optimism. +He invited investors from across the world to invest in India. +He emphasized in particular, the need to develop the eastern part of India, including the states of Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. +The Prime Minister said the Centre and States were equal stakeholders in the Nation’s development. +His Excellency Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan; +Honourable Ministers and Senior Delegates from Japan; +Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijay Rupani ; +Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Nitin Patel +Business Leaders from both countries; +It is a real pleasure to be with the business community of Japan and India. +My personal engagement with the leadership, Government, Industry and people of Japan is now a decade old. +Today, that dream has come true. +I am happy to see so many friends from Japan happily living and doing business in Gujarat. +It also gives me great pleasure to see so many familiar faces here. +I am also happy to see that dedicated townships, clusters and institutions have come up to make the Japanese life and work experience better. +Today also, one Japanese township has been announced. +Gujarat’s Industry and Government still cherish the fact that Japan became the first partner country in the Vibrant Gujarat event. +Not only did this partnership continue, but our engagement has kept growing. +It has resulted in much greater level of engagement of the Japanese industry with the Indian economy. +I thank Keidanren, JETRO and other organisations for helping us in this process. +The mechanism of Japan Plus has also helped in the process of hand holding. +The Government and the people of Japan have always shown great affection towards me and my country. +In fact, 1.25 billion people of India have the same affection for the Japanese people. +I am particularly grateful to Prime Minister Abe for his encouragement and support at a personal level. +Prime Minister Abe and I do not miss any opportunity to meet. +This closeness and understanding has helped us bridge a number of gaps in our bilateral relations. +Last year has seen the highest ever disbursement of Official Development Assistance from Japan in a financial year. +Similarly, the number of Japanese companies working in India has gone up steadily in the last few years. +From the activities launched today, you can see the depth of relationship between the two countries. +• First is the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project: +• We are grateful for the support of the Japanese Government for this Project. +• I hope that the construction of the 500-km long bullet train will begin soon and it would become operational by 2022–23. +• Along with the High Speed Rail project, a training institute is also taking shape. +• It will prepare the Makers of a New India – the highly skilled manpower required to build, operate and maintain the high speed railway. +• Second is the Development of Japanese Industrial Townships: Country-wide, four locations have been finalized. +Apart from Gujarat, they are located in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. +In addition to Gujarat, they will be developed in Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. +• You know that the ancient and holy city of Varanasi is my second home. +The project of Varanasi Convention Centre is a symbol of cultural co-operation between Kyoto city of Japan and Varanasi. +It was conceived by Prime Minister Abe and I when we visited Varanasi together in 2015. +I have named it Rudraksh – the symbol of love, and a Prasad of Lord Shiva to Humanity. +This Rudraksh will be a gar-land of love of Japan for Varanasi. +It will also be a tribute to our shared Buddhist heritage present at Sarnath too. +Over the last three years, we have worked very hard on the front of Ease of Doing Business. +A series of administrative reforms have significantly improved the business sentiment in the country. +These reforms and initiatives are all aimed at preparing India for the 21st century. +They are aimed at transforming the country and making a New India. +Powered by the energy of our youth, we are positioning India as a global manufacturing hub. +For this purpose, we have launched the ‘Make in India’ campaign. +We are also developing India into a knowledge based, skill supported and technology driven society. +A grand beginning has already been made through our drives like Digital India and Skill India. +For the same purpose, we have started the Start-up India campaign. +India is ranked 3rd in the Global Start-Up Eco-system, and has seen a momentous rise in the past couple of years. +The Start-Up India initiative also aims to build a strong eco-system of innovation. +This includes 100 Smart Cities Mission, Housing for 50 million homeless, building roads, bridges, ports, railways tracks as well as stations. +Japan can benefit tremendously with the size and scale of our potentials and skilled hands that India offers! +In fact, all of India’s development agenda is relevant for Japanese companies. +To allow entry of capital and technology, we have worked hard on opening our economy. +Every day we are making it easier to invest and do business in India. +We have already resolved a number of regulatory and policy issues facing the businesses and companies. +We have got very good results of these efforts. +India’s biggest tax reform, the GST has been introduced recently. +With this, we are also moving towards a modern tax regime, which is transparent, stable and predictable. +Today, India has one of the most liberal FDI regimes in the world. +More than 90 percent of the FDI approvals have been put on automatic route. +We have abolished the Foreign Investment Promotion Board. +This liberalization has seen India’s FDI reach 60 billion dollars in the last financial year. +FDI flows from Japan have almost tripled in last three years. +The new Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code will make it easier for investors to have an exit. +We are setting up commercial courts and commercial divisions to ensure speedy disposal of commercial matters. +Arbitration proceedings will now become faster as the Arbitration law has been amended. +We have also announced a new Intellectual Property Rights policy. +These are just a few examples of the direction in which we are moving. +We will do more and more; better and better; faster and faster. +India and Japan are ancient civilizations and vibrant democracies. +We know how to distribute the fruits of progress and prosperity to the common man. +India needs affordable solutions and processes which can ease the delivery of government services to its citizens. +Japan needs opportunities where it can deploy its hard earned knowledge and technology. +I have been saying that 21st Century is Asia’s Century. +I have also been saying that India and Japan will play a major role in Asia’s emergence. +The growing conver-gence between India and Japan on strategic and economic issues has the capacity to stimulate the global economy. +I am confident that Strong India and Strong Japan will also be a stabilising factor in Asia and the world. +In this mutual and global pursuit I thank Prime Minister Abe and Japan for being a perfect partner. +With the strength of our friendship and mutual trust, I invite more and more Japanese people and companies to come, live and work in India. +I wish you success in your efforts. +I assure you my support wherever it is required. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated India’s contingent at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. +“India’s contingent at the 2018 Commonwealth Games has made every Indian extremely proud. +All our sportspersons gave their best and played very well. +I congratulate all those athletes who are bringing back medals. +Every athlete who represented India at 2018 Commonwealth Games inspires us. +I hope India’s success at 2018 Commonwealth Games motivates more youngsters to pursue sports and creates larger awareness on the importance of fitness in everyone’s lives. +These include: (a) 500 MW additional power supply from India to Bangladesh, through the existing Bheramara (Bangladesh) – Baharampur (India) interconnection. (b) Akhaura – Agartala Rail Link (c) Rehabilitation of the Kulaura-Shahbazpur section of Bangladesh Railways. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister began by recalling that he had met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina several times in the recent past, including at the BIMSTEC meeting in Kathmandu, in Shanti Niketan, and during the Commonwealth Summit in London. +He reiterated his view that leaders of neighbouring countries should have a relationship like neighbours, talking and visiting frequently, without getting bogged down by protocol. +He said this closeness is evident in the frequent interactions between him and the Bangladesh Prime Minister. +Prime Minister Modi recalled Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s vision of restoring connectivity to the way it was before 1965. +He said that he is happy that in the last few years, there has been steady progress towards this goal. +He said that today, we have increased our power connectivity, and started two projects to increase our railway connectivity. +He recalled that during his visit to Bangladesh in 2015, it had been decided to supply an additional 500 MW power to Bangladesh. +He said that with the completion of this project, 1.16 Gigawatts of power is now being supplied from India to Bangladesh. +He said this journey from Megawatts to Gigawatts is symbolic of a golden era in the relations between India and Bangladesh. +The Prime Minister said that Akhaura-Agartala rail connectivity will provide another link in the cross-border connectivity between the two countries. +He thanked the Chief Minister of Tripura, Shri Biplab Kumar Deb, for his facilitation in completion of this work. +Prime Minister Modi appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s development goals of transforming Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021, and a developed country by 2041. +He said that closer relations and people to people links between the two countries would take our development and prosperity to new heights. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high level meeting on the drought and water scarcity situation in parts of Telangana. +The Chief Minister of Telangana, Shri K. Chandrashekar Rao, was present in the meeting. +Senior officials from the Government of India, and the State of Telangana, were also present. +Initiating the discussion, the Prime Minister said he is holding separate meetings with Chief Ministers of the drought-affected States, to assess the specific requirements of each, and to focus attention on both immediate and long term measures. +An amount of Rs. 712.62 crore has been released to the State under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), after adjustments of the State balances. +This is in addition to Rs 205.5 crore released as central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2015-16 to the State. +A further amount of Rs. 108 crore has been released as first instalment of SDRF for 2016-17. +The Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister of the progress made in Mission Kakatiya, which aims at rejuvenation of water tanks and other water storage structures in the State. +Several historical examples, as well as global best practices in the area of water storage and irrigation were discussed. +The Prime Minister stressed on the importance of using urban waste water for irrigation in adjoining rural areas. +The Chief Minister also spoke of the progress made in micro-irrigation, which has so far covered 40,000 hectares in the State. +Shri Chandrashekar Rao also thanked the Prime Minister for the amendments to the CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) Act. +He suggested that the Union Government should now evolve a strategy for effective utilization of the Fund. +He also shared the State Government’s major plantation drive – Haritha Haram. +The Prime Minister appreciated the suggestion, and said that soil health cards aim to achieve the same objective. +He encouraged the State to come up with a model plan. +The meeting ended with a resolve on the part of the Centre and State to work together. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will launch the “Start-up India” movement at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi tomorrow. +The launch event is aimed at celebrating the entrepreneurship spirit of country’s youth, and will be attended by CEOs and founders of top Start-ups from across the country and abroad. +The Prime Minister will visit a virtual exhibition and interact with Start-up entrepreneurs. +He will release the Start-up Action Plan, and address the gathering. +The Prime Minister’s arrival at the venue will be preceded by a day-long workshop on start-up entrepreneurship, which shall include panel discussions on various aspects of the subject. +A unique Question and Answer (Q&A) session titled “Face-to-face with Policy-makers” is also being organized wherein Secretaries of Key Government Ministries and Departments will answer questions on how Government will be creating an enabling ecosystem for Start-ups. +The objective is to reinforce commitment of the Government towards creating an ecosystem that is conducive for growth of Start-ups. +The event shall also feature interactive talks with global leaders and venture capitalists such as Mr. Masayoshi Son (Founder and CEO, SoftBank) and Mr. Adam Nuemann (Founder, WeWork). +The event will be telecast live in IITs, IIMs, NITs, IIITs and Central Universities and to youth groups in over 350 districts of India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on Valmiki Jayanti. +“Greetings on Valmiki Jayanti. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the following schemes of M/o DONER for continuation till March, 2020: +Presently, the major chunk of projects (599 projects out of 840) with 72.12% approved cost (Rs.5375.12 crore out of total Rs.7453.02 crore) and 66% of pending liabilities (Rs 1518.64 crore out of Rs 2299.72 crore) for all ongoing projects is funded through “the Schemes of NEC- Special Development Project”-wherein funds for the selected projects are shared between Centre and State on 90:10 basis and the execution of work is done by the respective State Governments. +Apart from this, some funds are provided – both Revenue and Capital – as 100% Central funding basis, implemented through State and Central agencies. +The Scheme of NEC – Special Development Project will be changed to be a Central Sector Scheme with 100% grant, instead of the earlier block grant on 90:10 basis. +The remaining component will continue to be funded on 100% Central funding basis as at present. +Apart from the above, NEC is also implementing “North Eastern Road Sector Development Scheme – Programme Component” for upgradation of the important and strategic inter-state roads. +Transferred from DONER to NEC for implementation, the scheme is 100% Centrally funded. +A sum of Rs. 1000 crore has been allocated under the scheme. +Another Scheme namely “Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources-Central [NLCPR (Central)]”, presently funded by M/o DoNER, provides resources to the concerned line Ministries/their agencies for projects like Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link, checking erosion in Majuli Island. +This Scheme will also be transferred to NEC for implementation. +Previously, there was no fixed arrangement for distributing the funds into State or Central component. +Now, the total funds available to NEC are proposed to be bifurcated in two components (State component – 60% and Central component – 40%). +The State component would be utilised for the projects in each State as per their share on normative allocation basis. +For the Central component, the projects having regional character, requiring Inter-Ministerial intervention are to be taken up. +Priority sectors have been identified such as bamboo; piggery; regional tourism; higher education, tertiary healthcare & special intervention in backward areas; livelihood project; Science & Technology Interventions in NER; Survey & Investigation and NER Promotion. +By the above, a clear apportionment or division of sectors is ensured between DoNER and NEC to avoid duplication. +In order to give a boost to the Tourism in NE Region, amongst other things, the outstanding liabilities in tourism sector under Product Infrastructure Development for Destinations & Circuits (PIDDC) may also be addressed. +Further, a mechanism on the pattern of Standing Finance Committee (SFC) with representatives from the concerned line Ministries and from Ministry of DoNER would be constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, NEC for approval of the projects costing between Rs. 5-15 crore. +This is aimed at bringing synergy with programmes of other Union Ministries and avoiding of duplication through process of SFC. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for financial restructuring of Hindustan Fertilizers Corporation Limited (HFCL). +The Cabinet, amongst other things, approved waiver of GoI loan of Rs. 1916.14 crores (as on 31.03.2015) and the outstanding interest on GoI loan as on date (the interest amount was Rs. 7163.35 crores as on 31.3.2015). +The Cabinet also approved transfer of 56 acres of Ash Dyke land of Barauni unit to Bihar State Power Generation Company Limited (BSPGCL) to settle dues of HFCL for faster revival of Barauni Unit. +This Cabinet approval will facilitate de-registration of HFCL from BIFR by making its net worth positive. +It will clear the way for faster revival of Barauni unit of HFCL. +This unit is lying defunct and was not in operation since January 1999. +The setting up of a new unit at Barauni will meet the growing demand of urea of Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand. +It will also ease the pressure on railway and road infrastructure due to long distance transportation of urea from Western and Central Regions and thereby saving in govt. subsidy on freight. +This unit will create opportunities for 400 direct and 1200 indirect employments. +Barauni unit will also serve as anchor unit to Jagdishpur- Haldia gas pipeline being laid by Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), which is critical for development and growth of economy and infrastructure in eastern India. +Foreign Minister of Iran Dr. Javad Zarif called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister recalled his meeting with President Rouhani of Iran and reiterated that India attached high priority to its relations with Iran. +Prime Minister congratulated Iran for reaching an agreement with P5+1 countries and expressed confidence that it would contribute to greater peace and stability in the region. +Prime Minister conveyed India’s commitment to work with Iran for development of the Chahabahar Port that would have far reaching benefit, not only for the people of India and Iran, but also for Afghanistan and the entire Central Asia region. +Both exchanged views on the regional developments, including in Afghanistan, West Asia and South Asia. +Foreign Minister Zarif conveyed that Iran considered India its strategic partner and cannot forget the support India extended to Iran during its difficult times. +Iran looked forward to working closely in all areas, including connectivity, oil and gas, investments, fertilizers, infrastructure development, among others. +He extended invitation on behalf of the President of Iran for the Prime Minister to visit Iran. +Prime Minister agreed to visit Iran at mutually convenient dates to be decided through diplomatic channels. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today paid a visit to the Army (Research and Referral) Hospital, to inquire about the health of former Union Minister Shri Jaswant Singh. +The Prime Minister spoke to Shri Jaswant Singh`s family members at the hospital, and hoped for his speedy recovery. +The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and the President of the United States of America Barack Obama met this morning. +Marking their first bilateral summit, the President recognized the Prime Minister’s historic election victory in the largest democratic election ever held. +The two leaders extolled the broad strategic and globalpartnership between the United States and India, which will continue to generategreater prosperity and security for their citizens and the world. +Prime Minister Modi emphasized the priority India accords to its partnership with the United States, a principal partner in the realization of India’s rise as a responsible, influential world power. +Given the shared values, people-to-people ties, and pluralistic traditions, President Obama recognized that India’s rise as a friend and partner is in the United States’ interest. +Theyendorsed the first “Vision Statement for the Strategic Partnership” as a guide to strengthen and deepen cooperation in every sector for the benefit of global stability and people’s livelihoods over the next ten years. +They committed to a new mantra for the relationship, “ChaleinSaathSaath: Forward Together We Go.” +In order to raise investment by institutional investors and corporate entities, the leaders pledged to establish an Indo-U.S. Investment Initiative led by the Ministry of Finance and the Department of Treasury, with special focus on capital market development and financing of infrastructure. +They pledged to establish an Infrastructure Collaboration Platform convened by the Ministry of Finance and the Department of Commerce to enhance participation of U.S. companies in infrastructure projects in India. +They also committed to a new partnership to advance the Prime Minister’s goal of improved access to clean water and sanitation for all. +USAID, through the Urban India Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Alliance, will serve as knowledge partner to help leverage private and civil society innovation, expertise, and technology, such as with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to support the Prime Minister’s 500 Cities National Urban Development Mission and Clean India Campaign. +The leaders discussed their concerns about the current impasse in the World Trade Organization and its effect on the multilateral trading system, and directed their officials to consult urgentlyalong with other WTO members on the next steps. +Theleaders committed to work through the Trade Policy Forum to promote a business environment attractive for companies to invest and manufacture in India and in the United States. +Agreeing on the need to foster innovation in a manner that promotes economic growth and job creation, the leaders committed to establish an annual high-level Intellectual Property (IP) Working Group with appropriate decision-making and technical-level meetings as part of the Trade Policy Forum. +They recognized in particular the contribution of the Indian and U.S. Information Technology (IT) industry and the IT-enabled service industry in strengthening India-U.S. trade and investment relations. +The two leaders committed to hold public-private discussions in early 2015 under the Commercial Dialogue on new areas of cooperation, including innovation in advanced manufacturing. +In order to share best practices in manufacturingand work toward greater harmonization of standards, the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership program will start a dialogue with Indian counterparts. +The two countriesplan to work expeditiously through several joint initiatives to facilitate greater confidence in cross-border trade and investment. +The President also offered to support the Prime Minister to achieve his goal of preparing young Indians for 21st century jobs through new partnerships to share expertise and global standards for skills development in India, including by reinvigorating the Higher Education Dialogue. +They established a Contact Group on advancing the implementation of civil nuclear energy cooperation in order to realize early their shared goal of delivering electricity from U.S.-built nuclear power plants in India. +They looked forward to advancing the dialogue to discuss all implementation issues, including but not limited to administrative issues, liability,technical issues, and licensing to facilitate the establishment of nuclear parks, including power plants with Westinghouse and GE-Hitachi technology. +Recognizing the critical importance of increasing energy access, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving resilience in the face of climate change, President Obama and Prime Minister Modi agreed to a new and enhanced strategic partnership on energy security, clean energy, and climate change. +They agreed to strengthen and expand the highly successful U.S.-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE) through a series of priority initiatives, including anew Energy Smart Cities Partnership to promote efficient urban energy infrastructure; a new program to scale-up renewable energy integration into India’s power grid; cooperation to support India’s efforts to upgrade its alternative energy institutes and to develop new innovation centers; an expansion of the Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE) program to unlock additional private sector investment and accelerate the deployment of cost-effective, super-efficient appliances; and the formation ofa new Clean Energy Finance Forum to promoteinvestment and trade in clean energy projects. +Both leadersare committed to working towards a successful outcome in Paris in 2015 of the conference of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including the creation of a new global agreement on climate change. +The leaders recalled previous bilateral and multilateral statementson the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). +They recognized the need to use the institutions and expertise of the Montreal Protocol to reduce consumption and production of HFCs, while continuing to report and account for the quantities reduced under the UNFCCC. +They pledged to urgently arrange a meeting of their bilateral task force on HFCs prior to the next meeting of the Montreal Protocol to discuss issues such as safety, cost, and commercial access to new or alternative technologies to replace HFCs. +The two sides would thereafter cooperate on next steps to tackle the challenge posed by HFCs to global warming. +They launched a new U.S.-India Partnership for Climate Resilience to advance capacity for climate adaptation planning, and a new program of work on air quality aimed at delivering benefits for climate change and human health. +They also launched a new U.S.-India Climate Fellowship Program to build long-term capacity to address climate change-related issues in both countries. +The President and Prime Minister instructed their senior officials to work through the U.S.-India Energy Dialogue, U.S.-India Joint Working Group on Combating Climate Change, and other relevant fora to advance these and other initiatives. +The leaders welcomed the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Export-Import Bank and the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency, which would make up to $1 billion in financing available to bolster India’s efforts to transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient energy economy, while boosting U.S. renewableenergy exports to India. +The two leaders reiterated the importance of conserving India’s precious biodiversity and agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration on national parks and wildlife conservation. +The two leaders reaffirmed that India and the United States would build an enduring partnership in which both sides treat each other at the same level as their closest partners, including defense technology transfers, trade, research, co-production, and co-development. +To facilitate deeper defense cooperation, they welcomed the decision to renew for ten more years the 2005 Framework for the U.S.-India Defense Relationshipand directed their defense teams to develop plans for more ambitious programs and activities. +The two leaders also agreed to reinvigorate the Political-Military Dialogue and expand its role to serve as a wider dialogue on export licensing, defense cooperation and strategic cooperation. +The President and Prime Minister welcomed cooperation in the area of military education and training, and endorsed plans for the United States to cooperate with India’s planned National Defence University. +They also decided to expand military-to-military partnerships including expert exchanges, dialogues, and joint training and exercises. +They also committed to enhancing exchanges of civilian and military intelligence and consultation. +The leaders agreed to intensify cooperation in maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and unimpeded movement of lawful shipping and commercial activity, in accordance with accepted principles of international law. +To achieve this objective, the two sides considered enhancing technology partnerships for India’s Navy including assessing possible areas of technology cooperation. +They also agreed to upgrade their existing bilateral exercise MALABAR. +They reiterated their call for Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the November 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai to justice. +They pledged to enhance criminal law enforcement, security, and military information exchanges, and strengthen cooperation on extradition and mutual legal assistance. +Through operational cooperation through their law enforcementagencies, they aimed to prevent the spread of counterfeit currency and inhibit the use of cyberspace by terrorists, criminals, and those who use the internet for unlawful purposes, and to facilitate investigation of criminal and terrorist activities. +The leaders also committed to identify modalities to exchange terrorist watch lists. +President Obama pledgedto help India counter the threat of improvised explosive devices with information and technology. +The leaders committed to pursue provision of U.S.-made mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles to India. +High Technology, Space and Health Cooperation +Fundamental science and high technology cooperation has been a critical pillar of the strategic partnership, the two leaders confirmed, and they looked forward to renewing the Science and Technology Agreement in order to expand joint activities in innovative technology. +They planto launch new partnerships to source and scale innovation for the benefit of citizens in both countries and to harness innovation to solve global development challenges. +The President welcomed India’s contribution and cooperation on high-energy physics and accelerator research and development with the U.S. Department of Energy. +The President thanked the Prime Minister for his offer to have U.S. institutionspartner with a newIndian Institute of Technology. +The two leaders exchanged congratulations onthe successful entry into orbit of their respective Mars missions, which occurred two days apart. +They welcomed the establishment and planned first meetingof the NASA-ISROMars Joint Working Group under the U.S.-India Civil Space Joint Working Group. +The leaders also look forward to the successful conclusion of a new agreement to support the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, to be launched in 2021. +The United and India also intend to start a new dialogue on maintaining long-term security and sustainability of the outer space environment, including space situational awareness and collision avoidance in outer space. +The President and Prime Minister recognized the extensive ongoing cooperation in the health sector which they will put to use in preventing the spread of the Ebola virus. +The President welcomed India’scontribution to the UN Fund and donation of protective gear to the effort against Ebola, and thanked the Prime Minister for encouraging Indian-owned businesses in West Africa to contribute to the fight against Ebola. +The leaders agreed to launch a new phase of the India-U.S. Vaccine Action Program to develop affordable vaccines for dengue, malaria, and tuberculosis, and the establishment of an adjuvant development center. +They also agreed in principle to initiate cooperative activities to increase capacity in cancer research and patient care delivery, including by developing collaborative programs for and with India’s upcoming AIIMS-National Cancer Institute. +The President welcomed India’s offer to take a leading role in the Global Health Security Agenda. +They looked forward to holding a Women Empowerment Dialogue in order to exchange best practices to enhance the role of women in their countries, and they asserted zero tolerance for violence against women. +As a critical step in strengthening global nonproliferation and export control regimes, the President and Prime Minister committed to continue work towards India’s phased entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Australia Group. +The President affirmed that India meets MTCR requirements and is ready for membership in the NSG. +He supported India’s early application and eventual membership in all four regimes. +As active participants in the Nuclear Security Summit process, the United States and India welcomed progress toward reducing the risk of terrorists acquiring nuclear weapons or related materials, and noted their shared commitment to improving nuclear security nationally and globally. +They reviewed their bilateral dialogue on nuclear security and endorsed working through India’s Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership to reinforce safe and secure use of nuclear energy worldwide. +They also pledged to strengthen their efforts to forge a partnership to lead global efforts for non-proliferation of WMDs, to reduce the salience of nuclear weapons in international affairs, and to promote universal, verifiable, and non-discriminatory global nuclear disarmament. +Noting India’s “ActEast” policy and the United States’ rebalance to Asia, the leaders committed to work more closely with other Asia Pacific countries through consultations, dialogues, and joint exercises. +They underlined the importance of their trilateral dialogue with Japan and decided to explore holding this dialogue among their Foreign Ministers. +The President and Prime Minister emphasized the need to accelerate infrastructure connectivity and economic development corridors for regional economic integration linking South, Southeast, and Central Asia. +The President reiterated that the United States, through its New Silk Road and India-Pacific Economic Corridor, is promoting the linkage of India to its neighbors and the wider region to enable a freer flow of commerce and energy. +They also look forward to continuing the productive cooperation in Afghanistan on promoting women’s economic empowerment. +The Prime Minister and the President reaffirmed their shared interest in preserving regional peace and stability, which are critical to the Asia Pacific region’s continued prosperity. +The leaders expressed concern about rising tensions over maritime territorial disputes, and affirmed the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea. +The Prime Minister and President called on all parties to avoid the use, or threat of use, of force in advancing their claims. +The two leaders urged the concerned parties to pursue resolution of their territorial and maritime disputes through all peaceful means,in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. +India and the United States pledged to consult closely on global crises, especially unfolding events in Syria and Iraq. +The two leaders committed to exchange information about nationals returning from these conflict zones, and to seek cooperation in protecting and responding to the needs of civilians stranded in the middle of these conflicts. +They stressed the need for diplomacy to resolve the serious concerns of the international community regarding Iran’s nuclear program, and called on Iran to comply with its UN Security Council-imposed obligations and to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency. +The two leaders expressed concerns over the continued development by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, including its uranium enrichment activities. +The President expressed appreciation for the contributions of Indian peacekeepers to global peace and stability for the past 60 years, and welcomed the partnership with India to train third country peacekeepers at India’s training center in New Delhi. +The President reaffirmed his support for a reformed UN Security Council with India as a permanent member, and both leaderscommitted to ensuring that the Security Council continues to play an effective role in maintaining international peace and security as envisioned in the United Nations Charter. +The President also affirmed his commitment to enhancing India’s voice and vote in international financial institutions, and ensuring that resources are made available and are used creatively through multilateral development banks for infrastructure financing. +The President thanked the Prime Minister for the gracious invitation to return to the great nation of India. +In conclusion, the two leaders affirmed their long-term vision for a resilient and ambitious partnership through the first “Vision Statement for the Strategic Partnership,” which they will hold up as the guiding framework for their governments and people. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met Shri Balwant Kumawat, a youth from Bhilwara, Rajasthan. +Shri Kumawat had expressed a keen desire that Shri Narendra Modi become Prime Minister. +Two years ago, he had even taken a pledge not to wear footwear until he meets “Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.” +He was barefoot continuously since then. +After his meeting with the Prime Minister, Shri Kumawat resumed wearing footwear. +The Prime Minister advised Shri Kumawat to now devote his energies to a positive cause for Nation-building. +He also urged Shri Kumawat not to take a pledge which would cause physical discomfort. +Witnesses e-Griha Pravesh of 2350 beneficiaries under PMAY(U) +PM unveils several development Projects +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Hubli, Karnataka today in the final leg of his one day long tour to Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. +At Gabbur, Hubli he unveiled several development projects. +PM unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of Indian Institute of Technology –Dharwad and Indian Institute of Information Technology –Dharwad. +City Gas Distribution Project at Dharwad was dedicated to the nation on this occasion. +Government has strongly emphasized on expansion of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network coverage across the country to increase the availability of cleaner fuel to citizens. +To ensure Energy Security, 1.5 MMT Mangalore Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) facility and 2.5 MMT Padur SPR facility of ISPRL were also dedicated to the nation. +Prime Minister Modi also dedicated Doubling of 18 km long Chikjajur-Mayakonda Section, to the nation. +Chikjajur-Mayakonda Section is a part of 190 km long Hubli – Chikjajur Doubling project and is located on Bengaluru – Hubballi route of South Western Railway. +Doubling will increase the line capacity of this important route connecting Bengaluru to Hubballi, Belagavi, Goa, Pune and Mumbai, resulting in faster movement of trains. +In keeping with his commitment of Housing for All, Prime Minister witnessed the e-Griha Pravesh of 2350 houses constructed under PMAY(U) at Dharwad. +• Increased access to affordable, assured and clean energy supply for all should be our primary goal. +It is a major economic opportunity for all countries. +• Let us make an ambitious and innovative effort to make renewable, especially solar energy, competitive with conventional energy. +In Gujarat, the canal-top project worked well and saved water, too. +• Pricing of carbon, especially in mature markets with universal availability of power, can stimulate shift to renewable energy. +• Let us increase our collective R&D efforts and collaboration; and, ensure dissemination to all countries. +For this, I would propose that we set up a global virtual centre for clean energy research and development, with adequate public funding, which will fund collaborative projects in diverse sources of clean energy, smart grids, energy efficiency, etc. +India and the United States have built an excellent virtual centre on a bilateral basis, with matching public and private funding. +We can select a team of outstanding experts to evaluate and judge research projects. +The results should be available to all countries. +• We should also discuss innovative funding models to ensure rapid expansion of renewable energy in decentralised manner in rural areas. +• In countries like India, there are vast opportunities for those wishing to invest in clean coal technology, since our dependence will not reduce very soon. +• Nuclear energy can still be a safe, reliable and clean source of energy. +It will be an important part of our mix. +I invite you to come and invest in this sector in India. +• I also believe that change in lifestyle and economy in consumption will be the most enduring response to energy challenges. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion: +(a) Development of Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (ECC), Dwarka and allied infrastructure in PPP and non-PPP Mode (including Exhibition & Convention spaces, arena, trunk-infrastructure, Metro/NHAI connectivity, hotels, office and retail spaces etc.) at an estimated cost of Rs. 25,703 crore by year 2025. +(c) Mobilization of Rs.1,381 crore from the market as Government guaranteed loan and utilization of Rs. 4,000 crore by way of monetization of Government-owned land and annual project revenue by the SPV. +The proceeds from land monetization and annual returns accrued by the SPV will be utilized for funding the non-PPP components of the Project. +SPV would also be authorized to raise debt/ mobilize resources through land monetization depending upon market conditions. +Phase-2 of the project comprising of the remaining Exhibition area will be implemented by 2025. +The components comprising hotels, retail space and offices will be implemented in PPP mode. +It is estimated that the proposed ECC facility, once fully operational, will infuse a demand for more than 100 major international and local exhibition events annually. +The number of persons visiting the exhibition facility annually (paying visitors) is estimated to be more than 10 million in the first phase (2019-20) and 23 million after completion of the second phase (2025). +Similarly, convention based delegate attendance is estimated to cross 1.5 million annually after successful completion of second phase of the project. +Project is estimated to generate over five lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities. +The job creation will happen in core ECC facilities as well as in supporting ECC land uses like retail, office and hospitality. +Conferences and Exhibitions are vital links to connect local manufacturers with global buyers and to serve as a platform for exchange of business ideas. +India lacks an integrated world class facility which can meet the requirements of global exhibition-cum convention operators in terms of space, project facilities, transportation linkages, etc. at a large scale. +Development of Exhibition-cum-Convention (ECC) Centre at Dwarka accompanied with supporting components, once fully operational is expected to bring New Delhi in the league of Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore in the area of exhibition market. +Shri Mumtaz Ali, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in Bengaluru today. +It was a courtesy call. +Shri Ali has written a book ‘Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master’ (A Yogi’s Autobiography), under the name “Shri M.” +He is now travelling the country on foot, for the cause of the “oneness of humanity.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the bus accident in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. +“I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured in the unfortunate bus accident in Himachal Pradesh,” the Prime Minister said. +PM describes entire Northeast region as a “Natural Economic Zone.” +PM outlines initiatives taken for development of the Northeast. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today described the entire Northeast region as a “Natural Economic Zone” – NEZ – whose potential had hitherto remained untapped. +He said his priority is to nourish the NEZ for the benefit of the NE (Northeast). +In his remarks at the inauguration of the Hornbill Festival in Kohima, the Prime Minister praised the rich cultural heritage of Nagaland and the sturdiness, honesty, simplicity, inherent strong character and hardworking attitude of the Naga people. +He congratulated the Nagas for organizing this festival which showcases the cultural diversity of the state. +The Prime Minister also greeted the people of Nagaland on their statehood day, and urged them to introspect and look back at what has been achieved over the last 50 years, and what ground remains to be covered. +The Prime Minister also mentioned the rich biodiversity, and youthful English-speaking population. +He said these would ensure that tourism and investment would come to the state. +He said the region must capture a part of the global IT outsourcing business. +The Prime Minister mentioned the potential of the state in the sports of boxing, archery, football and taekwondo, and said this must be realized. +He said it was a decade since former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited Nagaland. +He assured the people of the state that they would not have to wait so long again for a Prime Minister to visit. +He said he would come back to see that all he has mentioned becomes a reality. +The Prime Minister also highlighted the initiatives taken by his Government for the Northeast over the last 6 months. +He mentioned the Ishan Uday special scholarships for 10,000 students from the Northeast, and the Ishan Vikas scheme for 2000 students and 500 faculty members from colleges of the Northeast to visit other parts of the country every year. +He said a modern apparel garment manufacturing centre would be set up in every state of the North-East, beginning with Nagaland, Assam and Sikkim. +He said the Government has earmarked Rs 53,000 crore in the Union Budget for development of Northeast. +Rs 28,000 crore has been earmarked for construction of new railway lines to boost connectivity. +Rs. 5000 crore has been earmarked for improvement of intrastate power transmission systems and a similar amount for boosting 2G mobile connectivity. +A National Sports University will be established in Manipur and 6 new colleges of agriculture will be set up in the region. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the progress in the key infrastructure sectors of railways and roads. +The Prime Minister stressed upon the need to speed up the redevelopment of Railway Stations, and urged the Railways to substantially raise its level of ambition in this regard. +He emphasized the need for the Railways to upgrade and diversify the uses of its infrastructure. +He reiterated that railway infrastructure in rural areas could be used for activities such as skill development, and this could also result in an increase in non-fare revenue for the railways. +In the roads sector, the Prime Minister was informed that over 6000 kilometres of highways were completed in 2015-16, while contracts for another 10,098 kilometres were awarded in the same period. +The Prime Minister stressed on the need to study various models of road development across the country, and adopt the best practices, so that more private investment can be brought into the highway construction sector. +He also stressed the need to decongest critical stretches, and adopt latest technologies for toll collection. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, on his birth anniversary. +We salute our inspiration, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on his birth anniversary”, the Prime Minister said. +Shri Fadnavis said a beautiful memorial would now be constructed for Babasaheb. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the inauguration of a workshop on Sustainable Development Goals, as part of the Speaker’s Research Initiative. +He said people have a lot of expectations from the MPs, and therefore, MPs need to work towards fulfilling these expectations. +Sumitra Mahajan and the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shri Venkaiah Naidu were present on the occasion. +The event was organized at Parliament Annexe. +11. 1st January 2018 will not be an ordinary day- those born in this century will start turning 18. +They are Bhagya Vidhatas of our nation. +12. We have to leave this ‘Chalta Hai’ attitude. +We have to think of ‘Badal Sakta Hai’- this attitude will help us as a nation. +13. The country has changed, is changing and can change. +We have to move forward with this belief and commitment. +14. Security of the country is our priority. +34. India is about Shanti, Ekta and Sadbhavana. +Casteism and communalism will not help us. +Efficiency has gone up by 30 percent. +52. More money has come to the banks due to demonetization which will give impetus to the economy. +53. Our country has the world’s largest youth population. +Today is the era of IT and let’s move ahead on the path of digital transaction. +54. Let us lead from front, promote digital economy and adopt the Bhim App. +55. We have moved from Co-operative Federalism to Competitive Co-operative federalism. +56. It had been said in the old scriptures that if a work is not completed on time, one does not get the desired results. +60. Our resolve is to build an India, which provides all the opportunities to the youth and women to fulfil their dreams. +61. Our resolve is to build such an India, free from terrorism, communalism and casteism. +62. We will build together an India, where there will be no place for nepotism and corruption. +63. We will build together such an India, which will be clean, healthy and fulfil the dream of self-rule (Swaraj). +64. We aspire to build a Divya and Bhavya Bharat. +Prime Minister Sir Aneerood Jugnauth, members of the media, +I sincerely thank you for your warm welcome and the extraordinary hospitality. +I am very grateful to you and the people of Mauritius for invitation as the Chief Guest of the National Day tomorrow. +It is an honour for the 1.25 billion people of India. +They deeply value this relationship. +It flows from the depth of our hearts; and, from the deepest bonds of kinship. +We always stand in solidarity and support for each other. +It comes naturally to us from our friendship, our shared values, and our common regional and global interests. +We are partners in our economic progress. +We have built a relationship of matchless strength and character. +It is no surprise that Prime Minister and I had an excellent meeting. +The outcomes and decisions today are truly significant. +We discussed our shared interests in a safe and secure Indian Ocean and a stable and prosperous Indian Ocean Region. +We value the leadership by Mauritius in this area. +Today, I was pleased to offer a concessional line of credit of 500 million U.S. dollars for civil infrastructure projects for Mauritius. +We also intend to quickly build the petroleum storage and bunkering facility in Mauritius. +This will not only benefit Mauritius, but also reinforce its role as a regional hub. +A decade ago, India helped build the first cyber city in Mauritius. +Its remarkable success reflects the strategic foresight of Mauritius in diversifying its economy. +Today, we have offered support for construction of the second cyber city. +Our agreement today on the development of Agalega Island is a major stride in our cooperation in infrastructure sector. +It demonstrates the depth of our mutual confidence. +Mauritius has shown great vision in the development of its Ocean Economy. +Our agreement on cooperation in the Ocean Economy is an important step in our scientific and economic partnership. +This will improve our understanding of marine ecology. +It will help us to develop new areas of ocean economy and, at the same time, follow more sustainable practices in using our blue assets. +Over the past few years, we have discussed revision of our Double Taxation Avoidance Convention. +This is based on our shared objective of preventing abuse of the Convention, while enabling Mauritius to benefit fully from this arrangement. +We have agreed to continue this discussion. +However, I have assured Prime Minister that we will do nothing to harm this critical sector of one of our strongest strategic partners in the world. +I also conveyed our deep appreciation for the support and cooperation offered by Mauritius on information exchange on taxation. +We should resume our discussions on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. +Prime Minister and I consider our security cooperation to be a cornerstone of our strategic partnership. +This is not only because of our responsibility to each other, but also because of our shared vision for our maritime neighbourhood. +I reiterated India’s commitment to cooperate with Mauritius in its efforts to secure its vast Exclusive Economic Zone. +We are also honoured to be the preferred partner for Mauritius in developing its security capabilities. +Tomorrow, we will commission Barracuda into the service of the Coast Guard of Mauritius. +I assured Prime Minister of timely support in all areas, including delivery of other ships and equipment that Mauritius has ordered from India. +We agreed that broader regional cooperation will enhance peace and prosperity in our maritime region. +In this context, I thanked Prime Minister for the leadership shown by Mauritius in the Indian Ocean Rim Association and for hosting its Secretariat. +We are grateful for the support Mauritius has always given us in international forums. +It gives India strength to speak on issues of common interests. +The adoption of June 21 as International Day of Yoga by the United Nations General Assembly by record sponsorship in record time is a tribute to our shared heritage. +We had strong meeting of minds on climate change. +We are both committed to strong national action. +We will also strengthen our bilateral cooperation and global partnership on addressing its challenges. +People-to-people contacts constitute the very foundation of our relationship. +We will continue to nurture it with highest level of priority. +For Mauritius, we have decided to waive the fee or the Electronic Travel Authorisation. +We have also decided to launch a multi-disciplinary youth forum. +This will connect our youth more; and, it will sow the seeds of strong partnerships in the future. +I am really grateful to Prime Minister Sir Jugnauth and his team for very productive and substantive meeting. +To me, more than anything else, they reflect the richness of our relationship. +Once again, thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will be visiting Gujarat on 7th and 8th October, 2017. +On the morning of 7th October, the Prime Minister will visit the Dwarkadheesh Temple. +At Dwarka, he will lay the Foundation Stones of a bridge between Okha and Beyt Dwarka; and other road development projects. +He will address a public meeting. +From Dwarka, the Prime Minister will arrive in Chotila, in Surendranagar district. +He will lay the Foundation Stones for a greenfield airport at Rajkot; six-laning of Ahmedabad-Rajkot National Highway; and four-laning of Rajkot-Morbi State Highway. +He will also dedicate a fully automatic milk processing and packaging plant; and a drinking water distribution pipeline for Joravarnagar and Ratanpur area of Surendranagar. +The Prime Minister will then proceed to Gandhinagar. +He will dedicate the newly constructed building of IIT Gandhinagar, and launch the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA). +PMGDISHA is aimed at imparting digital literacy to citizens in rural areas. +It will provide access to information, knowledge, education, and healthcare. +It will create avenues for livelihood generation, and financial inclusion through digital payments. +He will address a public meeting. +On the morning of 8th October, the Prime Minister will arrive in Vadnagar. +This will be Shri Narendra Modi’s first visit to the town, since assuming the office of Prime Minister. +He will visit the Hatkeshwar Temple. +At a public meeting, the Prime Minister will launch the Intensified Mission Indradhanush, to accelerate progress towards the goal of full immunization coverage. +It will provide greater focus on urban areas and other pockets of low immunization coverage. +The Prime Minister will distribute e-tablets to health workers to mark the launch of ImTeCHO. +ImTeCHO is an innovative mobile phone application to improve performance of ASHAs through better supervision, support and motivation for increasing coverage of proven maternal, newborn and child health interventions among resource-poor settings in India. +ImTeCHO stands for “Innovative mobile-phone Technology for Community Health Operations”. +“TeCHO” in Gujarati means “support”; therefore, “ImTeCHO” means “I am support.” +The Prime Minister will address a public meeting. +The same afternoon, the Prime Minister will arrive at Bharuch. +He will lay the foundation stone for Bhadbhut Barrage, to be built over the Narmada River. +The Prime Minister will return to Delhi on the evening of 8th October. +Addresses 69th session of the UN General Assembly. +Highlights need for urgent reform and rejuvenation of the United Nations. +Calls for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on Global Terrorism. +Says Pakistan must create a suitable atmosphere for bilateral talks. +Suggests the adoption of an International Yoga Day. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called for urgent reform and rejuvenation of the United Nations, as it enters its seventieth year of existence. +Addressing the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in New York today, the Prime Minister urged all member nations to deliver on the commitment of UN reform. +He said institutions which reflect the compulsions of the twentieth century risk irrelevance. +He said the seventieth year of the United Nations should be an opportunity to reflect on what all has been achieved, and to prepare a roadmap for the future. +He called for Universities and youth to be involved in this process of transformation. +He said the 21st century had its own set of challenges, and the United Nations needs to reflect contemporary realities. +The Prime Minister referred to the emergence of several groups of countries with the prefix “G” and said that we must move towards a “G-all” and see how the UN can be made more effective. +He emphasized the need for an early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on Global Terrorism, saying it is a matter that has been pending for long. +The Prime Minister said his Government has given priority to friendship and cooperation with neighbours, and has the same policy towards Pakistan. +He said he wants bilateral talks with Pakistan, in all seriousness, in an environment of peace, without the shadow of terror. +He said it is upto Pakistan to create an appropriate atmosphere for talks. +He said right now the priority should be to assist the flood-affected people of Kashmir, and for this, he has offered assistance to Pakistan as well. +The Prime Minister highlighted India as a country that stands for universal justice, dignity, opportunity and prosperity. +He said conversation with nature was inherent in India`s “philosophy.” +He suggested that the United Nations work towards an International Yoga Day. +Shri Narendra Modi said international trade agreements must take into account the concerns and interests of one-another (everyone). +Earlier, the Prime Minister took a tour of the UN Headquarters, and had a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. +The entire nation has a lot of hopes on him. +Best wishes @SDhawan25! +Give India a wonderful start every time you step on the pitch. +The only batsman to score 2 double centuries in ODIs, @ImRo45`s talent has millions of fans. +Make us proud once again! +I wish you the very best my young friend @ajinkyarahane88. +Have a wonderful World Cup. +Make the most of this great opportunity. +Suresh Raina has always been agile on the field and hard-hitting with the bat. +Hit them out of the park, including the bouncers 🙂 @ImRaina +Who is not a fan of Sir Jadeja? +We all look forward to seeing your all round performances take India to victory! @imjadeja +I am sure your spin blowing will surprise the batsman and give us victory. +Play well @Ashwinravi99! +My good wishes. +The young Axar Patel can trick the batsmen with his sharp spin and bounce. +Give your best and play without pressure! +Best of luck @BhuviOfficial! +Swing every match in our favour. +Your breakthroughs will determine how fast we will win those matches! +Our young fast bowler Mohit Sharma can bowl a great line and length. +He is a great asset to the team. +Best of luck. +I wish my young and extremely talented friend, Mohammed Shami the very best for the World Cup. +Play well and get those wickets. +Stuart Binny’s recent all round performances have impressed all. +We wish him all the best for the World Cup. +I am sure your spin bowling will surprise the batsman and give us victory. +Play well @Ashwinravi99! +My good wishes”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and South Korea on cooperation in Applied Science and Industrial Technology. +The MoU was signed in New Delhi on 9th July 2018 during the visit of the President of South Korea to India. +1. Government unveils pro-farmer Crop Insurance Scheme. +2. Farmers to pay lower premiums, to get full sum insured unlike the capping previously. +3. Efforts to be made to enhance coverage of area under crop insurance schemes from 23% at present to 50% of gross cropped area. +4. Remote Sensing Technology, smart phones and drones would be used for quick estimation of crop losses and early settlement of claims. +I am happy to be part of this new beginning for Smart Governance in the North East. +The launch of Integrated Command and Control Centres in Gangtok, Namchi, Pasighat, Itanagar and Agartala is a welcome step. +The urban centres of the North East, with their pool of skilled human resource, have the potential to emerge as growth hubs for the entire region. +The Smart City Mission enables cities to identify their potential and challenges. +It catalyses smart solutions for the challenges, through public consultation. +Smart City Command and Control Centres use digital technology to integrate different service networks. +They enable real-time collaboration among departments such as Police, Transport, Power, Water, Sanitation, and Public Safety utilities. +I believe that with the system in place, administrators will be able to monitor city operations better and respond in real time. +The implementation of Integrated Command and Control Centres is gathering pace across India. +As on the First of March 2019, these Centres have already become functional in fifteen Smart Cities. +Work is in progress at fifty other Centres. +I am told that the North-East will have its first completed Smart Command and Control Centre as early as October 2019. +One of the key components of the system is the CCTV Surveillance system for Citizen Safety. +This system is designed to help tackle crime. +The Intelligent Traffic Management System will help ease traffic flow. +The Solid Waste Management component in the Command and Control Centre will boost cleanliness in these cities. +Smart Street Lighting will make our streets safer and citizen friendly. +It will also improve energy efficiency through the conversion to LED systems. +Smart cities are also installing Public-Address Systems and Variable Message Signs to communicate important civic information. +Digital access is an important component of Digital India Mission. +Public Wi-Fi system will provide free internet access to Citizens. +The North-East is an environmentally sensitive region. +The Environmental Monitoring System and Disaster Management modules will give real time information to Citizens and Government. +It will help improve the overall quality of life of Citizens. +As cities start implementing and expanding the different elements of this system, they will be able to improve Ease of Living for their citizens. +I am told that there are over 500 projects with a total worth of nearly 15,000 crore rupees in the ten Smart Cities in the North East. +Work orders have already been issued for 59 of these projects. +I am happy to see Namchi in Sikkim, begin work on its Integrated Water Supply projects, LED Street lights and footpaths. +Water is becoming a huge challenge in our hill cities. +Gangtok has started work on rain water harvesting. +It has also undertaken projects to construct multi-level car parks with Smart Parking features to ease traffic congestion. +Agartala has its own unique challenges due to its saucer-shaped geography that makes it vulnerable to floods. +The city administration has taken up projects to manage the same under the Smart Cities Mission. +Itanagar has plans to improve its city road network through its Smart Roads and Intelligent Traffic and Transport Management system. +Pasighat is addressing the challenges of housing, energy management and business development through key Smart City projects. +So, each city has identified its key problems and is moving towards finding solutions to these problems. +I am happy to note that the other five North Eastern cities of Guwahati, Aizawl Kohima, Imphal and Shillong are also moving in this direction. +Project implementation under the Smart Cities Mission is now gathering pace. +I am confident that we are fast progressing towards urban transformation of our North Eastern cities. +This will improve quality of life and boost economic development of the region. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for raising foreign shareholding limit from 5% to 15% in Indian Stock Exchanges for a stock exchange, a depository, a banking company, an insurance company, a commodity derivative exchange. +The Cabinet has also approved the proposal to allow foreign portfolio investors to acquire shares through initial allotment, besides secondary market, in the stock exchanges. +The approval is in pursuance of implementation of the Budget Announcement made by the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley while presenting the Union Budget 2016-17 regarding reforms in FDI Policy with respect to enhancement of investment limit for foreign entities in Indian stock exchanges from 5% to 15% on par with domestic institutions. +Mr. Itsunori Onodera, Defence Minister of Japan, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Prime Minister Modi recalled his long association with Japan, since before assuming office as Prime Minister, and welcomed the broadening and deepening of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan in recent years. +Prime Minister Modi said that Defence Cooperation is a key pillar of the relationship between India and Japan. +He welcomed the strengthening of various defence dialogue mechanisms between the two countries, and the enhanced linkages between the armed forces of India and Japan. +The Prime Minister also appreciated the progress in defence technology cooperation between the two countries. +Prime Minister Modi warmly recalled the successful visit of Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, to India last year, and said that he is looking forward to visiting Japan later this year. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima. +“The teachings of Lord Buddha are extremely relevant in the 21st century. +His was a life devoted to alleviating suffering and removing injustice from society. +His compassion has endeared him to millions. +Buddha Purnima greetings to everyone”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today congratulated the Indian Cricket Team for its 95-run victory against England in the second test match at Lord’s Cricket Ground. +We are very delighted & proud of the great performance.”, he said. +It is my singular honour to be the first ever Prime Minister of India to undertake this ground breaking visit to Israel. +I want to thank my friend, Prime Minister Netanyahu, for the invitation and for receiving me with so much warmth. +My visit celebrates the strength of centuries old links between our societies. +They have nurtured it with hard work, grit and the spirit of innovation. +You have marched on regardless of adversity and converted challenges into opportunity. +India applauds your achievements. +The day when your Prime Minister, and my friend, Bibi, lost his older brother Yoni, while saving the lives of so many Israeli hostages. +Your heroes are an inspiration for the younger generations. +India is a very old civilization but a young nation. +800 million people in India fall below 35 years of age. +The talented and skilled youth of India are also its driving force. +They propel my vision to transform India, its industry, its economy, its way of doing business, and its interface with the world. +In our path of sustained high growth and all around development, India counts Israel among its important partners. +The need to rely on science, technology, innovation, and higher technical education to overcome our developmental challenges is common to both of us. +These domains also bring together the creative energy and ideas of the highly skilled youth and entrepreneurs of the two countries. +Alongside building a partnership for shared economic prosperity, we are also cooperating to secure our societies against common threats such as terrorism. +A progressive partnership in all these areas would shape the scope of my conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu. +I am also keen to interact with the Indian diaspora in Israel, including a large number of Jews of Indian origin, who have enriched both our societies. +A journey that we are excited to undertake together for the good of our people and societies. +As we march together, a strong and resilient partnership with Israel will be my intent and focus. +I thank you once again for this tremendous welcome. +Thank you very much. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Israel in the field of water resources management and development cooperation. +The bilateral cooperation will benefit both the countries in strengthening the techniques in efficient use of water, micro-irrigation, recycling/re-use of waste water, desalination, aquifer recharge and in-situ water conservation techniques. +The subscription under the MGPSY was very low and no new subscription was received for more than a year. +Closure of the scheme will, therefore, obviate the avoidable recurring administrative and record-keeping expenditure. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the sad demise of Shri Manohar Parrikar, Chief Minister on 17th March, 2019 at Panaji, Goa. +The Cabinet observed silence for two minutes in the memory of Late Shri Manohar Parrikar. +After graduating from IIT, he resumed RSS work in Mapusa and became a Sanghchalak at the age of 26. +As a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shri Parrikar was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Goa in 1994. +He became the Chief Minister of Goa for the first time on 24th October, 2000 and continued till 27th February, 2002. +He was re-elected as Chief Minister on 3rd June, 2002 and served till 2nd February, 2005. +He became Chief Minister of Goa for the third time on 9th March, 2012 and continued till 8th November, 2014. +Shri Parrikar will be remembered for his simplicity and his abilities as an exceptional administrator. +His contribution to the building of modern Goa and to the modernization of India’s Armed Forces as well as improvement to the lives of ex.-Servicemen will never be forgotten. +The Prime Minister today presented President Nursultan Nazarbayev a set of books relating to religions born in India. +President Nazarbayev has held the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions every three years at the Palace of Peace and Accord in Astana since 2003. +The presentation set includes an English translation of Guru Granth Sahib, as also specially commissioned reproductions from the manuscripts collection of National Museum, Delhi. +The reproductions include one of Jainism’s most revered texts, Bhadrabahu’s Kalpasutra (15th century AD) in Prakrit; one of Buddhism’s most important scriptures Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita (12th century AD) in Sanskrit; and a Persian translation of Valmiki’s Ramayana (18th century AD) in nastaliq script. +The Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of UK, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister recalled their earlier meeting during his visit to UK in November 2015, when Mr. Johnson was the Mayor of London, and congratulated him on his appointment as the Foreign Secretary. +The Prime Minister said that the visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May to India in November 2016 has put in place the framework necessary to guide India-UK relations in the days to come. +The Prime Minister appreciated the progress achieved in strengthening the bilateral partnership in various sectors, especially Science & Technology, Finance, and Defence & Security. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism, between the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of the Sultanate of Oman +The main objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding, amongst other things, are: +a. To expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector. +b. To exchange information and data related to tourism. +c. To encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders including hotels and tour operators. +d. To establish exchange programme for cooperation in Human Resource Development. +e. To invest in the tourism and hospitality sectors, +f. To exchange visits of tour operators / media /opinion makers for promotion of two way tourism. +g. To exchange experiences in the areas of promotion, marketing, destination development and management. +h. To participate in travel fairs /exhibitions in each other`s country and, +i. to promote safe, honourable and sustainable tourism. +Terrorist violence/militancy in the State of Jammu & Kashmir, particularly in its early phases (early 1990s), had led to large scale forced migration from the Kashmir Valley. +Besides the families who migrated from the Valley, many families migrated from different hilly areas of Jammu division to safer places of nearby towns due to security reasons. +At present there are about 1054 registered Jammu migrant families. +The new proposal would enhance the relief being provided to the migrants of the hilly areas of Jammu division at par with the Kashmiri migrants i.e. a cash relief of Rs.2500 per head per month (maximum Rs.10000 per family per month) plus relief for ration/fodder. +The expenditure incurred by the state Government in this regard would now be reimbursed by the Government of India. +41 Officer Trainees of the 2016 Batch of the Indian Foreign Service called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Sharing his thoughts, Prime Minister stressed on the need for the Foreign Service officers to be extremely well informed, and think in a global perspective. +He urged the officer trainees to keep in touch with their batchmates from other services, in course of their career, so that they could always keep abreast of developments at home. +The Prime Minister said, that by and large, the world believes that India has a bright future, and is comfortable with India’s rising stature. +Three Groups of Secretaries to the Government of India, today presented ideas for transformative change in different areas of governance, to the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. +Subjects such as citizen centric service delivery, digital inclusion, innovation, and simplification of laws, figured in the presentation on “Governance.” +The presentation on “Science and Technology,” focused on areas such as improved opportunity and access for learning; jobs and start-ups; and “ease of doing science.” +The presentation on “Energy and Environment” included suggestions related to various energy sources, and energy efficiency. +A total of four presentations on various governance related themes have now been made in the current series, out of the total of nine scheduled to be made. +At present, the agricultural college is temporarily running from rented accommodation of local Arts and Science College (SKVT College). +After transfer of the land, the college would be able to develop its own permanent campus. +Establishment of a new agriculture college at Rajahmundry would certainly go a long way in development of agricultural research and education in Godavari delta and also help the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to fulfill one of its mandates including education research and extension. +• “Mission Swacch Bharat to be launched on October 2nd with an aim to create a Clean India of Gandhiji’s dreams.” +• “Let every citizen pledge to contribute 100 hours a year towards cleanliness.” +• “Government Offices upto Panchayat level to conduct cleanliness drive from September 25th, till Diwali.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, chaired a high-level meeting on Mission Swacch Bharat today. +He called for making Swacch Bharat a mass movement, and linking it to economic activity. +Mission Swacch Bharat will be launched on October 2nd, with Gandhiji as the inspiration, to create a Clean India of Gandhiji’s dreams by the Mahatma’s 150th birth anniversary in 2019. +The Prime Minister said all Government departments will actively participate in this mission. +Government offices upto Panchayat level shall be involved in a cleanliness drive that shall be conducted from September 25th, till Diwali. +He said the pursuit of cleanliness can be an economic activity, contributing to GDP growth, reduction in healthcare costs, and a source of employment. +Linking cleanliness to tourism and global interest in India, the Prime Minister said world-class levels of hygiene and cleanliness are required in India’s top fifty tourist destinations, to bring about a paradigm shift in India’s global perception. +The Prime Minister reiterated his vision of solid waste management and waste water management through the PPP model in 500 towns and cities across India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and felicitated the medal winners of the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, held in Argentina. +Prime minister urged them to remain focussed and work harder to achieve their goal of reaching the podium in the coming Olympics. +Prime Minister assured the athletes that Government would provide them adequate support and facilities. +Shri Modi said that the young athletes should inspire youngsters in their schools and villages to take up sports. +The Prime Minister complimented the coaches of the medal winners for their contribution in raising India’s profile on the global stage. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Lebanon for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. +Bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture will be mutually beneficial to both the countries. +The MoU will promote understanding of best Agricultural practices in the two countries and will help in better productivity at farmer fields as well as improved global market. +The MoU will help to increase agriculture production and productivity by getting access to best practices and market worldwide. +It will lead to innovative techniques for increasing production and productivity, leading to strengthening of food security. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the extension of the term of the Commission to examine the issue of Sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes in the Central List for six months beyond 30th November, 2018 and till 31st May 2019. +Based on the emanating information from the data as processed and analyzed, the Commission has expressed that a round of discussion with the States and their Backward Classes Commission was required before finalizing the sub-categorized lists and the Report. +“Strongly condemn the terror attack in New York City. +My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with those injured”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved the introduction of an improved Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for the employees of Hooghly Dock and Port Engineers Limited (HDPEL) and restructuring of the company through a Joint Venture (JV). +The improved VRS package is based on IDA 2007 linked pay scale. +The improved VRS Scheme would be open for three months with a provision of extension by another one month. +After the implementation of the improved VRS, JV formation with the private sector would be attempted failing which the company would be disinvested. +Implementation of the improved VRS package would substantially reduce the manpower of HDPEL and would help in downsizing. +Thereafter, HDPEL would become amenable to re-structuring. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has paid tribute to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on his Mahaparinirvana Diwas. +“On his Mahaparinirvana Diwas, I bow to the venerable Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. +His contribution to the Nation is eternal & invaluable. +Dr. Ambedkar was a man ahead of his time. +We remember his efforts to eradicate social evils and the importance he gave to education. +Babasaheb became a voice for the oppressed and downtrodden. +His ideals and thoughts continue to guide us in our quest for an equal society,” said the Prime Minister. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda, on his birth anniversary. +“We offer salutations to the great Swami Vivekananda and remember his powerful thoughts and ideals that continue shaping the minds of generations”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called upon NCC cadets to plan a unique nationwide celebration of the first International Yoga Day on June 21st. +Addressing cadets from across the country on the occasion of the NCC Rally, the Prime Minister urged NCC cadets to work towards a record-setting performance, which would send a strong inspirational message across the world. +He said Yoga has now acquired a global character, and as the country in which Yoga originated, we should show the world that Yoga can be an important component of a balanced, strong mankind. +Speaking about a tableau dedicated to Swachh Bharat presented by the cadets, the Prime Minister said this initiative was aimed at imbibing cleanliness as a habit among 125 crore Indians. +He urged the cadets to spread awareness on this theme in their schools and villages. +He said work done for Swachh Bharat is also service of Mother India. +The Prime Minister complimented the cadets for the efforts they had put in over the last one month. +He observed that girl cadets had participated in large numbers. +He also recalled that on Republic Day, the entire parade seemed to have become a celebration of “Stree Shakti” (women power). +He said that people across the country had now got the message that Rani Lakshmibai and Jija Mata are today present in every village and every family. +The Prime Minister said the cadets assembled before him today come from all parts of the country, and therefore represent a mini-India. +He said people such as Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi had travelled across the country to imbibe the soul of India in themselves. +He said it was necessary to travel through the country to understand its diversity, and this opportunity for the cadets was an opportunity in that direction. +The Prime Minister said the NCC Rally today had brought back memories of his own childhood as an NCC cadet, though he had not got the opportunity to come to Delhi, as a cadet. +He appreciated the assembled cadets for the effort they would have put in, to be selected to come to Delhi, in connection with the Republic Day celebrations, of which this rally is a part. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on receiving the gift of a white Sari for his mother. +“Nawaz Sharif ji has sent a wonderful white Sari for my Mother. +I am really grateful to him & will send it to my Mother very soon.” +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, shared his message on World Press Freedom Day. +“World Press Freedom Day is a day to reiterate our unwavering support towards a free and vibrant press, which is vital in a democracy. +In today’s day and age, social media has emerged as an active medium of engagement and has added more vigour to press freedom.” +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and United Kingdom regarding cooperation between both countries in the sphere of Law & Justice and to set up a Joint Consultative Committee. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation today with Dr. Lotay Tshering, President of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa. +Prime Minister Modi congratulated Dr. LotayTshering on his party’s victory in the third general election in Bhutan and his own election to the National Assembly. +Prime Minister Modi welcomed the successful conduct of general elections, which is an important milestone for consolidation of democracy in Bhutan. +Prime Minister Modi conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to further strengthening unique ties of friendship and cooperation with Bhutan, which is based on shared interests and values, utmost trust, goodwill and mutual understanding. +Recalling the ongoing Golden Jubilee celebrations of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s steadfast commitment to work with the new government in Bhutan in its national efforts for socio-economic transformation, based on the priorities and interests of the people and the government of Bhutan. +Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to Dr. LotayTshering to visit India. +Dr. Lotay Tshering thanked Prime Minister Modi for his greetings and good wishes, and accepted the invitation to visit India at the earliest opportunity. +The two leaders agreed to take forward the unique and multifaceted bilateral co-operation to new heights for the benefit of the people of Bhutan and India. +Have no words to describe my joy on the UN declaring 21st June as ‘International Day of Yoga.’ +I fully welcome the decision. +Congrats to them! +This will inspire many more people towards Yoga. +Yoga has the power to bring the entire humankind together! +It beautifully combines Gyan (knowledge), Karm (work) and Bhakti (devotion),” said the Prime Minister. +Shri Modi also shared a link of his speech from 2013 in which he talked about various aspects of Yoga and its uniqueness. +The Speech can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxVHm0jHUyk&feature=youtube_gdata +The Prime Minister was chairing a high-level meeting to review preparations for the launch of Mission Swachh Bharat. +Shri Narendra Modi said the activities on October 2nd should not be limited to the Prime Minister’s functions in the national capital. +Activities related to cleanliness should be undertaken in each and every village across the country, he said, highlighting the need for working together with State Governments to make this Mission a success. +Gandhiji should be our inspiration for Swachh Bharat, he added. +The Prime Minister highlighted the need for creating a legal architecture that would institutionalize Mission Swachh Bharat at all levels, upto the village level. +He asked the Ministry of Rural Development to explore the possibility of incentivizing best performing villages. +He also called for standards of cleanliness to be established for Government offices. +The Prime Minister underlined the importance of creating specific roles for various public representatives, including MPs, MLAs, Sarpanches etc. +Various Union Ministries, including the Ministries of Urban Development, Rural Development, Human Resource Development and Information & Broadcasting, presented their concepts on the Mission. +Towns along river bank of the Ganga and its tributaries will be accorded top priority in Mission Swachh Bharat. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Mariyappan Thangavelu on winning gold and Varun Singh Bhati for the bronze at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. +Both Mariyappan and Varun Singh won the medals in the men’s high jump event. +“India is elated! +Congratulations to Mariyappan Thangavelu on winning a gold and Varun Singh Bhati for the bronze at the Rio 2016 Paralympics” , the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has considered the Model Shops and Establishment (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2016. +The Bill will now be sent to States/UTs to enable them to modify their individual Acts, if they so desire either by adopting the said Bill as it is or after modifying its provisions as per their requirements. +This Bill was finalised after detailed deliberations and discussions with public through internet and with employees/labour representatives, employers’ associations/federations and State Governments through tripartite consultative process. +The main features of the draft model Bill are as follows:- +• It will cover only establishments employing ten or more workers except manufacturing units. +• The Bill provides for freedom to operate 365 days in a year and opening/closing time of establishment. +• Women to be permitted during night shift, if the provision of shelter, rest room ladies toilet, adequate protection of their dignity and transportation etc. exists. +• No discrimination against women in the matter of recruitment, training, transfer or promotions. +• Online one common Registration through a simplified procedure. +• Powers of Government to make rules regarding adequate measures to be taken by the employer for the safety and health of workers. +• Clean and safe drinking water. +• Lavatory, creche, first aid and canteen by group of establishments, in case, it is not possible due to constraint in space or otherwise by individual establishment. +• Five paid festival holidays in addition to national holidays etc. +• Exemption of highly skilled workers (for example workers employed in IT, Biotechnology and R&D division) from daily working hours of 9 hours and weekly working hours of 48 hours subject to maximum 125 over-time hours in a quarter. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated a hospital in Dickoya in Central Province of Sri Lanka, built with Indian assistance. +During the address, the Prime Minister spoke of the contributions of the Indian Origin Tamil community to Sri Lanka, and the long shared heritage between India and Sri Lanka. +The Prime Minister also met representatives of the Ceylon Workers Congress, and the Tamil Progressive Alliance. +It is a great pleasure to be here today. +And, I am most grateful for your warm and enthusiastic welcome. +It is a tremendous honour to be the first Indian Prime Minister ever to visit this beautiful region of Sri Lanka. +But, it is a greater honour to have the opportunity to speak with you. +People the world over are familiar with famous Ceylon Tea that originates in this fertile land. +What is less known is that it is your sweat and toil that makes the Ceylon Tea the brew of choice for millions around the globe. +If Sri Lanka today is the third largest exporter of tea, it is because of your hard work. +It is your labour of love which is instrumental in Sri Lanka meeting almost 17% of the world’s demand for tea, and earning more than 1.5 billion US dollars in foreign exchange. +You are that indispensable backbone of the thriving Sri Lankan tea industry that justly prides itself on its success and global reach today. +Your contribution is deeply valued across Sri Lanka and beyond. +I for one truly appreciate your hard work. +You and I have something in common. +As some of you may have heard, I have a special association with tea. +Chai pe Charcha, or discussions over tea, is not just a slogan. +Rather, a mark of deep respect for the dignity and integrity of honest labour. +Today, we remember your forefathers. +Those men and women of strong will and courage, who undertook the journey of their life from India to then Ceylon. +Their journey may have been uphill and their struggles hard, but they never gave up. +Today, we remember and salute that spirit. +Your generation also faced relentless hardships. +You encountered the stiff challenge of making your own mark and identity in a newly independent nation. +We will never forget leaders like Saumiyamurthy Thondaman, who worked hard for your rights, for your upliftment and economic prosperity. +Kaniyan Pungunranar, a Tamil Scholar had declared more than two millennia ago, Yaathum Oore; Yavarum Kelir, meaning “Every town is hometown and all people are our kin”. +And, you have captured the true spirit of that saying. +You have made Sri Lanka your home. +You are an intrinsic part of the warp and the weft of the social fabric of this beautiful nation. +You are the children of Tamil Thai. +You speak one of the oldest-surviving classical languages in the world. +It is a matter of pride that many of you also speak Sinhala. +And, language is much more than a tool for communication. +It defines a culture, forges relationships, joins communities and acts as a strong unifying force. +There is no better sight than a multilingual society living in peace and harmony. +Diversity calls for celebration; and not confrontation. +Our past has always been harmoniously inter-woven. +Several Buddhist texts including Jataka tales mention Saint Agastya, whom many consider to be the father of Tamil language. +The Sinhalese Nayak Kings of Kandy had matrimonial alliances with the Nayak Kings of Madurai and Tanjore. +Sinhala and Tamil were the court languages. +Hindu and Buddhist shrines were both respected and revered. +We need to strengthen, not separate, these threads of unity and harmony. +And, you are perhaps best placed to lead such efforts and make your contribution. +I come from the State of Gujarat in India, the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi. +Almost 90 years ago, he visited this beautiful part of Sri Lanka, including Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Badulla, Bandarawela and Hatton. +Gandhiji’s first and only visit to Sri Lanka was about spreading the message of socio-economic development. +In commemoration of that historic visit, the Mahatma Gandhi International Centre was set up with Government of India assistance at Matale in 2015. +Another national icon of India from later years, Puratchi Thalaivar MGR was born on this very soil, establishing a life-long connection. +And, in more recent times, you have gifted to the world one of the finest spinners in cricket, Muthiah Muralitharan. +Your progress is our pride. +We take much joy from your accomplishments in various walks of life. +We rejoice in the success of the Indian-origin diaspora as they leave a mark across the world, near and far. +I look forward to many more shining successes. +You form an important link between Indian and Sri Lankan people and government. +We see you as part of seamless continuum of our ties with this beautiful country. +It is my Government’s priority to nurture these links. +And, shape our partnership and engagement in a manner that ultimately contributes to the progress of all Indians and all Sri Lankans, and also touches your lives. +You have kept your bonds with India alive. +You have friends and relatives in India. +You celebrate Indian festivals as your own. +You have soaked our culture and made it your own. +India beats in your hearts. +And, I am here to tell you that India fully reciprocates the warmth of your sentiment. +We will continue to work tirelessly for your socio-economic upliftment in all possible ways. +I am aware that the Government of Sri Lanka is taking active steps to improve your living conditions, including a 5-year National Plan of Action. +India will fully support their efforts in this direction. +India has also undertaken many projects for your well-being, together with Sri Lankan Government, particularly in education, health and community development sectors. +The Ceylon Estate Workers Education Trust (CEWET) was set up way back in 1947 in order to encourage promising students to continue their studies. +Under this, we offer around 700 scholarships annually to students for studying in Sri Lanka and India. +Your children have benefited from this. +In the area of livelihood and capacity building, we have set up vocational training centres and 10 English language training centres and labs to help impart suitable skill sets. +Similarly, we have helped set up computer and science labs in plantation schools. +We are also upgrading a number of plantation schools. +Just a while ago, President Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and I dedicated to the people a new 150-bed hospital complex in Dickoya, which has been constructed with Indian assistance. +Its state-of-the-art facilities will cater to the health care needs of the region. +We are also happy to share with you India’s holistic healthcare traditions such as Yoga and Ayurveda. +As part of the innovative Indian Housing Project in Sri Lanka, 4000 houses are being constructed in upcountry areas. +I am happy that for the first time, beneficiaries are also being given ownership of the land on which the houses are being built. +To continue our commitment in this area, I am delighted to announce the construction of an additional ten thousand houses in upcountry areas under this project. +Earlier today, I announced direct Air India flights from Colombo to Varanasi. +With this, you would be able to visit Varanasi with ease and seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. +The Government and people of India are with you in your journey towards peace and greater prosperity. +We will help you overcome the challenges of your past to realise the promise of your future. +As the great poet Thiruvalluvar said, “Wealth will find its own way to the man of unfailing energy and efforts”. +I am confident that it will be a bright future that matches the dreams and potential of your children and your heritage. +Thank you, Nandri. +Boost to Health Infrastructure +In a major boost to health infrastructure the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of the National Health Mission – with effect from 1st April 2017 to 31st March 2020 with a budgetary support of Rs. 85,217 crore as Central Share over this period. +1. NHM will be the principle vehicle for the UHC (Universal Health Coverage) +2. The goals/targets aligned with National Health Policy, 2017 and SDG-3. +3. NHM has helped the country achieve the MDGs and will be the principal vehicle to achieve the SDG 3 targets including the target for UHC. +4. NHM will continue to strengthen the public health systems, particularly in high priority districts that include aspirational districts. +6. The HWCs would provide preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative services, including NCD screening and management and are expected to be linked to CHCs and the DHs through a two-way referral and follow up system to reduce fragmentation and improve continuity of care. +Package of twelve services including free universal screening for common NCDs. +7. Posting of a Mid-Level health provider at the level of the sub-center who is trained in primary health care and public health related competencies. +8. Emphasis on wellness by integration of AYUSH, and a focus on health promotion and prevention particularly for chronic diseases. +9. Ambitious targets have been set that includes key health indicators and others to spur performance. +10. Outcome oriented with increased funds earmarked for incentivizing better performance on key outcomes and health sector reforms. +11. Horizontal integration of all vertical disease programmes to ensure integrated approach to health and wellness. +12. Specially crafted and differentia! strategies and interventions to achieve set goals. +13. Special focus on reducing Out Of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) with intensification of Initiatives such as NHM Free Drugs and Diagnostics Services Initiatives, Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme – Reduction on OOPE incorporated as a separate target. +14. Effective harnessing of available platforms for inter sectoral convergent action on health. +15. Team based incentives to foster spirit of cooperation and encouragement between frontline workers. +16. Sharpened focus on quality through Quality certification of public health facilities, Kayakalp, LaQshya. +Utilisation of public health facilities is a specific target. +17. Proposed to expand basket of vaccines to all the states. +18. Will integrate with the proposed National Health Protection Mission under Ayushman Bharat. +It will result in / facilitate the: +1. Achievement of targets set for the NHM in the continuation period. +2. Improvement in key health indicators like Neo-natal Mortality Rate (NMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR), Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Total Fertility Rate (TFR). +3. Reduction in incidence of communicable diseases. +4. Reduction in Out Of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) on health care. +5. Improvement in coverage and utilization of Routine Immunization services and also those for non-communicable diseases. +Under the Act, the types of disabilities have increased and at the same time provisions for additional benefits have been introduced. +There are strict provisions for penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities and violation of provisions of the new law. +The new Act has several salient features which will enhance opportunity, equality and accessibility. +Have a look here, the Prime Minister said. +PM: Let our lives be not just successful (Safal), but also meaningful (Saarthak). +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today described the Late Shri Eknath Ranade as a person who inspired us to make life not just successful (Safal), but also meaningul (Saarthak). +He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the ‘Mananeeya Eknath Ranade Janm Shati Parva’ in New Delhi today. +Shri Narendra Modi said Shri Eknath Ranade should inspire us to create an India that is both bhavya (prosperous) and divya (spiritual). +He said India’s poor seek prosperity, and the world seeks spirituality from India. +The Prime Minister said Shri Ranade’s mission was to prepare youth of Swami Vivekananda’s dreams. +He appreciated the work done by the Vivekananda Kendra in the North-Eastern states. +He described Shri Ranade as a perfectionist. +The Prime Minister also praised Shri Ranade as a unifier and one who laid stress on people’s participation – Jan Bhaagidaari. +He said he had sought support from leaders across the political spectrum, for the construction of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. +He said many, many Indians above the age of 40, would recall donating a small sum of money for this memorial, and were hence part of it. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957). +The transfer provisions will also facilitate banks and financial institutions to liquidate stressed assets where a company or its captive mining lease is mortgaged. +The amendment will benefit lessees desirous of transferring the captive leases not granted through auction. +It will also benefit banks and financial institutions. +It does not entail any recurring or non-recurring expenditure on the Government. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016. +The Amendment aims to improve +Every year 5 lakh road accidents are reported in the country in which 1.5 lakh people lose their lives. +Government is committed to reduce the accidents and fatalities by 50% in five years. +To address the issue of road safety, a draft Road Transport & Safety Bill was prepared soon after NDA Government came to power. +However, most of the States have expressed reservations. +The GoM recommended that to address the pressing issue of road safety and improving transport scenario, Government should immediately bring amendments to the present Motor Vehicle Act. +On the basis of recommendations of the GoM and other pressing requirements, MoRTH introduced the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 for consideration of the Cabinet. +Today Cabinet Chaired by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the bill. +The important provisions include increase in compensation for Hit & Run cases from Rs. 25000 to Rs. 2 lakhs. +It also has provision for payment of compensation upto Rs 10 lakh in road accidents fatalities. +The Bill also proposes insertion of 28 new sections. +The Bill propose to improve the transport scenario in the country by permitting the States to grant exemptions in Stage carriage and contract carriage permits for promoting rural transport, public transport, last mile connectivity and for passenger convenience and road safety. +The Bill proposes that the State Government can specify a multiplier, not less than one and not greater than ten, to be applied to each fine under this Act and such modified fine. +The bill proposes that the State Government can regulate the activities in a public place of pedestrians and such means of transport. +Improving delivery of services to the stakeholders using e-Governance is one of the major focuses of this Bill. +This include enabling online learning licenses, increasing validity period for driving licenses, doing away with the requirements of educational qualifications for transport licenses are some of the features. +Registration of Motor Vehicle to be cancelled +To improve the registration process for new vehicles, registration at the end of the dealer is being enabled and restrictions have been imposed on temporary registration. +In the area of road safety, bill proposes to increase penalties to act as deterrent against traffic violations. +Stricter provisions are being proposed in respect of offences like juvenile driving, drunken driving, driving without licence, dangerous driving, over-speeding, overloading etc. +Stricter provisions for helmets have been introduced along with provisions for electronic detection of violations. +To help the road accident victims, Good Samaritan guidelines have been incorporated in the Bill. +The Bill also proposes to mandate the automated fitness testing for the transport vehicles with effect from 1st October 2018. +This would reduce corruption in the Transport Department while improving the road worthiness of the vehicle. +The penalties are also proposed for deliberate violation of safety/environmental regulations as well as body builders and spare part suppliers. +To bring harmony of the registration and licensing process, it is proposed to create National Register for Driving Licence and National Register for Vehicle registration through “Vahan” & “Sarathi” platforms. +This will facilitate uniformity of the process across the country. +The process for testing and certification for automobiles is proposed to be regulated more effectively. +The testing agencies issuing automobile approvals have been brought under the ambit of the Act. +The driving training process has been strengthened enabling faster issuance of transport licenses. +This will help in reducing the shortage of commercial drivers in the country. +To facilitate transport solutions for Divyang, the bottlenecks have been removed in respect of grant of driving licenses as well as alterations in the vehicles to make it fit for use of Divyang. +Hon’ble Transport Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari has termed the Motor vehicle (Amendment) 2016 passed by cabinet as biggest reforms in the Road Safety & transport sector. +He has expressed his gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister for his guidance & Support. +He has also expressed his special appreciation for the efforts put in by Group of State Transport Ministers to formulate these amendments. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bangladesh on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. +The MoU was signed at New Delhi in April, 2017. +This MoU shall enable the areas of cooperation such as, space science, technology and applications including remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication and satellite based navigation; Space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system; and application of space technology. +The MoU would lead to set up a Joint Working Group, drawing members from Department of Space/ Indian Space Research Organisation (DOS/ISRO), and the Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC), which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementing this MoU. +It will provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication; satellite navigation; space science and exploration of outer space. +Financing of works carried out under this MoU shall be provided by the respective executive organisation with due consideration of national norms and rules concerning budgetary regulations in force in their respective States and within the limits of available resources. +Joint projects and works carried out under this MoU depending on the type and field of activity shall be on non-commercial or commercial basis and shall be executed either without mutual payments or on the basis of compensatory arrangements or contracts. +The MoU would lead to develop a joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. +Thus all sections and regions of the country will get benefited. +India and Bangladesh have expressed interest to cooperate with each other in the area of space. +Accordingly, an MoU between India and Bangladesh on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, signed at New Delhi on April 08, 2017. +This measure is part of the Phase – I of redevelopment project of PragatiMaidan i.e. Integrated Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) Project. +It was was approved by the CCEA in January 2017 at an estimated cost of Rs. 2254 crore. +IECC project envisages construction of a world class state-of-the-art Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre with a seating capacity for 7,000 pax, exhibition, space of over 1,00,000sq.mtr. and a basement parking for 4,800 vehicles. +Traffic decongestion measures in and around the PragatiMaidan will also lead to decongestion of the area. +The work for IECC project as well as the traffic decongestion solutions is in full swing. +ITPO has stated that the entire project is expected to be completedby September 2019. +IECC project will benefit Indian trade and industry, and help increase India’s foreign trade. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 71st Independence Day. +The Prime Minister recalled the great women and men who worked hard for India’s freedom. +He said the people of India stand shoulder to shoulder with those affected due to natural disasters, and the tragedy in Gorakhpur. +The Prime Minister noted that the current year is special, because it marks the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement; the 100th anniversary of Champaran Satyagraha; and the 125th anniversary of the celebration of ‘Saarvjanik Ganesh Utsav’ – inspired by Bal Gangadhar Tilak. +The Prime Minister said that the nation had shown its collective strength between 1942 and 1947, culminating in India’s independence. +He said that we must show the same collective determination and resolve to create a New India by 2022. +He emphasized that everyone is equal in our nation, and together we can bring about a qualitative transformation. +The Prime Minister called for an end to the “chalta hai” attitude of complacency, and its replacement with an attitude of “badal sakta hai” for positive change. +Shri Narendra Modi said that India’s security is our priority, and the surgical strike had underscored this. +He added that India’s stature in the world is rising, and several countries are cooperating with India in fighting the menace of terrorism. +On demonetization, he said that those who have looted the nation, and the poor, are not able to sleep peacefully, and honesty is being celebrated today. +He asserted that the fight against black money will continue, and technology will help bring about transparency. +He encouraged people to further promote digital transactions. +The Prime Minister described the implementation of GST as a key illustration of cooperative federalism. +He said the poor are joining the mainstream through initiatives of financial inclusion. +He emphasized that good governance is about speed and simplification of processes. +The Prime Minister appreciated the farmers and the agriculture scientists for record crop production this year. +He said the Government had procured 16 lakh tonnes of pulses this year, far in excess of the procurement of previous years. +The Prime Minister said the changing nature of technology is resulting in the requirement of different skill-sets for employment. +He also added that the youth is being nurtured to become job-creators, and not job-seekers. +The Prime Minister said India stands for peace, unity, and harmony. +He said casteism and communalism will not help us. +He strongly condemned the use of violence in the name of faith, and said this will not be accepted in India. +He said the call of the Quit India Movement was “Bharat Chhodo,” but the call today is “Bharat Jodo.” +The Prime Minister said significant attention is being paid to the development of eastern and north-eastern India. +He said the Government has taken India on new tracks of development, without slackening pace. +Quoting from scriptures, the Prime Minister said that if we do not take the right step at the right time, we do not achieve desired results. +He said this is the right time for ‘Team India’ to resolve for ‘New India.’ +The Prime Minister announced the launch of a website to honour gallantry award winners. +Secretary General, INTERPOL, Mr. Jurgen Stock, +My ministerial colleague Dr. Jitendra Singh, +Other dignitaries on the dais, +I am happy to be here today to address the delegates of the sixth Global Focal Point Conference on Asset Recovery, and the Annual Conference of CBI and State Anti-Corruption Bureaus. +I also extend a warm welcome to the delegates from abroad who are attending this Conference. +I hope that your visit to India is pleasant and memorable. +I also congratulate the officers of CBI who have received medals for distinguished service today. +Governments across the world work to transform the lives of the poor and the marginalized. +Corruption is one of the principal challenges to that objective. +We in India are currently in a crucial phase of Nation building. +Our mission is to build a prosperous India. +• our farmers are capable; +• our workers satisfied; +• our women empowered; +• and our youth self-reliant; +This is not an impossible mission. +However, to achieve this objective, it is essential to fight relentlessly against corruption. +India stands committed in its fight against corruption. +My Government has taken significant steps to check corruption and the menace of black money in a short span of time. +The very day that we assumed office, we constituted a Special Investigation Team under the supervision of the Supreme Court to look into the issue. +We have entered into agreements with many countries for exchanging real time information on black money. +The Government has signed the Inter Government Agreement with the United States to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. +This Agreement enables Indian tax authorities to receive financial account information of Indians from foreign countries on an automatic basis. +A comprehensive and deterrent law, the Black Money Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets and Imposition of Tax Act has been enacted. +It provides for stringent penalties and prosecution. +We have also introduced a provision under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for restitution of assets. +This will enable millions of poor investors who have lost money in ponzi schemes to recover a part of their hard earned money. +I hope that the partnership between Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) and Interpol will help in confiscation and recovery of stolen assets. +I am sure that this conference will go a long way towards elimination of safe havens for the proceeds of corruption and help build secure exchange platforms for recovery of criminal assets. +Our recent initiatives to curb systemic corruption such as auction of Coal Blocks and FM Radio spectrum have eliminated the element of discretion in allocation of national resources. +This has brought about transparency in the system and restored faith of the citizens in Government. +It has also generated substantial revenues for the government which will benefit our people. +We are focused on providing system based and policy driven governance. +A governance structure that is sensitive, transparent and accountable. +Let me share an example to illustrate how corruption can be eliminated silently and efficiently by simple technology and policy based initiatives. +When we assumed office, I was informed that cooking gas cylinders were being subsidized to the tune of approximately four hundred rupees per cylinder. +This subsidy was being provided to rich and poor alike. +We decided that the subsidy should be credited directly into bank accounts of consumers with each account being linked to a unique Aadhaar card. +This single intervention has reduced the number of registered consumers claiming gas subsidy by about fifty million. +Subsequently, we also launched a campaign for the “well off” to voluntarily give up cooking gas subsidy. +The response has been very encouraging. +This includes:- +• inadequate capacity to deliver public services effectively and efficiently, +• lack of appropriate policy responses to emerging situations, +• and delays in project implementation, +My Government has taken several steps to make the bureaucracy more efficient performance-oriented and accountable. +The Government is committed to ensuring probity among public servants and to protect them from frivolous allegations. +Equally, the Government is unsparing when it comes to punishing the corrupt. +We have so far removed and ensured pension cuts of 45 senior officers of various services for unsatisfactory performance and delivery in public service. +Globalization of organized crime poses a major threat to economies throughout the world. +It is a well-known fact that ‘dirty money’ drives out ‘good money.’ +Organized crime can hamper investment and economic growth. +It can also infiltrate or acquire control of large sectors of the economy. +Illicit funding promotes organized criminal activities like drug trafficking, arms trafficking, human trafficking, and terrorism. +The dastardly acts committed in Paris a few days ago are a grim reminder that terrorists have shown remarkable flexibility and adaptability in meeting their funding requirements. +They derive funding from a variety of criminal activities which include smuggling of narcotics, bank robbery, vehicle theft, fake currency, or from state sponsors and activities in failed states. +Disrupting fund flows constrains the capabilities of terrorists and reduces their ability to execute attacks. +This involves putting in place both systemic safeguards, and targeted economic sanctions based on credible counter-terrorism intelligence. +Targeting proceeds of crime is an important element in this fight against crime. +Hence, there is an imperative need to focus our efforts to enhance international cooperation in the field of Asset Recovery for fighting crime, corruption and terrorism. +Confiscation of property of offenders not only serves as punishment but also discourages commission of crime. +In fact, Kautilya in his‘Artha Shastra,’ had suggested confiscation of illegitimate income as one of the punishments for corrupt public servants. +I am also pleased to note that the heads of State Anti-Corruption Bureaus and CBI will deliberate on the related theme of tracking proceeds of corruption. +This two decade old forum must not only focus on prosecution of offenders involved in corruption but also modify their Standard Operating Procedures to more effectively target the proceeds of corruption. +Economic liberalism and globalization have drastically increased the ability to park profits of crime anywhere in the world. +Today proceeds of crime can be routed through dozens of countries within seconds. +By a process of layering the money-trail can be concealed. +Investigation agencies are limited by national boundaries. +INTERPOL is playing an increasingly active role in asset recovery. +Since 2009, Global Focal Point Forum is actively promoting the exchange of corruption data among law enforcement agencies and anti-corruption entities worldwide. +The new INTERPOL notice could add value to asset-tracing investigations and facilitate real time information sharing in complex cases. +I appreciate the efforts of INTERPOL and its partners – World Bank and UNODC – in conceiving the idea and giving leadership to this forum that has the potential to put an end to safe havens for the corrupt. +I am told that the excellent and proactive cooperation between INTERPOL and Indian investigative agencies has resulted in tracking of many fugitive criminals and their subsequent deportation or extradition. +I would like this cooperation to deepen. +CBI has been effectively assisting the Indian law enforcement agencies and their foreign counterparts in overcoming the barriers that complicate the exchange of investigative information. +I am also informed that CBI has been making use of INTERPOL tools and databases for securing greater cooperation among law enforcement organizations throughout the world. +It has also been consistently partnering INTERPOL Capacity Building Programmes. +We are in the process of establishing an International Centre of Excellence in Investigation at Ghaziabad. +This Centre will render world class Certified Courses on Investigation and Prosecution in specialized and emerging domains of crime including cybercrime, to the Law enforcement community of India and abroad. +A Centralized Technology Vertical to focus on combating new age crimes like cybercrime, is also being planned. +There are several cases in the annals of Indian judicial history in which conviction was secured solely on the basis of forensic expert opinion. +India must, therefore, have adequate facilities to be able to clear the huge backlog of forensic opinion. +The proceeds of crime and corruption are stolen assets. +They do not belong to the country where they are stashed. +They rightfully belong to the citizens of the country from which they have been plundered. +I am well aware of the legal and procedural obstacles and differences in evidentiary standards that hinder Asset Recovery. +To overcome these challenges, Police and Law Enforcement Agencies should forge formal and informal relationships. +I hope this conference provides all of you such an opportunity. +I also hope that the delegates will seriously deliberate and devise proper procedures and protocols to quicken the process of tracing, identifying, restraining, confiscating, and repatriating the stolen assets. +a. Provision of 2G+4G mobile coverage in identified uncovered areas of the State of Meghalaya; and +b. Provision of 2G+4G seamless mobile coverage along the National Highways in Meghalaya. +2. Providing access to public mobile network to hitherto unreached people of Meghalaya will empower citizens with benefits of ICTs for furthering socio-economic developments. +3. The innovative skill of uncovered areas will increase through broadband and internet access. +Prime Minister of India, H.E. Shri Narendra Modi and President of People’s Republic of China, H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping held their first Informal Summit in Wuhan on April 27-28, 2018, to exchange views on overarching issues of bilateral and global importance, and to elaborate their respective visions and priorities for national development in the context of the current and future international situation. +They believe that the simultaneous emergence of India and China as two large economies and major powers with strategic and decisional autonomy, has implications of regional and global significance. +They shared the view that peaceful, stable and balanced relations between India and China will be a positive factor for stability amidst current global uncertainties. +They also agreed that proper management of the bilateral relationship will be conducive for the development and prosperity of the region, and will create the conditions for the Asian Century. +To this end, they decided to strengthen the Closer Development Partnership in a mutually beneficial and sustainable manner, in pursuit of national modernization and greater prosperity for their peoples. +Prime Minister Modi and President Xi reviewed developments in India-China relations from the strategic and long-term perspective. +They agreed to significantly enhance efforts to build on the convergences through the established mechanisms in order to create the broadest possible platform for the future relationship. +They also agreed that both sides have the maturity and wisdom to handle the differences through peaceful discussion within the context of the overall relationship, bearing in mind the importance of respecting each other’s sensitivities, concerns and aspirations. +The two leaders expressed their support for the work of the Special Representatives on the India China Boundary Question and urged them to intensify their efforts to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement. +The two leaders underscored the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in all areas of the India-China border region in the larger interest of the overall development of bilateral relations. +To this end, they issued strategic guidance to their respective militaries to strengthen communication in order to build trust and mutual understanding and enhance predictability and effectiveness in the management of border affairs. +The two leaders agreed to push forward bilateral trade and investment in a balanced and sustainable manner by taking advantage of complementarities between their two economies. +They also discussed ways to promote greater cultural and people-to-people exchanges and agreed to explore establishing new mechanisms in this direction. +Prime Minister Modi and President Xi underlined that as two major countries India and China have wider and overlapping regional and global interests. +They agreed on their need to strengthen strategic communication through greater consultation on all matters of common interest. +They believe that such strategic communication will have a positive influence on enhancing mutual understanding and will contribute to regional and global stability. +The two leaders agreed that India and China have separately made major contributions to global peace and prosperity through their respective growth and economic development, and would continue to act as engines for global growth in the future. +They reiterated the importance of building an open, multipolar, pluralist and participatory global economic order which will enable all countries to pursue their development and contribute to the elimination of poverty and inequality in all regions of the world. +They spoke of their respective efforts to contribute to the regional and global economic development. +The two leaders also shared views on their respective foreign policy visions of achieving global prosperity and security. +They agreed to jointly contribute in a positive and constructive way in facilitating sustainable solutions for global challenges including climate change, sustainable development, food security etc. +They underscored the importance of reform of multilateral financial and political institutions to make them representative and responsive to the needs of developing countries. +The two leaders agreed that as two major countries and emerging economies, India and China, given their vast developmental experiences and national capacities, should join hands to take lead in offering innovative and sustainable solutions to challenges faced by humankind in the 21st century. +These include combating diseases, coordinating action for disaster risk reduction and mitigation, addressing climate change and ushering digital empowerment. +They agreed to pool together their expertise and resources in these areas and create a global network dedicated to these challenges for the larger benefit of humanity. +Prime Minister Modi and President Xi recognized the common threat posed by terrorism, and reiterated their strong condemnation of and resolute opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. +They committed themselves to cooperate on counter-terrorism. +The two leaders highly assessed the opportunity for direct, free and candid exchange of views offered by the Informal Summit and agreed on the utility of holding more such dialogues in the future. +The forward-looking dialogue raised the level of strategic communication about the perspective, priorities and vision that guide their respective policy choices domestically, regionally and globally. +It also helped them in forging a common understanding of the future direction of India-China relations built upon mutual respect for each other’s developmental aspirations and prudent management of differences with mutual sensitivity. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today celebrated Diwali with jawans of the Indian Army and ITBP, at Harsil in Uttarakhand. +Greeting the jawans on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that their devotion to duty in the remote icy heights, is enabling the strength of the nation, and securing the future and the dreams of 125 crore Indians. +The Prime Minister recalled that he has been visiting soldiers on Diwali, ever since he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. +He also spoke of his interactions with the jawans of ITBP, years ago when he was part of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. +The Prime Minister said India is taking great strides forward in the defence sector. +He spoke of various measures being taken for welfare of ex-servicemen, including OROP (One Rank, One Pension). +The Prime Minister said that the Indian Armed Forces draw admiration and appreciation across the world, in UN peacekeeping operations. +The Prime Minister offered sweets to the jawans. +He also interacted with people from nearby areas who had gathered to greet him on Diwali. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the Joint Interpretative Notes (JIN) on the Agreement between India and Bangladesh for the Promotion and Protection of Investments. +The JIN would impart clarity to the interpretation of the existing Agreement between India and Bangladesh for the Promotion and Protection of Investments (BIPA). +Joint Interpretative Statements in general play an important supplementary role in strengthening the investment treaty regime. +With increasing Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) disputes, issuance of such statements is likely to have strong persuasive value before tribunals. +Such pro-active approach by States can foster a more predictable and coherent reading of treaty terms by arbitration tribunals. +The parents of braveheart Nirbhaya, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +The Prime Minister condoled their loss, and assured the parents that the Union Government would do its utmost for the safety and security of women. +The Prime Minister also appreciated the efforts of Nirbhaya’s mother, who now runs the Nirbhaya Jyoti Trust for the security and welfare of women. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of a Bill in Parliament to amend the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993, namely the National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Act, 2017 to grant retrospective recognition to the Central/State/Universities who are found to be conducting teacher education courses without NCTE permission. +The amendment seeks to grant retrospective recognition to the Central/State/Union Territory funded Institutions/Universities conducting Teacher Education Courses without NCTE recognition till the academic year 2017-2018. +The amendment will make students studying in these Institutions/Universities, or already passed out from here, eligible for employment as a teacher. +With a view to achieve above mentioned benefits, Deptt. of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development has brought about this amendment. +All institutions running Teacher Education Courses such as B.Ed. and D.El.Ed. have to obtain recognition from the National Council for Teacher Education under section 14 of the NCTE Act. +Further, the courses of such recognised Institutions/Universities have to be permitted under section 15, of the NCTE Act. +NCTE wrote to all Central Universities and /State Obvernrnents / State Universities / District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) informing them about the legal provisions making it mandatory to seek prior permission for starting Teacher Education Courses and giving them time till 31-03-2017 to inform NCTE if any such Institution/University is running a course without permission of NCTE, for a one-time resolution of past issues. +The NCTE Act, 1993 came into force on 1st July, 1995 and is applicable throughout the country, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. +The main objective of the Act Is to provide for the establishment of a NCTE to achieve planned and coordinated development of the teacher education system, regulation and ensure proper maintenance of norms and standards in the said system. +In order to achieve the objectives of the Act, separate provisions have been, made in the Act, for recognising Teacher Education courses and to lay down guidelines for compliance by recognized Institutions/Universities. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Protocol amending the Convention between India and Slovenia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income. +The amendment in the Protocol will broaden the scope of the existing framework of exchange of tax related information which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance between the two countries and will also enable mutual assistance in collection of taxes. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for bilateral cooperation in the field of water resources management. +The MoU envisages that both the Governments shall work to enhance cooperation at the National, regional and international levels in the field of Water Resources Management and Development by collaborating and sharing experience and expertise in the areas mutually agreed upon, including techniques in the efficient use of water resources, river basin management, decision support systems, delta management, water quality issues and waste water recycling and re-use through innovative concession arrangements. +The form of cooperation under the MoU will include promoting the exchange of knowledge and expertise through study visits, seminars, conferences and meetings of experts of the Signatories, stimulating joint research and development of capacity-building programs/training, exchange of training groups and other activities for the purpose of academic and applied research and training, promoting mutual participation in and/or initiation of relevant collaboration projects and programs, promoting public private partnerships. +A Joint Working Group shall be formed to monitor the activities to be carried out in fulfillment of the MoU. +The Bilateral cooperation will benefit the country in enhancing institutional and technical capacity of center and State Government agencies dealing with water resources especially in the field of river basin management, pollution abatement of rivers including Ganga, flood management, water quality and efficient use of water amongst others. +The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has been envisaging bilateral cooperation with other countries in water resources development and management through sharing of policy and technical expertise, conducting of training courses, workshops, scientific and technical symposia, exchange of experts, study tours etc. +Keeping in view the success of the Netherlands side in river basin management planning/integrated water resources management, pollution abatement, decision support systems, delta management, water quality, waste water recycling and re-use etc. it has been decided to have an agreement with the Netherlands to benefit from their experience and expertise. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid his tributes to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his Punya Tithi. +“Tributes to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his Punya Tithi. +We remember his contribution as a freedom fighter and as our first Prime Minister,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister today presented President Park Geun-Hye two finely woven pashmina stoles on which a poem that Rabindranath Tagore had written specially for Korea is hand embroidered in English and Korean. +The text of Tagore’s poem that was published in 1929 in the Korean daily Dong-A Ilbo is as below:- +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of noted Hindustani classical vocalist Ustad Hussain Sayeeduddin Dagar. +“Ustad Hussain Sayeeduddin Dagar’s demise is saddening. +His contribution to Hindustani classical music will be remembered for generations. +People across India and the world were enthralled by the music of Ustad Hussain Sayeeduddin Dagar, an inspiration for music enthusiasts.” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will receive the United Nations’ highest environmental honour, the ‘UNEP Champions of the Earth’ award at a special ceremony in Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, New Delhi on October 3. +The Prime Minister will also address the gathering. +Prime Minister Modi has been selected in the leadership category for his pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and for his unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022. +The annual ‘Champions of the Earth’ prize is awarded to outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose actions have had a positive impact on the environment. +PM unveils development projects for Gorakhpur and Eastern Uttar Pradesh +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) from Gorakhpur today. +With the launch today, the first instalment of Rs 2,000 will be directly credited to the bank accounts of selected beneficiary farmers. +The Prime Minister congratulated the farmers for the launch of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. +He also congratulated farmer families engaged in dairy farming, and fisheries, as they now have access to Kisan Credit Cards. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that this day is etched in history, because the biggest scheme for farmers since independence, has begun today. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is determined to make the farmers capable and empowered. +He said that the Government is working to provide all the necessary means to the farmers, to enable them to double their income by 2022. +About 12 crore farmers are expected to benefit from PM-KISAN. +The Prime Minister said that through this scheme, Rs. 75,000 crore will be transferred to farmers’ accounts every year. +He urged State Governments to send the lists of beneficiary farmers to the Union Government at the earliest, so that farmers can receive the benefit of this scheme in time. +The Prime Minister said that PM-KISAN depends on direct transfer, and therefore the entire amount will reach the beneficiary. +He said that the Government is also investing about one lakh crore rupees to complete long pending irrigation projects, which will be of great and lasting help to farmers in many parts of the country. +He also mentioned the 17 crore soil health cards, neem coating of urea, MSP for 22 crops at 50 percent above the cost price, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, and the e-NAM platform. +He also touched upon other welfare schemes for the benefit of farmers. +The Prime Minister said that the entire region of Eastern Uttar Pradesh is undergoing rapid transformation. +Industry, Connectivity and the Health sector are all witness to this change, he added. +He also said that about 10,000 crore rupees worth of projects for the development of Gorakhpur and Eastern Uttar Pradesh have been either inaugurated, or the foundation stone laid for them, today. +He said these projects will improve ease of living. +He said that schemes such as PM AwaasYojana, UjjwalaYojana, Ayushman Bharat etc are symbolic of the spirit of SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas. +PM: Today, the sun will not set on the community of Yoga practitioners. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today announced the arrival of a new Yoga era, with the first International Day of Yoga being observed across the world. +Leading a mass yoga demonstration at Rajpath in New Delhi, the Prime Minister declared that today, as this day is observed in various parts of the world, the sun would not set on the community of Yoga practitioners. +The Prime Minister said that today is not just the first-ever International Yoga Day, but the beginning of a new era that would inspire humanity in its quest for peace and harmony. +The Prime Minister recalled the contribution of ancient sages, yoga gurus, and practitioners across the world through the ages, for making Yoga what it is, today. +He said that as mankind advances in various spheres of development and technology, individual human beings must progress too, and Yoga offered an avenue for this. +He said Yoga was not merely an exercise, but offered an opportunity for balancing the mind and body, and could help harness an individual’s inner strength. +The Prime Minister later participated in a mass yoga demonstration at Rajpath. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today informally met all Secretaries – the topmost officers of Ministries of the Government of India. +Making a strong pitch to rise above the “administrative mechanisms of earlier centuries”, the Prime Minister said the Secretaries had an opportunity to transform the lives of one-sixth of humanity. +He asked them to identify concrete goals to be achieved by 2022 – the seventy-fifth anniversary of independence. +The Prime Minister exhorted the Secretaries to work beyond the silos of their respective Ministries for the development of the country. +Giving examples such as Financial Inclusion (Jan Dhan Yojana) and Universal Immunization (Mission Indradhanush), the Prime Minister said the some of the best results in the last three years had been achieved when the entire Government machinery worked in unison, as a team. +He said institutions must be made outcome-oriented. +On Swachhta Abhiyan, the Prime Minister said that the biggest groundswell of support has come from the people, and that is driving change at the administrative level. +The Prime Minister said the advent of GST on July 1st marks a turning point in the country’s history. +He asked the Secretaries to proactively prepare for this transformation, to ensure a smooth transition. +The Prime Minister said the world is looking at India differently today, and this is a unique opportunity which should not be missed. +Let us build mechanisms to meet global expectations, he asked the Secretaries. +Shri Narendra Modi also called for a mission mode approach to the 100 most backward districts in India. +He said specific goals should be set on various parameters in definite short timeframes for these districts. +Earlier, Secretaries also made some suggestions on various sectors of governance. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has expressed sadness at the passing away of Mr. Beau Biden. +“Saddened to learn about the passing away of Beau Biden, the eldest son of US Vice-President Joseph Biden, at a young age. +Apart from a deep loss to the family, a promising public career has been tragically cut short. +Our deepest condolences to the Biden family,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will address the Conference on Transformation of Aspirational Districts tomorrow. +This event is being organized by NITI Aayog at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. +The Prime Minister will interact with officials in-charge of transformation of over 100 districts. +This event is in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a New India by 2022. +The Union Government has embarked upon a major policy initiative for the rapid transformation of districts that are lagging on specific development parameters. +Senior Government officials in the rank of Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary have been designated as officers in-charge, to coordinate the efforts of the Centre and the States in addressing the specific developmental needs of these districts. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the Valedictory Function of Vigilance Awareness Week 2016, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. +Speaking on the occasion, he said technology has a major role to play in bringing in transparency, and curbing corruption. +The Prime Minister said that the State has to be policy driven. +He said things cannot depend on the whims and fancies of individuals. +The Prime Minister said that while making laws and policies it is essential to have a broad range of inputs. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will be holding a high level consultative meeting on ‘Recent Global Events: Opportunities for India,’ in New Delhi tomorrow morning. +The meeting will be attended by over 40 delegates, including Cabinet Ministers, top officials of the Government and RBI, industry representatives, top bankers and leading economists and sectoral experts. +A wide-ranging discussion is expected on the impact of recent economic events, and how best India can take advantage of them. +PM Calls upon citizens to become Swachhagrahis and create a Swachh Bharat +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate an exhibition titled “Swachhagraha – Bapu Ko Karyanjali – Ek Abhiyan, Ek Pradarshani” in the national capital tomorrow to mark the 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s first experiment of Satyagraha in Champaran. +He will also launch an ‘Online Interactive Quiz’ at the event which is being organized by the National Archives of India. +Speaking about the event in a series of tweets, the PM said that the Champaran Satyagraha was a historic mass movement which had a phenomenal impact and he urged the countrymen to become Swachhagrahis and create a Swachh Bharat. +“Tomorrow I will join a very special program, ‘Swachhagraha – Bapu Ko Karyanjali’ to mark 100 years of the historic Champaran Satyagraha. +There will be an exhibition showcasing Champaran Satyagraha & it will connect essential principles of Satyagraha with Swachhagraha. +The exhibition will also showcase the ground covered by the Swachh Bharat Mission in creating a mass movement towards a clean India. +A century ago, Indians became Satyagrahis and fought colonialism. +Today, let us become Swachhagrahis& create a Swachh Bharat. +Champaran Satyagraha was a historic mass movement led by Bapu. +Its impact was phenomenal”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today uploaded the Integrated Case Management Information System on the Supreme Court website, which marks the introduction of digital filing – a step towards paperless Supreme Court. +Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Justice of India, Shri Justice J.S. Khehar, recalled the Sesquicentennial Celebrations of Allahabad High Court on 2nd April this year. +He said that on that day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a strong case for introducing technology to ease the working of courts. +Explaining the benefits of the digital filing application, the Chief Justice of India described this initiative as the biggest leap towards introducing technology in the judicial system. +Making a presentation on the application, Shri Justice Khanwilkar said the new initiative would be an illustration of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.” +Union Minister for Law and Justice, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad appreciated the Supreme Court for this digital innovation. +In his remarks on the occasion, the Prime Minister greeted the gathering on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. +He also recalled that today – 10th May – marks the anniversary of the beginning of the First War of Independence in 1857. +The Prime Minister recalled the Chief Justice of India’s appeal at Allahabad on 2nd April, for the higher judiciary to take up hearings of cases on at least some days during the vacation. +He said the appeal was inspirational, and he has heard very encouraging news in this regard from the Supreme Court and the High Courts. +He said this spirit brings about a positive change, and engenders a sense of responsibility. +He added that it also creates trust among the common people, which is the key to ‘New India.’ +The Prime Minister said that technology had often been equated to hardware in the past, and therefore, it is important to bring about a change in mindset. +He said technology can only be embraced collectively within an institution. +He said paperless initiatives save the environment, and are therefore a great service for future generations. +Speaking of the benefits of technology, the Prime Minister recalled the recently organized “Hackathon,” where 400 issues across Ministries in the Government of India were identified, and 42,000 students from Indian Universities spent 36 hours in an attempt to solve them. +He said that Ministries were adapting many of the outcomes of this exercise. +The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the combination of “Information Technology” and “Indian Talent” would create “India Tomorrow.” +Dwelling on the theme of technology, the Prime Minister spoke of the implications and possibilities that “Artificial Intelligence” could bring about. +The Prime Minister mentioned several occasions in the recent past, when people from various walks of life had come forward to help the poor. +In this context, he recalled the success of the “Give-It-Up” movement to give up LPG subsidy. +Similarly, he mentioned the initiative taken by doctors across the country to treat poor pregnant women free of cost on the 9th of every month. +In the same vein, he urged lawyers to come forward to provide pro-bono legal aid to the poor and needy. +Shri Justice Dipak Misra and Shri Justice J Chelameswar were also present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratification of the Investment Cooperation and Facilitation Treaty (ICFT) between India and Brazil. +The Treaty will result in increase of investment flows between the two countries. +The ICFT between India and Brazil will provide appropriate facilitation to Brazilian investors in India and Indian investors in the Brazil. +It is likely to increase the comfort level and boost the confidence of investors by assuring a level playing field and non-discrimination in all investment facilitation matters, thus providing conducive investment climate to investors. +It would help project India as a preferred Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) destination to all Brazilian investors. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today received the US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter. +Prime Minister expressed satisfaction at the progress in bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries, and expressed hope that discussions with the framework of the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative between the two countries would progress along his vision of ‘Make in India’ in the defence sector. +Secretary Carter conveyed that the US viewed India a close strategic ally and an enduring partner and that both sides were moving from the buyer-seller relationship towards a manufacturing partnership. +Both of them also exchanged views on the regional situation, including in the South Asia and the Asia Pacific region. +Secretary Carter conveyed that the US policy of ‘Rebalance’ and India’s “Act East’ policy complimented each other. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Jordan on cooperation in the field of Health & Medical Science. +The MoU covers the following areas of cooperation: +(i) Universal Health Coverage (UHC); +(ii) Health System Governance; +(iii) Services and Information Technology in Health; +(iv) Health Research; +(v) National Health Statistics; +(vi) Health Finance and Health Economy; +(vii) Chronic Disease Control; +(ix) Diagnosis, Treatment and Medication in Tuberculosis; +(x) Regulation of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices; and +The 2017 Budget Session of Parliament gets underway today. +The President’s Address to the Parliament, Budget and detailed discussion on several issues will take place during the Session. +In the recent past, there has been discussions with all the Political Parties individually and collectively. +It is imperative to ensure that this Session should be utilised for a constructive debate in the larger interests of the public and yet at the same time, detailed discussions should take place on Budget. +For the first time, the Union Budget will be presented on 1st February. +You may recall that earlier the Union Budget was presented at 5.00 pm. +Its timing was changed in the morning when Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government came into power and Budget was presented just after the commencement of the Parliament Session. +Yet another new tradition comes into effect from today. +There will be extensive debate in the Parliament on this issue and it will also reflect the ensuing benefits from the decision in the days to come. +World Leaders have congratulated Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the victory in the recently held assembly elections. +Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, The Emir of Qatar HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and French President, HE Francois Hollande spoke to the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and conveyed their felicitations. +Our Mantra should be: ‘Beta Beti, Ek Samaan’ +Let us celebrate the birth of the girl child. +We should be equally proud of our daughters. +I urge you to sow five plants when your daughter is born to celebrate the occasion. +PM Narendra Modi to citizens of his adopted village Jayapur. +Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) was launched by the Prime Minister on 22nd January, 2015 at Panipat, Haryana. +BBBP addresses the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of women empowerment over a life-cycle continuum. +It is a tri-ministerial effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development. +The key elements of the scheme include Enforcement of PC & PNDT Act, nation-wide awareness and advocacy campaign and multi-sectoral action in select 100 districts (low on CSR) in the first phase. +There is a strong emphasis on mindset change through training, sensitization, awareness raising and community mobilization on ground. +The NDA Government is trying to bring about a transformational shift in the way our society looks at the girl child. +PM Modi in his Mann Ki Baat lauded the Sarpanch from Bibipur in Haryana who started a ‘Selfie With Daughter’ initiative. +PM also urged people to share their selfies with daughters and it soon became a world-wide hit. +People from across India and the world shared their selfies with daughters and this became a proud occasion for all those who have daughters. +Since the launch of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, the multi-sectoral District Action Plans have been operationalized in almost all states. +Capacity-buiding programmes and Trainings have been imparted to Trainers to further strengthen capacities of district level officials and frontline workers. +Nine set of such trainings have been organized covering all States/UTs the Ministry of Women & Child Development from April-October, 2015. +Some Local Initiatives +Under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme, Pithoragarh district has taken various steps towards protecting the girl child and enabling her education. +The District Task Force and Block Task Force have been constituted. +Meetings of these forums have organized & clear road maps have been developed and relating to Child Sex Ratio. +To reach out the community at a large, awareness generation activities have been being carried out for wider dissemination of the Scheme. +Various Rallies have been organized with core participation from various schools, Army schools, Employees of Government Departments, etc +In order to increase awareness about Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, street plays are also being organized in Pithoragarh. +These street plays are not only organized at the villages, but also in markets to generate awareness among a larger audience. +Through story visualization, people are getting sensitized towards the problems of sex-selective abortion. +Issues related to the girl child and the series of the difficulties she faces through her lifespan are very well portrayed through these street plays. +Through a Signature Campaign, Pledge and Oath Ceremony, message of BBBP has reached out to 700 students from PG colleges and several Army Personnel. +Mansa district in Punjab has launched an initiative to inspire its girls to be educated. +Under its ‘Udaan – Sapneya Di Duniya De Rubaru (Udaan- Live your Dream For One Day)’ scheme, the Mansa administration invites proposals from girls belonging to classes VI-XII. +These girls have the opportunity to spend one day with a professional they aspire to be — doctor, police official, engineer, IAS and PPS officers, among others. +The initiative has received great response, and more than 70 students have already got a chance to spend one day with a professional, to see them function in a professional environment, helping them make better decisions about their future career choice. +The scheme is expected to encourage foreign investment in India and facilitate Make in India Programme. +Under the Scheme, suitable provisions will be incorporated in the Visa Manual to provide for the grant of PRS to foreign investors. +The PRS will be granted for a period of 10 years with multiple entry. +This can be reviewed for another 10 years if the PRS holder has not come to adverse notice. +The scheme will be applicable only to foreign investors fulfilling the prescribed eligibility conditions, his/her spouse and dependents. +In order to avail this scheme, the foreign investor will have to invest a minimum of Rs. 10 crores to be brought within 18 months or Rs.25 crores to be brought within 36 months. +Further, the foreign investment should result in generating employment to at least 20 resident Indians every financial year. +PRS will serve as a multiple entry visa without any stay stipulation and PRS holders will be exempted from the registration requirements. +PRS holders will be allowed to purchase one residential property for dwelling purpose. +The spouse/ dependents of the PRS holder will be allowed to take up employment in private sector (in relaxation to salary stipulations for Employment Visa) and undertake studies in India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), Abu Dhabi for mutual co-operation and technical assistance between the two regulators. +It would also contribute towards strengthening the information sharing framework between the two regulators. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of an Inter-Governmental Agreement between India and Mauritius on cooperation in cooperatives and related fields. +The Agreement between the two countries will be for a duration of five years after which it will be automatically extended for another five years. +The Agreement provides for promoting cooperation through short and medium term programmes within the framework of the joint activities mentioned in the Agreement. +A work plan will be drawn up by mutual Agreement between the two parties to give effect to the objectives of this Agreement. +The Government of Mauritius has shown keen Interest to develop Institutional Mechanism between Cooperative Development Fund (CDF) set up by it and National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) so as to benefit from NCUI’s experience in Cooperative Development. +A joint meeting was held in September, 2012 in Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare followed by Ministerial level meeting after a year (in September, 2013) for discussing the possibility of signing an MoU between the two countries for exchange of legislation governing cooperatives, exchange of information and technicalities pertaining to the cooperative sector, establishment of institutional linkages and deputation of experts under ITEC programme. +A delegation of two senior officials from the Mauritius Government visited cooperative organisations of India to explore the possibilities of bilateral cooperation in the field of cooperatives. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched three gold related schemes at a function at 7, Race Course Road. +The schemes are – Gold Monetization Scheme, Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme, and Indian Gold Coins. +In his remarks on the occasion, the Prime Minister described the schemes as an example of “sone pe suhaaga” (icing on the cake). +The Prime Minister said India has no reason to be described as a poor country, as it has 20,000 tonnes of gold. +He said the gold available with the country should be put to productive use, and these schemes show us the way to achieve this goal. +The Prime Minister said gold has often been a source of women’s empowerment in Indian society, and these schemes will underscore that sense of empowerment. +The Prime Minister spoke of the great bond of trust that the family goldsmith enjoys in India. +He said that once the goldsmiths of India gain familiarity with the schemes, they could become the biggest agents of these schemes. +Shri Narendra Modi described the launch of the India Gold Coins, bearing the Ashok Chakra, as a matter of pride for the nation. +He said people would no longer have to depend on foreign minted gold bullion or coins. +The Prime Minister also launched a website on these schemes, and distributed Certificates of Investment to six initial investors. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for the amendments in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in respect of two States (Gujarat and Uttarakhand) for making suitable amendments in the Central List of OBCs, by way inclusion/correction of castes/communities as per the advices received from the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). +The amendments will enable the persons belonging to these castes/ communities to avail the benefits of reservation in Government services and posts as well as in Central Educational Institutions as per the existing policy. +The following castes/communities have been included in the Central List of OBCs in the two States of Gujarat and Uttarakhand:- +Patni Jamat or Turk Jamat (all Muslims) +1. The Commission shall examine requests for inclusion of any class of citizens as a backward class in the lists and hear complaints of over-inclusion or under-inclusion of any backward class in such lists and tender such advice to the Central Government as it deems appropriate; and +2. The advice of the Commission shall ordinarily be binding upon the Central Government. +The NCBC has been tendering advice to the Central Government from time to time. +The last such notification was issued on 14.7.2015. +Accordingly, it is now proposed to notify a total of two changes recommended by NCBC in respect of two States. +The reinstatement has been done by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, London. +The certificate had been given to the Prime Minister in the presence of the Prime Minister of UK, David Cameron, during his visit to London last month. +The function was organised at Bhuj, Gujarat. +The Prime Minister expressed happiness that the Rannotsav festival in the Rann of Kutch, has become extremely popular among tourists, and now finds a place in the world tourism map. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the introduction of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the Parliament. +To make way for certain constructions limited strictly to public works and projects essential to public within the prohibited area, the following amendments have been approved: +i) Insertion of a new definition of “public works” in section 2 of the Act. +ii) Amendment to section 20A of the Act so as to allow any Department or Office of the Central Government to carry out public works in the prohibited area after obtaining permission from the Central Government. +iii) Insertion of a new clause (ea) to section 20-I of the principal Act +The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites Remains Act, 1958 (as amended in the year 2010) prohibits grant of any permission for new construction within the prohibited area of a centrally protected monument/ site. +Prohibition of new construction within prohibited area is adversely impacting various public works and developmental projects of the Central Government. +The amendment will pave way for certain constructions limited strictly to public works and projects essential to public within the prohibited area and benefit the public at large. +Representatives of the Global Poverty Project called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +They included Mr. Hugh Evans – CEO Global Poverty Project, Mr. Chris Martin, Ms. Freida Pinto, Mr. Dave Holmes, and Mr. Vijay Nair. +They appreciated the Swachh Bharat, Namaami Gange and Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao initiatives of the Prime Minister, and reaffirmed their support to these causes. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Russia for cooperation in the field of Science & Technology (S&T) signed in October, 2016. +The objective of the MoU is to facilitate and support joint scientific and research activities between scientific organizations, subordinated to the Agency and scientific organizations and scientists of the Republic of Russian Federation, with India through DST. +Under this MoU, the Parties will cooperate in the following forms: +exchange of information about conducted conferences, forums, exhibitions, seminars that are of mutual interest; +conduct of joint scientific events (seminars, conferences, round tables) aimed at establishing of direct connections between scientists of the two countries in the fields determined by the Parties; +support of establishment of direct connections between scientific organizations, scientists and specialists of the Parties; +provision of media coverage of the joint scientific activity aimed at the popularization of science; +development of inter-disciplinary and multi-institutional projects with the involvement of industry. +The MoU came into effect on the date of its signature and will remain valid for 5 years. +Implementation of the present MoU can be extended for further 5 year periods if neither of the Parties informs by written agreement of its intention to terminate it at least 6 months before the expiration of a given 5-year period. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Strengthening of teaching, patient / clinical care and public health programme implementation – Shifting of more experienced doctors belonging to Central Government and Central government entities to teaching/ clinical / Public Health Programme implementation activities. +The approval seeks to ensure that the doctors belonging to Central Health Service (CHS) and of other Ministries / Departments / entities of the Central Government, after attaining the age of 62 years, work exclusively in their respective fields of clinical expertise. +This would be done by amending the decision of the Union Cabinet taken in its meeting held on 15.06.2016 for removal of difficulties experienced in effective implementation of this decision. +This will result in capacity building and leadership development of more Central Government doctors besides availability of more experienced doctors for medical education, clinical / patient care services and for implementation of national health programmes. +The decision will make available more experienced doctors for patient / clinical care, medical teaching activities and implementation of National Health Programmes etc., which is likely to benefit society at large. +The benefits of this proposal will percolate down the line throughout the country. +In order to tackle the problem of shortage of doctors, low joining and high attrition rate in Central Health Service, Union Cabinet in its meeting held on 15.06.2016, approved increase in age of superannuation of doctors of the Central Health Service to 65 years. +Subsequently, in its meeting held on 27.09.2017, the Union Cabinet increased age of superannuation of doctors working in various other Ministries/Departments including those of Indian Railways, AYUSH, Central Universities and NTs, etc. to 65 years. +It is, however, felt that there is a need to make available the services of senior doctors above the age of 62 years for core medical profession, such as, clinical / patient care/ teaching in medical colleges / implementation of health programmes, Public Health programmes & functions, etc. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the transfer of 4 acres of Defence land in perpetuity basis to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) for the construction of Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 4 at Kandhar Lines, Delhi Cantt. at a nominal rent of one rupee per annum. +At present, Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 4 at Delhi Cantt has been functioning from a temporary re-appropriated building in Survey No. 14, Delhi Cantt., since its establishment in 1994. +Presently, 956 children are studying in the school. +Construction of own permanent school building by KVS will provide proper and comfortable academic environment with all required amenities for the school going children of serving personnel families, ex-servicemen families and children of civilians in and around Delhi Cantt. +Immense response from netizens on MyGov. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will share his thoughts on a variety of issues with the public through the radio. +The programme will be held at 11.00 am on 3rd October, 2014. +A separate Open Forum was created on MyGov for citizens to share their comments for the forthcoming radio programme: +The idea of the Prime Minister of India sharing his thoughts with countrymen has been received by people with great enthusiasm. +It has attracted response from all the corners of country. +A large number of people have responded to the forthcoming radio programme and have shared their thoughts and ideas. +Earlier, on 6th September 2014 the Prime Minister talked about connecting with people through radio and sought ideas. +Since then there has been an extremely positive feedback on the idea of having a radio programme. +Netizens across India have welcomed this idea. +The Radio programme is seen as one more instance of the Prime Minister innovatively communicating with the people. +This is the last edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ this year and it’s a coincidence that this day happens to be the last day of the year of 2017. +You and I shared many thoughts and ideas the entire year. +Your steady stream of letters to ‘Mann Ki Baat’, your comments, this exchange between minds always infuses new energy in me. +A few hours later, the year will change, but this sequence of our conversation will go on, just the way it is. +We will renew this exchange of thoughts on newer topics in the year to come, we’ll share new experiences. +Heartiest New Year greetings to all of you. +Over the last few days, the festival of Christmas was celebrated across the world with gaiety and fervor. +People in India too celebrated Christmas with warmth and cheer. +The pious occasion of Christmas reminds us of the great teachings of Jesus Christ who laid much emphasis on the spirit of service, ‘Sewa bhaav’. +The essence of the spirit of service can be felt in the Bible too. +This conveys the immense significance attached to the sanctity of service. +Be it any religion, caste or creed, tradition or colour in this world; the spirit of service is an invaluable hallmark of the highest human values. +In our country we refer to ‘NishKaam Karma’, selfless deeds, meaning a service done without any expectations. +It is mentioned in our land ‘Sewa Parmo Dharmah’… service is the noblest way of life, ‘Jeev Seva hi Shiv Seva’… Service to living beings is service to god. +My dear countrymen, this year was also the 350th ‘Prakash Parv’ of Guru Gobind Singh ji. +The illustrious life of Guru Gobind Singh ji, full of instances of courage & sacrifice is a source of inspiration to all of us. +Guru Gobind Singh ji preached the virtues of sublime human values and at the same time, practiced them in his own life in letter & spirit. +A guru, a poet, a philosopher, a great warrior, Guru Gobind Singh ji, in all these roles, performed the great task of inspiring people. +He fought against oppression & injustice. +His teachings to people focused on breaking the cordons of caste and religion. +In this endeavour, he stood to lose a lot on his personal front. +But he never let antagonism raise its ugly head in his path. +I’m fortunate that at the beginning of this year, I got an opportunity to participate in the 350th birth anniversary celebration organized at Patna Sahib. +Come, let us all resolve to imbibe & abide by lessons from his great teachings & exemplary life and mould our own life in accordance with them. +The 1st of January, 2018, i.e. tomorrow, in my view, is a special day. +People born in the year 2000 or later; those born in the 21st century will gradually begin to become eligible voters from the 1st of January, 2018. +The Indian Democracy welcomes the voters of the 21st century, the ‘New India Voters’. +I congratulate our youth & urge them to register themselves as voters. +The entire nation is eager to welcome you as voters of the 21st century. +As voters of this century, you too must be feeling proud. +Your vote will prove to be the bedrock of New India. +The power of the vote is the greatest strength of a democracy. +The vote is the most effective tool in bringing about a positive change in the lives of millions of people. +You too can be the makers of 21st century India and this opportunity comes into being, very specially, on the 1st of January. +And today, in this edition of Mann Ki Baat, I wish to speak to our successful young men & women between 18 & 25, all infused with energy and resolve. +I firmly believe that the dream of our ‘New India’ will be realized through the skill & fortitude of these energetic youth. +In the New India everyone will have equal opportunity and aspirations and wishes of everyone will be fulfilled. +New India will be a place where peace, unity and amity will be our guiding force. +My New India Youth should come forward and deliberate on how this New India would be formed. +One should decide one’s own path and also decide a way for connecting along those attached to one and the Caravan should get going. +You should move forward and thus should the country move ahead. +Right now, while taking to you I got an idea whether we could organize a mock parliament in every district of India? +Where the youth between 18 and 25 could sit together and brain storm about new India, find ways and chalk our plans. +How could we realize our resolves before 2022? +How could we build an India of the dreams of our freedom fighters? +Mahatma Gandhi had transformed the freedom movement into a mass movement. +How can resolve be transformed into reality? +Today, a lot of new opportunities have been created for the youth. +Our youth are coming forward in areas like skill development, innovation and entrepreneurship and are achieving success. +I wish that the New India Youth get information and details of all these new opportunities and plans at one place and a system be created so that every young person on turning 18 should automatically get to know all this and benefit from it. +My dear countrymen, I had talked about positivity during the previous episode of Mann Ki Baat. +I am reminded of one Sanskrit Shloka- +This means that a man full of enthusiasm is very strong since there is nothing more powerful than zest. +Nothing is impossible for a man having positivity and zeal. +In English too, it is said, ‘Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power’. +During the previous episode of Mann Ki Baat, I had appealed to the countrymen to share their positive moments of 2017 and to welcome 2018 in a positive atmosphere. +I am very glad that a large number of people gave positive responses on social media platform, MyGov and the Narendra Modi App and shared their experiences. +Lakhs of tweets were posted on Positive India hashtag (#), which reached out to more than nearly 150 crore people. +In a way, a wave of positivity which emanated from India spread all over the world. +All tweets and responses received were really inspiring. +It was indeed a delightful experience. +Some countrymen shared those incidents of this year which left a special impact on their minds, a very positive one at that. +Some people even shared their personal achievements. +# My name is Meenu Bhatia. +I reside in Mayur Vihar, Pocket-1, Phase- I, Delhi. +# My name is Jyoti Rajendra Waade. +I am speaking from Bodal. +One rupee per month was being deducted towards insurance premium which my husband had subscribed to. +He died in an accident. +Only we know of the situation we faced at that time. +Assistance from the government helped us a lot and I could gather the strength to stand myself. +# My name is Santosh Jadhav. +A national highway has been constructed in 2017 through our village Bhinnar. +As a result of this, our roads have improved a lot and business there will surely get a boost. +# My name is Satish Bewani. +We had a problem of water scarcity in our area and we used to depend on an army pipeline for the last forty years. +There are a large number of such persons who have brought in positive transformation in the lives of many people through endeavour at their own level. +In fact, this is the New India which we are all collectively building. +Let us enter into the New Year with such little achievements, begin our New Year and take concrete steps in the journey from ‘Positive India’ to ‘Progressive India’. +When we all talk of positivity, I also feel like sharing one experience. +Recently, I came to know about the inspiring story of Anjum Bashir Khan Khattak who is a topper in Kashmir Administrative Service Examination. +He actually extricated himself from the sting of terrorism and hatred and topped in the Kashmir Administrative Examination. +You will be surprised to know that terrorists had set his ancestral home on fire in 1990. +Terrorism and violence were so widespread there that his family had to leave their ancestral land and flee from there. +For a young child, such an atmosphere of violence could easily create darkness and bitterness in the heart, but Anjum did not let it be so. +He never gave up hope. +He chose a different path for himself – a path of serving the people. +He overcame the adverse situation and scripted his own success story. +Today, he has become a source of inspiration not only in Jammu & Kashmir but for the youth of the whole country. +Anjum has proved that however adverse the circumstances be, the clouds of despair and disappointment can easily be cleared by taking positive steps. +Just last week, I had a chance of meeting some daughters of Jammu & Kashmir. +I was amazed at the spirit that they had, the enthusiasm that was there in their hearts and the dreams they nurtured. +My dear countrymen, whenever there is a reference to famous religious places, not only of India but of the whole world, it is very natural to mention about the Sabrimala temple of Kerala. +Millions of devotees come to this world famous temple, seeking blessings of Lord Ayyappa Swami. +It is a huge challenge maintaining cleanliness around such a large religious place where devotees in such huge number come. +And especially, since this place is situated in the midst of hills and forests. +But, Sabrimala temple in itself is an example to show how this challenge could be converted into a sanskar, a habit and what a tremendous strength public participation has! +One police officer P. Vijayan initiated a programme Punyam Poonkavanam and commenced a voluntary campaign of creating awareness on cleanliness. +And, he began a tradition that the yatra of devotees will remain incomplete if they do not contribute by performing some physical labour or the other in the cleanliness programme. +No one is big or small in this campaign. +Every devotee considers doing physical labour in the cleanliness drive as a part of the Lord’s worship. +Every morning, there is a uniquely pleasant scene of cleanliness here when all devotees join in the drive. +However big a celebrity be, or however rich one might be or however high an official be – each one contributes as an ordinary devotee in this Punyan Poonkavanam programme and becomes a part of this cleanliness drive. +There are many such examples before us. +This cleanliness drive in Sabrimala and the contribution of Punyan Poonkavanam in this are so immense that each devotee contributes and participates in it. +Here, a strong resolve of maintaining cleanliness also is as important as the strict discipline observed during worship. +My dear countrymen, all of us made a resolve on Bapu’s birth anniversary on October 2, 2014 to take forward Bapu’s unfinished task of building a ‘Clean India’ and ‘a filth- free India’. +Revered Bapu fought for this cause all through his life and made all out efforts. +And, all of us took a resolve that on the 150th birth anniversary of revered Bapu, we shall make some contribution in the direction of making Clean India which he had dreamt of. +Efforts in the direction of cleanliness are being widely taken across the whole country. +A change can now be seen in the form of public participation in rural and urban areas alike. +Cleanliness Survey 2018, the largest in the world, will be conducted from the 4th of January to 10th of March, 2018 to evaluate achievements in cleanliness level of our urban areas. +This survey will cover a population of more than 40 crores in more than four thousand cities. +During this survey, the matters to be surveyed include freedom from defecation in the open in cities, collection of garbage, transport facilities to lift garbage, processing of garbage using scientific methods, efforts to usher in behavioural changes, innovative steps taken for capacity building to maintain cleanliness and public participation in this campaign. +Separate teams will go to cities for inspection. +They will talk to the people there and gather their reactions. +They will analyse the use of the Cleanliness App and also about bringing reforms and improvements in various kinds of service centres. +It will also be observed whether the cities have created a system wherein cleanliness of cities will became public habit, or the city’s habit for that matter. +It is not for the government alone to maintain cleanliness. +Every citizen and people’s organizations have a big responsibility. +And I appeal to every citizen to actively participate in the Cleanliness Survey to be undertaken in the coming days. +And take the full onus to ensure that your city should not lag behind and your street or mohalla should not look to be wanting. +I am very sure that using blue and green dustbins to collect dry and wet garbage respectively must have become your habit by now. +For waste- collection the principle of reduce, reuse and re-cycle is very effective. +And all of you must have a dream – ‘Our city – our efforts’, ‘Our progress – country’s progress’. +Let us all, once again remembering revered Bapu and taking a resolve to build a Clean India, put in our best endeavours. +My dear countrymen, there are a few things which appear small but they have a far reaching impact on our image as a society. +Today, in this episode of Mann Ki Baat, I want to share one such thing with you. +It has come to our notice that if a Muslim woman wants to go on Haj Pilgrimage, she must have a ‘Mehram’ or a male guardian, otherwise she cannot travel. +When I first heard about it, I wondered how it could be possible! +Who would have drafted such rules? +And when I went into the depth of the matter I was surprised to find that – even after seventy years of our independence, we were the ones who had imposed these restrictions. +For decades, injustice was being rendered to Muslim women but there was no discussion on it. +Even in many Islamic countries this practice does not exist. +But Muslim women in India did not have this right. +And I’m glad that our government paid heed to this matter. +Our Ministry of Minority Affairs issued corrective measures and we ameliorated this restriction by phasing out a tradition that had been in practice for the past seventy years. +Today, Muslim women can perform Haj without ‘mahram’ or male Guardian and I am happy to note that this time about thirteen hundred Muslim women have applied to perform Haj without ‘mahram’ and women from different parts of the country from Kerala to North India, have expressed their wish to go for the Haj pilgrimage. +I have suggested to the Ministry of Minority Affairs that they should ensure that all women who have applied to travel alone be allowed to perform Haj. +Usually there is a lottery system for selection of Haj pilgrims but I would like that single women pilgrims should be excluded from this lottery system and they should be given a chance as a special category. +I not only reiterate this wholeheartedly but it is my firm belief that the journey of India’s progress has been possible due to women-power and on the basis of their talent and we will continue to march onwards on this path of progress. +It should be our constant endeavor that our women also get equal rights and equal opportunities just like men get so that they can proceed simultaneously on the path of progress. +My dear countrymen, 26th January is a historic festival for all of us. +But 26th January, 2018, will especially be remembered through the ages. +The Republic Day will be celebrated with leaders of all ten ASEAN countries coming to India as Chief Guests. +This time, not one but Ten chief guests would grace the Republic Day. +This is unprecedented in India’s history. +The year 2017 has been special for both ASEAN and India. +ASEAN completed its 50 years of formation in 2017 and in 2017 25 years of India’s partnership with ASEAN were completed. +On 26th January the arrival of great leaders of 10 nations of the world as a unit is a matter of pride for all Indians. +There is hardly a day which does not have a festival ascribed to it. +All of us have just celebrated Christmas and the New Year is on its way. +May the New Year bring greater happiness, glad tidings and prosperity for all of you. +Let us move forward with all renewed zeal, enthusiasm, fervor and new resolve. +The month of January is the period of the northward movement of the Earth on the celestial orbit around sun and in this month Makar-Sankranti is also celebrated. +This is a festival linked with nature. +Though all of our festivals are associated with nature in one way or the other, but in our country blessed with the bounty of cultural diversity, there are different ways to celebrate this wonderful episode of nature in different forms. +Lohdi is celebrated in Punjab and North-India, while UP-Bihar eagerly await for Khichdi and Til-Sankranti. +In Rajasthan, it is called Sankrant, Magh-bihu in Assam and Pongal in Tamil Nadu – all these festivals are special in their own right and they have their own importance. +All of these festivals are usually celebrated between 13th and 17thJanuary. +These festivals may have different names, but their origins stems from attachment to nature and agriculture. +Felicitations to all of you on the occasion of these festivals. +And once again, best wishes for the New Year 2018 to all of you. +I thank you my dear countrymen. +We shall converse again in 2018. +The principal portion of the loan will be repaid through the ‘internal accruals’ (earned through the fee receipts, research earnings etc) of the institutions. +The Government would service the interest portion through the regular Plan assistance. +All the Centrally Funded Higher Educational Institutions would be eligible for joining as members of the HEFA. +I am delighted to welcome you all. +Thank you for attending this meeting early on a Saturday morning. +I want to especially thank Prime Minister Abe, who has just arrived in New York. +The subject of reforms in the United Nations Security Council has been the focus of global attention for decades – unfortunately, without progress so far. +Our Group of four countries, G-4, came together in 2004, bound by our shared commitment to global peace and prosperity, our faith in multilateralism and our willingness to assume our global responsibilities that the world expects from us. +I am delighted that we are meeting again as Heads of Government after ten years. +The number of Member States has grown four-fold. +Threats to peace and security have become more complex, unpredictable and undefined. +In many ways, our lives are becoming globalized, but fault-lines around our identities are growing. +We live in a digital age. +Trends in demography, urbanization and migrations are posing new challenges. +Climate change and terrorism are new concerns. +Cyber and Space are entirely new frontiers of opportunities and challenges. +Yet, our institutions, approaches, and often mindsets, reflect the wisdom of the century we have left behind, not the century we live in. +This is especially true of the United Nations Security Council. +The reform of the Security Council within a fixed time frame has become an urgent and important task. +After decades, we finally see some movement. +The 69th Session of the General Assembly has taken a significant step forward to commence text-based negotiations. +This would not have been possible but for the dynamic leadership of H.E. Mr. Sam Kutesa and Ambassador Courtney Rattray. +However, this is just the first step. +We should aim to take this process to its logical conclusion during the 70th session. +I am confident that our meeting today will give a big impetus to our efforts in this direction. +His Excellency Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Republic of Maldives, welcomed and thanked His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, for visiting the Maldives to participate in the presidential inauguration ceremony. +Prime Minister Modi thanked President Solih for the special gesture of inviting him to the Inauguration Ceremony. +He also conveyed greetings and compliments from the people of India to the people of the Republic of Maldives on consolidation of democracy, which is essential for peace, prosperity and stability. +The two leaders, while noting the resilience of the relations between India and the Maldives, expressed confidence in the renewal of the close bonds of cooperation and friendship with the election of Mr Solih as the President of the Maldives. +During their meeting, both leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each other’s concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region. +The two leaders expressed their unwavering commitment and support for increased cooperation in combating terrorism both within the region and elsewhere. +President Solih also briefed Prime Minister Modi on the dire economic situation facing the country as he takes office. +The two leaders discussed ways in which India can continue development partnership, particularly to help the new government in meeting its pledges to the people of the Maldives. +In particular, President Solih highlighted the pressing need for increased housing and infrastructure development as well as for establishing water and sewerage systems in the outlying islands. +Prime Minister Modi assured President Solih of India’s firm commitment in assisting the Maldives to achieve sustainable social and economic development. +He also conveyed India’s readiness to extend help in every possible way and suggested that both sides should meet at the earliest to work out details as per requirements of the Maldives. +Prime minister Modi extended an invitation to President Solih to make a State Visit to India at his earliest convenience. +President Solih accepted the invitation with pleasure. +The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives will make an official visit to India on the 26th of November to hold further discussions and to prepare for the forthcoming State Visit of President Solih to India. +President Solih expressed the hope that Prime Minister Modi will make an official visit to the Maldives in the near future. +Prime Minister Modi gratefully accepted the invitation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today delivered the inaugural address for the National Youth Day at Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh, via video-conferencing from Race Course Road. +The Prime Minister said that Swami Vivekananda, whose birth anniversary falls today, was an inspiration for all youth, and a shining example of how much could be accomplished in a short time-span. +The Prime Minister said youth from different parts of India, assembled in Chhattisgarh today, represent its diversity but are united in one mantra, of serving Mother India. +He said this united resolve had one day brought us independence, and is today taking India to new heights. +He said 125 crore people are united in an objective of taking the nation to new highs. +He said a nation which was so abundantly youthful, should have objectives and dreams which are boundless. +The Prime Minister said a youth, by definition, is one who works towards his future goals, unmindful of the past. +The Prime Minister laid stress on harmony and togetherness, saying that without peace, unity and harmony, development cannot have any meaning. +This is the heritage of our forefathers, the Prime Minister said, which extends from Ved to Vivekananda, and Upanishad to Upagrah. +Shri Narendra Modi said that India’s objective is to give its youth the capabilities and skills to make this century an Indian century. +He praised the State of Chhattisgarh for progress in this direction despite the problem of Naxalism. +The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of “dignity of labour” and said it must be inculcated among people. +He said India’s objective for development should be to transform the lives of the poor, and in the villages. +He urged the youth to witness the launch of the “Start-up India” event in Delhi on January 16th. +The Prime Minister urged the youth to think of concrete objectives for the years 2019 and 2022 – the 150th anniversary year of Mahatma Gandhi, and the 75th anniversary of independence. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief on the demise of Indian scientist and educationist Professor Yash Pal. +” Pained by Professor Yash Pal’s demise. +We have lost a brilliant scientist & academician who made a lasting contribution to Indian education. +Interacted with Professor Yash Pal extensively on many occasions including the National Children’s Science Congress in Gujarat in 2009.” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister also shared some pictures of him with Professor Yash Pal from National Children’s Science Congress 2009. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted informally with national awardee teachers, on the eve of Teachers’ Day. +The Prime Minister exhorted the awardee teachers to continually strive towards improving the quality of education in the country. +The Prime Minister said that teachers should keep abreast of technology, and imbibe it judiciously as part of the teaching routine. +He urged the teachers to encourage creativity among the students. +Shri Narendra Modi also called upon the teachers to inculcate the habits of cleanliness (Swachhta) among their students. +“Yesterday I had a very fruitful meeting with Ministers and Officials on Mission Swacch Bharat, which would be launched on 2nd October, 2014. +Mission Swacch Bharat aspires to realise Gandhiji’s dream of a Clean India through Jan Bhagidari. +“Please share your inputs in making Mission Swacch Bharat a success and laying the foundations of a Clean India on mygov.nic.in/group_info/swacch-bharat-clean-india,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, had yesterday called for making Swacch Bharat a mass movement, and linking it to economic activity. +Mission Swacch Bharat will be launched on October 2nd, with Gandhiji as the inspiration, to create a Clean India of Gandhiji’s dreams by the Mahatma’s 150th birth anniversary in 2019. +The Prime Minister said all Government departments will actively participate in this mission. +Government offices upto Panchayat level shall be involved in a cleanliness drive that shall be conducted from September 25th, till Diwali. +Linking cleanliness to tourism and global interest in India, the Prime Minister said world-class levels of hygiene and cleanliness are required in India’s top fifty tourist destinations, to bring about a paradigm shift in India’s global perception. +The Prime Minister reiterated his vision of solid waste management and waste water management through the PPP model in 500 towns and cities across India.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called for enhanced convergence among various schemes aimed at welfare of tribal communities across the country. +Chairing a high-level review meeting on tribal welfare initiatives including Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana, the Prime Minister stressed on improving the outcomes of various interventions for tribal welfare. +The Prime Minister said various wings of the Government of India, and the States, should work in coordination to meet the targeted objectives within specified timeframes. +The Prime Minister enquired about the progress in mapping of sickle cell anaemia among the tribal population. +He also sought to know the impact of the Jan Dhan Yojana and recently launched social security schemes, on the tribal communities. +He reiterated his earlier suggestion about exploring the possibility of a Tribal Cultural Troupe Carnival. +Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram, and senior officials were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Rajasva Gyan Sangam at New Delhi, and addressed the tax administrators of both the Union and State Governments. +The Prime Minister exhorted the officers to improve their work-culture, to incorporate both a “sense of urgency”, and “measurability”, in their performance. +Mentioning the benefits of the GST, the Prime Minister said that besides economic integration of the country, and transparency in the system; more than 17 lakh new traders have been brought into the indirect tax system within two months. +The Prime Minister said that in order to enable all traders to take maximum benefit of GST, we should work towards ensuring that all traders, including even relatively smaller traders with a turnover below Rs. 20 lakhs, should register with the GST system. +He asked the officers to make efforts in this regard by designing a system for this category. +The Prime Minister asked the officers to fix clear targets to improve the country’s tax administration by 2022, the 75th anniversary of independence. +He said that the Union Government is working towards creation of an environment which shatters the confidence of the corrupt, and instills confidence and trust among the honest taxpayer. +In this regard, he mentioned steps taken by the Union Government, such as demonetization, and implementation of stringent laws against black money and benami property. +The Prime Minister said human interface must be kept to a minimum in the tax administration’s dealings. +He asked for a push to be given to “e-assessment” and anonymity of proceedings using technology, so that vested interests do not impede the due course of law. +Shri Narendra Modi expressed his dismay at the huge pendency of tax-related cases in adjudication and appeal. +He said big sums of money that is locked up in these cases, could have been used for the welfare of the poor. +He asked officers to come up with an action plan during the Rajasva Gyan Sangam, to eliminate pendency. +The Prime Minister asked officers to use data analytical tools to proactively track and determine undeclared income and wealth. +He said that though efforts to increase tax revenue are made by officers each year, the estimated amounts of tax that should accrue to the system, are often not realised. +The Prime Minister asked officers to come up with a time-bound solution to ‘tax raised and not realised’, and asserted that the honest cannot continue to pay the price for the misdeeds of the dishonest. +In this regard he also suggested complete reworking of human resource management in the tax departments to strengthen the data analytics and investigation wing. +The Prime Minister hoped that the two-day Gyan Sangam would come up with concrete ideas to improve the tax administration. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today announced a relief package of over Rs. 2000 crore for relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and flood mitigation measures in the flood-affected North-Eastern states. +The announcement came at the end of a series of high level meetings, where the Prime Minister reviewed the flood situation, and relief measures in the States. +Through the course of the day, the Prime Minister held separate, detailed review meetings on the situation in the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland. +The Chief Ministers of the respective States, and senior officials were present at the meetings. +A memorandum was received from the Chief Minister of Mizoram, who could not make it to the meeting in person. +Over Rs. 1200 crore will be given by the Union Government for the infrastructure sector alone. +The funds will be utilized for repair, maintenance, and strengthening of roads, highways, bridges, and other damaged infrastructure. +Rs. 400 crore will be provided for improving the water holding capacity of the Brahmaputra River, which will assist in flood control. +In the current financial year, the Union Government has approved Rs. 600 crore as central share of SDRF. +Out of this, Rs. 345 crore has already been released, and the remaining will be released immediately, to assist the States in relief and rehabilitation work. +The Union Government will also provide Rs. 100 crore for carrying out a study to synergize efforts towards finding time-bound long term solutions to recurrent floods in the region. +The North-Eastern region, with eight percent of India’s land area, contains one-third of the country’s water resources. +The Union Government will constitute a High Level Committee, with representation from Ministries of the Government of India and the States, for proper management of the region’s vast water resources. +An ex-gratia assistance of Rs. 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, and Rs. 50,000/- to each of those seriously injured due to the floods, has been sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released a commemorative coin in honour of former Prime Minister, Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. +Speaking on the occasion, he said that our minds are not ready to believe that Shri Vajpayee is no longer with us. +He was a stalwart loved and respected across all sections of society, he added. +He said that over decades, Shri Vajpayee’s voice remained the voice of the people. +As a speaker, he was unparalleled. +He is among the best orators our nation has produced, the Prime Minister added. +Shri Narendra Modi said that a long part of Shri Vajpayee’s career was spent in the opposition benches, but he always spoke about national interest. +The Prime Minister said that Shri Vajpayee wanted democracy to be supreme. +He expressed confidence that Shri Vajpayee will continue to be an inspiration for all of us. +MOUs/Agreements between India and Sweden +• Joint Declaration on India-Sweden Innovation Partnership for a Sustainable Future between Ministry of Science and Technology of India and the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovaion +MOUs/Agreements between India and Denmark +• MOU on Cooperation in the field of Sustainable and Smart Urban Development between the Ministry for Housing and Urban Affairs of India and the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs of Denmark +• MOU on Cooperation in the fields of Animal Husbandry and Dairying between Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare of India and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark +• MOU on Food Safety Cooperation between the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration +• MOU on Cooperation in Agricultural Research and Education between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Science, Denmark +MOUs/Agreements between India and Iceland +• MOU on the Establishment of the ICCR Chair for Hindi Language between Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the University of Iceland +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi. +“Greetings on the auspicious occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi. +May the spirit of peace, harmony and compassion be strengthened in society”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the Nation on the occasion of Dhanteras. +May this special day enhance the spirit of peace and prosperity in our society”. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Brazil for cooperation in the fields of Zebu Cattle Genomics and Assisted Reproductive Technologies. +The MoU was signed in October, 2016. +The MoU will strengthen the existing friendly relations between India and Brazil and promote development of Genomics and Assistant Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) in Cattle through joint activities to be implemented through mutually agreed procedures. +An implementation committee shall be created with an equal number of representatives of each party for the purpose of regularly determining the activities and developing work plans and subsequently their evaluation. +It will be done through joint projects in the fields of Productivity Improvement of cattle and buffaloes, for the purpose of broadening the existing knowledge base on sustainable dairy development and institutional strengthening. +The MoU would promote and facilitate scientific cooperation and setting up of genomic selection programme in Zebu Cattle through (a) application of genomic in Zebu Cattle and their crosses and buffaloes (b) application of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) in cattle and buffaloes (c) capacity building in genomic and assisted reproductive technology (d) Related research and development in Genomics and ART in accordance with the respective laws and regulations of the two countries and is covered under Rule 7 (d) (i) of the Second Schedule of the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister recalled one of his “Mann Ki Baat” programmes, where he had exhorted people to talk not just about their rights, but also about their duties. +The Prime Minister said that this gathering of Dalit Entrepreneurs is one which has not just talked about their duties, but has successfully fulfilled duties. +Paying tribute to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the Prime Minister said that while Dr. Ambedkar is widely hailed as the architect of our Constitution, he was also a great economist. +He spoke of Dr. Ambedkar’s vision of industrialization in India, saying that Dalits, who had no land of their own, could only progress through industrialization. +The Prime Minister said financial inclusion is at the core of the Union Government’s focus, which is to create job-creators, not job-seekers. +In this context, he mentioned the loans being given under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. +He also mentioned the Venture Capital Fund for First Generation Entrepreneurs. +The Prime Minister assured the Dalit Entrepreneurs that the Government is working for their benefit. +He said the successes of the members of the gathering today, could inspire anyone who faces adversity. +The Prime Minister presented five business excellence awards to Dalit entrepreneurs. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for creation of five posts of Additional Solicitors General, one each for the High Courts of Punjab & Haryana, Patna, Jharkhand, Karnataka and its Circuit Benches at Hubli-Dharwad & Gulbarga and Gujarat. +This decision will strengthen the litigation machinery to represent the Union of India (UOI) as a whole and specifically in the Punjab & Haryana High Court, Patna High Court, Jharkhand High Court at Ranchi, Karnataka High Court at Bangalore including its Circuit Benches and Gujarat High Court. +This will also help in conduct of litigation on behalf of UOI efficiently and effectively. +The proposal will also boost the morale of Government Department in following the rule of law and defending government policies and preventing high revenue pilferages. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has expressed grief and solidarity with Myanmar in the face of the Flood Emergency the Nation is facing. +“Sad to learn about devastating floods in Myanmar. +India stands shoulder to shoulder with Myanmar in this hour of need,” the Prime Minister said. +Decision taken in view of the continuous poor physical and financial performance of the company for more than 10 years combined with low probability of its revival in the future +Will save public funds, which are currently being used for loss making BSCL, and can be used for other developmental work +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the closure of Burn Standard Company Ltd (BSCL) – a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under Ministry of Railways. +This decision has been taken in view of the continuous poor physical and financial performance of the company for more than 10 years despite financial assistance and other support provided by government, and low probability of its revival in the future. +This measure will save public funds, which are currently being used for loss making BSCL, and can be used for other developmental work. +Government will provide one-time grant of Rs. 417.10 crore towards severance package and for clearing the current liabilities of the company. +In addition, outstanding loan of Rs. 35 crore given to the company by Government of India (Ministry of Railways) shall be written off. +508 employees of BSCL will benefit from Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). +Burn Standard Company Limited was incorporated in 1976 following nationalization and amalgamation of Burn and Company and Indian Standard Wagon Company Limited in 1987 under Department of Heavy Industries (DHI). +The Company was referred to Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) in 1994 and was declared sick in the year 1995. +The company continues to be a sick company since then. +The administrative control of the company was transferred from DHI to Ministry of Railways on 15/09/2010, as approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. +The company is engaged in the manufacturing and repair of wagons and production of steel. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the defence scientists on the successful demonstration of India’s ballistic missile defence capability. +“Hearty congratulations to our defence scientists for the successful demonstration of ballistic missile defence capability. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and all the Martyrs who laid their lives for the Nation, On Martyrs` Day. +My tributes to Pujya Bapu. +On Martyrs’ Day I pay homage to each and every Martyr who laid his or her life for our Nation. +Their bravery and courage will always inspire”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Poland for the Promotion of Civil Aviation Cooperation. +The MoU will be signed on behalf of the two countries after its approval by the two Governments. +The MoU would be for a term of five years. +The objective of the MoU is to recognize the mutual benefit of Cooperation in the field of Civil Aviation having particular significance in establishing and improving Regional Air Connectivity in India. +Apart from this both sides will recognize the mutual benefits of environmental testing or approvals, flight simulators monitoring and approvals, aircraft maintenance facilities approvals, maintenance personnel approvals and aircrew members approvals. +The main areas of this Memorandum of Understanding to promote ad facilitate mutual cooperation are as under: +a. Support in the civil aviation market by reviewing any legal and procedural issues which may adversely affect cooperation between India and Poland. +b. Exchange of information and expertise between the Ministries and respective Civil Aviation Authorities related to aviation regulations, regional air operations, airworthiness requirements and safety standards to enhance safety and security of air transport; and / or +c. Collaboration on or joint development, organization and/or conduct of training programmes on aviation safely, on topics such as safety oversight, airworthiness, flight operations, licensing, legislation and enforcement; and / or +d. Aviation associated consultations, joint organization and/or conduct of conferences and professional seminars, workshops, talks and other such activities on aviation safety with the participation of representatives from the Parties related to the field of civil aviation; and / or +e. Regular dialogue or meetings for exchange of information; knowledge, expertise and experiences between Ministries and respective Civil Aviation safety related development of mutual interest to the parties; +f. Collaboration on research and studies on aviation safety interest topics and issues of mutual interest. +g. Any other issues related to co-operation in the areas mentioned above. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with the members of Self Help Groups from across the country and beneficiaries of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, through video bridge. +The interaction covered over one crore women representing various Self Help Groups. +This is the ninth interaction in the series by the Prime Minister through video conference with the beneficiaries of various Government schemes. +Expressing happiness in interacting with women from Self Help Groups of various states, Prime Minister said that each member is an inspiring example of resolution, collective efforts and entrepreneurship. +He said that women are enterprising, have enormous inner strength for self-reliance during odd circumstances, and they need only opportunities to perform. +He added that it is impossible to imagine many sectors especially agriculture and diary, without the contribution of women. +This is the true spirit of women empowerment all over the country. +Narendra Modi during the interaction said that Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihood Mission has been started in all states. +He added that the aim of the scheme is to reach crores of poor households in 2.5 lakh gram panchayats and provide them sustainable livelihood opportunities. +He also congratulated all States and Officials in the successful implementation of the scheme. +Talking about Self Help Groups (SHGs), Prime Minister said that Self Help Groups play a very important role in the economic and social advancement of poor, especially for women from rural strata of society. +In three years between 2011 and 2014, only five lakh Self Help Groups were formed covering 52 lakh families whereas additional 20 lakh Self Help Groups covering 2.25 core families were formed since 2014. +Government is also providing training, financial assistance and opportunities to promote Self Help Groups throughout the country. +Through Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojna, training has been given to over 33 lakh women farmers. +At present there are 45 lakh Self Help Groups with active participation of around five crore women all over rural India. +Prime Minister said that special attention is given to skill development of rural youth through Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana. +Training is given for employment as well as self-employment to meet the aspirations of youth for a better life. +Prime Minister appreciated how poor women with their self-confidence and strength fought against all adversities. +Women beneficiaries also explained how Self Help Groups have ushered in a positive change in their lives. +Prime Minister asked the beneficiaries to send their success stories with photos along with their ideas through Narendra Modi App. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Saurabh Chaudhary on winning gold in Men’s 10m Air Pistol event at the 18th Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta – Palembang, Indonesia +“16-year old Saurabh Chaudhary illustrates the potential and prowess our youth is blessed with. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people, on Durga Ashtami celebrations. +“Durga Puja greetings to my fellow Indians and those celebrating across the world. +May Goddess Durga shower her blessings on us and enrich our lives with joy and prosperity. +With her blessings, may good always prevail over evil and may all forms of injustice be removed from our society”, the Prime Minister said. +The Amendment will strengthen data collection mechanism in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. +The Amendment will: +(a) Provide for extending the jurisdiction of the Act to Jammu & Kashmir State in respect of matters not reserved for the State as per the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order 1954; +Background +The Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 was enacted to facilitate the collection of statistics on economics, demographic, social, scientific and environmental aspects etc. +The Act extends to the whole of India, except Jammu & Kashmir. +The Jammu & Kashmir State legislature enacted the Jammu & Kashmir Collection of Statistics Act, 2010, which extends to the whole of the State of Jammu & Kashmir and is almost a replica of the central legislation. +The Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 and the Jammu & Kashmir Collection of Statistics Act, 2010 are not applicable to statistical subjects falling in the Union List, as applicable to the Jammu & Kashmir under the Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Order 1954. +This has created a legislative vacuum. +Moreover, the concurrent jurisdiction to be exercised by the Centre in Jammu & Kashmir has also not been provided for, in the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008. +The amendment is intended to address this vacuum. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his birth anniversary today. +“On his Jayanti, I bow to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee . +Dr. Mookerjee is remembered as a fine educationist, a wonderful administrator and a stalwart who fought for India’s freedom as well as unity”, the Prime Minister said. +Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Distinguished Members of the U.S. Congress Ladies and Gentlemen. +I am deeply honoured by the invitation to address this Joint Meeting of the U.S. Congress. +Thank you, Mr. Speaker for opening the doors of this magnificent Capitol. +This temple of democracy has encouraged and empowered other democracies the world over. +It manifests the spirit of this great nation, which in Abraham Lincoln’s words, “was conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” +In granting me this opportunity, you have honoured the world’s largest democracy and its 1.25 billion people. +As a representative of world’s largest democracy, it is indeed a privilege to speak to the leaders of its oldest. +Two days ago, I began my visit by going to the Arlington National Cemetery -the final resting place of many brave soldiers of this great land. +I honoured their courage and sacrifice for the ideals of freedom and democracy. +It was also the seventy-second Anniversary of the D-Day. +On that day, thousands from this great country fought to protect the torch of liberty on the remote shores of a land that they did not know. +They sacrificed their lives so that the world lives in freedom. +I applaud …India applauds, the great sacrifices of the men and women from ‘The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave’ in service of mankind. +India knows what this means because our soldiers too have fallen in distant battlefields for the same ideals. +That is why the threads of freedom and liberty form a strong bond between our two democracies. +Our nations may have been shaped by differing histories, cultures, and faiths. +Yet, our belief in democracy for our nations and liberty for our countrymen is common. +The idea that all citizens are created equal is a central pillar of the American constitution. +Our founding fathers too shared the same belief and sought individual liberty for every citizen of India. +There were many who doubted India when, as a newly independent nation, we reposed our faith in democracy. +Indeed, wagers were made on our failure. +But, the people of India did not waver. +Our founders created a modern nation with freedom, democracy, and equality as the essence of its soul. +India lives as one; India grows as one; India celebrates as one. +Modern India is in its 70th year. +For my government, the Constitution is its real holy book. +And, in that holy book, freedom of faith, speech and franchise, and equality of all citizens, regardless of background, are enshrined as fundamental rights. +800 million of my countrymen may exercise the freedom of franchise once every five years. +But, all the 1.25 billion of our citizens have freedom from fear, a freedom they exercise every moment of their lives. +Engagement between our democracies has been visible in the manner in which our thinkers impacted one another, and shaped the course of our societies. +Thoreau’s idea of civil disobedience influenced our political thoughts. +And, similarly the call by the great sage of India Swami Vivekananda to embrace humanity was most famously delivered in Chicago. +Gandhi’s non-violence inspired the heroism of Martin Luther King. +Today, a mere distance of 3 miles separates the Martin Luther King memorial at Tidal Basin from the statue of Gandhi at Massachusetts Avenue. +This proximity of their memorials in Washington mirrors the closeness of ideals and values they believed in. +The genius of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was nurtured in the years he spent at the Columbia University a century ago. +The impact of the U.S. constitution on him was reflected in his drafting of the Indian constitution some three decades later. +Our independence was ignited by the same idealism that fuelled your struggle for freedom. +No wonder then that former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee called India and the U.S. ‘natural allies’. +No wonder that the shared ideals and common philosophy of freedom shaped the bedrock of our ties. +No wonder then, that President Obama has called our ties the defining partnership of the 21st century. +More than fifteen years ago, Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee stood here and gave a call to step out of the ‘shadow of hesitation’ of the past. +The pages of our friendship since then tell a remarkable story. +Today, our relationship has overcome the hesitations of history. +Comfort, candour and convergence define our conversations. +Through the cycle of elections and transitions of Administrations the intensity of our engagements has only grown. +And, in this exciting journey, the U.S. Congress has acted as its compass. +You helped us turn barriers into bridges of partnership. +In the fall of 2008, when the Congress passed the India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, it changed the very colours of leaves of our relationship. +We thank you for being there when the partnership needed you the most. +You have also stood by us in times of sorrow. +I am informed that the working of the U.S. Congress is harmonious. +I am also told that you are well-known for your bipartisanship. +Well, you are not alone. +Time and again, I have also witnessed a similar spirit in the Indian Parliament, especially in our Upper House. +So, as you can see, we have many shared practices. +As this country knows well, every journey has its pioneers. +Very early on, they shaped a development partnership even when the meeting ground was more limited. +The genius of Norman Borlaug brought the Green Revolution and food security to India. +Our S&T collaboration continues to helps us in cracking the age-old problems in the fields of public health, education, food, and agriculture. +Ties of commerce and investment are flourishing. +We trade more with the U.S. than with any other nation. +And, the flow of goods, services and capital between us generates jobs in both our societies. +As in trade, so in defence. +India exercises with the United States more than we do with any other partner. +Defence purchases have moved from almost zero to ten billion dollars in less than a decade. +Our cooperation also secures our cities and citizens from terrorists, and protects our critical infrastructure from cyber threats. +Civil Nuclear Cooperation, as I told President Obama yesterday, is a reality. +Mr. Speaker, +Our people to people links are strong; and there is close cultural connect between our societies. +SIRI tells us that India’s ancient heritage of Yoga has over 30 million practitioners in the U.S.. +It is estimated that more Americans bend for yoga than to throw a curve ball. +And, no Mr. Speaker, we have not yet claimed intellectual property right on Yoga. +Connecting our two nations is also a unique and dynamic bridge of three million Indian Americans. +Today, they are among your best CEOs; academics; astronauts; scientists; economists; doctors; even spelling bee champions. +They are your strength. +They are also the pride of India. +They symbolize the best of both our societies. +My understanding of your great country began long before I entered public office. +Long before assuming office, I travelled coast to coast, covering more than 25 States of America. +I realized then that the real strength of the U.S. was in the dreams of its people and the boldness of their ambitions. +Our 800 million youth, especially, are particularly impatient. +India is undergoing a profound social and economic change. +A billion of its citizens are already politically empowered. +My dream is to economically empower them through many social and economic transformations. +And, do so by 2022, the seventy-fifth anniversary of India’s independence. +It includes: +• A vibrant rural economy with robust farm sector; • A roof over each head and electricity to all households; • To skill millions of our youth; • Build 100 smart cities; • Have a broad band for a billion, and connect our villages to the digital world; • And create a twenty-first century rail, road and port infrastructure. +These are not just aspirations; they are goals to be reached in a finite time-frame. +And, to be achieved with a light carbon foot print, with greater emphasis on renewables. +Many of you also believe that a stronger and prosperous India is in America’s strategic interest. +Let us work together to convert shared ideals into practical cooperation. +There can be no doubt that in advancing this relationship, both nations stand to gain in great measure. +India’s strong economy, and growth rate of 7.6% per annum, is creating new opportunities for our mutual prosperity. +Transformative American technologies in India and growing investment by Indian companies in the United States both have a positive impact on the lives of our citizens. +Today, for their global research and development centres, India is the destination of choice for the U.S. companies. +Here, the innovative genius of America and India’s intellectual creativity are working to shape new industries of the future. +The 21st century has brought with it great opportunities. +But, it also comes with its own set of challenges. +Inter-dependence is increasing. +But, while some parts of the world are islands of growing economic prosperity; other are mired in conflicts. +In Asia, the absence of an agreed security architecture creates uncertainty. +Threats of terror are expanding, and new challenges are emerging in cyber and outer-space. +And, global institutions conceived in 20th century, seem unable to cope with new challenges or take on new responsibilities. +In this world full of multiple transitions and economic opportunities; growing uncertainties and political complexities; existing threats and new challenges; our engagement can make a difference by promoting: +• Cooperation not dominance; • Connectivity not isolation; • Respect for Global Commons; • inclusive not exclusive mechanisms; and above all • adherence to international rules and norms. +India is already assuming her responsibilities in securing the Indian Ocean region. +A strong India-U.S. partnership can anchor peace, prosperity and stability from Asia to Africa and from Indian Ocean to the Pacific. +It can also help ensure security of the sea lanes of commerce and freedom of navigation on seas. +But, the effectiveness of our cooperation would increase if international institutions framed with the mindset of the 20th century were to reflect the realities of today. +Afghans naturally recognize that the sacrifices of American have helped create a better life. +But, your contribution in keeping the region safe and secure is deeply appreciated even beyond. +India too has made an enormous contribution and sacrifices to support our friendship with Afghan people. +A commitment to rebuild a peaceful, and stable and prosperous Afghanistan our shared objective. +Yet, Distinguished Members, not just in Afghanistan, but elsewhere in South Asia, and globally, terrorism remains the biggest threat. +In the territory stretching from West of India’s border to Africa, it may go by different names, from Laskhar-e-Taiba, to Taliban to ISIS. +But, it’s philosophy is common: of hate, murder and violence. +Although it’s shadow is spreading across the world, it is incubated in India’s neighbourhood. +I commend the members of the U.S. Congress for sending a clear message to those who preach and practice terrorism for political gains. +Refusing to reward them is the first step towards holding them accountable for their actions. +The fight against terrorism has to be fought at many levels. +And, the traditional tools of military, intelligence or diplomacy alone would not be able to win this fight. +We have both lost civilians and soldiers in combating it. +The need of the hour is for us to deepen our security cooperation. +And, base it on a policy: +Also, for us to succeed, those who believe in humanity must come together to fight for it as one, and speak against this menace in one voice. +Terrorism must be delegitimized. +Far from our shores, we evacuated thousands from Yemen, Indians, Americans and others. +Nearer home, we were the first responders during Nepal’s earthquake, in the Maldives water crisis and most recently during landslide in Sri Lanka. +We are also one of the largest contributors of troops to UN Peace Keeping Operations. +Often, India and the U.S. have combined their strengths in science, technology and innovation to help fight hunger, poverty, diseases and illiteracy in different parts of the world. +The success of our partnership is also opening up new opportunities for learning, security and development from Asia to Africa. +And, the protection of environment and caring for the planet is central to our shared vision of a just world. +For us in India, to live in harmony with mother earth is part of our ancient belief. +And, to take from nature only what is most essential is part of our civilizational ethos. +Our partnership, therefore, aims to balance responsibilities with capabilities. +And, it also focuses on new ways to increase the availability and use of renewable energy. +A strong U.S. support for our initiative to form an International Solar Alliance is one such effort. +We are working together not just for a better future for ourselves, but for the whole world. +This has also been the goal of our efforts in G-20, East Asia Summit and Climate Change summits. +Mr. Speaker and Distinguished Members +As we deepen our partnership, there would be times when we would have differing perspectives. +But, since our interests and concerns converge, the autonomy in decision making and diversity in our perspectives can only add value to our partnership. +So, as we embark on a new journey, and seek new goals, let us focus not just on matters routine but transformational ideas. +Ideas which can focus: +• Not just on creating wealth but also creating value for our societies; • Not just on immediate gains but also long term benefits; • Not just on sharing best practices but also shaping partnerships; and • Not just on building a bright future for our peoples, but in being a bridge to a more united, humane and prosperous world. +And, important for the success of this journey would be a need to view it with new eyes and new sensitivities. +When we do this, we will realise the full promise of this extraordinary relationship. +My final thoughts and words would reiterate that our relationship is primed for a momentous future. +The constraints of the past are behind us and foundations of the future are firmly in place. +In the lines of Walt Whitman, +“The Orchestra have sufficiently tuned their instruments, the baton has given the signal.” +And to that, if I might add, there is a new symphony in play. +Congratulating the Prime Minister on the recent election results, Mr. Cook talked about his visit to India, and said he had been received with great warmth. +He spoke about his visit to different parts of the country, and his meetings with people including youth, business leaders, and film actors. +In particular, he mentioned his visit to the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai, and watching a cricket match. +The Prime Minister, appreciating Mr. Cook, said that in India, ‘seeing is believing’ and added that these experiences would definitely steer Mr. Cook’s business decisions. +He spoke of the possibilities of manufacturing and retailing in India. +He appreciated the breadth of young talent in India, and said the youth have significant skills which Apple would like to tap. +He mentioned the immense potential for ‘app-development’ that exists in the country. +He appreciated the Prime Minister’s initiatives in ‘ease of doing business.’ +Mr. Cook also appreciated the Prime Minister’s initiatives for renewable energy. +Delegation members accompanying Mr. Cook also spoke of their experiences in rural Rajasthan, where several villages have recently been electrified, and women are being skilled to assemble and operate solar energy equipment. +Both Mr. Cook and the Prime Minister shared some unique stories of entrepreneurship that they had come across in app-development and renewable energy. +The Prime Minister explained his Digital India initiative, and identified three key objectives of Digital India as e-education, health and increasing farmers’ incomes. +He sought support from Apple in furthering these objectives. +Issues regarding cyber-security and data encryption also came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister encouraged Mr. Cook to help the global community to cope with the challenges of cyber-crime. +Mr. Tim Cook also launched an updated version of the ‘Narendra Modi Mobile App.’ +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has announced an ex- gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives in the floods in Assam and Rajasthan. +The Prime Minister has also announced Rs. 50,000 each for those seriously injured in the floods in Assam and Rajasthan. +Home Minister Rajnath Singhji will be visiting Bihar to take stock of the situation”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated Bharat Ratna Awardees. +PM praised Nanaji Deshmukh for his contribution to the society and said “Nanaji Deshmukh’s stellar contribution towards rural development showed the way for a new paradigm of empowering those living in our villages. +He personifies humility, compassion and service to the downtrodden. +He is a Bharat Ratna in the truest sense.” +“The songs and music of Bhupen Hazarika are admired by people across generations. +From them radiates the message of Justice, harmony and brotherhood. +He popularized India’s music traditions globally. +Happy that the Bharat Ratna has been conferred on Bhupen Da.” the Prime Minister said. +While speaking on Shri Pranab Mukherjee he said, “Pranab Da is an outstanding statesman of our times. +He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation’s growth trajectory. +His wisdom and intellect have few parallels. +Delighted that he has been conferred Bharat Ratna.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will join the programme to mark the conclusion of the Narmada Seva Yatra in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh, tomorrow. +“I am delighted to join the programme to mark the conclusion of the Narmada Seva Yatra in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh, tomorrow afternoon. +Narmada Seva Yatra is an excellent mass movement to protect the Narmada and conveys a larger message of saving the environment as well. +Tomorrow in Madhya Pradesh, I will be launching the Narmada Seva Mission, which will surely have a major impact on MP’s ecology. +You can watch tomorrow’s Narmada Seva Yatra programme live on your mobiles on https://t.co/TYuxNNJfIf”, the Prime Minister said. +In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister also said that it is heartening to see such warmth, enthusiasm and patience of the citizens to bear this limited inconvenience for a greater good. +He assured that the Government is unwavering in its effort to create an India which is corruption free and in ensuring that the fruits of development touch every citizen. +“So happy to learn that citizens are expressing their gratitude to bankers & getting notes exchanged in a very patient and orderly manner. +It is also heartening to learn that people are actively volunteering to help senior citizens withdraw money and exchange their currency. +Such warmth, enthusiasm and the patience to bear limited inconvenience for a greater good is indeed very heartening. +I assure you the Govt is unwavering in its effort to create an India that is corruption free & fruits of development touch every citizen “, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the loss of lives in the bus accident at Neubise. +“Very saddening news from Nepal. +My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in the bus accident at Neubise. +A Team from our Embassy in Nepal reached the spot within an hour of the accident to oversee rescue & relief operations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the passing away of freedom fighter, Shri Ghelubhai Naik. +“I condole the passing away of freedom fighter from Dang, Shri Ghelubhai Naik. +His was a life devoted to selfless service towards society. +Ghelubhai worked extensively among the poorest of the poor. +His efforts will be remembered by generations. +May his soul rest in peace,” the Prime Minister said. +President Hollande, President Obama, Excellencies, Mr. Bill Gates, Distinguished Guests, +Let me begin by saluting President Hollande and the people of France for their courage and resolve; and, to the world for coming together for Paris and France. +The outstanding arrangements reflect the character of this great Nation. +The world has assembled in Paris to change the course of our planet to a sustainable path. +A vast section of humanity lives at the edge of poverty and in darkness after the sun sets. +They need energy to light up their homes and power their future. +And, they are also the most vulnerable to the consequences of an industrial age powered by fossil fuel. +Access to energy and a better life is a universal aspiration. +And, so are clean environment and healthy habitats. +As the world’s majority works its way to prosperity on a planet left with very limited carbon space, we have to do many things. +We have to ensure, in the spirit of climate justice, that the life of a few does not crowd out the opportunities for the many still on the initial steps of the development ladder. +For that we must come together in a partnership to bring clean energy within the reach of all. +Innovation is vital for combating climate change and ensuring climate justice. +That is what makes this Innovation Summit very special. +This unites us behind a common purpose. +We need research and innovation to make renewable energy much cheaper; more reliable; and, easier to connect to transmission grids. +We can make conventional energy cleaner. +And, we can develop newer sources of renewable energy. +This is a global responsibility to our collective future. +Our innovation initiative should be driven by public purpose, not just market incentives, including on intellectual property. +That also means strong public commitment by suppliers to developing countries. +That will make clean energy technology available, accessible and affordable for all. +This partnership will combine the responsibility of governments with the innovative capacity of the private sector. +We will double our investments in research and innovation; and, deepen collaboration among ourselves. +We should have an international network of 30-40 universities and labs focusing for next ten years on renewable energy. +Innovation must be backed by means to make it affordable and ensure adoption. +We have a very successful models of public-private partnership with many countries present here. +India is also building renewable capacity in developing countries, including small island states. +We will also lay the foundation of a new economy in new low carbon age. +The approval would allow to increase the maximum rate at which the Compensation Cess can be levied from 15% to 25% on: +a) motor vehicles for transport of not more than thirteen persons, including the driver [falling under sub-headings 870210, 8702 20, 8702 30 or 8702 90]; and +b) motor vehicles falling under headings 8703. +The GST Council, in its meeting held in August 2017, taking into consideration the fact that post introduction of GST, the total incidence on motor vehicles [GST+ Compensation Cess] has come down vis-a-vis pre-GST total tax, incidence, and had recommended increase in the maximum rate at which Compensation Cess can be levied on motor vehicles falling under headings 8702 and 8703 from 15% to 25%. +The issue regarding the increase in effective rate of Compensation Cess on motor vehicles will be examined by the GST Council in due course. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of the Consortium Agreement by the Earth System Science Organization-Ministry of Earth Sciences (ESSO-MoES) with the U. K. Met Office (UKMO), Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) and the Commonwealth of Australia through its Bureau of Meteorology and the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial and Research Organisation (CSIRO) for a coordinated effort in the development of a state-of-art Unified Model (UM) Earth System Model for the seamless prediction of weather and climate from days to season. +MoES will make an annual member contribution of £100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling) to the Unified Model Consortium. +Indian scientific and academic community will benefit from this MoU as it is an enabling mechanism to jointly work on scientific challenges in the field of earth system modelling and weather and climate prediction. +The MoU will allow the exchange of scientific resources as well as knowledge to support the improvement and development of earth system modelling for weather and climate prediction over Indian monsoon region in particular. +The MOU is likely to be signed in January 2016 enabling India to become the fourth core UM partner through ESSO-NCMRWF and contribute to the UM technical and scientific development. +Under the agreement, core partners will work under a common governance structure, decide on strategy for planning, designing of joint development programs with prioritized tasks and mobilization of resources. +The details of the MoU are: +· ESSO-MoES provides weather and climate forecasts in various spatial and temporal scales. +In order to enhance its capability for improved forecast having larger societal relevance, research and development in frontier areas like monsoon understanding and prediction, water cycle and climate change and in view of the complexities involved in the above fields, ESSO-MoES regularly engages with various international organizations for collaborative research activities which are mutually beneficial. +The UM is based on the emerging paradigm of seamless prediction of weather and climate. +National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting under Ministry of Earth Sciences (ESSO-NCMRWF) is focusing on the development of the seamless UM system for predicting/simulating monsoon from days to season under the National Monsoon Mission programme of ESSO-MoES. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Savitribai Phule on her Jayanti. +“I bow to the great Savitribai Phule on her Jayanti. +Hers was a life devoted to the empowerment of the poor and marginalised. +She gave utmost importance to education and social reform. +We are deeply guided by her ideals and are working tirelessly towards fulfilling her vision”, the Prime Minister said. +Distinguished dignitaries on the dais, +Ladies and Gentlemen, +I welcome you all to New Delhi for this landmark conference, the first after the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. +I commend the national disaster risk management agencies, their governments in the Asia-Pacific region, the United Nations, and other stakeholders for coming together for this important cause. +Apart from the Sendai Framework, the international community adopted two other major frameworks to shape the future of humanity: +– the Sustainable Development Goals, +– and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. +The spirit of inter-connectedness, highlighted in the film, is the hallmark of these global frameworks. +The success of each one of these depends on the success of the other two. +Disaster Risk Reduction has a pivotal role in supporting adaptation to climate change as well as sustainable development. +It is in this context that this conference becomes timely and relevant. +Over the last two decades, the world, and especially our region has undergone many changes – most of them positive. +Many countries in our region have transformed their economies and become engines of global economic growth. +Hundreds of millions of our people have been lifted out of poverty. +The Asia-Pacific region has been a global leader in more ways than one. +But we must not take this progress for granted. +There are challenges as well. +Over the last twenty years, more than eight hundred and fifty thousand people died from disasters in the Asia-Pacific. +Seven of the top ten countries in the world in terms of number of deaths due to disasters are in the Asia-Pacific. +It was distressing to see the suffering of the affected people. +But I was also inspired by their courage, ingenuity and resolve to recover from the disaster. +In my experience, the more we relied on people’s own leadership, the better were the outcomes. +For example, when we entrusted the community the task of reconstructing a school, the earthquake-resistant building was completed in time, at a lesser cost, and the savings were returned to Government. +We need to support such initiative and leadership through policies and practices. +We in Asia have learnt from disasters. +A quarter century ago, only a handful of Asian nations had national disaster management institutions. +Today, over thirty Asian countries have dedicated institutions leading disaster risk management efforts. +After the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, the five worst affected countries brought in new laws for disaster risk management. +In a couple of days, we will observe the first International Tsunami Awareness Day. +This would be an occasion to celebrate the huge improvements we have made in tsunami early warning. +In December 2004, the Indian Ocean Tsunami caught us unprepared, and there was no warning. +We now have a fully functional Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System. +The same goes for improvements in cyclone early warning. +In India, if we compare the impact of cyclone events in 1999 and 2013, we can see the progress we have made. +Similar progress has been made in many countries. +It is now recognized as a global best practice. +This is just the beginning. +There are daunting challenges ahead. +The Asia-Pacific is rapidly urbanizing. +Perhaps within a decade more people in the region will live in cities than in villages. +Urbanization will pose greater challenges for disaster risk management, by concentrating people, property and economic activity in smaller areas, many of them in disaster prone locations. +If we do not manage this growth, in terms of both planning and execution, the risk of economic and human losses from disasters will be higher than ever before. +In this context, let me outline a ten-point agenda for renewing our efforts towards disaster risk reduction: +First, all development sectors must imbibe the principles of disaster risk management. +Over the next couple of decades, most of the new infrastructure in the world will come up in our region. +We need to ensure that we build it to best available standards of disaster safety. +This is a smart strategy, which pays off in the long term. +All our public expenditure must take into account risk considerations. +In India, the ‘housing for all’ programme and ‘smart cities’ initiative represent such opportunities. +India will work with other partner countries and stakeholders to build a coalition or centre for promoting disaster resilient infrastructure in the region. +This will help generate new knowledge for hazard risk assessment, disaster resilient technologies and mechanisms for integrating risk reduction in infrastructure financing. +Currently, in most countries of the region, penetration of insurance is limited to only middle and upper-middle income groups. +We need to think big and also think innovatively. +States have an important role in not just regulating but also encouraging coverage for those who need it the most. +In India, we have taken bold steps to ensure financial inclusion and risk insurance for the poorest. +The Jan Dhan Yojana has brought millions of people into the banking system. +The Suraksha Bima Yojana provides risk insurance to millions who need it the most. +We have launched the Fasal Bima Yojana, which will provide risk cover to millions of farmers. +These are the basic building blocks of resilience at the household level. +Third, encourage greater involvement and leadership of women in disaster risk management. +Women are disproportionately affected by disasters. +They also have unique strengths and insights. +We need women engineers, masons and building artisans supporting reconstruction, and women self help groups assisting livelihood recovery. +Fourth, invest in risk mapping globally. +For mapping risks related to hazards such as earthquakes we have widely accepted standards and parameters. +For disaster risk related to other hazards such as chemical hazards, forest fires, cyclones, different types of floods, we need to evolve similar globally accepted risk categories. +This will help us ensure that we have a common understanding of the nature and severity of disaster risks in different parts of the world. +Fifth, leverage technology to enhance the efficiency of our disaster risk management efforts. +An e-platform that brings together organizations and individuals and helps them map and exchange expertise, technology and resources would go a long way in maximizing our collective impact. +Sixth, develop a network of universities to work on disaster issues. +After all, universities have social responsibilities too. +Over the first five years of the Sendai Framework, we should develop a global network of universities working together on problems of disaster risk management. +As part of this network, different universities could specialize in multi-disciplinary research on disaster issues most relevant to them. +Universities located in coastal areas could specialize in managing risks from coastal hazards, and the ones located in the hill cities could focus on mountain hazards. +Seventh, utilize the opportunities provided by social media and mobile technologies. +Social media is transforming disaster response. +It is helping response agencies in quickly organizing themselves, and enabling citizens to connect more easily with authorities. +In disaster after disaster, affected people are using social media to help each other. +We must recognize the potential of social media and develop applications for all aspects of disaster risk management. +Eighth, build on local capacity and initiative. +The task of disaster risk management, particularly in rapidly growing economies, is so huge that formal institutions of the state can at best be instrumental in creating the enabling conditions. +Specific actions have to be designed and implemented locally. +Over the last two decades, most community based efforts have been confined to disaster preparedness and contingency planning for the short term. +We need to expand the scope of community based efforts and support communities to identify local risk reduction measures and implement them. +Response agencies need to interact with their communities, and make them familiar with the essential drill of disaster response. +For example, if a local fire service visits one school in its area every week, it would sensitize thousands of children over a period of one year. +Ninth, ensure that the opportunity to learn from a disaster is not wasted. +After every disaster there are papers and reports on lessons learnt that are rarely applied. +Often the same mistakes are repeated. +We need a more vibrant and visual system of learning. +The United Nations could start an international competition of documentary films that record disaster events, their scale, and relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery afterwards. +Post-disaster recovery is an opportunity to not just ‘build back better’ in terms of physical infrastructure, but also in terms of improved institutional systems for managing risk. +For this we need to put in place systems that can quickly provide risk assessments. +India will work with partner countries and multilateral development agencies to establish a facility for technical support to post-disaster reconstruction of houses. +And finally, bring about greater cohesion in international response to disasters. +In the aftermath of a disaster, disaster responders pour in from all over the world. +This collective strength and solidarity could be enhanced further if we work under a common umbrella. +Armed Forces protect nation states against external security threats. +But to deal with disasters, we need to equip society with the right education. +We have to wholeheartedly embrace the spirit of Sendai, which calls for an all-of-society approach to disaster risk management. +In India, we are committed to walk the talk on the implementation of Sendai Framework. +In June this year, India’s National Disaster Management Plan was released which is aligned with the priorities set out in the Sendai Framework. +In our effort to build disaster resilience, we stand shoulder to shoulder with all the nations of the region. +Regional and International Cooperation has an important role in providing an added push to our efforts. +Last year in November, India organized the first-ever South Asian Annual Disaster Management Exercise. +In the spirit of regional cooperation, India will soon launch the South Asia Satellite. +India is ready to make its space capabilities available to any country for purposes of disaster risk management. +As we implement the Sendai Framework, we would welcome new opportunities for regional and international collaboration. +I am sure, this conference will energize our efforts and the outcomes of the conference will provide a solid blueprint for collective action. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Mass Media between India and Bangladesh. +Salient features of the MoU +The main areas of cooperation are: +i. Both the countries to facilitate training/study tour of personnel in the field of mass media and public relations. +ii. Encouraging the exchange of experts in the field of Mass Media +iii. Encourage cooperation between educational, training and research institutions in the field of Mass Media & Communication. +Also facilitating exchange of publications generated by these institutions. +iv. Co-operation and Sharing experiences in the field of regulations of the Mass Media activities and statistical data relating to the Mass Media. +v. Facilitating accredited mass media representatives to set up offices in the creation of conditions necessary for performance of professional duties on the basis of reciprocity. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and United States Geological Survey (USGS) for Cooperation in the exchange and use of U.S. Land Remote Sensing Satellite Data. +The MoU was signed on 9th July 2016 at Bengaluru. +This MoU will enable ISRO to receive USGS’s Landsat-7 & 8 in India and USGS to receive ISRO’s Resourcesat-2 (AWiFS and LISS III) data of US region. +ISRO of Department of Space is actively pursuing civilian space cooperation with many US organisations including National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and United States Geological Survey (USGS). +USGS has launched Landsat -8 satellite in February 2013. +ISRO expressed interest in direct reception of the Landsat-8 data in India, while USGS expressed interest in obtaining data from ISRO’s RESOURCESAT-2 satellite. +ISRO and USGS, considering their mutual interest in data exchange of each other satellites, signed the MoU. +Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition of Canada, Mr Andrew Scheer, called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Announces immediate relief worth Rs. 1000 crore. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visited Chennai today to take stock of the situation arising due to the devastating floods. +The Prime Minister undertook the aerial survey of the flood affected areas. +He discussed the situation with Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Ms. Jayalalithaa. +Later the Prime Minister said, “I have seen the damage and misery caused by the extremely heavy rainfall. +The Government of India stands by the people of Tamil Nadu in their hour of need. +I have directed that Rs. 1000 crores be released immediately by Government of India to Tamil Nadu for immediate relief. +This is over and above Rs. 940 crores which was released earlier.” +• Input Subsidy to distressed farmers increased by 50% +• Input subsidy made available for farmers even if 33% of crop destroyed +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today made two major announcements aimed at providing relief to farmers in distress. +The Prime Minister expressed concern over the problems faced by farmers due to abnormal weather over the past year. +He said that helping the farmer in this time of distress is our responsibility, and therefore, the Government had sent teams of Central Ministers to affected areas, to assess the extent of damage. +He said the Union and State Governments, the banks and insurance companies would all do their utmost to provide relief to the farmers. +Announcing a landmark change in norms for input subsidy, the Prime Minister said farmers will now be eligible for input subsidy if 33 percent of their crop has been damaged, as opposed to 50 percent or more, which was the norm till now. +In another major announcement, the Prime Minister said that the input subsidy given to distressed farmers will be enhanced by 50 percent of the existing amounts. +He said this was a major departure from the incremental changes in input subsidy that had been made hitherto. +The announcements were made by the Prime Minister in his address during the launch of the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana. +A delegation of weavers from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana today called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and thanked him for announcing August 7th as National Handloom Day. +They expressed the happiness of the handloom industry for recent policy initiatives, which they said, would help the handloom industry. +The delegation also gave its suggestions and inputs to the Prime Minister, for the handloom sector. +PM says, the Government is constantly working to create a conducive environment for business in the country +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ahmedabad Shopping Festival-2019 at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad. +From the street vendors to shopping malls and from Craftsmen to hotels-restaurant-linked businesses, across the Gujarat, have come here to showcase and promote their products. +The festival is unique since it is being organized simultaneously with the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. +The Prime Minister addressed a public gathering on the occasion. +He praised the event saying “Usually, we get to see such big business Summit only abroad. +Now vibrant Gujarat as well as the start of Ahmedabad shopping Festival, is a commendable initiative”. +The PM added, “The Government is constantly working to create a conducive environment for business in the country. +In the past 4 years, old laws have been abolished and hundreds of rules are made easier. +It is because of such efforts that we have improved significantly on the Ease of Doing Business rankings from 142 to 77”. +The PM added,“It is our constant endeavour to simplify procedures for small entrepreneurs. +We are moving towards the system when the banks can give credit to small entrepreneurs on the basis of GST and other returns. +We are clearing loans up to Rs one crore in 59 minutes”. +Earlier today, the PM inaugurated the Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Showat the Mahatma Mandir Exhibition cum Convention Center in Gandhinagar. +With this, the stage is set for 9th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Summit,scheduled to be held during January 18-20in Gandhinagar. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Belgium on their National Day. +“National Day greetings to the people of Belgium. +We have always valued our strong and deep-rooted ties with Belgium. +I am sure India and Belgium will enhance their cooperation even further, which will benefit the people of our Nations,” the Prime Minister said. +“Spoke to J&K CM Shri Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and took stock of the situation arising due to the unfortunate earthquake”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has lauded the passage of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Rajya Sabha. +“Delighted the Rajya Sabha has passed the Constitution (One Hundred And Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019. +Glad to see such widespread support for the Bill. +The House also witnessed a vibrant debate, where several members expressed their insightful opinions. +By passing The Constitution (One Hundred And Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019, we pay tributes to the makers of our Constitution and the great freedom fighters, who envisioned an India that is strong and inclusive”, the Prime Minister said. +Namaskar to all of you. +The winter session of parliament gets underway today. +Last session was a witness to a major decision on GST and the parliament made a major contribution towards realizing the dream of One nation, one tax. +I thanked all the parties on that day. +When all parties work together in the larger nation interest, positive outcomes and results emerge. +We will talk about the issues pertaining to the needs and the aspirations of the people. +Besides, the government’s thinking would also be reflected. +I expect a good, healthy debate with excellent contribution from all the political parties.. +From the Government side, we will strive our level best to accomplish the transaction of business carrying all the political parties together. +Captains of Business and Industry, +Ladies & Gentlemen, +I am happy to be a part of this august gathering of global leaders and decision makers of the food processing sector. +The second largest arable land area, and as many as 127 diverse agro-climatic zones, give us global leadership in a number of crops like bananas, mangoes, guavas, papayas, and okra. +We are second, globally, in terms of production of rice, wheat, fish, fruits and vegetables. +India is also the world’s biggest milk producer. +Our horticulture sector has shown an average growth rate of 5.5 per cent annually over the last ten years. +For centuries, India has welcomed traders from distant lands, who came in search of our distinctive spices. +Their travels to India, often shaped the course of history. +Our trade synergies with Europe and South East Asia through the Spice Route are well known. +Even Christopher Columbus was attracted to Indian spices, and reached America, as he searched for an alternate sea route to India. +Food processing is a way of life in India. +Ladies and gentlemen. +Let us turn, for a while, to the big picture. +India is today one of the fastest growing economies of the world. +The Goods and Services Tax, or GST, has eliminated the multiplicity of taxes. +India has jumped thirty ranks this year, in the World Bank Doing Business rankings. +This is the highest ever improvement for India, and the highest jump for any country this year. +From a rank of 142 in 2014, we have now reached the top 100. +India was ranked number one in the world in 2016 in greenfield investment. +India is also rapidly progressing on the Global Innovation Index, Global Logistics Index and Global Competitiveness Index. +Starting a new business in India is now easier than ever before. +Procedures for obtaining clearances from various agencies have been simplified. +Archaic laws have been repealed, and the burden of compliances has been reduced. +I now turn specifically, to food processing. +The Government has undertaken a range of transformational initiatives. +India is now the most preferred investment destination in this sector. +It is a priority sector in our “Make in India” programme. +100% FDI, is now permitted, for trading, including through e-commerce, of food products manufactured or produced in India. +A single-window facilitation cell provides handholding for foreign investors. +There are attractive fiscal incentives from the Union and State Governments. +Loans to food and agro-based processing units, and cold chains, are classified under priority sector lending, making them easier and cheaper to obtain. +The unique portal – Nivesh Bandhu – or “investor’s friend” – that we have just launched, brings together information on central and state government policies, and incentives provided for the food-processing sector. +It maps resources upto the local level, with processing requirements. +It is also a platform for business networking, for farmers, processors, traders, and logistics operators. +Private sector participation has been increasing in many segments of the value chain. +However, more investment is required in contract farming, raw material sourcing and creating agri linkages. +Many international companies in India have taken a lead in contract farming initiatives. +This is a clear opportunity for global super-market chains considering India as a major outsourcing hub. +Increasing urbanization, and a growing middle class, are resulting in an ever-growing demand for wholesome, processed food. +Let me share just one statistic. +Over a million passengers have a meal on a train in India, every single day. +Each one of them, is a potential customer for the food processing industry. +Such is the scale of opportunity that is waiting to be tapped. +Ladies and Gentlemen. +Lifestyle disease is raising consciousness globally, about the nature and quality of food consumption. +There is a growing aversion to the use of artificial colours, chemicals and preservatives. +India can provide solutions, and offer a win-win partnership. +The combination of traditional Indian food, with modern technology, processing and packaging, can help the world rediscover the health benefits, and refreshing taste of Indian food ingredients such as turmeric, ginger, and tulsi, to name just a few. +The perfect blend of hygienic, nutritious and tasty processed food, with the added benefits of preventive healthcare, can be produced economically, here in India. +The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has been engaged in ensuring that processed food made in India, matches global quality standards. +The harmonization of the food additives standards with Codex, and the building of robust testing and laboratory infrastructure, will go a long way in creating an enabling environment for food businesses. +The farmers, whom we respectfully call our “Annadaata” or the providers of food are central to our efforts in food processing. +This is expected to leverage investment of five billion US dollars, benefit two million farmers and generate more than half a million jobs over the next three years. +The creation of Mega Food Parks is a key component of this scheme. +Through these food parks, we aim to link agro-processing clusters with key production centres. +This will offer immense value proposition in crops such as potato, pineapple, oranges and apples. +Farmer groups are being encouraged to set up units in these parks, thereby reducing wastage and transportation costs, and creating new jobs. +Nine such parks are already operational, and more than thirty others are in the process of coming up across the country. +To improve last mile delivery, we are improving governance, by increasing access to digital technology. +We plan to link our villages through broadband connectivity, within a clear timeframe. +We are digitising land records, and providing various services to the people on mobile platforms. +Many States have come up with attractive food processing policies to attract investment. +I urge each State of India to identify at least one food product for specialisation. +Similarly, each district can also select some food items for production, and one item for specialisation. +Today, our strong agricultural base provides us a solid launch pad to create a vibrant food processing sector. +Our vast consumer base, rising incomes, favourable investment climate and a Government dedicated to ease of doing business, all make India ‘the place to be’ for the global food processing fraternity. +Each sub sector of the food industry in India offers immense opportunity. +Let me give you some illustrations. +The dairy sector has emerged as a vital area for the rural economy. +We now aim to take this to the next level by increasing production levels of multiple products based on milk. +Honey is nature’s gift to mankind. +It offers several valuable by-products, such as bee wax. +It has the potential to increase farm incomes. +Currently, we rank sixth in the production and export of honey. +India is now ripe, for a sweet revolution. +India contributes over six per cent of global fish production. +We are the world’s second largest exporter of shrimps. +India exports fish and fisheries products to about 95 countries. +We aim to make a big leap in the ocean economy through the blue revolution. +Our focus is on development of untapped areas, such as ornamental fisheries and trout farming. +We also wish to explore new areas, like pearl farming. +Our commitment to sustainable development, is at the heart of our thrust for organic farming. +Sikkim, in north-eastern India, has become India’s first fully organic state. +The entire north-east offers opportunities to create functional infrastructure for organic produce. +In order to be successful in Indian markets, understanding Indian food habits and tastes is a key requirement. +To give you just one example, milk based products and fruit-juice based drinks are an intrinsic part of Indian food habits. +That is why, I have been suggesting to manufacturers of aerated drinks, the potential of blending five per cent fruit juice in their products. +They can also withstand adverse agro-climatic conditions. +They can be called “nutrition rich and climate smart” crops. +Can we take up a venture based on these? +This will raise incomes of some of the poorest of our farmers, and also enhance our nutrition levels. +These are some questions that I wish to leave you with. +I am confident that World Food India will help us take some concrete steps in this direction. +It will also provide valuable insights into our rich culinary landscape, and highlight our ancient wisdom of food processing. +I am also happy to note that the Department of Post has released a set of twenty four commemorative postage stamps on this occasion, to illustrate the diversity of Indian cuisine. +Ladies and Gentlemen, +I invite each one of you to become a part of the exciting growth journey of India’s food processing sector. +I assure you of my whole-hearted support, whenever required. +The place with unlimited opportunity from farm to fork. +The place to produce, process, and prosper. +For India, and for the world. +Once again I have got an opportunity to talk to you about matters close to my heart, through ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +For me, ‘Mann Ki Baat’ is not a matter of ritual; I myself am very eager to talk to you. +And I am really happy that I am able to connect with you all in every corner of India, through this programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +I am grateful to All India Radio that they have also been successfully broadcasting ‘Mann Ki Baat’ in regional languages at 8 pm. +I am also very happy that the people who listen to me, later communicate their feelings to me through letters, telephone calls, the website MyGov.in and also through the NarendraModiApp. +A lot of what you say is of great help to me in the functioning of the government. +I hope that you will now be even more actively and enthusiastically involved in ensuring that our democracy should function with people’s participation. +The summer heat is increasing day by day. +We were hoping for some respite, instead we are experiencing continual rise in temperature. +And in the midst of this came the information that the monsoon will perhaps be delayed by a week, which has added to the worry. +Almost the entire country is reeling under the scorching impact of severe heat. +The mercury continues to soar. +Be it animals, birds or humans…everyone is suffering. +These problems have been getting increasingly worse due to environmental degradation. +5th June is World Environment Day. +On this day, discussions expressing concern on the issue are held all over the world for saving the environment. +This time on the occasion of World Environment Day, the United Nations has given the theme “Zero Tolerance for Illegal Wildlife Trade”. +This topic will, of course, be discussed, but we also must talk about saving our flora and fauna, conserving water, and how to expand our forest cover. +As per the conventional Government precedent, I could have had a combined meeting with all the drought affected states, but I chose not to do so. +I had a one-on-one meeting with each state, devoting about two to two and a half hours with each one. +I carefully heard what each state had to say. +Usually such talks do not go beyond discussion on how much money was granted by the Central Government state-wise, and how much money was actually spent by each state. +Some states, especially Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have made full use of technology. +I would like that in future, through the Niti Aayog, the exceptionally successful efforts of these states should be applied to other states also. +People’s participation is a strong base for solving such problems. +And for this, I believe that if there is a confluence of perfect planning, use of appropriate technology, and time-bound action, then we can achieve optimum results in drought management, for water conservation, to save every single drop of water. +My faith is that water is a Gift from God. +When we go to a temple, we are given an offering of Prasad and even if a small bit of that spills, we feel bad in our hearts. +We not only pick it up but also pray five times for God’s forgiveness. +Water is also an offering form the God. +At present, it is indeed good news that in many states, even sugarcane farmers are using micro irrigation, some are using drip irrigation and some are using sprinklers. +When I discussed with the eleven states, I noticed that even for cultivating paddy for production of rice, some of them had employed drip irrigation successfully and got higher yields, thereby also reducing the requirement for water as well as for labour. +I also found that there were many states which had taken on very big targets, especially, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat- these three states have done massive work in the field of drip irrigation. +And they are striving to bring every year 2 to 3 lakh hectares additional land under micro- irrigation. +If this campaign gets underway in all the states, then not only will it benefit cultivation, but more water will also be conserved. +Our farmer brothers in Telangana, through ‘Mission Bhagirathi’ have made a commendable effort to optimally use the waters of Godavari and Krishna rivers. +In Andhra Pradesh, ‘Neeru Pragati Mission’ has been using technology for ground water recharging. +People are devoting hard work and contributing financially as well to the mass movement that has been started in Maharashtra,. +‘Jal Yukt Shivir’ is one such people’s movement which is really going to be of great help in saving Maharashtra from water crisis in the future- this is what I feel. +Chhattisgarh has started the ‘Lok-Suraj, Jal-Suraj’ campaign. +In Karnataka water conservation efforts are in the form of ‘Kalyani Yojana’, under which they are trying to revive wells once again. +Jharkhand, although being a predominantly forest area, still has some parts which face water problem. +They have launched a very big campaign for building ‘Check Dams’. +They have started an exercise to check and stop the flow of water. +Some states have started a campaign and made a number of small dams at distances of 10 to 20 kilometres in the rivers themselves to check the flow of water. +This is a wonderful experience. +I urge the people of India that during this June, July, August September, we should resolve that we shall not let a single drop of water be wasted. +And the issue of water is not just for the farmers. +You will see for yourselves that our joy will increase manifold. +This I say as an earnest appeal. +We should not let this season go waste. +I hope that the Media will show the path to the people on how to save water, start a campaign, and also share the responsibility to free us from the water crisis forever; I invite then as well. +My dear Countrymen, we have to build a modern India. +We have to make a transparent India. +Today I want to touch upon one topic in which if you can be of help to me, then we can together achieve progress in that direction. +Then gradually came currency, coins came, notes came. +But now times have changed. +The whole world is moving towards a cashless society. +Through the facility of electronic technology, we can get money and also give money; we can buy things and pay our bills too. +And with this there is no question of our wallets getting stolen from our pocket. +We need not worry about keeping an account; the account will be maintained automatically. +In the beginning it may appear to be a bit difficult, but once we get used to it, then this arrangement will seem very easy for us. +And this possibility is there because under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana that we have started recently, nearly all the families in the country have had their bank accounts opened. +You must have seen that along with the Jan Dhan account people have been given a RuPay card. +In the coming days this card is going to be useful as both- a credit and a debit card. +And now-a-days a very small instrument has come which is called ‘point of sale’- P. O. S. – ‘Pos’. +With the help of that, be it your Aadhar number or your RuPay card, if you have to pay money to someone, you can do it through that. +One of the initiatives in this regard taken by the Government of India is about how to make payments through ‘Pos’, how to receive money. +In a way we have worked towards providing the bank at your door step. +Post offices have also been geared up for banking services. +Under-hand dealings will stop; the influence of black money will be reduced. +So I appeal to my countrymen, that we should at least make a beginning. +Once we start, we will move ahead with great ease. +Twenty years ago who would have thought that so many mobiles would be in our hands. +Slowly we cultivated a habit and now we can’t do without those. +To encourage the sportspersons who are leaving for the Rio Olympics, to boost their morale, everyone should try in one’s own way. +Are all the training machines functioning properly? +He surveyed everything in great detail. +With election results being due, with the distinct possibility of a new responsibility as a Chief Minister, and yet if one of my colleagues, in the capacity of a Sports Minister, displays such concern for his work, then it gives me great joy. +Many people are taking an initiative to form their own teams. +I have received thousands of suggestions on the NarendraModi Mobile App. +Maybe many people don’t play the game themselves, but hundreds of thousands of young Indians have displayed such keen interest in the sport, this by itself was a very delightful experience for me. +For all the selected candidates for the Rio Olympics, and for our favourite sportspersons, we should create a cheerful and positive atmosphere. +I appeal to my countrymen to contribute their bit in creating an atmosphere that boosts the spirits and enthusiasm of our athletes. +It is clear that our daughters are marching ahead triumphantly. +It is a matter of joy. +To those who have succeeded in these exams, I extend my congratulations and felicitations. +And those who were not able to succeed, I would like to tell them once again that there is a lot to do in life. +Life does not get stuck if we do not get results according to our expectations. +We should live with hope, we should move ahead with confidence. +But I have been confronted with a new type of question, about which earlier I had never given a thought. +I’ve received one email on MyGov.in site, which drew my attention. +So it seems that my family, my friends, my teachers, nobody was pleased with my 89.33% marks. +Everyone was lamenting that I missed my 90% by four marks. +Now I’m perplexed and don’t know how to handle the situation. +Is this all to life. +Was what I did not good enough? +Did I not prove myself? +I don’t know but I feel a burden on my heart and mind. +We can never guide society towards the path of satisfaction if we always find dissatisfaction in everything. +Santosh Giri Goswami has written to me from Jodhpur something similar, almost along the same lines. +He says that the people around him just don’t accept the results. +They say that you should have done something better. +I wish some odd visitor had also shed a tear or two over the picture of my anguish.” +I don’t remember if these were the exact words of the poem, as I read this poem way back. +But nobody was able to grasp the pain depicted in that picture; everyone just spoke of touching it up. +You have the burden on yourself of fulfilling the expectations of millions of others. +All that I would like to say to you is that in such a situation, don’t lose your balance. +Everyone expresses their expectations; just keep listening, but stick to your point and make an effort to do something even better. +The dissatisfaction arising out of success never becomes a ladder to success; it guarantees failure. +I would like to appeal to parents, friends and neighbours that please don’t impose your expectations upon your children. +And friends, does our life come to a standstill if we meet with failure sometimes. +Sometimes one is not able to score good marks in exams, but he or she surges ahead in sports, or does well in music, or excels in the fine arts, or forges ahead in business. +God has gifted each one of us with a unique talent. +Please recognize your internal strength, build upon it and you will be able to march ahead. +And this happens everywhere in life. +You must have heard of the musical instrument called santoor. +There was a time when the santoor was associated with the folk music of the Kashmir valley. +But it was Pandit Shiv Kumar (Sharma) whose magical touch transformed it into one of the prime musical instruments of the world. +Shehnai once had a limited space in the world of music. +It was mostly played at the threshold of the courts of emperors and kings. +But Ustad Bismillah Khan’s mastery over the Shehnai made it one of the finest musical instruments in the world; it has now carved an identity of its own. +And so you should stop worrying about what you have and how is that. +Just concentrate on what you have and devote your utmost with that you are sure to reap handsome rewards. +My dear countrymen, sometimes I notice that the money that our poor families have to spend on their healthcare, throws their life off the track. +It is true that while one has to spend little on preventing illness, the expenditure incurred on regaining health after you have fallen ill, is a lot more. +Why can’t we lead life in such a way that we don’t ever fall sick and no financial burden falls upon the family. +Cleanliness is one of the strongest protections from disease. +The greatest service that can be rendered to the poor is by maintaining cleanliness. +And the second thing that I constantly urge you to do is Yog. +Some people also call it Yoga. +21st June is the International Day for Yog. +People are not only attracted to Yog the world over, they have implicit faith in it and the whole world has embraced it. +This is a priceless gift handed over to us by our ancestors, which we have given to the world. +To the world which is filled with stress, Yog gives the power to lead a balanced life. +A person practicing Yog, can easily have the achievements of staying healthy, maintaining balance, being richly endowed with a strong will power, nurturing supreme self confidence and to have concentration in every task one does. +And for this, the International Yog day on 21st June gives us the inspiration. +These collective occasions do become a reason for effecting positive change in an individual’s life. +I do hope that on 21st June, wherever you may be, please take the initiative; you have a month with you. +Start it from now, one month in advance and you will be a participating partner on 21st June. +You too must connect yourself with it when the whole world will be doing Yog on that day. +I urge you all not to get left behind. +Your staying healthy is very important to make India healthy. +My dear country men, through Mann Ki Baat, I connect with you regularly. +I had given all of you a mobile number earlier, which you could use for listening to ‘Mann Ki Baat’ by giving a missed call on that number. +My dear countrymen, Namaskar to all of you once again! +Please don’t forget what I had said about water. +You will remember it, won’t you? +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched various development projects worth Rs.1000 crores in Daman & Diu today. +He distributed certificates to beneficiaries of programs and addressed a public meeting at the Daman college ground. +The Prime Minister described the public meeting in Daman as a historic event not only in terms of the number of people who have joined him but also in terms of the development projects being launched from there. +PM urged the people of Daman to continue giving topmost importance to cleanliness as the opportunities in tourism increase when there is cleanliness. +He congratulated the people and local administration for making Daman Open Defecation Free. +He said that the manner in which Daman has taken to cleanliness as a mass movement using e-rickshaws and CNG is a shining example for all of us. +The Prime Minister said that the Government is taking several steps for the welfare of fishermen and his entire emphasis is on the ‘blue revolution’ inspired by the commitment to bring a positive difference in the lives of fishermen. +The Prime Minister inaugurated Air Odisha’s flight connecting Ahmedabad with Diu under the UDAN scheme. +He flagged off Pawan Hans helicopter services from Daman to Diu through a video link. +The Prime Minister presented Badhai kit to the newly born girl child under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao yojana. +He handed over certificates to women given free driving training by Daman and Diu administration and cycle to school going girls. +The Prime Minister distributed permits for CNG driven vehicles. +The Prime Minister flagged off E-Rikshaw, Pehli Savari and Ambulances. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Deepak Lather on winning a bronze in Weightlifting at Commonwealth Games . +PM said, “Our weightlifters are in superb form! +My young friend Deepak Lather wins a Bronze in the Men’s 69 kg category. +Congratulations to this youngster and all the best for his future endeavours.” +Deepak Lather became the youngest Indian weightlifter to claim a Commonwealth Games medal, clinching a bronze in the men’s 69kg category at Gold Coast. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Promulgation of the Daman and Diu Civil Courts (Amendment) Regulation, 2019 and the Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Civil Courts and Miscellaneous Provisions)Amendment Regulation, 2019 under Article 240 of the Constitution. +The move will be helpful in bringing uniformity in Judicial Service. +It will also help overcome the difficulties being faced by the litigants in travelling to Mumbai for filing appeals due to existing limited pecuniary jurisdiction. +Enhanced pecuniary jurisdiction will accelerate the justice delivery system, besides making access easier for litigants without having to travel outside the Union Territory. +Blossoming of bright red Jungle Flame flowers, better known as Tesu or Palash heralds the advent of Holi. +When nature is at her joyous best, when the season is enchanting, we human beings too enjoy this to the fullest. +The festivals of Vasant Panchami, Mahashivratri and Holi, impart hues of happiness to a person’s life. +At the outset, I express my gratitude to lakhs of citizens of our country for sending in a multitude of suggestions when I ask for them before ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +On the NarendraModiApp, on Twitter, on Facebook, by post – I thank all of you for that. +Shobha Jalan has written to me on the NarendraModiApp that many in the public are not aware of the achievements of ISRO. +And therefore she wants me to provide some information on the recent launch of 104 satellites and the Interceptor Missile. +Shobha Ji, thank you very much for paying attention to this shining example of India’s pride. +Whether it is eradicating poverty, preventing diseases, connecting with the world, or disseminating knowledge and information, technology and science have made a mark for themselves. +15th February, 2017 is a day of immense pride for India. +Our scientists have brought laurels to the nation, witnessed by the whole world. +And we know that over the last few years, ISRO has accomplished various unprecedented missions with flying colours. +After the successful mission of sending Mangalyaan to planet Mars, recently ISRO scripted a world record in the arena of space. +And what is further heartening is the fact that this was PSLV’s 38th successive successful launch. +This is a historic achievement for not just ISRO but for all of India. +This cost effective, efficient space programme of ISRO has become a marvel for the entire world; the world has admired this success of Indian scientists of India whole-heartedly. +Particularly for my farmer brothers and sisters, our new Satellite Cartosat 2D will be immensely helpful on a whole lot of subjects such as knowing how much water is there in our existing water sources, how this should be best put to use, what things to keep in mind in this regard. +Almost immediately after its launch, our satellite has sent back some pictures. +It has commenced functioning. +It is also a matter of exultation for us that this entire campaign was led and steered by our young scientists, our women scientists. +This tremendous participation of youth and women is a major glorious dimension in ISRO’s success. +On behalf of our countrymen, I heartily congratulate the scientists at ISRO. +Adhering consistently to the objective of bringing Space Science to the common man, for the service of the nation, they are creating one record after another. +One runs short of words in complimenting and congratulating our scientists, their entire team. +Shobha Ji has asked one more question and that pertains to the security of India. +It is about India having acquired a great capability. +This important matter has not been discussed much, but it has drawn Shobha Ji’s attention. +In the field of defence also, India has successfully test fired the Ballistic Interceptor Missile. +During its trial, this missile, based on interceptor technology, destroyed an enemy missile at an altitude of about 100 km above the surface of the earth and thus marked its success. +When we witness new technology, or a new scientific feat, we are left overwhelmed with joy. +They do not rest till they obtain an answer. +My dear young friends, while we refer to Science and the sheer perseverance of scientists, I have many a time said in ‘Mann Ki Baat’, that the attraction of Science for our young generation should increase. +The country needs more and more scientists. +Today’s scientist becomes a potent catalyst for enduring change in the lives of our future generations. +Mahatma Gandhi used to say, “No Science has dropped from the skies in a perfect form. +When Science is harnessed keeping in minds the needs of common folk, when ways and means to naturally use those principles for people’s requirements are devised, when appropriate mediums and technologies are deliberated upon, it paves the way for it to be considered the most valuable contribution for general humanity. +Recently, during the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, Niti Aayog and India’s Foreign Ministry had organized a unique competition. +To give you an example, I came across an innovation for our poor fishermen brethren. +In that situation, two persons worked in right earnest and developed a dwelling structure that saves the house and its occupants, mitigates the water-logging and can prevent water borne diseases also. +What I’m trying to infer is that in society, in the country, there are many who take on such roles. +In a way, technology is becoming an inseparable part of our lives. +In the recent days, one can see a lot of emphasis being laid on Digi-Dhan. +Gradually, people are shedding their hard currency mindset and moving towards digital currency. +Digital transactions in India are witnessing a very rapid surge. +In recent times, Lucky Graahak Yojana and Digi-Dhan Vyapari Yojana have received overwhelming support. +For about two months now, everyday fifteen thousand people have been winning a prize of a thousand rupees each. +A 22-year old cab driver brother Sabir from Delhi adopted the digital mode in his transactions after demonetisation and went on to win a prize of one lakh rupees under the ‘Lucky Grahak Yojana’ of the Government. +Though he continues to be a driver, in a way, he has now become an ambassador for this scheme. +He keeps imparting knowledge about digital usage to his passengers all the time. +He is extremely enthusiastic and motivates others also to go digital. +One young post-graduate student Pooja Nemade from Maharashtra keeps sharing her experience with friends about how her family members are using RuPay Card and e-wallet facilities and deriving enjoyment out of it and also as to how important the prize of rupees one lakh is for her. +She has taken up this in a mission mode and is bringing others into its fold. +I urge my countrymen, especially the youth of our country and those who have won prizes under ‘Lucky Grahak Yojana’ or ‘Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana’ to become ambassadors of these schemes on their own. +Lead this movement. +Take it further as it has a very major and prominent role in the fight against corruption and black money. +To me, each and every individual involved in this mission constitute a new anti-corruption cadre in the country. +In a way you are a soldier in the cause of cleanliness and purity. +You know that this scheme will complete its 100 days on 14th April, the birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, a truly memorable day. +Can you do one thing in the memory of Babasaheb Ambedkar? +We have recently celebrated 125th birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Ambedkar. +Since its beginning about two-three months ago, this movement has had a clear impact and has been a very big success in many townships, villages and cities. +My dear countrymen, agriculture makes a very major contribution to the fundamentals of our country’s economy. +Economic prowess of villages imparts momentum to the nation’s economic progress. +I wish to share a very happy news with you today. +Our farmer brothers and sisters have toiled hard to fill our granaries. +The hard work of the farmers has resulted in a record production of food grains. +All signals indicate that our farmers have broken all previous records. +There has been such bountiful crop this time in the fields of our farmers that every day has appeared to be a celebration of Pongal and Baisakhi. +More than two thousand seven hundred lakh tonnes of food grains have been produced in the country this year. +I want to specially thank the farmers of the country. +I also want to thank our farmers for keeping the poor in mind and adopting cultivation of various pulse crops also besides the traditional crops because pulses are the biggest source of protein for poor people. +I am happy that the farmers of my country heeded the needs of our poor people and cultivated various pulse crops on about 290 lakh hectare land. +This is not merely the production of pulses but a yeoman service rendered by the farmers to the poor of my country. +My farmer brothers and sisters deserve special gratitude for the way they whole-heartedly accepted my request, my prayer and put in their hard labour to get a record production of pulses. +My dear countrymen, the government, society, institutions, organizations, in fact everyone, is making some or the other effort towards greater cleanliness. +In a way, everyone is seen working towards the cause of cleanliness in a conscious manner. +Toilet pits in six houses were emptied and cleaned and the officers personally demonstrated that the used up pits of twin pit toilet can be emptied and then re-used. +And it is quite natural also because when people see an IAS officer cleaning a toilet pit himself, the fact is naturally noticed by the country. +And we consider the waste taken out from a toilet pit as sheer useless garbage but if considered from the angle of its use as a fertiliser, this, in a way, is black gold. +For a family of six members, the model of one standard Twin Pit Toilet gets filled in about five years. +After that the waste can easily be redirected to the other pit. +This waste deposited in the pit gets completely decomposed in six to twelve months time. +This decomposed waste can be safely handled quite conveniently and can be used as ‘NPK’ which is a very useful fertilizer. +Others must also have experimented with initiatives similar to those undertaken by the Government. +Various government departments regularly observe Cleanliness Fortnight. +We know that whenever an Indian achieves something notable, the whole country feels a new energy and the self-confidence gets a boost. +We all hailed the commendable performance by our Divyang Players at Rio Paralympics. +India defeated Pakistan in the final of the Blind T-20 World Cup held earlier this month to become World Champions for the second consecutive time and thus raised our national prestige to a new height. +I once again congratulate all players of our team. +The country is really proud of these Divyang friends for their achievement. +I always believe that Divyang brothers and sisters are capable, strongly determined, courageous and possess tremendous resolve. +We get to learn something each moment from them. +Be it the field of sports or space science, the women of our country lag behind none. +They are moving ahead shoulder to shoulder and are bringing glory to the nation with their commendable achievements. +The whole world celebrates 8th March as Women’s Day. +In India also more importance needs to be given to our daughters along with increased awareness and sensitivity towards them. +‘Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao’ movement is moving forward with rapid strides. +This is no longer just a government programme. +It has now become a campaign of societal empathy and public education. +During the last two years this programme involved the common man; it has forced people from all corners of the country to think and ponder over this burning issue; and brought about a change in people’s thinking about our traditional beliefs and customs which have been prevalent for many years. +It gives us great joy and happiness when we hear the news of festive celebration on the birth of a daughter. +In a way, a positive mindset towards our daughters is leading towards societal acceptance. +I have heard that in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, child marriage has been banned under a special campaign. +About 175 child marriages have been prevented so far. +The district administration has opened bank accounts of over 55-60 thousand daughters under ‘Sukanya Samridhi Yojana’. +In Kathua district in Jammu & Kashmir, all departments have been connected with ‘Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao Yojana’ under the Convergence Model and in addition to the convening of Gram-Sabhas, all efforts are being made by the district administrations for adoption of orphan baby girls and to ensure their education. +In Madhya Pradesh, under the “Har Ghar Dastak” programme a campaign is being run to go to every village and every house to encourage education of daughters. +In Rajasthan ‘Apna Bachcha, Apna Vidyalaya’ campaign is being run to readmit those girls into schools, who had dropped out, in order to encourage and motivate them to start studying again. +I mean to say that ‘Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao’ movement has also developed in many shapes and forms. +This entire movement has become a people’s movement. +New imagination and new concepts have been linked and connected with it. +This movement has been moulded as per local requirements. +This, I believe, is a healthy sign. +As we get ready to celebrate ‘Women’s Day’ this 8th March, there is only one sentiment: – +With Strength, with Vitality, the Indian woman comes to the fore Rightfully deserves equality – neither less, nor more. +My dear countrymen, all of you get an opportunity to express your views from time to time in ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +You also connect actively with this programme. +I get to know so many things from you. +I get to know as to what all is happening on the ground, in our villages and in the hearts and minds of the poor. +I am very grateful to you for your contribution. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to cyclone in Tamil Nadu. +The Prime Minister said, “My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives due to cyclonic conditions in parts of Tamil Nadu. +I pray for the quick recovery of those injured. +Officials are working towards providing all possible assistance in the wake of the cyclone. +I pray for the safety and well-being of the people of Tamil Nadu”. +The securities market and insurance sector are growing rapidly. +With increase in the volume of trading in securities market, and clients in the insurance sector, it is likely that the grievances will also increase. +Therefore, it is necessary that a speedy redressal system is established. +It would ensure speedy disposal of appeal cases related to insurance, securities market and pension benefitting the general public. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated the Indian Space Research Organization for PSLV’s successful launch of India’s Multi Wavelength Space Observatory, ASTROSAT. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the bus accident in Madhubani district of Bihar. +“Deeply saddened by the bus accident in Bihar’s Madhubani district. +My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the proposal to promulgate the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015. +The proposed amendments to the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (“The NI Act”) are focused on clarifying the jurisdiction related issues for filing cases for offence committed under section 138 of the NI Act. +The clarification of jurisdictional issues may be desirable from the equity point of view as this would be in the interests of the complainant and would also ensure a fair trial. +The clarity on jurisdictional issue for trying the cases of cheque bouncing would increase the credibility of the cheque as a financial instrument. +The section 138 of the NI Act provides for penalties in case of dishonour of cheques due to insufficiency of funds in the account of the drawer of the cheque. +The object of the NI Act is to encourage the usage of cheque and enhancing the credibility of the instrument so that the normal business transactions and settlement of liabilities could be ensured. +Various financial institutions and industry associations have expressed difficulties, arising out of the recent legal interpretation of the place of jurisdiction for filing cases under Section 138 to be the place of drawers’ bank by the Supreme Court. +To address the difficulties faced by the payee or the lender of the money in filing the cases under Section 138 of the NI Act, because of which, large number of cases were stuck, the jurisdiction for offence under Section 138 has been proposed to be clearly defined. +Accordingly, the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2015 (“the Bill”) in Parliament was introduced in Lok Sabha on 6th May, 2015 and considered and passed by Lok Sabha on 13th May, 2015. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Luxembourg, on their National Day. +“On their National Day, my greetings to the people of Luxembourg. +I am confident our ties will get even stronger in the years to come”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met the Vice President of the Republic of Suriname Mr. Michael A. Adhin who is visiting India to attend the World Culture Festival. +Prime Minister appreciated the proactive role being played by the Indian diaspora in Suriname not only in the development of that country but also in strengthening historical ties between the two countries. +He said that India remained committed to continue to extend all possible support to the Republic of Suriname for capacity building and human resource development. +15 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) declared as Institutes of National Importance +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved – +i. Introduction of the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Public Private Partnership (IIIT PPP) Bill, 2017; +ii. To grant statutory status to the fifteen Indian Institutes of Information Technology in Public Private Partnership and declare them as Institutions of National Importance; +iii. To enable these institutions to grant degrees to their students in the academic courses conducted by them. +There is no financial implication with regard to the proposed IIIT PPP Bill, 2017 +The Bill will declare the existing Indian Institutes of Information Technology in Public Private Partnership as ‘Institutions of National Importance with powers to award degrees. +This will entitle them to use the nomenclature of Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) or Master of Technology (M.Tech) or Ph.D degree as issued by a University or Institution of National Importance. +The grant of a formal degree in Information Technology, Engineering or Ph.D will enhance the prospects of the graduating students in the job market and will also enable the Institutes to attract enough students required to develop a strong research base in the country in the field of information technology. +The emerging needs of the industry and the economy, as a whole for skilled technical manpower is expected to be met from the talent pool of trained personnel of the institutes. +Every Institute shall be open to all – irrespective of gender, caste, creed, disability, and domicile, and ethnicity, social or economic background. +Academic Session has commenced in the following15 Institutes:- +The first batch of under-graduate students enrolled in the Year 2013-14 will be passing out in the Year 2017. +Academic Session has started in 15 IIITs. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Kerala Assembly Speaker, Shri G. Karthikeyan. +“My condolences to the family and well-wishers of Kerala Assembly Speaker, Shri G. Karthikeyan on his demise. +May his soul rest in peace. +Shri G. Karthikeyan will be remembered as a grassroots leader who dedicated his life to serving the people of Kerala”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing and ratification of an Agreement for the exchange of information between India and Maldives with respect to taxes. +The Agreement will stimulate effective exchange of information between the two countries which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance. +He said he is thankful to the people of all four states of the North-East which he visited, for the love and affection they had showered on him. +He said his first function in the north-east was connected to “gati” – speed or connectivity, and the last one here at Palatana was dedicated to “urja” – energy. +Therefore, the Prime Minister said the Government was converting the Look East policy to Act East policy. +He said the North-East would not remain backward now. +He said towards this end, the Government was keen on building modern infrastructure in the north-east, to unlock its potential. +Government’s drive against corruption and middlemen will continue: PM +10% reservation bill for general category poor is a historic step and a reflection of Government’s commitment for the poor, says PM +The Prime Minister has said that the constitutional amendment bill providing 10% reservation for general category poor is a historic step for the uplift of the poor and a reflection of the Government’s commitment to Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. +The Prime Minster said, “We have passed a historic bill to provide 10% reservation to Economically Weaker Sections of the General Category in Lok Sabha yesterday. +This has strengthened our resolve of Sab Ka Saath Sabka Vikas” +On the Citizenship Amendment Bill, the Prime Minister assured the people of Assam and North East that their rights and opportunities will be protected. +He said, “the bill has cleared the decks for grant of Indian citizenship to the sons and daughters of Mother India residing in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. +After seeing the ups and downs of history, these brothers and sisters of ours want to be a part and parcel of India.” +The Prime Minister said that his Government’s drive against corruption and middlemen will continue unabated despite the diatribes against him. +He said that he was performing his duty courageously in the fight against corruption and middlemen backed by the support and the blessings of the people.. +The Prime Minister was addressing a public rally at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Solapur after launching and laying down foundation stones of several development projects for the region. +Prime Minister laid the foundation Stone of 30,000 houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. +He said,”Today, we have inaugurated a project of 30000 homes meant for the family of poor, labourers. +The beneficiaries of this project are those who work in factories, pull rickshaws, drive auto, etc. +I ensure you that very soon you will have the keys of your home in your hands.” +The Prime Minister added that efforts have been made to make housing affordable for the middle class families. +He added that efforts are on to start flights from Solapur under the Regional Air connectivity scheme- Udan Yojana. +As a part of his vision of Swachh Bharat and Swastha Bharat, the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation Underground Sewerage System, and three Sewage Treatment Plants in Solapur. +This will increase the sewer coverage of the town and improve sanitation in the city. +It will bring significant improvement in service delivery and improve public health enabled by technology as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens. +It is expected that these measures will go a long way towards giving a major push to road and transport connectivity, water supply, sanitation, employment generation etc. for the people in Solapur and the adjoining areas. +I am very happy to address you at this charity dinner at the International Diamond Conference. +This conference is part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India. +The conference on the theme of “Mines to Market 2017”, brings together miners, diamond companies, experts, retailers, bankers and analysts from across the globe. +Since the council was created fifty years ago, India has made rapid strides in this industry. +As you all know, India is now the world’s largest manufacturer of cut and polished diamonds. +The gems and jewellery sector is one of the leading sectors in India in terms of value of exports as well as employment generation. +In the last four decades, India has emerged as the leader in diamond manufacturing and export. +Exports of gems and jewellery from India account for fifteen percent of India’s total merchandise exports. +This is one of India’s success stories. +Friends, till recently Indian importers had to go abroad to view and purchase rough diamonds. +This reduced the efficiency of the supply chain. +Many of you wanted us to enable viewing and trading to happen in India. +In December, 2014 at the World Diamond Conference held in Delhi, I had announced in the presence of the Russian President that we would set up a Special Notified Zone to achieve this. +This promise has been kept. +Amendments have been made to our laws to enable rough diamonds to enter and exit, duty free for the purpose of viewing. +The Special Notified Zone at the Bharat Diamond Bourse became operational in November, 2015. +This has already shown good results. +Earlier only eighty to ninety big merchants used to get access to global rough diamonds by travelling to Belgium, Africa and Israel. +Now, about three thousand small and medium merchants have this privilege through the new Special Notified Zone. +Many of the most reputed international names in the diamond industry have conducted over two hundred and forty four days of viewings. +Ladies and Gentlemen, our goal is to transform India in one generation. +Since taking office, this government has placed emphasis on many transformative initiatives. +‘Make in India’ is one of them. +Our aim is to make India a preferred destination for manufacturing. +In the last fifty years, the gems and jewellery sector has accounted for four hundred and seventy five billion dollars of exports. +This is despite the fact that India has little diamond or gold production. +Another important initiative is Skill India. +Skill India aims to ensure that new entrants to the work force have the necessary skills to contribute to the economy of the 21st century. +The gems and jewellery sector employs 4.6 million people. +Out of this, one million people are in the diamonds industry alone. +Thus the gems and jewellery sector is a prime example of the potential of ‘Make In India’ and Skill India. +Today, we have with us Ministers from several African countries. +India cherishes its excellent relations with Africa. +Our shared post-colonial heritage and the similarity of the challenges we face, make us natural partners. +I take this opportunity to assure my friends from Africa that India will be happy to support them in developing their gems and jewellery sector, and in training their technicians. +I began by saying that this sector has come a long way from where it was. +However it is still far behind where it should be. +Our strongest area is diamond cutting and polishing. +In terms of the global value in the gems and jewellery market, our share is lower than it should be. +Our future is much bigger than cutting and polishing alone. +This means that India is a follower of global fashion rather than a leader of global taste. +This does not do justice to our rich experience and abundant design talent. +Let me give an example. +India has many famous icons, sculptures and statues dating back over two thousand years. +Many of them are shown wearing jewellery. +These works of art have captivated people from around the world. +Have we documented these? +Have we thought of promoting jewellery based on these works of art? +Even hair dressers change hair style fashions of their clients. +We live in an era where diamonds are used in spectacles, watches and pens. +Can’t our jewellers, with their skills, strengths and heritage, create and change global tastes and fashions? +In order to be able to influence and change global fashion, our industry first needs to have a thorough knowledge of its market. +The basic point is that we cannot be world leaders without first connecting strongly with the client. +E-commerce makes it much easier to establish direct contact with the end-user. +This is a golden opportunity for the Indian industry. +There was a time in the past where some products from India had achieved a global reputation. +Today, India has acquired a global brand for high skills and excellence in software. +We are yet to do that in jewellery. +If we do that, the potential is huge. +This is a task which the Council should take up in right earnest. +But the states also have a role to play. +Since taking office, we have encouraged state governments to take an active role in export promotion. +I hope the industry is in constant touch with them. +It is important for the industry to plan its growth. +But that is not enough. +It is also necessary for you to think of the weakest among you. +The accident insurance cost is about a rupee a month and the life insurance costs about a rupee a day. +What goals is the gems and jewellery industry setting for itself by that date? +What can you do for the country by then? +Where do you think the industry should be by then? +How will you get there? +How many new jobs can you create? +I call upon you to give this a serious thought and come up with a plan. +If changes are needed in regulations, I ask you to come up, with specific and practical suggestions. +We can certainly consider them if they are in the interest of our country. +I conclude by thanking you for this opportunity to share my thoughts. +I wish the conference all success. +Boost to Public Transport and Connectivity in Patna +Rs.13,365.77 crore metro project to be completed in five years +The Project will be completed in five years. +DanapurCantt to Mithapur corridor will pass through the heart of city and connect densely populated areas Raza Bazar, Secretariat, High Court, Law University Railway Station. +Patna Jn. to ISBT corridor will connect Gandhi Maidan, PMCH, Patna University, Rajendra Nagar, Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Transport Nagar and ISBT. +The Metro will provide Eco friendly and sustainable Public Transport to residents, commuters, industrial workers, visitors and travelers. +Patna Metro Project Highlights: +The length of Danapur to Mithapur corridor is 16.94 km, which is mostly underground (11.20 km) and partly elevated (5.48 km) and comprises of 11 Stations (3-Elevated and 8-Underground). +The length of Patna Station to New ISBT corridor is 14.45 km, which is mostly elevated (9.9 km) and partly underground (4.55 km) and comprising of 12 stations (9-Elevated and 3-Underground). +The existing population of 26.23 lakh of Patna agglomeration area is expected to be benefitted by Patna Metro Rail Project directly and indirectly. +The approved corridors will be having Multimodal Integration with Railway Stations &ISBT Station and will have feeder network of Bus, Intermediate Public Transport (IPT) and Non Motorised Transport (NMT). +The Project will have non-fare box revenue from rental & advertisement as well asValue Capture Financing (VCF) through mechanism of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and Transfer of Development Rights (TDK). +This will fulfil the long term demand of ‘Parivara’ and Talawara’ communities for granting Scheduled Tribes status in the State of Karnataka. +The persons belonging to “Parivara’ and Talawara’ communities will be eligible to get the Scheduled Tribe certificate from the State of Karnataka and will also be eligible for all benefits meant for the Scheduled Tribes in the State. +Background: +The first specification of Scheduled Tribes in relation to a particular State or Union territory is by a notified Order of the President, after consultation with the State Government / UT concerned. +Any subsequent inclusion in or exclusion from and other modifications in the list of Scheduled Tribes can be made only through an amending Act of Parliament. +A 25 member delegation from the Young FICCI Ladies Organisation called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +The delegation interacted with the Prime Minister on subjects such as women entrepreneurship, and women empowerment. +The Prime Minister responded at length to various questions raised by the delegation members. +He said Swachh Bharat Mission offers great opportunities for “waste to wealth” entrepreneurship, with significant benefits to community health. +Responding to a question on water conservation, the Prime Minister said all of us should individually focus on judicious use of water; and micro and drip irrigation. +The Prime Minister said family values, acceptance of diversity and environmental consciousness are three of India’s greatest traditions which we must nurture. +Subjects such as education, skill development, art and culture and women’s safety also came up for discussion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Myanmar on upgradation of the Women’s Police Training Centre at Yamethin, Myanmar. +The MoU was signed on 6th September, 2017. +The MoU covers upgradation of the Yamethin Women’s Police Training Centre to further augment the capabilities of the Myanmar Government to build capacities of its police force with technical and financial assistance from Government of India. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Agreement between India and Morocco on Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil and Commercial Matters. +The Agreement will be beneficial for the citizens of both the countries. +Ties of India and African countries are from pre-independence era. +Both nations are part of the Non-Aligned Movement. +In the United Nations, India supported the decolonization of Morocco and the Moroccan freedom movement. +India recognized Morocco on June 20, 1956 and established relations in 1957. +India believes in the necessity of enhancing the domain of mutual co-operation with Morocco and realizing the importance of broadening the aspects of cooperation between both the countries in Civil and Commercial Matters. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called for each school in the country to plan its own targets, which it aims to achieve by 2022, India’s 75th year of independence. +Reviewing the progress of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan at a high-level meeting, the Prime Minister reiterated his suggestion for Swachh Bharat – Swachh Vidyalaya competitions among various schools. +The Prime Minister asked concerned officials to explore the possibility of a twinning arrangement between one class of a school in an urban area, and one class of a school in a rural area. +He said best teaching practices should be identified, and a repository of the same created, for wider dissemination. +The Prime Minister said basic data for all school teachers, such as Aadhaar numbers, email IDs and mobile numbers should be maintained in a database. +2.The length of Bhadbhada to RatnagiriTiraha corridor is 12.88 km comprising of 14 stations all elevated. +The Project will have non-fare box revenue from rental & advertisement as well as Value Capture Financing (VCF) through mechanism of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and Transfer of Development Rights (TDR). +Karond to AIIMS corridor will pass through the heart of city and connect densely populated areas with Bus Station, Railway Stations and AIIMS. +Bhadbhada to Ratnagiri corridor will connect upcoming Smart City’s Area Based Development (ABD) with BFIEL and surrounding industrial areas. +TheMetro will provide Eco friendly and sustainable public transport to residents, commuters, industrial workers, visitors and travelers. +M/s DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH in consortium with M/s Louis Berger SAS and M/s Geodata Engineering S.p.A has been appointed as General Consultant (GC) for Bhopal Metro Rail Project. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the proposal for Amendment to the Resolutions dated 3rd March 1987 of the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB). +The proposed amendments are as under: +(a) selection of candidates from State Public Enterprises and Private Sector as non-internal candidates for a period of five years for appointment in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs); +(b) holding of office by the Chairperson and Members of the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) for a period of 3 years from assumption of charge or until attaining the age of 65 years or until further orders whichever is earlier; +To broadbase the catchment for senior positions in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), the policy of allowing candidates from State Public Sector Enterprises (SPSEs) and Private Sector has been in place. +This is proposed to be further extended for another five years with other requisite changes for effective discharge of Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) functions. +Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) would also benefit by the skill-sets and domain expertise of those coming from the State Public Sector Enterprises (SPSEs) as well the private sector. +It would also ensure that the Central PSE senior management gets the benefit of the perspective gained both within and outside. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda, on his birth anniversary. +Swami Vivekananda is revered as one of the most prolific thinkers and a guiding light who took India`s message to the entire world. +Let us pledge to leave no stone unturned to integrate our youth in India`s progress and ensure youth-led development across the Nation. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post-facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Cuba on cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine. +The MoU was signed on 06th December, 2017 in New Delhi. +Exchange & training of medical doctors, officials, other health professionals and experts; +1. Assistance in development of human resources, health services and setting up of health care facilities; +2. Short term training of human resources in health; +3. Regulation of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and exchange of information; +4. Promotion of business development opportunities in pharmaceuticals and others identified by parties; +5. Procurement of generic and essential drugs and assistance in sourcing of drug supplies; +6. Procurement of health equipment and pharmaceutical products; +7. Any other area of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon. +A Joint Working Group (JWG) will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this MoU. +Roundtable on financial sector. +The CEOs present included Jamie Dimon, Chairman, CEO and President, J P Morgan; Steve Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-founder, Blackstone; Charles Kaye, Co-CEO, Warburg Pincus; Henry Kravis, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO, K. K. R; Bill Ford, CEO, General Atlantic; Peter Hancock, President and CEO, AIG insurance; Chase Coleman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Tiger Global; and Vicki Fuller, Chief Investment Officer, NY State Common Retirement Fund. +Making a strong pitch for increased investment in various sectors in India, the Prime Minister outlined his vision for “Start-Up India, Stand-Up India.” +He said that along with the public sector and private sector, he was laying emphasis to individual start-ups and entrepreneurs – whom he referred to as the “personal sector.” +He said FDI in India had increased substantially over this period, a trend contrary to what was seen across most of the world, and this showed increased investor confidence in India. +Roundtable on media, technology and communications- growth story for India. +The Prime Minister chaired a roundtable meeting with top American CEOs from the media and entertainment sector. +The CEOs present included Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman, News Corp and 21stCentury Fox; James Murdoch, CEO, 21st Century Fox; Robert Thompson, CEO, News Corp; Uday Shankar, CEO, Star India; David Zaslav, President and CEO, Discovery Communications; Michael Lynton, CEO, Sony Entertainment; Michael Roth, CEO, Interpublic Group of Companies; Shane Smith, CEO, Vice Media; Martin Sorrell, CEO, WPP; Jeff Bewkes, CEO, Time Warner; Nancy Dubuc, CEO, A&E Networks, Anthony Pratt, Chairman, Visy Industries; William Duhamel, Route One Investment Company; and Jeff Ubben, CEO, Value Act Capital. +Bilateral Meetings. +The Prime Minister met the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Ms. Sheikh Hasina. +Both leaders reviewed the progress of the bilateral relationship since their last meeting. +They expressed happiness at the progress of implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement. +Discussions also focused on connectivity and infrastructure, sustainable development goals, and reform of the UN Security Council and other institutions of global governance. +The Prime Minister met the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. +He thanked Dr. Gonsalves for the support extended by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines towards UNSC reform. +The Prime Minister met the President of Guyana, Mr. David Granger. +The President was appreciative of Indian support for capacity building in the IT sector in Guyana. +Meeting with Mr. Michael Bloomberg. +During his meeting with Mr. Michael Bloomberg, the Prime Minister appreciated his support in the Smart City initiative. +Interaction with CEOs. +The Prime Minister interacted with 42 American CEOs from the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. +The CEOs were appreciative of the Prime Minister’s development vision of economic development, and the progress made over the last 15 months. +The Prime Minister highlighted his commitment for predictable, transparent and accountable governance. +The CEOs expressed support for the Make in India, Skill India and Smart Cities initiatives. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid tributes to Mahatma Phule on his birth anniversary. +“Mahatma Phule devoted his life to empowering the downtrodden through education and social reform. +Tributes to him on his birth anniversary,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to expenditure sanction of Rs.4,241.97 crore for Integrated E-filing & Centralized Processing Center 2.0 Project of the Income Tax Department. +The Union Cabinet also approved the expenditure sanction for the consolidated cost of Rs.1,482.44crore of the existing CPC-ITR 1.0 project upto FY 2018-19. +The broad objectives of this project are listed as under: +a. Faster and accurate outcomes for taxpayer. +b. First time right approach, +c. Enhancing user experience at all stages. +d. Improving taxpayer awareness and education through continuous engagement. +e. Promoting voluntary tax compliance. +f. Managing outstanding demand. +The decision will ensure horizontal equity by processing returns filed by all categories of taxpayers across the country in a consistent, uniform, rule driven, identity blind manner. +This will assure fairness in tax treatment to every taxpayer irrespective of their status. +The proposal ensures the continuation of the Department’s goal towards business transformation through technology. +The E-filing and CPC projects have enabled end to end automation of all processes within the Department using various innovative methods to provide taxpayer servicesand to promote voluntary compliance. +The Bill is aimed at removing archaic and redundant provisions in the relevant legislations and to enable the insurance sector to work for the betterment of the insured with greater efficacy. +Another MoU is proposed to be signed with Serbia. +“I convey my heartfelt greetings to our fellow countrymen and women on the various festivals across the Nation. +The festive spirit across India is gladdening. +Pongal greetings to friends in TN! +Best wishes to our hardworking farmers for a great harvest. +May it bring more prosperity in their lives. +My best wishes on Bhogi! +May this special day bring happiness to all and usher in a brighter and better tomorrow, full of unprecedented joy. +On the auspicious occasion of Magh Bihu, my greetings to the people of Assam. +May this festival add to the sprit of happiness and well-being. +Prime Minister Sharif appreciated India’s efforts in the rescue operations in Nepal. +Prime Minister Modi suggested that SAARC countries should conduct regular joint exercises on disaster relief and rescue. +Prime Minister Sharif appreciated this idea and told Prime Minister Modi that this initiative should be taken up. +The two leaders also discussed unseasonal rain and its adverse impact on crops. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Jagran Forum, organized in New Delhi by Jagran Prakashan Limited. +The Prime Minister used the quote “Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty,” to emphasize the importance of awareness in democracy. +He said a vibrant democracy requires Jan Bhaagidaari – the participation of the people. +The Prime Minister recalled how Mahatma Gandhi had turned the freedom struggle into a people’s movement. +He said this model of “Jan-Andolan” should be applied to the country’s development process as well. +The Prime Minister said laws made before independence were based on the premise that people should not be trusted. +However, this approach should now change. +In this context, the Prime Minister gave examples of self-certification of documents, the people’s participation in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and the Give-it-up campaign for LPG subsidy. +The Prime Minister explained how the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, and the “Start Up India – Stand Up India” initiatives were creating a positive impact. +The Prime Minister also explained the approach of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” and said archaic laws were being weeded out. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Wage Policy for the 8th Round of Wage Negotiations for workmen in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). +Highlights:- +i.Management of the CPSEs would be free to negotiate wage revision for workmen where the periodicity of wage settlement of five years or ten years has expired generally on 31.12.2016 keeping in view the affordability and financial sustainability of such wage revision for the CPSEs concerned. +vi.To avoid conflict of pay scales of executives/non-unionised supervisors with that of their workmen, CPSEs may consider adoption of graded DA neutralization and/or graded fitment during the wage negotiations. +In exceptional cases where CPSEs are already working at optimum capacity, the administrative Ministry / Department may consult DPE considering industry norms. +There are about 12.34 lakh employees in 320 CPSEs in the country. +Out of these, about 2.99 lakh employees are Board level and below Board level executives and non-unionized Supervisors. +The remaining about 9.35 lakh employees belong to the unionized workmen category. +Wage revision in respect of unionized workmen is decided by trade unions and managements of CPSEs in terms of guidelines issued by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) for wage negotiations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, met Mr. Malcolm Turnbull, the Prime Minister of Australia, in Antalya, Turkey, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. +The two Prime Ministers announced completion of procedures for the India Australia Civil Nuclear Agreement. +With the completion of procedures, including administrative arrangements, the India Australia Civil Nuclear Agreement will enter into force. +Shri Narendra Modi thanked Mr. Malcolm Turnbull, and described the nuclear agreement as a milestone and source of trust and confidence. +The Prime Minister also met Mr. Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Mr. Jean Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission. +On the eve of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit (AICS) to celebrate 25 years of India-ASEAN partnership, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had separate bilateral meetings with Her Excellency Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of Myanmar, His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam and His Excellency Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Philippines on Wednesday. +2. Prime Minister welcomed the three leaders to India for participation in the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and also for accepting the invitation to be Chief Guests at the Republic Day celebrations on 26th January this year. +3. During the meeting of Prime Minister Modi with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, discussions were held on various issues of mutual interest and ways of further strengthening our bilateral relations, including follow up on key decisions taken during the visit of the Prime Minister Modi to Myanmar in Septmber 2017. +4. In the meeting with Prime Minister Phuc, the two leaders expressed satisfaction at the growth of bilateral relations between the two countries within the framework of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including in the fields of maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, defence, oil and gas, trade and investment. +The leaders agreed that The two agreements signed during this visit viz., on cooperation in the fields of Information & Broadcasting and on establishment of tracking and data reception station and data processing facility in Vietnam under the ASEAN-India Space Cooperation would give further boost to India-Vietnam relations. +They expressed satisfaction at operationalisation of the Line of Credit of US $ 100 million under which L&T has been awarded contract for manufacture of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). +They decided that the other Line of Credit of US $ 500 million be operationalised soon. +5. During the meeting with President Duterte, the two leaders reviewed the progress in bilateral relations and in global and regional situation since their meeting in Manila in November 2017. +It was agreed to give further momentum to coperation between the two countries, particularly in the field of infrastructure development. +They agreed that under India’s Act East Policy and the Philippines’ Build-Build-Build Programme, there are several areas for cooperation between private sectors of the two countries. +The leaders also witnessed exchange of an MOU between Invest India and Board of Investments of the Philippines. +6. In all the three meetings, the visiting dignitaries underscored the importance of ASEAN-India relations for peace, security and socio-economic development in the Indo-Pacific region, and looked forward to the deliberations in the AICS. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will attend the 50th Raising Day ceremony of Central Industrial Security Forces(CISF), at Ghaziabad, on March 10, 2019. +In an event organized at the 5th Battalion Camp at Indirapuram in Ghaziabad, the Prime Minister will review the parade of the Central Industrial Security Forces. +He will present the Police and Fire Service Medals for distinguished and meritorious services. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met the President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama, in New York City. +He also met the President of France, Mr. Francois Hollande; and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. David Cameron. +Four common themes that were discussed at the meetings were climate change, terrorism, India’s desire for membership of the four export control regimes, and reform of the United Nations Security Council. +On climate change, the Prime Minister asserted that India’s commitment is second to none. +He said India had sought permission to announce its INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) on October 2nd, Gandhi Jayanti, though the deadline is October 1st. +The Prime Minister said that the emphasis should not be solely on emission caps, but should also be on providing finance and technology for clean energy to the developing countries. +He also spoke of his vision for India to produce 175 GigaWatts of renewable energy. +During his meeting with UK Prime Minister David Cameron, the Prime Minister invited Britain to be a partner in the ‘Make in India’ programme. +Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates dropped in during the Prime Minister’s meeting with French President Francois Hollande. +During the meeting with the US President, both sides acknowledged the significant progress made in the relationship. +They noted the recently concluded Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, and discussions on Energy and Cyber-Security. +They noted that they were meeting on a day when four American satellites had been launched by ISRO. +The Prime Minister spoke of his visit to California, the renewable energy dialogue and the Start-Up Konnect event at San Jose. +The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval to accede to the Protocol under World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on tobacco control to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products. +It will be applicable to both smoking and chewing or smokeless tobacco (SLT) forms as negotiated and adopted under Article 15 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). +India is a party to WHO FCTC. +The protocol lays down obligations of the parties. +The protocol lists out offences, enforcement measures such as seizures and disposal of seized products. +It calls for international cooperation in information sharing, maintaining confidentiality, training, technical assistance and cooperation in scientific and technical and technological matters. +Elimination of illicit trade in tobacco products through strengthened regulation will help in strengthening comprehensive tobacco control, leading to reduction in tobacco use which in turn, will result in reduction in disease burden and mortality associated with tobacco use. +Accession to such treaty will provide actionable alternatives against such prevailing practices that are affecting public health at large. +India, being at the forefront of tobacco control, would be able to influence the international organizations including World Custom Organization in controlling such illicit trade. +The protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products is a path breaking initiative in strengthening global action against tobacco and is also a new legal instrument in public health. +It is a comprehensive tool to counter and eventually eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products and to strengthen legal dimensions for international health cooperation. +The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO. +The objective of FCTC is to provide a framework for supply and demand reduction measures for tobacco control at the national, regional and global levels. +One of the key tobacco supply reduction strategies contained in Article 15 of WHO FCTC envisages elimination of all forms of illicit trade and tobacco products, including smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting. +The protocol is divided into 10 parts and contains 47 Articles. +• This MoU shall enable the following areas of cooperation such as, space science, technology and applications including remote sensing of the earth; satellite based navigation; Space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system; and application of space technology. +• The MoU would lead to set up a Joint Working Group, drawing members from DOS/ISRO, and the Ministry of Transport and Communication (MTC), which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementing this MoU. +• It will provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth; satellite navigation; space science and exploration of outer space. +Implementation Strategy and Targets: +The signed MoU would lead to setting up of a Joint Working Group, which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementing the provisions of this MoU. +MoU would lead to develop a joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. +Thus all sections and regions of the country will get benefited. +• Cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman through this MoU would lead to develop a joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. +• The Sultanate of Oman expressed interest to cooperate with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for building its space programme. +A 4-member delegation from the Oman’s Department of Communication visited ISRO in March 2011 and interacted with ISRO officials and also visited ISRO’s technical facilities. +The Sultanate of Oman conveyed interest to pursue cooperation on Space Applications with ISRO to the Ambassador of India to Oman in May 2016. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the All Women IT and ITES Centre of Tata Consultancy Services in Riyadh. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that it is a big message for the world that he is meeting with the people who are, in a way, the pride of Saudi Arabia. +Shri Narendra Modi said that in today’s competitive world we have to unite our strengths both natural and human, for optimum progress. +He said that when women power becomes a part of the development journey, it gathers fresh momentum. +He said that the atmosphere he is witnessing at this Centre today, appears to be a harbinger of a positive force for the world. +He invited the women IT professionals to visit India, and said their visit will make a huge impact even in India. +The Prime Minister emphasized the role of technology in governance, and said e-governance, for him, means easy governance, effective governance, and economic governance. +Matri Devo Bhavah” wrote the Prime Minister on the message board at the Centre. +Marking their third major bilateral summit, the leaders reviewed the deepening strategic partnership between the United States and India that is rooted in shared values of freedom, democracy, universal human rights, tolerance and pluralism, equal opportunities for all citizens, and rule of law. +They pledged to pursue new opportunities to bolster economic growth and sustainable development, promote peace and security at home and around the world, strengthen inclusive, democratic governance and respect for universal human rights, and provide global leadership on issues of shared interest. +The leaders welcomed the significant progress made in bilateral relations between India and the United States during their tenure, in accordance with the roadmaps set out in the Joint Statements issued during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States in September 2014 and President Obama’s visit to India in January 2015. +The leaders affirmed the increasing convergence in their strategic perspectives and emphasized the need to remain closely invested in each other’s security and prosperity. +Advancing U.S.-India Global Leadership on Climate and Clean Energy +The steps that the two Governments have taken in the last two years through the U.S.-India Contact Group, including by addressing the nuclear liability issue, inter alia, through India’s ratification of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, have laid a strong foundation for a long-term partnership between U.S. and Indian companies for building nuclear power plants in India. +Both sides welcomed the announcement by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd, and Westinghouse that engineering and site design work will begin immediately and the two sides will work toward finalizing the contractual arrangements by June 2017. +The United States and India share common climate and clean energy interests and are close partners in the fight against climate change. +Leadership from both countries helped galvanize global action to combat climate change and culminated in the historic Paris Agreement reached last December. +Both countries are committed to working together and with others to promote full implementation of the Paris Agreement to address the urgent threats posed by climate change. +India and the United States recognize the urgency of climate change and share the goal of enabling entry into force of the Paris Agreement as early as possible. +The United States reaffirms its commitment to join the Agreement as soon as possible this year. +India similarly has begun its processes to work toward this shared objective. +The leaders reiterated their commitment to pursue low greenhouse gas emission development strategies in the pre-2020 period and to develop long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies. +In addition, the two countries resolved to work to adopt an HFC amendment in 2016 with increased financial support from donor countries to the Multilateral Fund to help developing countries with implementation, and an ambitious phasedown schedule, under the Montreal Protocol pursuant to the Dubai Pathway. +The leaders resolved to work together at the upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly to reach a successful outcome to address greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation. +Further, the two countries will pursue under the leadership of the G20 strong outcomes to promote improved heavy-duty vehicle standards and efficiency in accordance with their national priorities and capabilities. +The leaders welcomed the signing of an MOU to Enhance Cooperation on Energy Security, Clean Energy and Climate Change, and an MOU on Cooperation in Gas Hydrates. +Reflecting Prime Minister Modi’s call to embrace wildlife conservation as a development imperative, the leaders welcomed the signing of an MOU to enhance cooperation on Wildlife Conservation and Combating Wildlife Trafficking. +Clean Energy Finance +The United States also remains committed, with other developed countries, to the goal of jointly mobilizing $100 billion per year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation and adaptation action. +Strengthening Global Nonproliferation +The President thanked the Prime Minister for his substantive contribution to and active participation in 2016 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C., and welcomed his offer to host a Summit on Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism in 2018. +The United States and India will work together to combat the threat of terrorists accessing and using chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological materials. +The United States called on NSG Participating Governments to support India’s application when it comes up at the NSG Plenary later this month. +The United States also re-affirmed its support for India’s early membership of the Australia Group and Wassenaar Arrangement. +Securing the Domains: Land, Maritime, Air, Space, and Cyber +They resolved that the United States and India should look to each other as priority partners in the Asia Pacific and the Indian Ocean region. +They welcomed the inaugural meeting of the Maritime Security Dialogue. +Owing to mutual interest in maritime security and maritime domain awareness, the leaders welcomed the conclusion of a technical arrangement for sharing of maritime “White Shipping” information. +The leaders affirmed their support for U.S.-India cooperation in promoting maritime security. +They expressed their desire to explore agreements which would facilitate further expansion of bilateral defense cooperation in practical ways. +In this regard, they welcomed the finalization of the text of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). +Noting that the U.S.-India defense relationship can be an anchor of stability, and given the increasingly strengthened cooperation in defense, the United States hereby recognizes India as a Major Defense Partner. +The United States will continue to work toward facilitating technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners. +In support of India’s Make In India initiative, and to support the development of robust defense industries and their integration into the global supply chain, the United States will continue to facilitate the export of goods and technologies, consistent with U.S. law, for projects, programs and joint ventures in support of official U.S.-India defense cooperation. +The leaders also committed to enhance cooperation in support of the Government of India’s Make in India Initiative and expand the co-production and co-development of technologies under the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). +They welcomed the establishment of new DTTI working groups to include agreed items covering Naval Systems, Air Systems, and other Weapons Systems. +The leaders announced the finalization of the text of an Information Exchange Annex under the Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation. +President Obama thanked Prime Minister Modi for his government’s support for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) missions in India, including a recovery mission that resulted in the recent repatriation of remains of the United States Service Members missing since the Second World War. +The leaders announced their commitment to future DPAA‎ missions. +The leaders welcomed the progress toward establishment of an ISRO-NASA Heliophysics Working Group as well as toward finalization of a Memorandum of Understanding for exchange of earth observation satellite data. +They committed to deepen cooperation on cybersecurity and welcomed the understanding reached to finalize the Framework for the U.S.-India Cyber Relationship in the near term. +The leaders committed to promote stability in cyberspace based on the applicability of international law including the United Nations Charter, the promotion of voluntary norms of responsible state behavior during peacetime, and the development and implementation of practical confidence building measures between states. +In this context, they affirmed their commitment to the voluntary norms that no country should conduct or knowingly support online activity that intentionally damages critical infrastructure or otherwise impairs the use of it to provide services to the public; that no country should conduct or knowingly support activity intended to prevent national computer security incident response teams from responding to cyber incidents, or use its own teams to enable online activity that is intended to do harm; that every country should cooperate, consistent with its domestic law and international obligations, with requests for assistance from other states in mitigating malicious cyber activity emanating from its territory; and that no country should conduct or knowingly support ICT-enabled theft of intellectual property, including trade secrets or other confidential business information, with the intent of providing competitive advantages to its companies or commercial sectors. +Standing Together Against Terrorism and Violent Extremism +The leaders committed to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from extremist groups, such as Al-Qa’ida, Da’esh/ISIL, Jaish-e Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, D Company and their affiliates, including through deepened collaboration on UN terrorist designations. +In this context, they directed their officials to identify specific new areas of collaboration at the next meeting of U.S.–India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group. +Recognizing an important milestone in the U.S.-India counterterrorism partnership, the leaders applauded the finalization of an arrangement to facilitate the sharing of terrorist screening information. +They also called for Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot terrorist attacks to justice. +Bolstering Economic and Trade Ties +They look forward to the second annual Strategic and Commercial Dialogue in India later this year to identify concrete steps in this regard. +They also commended the increased engagement on trade and investment issues under the Trade Policy Forum (TPF) and encouraged substantive results for the next TPF later this year. +They welcomed the engagement of U.S. private sector companies in India’s Smart City program. +To this end, they welcomed the signing of an MOU for Development of an International Expedited Traveler Initiative (also known as the Global Entry Program) and resolved to complete within the next three months the procedures for India’s entry into the Global Entry Program. +The leaders recognized the fruitful exchanges in August 2015 and June 2016 on the elements required in both countries to pursue a U.S.-India Totalization Agreement and resolved to continue discussions later this year. +Recognizing the importance of fostering an enabling environment for innovation and empowering entrepreneurs, the United States welcomes India’s hosting of the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit. +The leaders welcomed the enhanced engagement on intellectual property rights under the High Level Working Group on Intellectual Property and reaffirmed their commitment to use this dialogue to continue to make concrete progress on IPR issues by working to enhance bilateral cooperation among the drivers of innovation and creativity in both countries. +Expanding Cooperation: Science & Technology and Health +With the historic adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015, and recognizing its universality, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to implement this ambitious agenda domestically and internationally and work in a collaborative partnership for the effective achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. +The leaders reaffirmed their support for a reformed UN Security Council with India as a permanent member. +Both sides committed to ensuring that the Security Council continues to play an effective role in maintaining international peace and security as envisioned in the UN Charter. +The leaders are committed to continued engagement on Security Council reform in the UN Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council Reform. +The leaders also reiterated their support for ongoing reform efforts to strengthen UN peacekeeping operations. +Building on their respective bilateral engagements with Africa, such as the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit and India-Africa Forum Summit, the leaders reflected that the United States and India share a common interest in working with partners in Africa to promote prosperity and security across the continent. +The leaders welcomed trilateral cooperation with African partners, including in areas such as agriculture, health, energy, women’s empowerment and sanitation under the Statement of Guiding Principles on Triangular Cooperation for Global Development. +They looked forward to opportunities to deepen the U.S. – India global develop pment cooperation in Africa, as well as in Asia and beyond. +Building People-to-People Ties +Both sides committed to open additional consulates in each other’s country. +The leaders announced that the United States and India will be Travel and Tourism Partner Countries for 2017, and committed to facilitate visas for each other’s nationals. +The leaders also appreciated their governments’ joint efforts through the Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship to develop a cohort of climate scientists to confront the shared challenge of global climate change. +The leaders also committed to redouble their efforts to combat the theft and trafficking of cultural objects. +Prime Minister Modi thanked President Obama for his gracious invitation and warmth of hospitality. +He extended an invitation for President Obama to visit India at his convenience. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Y4D New India Conclave in New Delhi. +He said the nation is today passing through a period of transformation. +Asserting that India is today the fastest growing economy in the world, the Prime Minister said that as per an international report, poverty is declining in India at a record pace. +He said that while the Government can only play the role of an enabler, it is the youth, who are not only making use of available opportunities, but also creating new ones themselves. +Just like the aspirations and power of the youth, India is doing big, transformative things, the Prime Minister said. +In this context he gave examples such as 3 crore children having been vaccinated; 1.75 lakh kilometres of rural roads built in the last 4 years; electricity reaching every single village; 85 lakh homes electrified since October 2017; 4.65 crore gas connections reaching the poor; and more than 1 crore homes being built for the poor in the last 4 years. +He said these big numbers are possible because of the 800 million people of India under the age of 35. +The Prime Minister gave the examples of many leaders in the country today, who have risen to high positions from extremely humble backgrounds. +They understand what the youth of New India desires, he added. +He said this changed environment is not just restricted to politics alone. +He said several youth in the top administrative services are now from rural backgrounds or small towns. +He said Hima Das, and other youngsters like her who are bringing home sporting medals, represent New India. +Young India feels “Anything is possible! +Everything is achievable,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that silos are now being replaced by an emphasis on solutions. +He said that focus is on understanding the needs of the nation, and making the lives of the people simpler. +He explained how schemes and initiatives of the Government such as Bharatmala, Sagarmala, Mudra, Standup India, and Ayushman Bharat are designed to meet various needs of the country. +He added that the Government is giving a lot of importance to innovation and research. +The Prime Minister asserted that youth are driving the growth in digital payments. +He said that the energy and courage of youth had played an important role in the country’s freedom struggle. +He added that the same role would be played by the youth of today’s generation for New India. +With this approval, FDI of US dollar 750 million will be received in the country. +The approval has been accorded subject to following conditions:- +(i). The production level of consumables and NLEM drugs and their supply to the domestic market at the time of induction of FDI, be maintained over the next five years at an absolute quantitative level. +The benchmark for this level would be decided with reference to the level of production of consumables and/or NLEM drugs in the immediately preceding three financial years to the year of induction of FDI. +Of these, the highest level of production in any of these three years would be taken as the level. +(ii). R&D expenses be maintained in value terms for five years at an absolute quantitative level at the time of induction of FDI. +The benchmark for this level would be decided with reference to the highest level of R&D expenses which has been incurred in any of the three financial years immediately preceding to the year of induction of FDI. +(iii). The administrative ministries concerned and the FIPB secretariat will provide complete information pertaining to the transfer of technology, if any, along with induction of foreign investment into the investee company. +(iv). The company receiving FDI will continue to produce medicines under the NLEM for the domestic tariff areas at the level which would be the highest quantity of production in the previous three financial years for the next five years. +(v). The company will also be required to maintain the R&D expenditure at the maximum level incurred in any of the three financial years immediately preceding the year of induction of FDI. +This absolute level should be maintained for the next five years. +The taxability of capital gains arising out of the said transaction shall be examined by the field formation. +(ix). The taxation of dividend, future capital gains on alienation of shares by the foreign investor, interest income and income of any other nature shall be examined by the field formation in accordance with the provisions of Income-tax Act, 1961 and the DTAA as applicable to the facts of this case. +(x). Claim of any tax relief under the Income Tax Act or the relevant DTAA will be examined independently by the tax authorities to determine the eligibility and extent of such relief and the approval will not amount to any recognition of eligibility for giving such relief. +(xi). Approval will not provide any immunity from tax investigations to determine whether specific or general anti-avoidance Rule apply. +(xii). The fair market value of various payments, services, assets, shares etc. determined in accordance with FIPB guidelines shall be examined by the tax authorities under the tax laws and rules in force and may be varied accordingly for tax purpose. +It will stop at Kanpur and Allahabad where it will be received by dignitaries and the people. +Vande Bharat Express can run up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph and has travel classes like Shatabdi Train but with better facilities. +It aims to provide a totally new travel experience to passengers. +The Train will cover the distance between New Delhi and Varanasi in 8 hours and will run on all days except Mondays and Thursdays. +All coaches are equipped with automatic doors, GPS based audio-visual passenger information system, on-board hotspot Wi-Fi for entertainment purposes, and very comfortable seating. +All toilets are bio-vacuum type. +The lighting is dual mode, viz. diffused for general illumination and personal for every seat. +Every coach has a pantry with facility to serve hot meals, hot and cold beverages. +The insulation is meant to keep heat and noise to very low levels for additional passenger comfort. +Vande Bharat Express has 16 air-conditioned coaches of which 2 are executive class coaches. +The total seating capacity is 1,128 passengers. +It is much more than the conventional Shatabdi rake of equal number of coaches, thanks to shifting of all electric equipment below the coaches and seats in the driving coach also. +Adding up the green footprints, the train has regenerative braking system in the Vande Bharat Express coaches which can save up to 30% of electrical energy. +In keeping with the vision of Prime Minister’s vision of “Make in India”, the major systems of the train have been designed and built in India. +Impact of this train, matching global standards of performance, safety and passenger comfort and yet costing less than half of global prices, has the potential to be a game changer in the global rail business. +1. The Prime Minister of Australia Mr Tony Abbott paid a State Visit to India from 4-5 September, 2014 at the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. +2. Prime Minister Abbott was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 5 September, 2014. +He laid a wreath at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and also laid a wreath at India Gate. +3. Prime Minister Modi held talks with Prime Minister Abbott on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues. +Prime Minister Abbott also visited Mumbai where he called on Governor Shri C. Vidyasagar Rao. +He met with Indian business leaders in Mumbai and Delhi. +Four Agreements/Memoranda of Understanding were concluded and significant initiatives launched during the visit. +Bilateral Cooperation +4. The Prime Ministers welcomed the rapid growth in bilateral relations in recent years, anchored in shared values, expanding economic engagement, converging strategic interests and a growing shared agenda in regional and multilateral institutions. +5. The Prime Ministers affirmed their commitment to strengthening the bilateral Strategic Partnership and taking it to a new level of mutual trust. +6. The Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the bilateral Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement as a concrete symbol of the bilateral partnership. +Economic Engagement +7. The Prime Ministers underlined the priority they attached to building the economic partnership, which was a pillar of the relationship. +They recommitted both countries to expand trade further for mutual benefit and as a long term and sustainable boost to economic growth in both countries. +They agreed there was significant scope to boost investment and collaboration in both directions in infrastructure, resources, agriculture, manufacturing, health, education and other sectors to increase efficiencies, introduce new technologies and develop innovation and skills. +8. Prime Minister Abbott welcomed growing Indian investment in Australia and underlined Australia’s commitment to providing a stable investment environment and streamlined approvals process. +Prime Minister Modi too welcomed Australian investments in a range of infrastructure, resources, technology and other projects in India. +9. The Prime Ministers welcomed the progress towards a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) would support a significant expansion of two-way trade and investment. +They renewed the commitment of both countries for an early conclusion of an equitable, balanced, comprehensive and high quality agreement. +10. The Prime Ministers noted the expanding bilateral dialogue on economic policy, including in areas such as taxation, competition, financial sector regulation and infrastructure. +11. The Prime Ministers welcomed the delegation of senior Australian business leaders who had accompanied Prime Minister Abbott on his visit. +They agreed that economic engagement and business partnerships should be strengthened through a revitalised CEO Forum and encouraged regular exchange of business and trade missions and the convening of an India-Australia Business Summit in Delhi in early 2015. +Defence and Security Cooperation +12. The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their desire for a peaceful, prosperous and stable Asia-Pacific region, underpinned by cooperative mechanisms. +They emphasised their interest in building closer cooperation in the maritime domain. +13. The Prime Ministers committed to strengthening the defence and security partnership. +They welcomed growing cooperation in defence, counter-terrorism, cyber policy, transnational crime, disarmament and non-proliferation, humanitarian assistance, disaster management and peacekeeping. +They called for deepening the framework of defence and security cooperation to guide the bilateral engagement in these and other priority areas. +14. The Prime Ministers welcomed preparations for the inaugural bilateral maritime exercise to be held in 2015 and initiatives under way to further strengthen defence cooperation, including closer engagement and cooperation in defence science and industry. +15. The Prime Ministers, noting that both Australians and Indians have been victims of terrorism, commended the work of the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, including discussions on cyber security and the growing collaboration against the threat posed by terrorist groups. +They noted the ongoing cooperation in combating illegal migration. +16. The Prime Ministers, noting the importance of the maritime dimension, welcomed discussions on maritime security in the ongoing disarmament and non-proliferation dialogue held at the level of officials. +Cooperation in Energy, Science, Water, Education and Skills +17. The Prime Ministers agreed to deepen the cooperation between both countries on energy security through a Ministerial-level dialogue. +They agreed to develop a strategic partnership on energy and resources based on long-term, sustainable and reliable supply of Australian resources based on India’s energy needs. +19. The Prime Ministers welcomed increasing collaboration on the challenge of managing scarce water resources and river basin management and announced an extension of the MoU on water cooperation. +Prime Minister Modi welcomed Australia’s offer to support India’s Ganga rejuvenation efforts. +20. The Prime Ministers agreed to expand high quality knowledge partnerships in education, skills and research that support mutual efforts towards greater economic and social progress. +They noted its vital role and contribution to India’s national goals for innovation, productivity and growth. +21. The Prime Ministers welcomed the collaborations between Universities and called for efforts to enlarge the scope for joint research, joint Ph. D. programmes and joint degrees and commended the work of the Australia-India Education Council (AIEC) in advancing education, training and research partnerships. +Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation for the continuing efforts of Australian authorities to ensure the welfare and security of Indian students studying in Australia. +22. The Prime Ministers welcomed the increasing collaboration to develop a quality skills training framework in India. +Prime Minister Abbott underlined Australia’s commitment to supporting the up-skilling of India’s workforce, including through Australia’s world class vocational education and training (VET) capabilities. +The Prime Ministers welcomed partnerships between India’s Sector Skills Councils and Australia’s Industry Skills Councils in key industry areas. +23. The Prime Ministers welcomed the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan initiative, under which young Australian students would study in institutions in India, thereby furthering youth and academic exchanges and promoting contacts. +Regional and international cooperation +24. The Prime Ministers discussed the importance of consolidating the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation. +They welcomed increased bilateral collaboration in the EAS, with India and Australia co-chairing the Taskforce on Access to Quality Medicines under the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance. +26. The Prime Ministers acknowledged ongoing cooperation in other regional bodies such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and the Asia Europe Meeting. +Prime Minister Abbott reiterated Australia’s support for India’s membership of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC). +27. The Prime Ministers highlighted the concrete steps towards more effective practical cooperation in the Indian Ocean Regional Association (IORA) and noted that India and Australia would work closely to further strengthen the organisation in the six priority areas of maritime security and piracy, fisheries management; disaster risk reduction; tourism and cultural exchanges, academic and S&T cooperation, and trade and investment facilitation. +Both countries look forward to taking this collaboration to a higher level at the next Council of Ministers meeting in Perth in October 2014. +28. The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of reform of the UN, including the Security Council, to better reflect contemporary realities. +Prime Minister Modi welcomed Australia’s continuing support for India as a permanent member in a reformed United Nations Security Council. +People to People and cultural Links +29. The Prime Ministers highlighted the importance of bilateral parliamentary exchanges and agreed to reinvigorate reciprocal visits by parliamentary delegations. +30. Underlining the importance of greater connectivity to support growing commercial and cultural ties, including in the education and tourism sectors, the Prime Ministers welcomed the commencement of direct Air India flights to Australia. +Noting the growing numbers of tourists travelling in both directions, they welcomed the decision to commence negotiations on a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism. +31. The Prime Ministers noted progress in negotiations on the Social Security Agreement and called for early conclusion. +Noting the importance of promoting exchanges, particularly among the youth, they also called for discussions on a Work and Holiday Visa Agreement. +32. The Prime Ministers recognised that rapidly growing people-to-people links underpin our developing partnership and will enable both countries to build even stronger relations into the future. +They welcomed the establishment of ICCR Chairs of Indian Studies in five Universities in Australia to promote academic and student exchanges and Australia’s support in the establishment of a Nalanda University Chair in Environmental Studies. +They also welcomed the signing of an MoU on Sports Cooperation that would facilitate greater exchanges, including on sports training. +34. The Prime Ministers welcomed progress on negotiations for an Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons and looked forward to its early conclusion. +35. The following bilateral memoranda of understanding were signed in the presence of the two Prime Ministers:- +36. Prime Minister Mr Tony Abbott renewed his invitation to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to visit Australia. +Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation to undertake a bilateral visit to Australia at the time of the G20 Summit in November 2014. +Both sides agreed that the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Australia will lead to strengthening of the cooperative relations between the two countries, and will provide further impetus for the future development of the strategic partnership. +At the outset, I wish to convey our deepest condolences and sympathies for the victims of the devastating forest fires in Portugal last week. +Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. +We are two countries with deep historical connections and strong economic and people to people ties. +It is, therefore, surprising for me to know that there had never been a bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Portugal. +However, I take satisfaction in the fact that this is the second Summit between India and Portugal within a period of six months. +I am grateful to Prime Minister Costa for receiving me with such warmth and affection, and at such short notice. +Prime Minister Costa represents the best of the Indian Diaspora across the world. +Prime Minister Costa and I have held wide-ranging discussions today and reviewed the progress achieved since his own landmark visit to India. +Our economic ties continue to follow an upward trajectory. +Bilateral trade has grown 17% last year. +And, the foreign direct investment from Portugal to India, though small, has doubled during 2016-17. +But, there is much more that we can do to increase the flow of goods, services, capital and human resources between our two economies. +In the regard, Portuguese economic rebound and strong Indian growth offer excellent opportunities for us to grow together. +India too is home to robust and dynamic Start-Ups industry. +The Start-up sphere is an exciting space that blends youth, ideas, technology, innovation and creativity to generate value and wealth for the benefit of the society. +During his visit to India, Prime Minister Costa and I had discussed the India-Portugal International Start-up Hub. +I am pleased to see it being realized in such a short time. +I look forward to its joint launch with Prime Minister Costa. +The new agreements in the fields of taxation, administrative reforms, science, space, youth affairs & sports outline the expanding scope of our partnership. +Our cooperation in Science and Technology is also gaining momentum. +To support our collaboration in cutting edge technology, we have agreed to set up a Joint S&T Fund of 4 million Euros. +We are also keen to learn from Portuguese expertise in nanotechnology, marine sciences and oceanography. +Space is a new area of our bilateral cooperation. +This idea was born when PM Costa visited India earlier this year. +Our two countries share vibrant and growing people to people ties. +The Indian Diaspora in Portugal has played an important role in deepening our bilateral ties. +Portuguese passion for football runs deep. +Prime Minister Costa himself is a big football fan. +This could form another link to further connect our societies. +Our cultural engagement is expanding. +We have set up a Chair for Indian Studies in University of Lisbon. +Indian films are being subtitled in Portuguese. +And, a Hindi-Portuguese dictionary is being developed for our mutual benefit. +I also thank Portugal for sharing with us a digital version of 12,000 documents comprising exchange of letters between Goa and Portugal in the 17th century. +This important archive will greatly benefit our researchers. +India and Portugal are strong partners in the international arena. +We thank Portugal for your consistently support for India’s permanent membership of the UN Security Council, as well as of the multilateral export control regimes. +We are also determined to deepen our cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism. +Representatives of “Girl Rising,” a global action campaign to educate and empower girls, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +They included Ms. Freida Pinto, Ambassador, Girl Rising India, and Ms. Samantha Wright, Vice-President, Global Programs for Girl Rising. +The representatives appreciated the Prime Minister’s “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” initiative. +The Prime Minister said the “Girl Rising” campaign in India should focus especially on the problem of female foeticide. +He said that while no one likes dirt or dirty surroundings, the habit of cleanliness takes some effort to develop. +He said children are increasingly conscious about issues regarding cleanliness. +This shows that the Swachhta Abhiyan is touching people’s lives. +He added that a healthy competition is now developing among cities and towns, for promoting cleanliness. +Appreciating the media for its positive role, the Prime Minister said that if there is someone who has furthered the cause of cleanliness more than me, it is the media. +The Prime Minister emphasized that cleanliness is not something to be achieved by budget allocations. +It is rather, something that should become a mass movement. +Recalling Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha to free us from colonial rule, the Prime Minister said that today there has to be Swachhagraha to make India free from dirt. +The Prime Minister said re-use and recycling have been our habits for a long time. +He added that these need to be made more technology-driven. +The Prime Minister congratulated the award winners, and especially appreciated some of them for succeeding through Jan Bhagidaari. +The Prime Minister also met the next of kin of the deceased members of the expedition. +Interacting with the team members, the Prime Minister congratulated them for their historic achievement, and recalled that he too, had been one of the crores of Indians who had been greatly inspired by their feat, 50 years ago. +The Prime Minister also released the book, “The Great Himalayan Climb” on the occasion. +The grand-niece and grand-nephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Ms. Madhuri Bose and Shri Chandra Bose, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +Ms. Madhuri Bose presented a copy of her book “The Bose Brothers and Indian Independence – An Insider’s Account” to the Prime Minister. +Shri Vivek Mehra, from Sage Publications, the publishers of the book, was also present. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has extended best wishes to the Global Investors’ Summit 2017 in Jharkhand. +“Best wishes for @InvestJharkhand. +May the deliberations in this Summit lead to fruitful outcomes that contribute to Jharkhand’s growth. +Investment generated from @InvestJharkhand will create several opportunities for people of the state and give wings to their aspirations. +Skills and determination of people of Jharkhand and proactive efforts of Jharkhand Government are bringing record development in the state.”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. +The Prime Minister said, “Tributes to the brave martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. +The indomitable spirit of the martyrs will always be remembered. +They sacrificed their lives for our freedom.” +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Kader Khan. +“Kader Khan Ji brightened the screen with his stupendous acting skills and lightened it thanks to his unique sense of humour. +He was also a prolific screenwriter, associated with many memorable films. +Saddened by his demise. +Condolences to his family and admirers”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today presented certificates to innovative officers of the Indian Army. +The certificates were presented to the officers for unique innovations done by these officers, in areas such as communications, counter-terror operations, simulation etc. +The certificates were presented by the Prime Minister, to these innovators during the “At-Home function” at the residence of the Chief of Army Staff, on the occasion of Army Day. +The Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar was also present. +The innovators also explained their work to the Prime Minister, in the presence of the Chief of Army Staff. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will dedicate the National War Memorial to the nation in a solemn ceremonial function tomorrow on February 25th. +He will also address ex-servicemen on the occasion. +The National War Memorial, near India Gate in New Delhi, is a fitting tribute to our soldiers who laid down their lives defending the nation, post-independence. +The National War Memorial also commemorates the soldiers who participated and made the supreme sacrifice in Peace Keeping Missions, and Counter Insurgency Operations. +In 2014, Prime Minister had spelt out his vision for the National War Memorial as a state-of-the-art world class monument. +The layout of the National War Memorial comprises four concentric circles, namely, the ‘Amar Chakra’ or Circle of Immortality, the ‘Veerta Chakra’ or Circle of Bravery, the ‘Tyag Chakra’ or Circle of Sacrifice, and the ‘Rakshak Chakra’ or Circle of Protection. +The National War Memorial complex includes a central obelisk, an eternal flame, and six bronze murals depicting famous battles fought by Indian Army, Air Force and Navy. +Busts of the 21 awardees of Param Veer Chakra have been installed at Param Yoddha Sthal which includes three living awardees Sub Maj (Hony Capt) Bana Singh (Retd), Sub Major Yogendra Singh Yadav and Sub Sanjay Kumar. +National War Memorial represents the culmination of the collective aspiration of a grateful nation to pay a fitting tribute to the martyrs. +The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has has given its ex-post-facto for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the India and Swaziland on cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine. +The MoU was signed on 9th April 2018. +The MoU covers the following areas of cooperation:- +A Working Group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this MoU. +Prime Minister of Nepal Rt. Hon’ble Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ made a telephone call to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The two Prime Ministers discussed recent developments in India-Nepal relations, including the recently concluded highly successful State visit of President of Nepal Rt. Hon’ble Bidya Devi Bhandari to India. +Prime Minister Prachanda spoke about the ongoing efforts of his government to take all stakeholders on board in the constitution implementation process. +PM Prachanda also spoke about Nepal holding the first local elections in nearly twenty years and requested for India’s assistance in this connection. +PM Modi conveyed the good wishes of the people and government of India to the friendly people of Nepal in their national efforts to achieve peace, stability and socio-economic transformation, and assured PM Prachanda that India would extend all possible assistance for local elections. +The two Prime Ministers reiterated their commitment to advance multi-faceted India-Nepal cooperative ties for the benefit of the two peoples. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Justice PN Bhagwati. +“The demise of Justice PN Bhagwati is saddening. +He was a stalwart of India’s legal fraternity. +My deepest condolences. +Justice PN Bhagwati’s remarkable contributions made our judicial system more accessible and gave voice to millions “, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 18th Annual India Russia Summit at St. Petersburg. +Addressing the media at the end of the Summit, President Prime Minister Modi recalled his first visit to St. Petersburg as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001. +He said ties between India and Russia span the spectrum from Culture to Defence (Sanskriti se Suraksha). +The Prime Minister said 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries have been marked by a high degree of convergence on various bilateral and global matters. +The Prime Minister described the St. Petersburg Declaration, issued today, as a benchmark of stability in a turbulent, interdependent and interconnected world. +He said India’s participation as a guest country in SPIEF and his address there tomorrow would further deepen economic cooperation between the two nations. +The Prime Minister described energy cooperation as one of the cornerstones of the relationship between India and Russia, and noted that this cooperation in the nuclear, hydrocarbon, and renewable energy sectors has been considerably deepened by the discussion and decisions taken today. +In this context he mentioned the agreement of Units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. +The Prime Minister emphasized the role of the private sector in enhancing trade and commerical ties between the two countries, adding that India and Russia are close to achieving the target of 30 billion US dollars worth of investment by 2025. +Speaking on the theme of connectivity, the Prime Minister mentioned cooperation between the two countries in the International North South Transport Corridor. +Among other initiatives, the Prime Minister mentioned the “bridge to innovation” to promote startups and entrepreneurship, and the forthcoming commencement of discussions on a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. +Underlining the time-tested strategic dimension of the India Russia relationship, the Prime Minister mentioned the forthcoming first Tri-services exercise – INDRA 2017, between the two countries. +Defence production Joint Ventures for the production of Kamov 226 helicopters and frigates were also mentioned. +The Prime Minister welcomed Russia’s unconditional support to India on the issue of cross border terrorism. +On the cultural side, the Prime Minister said the deep awareness of Russian culture in India, and of Yoga and Ayurveda in Russia, was a matter of deep satisfaction. +The Prime Minister welcomed and applauded President Putin’s leadership in the growth of India-Russia relations. +He announced that a road in Delhi has been renamed after Ambassador Alexander Kadakin, whom he described as a friend of India, who passed away recently. +Earlier, addressing CEOs of both countries, the Prime Minister invited Russian companies to invest in key sectors of the Indian economy, and particularly mentioned opportunities in the strategic sector. +India and Russia signed five agreements today in sectors covering nuclear energy, railways, gems and jewellery, traditional knowledge and cultural exchanges. +Earlier today, the Prime Minister paid homage to the heroic defenders and brave soldiers of the Battle of Leningrad, at the Piskarovskoye Cemetery. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated the Mohanpura Project to the Nation. +This project will facilitate irrigation of agricultural land in Rajgarh district. +It will also provide drinking water to villages in the area. +The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of various drinking water schemes. +Addressing a large public gathering at Mohanpura, the Prime Minister paid homage to Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee on his death anniversary. +He recalled Dr. Mukherjee’s message that a Nation can be secured only through its own energy and efforts. +He recalled Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee’s contributions in various fields such as industrial policy, education, and women empowerment. +He said Dr. Mukherjee placed the highest emphasis on education, health and security. +He said the schemes of the Union Government such as Skill India Mission, Start Up India, Mudra Yojana, and Make in India, all have elements of Dr. Mukherjee’s vision. +The Prime Minister said that Rajgarh district is among the Aspirational Districts identified by the Government, and development work will now be speeded up here. +He said the Union Government, keeping in mind the needs of the country, placing faith in its capabilities, is working towards taking India to new heights in the 21st century. +He appreciated the Government of Madhya Pradesh, for the work done by it in the agriculture sector, and for its development initiatives. +He praised the State Government for the increase in irrigated area in the State. +He said the Union Government will walk shoulder to shoulder with the State Government in supporting the irrigation targets of the State. +He said 14 projects are also being implemented in the State under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. +He added that emphasis is also being given to micro-irrigation. +The Prime Minister mentioned various initiatives being taken by the Union Government for the agricultural sector, such as soil health cards,FasalBimaYojana, e-NAM etc. +He also spoke of the benefits of the Ujjwala Yojana and the Mudra Yojana. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has welcomed the agreement between Afghan leaders Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah. +“We wholeheartedly welcome the agreement between the two Afghan leaders – Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah. +Wisdom they have shown respects the strong democratic aspirations of people of Afghanistan, which was also manifested by the poll turnout. +India will stand steadfastly with new Government of Afghanistan as it continues the task of building a strong, developed & peaceful nation,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today received Mr. Dmitry Rogozin, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia. +Prime Minister conveyed that India attached the highest importance to the strategic and privileged partnership with Russia. +He looked forward to visit Russia in the near future for a productive and historic Annual Summit with President Putin and expressed confidence that it would raise bilateral relations between the two countries to a new level. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed the Indian Community in Japan today, at a reception in Tokyo. +He described the visit to Japan as successful, highlighting the investment of 3.5 trillion yen that Japan has committed. +He also referred to the lifting of sanctions on six Indian companies, and said this was possible only because the relationship between the two countries was based on the strong bond of trust. +The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction over the signing of the Varanasi-Kyoto Partner City MoU, and said he hoped Varanasi could emerge as a modern heritage city like Kyoto. +The Prime Minister mentioned that he had gifted the Bhagavad Gita to both the Japanese Emperor Akihito, and the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. +Mentioning his vision of Swachh Bharat by 2019, the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Prime Minister urged each family of the Indian community in Japan to motivate five Japanese families to visit India each year. +He urged the Indian community in Japan to appreciate their importance in this context. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved setting up of a Central Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh. +The “Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh” will be set up in Relli village of Vizianagaram District as provided under the Thirteenth Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (No. 6 of 2014). +Cabinet has also approved the provision of funds of Rs. 420 crore for the first phase expenditure towards establishment of the Central Tribal University. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the progress of the National Highway Programmes at a high-level meeting. +Reviewing the progress of highway construction in the North-East, the Prime Minister asked officials to ensure good connectivity between the new road projects, and nearby airports. +He said the BBIN agreement for seamless movement of road traffic between India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, would not only have a profound impact on the economy of the region, but would also bring benefits from the environmental perspective, by reducing travel times. +He urged concerned officials to explore all possibilities of innovation in the materials and technology aspects of road construction. +He directed priority to be given to high-quality port connectivity projects. +He also called for aggressive tree plantation along all highway projects. +Union Ministers Arun Jaitley and Nitin Gadkari were present on the occasion. +The MoU for establishing mutual cooperation to improve the ecosystem for agribusiness provides for cooperation in the fields of agriculture census, agribusiness, Integrated Farming System, Irrigation, improved seeds, Soil Health Management, research, capacity building of local agribusiness, enhancing knowledge of entrepreneurs in the areas of food security and nutrition, developing climate resilient agriculture system, establishing facilities to test pesticide residues etc. +Under the MoU, a Joint Working Group will be constituted to prepare plans of cooperation, implement the tasks determined by the Parties and to indicate the implementation of activities outlined. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to Chief Minister of Kerala Shri Pinarayi Vijayan regarding flood situation in the state. +Have asked Defence Ministry to further step up the rescue and relief operations across the state. +Praying for the safety and well-being of the people of Kerala”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Shri Ambareesh. +“Shri Ambareesh will always be remembered for his memorable performances as an actor and extensive contribution to politics. +He was a strong voice for Karnataka’s welfare, at the state and central level. +Pained by his demise. +Condolences to his family & admirers”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remembered Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Chandra Shekhar Azad on their birth anniversary. +“Remembering Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Chandra Shekhar Azad and their rich contribution to India’s freedom struggle, on their birth anniversary”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has paid homage to soldiers on Kargil Vijay Diwas. +“On Kargil Vijay Diwas, a grateful nation pays homage to all those who served the nation during Operation Vijay. +Our brave soldiers ensured that India remains protected and gave a befitting answer to those who tried to vitiate the atmosphere of peace,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Algeria on Algeria’s Independence Day. +“My best wishes to the people of Algeria on their Independence Day. +We consider Algeria a valued friend with whom we have strong ties. +I hope our relations with Algeria become even stronger in the coming years,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives in the crane crash in Mecca. +“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives in the crane crash in Mecca. +I wish the injured a quick recovery”, the Prime Minister said. +• Inaugurates Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam memorial +• Flags off Kalam Sandesh Vahini +• Launches train from Rameswaram to Ayodhya, and other development projects +• Addresses Public Meeting +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam memorial at Rameswaram. +He unveiled a statue of Dr. Kalam, and offered floral tributes at Kalam Sthal. +The Prime Minister also briefly interacted with the family members of Dr. Kalam. +At a large public meeting, the Prime Minister distributed sanction letters to select beneficiaries of Long Line Trawlers under the Blue Revolution Scheme. +He flagged off a new Express train (Rameswaram to Ayodhya) – named Shraddha Setu – via video conference. +He released the synopsis of the Green Rameswaram Project; and unveiled a plaque to mark the dedication to the nation of a 9.5 km Link Road on NH-87, between Mukundarayar Chathiram, and Arichalmunai. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said Rameswaram has been a beacon of spirituality for the entire nation; and is now also known as the place closely associated with Dr. Kalam. +He said Dr. Kalam reflected the simplicity, depth and calmness of Rameswaram. +The memorial for Dr. Kalam showcases his life and times in a remarkable manner, the Prime Minister said. +Paying rich tributes to Dr. J. Jayalalithaa, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the Prime Minister said she is a leader we all remember. +He added that she would have been very happy and would have extended her good wishes. +The Prime Minister said a transformation in the ports and logistics sectors can contribute immensely to India’s growth. +He mentioned that there is a healthy competition among States as far as the Swachh Bharat Mission is concerned. +The Prime Minister said Dr. Kalam inspired the youth of India. +He said that today’s youth wants to scale heights of progress, and become job creators. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to the Amendment in the First Schedule of Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 to transfer the authority to regulate ‘potable alcohol’ to States as recommended by the Law Commission in its 158th Report. +The existing heading “26 Fermentation Industries” in the First Schedule of Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 shall be substituted with the heading “26 Fermentation Industries (other than potable alcohol)”. +A Bill to this effect will be introduced in Parliament. +With this Amendment in the First Schedule of Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, a long standing confusion about jurisdiction of Central and State – Government on Alcohol – Potable Alcohol and Industrial Alcohol has been resolved. +This Amendment will create a balance between the Union and States. +It will eliminate the room for abuse of Law and misuse of alcohol. +Prime Minister and also in-charge of: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy; Department of Space; All important policy issues; and All other portfolios not allocated to any Minister. +Minister of External Affairs. +Minister of Finance; and Minister of Corporate Affairs. +Minister of Road Transport and Highways; Minister of Shipping; and Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. +Minister of Commerce and Industry; and Minister of Civil Aviation. +Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation; and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers +Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation. +Shri Ramvilas Paswan +Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. +Minister of Women and Child Development. +Minister of Law and Justice; and Minister of Electronics and Information Technology. +Minister of Health and Family Welfare. +Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. +Minister of Food Processing Industries. +Minister of Rural Development; Minister of Panchayati Raj; Minister of Mines; and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. +Minister of Tribal Affairs. +Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. +Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot +Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment. +Dr. Harsh Vardhan +Minister of Science and Technology; Minister of Earth Sciences; and Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. +Minister of Human Resource Development. +Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas; and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. +Shri Piyush Goyal +Minister of Railways; and Minister of Coal. +Minister of Minority Affairs. +Ministers of State (Independent Charge) +Shri Rao Inderjit Singh +Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Planning; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. +Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar +Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. +Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). +Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region; Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office; Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Minister of State in the Department of Atomic Energy; and Minister of State in the Department of Space. +Dr. Mahesh Sharma +Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Culture; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. +Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. +Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Communications; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways. +Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore +Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports; and Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. +Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Power; and Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. +Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. +Shri Radhakrishnan P. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Shipping. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology +Minister of State in the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Steel. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Mines; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Coal. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways. +Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Minority Affairs. +Shri Anantkumar Hegde +Minister of State in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Textiles. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways; Minister of State in the Ministry of Shipping; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. +Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre +Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. +Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today remotely inaugurated urban development projects at various locations across the State. +These include houses under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana, urban drinking water supply schemes, urban solid waste management, urban sanitation, urban transportation and urban landscape projects. +At an event in Indore, he also distributed the Swachh Survekshan-2018 Awards, and launched the Swachh Survekshan-2018 results dashboard. +Addressing a large gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that Swachh Bharat was Mahatma Gandhi’s dream which has now become the resolve of 125 crore Indians. +He said the entire country can take inspiration from Indore, which has been awarded for being the cleanest city in India. +The Prime Minister spoke about how the Union Government is working towards modernizing urban infrastructure in India. +He said the Government of India is working towards the vision of providing housing for all by 2022. +The Prime Minister also spoke of progress made in other spheres of development. +The ISLRTC will be under the aegis of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. +It shall be located initially at the Institute for Physically Handicapped, New Delhi. +This decision will help the five million deaf community of the country. +It shall provide for increased accessibility for the hearing impaired in education, in the workplace and in all activities of public life. +The Centre will be a Society consisting of a President and 12 Members in the General Council. +There will be an Executive Council consisting of a Chairperson and nine Members, some Ex-officio and others, as experts from National Level Organizations of the Deaf/Universities/Academic Institutions and independent experts in Indian Sign Language (ISL). +The needs of the deaf community for a common ISL and related matters have long been ignored, and problems have been documented by various organizations working for the deaf. +The Centre will lead the way in academic development, training and propagation of the Indian Sign Language. +Development of sign language interpreters, Research and Development and new technology will be the focus area of the Centre. +It will provide equal opportunities to hearing impaired persons to fully participate in every sphere of life. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for the signing and ratification of the Extradition Treaty between India and Lithuania. +The Treaty would provide a legal framework for seeking extradition of terrorists, economic offenders and other criminals from and to Lithuania. +The Treaty would help in extradition of fugitive criminals including terrorists for criminal prosecutions from Lithuania who may have committed crimes against India. +It will bring the criminals to justice, with a view to ensure peace and tranquility to public at large. +The following are the salient features of the MoU: +(i) To strengthen cooperation to prevent all forms of human trafficking, especially that of women and children and ensure speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organized crime syndicates in either country. +(ii) Taking preventive measures that would eliminate human trafficking in women and children and in protecting the rights of victims of trafficking. +(iii) Anti-trafficking Cells and Task Forces will work on both sides to prevent human trafficking. +(iv) Police and other concerned authorities will work in close cooperation and exchange information which can be used to interdict human traffickers. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the NCC rally in New Delhi. +He said every young NCC Cadet came to this gathering with his or her own personality and identity. +But, he added, that over the course of a month, new friendships would have been forged, and a lot would have been learnt from each other. +NCC camps teach every youngster about the different cultures of India, he said. +They motivate every youngster to do something good for the nation, he added. +The Prime Minister said that this spirit that has been learnt in NCC camps will remain with the Cadets for life. +He said that the National Cadet Corps is not about uniform or uniformity, it is about unity. +Through NCC we nurture teams that work in mission mode and inspire others, he added. +The Prime Minister said that the NCC has completed seven glorious decades, and has given a sense of mission to several people. +Today we celebrate what we have achieved and also think about how we can make the NCC experience even more effective in the years to come, the Prime Minister said. +He urged all stakeholders to think about the plan of action of the next 5 years, when NCC turns 75. +Shri Narendra Modi asserted that the youth of India now refuse to accept corruption. +He asserted that the fight against corruption and black money will not stop. +He added that this is a fight for the future of India’s youth. +Speaking on Aadhaar, he said it has added great strength to India’s development. +What would earlier get into wrong hands is now going to the intended beneficiaries, he added. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Zambia in the field of Judicial Cooperation. +During recent years, social, cultural and commercial relations between India and Zambia have developed in the positive direction. +Signing of an agreement on cooperation in the field of justice will further enhance good relations between the two countries and add new dimensions in the field of judicial reforms. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind on completion of one year in office. +PM said, “Congratulations to Rashtrapati Ramnath Kovind Ji on completing 1 year in office. +He’s endeared himself to every Indian with his wisdom and humility. +He is extremely well versed in key policy issues. +Rashtrapati Ji is also passionate about empowering the youth, farmers & poor. “ +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today was apprised about signing of BRICS Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the fields of Science, Technology and innovation. +India signed BRICS Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the fields of Science, Technology and Innovation(STI) in March 2015 at Brasilia, Brazil on the sidelines of 3rd BRICS STI Ministerial meeting. +The MoU envisages promotion of cooperation in the field of science, technology and innovation among BRICS countries by means of mutually agreed S&T events and activities. +The objectives of the MoU are to establish a strategic framework of cooperation in STI to address the common global, and regional socio-economic challenges utilizing shared experiences and complementarities in STI among the BRICS countries; co-generate new knowledge and innovative products, services and processes etc. +The Ministry of Science and Technology from Indian side and the counterpart Ministries from other BRICS countries are the nodal Ministries/ Departments for realizing the objectives of the BRICS MoU on STI Cooperation which shall be on the basis of mutually agreed areas of cooperation, modes and mechanisms and joint funding as per national norms of respective BRICS member countries. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bhutan on technical cooperation in the field of capacity building, benchmarking and bilateral exchange in infrastructure engineering. +India and Bhutan have had a long standing diplomatic, economic and cultural relations with each other. +The India-Bhutan friendship treaty signed in New Delhi in February, 2007 also strengthens the mutual relations. +The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi made a state visit to Bhutan in June 2014. +The visit reinforced the tradition of regular high level exchanges between the two countries. +During the Indian Prime Ministers’ visit, the two sides agreed to continue close coordination and cooperation in areas relating to their national interest. +The MoU is in furtherance of Article 2,7 and 8 of the India-Bhutan friendship treaty. +The MoU will provide an Umbrella for educational, scientific & technical research and environment protection which are also stated aim of the India-Bhutan foundation established in August 2003. +There is already ongoing Hydro Power Cooperation between the two countries which provides an exemplary template for mutual cooperation. +Through this MoU, the Central Public Works Department will stand to gain in terms of experience in hills road construction which is of paramount importance in J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and various States of North-East Region. +The CPWD also expects to garner some road construction projects in Bhutan. +A 15-member delegation from the Nagaland GB (Gaon Burahs) Federation called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +The Nagaland GB Federation is a body of Gaon Burahs (village chieftains) of all the Naga villages. +The delegation members said they were happy at meeting the Prime Minister, and expressed their wholehearted support to the Prime Minister for the Naga peace process. +The Prime Minister said he is happy to receive the delegation, and also happy to note that they come with a message of peace. +The Prime Minister thanked them for their words of appreciation and support. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of India and the Government of Nepal for the construction of a petroleum products pipeline from Raxaul (India) to Amlekhgunj (Nepal) and re-engineering of Amlekhgunj Depot and allied facilities. +The MoU will promote bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector and secure long term supply of petroleum products to Nepal. +It would help preserve the environment along the route and decongest the international border at Raxaul. +The Government of Nepal had requested the Government of India, during the visit of the Prime Minister to Nepal on 3-4th August, 2014 for the construction of this petroleum products pipeline. +Bearing in mind the close and friendly relations between the two countries and their people, this was agreed to by the Indian Government. +On behalf of Indian Government, the Indian Oil Corporation has been entrusted with the job of construction of the pipeline and re-engineering of the Amlekhgunj Depot and allied facilities. +The project will be completed in two phases. +In the first phase, a petroleum products pipeline from Raxaul in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal would be constructed. +The Indian Oil Corporation will bear a cost of Rs. 200 crore for the first phase of the project. +There will be a long term contract of 15 years (initial contract for five years extendable for two terms of five years each) between the Indian Oil Corporation and the Nepal Oil Corporation. +Speaking on the occasion, he complimented them for their achievements and urged them to do even better in future. +He praised their concentration and special skill, and said their deeds are an inspiration for millions of people, including the Divyang. +The team members presented the Prime Minister with an autographed bat, a ball and a team jersey with the Prime Minister’s name. +The Prime Minister too, autographed a bat and a ball for the team. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was informed today that India and Canada have mutually agreed to jointly issue a set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps on India-Canada: Joint Issue on the theme “Diwali”. +The joint stamps will be released on 21st September, 2017. +A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed signed between Department of Posts and Canada Post for this joint issue. +India and Canada have a longstanding close relationship, based on shared values of democracy, pluralism, equality for all and rule of law. +Strong people-to-people contacts and the presence of a large Indian Diaspora in Canada provide a strong foundation for the relationship. +In this joint issue, the theme “Diwali” has been selected as it is a cultural theme for both the countries and also considering the large presence of Indian Diaspora in Canada. +Says, Government is working for infrastructure development and public welfare +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi unveiled today development projects worth Rs. 3350 crores for Varanasi today. +These projects pertain to various sectors of Health, Sanitation, Smart City, Connectivity, Power, Housing and others. +Governor of UP Shri Ram Naik, CM of UP Shri Yogi Adityanath, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. +At the outset, PM paid tributes to Late Shri Ramesh Yadav from Varanasi, who laid down his life for the country during the Pulwama terror attack. +Addressing a public gathering at Aaure village on the outskirts of Varanasi, PM said that his Government is working on two fronts to give a boost to development. +The first one relates to building infrastructure like Highways, Railways etc. while the other is to ensure that the benefits of development reach out to the people. +He added that several announcement were made in the Budget to this effect. +Speaking about the projects unveiled today, PM said this is an effort towards making Varanasi an important centre of New India. +He also said, over the last 4 and half years various steps were taken to transform Railways, and India’s first Semi High-Speed Train, Vande Bharat Express en route Delhi-Varanasi, is one such step. +He said these projects will not only ease transportation but also lead to setting up of new enterprises in Varanasi, Purvanchal and nearby areas. +PM distributed certificates to the beneficiaries of various schemes. +He also released commemorative postage stamp on completion of 100 Years of IIT BHU. +Prime Minister said BHU Cancer Centre and Bhabha Cancer Hospital, Lahartara will provide advanced treatment to patients from Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh and other nearby states. +About, Ayushman Bharat, PM said, around 38 thousand people have already availed the benefits under it in Uttar Pradesh. +He told that around 1 crore 20 lakh families in UP will be benefitted from the scheme. +He also spoke about PM Kisan Samman Nidha Yojana and said it will benefit about 2.25 crore poor farmers in UP. +PM also mentioned about Rashtriya Kamdhenu Ayog, for conservation protection and development of cows and their progeny. +He observed that the projects for which foundations stones were laid in Varanasi have been completed in time. +Later he distributed Aids & Assistive Devices to Divyangjans. +PM also extended greetings on the Chhatrapti Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met the Indian Team that participated in the recently concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup. +During the interaction, the players talked about the experience and exposure that they gained during FIFA, both on and off the field. +The Prime Minister encouraged the players to not feel disappointed with the outcome of the tournament, but to treat it as a learning opportunity. +He said competing with enthusiasm and spirit is the first step to success. +The Prime Minister said India can achieve a lot in football. +He also mentioned that sports helps in developing personality, building confidence, and in overall development. +Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, was present on the occasion. +Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Costa today launched a unique startup Portal – the India-Portugal International StartUp Hub (IPISH) – in Lisbon. +It will develop a Go-To-Market Guide to support start-ups. +It is also expected to establish a network of honorary ambassadors based in India and Portugal to guide start-ups from both countries. +There are strong complementarities between India and Portugal in the start-up sector. +Portugal has one of the highest rates of business creation in Europe and has emerged as one of the most vibrant European eco-systems for entrepreneurship. +Lisbon is hosting the Web Summit – a key annual international technology conference – for 3 years from 2016 onwards. +The governments of both India and Portugal are focusing on promoting Start-ups. +The tapestry has been woven using very fine cotton yarn and pure gold thread, with both the warp and the weft having the same count of cotton yarn. +The tapestry has been done by Nellore’s National award winning artist and master craftsman Shri Gowrabathini Ramanaiah. +It is also a reflection of Japan’s paramount importance in my vision for development and prosperity in India and in peace, stability and prosperity in Asia at large. +Japan is one of our closest partners in political, economic, security and cultural realms. +It is a key regional and global partner for us. +Between our countries, there is only goodwill and mutual admiration. +Buddhism from India has inspired Japan for over a millennium. +We in India similarly draw inspiration from Japan’s vanguard role as the fountainhead of Asia’s modernization, resurgence and rejuvenation. +During this visit, I propose to celebrate these links of history and the experiences of our peoples, and impart new meaning to them. +We will explore how Japan can associate itself productively with my vision of inclusive development in India, including the transformation of India’s manufacturing, infrastructure sectors, energy and social sectors. +We will discuss how to boost our defence and security cooperation, including in defence technology, equipment and industry, in line with the evolving domestic policies of the two countries. +I will try to accelerate progress on the unfinished agenda of projects and initiatives that our two countries have embarked upon. +I am meeting Prime Minister Abe at a time of enormous global challenges, from persisting economic weaknesses to turmoil and transitions in different parts of the world. +I hope to exchange views with Prime Minister Abe on important regional and global developments of shared interest. +I look forward to an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, who graced the people of India with a most memorable visit to our country last year. +I will have an opportunity to interact with leaders across the entire political spectrum in Japan, regional leaders, captains of business and industry, friends of India in Japan as well as Indian brothers and sisters living and working in Japan. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed pain over the loss of lives due to capsizing of a boat in the Krishna River. +“Capsizing of a boat in the Krishna River is anguishing. +My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in this tragedy. +Andhra Pradesh Government and NDRF HQ have been working on rescue operations”, the Prime Minister said. +The Agreement will enable greater cooperation in the power sector among SAARC countries. +The Agreement is expected to improve the power availability in the entire SAARC region. +It would facilitate integrated operation of the regional power grid. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Indian Badminton Player Kidambi Srikanth, on the victory in Indonesia Open Super Series tournament. +“Congratulations Kidambi Srikanth, We are extremely delighted on your victory in the Indonesia Open Super Series tournament”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will address farmers in the next series of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on All India Radio. +The programme is scheduled for broadcast at 11:00 AM on 22nd March. +The focus of PM’s address will be on farmers and allied issues. +The Prime Minister has already interacted directly with the people in the earlier five editions of ‘Mann Ki Baat’. +He has dwelt upon several issues close to the hearts of the people such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, promotion of khadi, skill development, scholarship for disabled children, infrastructure for educational institutions, and menace of drugs. +The programme has generated an encouraging response from citizens across the country. +It is simultaneously broadcast live on All India Radio and Doordarshan channels. +The address can also be heard on Vividh Bharti, FM Gold, and FM Rainbow radio. +The programme would also be live-streamed on the Prime Minister`s official website. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today arrived in the Tent City at Dhordo, in the Rann of Kutch, for the three-day Conference of Directors General of Police. +This is the second time that the Conference is being held outside Delhi. +The Conference was held in Guwahati last year. +The Prime Minister attended the inaugural session of the Conference, which was addressed by Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh. +The Prime Minister launched a website – “Indian Police in Service of the Nation.” +The Prime Minister, along with the Home Minister and other delegates, later left for the White Rann, a short distance from Tent City. +He witnessed a camel show performance by the BSF. +He witnessed sunset at the White Rann, followed by a cultural programme. +Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, and Ministers of State for Home, Shri Kiren Rijiju and Shri Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary were present. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called upon Indians across the world to convert the atmosphere of hope and optimism into a reality of meeting the expectations and aspirations of India’s people. +Do you share the dream, he asked thousands of cheering people in the arena. +The Prime Minister said that he feels a greater sense of responsibility as he is the first Prime Minister born in independent India. +“We did not have the fortune to fight for the country’s independence. +We could not die for India. +But we can live for India. +So we will live and struggle for India. +Today 125 crore Indians share that dream,” he said. +“It took 28 years for an Indian PM to make the few hours journey to Australia. +The Prime Minister exhorted people to recognize the strength of India’s democracy. +The Prime Minister congratulated and complimented the Indian Australian community for working hard and making their karmbhoomi proud. +He named prominent Indian-Australians who had excelled for Australia in sports and academics. +The Prime Minister mentioned the work his Government was doing and the new policies and schemes his Government had launched including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, the Make in India initiative, Swachh Bharat and Shramev Jayate. +The Prime Minister talked about the decision to allow 100% FDI in Railways. +He said he wanted to do humble things for humble people to make a great improvement in their lives. +He spoke of his vision for skill development, and India meeting the skilled manpower requirement of the whole world. +“Governments cannot make a country. +People make a country,” the Prime Minister said. +He spoke of his initiative to abolish needless laws and his push for self-certification of documents. +The Prime Minister said the differences between OCI and PIO schemes would be ended by January 2015. +The Sydney Cultural Center would be established by the Government of India and made functional by February 2015. +The Foreign Minister of France, Mr. Laurent Fabius, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today, and invited him to visit France. +Both sides reiterated their commitment to further strengthen and expand the bilateral relationship. +Recalling the strategic and friendly ties between the two countries, the Prime Minister sought French cooperation in the field of urban planning and heritage conservation. +Observing that France had provided technical support for the Ahmedabad Heritage Project, Shri Modi said India planned to build heritage cities and 100 new smart cities. +France has the expertise to help us in this regard, he added. +The Prime Minister also sought French cooperation in the fields of tourism, skill development and low-cost defence manufacturing. +The French Foreign Minister said France was keen to expand the cooperation and the relationship, following the assumption of office by the new Government in India. +He discussed the student exchange programme, and further deepening of the technological cooperation between the two countries. +The issue of terrorism also figured in the talks. +• Inaugurates new civil air terminal at Chandigarh airport. +• Attends 34th Convocation Ceremony of PGIMER, Chandigarh. +• Inaugurates new housing scheme and addresses public meeting. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the new civil air terminal at Chandigarh airport. +Delivering the Convocation Address at the 34th Convocation Ceremony of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, the Prime Minister recalled Swami Vivekananda’s address to the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, this very day – September 11th – in 1893. +He said that if the world had remembered the message of humanity delivered by Swami Vivekananda that day, perhaps the terror attack of 9/11 would not have happened. +The Prime Minister reminded the graduating students that this Convocation Ceremony (Deekshant Samaaroh) should not mark the end of their education (should not become Shikshaant Samaaroh). +He said it is an occasion when they emerge from the world of books to the real world. +He urged the graduating students to not just treat illnesses, but to form a bond with their patients. +He also presented gold medals to meritorious students. +The Prime Minister inaugurated a new housing scheme and addressed a public meeting at Sector-25, Chandigarh. +He was felicitated by ex-servicemen on stage. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said virtually every family in this region is like a “Suraksha Kavach” for the nation, as people from the region join the Armed Forces in large numbers. +He said the Union Government has implemented OROP – One Rank, One Pension – for the Armed Forces, as promised, and the credit for this should go only to the poor, and the common people of India. +The Prime Minister expressed concern over the recent disruption of Parliament, and said there is need to generate greater awareness about the importance of the functioning of Parliament, and its role in democracy. +He said there should be debate in Parliament on all issues, but there should not be any disruption. +He said that the deadlock in the Lok Sabha has forced him to raise these issues in the “Jan Sabha” (directly with the people). +The Prime Minister launched IT Platforms for citizens’ facilitation in Chandigarh Housing Board. +He said such adoption of technology in governance will help empower people. +The Prime Minister said that he has a vision for the people of India in 2022 – the 75th anniversary of Independence, that each person should have a House to live in. +He said the Union Government is working towards making this a reality. +Six women officers of the Indian Navy, who are due to circumnavigate the globe on the sailing vessel, INSV Tarini, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. +They will begin their voyage later this month from Goa, and expect to return to Goa in March 2018, after completing the circumnavigation. +INSV Tarini is a 55-foot sailing vessel, which has been built indigenously, and was inducted in the Indian Navy earlier this year. +During the interaction, the crew explained details of their upcoming voyage to the Prime Minister. +Prime Minister wished the women crew well, and said he would keep track of their progress around the world. +He exhorted them to project India’s capabilities and strengths across the world. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for the second phase of eCourts Mission Mode Project at an estimated cost of Rs.1670 crore. +It envisages enhanced ICT enablement of courts through universal computerisation, use of cloud computing, digitization of case records and enhanced availability of e-services through e-filing, e-payment gateways and mobile applications etc. +The eCourts project of the Government is aimed at providing necessary hardware and software applications to enable courts to deliver e-services to citizens, and to enable the judiciary to better monitor and manage the functioning of courts. +In Phase I of the project more than 13000 District and Subordinate courts have been computerised and case information linked to the respective District court websites. +These courts are now providing online eServices such as cause lists, case status and judgments, to litigants and public through the eCourts portal (http://www.ecourts.gov.in) also. +Case status information in respect of over 5 crore pending and decided cases and more than one crore orders/ judgments are available online. +Litigants and lawyers are also provided services through Judicial Service Centre at the court complexes. +More than 24 crore transactions have already been recorded regarding online access of court information. +The Phase II of the eCourts project would also help in the automation of workflow management in courts thereby contributing to better court and case management. +Touch screen based Kiosks and Video Conferencing facility will be installed at all Court Complexes and corresponding jails. +Hand held process service devices will be provided to process servers to ensure transparent and time bound delivery of court notices and summons. +Also, the use of solar energy has been proposed at 5 percent of the court complexes on a pilot basis. +In line with the Digital India Programme of the Government of India which emphasises on Citizen centric services, this project would also focus on Digital Infrastructure as a core utility to every citizen providing Governance and Services on demand eventually making the citizens digitally empowered. +The players said that this was the first time that they had seen a Prime Minister tweet for the Women’s Cricket Team. +They said that that they felt proud, happy and inspired to know that the Prime Minister was following their progress. +Responding to questions asked by the players on handling pressure, the Prime Minister said that Yoga helps achieve a good balance between mind, body and action. +He also said that practice of Yoga helps develop detachment. +Besides sports, he mentioned the school results of Class 10 and 12; and women space scientists who have played a key role in prestigious ISRO missions. +The players presented a signed cricket bat to the Prime Minister. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the revamped Khelo India programme at a cost of Rs.1,756 crore for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20. +This marks a watershed moment in the history of Indian sports, as the Programme aims at mainstreaming sport as a tool for individual development, community development, economic development and national development. +The revamped Khelo India Programme would impact the entire sports ecosystem, including infrastructure, community sports, talent identification, coaching for excellence, competition structure and sports economy. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) between India Taipei Association (ITA) in Taipei and Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in India. +The BIA is likely to increase investment flows between the parties. +It will provide appropriate protection to investments on a reciprocal basis between ITA and TECC. +BIA is likely to increase the comfort level and boost the confidence of investors by assuring a level playing field and non-discrimination in matters related to investments, thus providing conducive investment climate to investors. +It would help project India as a preferred foreigndirect investment (FDI) destination. +Kharif MSP at 150% of input cost to be announced next week, says PM States told to ensure payment of cane arrears by sugar mills +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and interacted with a group of over 140 sugarcane farmers at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. +The farmers were from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Maharashtra and Karnataka. +He also stated that within the next two weeks, the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane for the sugar season of 2018-19, will also be announced. +He said that this will also be higher than the 2017-18 price. +It will also provide incentive for those farmers whose recovery from sugarcane will be higher than 9.5%. +The Prime Minister apprised the farmers about the various decisions taken to liquidate the arrears of sugarcane farmers. +In the last seven to ten days itself, more than Rs. 4000 crore of arrears have been given to the farmers as a result of new policy measures enforced, the Prime Minister said. +He further assured the farmers that State Governments have been requested to take effective measures for liquidation of cane arrears. +The Prime Minister exhorted farmers to use sprinkler and drip irrigation, latest farming techniques, and solar pumps. +The Prime Minister apprised farmers of his recent interactions with corporates, where he has called for greater private sector investment for value addition, warehousing, storage facilities, better quality seeds, and market linkages for improving farmers income. +In the course of the interaction, the Prime Minister also recalled the earlier interventions made by the Union Government in 2014-15 and 2015-16, to ease the burden of sugarcane farmers, who were struggling under a huge amount of arrears worth more than Rs. 21,000 crore. +This payment was ensured through sugar mills to farmers. +Thank you, President Michel, for your kind words. +I am deeply touched by your extraordinary hospitality and warmth. +I regret that this is a very short visit. +I would have loved to stay longer. +Anyone who visits this wonderful country will find it hard to leave. +Short it may be, but this visit has been very productive. +It is no surprise that Seychelles is my first destination in the Indian Ocean Region. +We regard Seychelles as a vital partner in our Indian Ocean neighbourhood. +Our relationship is unique and special. +It is founded on deep sense of mutual trust and confidence. +It is marked by a spirit of respect and equality; and enormous goodwill and warmth. +It draws strength from our shared values of democracy and inclusiveness. +It is nurtured by a common purpose – progress of our people and peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region. +Seychelles has made impressive progress. +It has shown that size is no barrier to the scale of achievements. +This visit and my conversation with President Michel have reinforced my conviction in the strength and the importance of this relationship. +Our security partnership is strong. +It has enabled us to fulfill our shared responsibility to advance maritime security in the region. +It is a privilege to be a partner of Seychelles in the development of its security capabilities. +Today, I am pleased to announce that we will be giving one more Dornier aircraft to Seychelles. +Later today, I will have the honour to launch the Coastal Surveillance Radar Project. +This is another symbol of our cooperation. +These steps will enable Seychelles to secure these beautiful islands and the vast expanse of waters around them. +Seychelles will also continue to make an enormous contribution to the safety and security of the Indian Ocean Region. +Our agreement today on hydrographic survey adds a new dimension to our maritime cooperation. +I thank Seychelles for their confidence in India. +We also hope that Seychelles will soon be a full partner in the maritime security cooperation between India, Maldives and Sri Lanka. +President Michel and I also underlined the importance of comprehensive cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. +We expressed support for a more active and productive Indian Ocean Rim Association. +Our development partnership is also a strong pillar of our relations. +Our agreement today on the development of infrastructure in the Assumption Island gives a strong boost to this partnership. +We are pleased to be a partner in development of human resources and capacity building in Seychelles. +Indeed, Seychelles is one of the largest recipients of Indian assistance in this area. +We intend to expand this further in the future. +Seychelles is a leader in advancing the concept of Blue Economy. +We also believe that the Ocean Economy is indispensable to meeting our future challenges. +Today, President Michel and I have agreed to establish a Joint Working Group to expand our cooperation on the blue economy. +This cooperation will increase our understanding of marine ecology and resources. +We will improve our ability to harness new possibilities of the ocean in a sustainable and balanced manner. +This is a major step in advancing our scientific and economic cooperation. +We stressed our support for expansion in our modest trade and investment relations. +We are confident that we can achieve it, especially as Seychelles looks to a future in which information technology and services play an increasingly important role. +I also expressed hope that Seychelles would be able to quickly utilize the committed 75 million dollars in grants and credit in accordance with its priorities. +We deeply value the close and warm ties between our people. +I welcomed the launch of direct air services to India by Air Seychelles last December. +We have decided to grant free visas for three months to the citizens of Seychelles. +We will also extend to you the facility of visa-on-arrival. +I thanked President Michel for his Government’s consistent support to India in international forums. +This includes the endorsement for India’s permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. +We had strong convergence of views on climate change. +We stressed our shared commitment to strong national action. +We also called for a strong and ambitious global effort, especially from the developed world, on climate change. +I reiterated our consistent support to the position of the Small Island Developing States. +Equally, I renewed India’s strong commitment to our partnership with Africa. +Our relationship is a powerful example of warm friendship and productive partnership. +For India, this relationship means a lot. +This visit has reinforced the special warmth in our ties and taken our strategic partnership to a new level. +I am grateful to President Michel and the people of Seychelles for this. +I look forward to the visit of President Michel to India at the earliest. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today visited Thiruvananthapuram. +He unveiled a plaque to mark the inauguration of Swadesh Darshan Scheme. +He offered prayers at Sree PadmanabhaSwamy Temple. +The Prime Minister’s visit to Thiruvananthapuram followed the inauguration of Kollam Bypass earlier today. +This will enable the Central PSUs to intensify trading activities to cool down prices. +In order to ensure retail distribution to the consumers, it was decided to import 5000 tonnes of Tur Dal and 5000 tonnes of Urad Dal by MMTC, a Central PSU. +The first consignment of imported Dal would be reaching Mumbai by 5.9.2015. +The Union Government has taken several measures to increase availability and control the price of essential commodities, especially pulses and onions. +Besides there is zero duty on import of pulses. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper, today visited the Gurudwara Khalsa Diwan in Vancouver. +During his remarks at the Gurudwara Khalsa Diwan, the Prime Minister described the reconstruction of the Gurudwara at Lakhpat in Gujarat during his tenure as Chief Minister. +He said the Gurudwara at Lakhpat, where Guru Nanak had stayed for 15 days, had been damaged in the 2001 earthquake, and had been reconstructed successfully. +“Karambhoomi par fal ke liye shram sabko karna padta hai, Rabb sirf lakeerein deta hai, rang humko bharna padta hai,” the Prime Minister quoted, saying that we should fill life with colours of humanity, and serve mankind. +Prime Minister Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Harper also visited the Komagata Maru Museum. +In his remarks at the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, the Prime Minister thanked the Canadian Prime Minister and the people of Canada for the warm welcome and hospitality they had accorded him. +He said the Supreme Court of India had described Hinduism as a way of life. +He exhorted the gathering to live life scientifically, in balance with nature, and with compassion. +He said the United Nations had recently adopted June 21st as the International Day of Yoga with 177 countries co-sponsoring India’s resolution. +Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu +My Ministerial colleagues +Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu +Other distinguished dignitaries on the dais +Ladies and Gentlemen +On the upcoming occasion of the Vilambhi Tamil New Year on April 14th, I extend my warm greetings to all Tamil people across the world. +I am happy to be at Cancer Institute, Adyar. +This is one of the oldest and most significant comprehensive cancer care centers in India. +Under the Comprehensive Primary Health Care aspect of Ayushman Bharat, we will provide preventive and curative services at primary care level to people near their homes. +We have initiated Population-based Prevention, Control, Screening and Management of common non-communicable diseases such as Diabetes, Hyper-tension and Common Cancers. +Ayushman Bharat also includes the Pradhan Mantri National Health Protection Mission. +Insurance coverage upto 5 lakh rupees per family, per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization will be provided under this mission. +This will be the world’s largest government funded health care programme. +To prevent, control and manage diseases like cancer we need action from all sections of society including NGOs and private sector. +The Cancer Institute W.I.A. Chennai is a voluntary charitable institution, founded by a group voluntary women social workers under the inspiring leadership of the late Dr.Muthulaxmi Reddy. +This institute started as a small cottage hospital. +I am informed that 30 percent of these beds are free beds, which means patients are not charged. +The molecular oncology department of the institute was designated a “Centre of Excellence” in 2007 by the Union Government. +Dr. Shantha, in her opening speech spoke about some of the difficulties being faced by the Institute. +The Union Government is committed to cooperative federalism. +Our mantra is Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. +Let us all work together to build a New India, which would make our great freedom fighters proud. +PM holds meeting to review the preparedness for rollout of GST +The Prime Minister held a meeting to review the preparedness for rollout for GST on 14th September, 2016. +The meeting was attended by Union Finance Minister, both the Ministers of State for Finance, senior officers from the Prime Ministers office and Finance Ministry. +In order to ensure that there is no slippage on date of implementation of GST from 1st April, 2017, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress made on various steps needed for the rollout of GST relating to preparation of Model GST laws and rules to be framed, establishment of IT infrastructure for both Centre and States, training of officers of Central and State Governments and outreach for awareness of trade and industry. +The Prime Minister directed that all steps must be completed much before 1st April, 2017. +The Prime Minister observed that GST Council would need to have intensive meetings to be able to make timely recommendations relating to its mandate provided in Article 279A including making recommendations relating to Model GST laws, GST rates, goods and services that may be subjected to or exempted from GST. +The Prime Minister garlanded the statue of Shahid Chandrashekhar Azad and visited the memorial at his birthplace. +Addressing a public meeting, the Prime Minister recalled that Mahatma Gandhi had given the call for the British to Quit India – this very day. +He urged to people to remember those who gave their lives so that we could breathe the air of freedom. +The Prime Minister said it is his privilege to have come to the birthplace of Chandrashekhar Azad. +People like him inspire us to work for the nation, he added. +The Prime Minister said that all of us, who may not have got a chance to lay down our lives for the nation, should take the opportunity to live for the nation. +The Prime Minister emphasized that a nation moves forward on the strength of its people, their aspirations, and their hard work. +The Prime Minister said every Indian loves Kashmir, and wishes to visit Kashmir. +He said a few misguided elements were attempting to spoil the great traditions of Kashmir. +The Prime Minister said the Union Government wants to create employment opportunities for the youth of Kashmir. +He appealed to the youth of Kashmir to come forward and move ahead with the vision of making Kashmir “heaven on earth.” +He said Kashmir wants peace and the people of Kashmir want to earn more through tourism. +He said both the Centre and the J&K State Government are attempting to find a solution to all problems through development. +He said former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision of Insaniyat, Jamahooriyat, Kashmiriyat will be taken forward. +The Prime Minister said the need of the hour is for all of us to work together with a common resolve to take the nation to new heights. +He said the Indian tricolour unites us, and inspires us to rewrite India’s destiny. +The Prime Minister later flagged off the Tiranga Yatra to mark the launch of the 70th Freedom Year celebrations. +I am happy to inaugurate the World Congress on Information Technology. +This event is being held in India for the first time. +It has been organized in partnership with NASSCOM, WITSA and the Government of Telangana. +I am sure, it shall be of mutual benefit to investors, innovators, think-tanks and other stakeholders from across the world. +I would have liked to be there in person. +I am happy, however, that the power of IT enables me to address you remotely. +On the side-lines of this conference, I hope you shall have some time to explore the vibrant history, and delectable cuisine of Hyderabad. +I am sure, it shall encourage you to visit other parts of India as well. +Indeed, India is home to ancient, rich and diverse cultures, through which runs an under-lying theme of unity. +The concept of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam– the world is one family”, is deeply imbibed in Indian philosophy. +It reflects our inclusive traditions. +IN the twenty-first century, technology is becoming an enabler or this concept. +It helps us create a seam-less, integrated world. +We not only have a growing number of innovative entrepreneurs, but also a growing market for tech innovation. +India is best placed to leverage the power of technology and leap-frog into the future while ensuring empowerment of every citizen. +This has been possible through a change in public behavior and processes. +Digital India has not remained merely a Government initiative, but has become a way of life. +Technology has transcended power-point presentations and has become an inseparable part of people’s lives. +While most Government initiatives depend on a Government push, Digital India is succeeding because of the people’s pull. +The JAM trinity of combining 320 million Jan Dhan bank accounts of poor with Aadhaar and Mobile with direct benefits of welfare measures has saved Rupees 57 thousand Crores. +Around 22 million digital hospital transactions across 172 hospitals in India are bringing comfort in the lives of patients. +The National Scholarship Portal for easy Scholarships today has 14 million students registered on it. +Digital payments through BHIM-UPI has registered transactions of Rupees fifteen thousand Crore in January 2018. +The unique Umang app launched only three months back is already offering 185 Government services. +Today 2.8 lakh Common Services Centers are there in different parts of the country giving many digital services to people. +About 10 lakh people work in these centers, including thousands of women entrepreneurs. +To ensure digital literacy in every house-hold, we have initiated a Pradhan Mantri Rural Digital Literacy Mission to make 60 million adults digitally literate in rural India. +Under this10 million people have already been trained. +We have come a long way with the convergence of Make In India & Digital India. +Government e-Market-place has been developed as the National Procurement Portal of India. +It enables small and medium enterprises to compete in meeting the procurement requirements of the Government. +This simple IT framework has improved transparency in Government procurement. +It has also speeded up procurement processes, and empowered thousands of small and medium enterprises. +Yesterday, at Mumbai University, I had the opportunity to dedicate to the nation, the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence. +This is an independent, non-profit research institute, with a mission of Artificial Intelligence for Social Good. +A few days ago, in Dubai, at the World Government Summit, I had the opportunity to visit an exhibition on the “Museum of the Future.” +This has been planned as an incubator for ideas, and a driver for innovation. +I appreciate the pioneers of technology, some of whom are in the audience today, for the work they are doing. +They are helping to secure a better, more comfortable future for humanity. +We stand today, at the cusp of the fourth Industrial Revolution. +Technology, if used well for public good, can deliver lasting prosperity to mankind and a sustainable future for our planet. +It is in this context, that I place the World Conference on Information Technology, in India today. +The key themes at this Conference, reflect the opportunities that await us. +Disruptive technologies such as Block-chain and the Internet of Things, will have a deep impact in the way we live and work. +They will require rapid adaptation in our workplaces. +Skilling citizens for the workplace of the future is Important. +In India, we have launched the National Skill Development Mission to prepare our children and youth for a bright future. +We also need to ensure that our existing work-forces able to re-skill, as new technologies emerge. +One of the invited speakers at this event, the robot Sophia shows the potential of new technologies. +NASSCOM has also identified fifty-five job roles that are going to be in high demand globally. +I am sure, the “skills of future” platform will greatly help India maintain its competitive edge. +Digital technology is now at the heart of every business. +New technologies must be embedded in various operations and processes of a business entity. +How can we prepare our millions of small and medium businesses for this transformation, in a short time? +Keeping in mind the importance of innovation, in the future of economy and business, the Government of India has launched the Start-up India initiative. +We believe our startups are the key to finding viable and economical solutions across sectors and verticals. +Under the Atal Innovation Mission, we are building Atal Tinkering Labs in schools across India. +The objective of this scheme is to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds. +I am sure, that as you deliberate on various themes of Information Technology, you shall keep the interests of the common man at the back of your mind. +I once again welcome the distinguished delegates from across the world, to India. +May your deliberations be productive? +May the outcomes benefit the poor and the under-privileged across the world? +My dear countrymen, my greetings (namaskar) to you all +Last year, we had to endure so many trials – the scorching heat of the summer, scarcity of water, drought conditions and so on. +This news in itself charges us with a lot of enthusiasm. +I extend my greetings to all our farmer brethren hoping for a bountiful rainfall. +In our country, like the toiling farmers, our scientists are also achieving success on many fronts to take our country to new heights. +I have believed it right from the beginning that the new generation should nurture the dream of becoming scientists, should have keen interest in Science, and our youngsters should step forward with the zeal to do something for the coming generations. +I also want to share another bright news with you. +For the past many years, several students have made their contributions to this project. +In a way, this academic satellite is a living example of the soaring flight of courage and ambition of the young India. +That has led these our students to make this satellite. +On similar lines as achieved by these Pune students, the students of Satyabhama University of Chennai in Tamil Nadu also created their satellite; and their SathyabamaSAT has also been launched. +We have been hearing these things since childhood, and every child wishes deep inside his heart to touch the sky and grab a few stars. +Keeping this in mind, in my opinion, these two satellites made by the students and launched by ISRO, are extremely important and most valuable. +All these students deserve hearty congratulations. +Along with America, the satellites of many other countries were launched on Indian soil by Indian scientists and along with these, those two satellites made by our students also reached outer space. +Still, some incidents infuse a new life into this slogan. +This time in the results of 10th and 12th classes, our daughters have been doing wonderfully well, which is a matter of pride. +You get goose pimples just at the mention of ‘women fighter pilots’; we feel so proud that these three Flying Officer daughters of ours- Avni Chaturvedi, Bhawna Kanth and Mohana, have achieved this great feat. +What these three daughters have accomplished is truly special. +Flying Officer Avni is from Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, Flying Officer Bhawana is from Begusarai in Bihar and Flying Officer Mohana is from Vadodara in Gujarat. +You must have noticed that all these three daughters do not hail from metro cities of India. +They do not even come from the capital cities of their respective states. +Despite hailing from small cities and towns, they nurtured dreams as high as the sky, and they also made them come true. +I extend my heartiest wishes to these three daughters Avni, Bhawana and Mohana as well as their parents. +My dear Countrymen, a few days ago on 21st June, the whole world organised grand shows in observance of the anniversary of the International Day for Yoga. +As an Indian, when we witness the entire world coming together through Yoga, we realize that the entire world is getting linked with our past, present and future. +We are forging a unique bond with the rest of the world. +In India too, the International Yoga Day was celebrated at over 1 lakh places, with a lot of fervour and enthusiasm in myriad forms and hues, and in an atmosphere of gaiety. +I also got an opportunity to perform Yoga in Chandigarh amidst thousands of Yoga lovers. +It was worth watching the zeal of the young and old alike. +You must have seen that last week the Indian government issued a postage stamp on ‘Surya Namaskar’ on the occasion of International Yoga Day. +This time, people all over the world, on Yoga Day, were witness to two special events. +Tell me, which Indian would not feel proud at such happenings? +Yoga has the power to connect the entire world. +But for that to happen, first all of us need to get connected to Yoga. +Swati Srivastava from Satna in Madhya Pradesh, called me up on telephone after the Yoga Day and left a message for all of you but it seems that it pertains more to me: – +Sound Byte: “I wish that my entire country should be healthy and all the poor people also should remain free from diseases. +And I have seen that there are some countries in the world which have T.V. channels exclusively dedicated to Yoga 24 hours a day. +And you probably know that, during the month of June, in view of the International Yoga Day, I used to share a video everyday of one particular asana of Yoga through Twitter and Face Book. +If you go to the website of the Ministry of Ayush, you will see available there a 40-45 minutes very good video demonstrating one after another, different kinds of yog asanas for different parts of the body that you can do, people of all ages can do. +To you and through you to all the people interested in Yoga, I would like to exhort to get connected to it. +All the prevalent systems of Yoga, all the functioning Yoga institutions, all the different Yoga Gurus, I have urged all of them to run a successful campaign this entire year on how to defeat Diabetes through Yoga. +Can we control Diabetes through Yoga? +Some people have been successful in that. +A lot of people have worked in this direction. +Some diabetic patients have also been able to control it thorough their yogic practice. +All the rights of the citizens were suspended. +The country was turned into a prison. +Lakhs of people along with Jai Prakash Narain, thousands of leaders, many organisations were put behind bars. +Many books have been written on that dark period. +There might have been locks on newspaper houses, radio might have been speaking just one kind of language, still on the other hand, given the opportune moment, the citizens give an example of the power of Democracy. +A great example of the democratic strength of the common people was witnessed during Emergency. +And we must keep reminding our country of its democratic strength from time to time. +And our endeavour should be to make people aware of their power and to always have the tendency to further strengthen it by linking more and more people to it. +The chasm between the governments and the people leads to ruin. +My endeavour has always been to ensure that the nation moves forward on the strength of people’s participation. +Recently, when my government completed two years of functioning, some young people of modern thinking suggested, “When you talk such big things about democracy, then why don’t you get your government rated by the people also.” +In a way it had a tone of challenge as well as advice. +But that stirred my mind. +These days technology has changed so much that if people get together and form a group and if they decide to misuse technology, then who knows in which direction they might take forward this survey.” +They thus expressed their concern. +But I felt, “No, we should go ahead even if it is a risk. +We should give it a try and see what happens. +Now a lot of surveys are conducted after the elections, during the elections, at other times also over some issues, sometimes to gauge the popularity, but the sample size of these surveys is not very big. +Lakhs of you displayed your interest in this but 3 lakh people devoted their time and put in serious effort for giving an answer to each and every question. +I am grateful to these 3 lakh people that they displayed a lot of self initiative in rating the government. +Thus, my primary impression is that there has been a large and active participation of people connected to rural India and poverty issues. +This I liked the most. +So you have seen that while on 26th June some years ago the voice of the people was stifled, now is the time, when the people make their decisions, they judge whether the government is doing the right thing or not, is performing well or poorly. +This is the real power of democracy. +My dear countrymen, today I want to make a special appeal for one thing. +There was a time when taxes were so pervasive, that it became a habit to avoid taxation. +One generation still feels that it is best to keep away from the government. +Today I want to impress upon you that we end up losing our peace of mind by trying to escape from rules and regulations. +As a result, anybody can trouble and harass us. +Why should we let this happen? +I appeal to the countrymen to do this. +To the people who have undisclosed income, the Government of India has given a chance to declare such income. +The government has presented before the country a special facility to disclose undisclosed income by the 30th of September. +We can be free ourselves of various burdens just by paying a fine. +I have also promised that for those who voluntarily declare to the government their assets and their undisclosed income, then the government will not conduct any kind of enquiry. +At the same time, I want to tell the people of the country that please consider this plan, which is up to 30th September as your last chance. +In between, I had even told the Members of the Parliament that after 30th September if any citizen is put through any difficulty, the one who does not want to follow due rules of government, then it will not be possible to help them. +If they want to follow rules, we should encourage them, and lovingly help them cross over. +It is important to build an atmosphere of trust. +We shall have to bring about a change through our conduct. +We shall have to reassure the taxpayer. +I stressed this upon them and I noticed that they too realized that today when the nation is surging ahead, all of us must contribute to it. +And when I was taking inputs from them in this conclave, I gathered information which I want to share with you as well. +None of you will believe that in a country of 125 crore people, one and a half, only one and a half lakh people exist, whose taxable income is more than 50 lakh rupees. +Nobody will be able to swallow something like this. +People having a taxable income of more than 50 lakh rupees can be seen in big cities in large numbers. +And in another way, this is the way out to save yourself from any trouble that could arise after 30th September. +My dear countrymen, the common man of this country is always looking for a chance to do something for the country. +When I asked the people to give up their cooking gas subsidy, more than 1 crore families of this country voluntarily gave up their subsidy. +And now I want to cite an example especially for those people who have undisclosed income. +Yesterday when I went to Pune for the Smart City programme, over there I got the chance to meet Shri Chandrakant Damodar Kulkarni and his family. +Do you know what the reason is? +Shri Chandrakant Kulkarni is an ordinary man who belongs to an average middle class family. +We certainly do not have any right to evade tax in this country where there is one such government employee, who after retirement, out of a pension of mere sixteen thousand rupees, gives five thousand for the Cleanliness Campaign. +No one could be a greater source of inspiration than Chandrakant Kulkarni. +And for the people who are associated with the Cleanliness Campaign also, there could be no better inspiring example than Chandrakant Kulkarni. +A man with a pension of sixteen thousand rupees sends me cheques worth two lakhs, sixty thousand in advance, is this a small thing? +My dear countrymen, Santosh Negi from Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand, has called up to relate one of his experiences. +He has given a message regarding water conservation. +Friends, his experience can be of use to you as well: – +Sound Byte: “Drawing inspiration from you, in our school, before the onset of monsoon we dug 250 small trenches which were 4 feet deep, along the side of the playground, so that rainwater could be collected in these. +This way the play ground remained unspoilt and there was no danger of children drowning in these… and we managed to save crores of litres of rainwater which fell on the playfield.” +We should make every effort to conserve every single drop of water. +How can we retain the rainwater of the villages there itself and similarly preserve rainwater of cities therein. +To recharge Mother Earth once again, how can we replenish water back to the earth? +We are so concerned about saving lives; we should be equally concerned about saving water. +This 1922 is one such number that if you give a missed call to it, you can listen to Mann Ki Baat in the language of your choice. +By listening to Mann Ki Baat, at the time of your convenience, in the language of your choice, you too can make up your mind and resolve to contribute to the journey of the nation’s progress. +From regions in conflict to the streets of distant cities, terrorism extracts a deadly price. +Old structures of terrorism remain. +There are countries that still use it as an instrument of state policy. +But, we also see the changing character of terrorism: global links, franchise relations, home-grown terrorism and use of cyber space for recruitment and propaganda. +There is a new level of threat to pluralist and open societies. +The territory of recruitment and the target of attacks is the same – society. +And, we tend to be selective in using the instruments that we have. +Even more important than what we face is how we respond to the threat. +The world must speak in one voice and act in unison against terrorism, without any political considerations. +There should be no distinction between terrorist groups or discrimination between states. +We must isolate those who support and sponsor terrorism; and, stand with those who share our values of humanism. +We need to restructure the international legal framework to deal with the unique challenges of terrorism. +We should also adopt a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism without any delay. +International cooperation in intelligence and counter-terrorism should increase. +We should strengthen efforts to prevent supply of arms to terrorists, disrupt terrorist movements, and curb and criminalise terror financing. +We have to help each other secure our cyber space, and minimize use of internet and social media for terrorist activities. +We need to involve religious leaders, thinkers and opinion makers for a social movement against extremism, particularly addressed to the youth. +This is needed most in countries where it is most prevalent. +We need to delink terror and religion and work together to counter radicalization. +It is equally important to promote broader peace and stability in West Asia and Africa. +This is also required for addressing the current refugee crisis. +Today, there are an estimated 60 million people in need of protection worldwide. +The West Asian crisis has focused global attention on this acute humanitarian challenge. +It also has wide-ranging impact in receiving countries. +We thank the countries that have opened their borders and shelters. +We also need a long term approach and a stronger role for the United Nations in dealing with one of our greatest human challenges across the world. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated the students who have successfully passed the CBSE Class XII Board Exam. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of the foundation stone of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway at Sector-62 in Noida. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister recalled the role of Meerut in the 1857 uprising for freedom from British rule, and said that this Delhi-Meerut Expressway would provide freedom from pollution. +Noting the people’s aspirations for development, the Prime Minister said good roads were one of the first pre-requisites for development. +He said this expressway will spur development in western Uttar Pradesh. +He recalled former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision for connecting India through the Golden Quadrilateral project, and through Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. +The Prime Minister touched upon other development schemes launched by the Union Government, including the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, to ensure proper irrigation facilities for farmers. +The Prime Minister said that with the abolition of interviews for Government jobs in Class-III and Class-IV categories, the Government is giving a unique gift to the youth of India on January 1st, 2016. +The Prime Minister called upon all political parties to take a resolution in 2016, that they will let Parliament function and work for the benefit of the poor. +He said that the people of India have elected their representatives to discuss, debate and deliberate in Parliament, and therefore, this is their duty. +The Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ram Naik, Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union MoS (I/C) Dr. Mahesh Sharma and Union MoS Shri P. Radhakrishnan were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives in Bangalore City-Nanded express train accident, near Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh. +“My thoughts are with the families of all those who lost their lives in the unfortunate accident of the Bangalore City-Nanded express. +My condolences to the family of Karnataka MLA Shri Venkatesh Naik. +He will be remembered for his service to society”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has given the following message on World No Tobacco Day: +“World No Tobacco Day reminds us of the harms associated with tobacco consumption and a day to reaffirm our commitment to reduce this menace. +The World Health Organization’s focus on stopping illicit trade of tobacco products is a laudatory effort that will help in minimising tobacco consumption.” +The Union Cabinet was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between India and Armenia on joint issue of postage stamp. +The MoU was signed in June, 2018. +As per the MoU, Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications and the National Postal Operator of Armenia (“HayPost” CJSC) mutually agreed to jointly issue Postage Stamps on India-Armenia:Joint Issue on the theme “Dence”. +The Joint stamps were released in August, 2018. +The Commemorative Postage Stamps depict “Manipuri Dance” of India and “HovArek Dance” of Armenia. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to a bus accident in Raigad district of Maharashtra. +“Pained by the loss of lives due to a bus accident in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. +My condolences to those who lost their loved ones”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has praised the scientists for the success of GSAT-16. +“Kudos to our scientists for the successful launch of GSAT-16. +The communication satellite will become a major asset for our space programme,” said the Prime Minister. +Earlier, ISRO had announced that after the successful launch,GSAT-16 is in good health. +ISRO’s Master Control Facility at Hassan has taken over the control of the satellite. +Greetings to you all on the auspicious day of Vijayadashami. +Festivals in a way are the reflection of our social values and a learning for the society. +Each festival carries forward the tradition of showcasing our collective strength, to raise the sensitivity towards our social responsibilities and to keep on working tirelessly towards doing away with the social evils. +Our festivals are linked with the agriculture and harvesting, rivers and mountains, our history and our rich cultural traditions. +After the auspicious period of Navaratri, today on Vijayadashami, we have the tradition of burning the effigy of Ravana. +This is also a part of our great tradition. +However, as a responsible citizen, it is our bounden duty to ward off the evil forces and the society has to keep the momentum on to raise the awareness in this regard. +Let me tell you, the festivals are not only about entertainment, there has to be purpose behind. +We must take a resolve to do something positive for our country. +Can one imagine that Lord Rama leaves Ayodhya putting on the clothes stitched there and with his determination and resolve creates a huge collective strength and it paves the way for the involvement of every cross section of the society enroute to his victory in Sri Lanka. +Men, monkeys, nature all joined him in his drive. +It must be his magical power of putting hands together which saw Lord Ramchandra harnessing the collective strength. +Even after his victory, he was humble and dedicated himself for the welfare of the people. +Once again, heartfelt greetings on Vijayadashami. +The Prime Minister congratulated all medal winners, and complimented those who could not win medals but had performed creditably. +He said that accomplishments in the sporting arena inspire everyone. +He told the medal winners that their sporting feats have raised India’s stature. +He said that whenever an Indian sportsperson wins on the global sporting stage, it is the Indian flag that rises. +The Prime Minister said that today, the life of a sportsperson can span several decades. +In this context, he gave the example of Mary Kom, who is winning gold medals even as she is Member of Parliament. +He also mentioned Pullela Gopichand, who is mentoring and coaching many different players, after an immensely successful career as a player. +The Prime Minister said that besides talent, training, concentration and hard work, mental toughness is also important for sportspersons today. +In this context, he mentioned the benefits of Yoga. +The Prime Minister urged the sportspersons to remember, and keep in touch with the various Gurus, mentors and teachers, who have guided them right from childhood. +Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports, Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, was present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for restructuring of National Skill Development Fund (NSDF) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to strengthen governance, implementation and monitoring framework. +The restructuring will also ensure better corporate governance, transparency and accountability in operations of NSDC besides strengthening the oversight role of NSDF. +The approval would lead to restructuring of composition of Board of NSDF and the NSDC to strengthen governance, implementation and monitoring framework. +NSDC and NSDF were set up by the Ministry of Finance and registered in July, 2008 and January, 2009 respectively for implementing coordinated action for skill development. +NSDF trust was incorporated to act as a receptacle for financial contributions from Governmental sources, bilateral/multilateral and other agencies. +Its main objective is to enhance, stimulate and develop the skills of Indian youth force by various sector specific programmes. +NSDF entered into an Investment Management Agreement (IMA) with NSDC for utilization of its corpus to meet the desired objectives of National Skill Development Mission and encourage skill development in the country. +Provision of supervisory role of NSDF over NSDC’s functions is also included in the IMA between NSDC and NSDF. +The President of India has appointed Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the next Chief Justice of India. +He will assume the office of Chief Justice on 3rd October, 2018 after the retirement of the current Chief Justice, Justice Dipak Misra. +Born on 18th November, 1954, Justice Gogoi was enrolled as an advocate in 1978. +He practised in the Gauhati High Court on constitutional, taxation and company matters. +He was appointed as a Permanent Judge of the Gauhati High Court on 28th February, 2001. +On 9th September, 2010, he was transferred to the Punjab & Haryana High Court. +He was appointed as Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court on 12th February, 2011. +He was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 23rd April, 2012. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy between India and Hellenic. +The MoU was signed by the External Affairs Minister, Smt. +Sushma Swaraj, Government of India and H.E. Nikos Kotzias, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic during the latter’s visit to New Delhi in November, 2017. +Both sides aim to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable issues on the basis of mutual benefit equality and reciprocity. +The MoU envisages establishing a Joint Working Group to review, monitor and discuss matters relation to areas of cooperation. +The MoU aims for exchange of expertise and networking of information. +The Agreement further incorporates provisions for effective exchange of information and assistance in collection of taxes between tax authorities and also incorporates limitation of benefits provisions, to ensure that the benefits of the Agreement are availed of by genuine residents of both countries. +PM will jointly host a meeting of International Solar Alliance with French President; attend ‘Mission Innovation’ hosted by President of the United States +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will attend annual Conference of Parties (COP)-21 summit on environment and climate change at Paris, on November 30, 2015. +The Prime Minister will jointly host a meeting of International Solar Alliance with Prime Minister of France, Mr. François Hollande. +Prime Minister will also attend ‘Mission Innovation’ hosted by the President of United States. +In the Summit, we will deliberate on crucial issues relating to environment and climate change. +At the CoP-21 will inaugurate India Pavilion, showcasing India’s harmony with nature, environment and commitment to mitigate climate change. +President François Hollande and I will jointly host a meeting of International Solar Alliance. +Will also attend ‘Mission Innovation’ hosted by President of United States”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today celebrated Diwali with the jawans of Indian Army and BSF, in the Gurez Valley, near the Line of Control, in Jammu and Kashmir. +He was there for nearly two hours. +This is the fourth successive Diwali that the Prime Minister has celebrated with jawans on the border. +The Prime Minister offered sweets and exchanged greetings with the jawans. +The Prime Minister said he gets new energy when he spends time among the jawans and soldiers of the Armed Forces. +He appreciated their penance and sacrifice, amid harsh conditions. +The Prime Minister said that he had been told that the jawans present at the gathering regularly practice Yoga. +He said that this would definitely enhance their abilities, and give them a sense of calm. +He said that jawans who leave the Armed Forces after completing their duty tenure, can become excellent yoga trainers subsequently. +The Prime Minister spoke of the new resolve that each Indian citizen must make for 2022, the 75th anniversary of independence. +He also encouraged the jawans to innovate, so that their routine tasks and duties become easier and safer. +He mentioned how best innovations are now being recognised and awarded at the Army Day, Navy Day, and Air Force Day. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government is committed to the welfare and the betterment of the Armed Forces, in every way possible. +In this regard, he mentioned the implementation of One Rank, One Pension, which had been pending for decades. +The Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Bipin Rawat, and other senior Army Officers were present on the occasion. +In the visitors’ book, the Prime Minister wrote: +“Protecting the Motherland, far from your loved ones, displaying the highest traditions of sacrifice, all soldiers at the nation’s borders, are symbols of bravery and dedication. +I have an opportunity to spend the festival of Diwali with you. +The presence of brave soldiers at the border, on this festive occasion, lights the lamp of hope, and generates new energy among crores of Indians. +To accomplish the dream of “New India,” this is a golden opportunity for all of us to work together. +The Army too is a part of it. +Greetings to all of you on Diwali.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted engineers on Engineers’ Day. +The Prime Minister also paid tributes to Bharat Ratna, Shri M. Visvesvaraya, on his birth anniversary. +“I salute all engineers on Engineers’ Day and appreciate their paramount role in the development of our nation. +Tributes to Bharat Ratna M. Visvesvaraya on his birth anniversary. +An exemplary engineer himself, he is a source of immense inspiration”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given in-principle approval for Public Sector Banks to amalgamate through an Alternative Mechanism (AM). +The decision would facilitate consolidation among the Nationalised Banks to create strong and competitive banks. +The salient features of the approval Framework for Consolidation of Public Sector Banks are as follows: +• The decision regarding creating strong and competitive banks would be solely based on commercial considerations. +• The proposal must start from the Boards of Banks. +• The proposals received from Banks for in-principle approval to formulate schemes of amalgamation shall be placed before the Alternative Mechanism (AM). +• After in-principle approval, the Banks will take steps in accordance with law and SEBI’s requirements. +• The final scheme will be notified by Central Government in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India. +In 1991, it was suggested that India should have fewer but stronger Public Sector Banks. +However, it was only in May 2016 that effective action to consolidate public sector banks began to be taken by announcing amalgamation of six banks into the State bank of India. +The merger was completed in record time, unlike earlier mergers of State Banks of Indore and Saurashtra. +SBI is now a single bank with about 24000 branches, over 59000 ATMs, 6 lakh POS machines and over 50,000 business correspondents, which serve all parts of the country, including far flung areas. +Indeed 70% of SBI’s network lies in rural and semi urban areas. +Its size, financial strength and outreach have made it possible for customers to access a worldwide network of branches across all time zones, as well as to a very wide variety of banking products and superior technology. +Loans to the small business man or woman and to the Krishak have become cheaper as SBI offers the lowest lending rates. +More than 8.6 lakh merchants have been on board on BHIM Aadhaar, Bharat QR and POS, increasing the digital banking footprint. +SBI has successfully raised Rs.15,000 crore QIP. +There are now 20 PSBs other than SBI. +The banking scenario has changed since 1970/80 when banks were nationalised, with an increased banking presence from Private Sector Banks, non-banking Financial Companies, Regional Rural Banks, Payment Banks and Small Finance Banks. +The decision is expected to facilitate the creation of strong and competitive banks in public sector space to meet the credit needs of a growing economy, absorb shocks and have the capacity to raise resources without depending unduly on the state exchequer. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the MoU between India and Morocco for setting up of a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter-Terrorism. +Setting up of the JWG on Counter Terrorism by India and Morocco would help cases relating to terrorist attacks. +The MoU would, thus be the basis for obtaining / exchanging information on terrorist activities. +Under the Arrangement, the Joint Committee would identify, synergise and define priorities for Indo-French cooperation in science, technology and innovation aimed to achieve economic and social development through research, development and innovation. +The Joint Committee will be co-chaired for the Indian side by the Minister of Science & Technology and for the French side by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, or an official of the rank of Secretary in the Indian system and Director General in French system as designated by the respective countries. +The agreement comes in the backdrop of enhanced scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries, and the role played by multiple national science and technology agencies of both countries in promoting this partnership. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, addressed the CREDAI YouthCon-2019, at Talkatora Stadium, in New Delhi. +Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister said that work is progressing at a fast pace to ensure that every homeless person has a house by 2022. +He said that around 1.5 crore houses has been built through PM Awas Yojana, out of which 15 lakh houses were built for the poor in urban areas. +He added that under the present Union Government, there is transparency in the entire process. +He mentioned that when a Government frames policies with the right intent, it will result in the elimination of corruption and better results. +The Prime Minister said that Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) has strengthened the trust between the customers and the Real Estate Developers. +He said that RERA has been notified in 28 states. +More than 35000 Real Estate Projects and 27000 Real estate agents have registered under RERA, and lakhs of flats are being built, PM said. +Speaking about quantum jump in Ease of Doing Business rankings in the past four years, Prime Minister said that Government is committed towards ensuring Ease of Doing Business in India. +In this context, he mentioned that all Government permissions, including construction permits are being issued faster than before. +The Prime Minister talked about the tax reforms initiated by the Central Government to aid the housing industry and home buyers. +He mentioned about the reduced GST rates for various construction items. +He also spoke about the income tax benefits introduced for middle class in the recent Budget. +He said that the cumulative effect of these initiatives will help the housing sector and the home buyers. +The Prime Minister complimented CREDAI for their contribution in fulfilling the dreams of ordinary citizens of owning a house. +He said that the YouthCon is happening at a time when a ‘New India’ is being shaped. +He said that youth of the nation has an important role to play in charting a New India. +Earlier, the Prime Minister visited the exhibition organized by CREDAI at Talkatora Satdium. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi met H. E. Mr. Raila Odinga, Former Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition in Kenya, in New Delhi today. +Prime Minister Modi fondly recalled their long association, going back over a decade when he had visited Kenya as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. +Mr. Odinga also warmly recalled his earlier visits to India in 2009 and 2012. +The two leaders discussed the progress in India-Kenya relations in recent years, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest. +Government will give a befitting reply to terrorism , says PM in Srinagar +Foundation stone of New AIIMS at Awantipora laid by PM +Development projects worth Rs. 6000 crores unveiled in Srinagar +First rural BPO inaugurated at Bandipora by PM +Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the country will give a befitting reply to those who are trying to foment terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. +Addressing a gathering in Srinagar today, he said, ”We will tackle every terrorist in a befitting way. +We will break the backbone of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and fight it with all our might.” +PM paid glowing tributes to the martyr Nazir Ahmad Wani, who laid down his life fighting against the terrorists. +He said, “ My tribute to martyr Nazir Ahmad Wani and all other brave soldiers who laid down their lives for the nation and peace. +Nazir Ahmad Wani was awarded Ashok Chakra. +His valour and courage shows the way to youth of Jammu and Kashmir and the entire nation to live for the country.” +PM interacted with the newly elected Sarpanches. +He said that he was glad that local body election was held after so many years in the state. +Outlining his priorities for all round development of the state, PM said, “I have come here to inaugurate Rs.6000 crore worth projects. +All these projects are to make life easier for people around Srinagar.” +The Prime Minister unveiled a series of development projects for Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar. +He laid the foundation stone of AIIMS, Awantipora in Pulwama. +It is aimed at improving the health infrastructure in the state. +This scheme covers around 30 lakh people from Jammu Kashmir alone. +The first rural BPO at Bandipora was inaugurated by the PM on this occasion. +It will enhance employment opportunities for the youth in Bandipora and neighbouring districts. +PM said the Bandipora rural BPO will open up a window of opportunity for the youth in the region. +PM said that his Government would give full security to the Kashmiri migrants who want to come back and lead life here. +Around 700 transit flats are being built to provide Transit accommodation for Kashmiri migrant employees. +Work is afoot to employ displaced Kashmiris in 3000 posts, he added. +PM interacted with the college students from different parts if the country on this occasion. +Digital Launch of various projects under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) by the press of button by PM was another attraction. +PM Laid the foundation stone of 3 Model Degree Colleges in J&K, at Kishtwar, Kupwara and Baramulla. +He also laid foundation stone of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Career Hub in University of Jammu. +400 KV D/C Jalandhar-Samba-Rajouri- Shopian-Amargarh(Sopore) transmission lane was launched by PM as well. +The project has augmented the grid connectivity in Jammu & Kashmir. +Addressing a gathering on the occasion, he said that in the previous Government many big projects were inaugurated from Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi. +But NDA Government has made a point to inaugurate the projects from different regions. +He congratulated the people of Jammu Kashmir for making the state Open Defecation Free by September 2018 itself. +A new temperament for Innovation, incubation and startups has come in India and Start up Abhiyan has gathered momentum, asserted the Prime Minister. +PM inaugurated Multipurpose Indoor Sports Facility at Sephora, Ganderbal. +The indoor sports facility will help the youngsters and give them a chance to play indoor games. +He said, all 22 districts of Jammu Kashmir are covered by the Khelo India Campaign to scout the talent and improve sports infrastructure. +PM visited the iconic Dal Lake and inspected the facilities there. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was today apprised of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed with Bahrain, Kuwait, Nepal, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and BRICS Nations on Organising Youth Exchange Programmes with these countries. +International Youth Exchange programmes promote exchange of ideas and values amongst youth of different countries and help in developing international perspective among the youth. +Further, through people-to-people contacts, these Programmes promote peace and understanding and strengthen friendly relations between countries. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a General Framework Agreement (GFA) on Renewable Energy Cooperation between India and United Arab Emirates (UAE). +The GFA was signed, in New Delhi on 11th February this year during the state visit of Crown Prince of UAE. +The objective of this GFA is to establish the basis for a framework through which extensive projects, investments, other forms of commercial endeavours, cooperation in research and development in renewable and clean energy, and knowledge sharing platforms could be enacted on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity between the Parties. +The GFA aims at cooperation between India and UAE in the field of new and renewable energy technologies. +The GFA will provide opportunity for exploring potential renewable energy projects for investments; Continue cooperating in the International Solar Alliance; exploring avenues of cooperation in research and development in renewables; developing knowledge-sharing mechanisms through which to build upon the human capital of the Parties; exploring establishing a joint fund between the Parties to facilitate investment: forms of cooperation as mutually agreed by the Parties. +PM advocates “Sashakt” and “Samarth” Judiciary to play “divine role” of delivering justice +The Prime Minister today said the Judiciary should be both “Sashakt” and “Samarth” – empowered and capable – to play its “divine role” of ensuring the rule of law, and delivering justice to the common man. +Addressing the Joint Conference of Chief Justices of States and Chief Justices of High Courts, the Prime Minister said that while the executive is under constant assessment and scrutiny in public life, through various institutions, the Judiciary normally does not face any such scrutiny. +He said the Judiciary has built up an enormous faith and reputation among the people of India, and should evolve its own in-built systems for self-assessment, so that it can live up to the high expectations placed on it by the people. +The Prime Minister, said good infrastructure for the Judiciary was a priority for the Government, and an amount of Rs. 9749 crore had been earmarked for strengthening the Judiciary under the 14th Finance Commission. +He said that under the Digital India Programme, technology should be deployed to bring about a qualititative change in the Judiciary. +He stressed that quality manpower was required for the Judiciary. +He was as concerned about the Human Resource, as he was about the physical infrastructure, the Prime Minister added. +Without going into the details of pendency in litigation and corruption in the Judiciary, the Prime Minister hoped that this forum would suggest some fresh approaches to deal with these issues. +He said Lok Adalats were an effective way of dispensing justice for the common man, and this mechanism should be strengthened further. +Similarly, he stressed the importance of “Family Courts.” +He also called for a comprehensive review of the system of Government-appointed Tribunals, to assess their efficacy and effectiveness. +The Prime Minister said laws are sometimes not drafted well, and therefore lead to multiple interpretations. +He said there should be minimum grey areas, and therefore, drafting of laws requires special attention. +He said he is committed to removal of obsolete laws. +He stressed the need to prepare for emerging areas of litigation such as maritime law and cyber crime. +He said acquaintance with forensic science is now a must for those associated with the legal profession. +The Chief Justice of India, Shri H.L. Dattu, and the Union Minister for Law and Justice, Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda, were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today received the First Vice President of Cuba, Mr. Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez Mario. +The Prime Minister recalled the close and multifaceted relations between the two countries that have been developed during the tenure of President Fidel Castro and nurtured by the successive generation of leadership. +Prime Minister expressed support for greater cooperation, including in the areas of trade and investment, health, biotechnology, renewable energy, sports and human resource development between the two countries. +The Prime Minister appreciated the role being played by Cuba to support the cause of the developing countries, including in international fora. +In this context, he appreciated that Cuba had sent teams of doctors to the affected countries in Africa in the wake of Ebola Crisis. +Recalling his meeting with the leaders of the South American Countries during his visit to Brazil in July 2014, the Prime Minister reiterated the importance that India attached to its relations with the Latin American and Caribbean Countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has bowed to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, on his birth anniversary. +At the invitation of H. E. Shri Ram NathKovind, President of the Republic of India, H.E. Mr. Tran Dai Quang, President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and Spouse paid a State Visit to the Republic of India from 02-04 March 2018. +He also addressed the Viet Nam – India Business Forum and held discussions with several prominent leaders of Indian industry and business. +Earlier, he visited Bodh Gaya. +After the talks, President Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Modi witnessed the exchange of agreements on atomic energy, trade, agriculture and fishery, among others. +They also agreed to hold the next Joint Committee Meeting led by the foreign ministers of the two countries in 2018 in order to review the areas of cooperation and the implementation of the Action Plan of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the period of 2017-2020. +DEFENCE AND SECURITY +Both sides agreed that defence and security cooperation is an important and effective pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and expressed satisfaction at the progress being made in this domain. +They welcomed ongoing exchange of senior level delegations, meetings of consultation mechanisms, stronger cooperation between their armed forces and enhanced cooperation in areas of cyber security, combating terrorism and violent extremism in all their forms and manifestations, transnational crimes, human and drug trafficking, maritime security, climate change and food security. +The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to an open, free, secure, stable, peaceful and accessible cyber space under the auspices of the United Nations and called for greater cooperation and effective implementation of the agreements signed between the two sides on cyber security. +They also agreed to operationalise of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the National Security Council Secretariat of India and the Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam and initiate the Deputy Ministerial level dialogue to enhance cooperation in traditional and non-traditional security matters and undertake training and capacity building programmes. +The Indian side affirmed its continued willingness to partner with Viet Nam in defence cooperation and in building capabilities and capacities for Viet Nam. +Both sides agreed to expedite the implementation of the US$100 million Line of Credit for building of high-speed patrol boats for the Viet Nam Border Guards and urged for early signing of a framework agreement on the US$ 500 million Line of Credit for defence industry. +The Vietnamese side shared India’s concern that terrorism is the most serious threat to global peace, security and stability. +They underscored that there is no justification whatsoever for act of terrorism and recognised that terrorism cannot be and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic groups. +They called upon all nations to adopt a comprehensive approach in combating terrorism, which should include countering radicalisation, recruitment, training and movement of terrorists including Foreign Terrorist Fighters, blocking sources of financing terrorism including through organized crimes, money-laundering, smuggling of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), drug trafficking and other criminal activities, dismantling terrorist bases, safe havens and countering misuse of the internet, cyberspace, including social media and other communication techniques by terrorist entities groups and their affiliates. +The two sides further agreed that they would cooperate in building a strong consensus for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). +Both sides agreed that enhancing strong trade and economic engagement is a strategic objective, a core element of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and are essential for strengthening bilateral ties. +Both leaders expressed satisfaction and commended the significant rise in trade turnover during the last two years. +Both sides agreed to hold the next Meeting of the Joint Sub-Commission on Trade in Ha Noi in 2018 at the earliest. +Both sides encouraged greater two-way investment between Viet Nam and India. +Prime Minister Modi welcomed Vietnamese companies to avail of the favourable investment climate in India under the Make in India programme. +President Tran Dai Quang welcomed Indian companies to invest in Viet Nam and affirmed Viet Nam’s commitment to create favourable conditions and facilitation for Indian investments in accordance with Vietnamese laws. +He applauded Prime Minister Modi’s efforts which improved India’s ranking in the “ease of doing business”. +DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION +President Tran Dai Quang highly appreciated India’s long standing and continued grants-in-aid and lines of credit for Viet Nam. +He thanked India for increasing scholarships to Vietnamese students, researchers, academic professionals and government officials, especially through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, the Mekong – Ganga Cooperation (MGC) framework, as well as the projects under the fund of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), etc. +Prime Minister Modi offered to organisecustomised courses in areas of interest to Viet Nam through the ITEC programme. +The two sides agreed that their cooperation in oil and gas exploration, thermal and hydroelectric power and renewable energy and energy conservation is registering remarkable progress. +Both sides agreed to actively pursue the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on collaboration in oil and gas exploration projects in third countries. +The Vietnamese side also welcomed Indian oil and gas companies to avail of opportunities in the midstream and downstream sectors in Viet Nam. +President Tran Dai Quang welcomed Indian companies to invest in renewable energy and energy conservation projects in Viet Nam and thanked India for extending support to Viet Nam in building a research reactor for the purpose of peaceful uses of atomic energy. +The Vietnamese side took note of the request by the Indian side on actively considering signing the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance with a view to strengthening the cooperation in the renewable energy space. +CULTURE, EDUCATION AND PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGES +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi had four meetings today at Nay Pyi Taw, in addition to the East Asia Summit. +He met the Prime Minister of Russia Mr. Dmitry Medvedev, the President of the Philippines Mr. Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III, the Premier of the People’s Republic of China Mr. Li Keqiang, and the President of Indonesia Mr. Joko Widodo. +During his meeting with Mr. Medvedev, the Prime Minister recalled his visit to Russia in 2001, and expressed confidence that India-Russia ties will be further strengthened. +Prime Minister Medvedev described India as a close and valued partner, and said the two countries were cooperating in many different areas. +Both sides said that federal units of the two countries (states/regions) should cooperate more with each other. +During his meeting with the Prime Minister, President Benigno Aquino assured Shri Narendra Modi that the internal process for signing the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement was well underway. +During his meeting with the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the recent visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping will be remembered as a memorable visit. +The Chinese Premier described President Xinping’s visit as a high success. +The Prime Minister congratulated the Indonesian President, Mr. Joko Widodo on his win, and taking over as President. +A contribution of Rs. 60 crore to the capital of the company would raise the shareholding of the Government to 51 percent. +She apprised the Prime Minister of Oracle’s plans for a state-of-the-art campus centered in Bengaluru, and an initiative to help more than half a million students in India develop computer science skills through Oracle Academy. +Oracle is of the view that the plans are likely to boost Shri Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, and strengthen India’s position as a world class design and manufacturing hub. +The Prime Minister appreciated these initiatives. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated Mr. Leander Paes and Ms. Martina Hingis for winning the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Title. +He also congratulated Mr. Sumit Nagal for winning the Boys’ Doubles title at the Wimbledon. +Congrats again, Martina Hingis. +It was very heartening to see Sumit Nagal win at Wimbledon. +Congrats and best wishes to this young sportsman,” the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi chaired a follow-up meeting today, to review the progress of relief and rescue operations following the major earthquake in Nepal yesterday. +The meeting was attended by Union Ministers Shri Arun Jaitley, Smt Sushma Swaraj, Shri Rajnath Singh and Shri Manohar Parrikar, the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the Cabinet Secretary Shri Ajit Seth, the Additional Principal Secretary Shri P. K. Mishra, and senior officials from the Government, IMD, and NDRF. +The Prime Minister had chaired a high-level meeting yesterday on the subject. +The Prime Minister was briefed on the work being done by various agencies involved in relief and rescue work, both in India and Nepal. +He was also briefed on the situation arising out of the major aftershock that occurred earlier today. +The Prime Minister emphasized the need for further increasing the pace of search and rescue operations, and evacuation of stranded people from Nepal. +The Prime Minister directed that in addition to the air route, the road route should also be used for evacuating stranded people at the earliest. +Vikram Misri, Ambassador of India to Myanmar +Following are the salient features of the Bill: +i. IIMs can grant degrees to their students +IIMs are recognized as world-class management Institutions and Centers of Excellence and have brought laurels to the country. +All IIMs are separate autonomous bodies registered under the Societies Act. +While these awards are treated as equivalent to MBAs and Ph.D, respectively, the equivalence is not universally acceptable, especially for the Fellow Programme. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the extension of the scheme of recapitalization of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) for the next three years i.e. upto 2019-20. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO scientists, on the successful testing of Scramjet Rocket Engine. +“Successful testing of Scramjet Rocket Engine is a testimony to the hardwork and excellence of our scientists. +We have seen time and again how our scientists and space programme has made India very proud”, the Prime Minister said. +(My good friend, Welcome to India!) +Your visit, Prime Minister, is a long-anticipated moment in the journey of friendship between India and Israel. +Your visit is also a fitting climax to the comemoration of 25 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel. +As our first honoured guest in 2018, your visit marks a special beginning to our New Year calendar. +It comes at an especially auspicious time as people all over India are rejoicing the arrival of spring, renewal, hope and harvest. +The festivals of Lohri, Bihu, MakarSankranti, and Pongal celebrate the splendour of India’s diversity and unity. +Last year in July, I carried the greetings and friendship of 1.25 billion Indians during my momentous journey to Israel. +In return, I was overwhelmed by the generous affection and warmth of the Israeli people, led by my friend, Bibi. +And it is a measure of our shared ambition and commitment that six short months after that visit; your extraordinary visit is taking place to India. +Today and yesterday, Prime Minister Netanyahu and I reviewed the progress in our relations and renewed our conversation on the possibilities and the opportunities that beckon us and need to be seized. +Our discussions were wide-ranging and intensive. +They were marked by the desire to do more. +Prime Minister, I have a reputation of being impatient in getting results. +If I may let out an open secret, I know that so are you. +Last year in Tel Aviv, you had expressed the intent to cut down bureaucratic red tape with a machete and forge ahead with speed. +Prime Minister, I am happy to tell you that in India, we are well on our way to doing just that. +We have imparted our shared impatience to the implemntation of our earlier decisions. +The results are already visible on the ground. +Our discussions today were marked by convergence to accelerate our engagement and to scale up our partnership. +We will pursue this in three ways: +· First, we will strengthen the existing pillars of cooperation in areas that touch the lives of our peoples. +These are agriculture, science and technology, and security. +We exchanged views on scaling up the Centers of Excellence that have been a main-stay of agricultural cooperation by bringing in advanced Israeli practices and technology. +In defence, I have invited Israeli companies to take advantage of the liberalized FDI regime to make more in India with our companies. +You will find this reflected in the agreements that were just exchanged. +Several of these areas are indicative of our desire to diversify and broad-base engagement. +we are committed to facilitating the flow of people and ideas between our geographies. +It requires policy facilitation, infrastructure and connectivity links and fostering constituencies of support beyond Government. +We have also decided to start an annual exchange of bilateral visits by 100 young people from science-related educational streams. +Thriving two-way trade and investment is an integral part of our vision for a strong partnership. +Prime Minister Netanyahu and I agreed on the need to do more in this direction. +After the meeting in Tel Aviv last year, we will interact for the second time with our CEOs under the bilateral Forum. +I welcome the large business component that Prime Minister Netanyahu has brought along with him. +Prime Minister Netanyahu and I also exchanged perspectives on the regional and global situation. +We reviewed our cooperation as a factor for stability and peace in our regions and the world. +Yesterday, as his first stop after touching Indian soil, Prime Minister Netanyahu joined me at the re-named Teen Murti Haifa Chowk to pay homage to the memory of the brave Indian soldiers who laid down their lives a century ago in the Battle of Haifa in Israel. +We are both countries that have never forgotten our history and our heroes. +And we deeply appreciate this gesture by Prime Minister Netanyahu. +As we look to the future of this exciting partnership with Israel, I am filled with hope and optimism. +In Prime Minister Netanyahu, I have a counter-part who is equally committed to taking the India-Israel relationship to soaring new heights. +Finally, I am delighted to have the chance to be with you, Prime Minister , in my home state, Gujarat, day after. +There, we will have another opportunity to see the fulfillment of the promise, which our mutual cooperation holds in diverse areas such as agriculture, technology, and innovation. +I wish Prime Minister Netanyahu, Mrs. Netanyahu and the delegation a memorable stay in India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited the historic Tulsi Manas Temple in Varanasi this evening. +He released a postal stamp on “Ramayana,” on this occasion. +Emphasizing the significance of the occasion, when a stamp on the theme of “Ramayana” is being released in the precincts of the Tulsi Manas Temple, the Prime Minister said that stamps have a special place in society. +They are a wonderful way to preserve our history, he added. +The Prime Minister also spoke of how the life and ideals of Lord Rama continue to inspire everyone. +The Prime Minister later visited the Durga Mata Temple, and Durga Kund. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Ms. Jayalalithaa, on flood situation in parts of the State. +“Spoke to Jayalalithaa ji on the flood situation in parts of Tamil Nadu. +Assured all possible support and cooperation in this unfortunate hour”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +The Prime Minister described the effort devoted towards making the hospital as “commendable”, and added that the state-of-the-art hospital would benefit citizens. +He emphasized that the poor must have access to quality and affordable healthcare. +In this context he talked about the Union Government’s initiatives to bring down the prices of medicines, stents etc. +He said he is committed to providing affordable healthcare for the poor and the middle class. +Calling for focus on preventive healthcare, the Prime Minister said that the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is linked to efforts towards a healthier India. +The Prime Minister said Surat has made a mark in the diamond industry but there is now need to look at the entire gems and jewellery sector. +He said that as far as the gems and jewellery sector is concerned, our aim should not only be ‘Make in India’ but also ‘Design in India’. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today (25th September 2015) met the Prime Minister of Bhutan Mr. Tshering Tobgay in New York City. +Mr. Tobgay congratulated the Prime Minister on what he described as a “visionary” statement at the United Nations Summit for the adoption of Post-2015 Development Agenda. +The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the progress being made on hydro-electric projects in Bhutan. +Mr. Tobgay reiterated Bhutan’s support for India’s permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. +The Prime Minister met the President of Sri Lanka, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena. +He complimented the Sri Lankan President for the two elections that were successfully conducted in Sri Lanka this year, saying that this showed the deep-rooted democratic traditions of that country. +The reconciliation process and Indian investment in various projects in Sri Lanka also came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister met the Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr. Stefan Lofven. +Satisfaction was expressed at the recent substantive and fruitful visit of President Pranab Mukherjee to Sweden. +India invited Sweden to participate in various initiatives including Make in India. +The Prime Minister met the President of Cyprus, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades. +The Prime Minister noted the long-standing relationship with Cyprus, and said though the two countries were physically far apart, they were emotionally close to each other. +The Cyprus President described India as one of the strongest friends of Cyprus. +I am visiting Nepal from 3 to 4 August 2014 at the invitation of the Government of Nepal. +I am excited about my visit and pleased that I am able to go there within weeks of assuming office as Prime Minister. +My visit reflects our shared heritage of nature, history, culture, spiritualism and religion. +It highlights the high priority that my Government attaches to our relations with Nepal and our determination to take our relationship to an entirely new level. +My visit will be the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Nepal in 17 years. +I was delighted that Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had graced my swearing in ceremony with his presence, which demonstrated the solidarity of the people of Nepal with India and our shared commitment to democracy. +The India-Nepal Joint Commission Meeting chaired by our respective Foreign Ministers also met recently after a long gap of 23 years and reviewed the entire gamut of our bilateral relations and cooperation with a focus on economic relations, trade and connectivity. +During my visit, I will have the opportunity to hold detailed discussions with the Nepalese leadership on the entire gamut of bilateral relations. +I look forward to working with the leadership of Nepal to forge a new relationship for the new century between our two rapidly transforming countries. +We will identify steps to strengthen our bilateral cooperation in key sectors, including trade and investment, hydro power, agriculture and agro-processing, environment, tourism, education, culture and sports. +I will also discuss with Nepali leadership and their business leaders how we can harness the full potential of the new digital age to empower and create new opportunities for the youth of the two countries. +Nepal has made admirable progress in its peace process and political transition towards a multiparty democracy. +The successful conduct of the Constituent Assembly-cum-Parliamentary elections in November 2013 is yet another tribute to the sagacity of the Nepalese leadership and the people of Nepal. +I am truly grateful to the people and the elected representatives of Nepal for giving me the rare honour of addressing the Parliament of Nepal. +As a close friend and neighbour, we have had the privilege of being a leading partner in Nepal`s socio-economic development. +We are committed to continuing our support to Nepal in its development efforts. +Our ongoing major projects for development of border infrastructure will usher in economic prosperity to people living on both sides of the border and also enhance connectivity. +During the visit, we will explore the ways to further strengthen our development cooperation. +I will also discuss with the Nepalese leadership the steps to further strengthen people-to-people contacts between our countries, and how to connect lives across our open borders more seamlessly, particularly among the youth. +Huge relief for senior citizens who have to produce Life Certificates each year to continue receiving pension. +The Prime Minister said that after the push towards self-certification, this digital life certificate was another enabling mechanism which would benefit the common man. +The proposed digital certification will do away with the requirement of a pensioner having to submit a physical Life Certificate in November each year, in order to ensure continuity of pension being credited into his account. +The Department of Electronics and IT has developed a software application which will enable the recording of the pensioner`s Aadhar number and biometric details from his mobile device or computer, by plugging in a biometric reading device. +This will conclusively establish that the pensioner was alive at the time of authentication. +The earlier requirement entailed that a pensioner either personally presents himself before the Pension Disbursing Agency, or submits a Life Certificate issued by authorities specified by the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO). +At present, 50 lakh individuals draw pension from the Central Government alone. +A similar number draw pension from State and Union Territory Governments. +Several PSUs also provide pension benefits. +Over 25 lakh retired personnel draw pension from the Armed Forces. +The Aadhar-Based Digital Life Certificate will go a long way in reducing hardship which so many senior citizens have to go through to produce a Life Certificate every year. +The software application system will be made available to pensioners and other stakeholders on a large scale at no extra cost. +It can be operated on a personal computer or a smartphone, along with an inexpensive biometric reading device. +This facility will also be made available at Common Service Centres being operated under the National e-Governance Plan, for the benefit of pensioners residing in remote and inaccessible areas. +Makes an emotional appeal to misguided youth to shun violence. +PM: Shoulders of youth should bear ploughs (hul), not gun. +Witnesses signing of four MoUs in railway and steel sectors. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today made an emotional appeal to left-wing extremists to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream of development. +Addressing a large public gathering at Dantewada, the Prime Minister urged all misguided youth to leave their weapons, and spend a few days with children who have lost their parents due to incidents of left-wing extremism. +He said those children would certainly inspire misguided youth to lay down arms forever. +He said shoulders of youth should now bear ploughs, rather than guns. +The Prime Minister spoke of his extensive interaction with children of Dantewada, earlier in the day, and said that these children had both the dreams and the confidence to achieve them. +He said these children, and the state of Chhattisgarh needed an atmosphere of peace, for these dreams to be realized. +The Prime Minister recalled that Punjab had successfully overcome violence, and expressed confidence that Chhattisgarh too would be able to overcome left-wing extremism. +He said Chhattisgarh had the potential to emerge as one of the most developed states in India. +He added that the investment of Rs. 24,000 crore that would flow into the region, as a result of the MoUs signed today in the Railways and steel sectors, will bring about a big change in the lives of people. +The Prime Minister said that employment for youth was the first and foremost requirement of all parts of India, and his Government was working to achieve that goal. +He said India had successfully left behind its past of corruption and slow pace of development. +He said the whole world had now recognized India to be one of the fastest growing economies. +The Prime Minister, who had visited the Livelihood College before arriving for the public meeting, appreciated the initiatives for skill development being taken by the Government of Chhattisgarh. +Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Shri Raman Singh, and Union Ministers Shri Narendra Singh Tomar and Shri Vishnudeo Sai were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired the Second Meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog in New Delhi. +The Council held consultations on the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act. +In his opening remarks at the meeting, the Prime Minister said the Centre and States must move together to end poverty. +He said the political deadlock over land acquisition is seriously impacting rural development, including the creation of schools, hospitals, roads and irrigation projects. +He reiterated that as far as paying enhanced compensation is concerned, there are no differences in the stands of the Centre and States. +The Prime Minister reiterated the vision of his Government, that state units should be the focus of all development efforts, as part of “Team India.” +He recalled that Chief Ministers had always felt that development policies at the Centre should be framed in consultation with the States. +The Prime Minister said that the last one year had been a good beginning, with States being taken on board in the planning process, and State Chief Ministers taking the lead in sub-groups of the NITI Aayog. +The Prime Minister said that after formation of his Government, several States had raised concerns with regard to the implementation of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. +He said many States had felt that development work was suffering due to the provisions of the 2013 Act; and some Chief Ministers had requested for changes in the Act, and sent letters to this effect. +The Prime Minister said that the Ordinance was brought about in response to these development concerns of the States, and also to ensure that farmers continue to receive their legitimate due. +He said the matter is now before the Parliamentary Standing Committee, and therefore, ahead of the upcoming Parliament session, it was appropriate that the suggestions of States be listened to, once again. +In conclusion, the Prime Minister thanked the Chief Ministers for their participation, and said their suggestions would be welcomed. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Singapore in June, 2018 on the constitution of a Joint Working Group (JWG) on FinTech. +The Joint Working Group on FinTech between India and Singapore has been constituted for cooperation in the area of FinTech between the two countries. +Collaboration of India with Singapore will benefit both India and Singapore to excel in the fields of Development of Application Programming Interfaces (APls), Regulatory Sandbox, Security in payment and digital cash flow, integration of RuPay-Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS), UPI-FAST payment link, AADHAR Stack and e-KYC in ASEAN region and cooperation on regulations, solutions for financial markets and insurance sector and sand box models. +Terms of References of the JWG: +I. Exchange of best practices +to improve regulatory connect, with a view to exchange best practices: +i. Promote experience sharing on policies and regulations related to FinTech; +ii. Encourage the creation of standards related to the use of data in a non-discriminatory manner by FinTech firms and entities. +to promote co-operation between the financial technology industry in India and Singapore: +1. Promote co-operation between firms in the FinTech sector; +2. Promote development of FinTech solutions for business/financial sectors; +(a) Encourage the creation of an international version of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and standards that are inter-operable with the APIs created in public systems in India and Singapore to: +i. Enable cross-border authentication and Electronic Know-Your-Customer (e-KYC) of residents using digital identities; +ii. Enable payment linkages-cooperation between Unified Payment Interface (DPI) and Fast And Secure Transfer (FAST) digital fund transfer platforms; +iii. Enable cross-learning on RuPay Credit/Debit Cards through linkages between National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS) payment networks; +iv. Enable DPI and Quick response (QR) code-based payment acceptance; and +v. Enable the use of digital signatures such as through e-Sign, across borders. +(b) Encourage co-operation between India and Singapore on: +i. Digital governance; +ii. Financial inclusion; and +iii. Partnership in the ASEAN Financial Innovation Network (AFIN) agenda. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for Revised Cost Estimate (RCE) of Rs. 7290.62 crore for the ongoing 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (HEP) in Bhutan. +The total cost escalation for the project, at this stage, is Rs.3512.82 crore. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will inaugurate a stretch of the new Magenta line of the Delhi Metro on 25th December. +The line connects Botanical Garden in Noida with Kalkaji Mandir in Delhi. +It will significantly reduce travel time between Noida and South Delhi. +On this occasion, the Prime Minister will also address a public meeting in Noida. +The new line represents one more link in the Union Government’s push to modernize urban transport in the country. +It represents the drive towards technology-centric, and environment-friendly mass rapid urban transport systems. +As on both those occasions, the Prime Minister will travel on a stretch of this new line, before arriving at the venue of the public meeting. +Shri Narendra Modi has often used the metro to travel for engagements in the National Capital Region. +In January 2016, the Prime Minister, and the then French President Francois Hollande travelled from Delhi to Gurgaon, to jointly lay the foundation stone of the Headquarters of the International Solar Alliance. +More recently, in April 2017, the Prime Minister, and the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull travelled by metro to the Akshardham Temple. +In keeping with the objective of enhancing connectivity through mass rapid transit systems, the Union Government has launched nine metro projects covering a stretch of nearly 165 kilometers over the past three and a half years. +Five new Metro Rail Projects covering a total length of over 140 kilometers have been approved. +Metro Lines of around 250 kilometer length are proposed to be commissioned over the next two years. +IIITDM Kurnool to be declared as Institute of National Importance +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of The Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Parliament. +The amendment Bill provides for inclusion of Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM), Kurnool along with the other IIITs in the Principal Act. +Subsequently, IIITDM Kurnool will be declared as an institute of National Importance with the power to award degrees to students +The expenditure for the operationalization of IIITDM Kurnool is incurred from the Plan funds of the Ministry of Human Resource Development. +The Institute shall be open to all persons irrespective of gender, caste, creed, disability, domicile, ethnicity, social or economic background. +Subsequently, the Government has approved creation of a new NIT at Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh as embodied in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014. +Academic session has commenced in IIITDM Kurnool in two branches of study in 2015-16. +Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth to be the Chief Guest Theme of PBD 2019 – Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Convention at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh tomorrow on 22 January, 2019. +For the first time, the three day long convention is being organized in Varanasi from 21-23 January, 2019. +The theme of PBD Convention 2019 is “Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India”. +In reverence to the sentiments of the larger diaspora to participate in Kumbh Mela and Republic Day celebrations, the 15th PBD Convention is being organised from 21 to 23 January 2019 instead of 9th January. +After the Convention, participants will visit Prayagraj for Kumbh Mela on 24th January. +They will then proceed to Delhi on 25th January and witness the Republic Day Parade at New Delhi on 26th January 2019. +Prime Minister of Mauritius Mr. Pravind Jugnauth will be the chief guest of the PBD convention. +Mr. Himanshu Gulati, Member of Parliament of Norway, will be the Special Guest while Mr. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Member of Parliament of New Zealand will be the Guest of Honor at the 15th edition of PBD. +Key events of this edition include- +21 January, 2019- Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. +The event will provide opportunities for the young Diaspora to engage with New India. +22 January 2019 – Inauguration of PBD convention by Prime Minister in presence of Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth. +23 January 2019 – Valedictory Session & Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards by the President of India. +Various plenary sessions are also scheduled during the event. +The evenings are marked with cultural programs. +The decision to celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) was taken by the former Indian Prime Minister, late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. +The 1st PBD was celebrated on 9th January, 2003 in New Delhi. +January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate PBD as it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, had returned to India from South Africa. +During the Convention, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman is conferred on the selected overseas Indians for their significant contributions to various fields both in India and abroad. +14th PBD held during 7–9 January 2017 at Bengaluru, Karnataka was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. +The theme for the 14th PBD was “Redefining engagement with the Indian diaspora”. +In his address, Mr. Modi had said that Indian diaspora represents the best of Indian culture, ethos and values and are respected for their contributions. +He underlined the importance of a continuous engagement with the overseas Indian community as a key area of priority for the Government. +In doing so, the portal is expected to help catalyse greater collaboration towards the service of the weaker sections of society, especially by leveraging the benefits of technology. +It is also expected to generate wider participation of interested people who are motivated to work for the benefit of society. +Interacting with a wide cross-section of IT and electronic manufacturing professionals, captains of industry and technocrats on the occasion, the Prime Minister said he is sure that people want to work for others, serve society and make a positive difference. +Among those who interacted with the Prime Minister today were Shri Anand Mahindra, SmtSudhaMurthy, and a number of young professionals, from India’s top IT companies. +The Prime Minister noted that he observes India’s youngsters leveraging the power of technology very well. +He said that they are using technology not only for themselves but also for the welfare of others. +He described this as a wonderful sign. +Responding to questions in a townhall style interaction, the Prime Minister said that it is essential to step out of our comfort zone. +There is so much to learn and discover, he added. +The Prime Minister said that on many occasions, what the “Sarkar” cannot do, “Sanskar” can do. +Let us make cleanliness a part of our value systems, he added. +The Prime Minister said that through volunteering efforts, a lot can be done in the agriculture sector. +Youngsters must venture out and work for the welfare of farmers, he added. +The Prime Minister asserted that more people are paying taxes because they have faith that their money is being used properly and for the welfare of people. +He said that India is making a mark in the start-up sector due to the talent of its youth. +Responding to a team that is working to create rural digital entrepreneurs, the Prime Minister said that it is important to create an India where everyone has equal opportunities. +The Prime Minister said doing social work should be a matter of great pride for everyone. +Expressing disagreement with the trend to criticize business and industry, the Prime Minister said that this townhall programme has illustrated how leading corporates are doing excellent social work, and urging their employees to venture out and serve the people. +The Prime Minister announced that India will give Nepal 10,000 crore Nepali rupee concessional line of credit, for its development. +The Prime Minister announced that he is keen to double power supply to Nepal. +The Prime Minister said pipelines would be built to help transport oil to Nepal. +He said scholarships to students from Nepal would be increased. +India would help Nepal emerge as a major exporter of herbal medicines. +India would also help develop the tourism potential of Nepal, both as a spiritual, and adventure tourism destination. +The India-Nepal border should not be a barrier but a bridge which helps bring prosperity to both sides, the Prime Minister said. +He offered assistance to Nepal in the fields of organic farming, and soil health. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the bus accident in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. +“Extremely distressed by the loss of lives caused by the bus accident in Ratlam, MP. +My thoughts are with the bereaved families. +I wish those injured in the bus accident in Ratlam a quick recovery”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today invited the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation – the ONGC – to take up a challenge, on the occasion of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay’s birth anniversary. +Addressing officers and staff of the ONGC at a function to mark the launch of the SAUBHAGYA Yojana, the Prime Minister exhorted them to work towards making an efficient electric chulha (stove), which would enable cooking through the use of electricity. +The Prime Minister said this innovation would, in one stroke, significantly impact the nation’s dependence on imported fuel. +He said that while the world is working towards electric cars, in India, in addition to electric cars, electric stoves would go a long way in meeting the needs of the people. +He asked ONGC to invite startups and youth to innovate in this field. +A team of students involved in building satellite “Sathyabamasat” called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in New Delhi, today. +They were accompanied by Vice-Chancellor of Sathyabama University, Dr. B. Sheela Rani. +The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the team in building a satellite to collect data on greenhouse gases. +“Sathyabamasat” was one of the twenty satellites launched by ISRO using launch vehicle PSLV-C34 on June 22, 2016. +It is indeed a great pleasure for me to welcome Her Excellency Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on her first State Visit to India. +Excellency, you are no stranger to the people of India. +Your clear vision, mature leadership, struggle and eventual success in establishing democracy in Myanmar has inspired people across the world. +It is indeed an honour for us to receive you in India. +We are also grateful for your participation at the BIMSTEC and the BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach Summit in Goa a couple of days ago. +Let me assure you, Excellency, that as you lead Myanmar to become a modern, secure, economically prosperous and better connected nation, India and its friendship will stand with you in full support and solidarity. +We have offered to scale up the power supply from Moreh in Manipur to Tamu in Myanmar. +As close and friendly neighbours, the security interests of India and Myanmar are closely aligned. +We have agreed that a close coordination to ensure security in the areas along our border, and sensitivity to each other’s strategic interests, will serve the interests of both our countries. +Our societies enjoy a cultural connect that is centuries old. +We have offered assistance in restoring pagodas damaged in the recent earthquake in Myanmar. +The Archaeological Survey of India will also soon begin work on restoring two old temples and inscriptions of King Mindon and King Baygyidaw in Bodh Gaya. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will meet and interact with a delegation of about 150 sugarcane farmers at Lok Kalyan Marg on June 29, 2018. +The delegation will consist of farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Maharashtra and Karnataka. +The Union Government’s interventions and initiatives taken for the sugarcane sector are likely to come up for discussion during the meeting. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, attended the Gita Aradhana Mahotsav at ISKCON-Glory of India Cultural Centre, New Delhi, today. +He unveiled a unique Bhagwad Gita, prepared by ISKCON devotees. +It measures over 2.8 meters and weighs over 800 kg. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that it is indeed a special occasion to unveil this magnificent Bhagwad Gita. +He said this unique book will become a symbol of India’s knowledge, to the world. +The Prime Minister recalled that Lokmanya Tilak had written the “Gita Rahasya,” while in jail, in which he explained in a simple way, Lord Krishna’s message of Nishkam Karma. +He also mentioned that Mahatma Gandhi wrote “Bhagwad Gita according to Gandhi.” +He added that a copy of this book was given by him to the former US President, Barack Obama. +The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupadaji, in raising global awareness about this epic. +The Prime Minister said that the Bhagwad Gita can always be our guide when we face a dilemma in life. +Recalling a famous verse from the Gita, he said that the divine force is always with us, as we fight against the enemies of humanity. +He said the Gita inspires one, to service of the people, and the nation. +The Prime Minister said that Indian values and culture offer solutions to many problems being faced by humanity. +In this context, he also mentioned Yoga and Ayurveda. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Mundra LNG terminal, the Anjar-Mundra Pipeline Project and the Palanpur-Pali-Barmer pipeline project, at Anjar. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the affection he receives in Kutch is unparalleled. +He appreciated the development work that has happened in the Kutch region over the last 20 years. +He said that the inauguration of the LNG terminal is the highlight of today’s programme. +I am fortunate to have inaugurated three LNG terminals, he added. +Shri Narendra Modi said that when Gujarat got its first LNG terminal, people were surprised. +Now, the State is poised to make a fourth LNG terminal, he added. +Gujarat is emerging as an LNG hub of India, the Prime Minister said, adding that this should make every Gujarati proud. +The Prime Minister said that the aspirations of people are rising, and they want i-ways, gas grids, water grids, and optical fibre networks in addition to conventional infrastructure. +The Prime Minister said that there are ample opportunities in the tourism sector, and the world is keen to come to India. +We have seen in Kutch too, how the White Rann has become the cynosure of all eyes from across the world, he added. +He spoke of the steps taken by the Union Government to make the aviation sector more affordable and improve connectivity. +The Prime Minister also spoke of the efforts made to ensure that all villages are electrified, and the work being done towards electrifying every single household in India. +We want to bring qualitative changes in the lives of the common citizen of India, he added. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released the fourth volume of Selected Speeches of President Pranab Mukherjee. +He described President Pranab Mukherjee as extremely knowledgeable and extremely simple. +He said that whenever he would discuss official matters with President Pranab Mukherjee, the President would guide him and offer constructive feedback. +He complimented the President’s team for this effort. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said the Nation can no longer wait for the second green revolution, which must come from eastern India. +He was speaking at the 87th ICAR Foundation Day Celebrations at Patna. +The Prime Minister praised Indian scientists for their work despite budgetary constraints, and emphasized the need for scientific innovations in the agriculture sector to move from “lab to land,” so that farmers can benefit from them. +The Prime Minister stressed on the need for value addition in agriculture. +He mentioned one of the recent episodes of the radio programme “Mann Ki Baat,” where he had spoken about the need to increase production of pulses and oilseeds. +He expressed happiness that based on data available so far, there appeared to be a huge increase in the sown area of pulses and oilseeds this year. +He said India must aim to become totally self-sufficient in the agriculture sector. +The Prime Minister presented the ICAR Awards 2014, and launched five ICAR programmes. +The Governor of Bihar Shri Keshri Nath Tripathi, the Chief Minister of Bihar Shri Nitish Kumar, the Union Minister for Agriculture Shri Radha Mohan Singh, and Union MoS for Agriculture Shri Mohanbhai Kundariya and Shri Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, were present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid homage to the martyrs of 2001 Parliament attack. +“We salute the valour of those who were martyred during the dastardly attack on our Parliament on this day in 2001. +Their courage and heroism inspires every Indian”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the mechanism and procedure for sale of the enemy shares. +Details are as follows: +‘In principle’ approval has been accorded for sale of enemy shares under the Custody of Ministry of Home Affairs/ Custodian of Enemy Property of India (CEPI), as per sub-section 1 of section 8A of the Enemy Property Act, 1968. +Department of Investment and Public Asset Management has been authorized under the provisions of sub-section 7 of section 8A of the Enemy Property Act, 1968, to sell the same. +Sale proceeds are to be deposited as disinvestment proceeds in the Government Account maintained by Ministry of Finance. +A total number of 6,50,75,877 shares in 996 companies of 20,323 shareholders are under the custody of CEPI. +The process for selling these shares is to be approved by the Alternative Mechanism (AM) under the Chairmanship of Finance Minister and comprising Minister of Road Transport and Highway and Home Minister. +Before initiation of sale of any Enemy Shares, the CEPI shall certify that the sale of the Enemy Shares is not in contravention of any judgment, decree or order of any court, tribunal or other authority or any law for the time being in force and can be disposed off by the Government. +The advisors/ intermediaries like Merchant Bankers, Legal Adviser, Selling Brokers etc. as may be required for the disposal of movable enemy property, will be appointed by DIPAM through an open tender/limited tender process. +An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) will guide the process of sale. +In the Act of 1968, the definition of “enemy” was as follows: “enemy” or “enemy subject” or “enemy firm” means a person or country who or which was an enemy, an enemy subject or an enemy firm, as the case may be, under the Defence of India Act and Rules, but does not include a citizen of India. +In the amendment of 2017, this was substituted by “…. including his legal heir or successor, whether or not citizen of India or the citizen of a country which is not an enemy or the enemy….. who has changed his nationality”. +The decision will lead to monetization of enemy shares that had been lying dormant for decades since coming into force and the Enemy Property Act in 1968. +With the amendment of 2017, an enabling legislative provision was created for the disposal of enemy property. +With the approval, now, of the procedure and mechanism for sale of enemy shares an enabling framework has been institutionalized for their sale. +The decision will lead to monetization of movable enemy property lying dormant for decades. +Sale proceeds from this may be used for development and social welfare programmes. +In 2017, through an amendment to this Act, vide Section 8A, the CEPI has been empowered for sale of enemy property. +Further, “ Notwithstanding anything contained in any judgment, decree or order of any court, tribunal or other authority or any law for the time being in force, the Custodian may, within such time as may be specified by the Central Government in this behalf, dispose of whether by sale or otherwise, as the case may be, with prior approval of the Central Government, by general or special order, enemy properties vested in him immediately before the date of commencement of the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2017 in accordance with the provisions of this Act, as amended by the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2017”. +According to amendment, as in sub-section 7 of section 8A of the Enemy Property Act, 1968, Central Government may direct that disposal of enemy property shall be made by any other authority or Ministry or Department instead of Custodian. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between India and France in the field of environment. +The Memorandum of Cooperation is expected to bring in the latest technologies and best practices suited to bringing about better environment protection, better conservation, better management of climate change and wildlife protection/conservation. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the derailment of the Utkal Express in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. +The Prime Minister informed that the situation is being monitored very closely, and that the Railways Ministry and UP Government are doing everything possible and providing all assistance required. +“Extremely pained by the derailment of the Utkal Express in Muzaffarnagar. +My thoughts are with the families of the deceased. +I wish those injured a speedy recovery. +The situation is being monitored very closely by the Railways Ministry. +Railways Ministry and UP Government are doing everything possible and providing all assistance required in the wake of the train derailment”, the Prime Minister said. +The decision is also part of the Government’s plans to boost infrastructure in key sectors for accelerating the pace of growth. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to Implementation of the National Hydrology Project. +It will be a central sector scheme with a total outlay of Rs. 3679.7674 crore. +The project envisages to cover the entire country as the earlier hydrology projects covered only 13 States. +FDI policy further liberalized in key sectors +• 100% FDI under automatic route for Single Brand Retail Trading +• 100% FDI under automatic route in Construction Development +• Foreign airlines allowed to invest up to 49% under approval route in Air India +• FIIs/FPIs allowed to invest in Power Exchanges through primary market +• Definition of ‘medical devices’ amended in the FDI Policy +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to a number of amendments in the FDI Policy. +These are intended to liberalise and simplify the FDI policy so as to provide ease of doing business in the country. +In turn, it will lead to larger FDI inflows contributing to growth of investment, income and employment. +Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a major driver of economic growth and a source of non-debt finance for the economic development of the country. +Government has put in place an investor friendly policy on FDI, under which FDI up to 100%, is permitted on the automatic route in most sectors/ activities. +Measures undertaken by the Government have resulted in increased FDI inflows in to the country. +During the year 2014-15, total FDI inflows received were US $ 45.15 billion as against US $ 36.05 billion in 2013-14. +During 2015-16, country received total FDI of US $ 55.46 billion. +In the financial year 2016-17, total FDI of US $ 60.08 billion has been received, which is an all-time high. +It has been felt that the country has potential to attract far more foreign investment which can be achieved by further liberalizing and simplifying the FDI regime. +Accordingly, the Government has decided to introduce a number of amendments in the FDI Policy. +Government approval no longer required for FDI in Single Brand Retail Trading (SBRT) +Civil Aviation +However, this provision was presently not applicable to Air India, thereby implying that foreign airlines could not invest in Air India. +Construction Development: Townships, Housing, Built-up Infrastructure and Real Estate Broking Services +It has been decided to clarify that real-estate broking service does not amount to real estate business and is therefore, eligible for 100% FDI under automatic route. +Extant policy provides for 49% FDI under automatic route in Power Exchanges registered under the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Power Market) Regulations, 2010. +However, FII/FPI purchases were restricted to secondary market only. +It has now been decided to do away with this provision, thereby allowing FIIs/FPIs to invest in Power Exchanges through primary market as well. +Other Approval Requirements under FDI Policy: +1. As per the extant FDI policy, issue of equity shares against non-cash considerations like pre-incorporation expenses, import of machinery etc. is permitted under Government approval route. +It has now been decided to align FDI policy on these sectors with FDI policy provisions on Other Financial Services. +Competent Authority for examining FDI proposals from countries of concern +It has now been decided that for investments in automatic route sectors, requiring approval only on the matter of investment being from country of concern, FDI applications would be processed by Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) for Government approval. +Cases under the government approval route, also requiring security clearance with respect to countries of concern, will continue to be processed by concerned Administrative Department/Ministry. +FDI policy on Pharmaceuticals sector inter-alia provides that definition of medical device as contained in the FDI Policy would be subject to amendment in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. +As the definition as contained in the policy is complete in itself, it has been decided to drop the reference to Drugs and Cosmetics Act from FDI policy. +Further, it has also been decided to amend the definition of ‘medical devices’ as contained in the FDI Policy. +Prohibition of restrictive conditions regarding audit firms: +The extant FDI policy does not have any provisions in respect of specification of auditors that can be appointed by the Indian investee companies receiving foreign investments. +It has been decided to provide in the FDI policy that wherever the foreign investor wishes to specify a particular auditor/audit firm having international network for the Indian investee company, then audit of such investee companies should be carried out as joint audit wherein one of the auditors should not be part of the same network. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has given his message on Earth Day. +“Earth Day is the perfect occasion to reaffirm our commitment to keep our Planet clean, green and focus on sustainable development. +We belong to a culture that believes in the Mantra- “माता भूमिः पुत्रोऽहं पृथिव्याः” (Earth is our Mother and we are her children). +Caring for the environment is an integral part of our ethos. +India can truly show the way to the world in mitigating climate change,” the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets. +The Indian delegation was led by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. +The key focus of meeting was to finalize guidelines for implementation of Paris Agreement in post 2020 period. +India reiterated its commitment to Paris Agreement and highlighted its leadership during the COP-24 by reuniting its promise to implement the Paris Agreement fully in a collective manner. +The adopted guidance operationalises the obligation of developed countries in providing means of implementation to developing countries and requires developed countries to provide detailed information to bring clarity on projected levels of climate finance. +Parties have also agreed to initiate the work on setting up the new collective finance goals post-2020 from the floor of US$ 100 billion. +Overall, India’s long-term interests have been protected. +Members of the Club des Chefs des Chefs (Club of Presidential Chefs from across the Globe), called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Club comprises personal chefs of the heads of state of two dozen countries. +It has been informally described as the world’s most exclusive gastronomic society. +Besides Delhi, the chefs will be visiting Agra and Jaipur as well. +Members of the Club include Mr. Montu Saini, Chef to the President of India; Ms. Cristeta Comerford, Chef to the President of the USA; and Mr. Mark Flanagan, Chef to Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom,, amongst others. +The chefs posed for a group photograph with the Prime Minister, and presented him with mementoes. +After creation of these posts in CRPF, the operational efficiency and capacity building of the Force including its administrative capabilities would be enhanced. +Under the cadre review, the increase in existing structure of Group ‘A’ posts from 4210 to 4300 posts is as under:- +1. Increase of one post of Special DG (HAG + level). +2. Net increase of 11 posts of Inspector General (SAG level). +3. Net increase of 277 posts of DIG/Commandant/2-l/C (JAG level). +4. Net reduction of 199 posts of Deputy Commandants (STS level). +The first Cadre Review of the service was conducted in 1983 and the second and last Cadre Review was conducted in 1991. +Though no formal cadre review has been carried out after 1991, major augmentation-cum-restructuring were carried out in 2004 and 2009. +During these augmentations, additional battalions were raised without proportionate addition of supervisory and support staff. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has today approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) amongst BRICS Nations on the Regional Aviation Partnership Cooperation viz. +Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. +The objective is that BRICS countries would benefit from the establishing of an institutional framework to cooperate in the field of civil aviation. +Among the areas of cooperation, following areas have been identified: +The MoU signifies an important landmark in the civil aviation relations between India and other BRICS Member States and has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges amongst the BRICS Nations. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Network-18 Rising India Summit in New Delhi. +He expressed happiness that he has got an opportunity to speak on the subject “Rising India”, just a short while after dedicating the Rashtriya Samar Smaarak, or National War Memorial, to the nation. +He said the theme – Beyond Politics: Defining National Priorities – is an extremely important one. +He said he will approach the subject by drawing a contrast between the past and the present, to illustrate the kind of results that can be achieved when national interest is prioritized. +He described how, before 2014, inflation and income tax rates were high, whereas GDP growth was low. +He said now, GDP growth is back in the range of 7 to 8 percent, while inflation and fiscal deficit are low. +He said people have also been given relief, as far as income tax is concerned. +Today, we stand at 77, he said. +The Prime Minister said one reason for this decline in “Doing Business” ranking, was corruption. +In this context, he mentioned various scandals that had hit the headlines at that time, including coal, CWG, spectrum etc. +He explained how the Union Government began with the Jan Dhan Yojana, under which 34 crore bank accounts have been opened. +He said these accounts were linked with Aadhaar numbers and mobile phones. +Today, he said, benefits under about 425 welfare schemes are being directly transferred to these bank accounts. +He said that six lakh crore rupees have been transferred directly to beneficiaries. +He said 8 crore fake beneficiaries were also eliminated in the process, 1.1 lakh crore rupees are being saved. +The Prime Minister mentioned that the Ayushman Bharat scheme also does not have any scope for leakage, as the money is transferred directly into the account of the hospital. +The beneficiaries have Aadhaar cards, and have been selected based on the 2015 socio-economic survey. +Similarly, he said, leakages are not possible in the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, wherein about 12 crore farmers will receive direct benefit transfers. +The Prime Minister mentioned projects such as the Bansagar Dam in Uttar Pradesh, and the Mandal Dam in Jharkhand, which have seen huge cost escalations, as they have been delayed for decades. +He said the honest taxpayer was paying for these delays. +The Prime Minister said that he has himself reviewed progress of projects worth over 12 lakh crore rupees, under the PRAGATI initiative. +He said a lot of these projects are in the North-East. +He said Eastern India has been a focus area for the Government. +On employment, the Prime Minister said that India is now the fastest growing major economy; FDI is at an all-time high; poverty is reducing rapidly, as per international reports; pace of infrastructure development is faster than before; and tourism is rising. +He said all of this could not be possible without employment opportunities also increasing. +He also spoke of the increase in numbers of professionals, and commercial vehicles sold. +He said that under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, more than 15 crore entrepreneurs have been given loans worth more than 7 lakh crore rupees. +He said that this too, would lead to creation of jobs. +The Prime Minister also mentioned rising numbers of EPFO subscribers. +The Prime Minister said that the role of media is important in the making of New India, and in creating a constructive atmosphere. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of Framework Agreement between India and Sao Tome & Principe on Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes. +The Framework Agreement was signed in New Delhi, on 7th September 2018. +The Framework Agreement will provide impetus to explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication; satellite navigation; space science and exploration of outer space. +This Framework Agreement would lead to develop a host of joint activities in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. +Thus all sections and regions of both the countries are benefited. +On the invitation of Sao-Tome and Principe authorities, an expert team from ISRO visited the islands of Sao-Tome and Principe and identified a suitable parcel of land for establishing the ground station. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, paid respects to the Guru Granth Sahib at the Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha Gurudwara, shortly after arriving in Tehran this evening. +He was presented with a Saropa and a Talwar. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister complimented the Sikh community in Tehran for keeping our rich heritage and traditions alive for the younger generations. +He said Indians believe in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the whole world is our family – and therefore assimilate with everyone easily. +Making Agra Tourist Friendly Smart City – Integrated Command and Control Centre for Agra Smart City To be Built +PM Lays Foundation Stone for Upgradation of SN Medical College, Agra +Panchdhara – Five Facets of Development Holds Key to Progress of Nation: PM +Development Projects worth Rs. 2900 Crore for Agra Inaugurated +Giving a major push to develop and enhance Tourism infrastructure in Agra, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched a series of development projects worth Rs. 2900 Crores for the Agra city and the adjoining areas. +The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation, Gangajal project, which will provide Agra with better and more assured water supply, at an estimated cost of Rs.2880 crores. +Gangajal project aims to bring 140 cusecs of Ganga water to Agra. +This will help meet the drinking water demands in the city. +Prime Minister laid the foundation Stone of Integrated Command and Control Centre for Agra Smart City. +In this project CCTVs will be installed throughout Agra City for monitoring and surveillance for the purpose of safety and security. +The Prime Minister added that these facilities will also attract tourists. +Under Ayushman Bharat Yojana. the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the upgradation of SN Medical College in Agra. +The Prime Minister lauded Ayushman Bharat Yojana and said that more than 7 lakh people have availed the benefits under the scheme within a span of 100 days. +On 10% reservation for the general category poor, the Prime Minister has said that this is a step in the right direction. +He made it clear that the Government will be adding more number of seats in the educational institutions to ensure that the other category students will not be affected. +The Prime Minister said, “We have taken a major step to provide education facilities at the higher educational, technical and professional institutions in addition to the reservation for the poor from general category. +We have also increased the number of seats in the higher education institutions by 10%. +We won’t have have a system which takes away the right of änyone.”. +These include education for children, irrigation for farmer, livelihood to youth, medicines for elderly, grievance redressal to everyone. +Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of sewerage network project for the western part of Agra. under AMRUT scheme. +The project will lead to improved sanitation facility in over 50000 houses. +“Looking forward to share ‘Mann Ki Baat’ this Sunday. +Share your inputs and ideas for the programme. https://t.co/76yGSzjVK1,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval to the following proposals: +Establishment of new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Manethi, District Rewari, Haryana at a cost of Rs. 1299 crore; and +Creation of one post of Director in the basic pay of Rs. 2,25,000/- (fixed) plus NPA (however, pay + NPA would not exceed Rs. 2,37,500/-) for for the above AIIMS. +New AIIMS will add 100 UG (MBBS) seats and 60 B.Sc (Nursing) seats. +New AIIMS will have 15-20 Super Specialty Departments. +New AIIMS will add around 750 hospital beds. +As per data of current functional AIIMS, it is expected that each new AIIMS would cater to around 1500 OPD patients per day and around 1000 IPD patients per month. +Establishment of new AIIMS involves creation of Hospital, Teaching Block for medical & nursing courses, residential complex and allied facilities/services, broadly on the pattern of AIIMS, New Delhi and other six new AIIMS taken up under Phase-I of PMSSY. +The objective is to establish the new AIIMS as Institutions of National Importance for providing quality tertiary healthcare, medical education, nursing education and research in the Region. +The proposed institution shall have a hospital with capacity of 750 beds which will include Emergency / Trauma Beds, AYUSH Beds, Private Beds and ICU Speciality& Super Speciality beds. +In addition, there will be a Medical College, AYUSH Block, Auditorium, Night Shelter, Guest House, Hostels and residential facilities. +The recurring cost on these Institutions shall be met through Grant-in-Aid to them from Plan Budget Head of PMSSY of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. +Setting up of new AIIMS would not only transform health education and training but also address the shortfall of health care professionals in the region. +Setting up new AIIMS in is expected to result in employment generation for nearly 3000 people in various faculty & non faculty posts in each of the AIIMS. +Further, indirect employment generation will take place due to facilities & services like shopping centre, canteens, etc. coming in the vicinity of new AIIMS. +The construction activity involved for creation of the physical infrastructure for the various new AIIMS is also expected to generate substantial employment in the construction phase as well. +The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), a Central Sector Scheme, aims at correcting the imbalances in the availability of affordable tertiary healthcare facilities in different parts of the country in general, and augmenting facilities for quality medical education in the under-served States in particular. +AIIMS in Haryana was announced by the Hon’ble Finance Minister in his Interim Budget Speech for the year 2019-20. +Cost of construction and running of the new AIIMS would be met by the Central Government under PMSSY. +The teachings of Jesus Christ inspire entire humanity. +Let us pledge ourselves to create a world that is just, compassionate and joyful”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the loss of life in the recent floods in Odisha. +The Prime Minister has sanctioned Rs. 2 lakhs for each of the deceased, and Rs. 50,000 for each of the seriously injured, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. +The amount will be disbursed directly to the District Collectors. +The Prime Minister spoke to the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and sought information on the situation arising out of the floods. +This will benefit about 48.41 lakh Central Government employees and 61.17 lakh pensioners. +This will enable States to regulate trade of these essential commodities and to continue to take effective operations under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. +They can impose stock limits/licensing requirements etc. to curb unscrupulous trading, hoarding and profiteering. +The extension will also help the States in tackling the problem of ensuring adequate availability of these commodities in the domestic market and keep prices under control. +The Government has taken a series of policies, initiatives and measures to enhance availability and moderate prices of essential commodities, especially pulses and onions. +Future trade in pulses like urad and tur has already been suspended. +Export of pulses has been banned and there is zero duty on import of pulses. +Pulses have also been included for assistance under the Price Stabilization scheme. +To increase availability of pulses in the domestic market 5000 tons of urad and 5000 tons of tur has been ordered to be imported. +These imports are likely to reach shortly, which will ease the price situation. +The scheme is to be taken up under a new Central Sector Plan Scheme of Ministry of Power (MoP). +The scheme is to be implemented with the assistance of World Bank loan and the budget of MoP. +After commissioning, the project will be owned and maintained by the State Governments. +Presently, all the six NER States are connected to transmission network at 132 KV and below. +The 33 KV system is the backbone of power distribution system in the six NER States. +In order to reduce the gap between the requirement and availability of the intra-state transmission and distribution system, it is necessary to provide 132 KV / 220 KV connectivity to all the six NER States for proper voltage management and lower distribution losses. +Similarly, the distribution system in all six NER States which mainly relies on 33 KV network would be strengthened substantially. +Implementation of this project will create a reliable State power grid and improve its connectivity to the upcoming load centres, and thus extend the benefits of the grid connected power to all the consumers. +The project would also provide the required grid connectivity to such villages and towns of the States, where development of distribution system at the downstream level has been taking place under Gol sponsored RGGVY/ APDRP/ R-APDRP schemes. +Mr. Yang Jiechi, State Councillor of the People’s Republic of China and Special Representative of China on the Boundary Question, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +Mr. Yang Jiechi conveyed the greetings of President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang to the Prime Minister. +Mr. Yang Jiechi and Mr. Ajit Doval briefed the Prime Minister on the 20th round of Talks between Special Representatives of China and India on the Boundary Question, held earlier in the day. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its ex-post-facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Mongolia for five years. +This MoU was signed at Ulaanbaatar during the visit of the Prime Minister to Mongolia on 17th May, 2015. +The signing of the MoU will help establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship, to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on the new and renewable energy, on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity. +The MoU will also help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between India and Mongolia. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Varanasi today. +He dedicated, inaugurated or laid the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs. 2400 crore. +He dedicated the Multimodal Terminal on the River Ganga, to the nation, and received the first container cargo. +He inaugurated the Varanasi Ring Road Phase 1, and the development and construction for four laning of Babatpur-Varanasi Section of NH-56. +He also inaugurated and laid the Foundation Stone for various other development projects in Varanasi. +Addressing a large and enthusiastic gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the day is historic, for Kashi, for Poorvanchal, for Eastern India, and for the whole of India. +He said that the development work that has happened today, should have been completed decades ago. +He said that along with Varanasi, the entire country is now witness to how, the vision of Next Gen Infrastructure can transform the means of transport. +Referring to the arrival of the first inland container vessel in Varanasi, the Prime Minister said that Eastern Uttar Pradesh is now connected with the Bay of Bengal, through the water route. +He mentioned the various other projects, including roads, and projects related to Namaami Gange, which were inaugurated, or for which the foundation stone was laid today. +The Prime Minister said that modern infrastructure has been built at a rapid pace in the last four years. +The Prime Minister said that projects worth Rs. 23,000 crore have been approved under Namaami Gange so far. +He said almost all villages along the banks of the River Ganga have now become open defecation free. +He said these projects are part of the Union Government’s commitment to cleaning the River Ganga. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condemned the attack on CRPF personnel in Sukma Chhattisgarh. +“Words are not enough to condemn the brutal and inhuman attack by anti-national elements in Sukma, Chhattisgarh. +I salute the courageous CRPF personnel who have been martyred today. +Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their loved ones. +Have spoken to Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and Chhattisgarh CM Dr. Raman Singh. +We are monitoring the situation closely” said the Prime Minister. +• PM directs Home Ministry to send high-level teams of central officials to coordinate and comprehensively ramp-up relief operations in Srinagar. +• PM: Relief operations in Srinagar are top priority. +The Prime Minister chaired a high-level emergency meeting to review relief operations in Jammu and Kashmir late this evening. +The Prime Minister took stock of the situation and was briefed on the status of operations, especially in Srinagar town and the Kashmir valley. +He said that in view of the huge magnitude of the calamity, the Central Government needs to provide full support to the state administration, to comprehensively ramp-up the rescue and relief operations. +The Prime Minister categorically emphasized that immediate attention be given to providing basic necessities like food and water to people severely affected by the calamity. +The Prime Minister directed that top priority be given to provision of essential commodities to affected people in Srinagar town. +He directed the Home Ministry to immediately depute senior officers from Delhi and other states to coordinate the relief operations with local administration in Srinagar. +The Prime Minister emphasized the need for a massive effort to ensure basic hygiene and sanitation in the water-logged areas of Srinagar. +The Prime Minister was informed that the process of restoration of telecommunication links has begun, with about 8000 landlines being activated in Srinagar. +Mobile services have also been partially restored through the service provider Aircel. +A total of 76,000 people have been rescued so far by the Armed Forces and NDRF. +Arrangements are being made for provision of food, water and essential medicines. +The Prime Minister called for coordinating the relief efforts of voluntary organizations as well. +The meeting was attended by MoS, PMO Shri Jitendra Singh, the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, and other senior Secretaries of the Union Government and Defence officials. +H. E. Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences for the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Strasbourg in France, and said that India stands with France in the fight against terrorism. +The Prime Minister warmly recalled the State Visit of President Macron to India in March 2018, as well as their recent interaction on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Argentina. +Mr. Le Drian briefed the Prime Minister on recent developments in the bilateral relationship, and French perspective on regional and global issues. +The Prime Minister welcomed the strengthening of bilateral ties in all spheres, including defence, space, counter-terrorism, maritime security, and civil nuclear cooperation. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with oil and gas CEOs and experts from across the world. +Top CEOs and officials from Rosneft, BP, Reliance, Saudi Aramco, Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Vedanta, Wood MacKenzie, IHS Markit, Schlumberger, Halliburton, Xcoal, ONGC, IndianOil, GAIL, Petronet LNG, Oil India, HPCL, Delonex Energy, NIPFP, International Gas Union, World Bank, and International Energy Agency were present at the meeting. +In a short presentation, CEO, NITI Aayog, Shri Amitabh Kant outlined the recent developments and challenges in the oil and gas sector in India. +The Prime Minister thanked all participants for sharing holistic suggestions, keeping in mind India’s unique potential and requirements in the oil and gas sector, instead of merely confining themselves to the concerns of their respective organisations. +The Prime Minister observed that the suggestions made today covered policy, administrative as well as regulatory issues. +The Prime Minister indicated that as India moves towards a cleaner and more fuel-efficient economy, he also wants its benefits to expand horizontally to all sections of the society, and in particular to the poorest. +PM to lay foundation Stone for the extension of Terminal Building at Surat Airport +PM to attend the New India Youth conclave in Surat +National Salt Satyagraha Memorial in Dandi to be dedicated to the nation +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will visit Surat and Dandi in Gujarat on January 30, 2019. +During the visit, the Prime Minister will lay the Foundation Stone for the extension of Terminal building at Surat Airport. +The Terminal building is being constructed at a cost of Rs.354 Crore with an area of over 25,500 square metres. +It will be an eco-friendly sustainable building, using solar energy and LED lighting. +Once completed, it will have a peak handling capacity of over 1800 passengers. +Surat airport is the third busiest airport in Gujarat after Ahmedabad and Vadodara in terms of both aircraft movements and passenger traffic. +Expansion of infrastructure for development has been one of the priorities of the Government. +Several initiatives have been undertaken in various sectors and aviation sector is among them. +In Gujarat, civil aviation infrastructure has not only been strengthened but also air connectivity has been enhanced. +These include connecting Kandla to Mumbai and Porbandar to Ahmedabad and Mumbai through UDAN scheme. +Development of Greenfield airport at Hirasar, Rajkot, new ATC tower/technical block at Ahmedabad and Vadodara etc. are among them. +In Surat, PM will interact with the youth at the New India Youth conclave. +PM’s next destination will be Dandi in Navsari district of Gujarat. +Here, he will dedicate the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial to the nation, on Bapu’s death anniversary. +The memorial has statues of Mahatma Gandhi and 80 Satyagrahis who had marched with him during the historic Dandi Salt March. +The memorial also has 24-narrative murals depicting various events and stories from the historic 1930 Salt March. +The PM will walk through the memorial and address a public meeting. +It was on this day , as a part of the Civil Disobedience Movement against the British rule, 80 Satyagrahis led by Mahatma Gandhi marched 241-miles from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad to the coastal village of Dandi and made salt from sea water breaking the Salt Law imposed by the British. +It will be the second visit of the Prime Minister to Gujarat this month. +Prime Minister Modi earlier visited Surat on 19 January 2019, to dedicate the Armoured System Complex at Hazira. +He attended the Vibrant Gujarat summit on January 17 and 18, 2019, at Gandhinagar in Gujarat. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on Saturday met and interacted with a group of 80 Additional Secretaries and Joint Secretaries serving in the Government of India. +This was the third of five such interactions. +During the interaction, officers shared their experiences on subjects such as agriculture, drinking water, citizen-centric governance, innovation and teamwork in governance, project implementation, education, manufacturing, internal security, and solar energy. +Prime Minister mentioned his PRAGATI initiative for project monitoring. +On manufacturing, the Prime Minister said that the ecosystem for electronics manufacturing in India should now be focused on manufacture of medical equipment devices. +The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of maintaining a positive working environment in Government, in order to make it an “organic entity.” +He said that as new laws are made, old ones should be reviewed and weeded out if found unnecessary. +Highlighting the current positive global environment in favour of India, the Prime Minister asked officers to work with clear objectives towards creating a New India by 2022. +He asked the officers to focus attention on the 100 most backward districts of India, so that they can be brought up to the national average level, on various development parameters. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Kerala on 14th and 15th December 2015. +The Prime Minister will address the Combined Commanders’ Conference on INS Vikramaditya on 15th December. +The Prime Minister will visit Thrissur, Kochi, Kollam and Varkala during his visit. +• The President of Republic of Indonesia H. E. Mr. Joko Widodo paid a State visit to India from 11 to 13 December 2016 at the invitation of Prime Minister of Republic of India H.E. Shri Narendra Modi. +This is the first bilateral visit to India by President Joko Widodo. +• H.E. President Joko Widodo held a meeting with President of the Republic of India, H.E. Shri Pranab Mukherjee, followed by State Banquet at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 12 December 2016. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President Joko Widodo held extensive talks on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. +The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari, who had visited Indonesia in November 2015, called on the President of Indonesia. +They underscored the importance of pluralism, democracy, and rule of law as key values to achieve peaceful co-existence. +They welcomed the convergence in the political, economic and strategic interests of the two countries that provides an enduring basis for a long-term strategic partnership. +• The Leaders noted that the relationship had acquired a new momentum following the establishment of a Strategic Partnership in November 2005. +It received a further boost with the adoption of a Joint Statement for defining the ‘Vision for the India-Indonesia New Strategic Partnership over the coming decade’ during the visit of the President of Indonesia to India in January 2011 and adoption of a 5-pronged initiative for strengthening the Strategic Partnership in October 2013 during the visit of the Prime Minister of India. +The two Leaders recalled their first meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on 13 November 2014 on the sidelines of ASEAN Summit during which they discussed concrete areas of cooperation between India and Indonesia. +Strategic Engagement +• The President of Indonesia and the Prime Minister of India agreed to hold annual Summit meetings, including on the margins of multilateral events. +They stressed the importance of continuing regular bilateral consultations through the robust architecture of dialogue in place, including the Ministerial and Working Group Mechanisms. +The leaders welcomed the progress made under sectoral Joint Working Groups on Coal, Agriculture, Counter-Terrorism, Health, and Combating Illicit Trafficking in Narcotics, Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and its Precursors since last meeting between the two leaders in November 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw. +The leaders urged implementation of the agreed outcomes of the meetings. +• The Leaders reaffirmed the importance of parliamentary exchanges between the two democracies and expressed satisfaction at the regular visits of delegations between the two Parliaments. +In this regard, they appreciated the Goodwill Visit by Parliamentary Delegation from India to Indonesia in April 2016 and visits by members from the House of People’s Representatives and the Council of Representatives of Regions of the Republic of Indonesia to India in October and December 2015. +• The two Leaders welcomed the submission of a Vision Document 2025 by the India-Indonesia Eminent Persons Group (EPG) that had begun their work earlier in the year. +The Document sets out recommendations on the future trajectory of the bilateral relationship up to 2025 and beyond. +• The Leaders welcomed the successful launch of the satellites LAPAN A2 in September 2015 and LAPAN A3 in June 2016 by ISRO. +They directed LAPAN and ISRO to convene the fourth Joint Committee meeting on Outer Space at an early date to expedite the conclusion of the Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement on Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes, and other related agreements having applications in hydrography, weather forecasting, disaster management, crop forecasting and resource mapping; and training programmes. +• As strategic partners and maritime neighbours, the two leaders emphasised the importance of further consolidating the security and defence cooperation between the two countries. +In this regard they directed the Ministers for early convening of the Defence Ministers’ Dialogue and the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) Meetings to review and upgrade the existing “Agreement on Cooperative Activities in the Fields of Defence” to a substantive bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement. +• The Leaders noted the successful completion of Staff Talks between the Armies (August 2016) and the Navies (June 2015) of the two countries that have resulted in enhancement of defence cooperation between the two armed forces and agreed that Air Force Staff Talks would be held at an early date. +Both sides agreed to increase the frequency of defence exchanges, training and joint exercises, including among Special Forces. +They also tasked the two Defence Ministers to explore collaboration between defence industries for joint production of equipment with technology transfer, technical assistance, and capacity building cooperation. +• Both leaders discussed the threat from global terrorism and other transnational crimes and resolved to significantly enhance bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism, terrorist financing, money laundering, arms smuggling, trafficking in human beings and cyber crime. +They commended the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, which has met regularly and took note of the outcome of the last meeting held in October 2015 which discussed issues of mutual interest, including cyber security. +Both sides pledged to deepen cooperation in these areas. +• The Leaders highlighted the importance of the maritime domain to their respective countries, the surrounding regions, and the world. +They pledged to deepen their maritime cooperation, and to this end, issued a separate “Statement on Maritime Cooperation,” during the visit. +The Statement encompasses a broad range of fields, including: maritime security, maritime industry, maritime safety and navigation, and other areas of bilateral cooperation identified by both countries. +• The Leaders also affirmed the urgent need to combat, prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing and welcomed the signing of a Joint Communiqué on IUU Fishing and to Promote Sustainable Fisheries Governance between Indonesia and India. +Both Leaders recognized transnational organized fisheries crime as one of the emerging crimes, which has become an ever-growing threat to the world. +Comprehensive Economic Partnership +• The Leaders expressed satisfaction at the growth in trade and investment ties between India and Indonesia and recognized the importance of a predictable, open and transparent economic policy framework to facilitate greater two-way trade and investment and to promote private sector led economic growth. +• The Leaders desired the early convening of the meeting of Biennial Trade Ministers’ Forum (BTMF). +The Forum will enable necessary dialogue on economic policies with an aim to remove impediments to trade and investment. +• Both Leaders welcomed the meeting of prominent business leaders at the Indonesia- India CEOs’ Forum held in New Delhi on 12 December 2016, and encouraged that the CEOs’ Forum to be held as a regular annual forum to provide constructive suggestions to further enhance bilateral trade and investment cooperation. +At the meeting with selected CEOs from Indonesia and India on 13 December 2016, the report from Co-Chairs of the CEOs’ Forum held on 12 December 2016 was delivered to Presiden Joko Widodo. +• President Widodo welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives in the area of renewable energy, particularly the establishment of the International Solar Alliance. +• The leaders also noted the outcome of the third meeting of the Joint Working Group on Coal held in November 2015. +Both Leaders agreed to cooperate in promotion of energy efficiency technologies, new and renewable energy technologies, with the shared aspiration to ensure energy security as well as meet respective climate change targets. +• The Leaders looked forward to the renewal of MoU on Health Cooperation that would pave the way for closer collaboration in tackling common health challenges. +They also encouraged both sides to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector. +• The Leaders highlighted the importance of food security for the peoples of both countries and agreed to work together towards concrete actions in this area. +Prime Minister Modi expressed India’s readiness to supply rice, sugar and soya bean to meet Indonesia’s requirements. +• Recognizing the opportunities and challenges presented by information and communications technology, both Leaders affirmed their commitment to develop cooperation in areas of information and communication technology to support innovation and the digital economy. +• Noting the importance of connectivity for enhancement of trade, tourism and people-to-people contacts, the Leaders welcomed the establishment of flights by Garuda Indonesia between Jakarta & Mumbai starting from December 2016. +They also encouraged direct flights from India to Indonesia by the airlines of India. +• The Leaders also stressed that bilateral cooperation on standards is important to facilitate trade between the two countries. +In this regard, they welcomed the signing of the MoU between the Indonesian National Standardization Agency (BSN) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Standardization Cooperation. +Cultural and People-to-People Links +• The Leaders committed to build upon the close historical and cultural links between the two peoples through promotion of art, literature, music, dance, and archaelogy under the Cultural Exchange Programme 2015-2018. +Recognizing the popularity and impact of films on the youth and in tourism promotion, the two sides agreed to finalize an agreement for cooperation in the film industry. +• The Leaders underscored the importance of investment in education and human resource development to empower young generations in India and Indonesia. +Both sides noted the ongoing cooperation between educational institutions on the institutionalization of university-to-university linkages to facilitate faculty exchange, teachers’ training and double-degree programmes. +The Leaders emphasized the importance of early conclusion of an agreement on cooperation in higher education sector and directed the officials to take necessary steps in this regard. +• The Leaders welcomed the establishment of Chairs for Indian Studies in various Indonesian Universities and agreed to explore setting up of similar Chairs of Indonesian Studies in Indian Universities. +• Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on youth affairs and sports and in this regard welcomed the signing of an MOU on Cooperation in Youth Affairs and Sports. +Cooperation in Responding to Common Challenges +• The two Leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations in the strongest terms, emphasizing “zero tolerance” for acts of terror. +They noted with great concern the growing menace of terrorism and violent extremism and its universal reach. +They called upon all countries to implement the UNSC Resolution 1267 and other relevant resolutions designating terrorist entities. +They underlined the need for all countries to deal with trans-national terrorism emanating from their territory by effective criminal justice response. +In that regard, the two Leaders called for enhanced cooperation including through greater exchange of information and intelligence between the two sides. +• The two Leaders reiterated their commitment to respecting freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded lawful commerce, based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). +In this context, they urged all parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means without resorting to threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities, and avoid unilateral actions that raise tensions. +As the leaders of the State Parties to the UNCLOS, they emphasized that all parties should show utmost respect to the UNCLOS, which establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans. +Regarding the South China Sea, the two sides stressed the importance of resolving disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law including the UNCLOS. +• Both sides reiterated the importance of advancing negotiations for swift conclusion of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations. +• Both Leaders reiterated support for the ongoing reform of the United Nations and its principal organs, including the Security Council, with a view to making the United Nations more democratic, transparent and efficient so that it can deal more effectively with the myriad challenges of today’s world. +They stressed the importance of an early restructuring of the UN Security Council to make its decision making processes more democratic, transparent and responsive to the realities of the world today. +They stressed that such a restructuring of the Council entailed that the developing world be adequately represented through permanent members on the Council. +They agreed to remain closely engaged on various issues related to the reform of the United Nations. +• Realizing that the international community faced common challenges of increasing the momentum of global economic recovery and climate change, both sides agreed that as key members of the international community, India and Indonesia must work together effectively in multilateral fora. +Both sides agreed to continue close coordination in the ASEAN-related mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+). +Prime Minister Modi congratulated President Widodo on Indonesia’s able leadership as Chair of the IORA and the convening of the First IORA Summit next year. +Biennial Trade Ministers’ Forum (BTMF) iv). +Convening of the meeting of the Energy Forum to develop a road map for energy cooperation v). +Establishment of a security dialogue in order to develop a comprehensive action plan on security cooperation. +President Widodo invited Prime Minister Modi to visit Indonesia at an early date, which the Indian Prime Minister readily accepted. +PM asks Health Ministry to establish mechanisms to ensure accountability among public sector health officials. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today instructed the Health Ministry to establish mechanisms to ensure accountability among doctors and health officials in the public sector. +Chairing a high-level meeting on healthcare, the Prime Minister said that in order to achieve the desired goal of health for all, there is need to substantially improve the efficiency of existing mechanisms and schemes. +Giving an example of insurance, the Prime Minister called for establishing synergy in all schemes for the health sector being run by the Central and State Governments. +Reviewing progress of key health indicators such as under-5 mortality rate and Maternal Mortality Ratio, the Prime Minister asked for specific identification of worst-performing districts, and even within them, particular blocks which required maximum attention. +He said these areas should be targeted in a two-pronged approach – prioritized health intervention, and appropriate social interventions to dispel local beliefs and customs that may be hindering progress. +He said animation films should be shown to women in health centres immediately post-delivery, to promote good health and nutrition habits. +He said simple technology interventions such as SMS should be used to reach ASHA workers across the country on a real-time basis. +The Prime Minister emphasized that the effects of Swachhta Abhiyan should also become visible in hospitals and public health facilities across the country. +Officials from the Health Ministry said that Swachhta Abhiyan would contribute greatly to achieving health goals. +The Prime Minister asked for a comprehensive audit of all medical equipment in public health facilities. +Describing Yoga as one of the most-effective preventive health mechanisms, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to draw up plans for International Yoga Day, on June 21st. +Expressing acute concern about the prevalence of diseases like encephalitis, especially among children, the Prime Minister asked officials to prepare a roadmap to tackle such diseases, just like natural disasters and other national calamities are tackled. +The Prime Minister referred to an earlier announcement made by him, of India’s promise of help to ensure that the entire SAARC region becomes polio-free. +He asked the Health Ministry to prepare a proper follow-up action plan in this regard. +The Prime Minister called for institutionalizing a comprehensive database, containing individual health records, which could be eventually linked to the Aadhar system. +Health Minister J. P. Nadda, and senior officers of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and PMO were present on the occasion. +BetiBachao, BetiPadhao program to be expanded to 640 districts +National Nutrition Mission to be launched +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan on 8th March, the International Women’s Day. +The Prime Minister will interact with beneficiary mothers and girl children of the program. +He will distribute certificates to best performing districts under BetiBachaoBetiPadhao program, +In another landmark initiative, National Nutrition Mission, NNM will be launched nationwide by the Prime Minister from Jhunjhunu. +He will launch NNM- ICDS Common Application Software. +The mission strives to reduce under-nutrition and low birth weight, bring down anaemia among young children, women and adolescent girls and to reduce the prevalence of stunting among children. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved revision of the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) guidelines. +ICWF, set up in 2009, is aimed at assisting Overseas Indian nationals in times of distress and emergency in the most deserving cases on a means tested basis. +The revised guidelines being made broad-based seek to expand the scope of welfare measures that can be extended through the Fund. +The guidelines would cover three key areas namely Assisting Overseas Indian nationals in distress situations, Community Welfare activities and Improvement in Consular services. +They are expected to provide Indian Missions and Posts abroad greater flexibility in swiftly addressing to requests for assistance by Overseas Indian nationals. +The scale and speed of these evacuations and assistance rendered through the Fund has been universally appreciated. +It has also created a sense of confidence among the migrant workers going overseas about the support they can expect from India during critical times. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the nation on the auspicious occasion of Milad-Un-Nabi. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will interact directly with the members of Self Help Groups under DeendayalAntyodayaYojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission(DAY-NRLM) and beneficiaries of DDU-GKY and RSETIs, through video conferencing, tomorrow on 12th July at 9.30 am. +In addition, interventions for welfare of disabled persons from Tamil Nadu, External community resource person for the formation of SHGs from Telangana, Dairy farm from J&K and Collection and marketing of neem seeds from Gujarat will be a part of the interaction. +DAY-NRLM has emerged as the largest institutional platform for women’s empowerment. +The Mission has now initiated implementation in 4884 blocks spread across 600 districts in 29 States and 5 Union Territories. +More than 5 crore women have been mobilized into 45 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs) by May 2018. +In addition, 2.48 lakh Village Organizations and 20,000 Cluster Level Federations have also been promoted. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for release of additional 1% Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners. +It will be applicable from 01.07.2017. +The release of the additional instalment of DA represents an increase of 1% over the existing rate of 4% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise. +This will benefit about 49.26 lakh Central Government employees and 61.17 lakh pensioners. +FSI allowed as per current norms in CRZ areas Greater opportunity for Development of densely populated rural areas Tourism Infrastructure for basic amenities to be promoted CRZ clearance streamlined No Development Zone of 20 meters for All Islands Special importance to All Ecologically Sensitive Areas Special focus on Pollution abatement +It will not only result in significant employment generation but also to better life and add value to the economy of India. +The new notification is expected to rejuvenate the coastal areas while reducing their vulnerabilities. +(i) Allowing FSI as per current norms in CRZ areas: As per CRZ, 2011 Notification, for CRZ-II (Urban) areas, Floor Space Index (FSI) or the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) had been frozen as per 1991 Development Control Regulation (DCR) levels. +In the CRZ, 2018 Notification, it has been decided to de-freeze the same and permit FSI for construction projects, as prevailing on the date of the new Notification. +This will enable redevelopment of these areas to meet the emerging needs. +(ii) Densely populated rural areas to be afforded greater opportunity for development: For CRZ-III (Rural) areas, two separate categories have now been stipulated as below: +(a) CRZ-III A – These are densely populated rural areas with a population density of 2161 per square kilometre as per 2011 Census. +Such areas shall have a No Development Zone (NDZ) of 50 meters from the HTL as against 200 meters from the High Tide Line stipulated in the CRZ Notification, 2011 since such areas have similar characteristics as urban areas. +(b) CRZ-III B – Rural areas with population density of below 2161 per square kilometre as per 2011 Census. +Such areas shall continue to have an NDZ of 200 meters from the HTL. +(iii)Tourism infrastructure for basic amenities to be promoted: Temporary tourism facilities such as shacks, toilet blocks, change rooms, drinking water facilities etc. have now been permitted in Beaches. +Such temporary tourism facilities are also now permissible in the “No Development Zone” (NDZ) of the CRZ-III areas as per the Notification. +However, a minimum distance of 10 m from HTL should be maintained for setting up of such facilities. +(iv)CRZ Clearances streamlined: The procedure for CRZ clearances has been streamlined. +Only such projects/activities, which are located in the CRZ-I (Ecologically Sensitive Areas) and CRZ IV (area covered between Low Tide Line and 12 Nautical Miles seaward) shall be dealt with for CRZ clearance by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. +The powers for clearances with respect to CRZ-II and III have been delegated at the State level with necessary guidance. +(vi) All Ecologically Sensitive Areas have been accorded special importance: Specific guidelines related to their conservation and management plans have been drawn up as a part of the CRZ Notification. +With the objective of conservation and protection of the coastal environment, Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change notified the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification in 1991, which was subsequently revised in 2011. +The notification was amended from time to time based on representations received. +A need was felt overtime to undertake a comprehensive revision of the notification on the basis of number of representations from various Coastal States/UTs, besides other stakeholders particularly related to the management and conservation of marine and coastal eco-systems, development in coastal areas, eco-tourism, livelihood options and sustainable development of coastal communities etc. +Therefore, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change constituted a Committee in June 2014 under the Chairmanship of Dr. Shailesh Nayak (Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences) to examine the various issues and concerns of Coastal States/UTs and other stakeholders for recommending appropriate changes in the CRZ Notification, 2011. +The Shailesh Nayank Committee held wide ranging consultations with State Governments and other stakeholders and submitted its recommendations in 2015. +The recommendations were further examined in consultation with Members of Parliament of Coastal States and Union Territories besides other concerned Ministries of Government of India. +A draft notification was issued in April, 2018 for inviting comments from public at large. +The changes brought about in the CRZ Notification will further add to creating additional opportunities for affordable housing. +Tourism has been one of the greatest creators of livelihood and jobs. +The new Notification will boost tourism in terms of more activities, more infrastructure and more opportunities and will certainly go a long way in creating employment opportunities in various aspects of tourism. +This will also give boost to people, desirous of seeing and enjoying the beauty of the mighty seas. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of an Agreement for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and allied sectors between India and Portugal. +The Agreement covers various activities in these fields which include exchange of scientific and technical information, trade in plants and plant products, exchange of information in phytosanitary issues, training programmes, seminars and visits of experts and consultants. +The Agreement provides constitution of a Joint Working Group comprising of representatives from both countries, the task of which would be to monitor the implementation of the present MoU and making concrete proposals for agriculture cooperation and develop guidelines and priorities for future cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. +At the invitation of The Honourable Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi undertook an Official Visit to Malaysia on 23 November 2015. +Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the ASEAN–India Summit and East Asia Summit on 21–22 November 2015. +The two Prime Ministers held official talks in Putrajaya and jointly inaugurated the Torana Gate in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, a gift from India to Malaysia, as a symbol of India-Malaysia Friendship. +During the official talks, which was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere, the two Prime Ministers acknowledged that India-Malaysia relations have made impressive strides in recent years. +The dialogue mechanisms at Ministerial and Official level, supported by a wide range of agreements have also provided a framework to harness the full potential of the Strategic Partnership, established between the two countries in October 2010. +Both leaders also conveyed their condolences to the families of all those on board Malaysian Airlines flight MH 370. +In this context, the Prime Minister of Malaysia recalled with appreciation the ready assistance provided by India in the search operations through the deployment of six ships and seven aircraft, including at Subang airbase in Malaysia. +Recalling their stake in promoting multiculturalism, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to democracy, pluralism and development. +The two leaders acknowledged the contribution made by Malaysia and India in promoting growth, economic development and stability in the Asia–Pacific region, and recognized each other’s responsibility in the promotion of peace, development and security of the region, and beyond, based on a convergence of political and socio-economic interests and aspirations. +The two Prime Ministers, while expressing satisfaction with the progress of bilateral relations over the years, reaffirmed their determination to take the Strategic Partnership between the two countries to the next level by deepening existing areas and exploring new areas of cooperation. +Both Prime Ministers then witnessed the signing of one Agreement on Cultural Exchange Programme for 2015-2020 and two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Project Delivery and Monitoring, and Cooperation on Cyber Security. +In an effort to further broaden and deepen the relationship between the two countries, both leaders agreed to proceed with efforts to develop the Strategic Partnership between the two countries as follows: +1. To hold regular Summits, including on the margins of multilateral events; +3. To arrange regular exchanges at the Cabinet level between the Ministers in charge of Trade & Industry, Transport, Public Works and Infrastructure, in line with the new developmental initiatives introduced by India, and the investment and trade opportunities opening up in each other’s country; +4. To hold regular Foreign Office Consultations between the Senior Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia and the Ministry of External Affairs of India, to enable both countries to monitor the progress of bilateral cooperation, including on regional and strategic issues of mutual interest; +5. Reaffirmed their continued commitment to Parliamentary democracy and to promote further cooperation between the Parliaments of both countries, and underlined the importance of regular and enhanced exchange of visits between Parliamentarians from India and Malaysia; +Economic, Trade and Financial Areas +6. Reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation, and to deepen and widen their economic engagement, which has emerged as an important fulcrum of the strategic partnership; +7. Underlined the importance of holding regular meeting of the Ministers of Trade and Industry of both countries; +The Prime Minister of India conveyed the steps being taken by the Government of India to provide a conducive environment for investors, and invited Malaysian investors to participate in economic activities for the mutual benefits of both countries; +9. Recognising the need to energise the activities of the high-level India-Malaysia CEOs’ Forum, called upon the CEOs’ Forum to develop specific recommendations to enhance business links in priority areas. +They further urged the CEOs’ Forum to meet bi-annually and in a timely manner to ensure meaningful follow-up and implementation of recommendations; +10. Welcomed further contributions of Malaysian and Indian-owned financial institutions in both jurisdictions, which reflects the growing economic and financial linkages between the two countries; +11. Commended the contribution of IRCON over the past two decades on railway cooperation in Malaysia, and welcomed IRCON’s significant interest to participate in railway project in the future; +12. Encouraged public and private sector companies from both countries to pro-actively look at large investment opportunities at each other’s country. +The two Prime Ministers welcomed the significant interest shown by Malaysian companies to partake in the business opportunities provided by India and their aspiration to invest in infrastructure projects; +13. Welcomed the contribution of Indian investment in Malaysia, in particular India IT firms, especially those located in Cyberjaya, and agreed to continue to promote greater engagement of Indian IT companies in Malaysia; +Defence and Security +14. Agreed to enhance defence exchanges through regular dialogue at various levels, including between the Defence Ministers, senior defence officials, Chiefs of the Armed Services and through Service-to-Service Staff Talks; +15. Agreed to convene the next India-Malaysia Defence Cooperation Meeting at Defence Secretary/Secretary General level; +16. Welcomed the outcome of the joint exercises HARIMAU SHAKTI and to upgrade the exercises to company level, and subsequently to tri-services exercises; +17. Agreed to set up the SU-30 Forum for cooperation in training, maintenance, technical support and safety-related issues, building on the assistance by India for successful completion of the SU 30 MKM training programme by Indian pilots in Malaysia; +18. Further agreed to promote joint collaboration on projects of mutual interest in the defence sector including in the areas of defence equipment and industry, research, training and capacity building; +19. Agreed to institute annual talks between the Heads of the Indian Coast Guards and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency including during Head of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM). +20. Agreed to establish mechanism for sharing of information, including for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster relief (HADR) and white shipping; +21. Agreed to establish linkages between the Centre for UN Peacekeeping of India (CUNPK) and Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre (MPC); +22. Expressed strong condemnation for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and called upon all States to reject terrorism and bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice. +In this context, they welcomed the ongoing cooperation between the two countries on counter terrorism and agreed to further enhance cooperation in this direction; +23. Agreed to continue sharing of information and best practices to address the challenges posed by terrorism, and other traditional and non-traditional threats; +24. Reaffirmed that the two countries share a mutual interest in cooperating for peace, prosperity and security of the Asia-Pacific region and beyond; +Tourism and Education +29. Welcomed the renaming of the Indian Cultural Centre in Kuala Lumpur as “Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Indian Cultural Centre”; +Human Resources +30. Welcomed the contribution of Indian workers to the Malaysian economy; +31. To further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in the field of labour through Joint Working Group Meeting, as well as exchanges of visits and information on latest policies, laws and regulations; +32. Recognising the need to promote greater cooperation between the two countries in Ayurveda and other Indian systems of traditional medicine, Malaysia welcomed the deputation of an Ayurveda practitioner and two therapists from India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme. +The two sides also welcomed the gift of a Shirodara Yantra machine from the Government of India to Malaysia; +33. Agreed to receive a Siddha practitioner from India to Malaysia under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme; +Science and Technology +34. Sustainable Energy development has been a key component towards achieving energy security in the future with both Malaysia and India having actively pursued to increase renewable energy sources so as to strengthen their energy security while increasing energy access. +Noting that, both sides agreed to set up a Joint Working Group on New and Renewable Energy at the earliest that would serve as a good platform for both countries to exchange ideas and forge mutually beneficial collaboration; +35. Noted the excellent ongoing cooperation between the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, India and Public Service Department, Malaysia under the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Public Administration and Governance. +Following the 3rd Joint Working Group Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on 28–30 September 2015, both sides will work on implementing the decisions made in the Meeting for fostering cooperation in English language training, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), e-governance, training institute collaboration, retirement benefits management, taxation data and business intelligence, and project implementation and oversight; +36. Welcomed the proposal for both sides to establish cooperation in areas of performance management, project delivery and monitoring; +37. Welcomed the conclusion of the Bilateral Work Agreement between Malaysia and India that authorise spouses of diplomatic agents and members of the administrative and technical staff of diplomatic missions and spouses of consular officers at consular posts for employment in the respective receiving State on a reciprocal basis; +Regional and International Cooperation +38. Reaffirming the importance of strategic engagement of India in regional initiatives to shape an open, transparent and inclusive regional order and ASEAN’s centrality in the evolving regional architecture, welcomed the enhanced relations between ASEAN and India, especially since the elevation of the partnership to a strategic status at the ASEAN–India Commemorative Summit in 2012 in New Delhi; +39. Welcomed the adoption by ASEAN and India of the new Plan of Action (2016-2020) to implement the ASEAN–India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity at the ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on 5 August 2015; +41. Welcomed the signing of the ASEAN–India Trade in Services and Investment Agreements, and took note of the progress towards finalising the Regional Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Partnership (RCEP) Agreement; +42. Stressed that the 70th anniversary of the United Nations is an occasion to urge for early reforms of the United Nations, including the reform of the UN Security Council. +Malaysia took note of India’s aspiration for permanent membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council; and +43. Welcomed the post-2015 Development Agenda adopted by the United Nations with eradication of poverty by 2030 as its core objective. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Dipa Karmakar on winning Gold in vault event at FIG World Challenge Cup. +“India is proud of Dipa Karmakar! +Congratulations to her on winning a well-deserved Gold in the vault event at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey. +This win is a prime example of her tenacity and never-say-die attitude”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing and ratification of the Extradition Treaty between India and Malawi. +The Treaty would provide a legal framework for seeking extradition of terrorists, economic offenders and other criminals from and to Malawi. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today laid the Foundation Stone of the Vishva Umiyadham Complex at Jaspur, Ahmedabad. +Addressing an enthusiastic gathering on the occasion, he said that no one can ever forget the role of Saints and Seers in strengthening our society. +They have given us valuable teachings, he added. +They even gave us the strength to fight evil and oppression, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that our Saints and Seers taught us to absorb the best of our past and, at the same time look ahead and keep changing with the times. +Speaking of initiatives that benefit the people, the Prime Minister said that doing something on a small scale is not acceptable to the Union Government. +The Union Government’s work will always be at a large scale, benefiting all sections of society, he added. +At the community level, the Prime Minister said that it is important to emphasise on top quality education for youngsters. +The Prime Minister firmly said that those who believe in MaaUmiya can never support female foeticide. +The Prime Minister appealed to the people, to help create a society where there is no discrimination based on gender. +Your Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Friends from the Media, +It gives me great pleasure to welcome to India a dear friend, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. +We are delighted that His Highness has come back to India on his second State visit. +And, with his participation as our honoured Chief Guest in the Republic Day Celebrations tomorrow this visit is particularly special. +Your Highness, I warmly recall our earlier meetings in August 2015, and in February last year. +Our discussions were wide ranging covering the entire spectrum of our bilateral engagement. +Personally, I benefitted immensely from your perspective of our partnership, your appreciation of our region and your world view. +Your Highness, under your leadership, we have been successful in creating new synergies in our ties. +We have shaped an ambitious roadmap of engagement to make our comprehensive strategic partnership purposeful and action oriented. +The agreement that was exchanged just now has institutionalized this understanding. +UAE is one of our most valued partners and a close friend in an important region of the world. +I have just concluded very fruitful and productive discussions with His Highness. +We particularly focused on implementation of various decisions taken during our last two meetings. +We agreed to sustain the momentum of our relations in key areas, including energy and investments. +We regard UAE as an important partner in India’s growth story. +I particularly welcome UAE’s interest in investing in India’s infrastructure sector. +We are working to connect the institutional investors in UAE with our National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. +I also shared with His Highness the interest of Indian companies to be a partner in infrastructure projects for the World EXPO 2020 in Dubai. +UAE can benefit by linking with our growth in manufacturing and services. +We can jointly tap abundant opportunities in our initiatives aimed at building digital economy, human capital and smart urbanization in India. +We are also encouraging and facilitating business and industry of both countries to increase the quality and quantum bilateral trade. +The agreement on trade remedies signed today would strengthen our trade partnership further. +Our energy partnership, is an important bridge in our linkages. +It contributes to our energy security. +His Highness and I discussed ways to transform our energy ties in a strategic direction through specific projects and proposals. +In this regard, long-term supply contracts and establishment of joint ventures in the energy sector can be beneficial avenues. +Security and defence cooperation have added growing new dimensions to our relationship. +We also feel that our growing engagement in countering violence and extremism is necessary for securing our societies. +Our convergence can help stabilize the region. +And, our economic partnership can be a source of regional and global prosperity. +We exchanged views on developments in West Asia and the Gulf, where both countries have a shared interest in peace and stability. +We also discussed developments in our region, including Afghanistan. +Our shared concern on growing threat from radicalism and terrorism to the safety and security of our people is shaping our cooperation in this space. +UAE is home to around 2.6 million Indians. +Their contributions are deeply valued both in India and in UAE. +I expressed gratitude to His Highness for looking after the welfare of Indian nationals in UAE. +I also thanked His Highness for allotting land for a temple for the Indian diaspora in Abu Dhabi. +I am confident, Your Highness, that your visit will build on the strong gains and understanding of our previous interactions. +And, shape its future framework marked by depth, drive and diversification of our partnership. +In closing, I would like to thank His Highness for accepting my invitation to visit India. +I wish him and all the delegation members a very pleasant stay in India. +Dr. H. Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister said that as maritime neighbours, there is a vast scope for cooperation between India and Indonesia on development of Blue Economy as well as in the domain of maritime security. +In this context, the Prime Minister welcomed the holding of the first meeting of the Security Dialogue between India and Indonesia. +Minister for Energy, Saudi Arabia +Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, India +Secretary General, International Energy Forum +Ladies and Gentlemen. +Welcome to India. +Welcome to the 16thInternational Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting. +I am happy to see such a large participation of Energy Ministers from producing and consuming nations, Heads of International Organisations and CEOs in this forum. +As you come together today to discuss the future of global energy,the world is seeing a great transition in energy supply and consumption. +• Consumption growth has shifted to non OECD countries: Middle East, Africa and developing Asia; +• Solar Photo-Voltaic energy has become economical compared to all other energy sources. +This is changing the supply paradigm (पैरा-डाइम); +• Abundant availability of natural gas globally with increased percentage of LNG and natural gas is contributing to the primary energy basket; +• Coal may gradually go out of favour as a major contributor to primary energy in the OECD World and later in developing countries; +• The Transport sector will see massive changes in the next few decades with adoption of electric vehicles; +• The World is committedto the climate change agendabased on the COP-21agreement. +The energy intensity of economies will change with focus on green energy and energy efficiency; +Last month I came across an energy forecastprepared by an agency, according to whichIndia will be the key driver of global energy demand in the next twenty-five years. +We are entering an era of energy abundance. +Let me share with you some of my thoughtson the hydrocarbon sector and our endeavourto achieve energy security. +Oil and Gas are a commodity of tradebut also of necessity. +Whether it is for the kitchen of a common manor for an aircraft,energy is essential. +The world has for too long seen prices on a roller-coaster. +We need to move to responsible pricing,which balances the interests of both the producer and consumer. +If the world has to grow as a whole,there has to be a mutually supportive relationship between producers and consumers. +It is in the interests of producersthat other economies keep growing steadily and rapidly. +This will ensure growing energy markets for them. +Efforts at artificially distorting prices are self-defeating,as history has shown us. +They also cause undue hardships,particularly to those at the bottom of the pyramid in developing and least developed countries. +Let us use this platformto build a global consensus on ‘responsible pricing.’This will serve the mutual interestsof both producers and consumers. +Energy in general and hydrocarbons in particularare an important part of my vision for India’s future. +India needs energy which is accessibleand affordable to the poor. +It needs efficiency in energy use. +Currently,India is the fastest growing large economy in the world. +All leading agencies such as IMF, World Bank, and ADB are estimating India to grow at 7 to 8 percent in the near future. +India is also blessed with demographic dividend.The working age population as a share in total population,is one of the highest in the World. +The Enhanced Oil Recovery Policyaims to promote the use of latest technologyin improving productivity of up-stream fields. +Our Down-stream sectorhas been completely liberalizedwith market driven petrol and diesel pricesreflecting the changes in price of crude oil. +We have moved towards digital platformsin fuel retail and payments. +Our government has encouraged private participationacross the entire oil and gas value chainfrom up-stream production to down-stream retail. +This,we believe,would go a long waytowards achieving three energy related componentsof the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda.Namely: +Universal access to modern energy by 2030; +Urgent action to tackle climate change – in line with the Paris agreement; +Measures to improve air quality; +Women benefit the most from it. +In India, throughthe UjjwalaYojana we provide free LPG connections to women from poorhouseholds. +In fact, here in New Delhi,we have already started offering BS Six standard fuel this month. +We have also launched a vehicle scrapping policywhich will help replace old vehicles with cleaner and energy efficient vehicles. +Our oil companies are assessing all their investmentskeeping in view the energy diversification strategies. +Today, oil companies are also investing in wind and solar capacities,gas infrastructure,and also thinking in the direction of investing in Electric Vehicle and Storage areas. +As we are all aware, we are now looking towards Industry 4.0, proposing to change the way industry operates in the future with new technologies and processes like Internet of Things, Artificial intelligence, robotics process automation, machine learning, predictive analytics, 3-D printing, etc. +The theme of IEF-16 is “The Future of Global Energy Security.” +These are all pertinentsubjects for the future of our collective energy security. +I believe that the discussions at this forumwill go a long way in benefitting the world citizens in accessingclean, affordable and sustainable energy. +I wish you all a successful and fruitful Ministerial Conference. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Tajikistan on Cooperation on Youth Matters. +An MoU between India and Tajikistan to promote cooperation on Youth matters between the two countries was signed on 8/10/2018 at Dushanbe. +The MoU was signed by Shri Somnath Ghosh, Ambassador of India to Tajikistan, for Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of India and Mr. AbdullozodaAhtamRustam, Chairman of the Committee for Youth and Sports Affairs for the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. +The MoU shall remain valid for a period of five (5) years. +The Agreement will facilitate exchange programmes in the field of Youth Affairs, which will help in promoting exchange of ideas, values and culture amongst Youth and in consolidating friendly relations between India and Tajikistan. +The benefits arising from such bilateral exchange programmes between both countries would be equally available to all youth irrespective of their caste, religion and gender. +These will further help in developing international perspective among the Youth and expanding their knowledge and expertise in the areas of Youth Affairs. +PM: Indian Railways will not be privatized; private investment will be used to facilitate modernization. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today declared categorically that the Indian Railways would not be privatized. +He was addressing a gathering in Varanasi after the commencement of expansion of the Diesel Locomotive Works. +He said private investment would be used to modernize Railways and make it service-oriented, so that it could become an engine of growth for the Nation. +Shri Narendra Modi said 4 rail universities would be established to ensure proper and well-trained human resource for the Railways. +He said the Railways should not be seen as just a means of transport, but should become the backbone of economic development. +He exhorted Railway workers to ensure that the best service in India is provided by the Indian Railways. +He recalled former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s slogan of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” and said the slogan had inspired farmers to make India self-reliant in food production. +He expressed hope that “Make in India” would inspire us to become self reliant in all our needs. +The Prime Minister also said the postal and railway networks of India could be leveraged to become drivers of rural development. +The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhu, was present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the passing away of senior journalist Shri Jehangir Pocha. +The Prime Minister said he was shocked & saddened to hear about Jehangir Pocha`s demise. +“My condolences to his family in this hour of grief. +May his soul rest in peace. +Jehangir Pocha will be remembered as a leading voice on TV, print & social media. +His frank & insightful views on issues will be missed,” the Prime Minister said. +I am very happy to be here today. +I sense a well-deserved mood of celebration here. +The World Bank has recognized the stupendous work done by us towards improving Ease of Doing Business. +We are now among the top hundred countries in the Doing Business rankings. +In a short time of three years we have improved forty-two ranks. +I thank Ms. Kristalina Georgieva for being with us on this joyous occasion. +It shows World Bank’s commitment to encourage nations to undertake reforms which benefit society and economy. +Her presence today will motivate our team to do even better in the coming days and months. +Over the last three years, I have been constantly telling the domestic and foreign investor community that we in India are making sincere efforts to improve ‘ease of doing business’. +This year, India’s jump in ranking is the highest. +India has been identified as one of the top reformers. +Congratulations to all who have worked for this. +You have done the nation proud. +This improvement is important: +• Because it is an indicator of Good Governance in the Country; +• Because it is a measure of the quality of our public policies; +• Because it is a benchmark of transparency of processes; +• Because, ease of doing business, also leads to ease of life; +• And, ultimately, it reflects the way people live, work and transact in a society. +But all this is for the benefit of concerned stakeholders. +For me, the World Bank report shows that quantum change is possible through commitment and hard work. +I say this because, India has reached a position from where, now it is easier to improve further. +Our efforts have gathered momentum. +In management terms, we have achieved critical mass for a swift takeoff. +For example, this report has not taken into account the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax or GST. +As you all know, GST is the biggest tax reform in the Indian economy. +And it impacts many aspects of doing business. +There are a few other reforms where our team and the World Bank team need to find common ground. +All this, combined with our conviction to do even better, gives me the confidence that India will occupy a place of pride in the World Bank report next year and in the years thereafter. +I compliment the World Bank for engaging with countries to improve ease of doing business across the world. +I also compliment them for the theme of this year’s report – ‘Reforming to create jobs’. +There can be no denying that business is a major force in our lives. +It is an engine for growth, employment generation, wealth creation and delivery of goods and services that make our lives comfortable. +We are a young country and job creation is an opportunity as well as a challenge. +Therefore, to leverage the energy of our youth, we are positioning India as a Start-up Nation and a global manufacturing hub. +For this purpose, we have launched various initiatives, such as Make in India and Start-up India. +Through these initiatives, combined with the new eco-system of a formal economy and a unified tax regime, we are trying to create a NEW INDIA. +An India where opportunities are created and harnessed to the advantage of the needy. +We are particularly keen to develop India into a knowledge based, skill supported and technology driven society. +A good beginning has been made through the Digital India and Skill India initiatives. +India is swiftly changing for the better. +I wish to list some more global recognitions which indicate this: +o We have moved up thirty two places in the last two years in the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum. +This is highest for any country; +o We have also moved up twenty one places on the Global Innovation Index of WIPO in two years. +o We have moved nineteen places on the Logistics Performance Index of 2016 of World Bank; +Our mantra is reform, perform and transform. +We want to do better and better. +I am happy to note that for the first time, the World Bank is helping us in this exercise at the sub-National level too. +In a federal democracy like India, it is often not easy to take on board every stakeholder while undertaking reforms. +However, over the last three years, there has been a sea change in the response of Governments, both at Central and State level. +State Governments are finding innovative ways to create a business friendly environment. +While often competing with each other in implementing business reforms, they are also helping each other in implementing them. +This is an exciting universe in which competitiveness and cooperation co-exist. +The agenda for boosting growth and employment, required many structural changes, many tough decisions and many new regulations. +Besides this, the mind-set of the bureaucracy required change to enable them to work fearlessly and honestly. +Over the last three years, the Union Government has done a lot on these fronts. +We have resolved a number of regulatory and policy issues facing businesses and companies. +Alongwith manufacturing, we are also pushing for faster progress in infrastructure sectors. +Therefore, we are continuously working to improve our investment climate. +These reforms have touched significant sectors like Defence, Railways, Construction Development, Insurance, Pension, Civil Aviation and Pharmaceuticals. +This has resulted in increased FDI inflow, which year after year is making new records. +The FDI inflows of 55.6 billion US dollars for the year ending March, 2016 were an all-time high. +The following year, India registered an FDI inflow of 60.08 billion US dollars, thereby scaling an even higher peak. +As a result, the total FDI received in the country has gone up by 67% in a short span of three years. +During the current financial year till August, total FDI of 30.38 billion US dollars has been received, which represents an increase of 30% as compared to the corresponding period last year. +In August, 2017, India received a total FDI of 9.64 billion US dollars, which is the highest ever FDI received in any month. +Over the last three years, we have systemically and critically evaluated business regulations. +We have tried to understand the pain points of businesses with regard to interface with government. +We engaged with businesses on a regular basis, understood their concerns and sought to modify regulation to address their concerns. +I have often emphasized that technology must be used to transform governance. +Use of technology should minimize physical interface and assist time bound decision-making. +I am glad to see that a number of Government Departments and State Governments are deploying technology to improve governance and deliver services. +Alongwith the tools of technology we also need a complete change of mind-set while dealing with business. +Total re-engineering is required both at the level of Mind and Machine. +The past mindset of excessive control has to be replaced by the concept of minimum government, maximum governance. +This is our goal and my Government is determined to achieve this objective. +With this objective, an extensive exercise was undertaken to redesign laws and re-engineer government processes to make business environment simpler and more conducive. +An attempt has been made to align the Indian regulatory environment to international best practices. +Though, we were putting in efforts to improve India’s rank in the Doing Business Report, reforms undertaken by the Government are far more extensive. +To give you one example; we have abolished more than 1200 archaic laws and Acts which were only complicating Governance. +They have been deleted from the statute book. +Similarly, thousands of important reforms have been carried out by the states as well. +These additional efforts are not part of the World Bank’s requirement. +All Ministries of the Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings, State Governments as well as regulators should identify international best practices, consult their stakeholders and align their regulations and processes with international best practices. +I must make a special mention of the fact that while Ease of Doing Business is important for all businesses, it is critical for small businesses including small manufacturers. +This sector provides the bulk of employment in the country and to make them more competitive, we have to reduce the cost of doing business. +The work on Ease of Doing Business must address the issues of these small businesses and manufacturers. +Once again, let me congratulate the team working on various aspects of ease of doing business for their commitment and dedication. +I am sure that together we will write a new chapter in India’s history and transform India so that the dreams and aspirations of our people take wing. +I would like to thank the World Bank again for their guidance in our efforts to improve ease of Doing Business. +I am told that the experience of bringing about decisive changes in a large country like India without affecting the growth process may become an example for many other nations. +There is always scope to learn from others. +If required, we will be happy to share our experience with other countries. +Thank You Very Much !! +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Israel on “India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F)”. +The MoU was concluded in July, 2017 +India and Israel will make an contribution of four million US Dollars each for the Fund, both equivalent amount, annually for five years. +The Innovation Fund will be governed by a joint Board which will consist of four members from each country. +The MoU envisages promotion of bilateral Industrial R&D and Innovation cooperation in the fields of science and technology by extending support to joint projects for innovative or technology-driven new or improved products, services or processes. +Such projects will lead to affordable technological innovations in focus areas of mutual interest such as water, agriculture, energy and digital technologies. +Institutional support in building up consortia including private industry, enterprises and R&D institutions from India and Israel will be enabled through these collaborative projects. +The activities supported by the Joint Fund would increase the techno-economic collaboration between the two countries by investing in jointly developed technology projects and collaborations based on technological innovation. +It would leverage the complementary strengths of Israel and India to encourage Israel-Indian joint projects that capitalize on both the national and global marketplace. +It would provide a comprehensive set of support tools to encourage joint projects that convert “know-how” into “show-how”. +It is expected that this will foster and strengthen the eco-system of innovation and techno-entrepreneurship in India and will contribute directly to the Start-up India programme. +PM on WTO: Agreements on food security and trade facilitation must go together +The Prime Minister said terrorism is an enemy of humanity and therefore all humanitarian forces across the world must unite to fight terrorism. +He said all terrorism in India was “exported” terrorism, and was not homegrown. +He said as far as India was concerned, its symbols were Buddha and Gandhi. +The Prime Minister said, India and the United States had a partnership based on shared values of democracy and openness. +He said India and China had the capability to resolve the boundary question and there was no need for arbitration in the matter. +The Prime Minister said people had voted for good governance and development in the recent general elections, and there was an atmosphere of confidence. +He said the government was working to reduce red-tape and facilitate investment. +In reply to a question, the Prime Minister said electricity was now a necessity and his Government was committed to providing 24×7 electricity to people. +He said development and environment were not adversaries, and a balance could be achieved. +He also spoke about the Government`s initiatives for clean energy. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Maharashtra and Gujarat, on their statehood day. +On Gujarat’s statehood day my greetings to the people of Gujarat. +I hope the state continues to progress and contribute to India’s growth”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today received Bangladesh Foreign Minister Mr. Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali. +The Bangladesh Foreign Minister is in New Delhi for the 3rd meeting of the India Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission. +During the meeting, Foreign Minister Ali recalled the historical, cultural and economic links between India and Bangladesh. +Expressing appreciation for the special emphasis given by the new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi to relations with the SAARC region and India’s neighbourhood, he conveyed the strong desire of the people and Government of Bangladesh to further strengthen and deepen relations with India. +The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s personal interest and commitment to the relationship. +He reiterated India’s resolve to continue extending full support to the efforts of Bangladesh for its socio-economic development. +In this context, he called for greater cooperation between India and Bangladesh in the areas of energy, power, infrastructure development and tourism. +The Prime Minister also underscored the need to take concrete steps to promote bilateral trade and investment. +Noting the complementarity in the geographical locations of India and Bangladesh, it was agreed that improved connectivity through development of transportation (road, rail, inland waterways, shipping and air) links would facilitate economic cooperation and strengthen people-to-people ties. +Foreign Minister Ali extended an invitation on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Prime Minister to visit Bangladesh. +Prime Minister said that he looked forward to visiting Bangladesh at the earliest convenience. +He also looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India. +“We strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Uri. +I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished. +We salute all those martyred in Uri. +Their service to the nation will always be remembered. +My thoughts are with the bereaved families. +Have spoken to Home Minister and Raksha Mantri on the situation. +Raksha Mantri will go to J&K himself to take stock of the situation”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the book, Virat Purush Nanaji, which has been compiled in six volumes by the Deendayal Research Institute. +The book is a collection of the writings of Shri Nanaji Deshmukh. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister appreciated Shri Nanaji Deshmukh for his energy, drive and commitment towards social welfare and nation-building. +He said that it was through his efforts that “Shishu Mandir”, which was initiated in Gorakhpur, has become a well-known educational institution across India. +Shri Narendra Modi also praised Nanaji`s ability to forge political consensus. +The Prime Minister mentioned Shri Deshmukh`s decision to leave politics at the age of sixty, and devote himself entirely to the cause of rural development. +He also recalled that it was through Shri Deshmukh`s inspiration that many young couples devoted themselves to the cause of social upliftment. +Shri Narendra Modi said Nanaji Deshmukh even motivated several famous industrialists to work towards social causes. +He said Nanaji always believed that “Science is universal, but technology must be local.” +The Prime Minister said the book “Virat-Purush Nanaji” will motivate future generations of India towards nation-building. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief on the passing away of veteran film personality Smt Smita Talwalkar. +The Prime Minister said that her demise is a major loss to Marathi film industry. +He recalled Smita Talwalkar’s contribution to the Marathi film industry and prayed that her soul rests in peace. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today paid homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate in New Delhi, on the Golden Jubilee to commemorate the victory and sacrifice of Indian soldiers in the India-Pak War of 1965. +The Prime Minister laid a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti. +The Prime Minister wrote in the Visitor’s Book. +He met war veterans and their families. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Indian Badminton Player Kidambi Srikanth, on winning Australian Open Super Series. +“We are really proud of the victory of Kidambi Srikanth in the Australian Open. +I congratulate him for yet another wonderful win”, the Prime Minister said. +The renovated stadium has a seating capacity of 1850. +It will provide the necessary infrastructure to promote sports and recreational activities, and assist the overall development of the youth of the Northern Province in Sri Lanka. +The stadium has been in disuse since 1997. +Prime Minister Modi and President Sirisena will also witness the first major event at the renovated stadium, which is a celebration of the second International Day of Yoga. +Over 8000 people are expected to participate in the Yoga Demonstration. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today (April 01, 2016) met the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Justin Trudeau, on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC. +The Prime Minister said new energy and dynamism has been imparted to relations between the two countries, since Mr. Trudeau assumed office. +He spoke of immense possibilities for further expanding the relationship in the economic sphere. +He recalled his meeting with the heads of Canadian pension funds during his visit to Canada last year, and observed that some of these funds are now Investing in India. +Prime Minister Modi also spoke of India’s thrust towards renewable energy. +He mentioned smart cities, urban infrastructure and skill development as areas where Canada could further deepen its engagement with India. +He also mentioned India’s progressive policy in the hydrocarbon sector, and sought Canadian cooperation in the areas of coal gasification and underground mining of coal. +Prime Minister Trudeau accepted Prime Minister Modi’s invitation to visit India. +Prime Minister Modi met the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. David Cameron. +Both leaders recalled Shri Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK last year, and Prime Minister Modi said that ties between the two countries had become richer and deeper. +Defence cooperation came up for discussion and Prime Minister Modi mentioned that the UK could be a partner in the Make in India initiative, especially in the defence sector. +Visa issues also came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has extended the Independence Day greetings to the people of Uzbekistan. +“Independence Day greetings to the wonderful people of Uzbekistan. +India will always cherish the unbreakable bond with Uzbekistan”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to heavy rainfall in parts of Tamil Nadu. +“My thoughts are with the families of all those who lost their lives due to heavy rainfall in parts of Tamil Nadu”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister interacted with rickshaw-puller families in a chaupal setting. +During the interaction, subjects such as saving of a portion of the additional income, and education of children, came up for discussion. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the whole world has recognised that India is the fastest growing major economy in the world today. +He added that this is happening despite the global recession. +He said that the primary objectives of his Government are the welfare of the poor, and employment for the youth. +The Prime Minister said youth should become job creators instead of job seekers. +He added that his Government has taken a series of steps to fulfil these objectives. +In this context, he mentioned that 2 crore people had benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, in less than a year of the scheme’s launch. +The Prime Minister said that for the people who are getting e-rickshaws today, it is not just a simple change from pedal rickshaw to e-rickshaw, but an entire transformative process. +The Prime Minister symbolically handed over RuPay cards, and social security schemes to select beneficiaries. +The Prime Minister flagged off the rally of 2100 e-rickshaws. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the National Archives for the launch of the digitized files. +He also met family members of Netaji, including Prof. Chitra Ghosh, Shri Chandra Bose, and Shri Surya Kumar Bose. +The Prime Minister of India, in his meeting with the members of Netaji’s family at his residence in New Delhi on 14 October 2015, had announced that the Government of India would declassify the files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in a phased manner, and make them accessible to the public. +Accordingly, the first lot of 33 files were declassified by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and handed over to the National Archives of India on 4th December 2015. +Subsequently, the Ministries of Home Affairs, and External Affairs too initiated the process of declassification of files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in their respective collection which were then transferred to the National Archives of India. +As a first step, the National Archives of India is placing 100 files relating to Netaji in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization. +The remaining files too shall be placed in public domain after their conservation treatment and digitisation. +H. E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkey, called Prime Minister Narendra Modi over telephone today. +President Erdogan expressed condolences for the victims of recent terrorist attacks in India, and wished speedy recovery to those injured in the attacks. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that terrorism remains one of the gravest threats to global peace and security. +He underscored the importance of immediate, demonstrable, and irreversible action against terrorism by all concerned countries. +PM Says, India is ready for business as never before, Invites business leaders to invest in India saying doing business with India is a great opportunity, +India is the only place which offers Democracy, Demography and Demand Deeper Structural Reforms to strengthen economy: PM +Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 9th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Summit at Mahatma Mandir Exhibition cum Convention Centre in Gandhinagar today. +The Prime Minister invited global business leaders and companies to come and invest in India where the business climate is more investor friendly now with the required infrastructure and facilities in place. +I have asked my team to work harder to ensure India is on the top 50 next years.” +Underlining the importance of India’s growth and its strong economic fundamentals, the Prime Minister said, “At 7.3 per cent, the average GDP growth has been the highest of any Indian government since 1991. +At the same time, the average rate of inflation at 4.6 per cent is the lowest for any Indian government since 1991 when India began its process for liberalization.” +We wish to take deeper structural reforms to strengthen our economy. +We continue to remain one of the fastest growing economies in the world,” +Prime Minister said that India has now one of the largest ecosystems in terms of start-ups and with its world-class research facilities provides the right kind of atmosphere for investment. +He added that, “We have worked hard to promote manufacturing to create jobs for our youth. +Investments through our ‘Make in India’ initiative, have been well supported by programmes like ‘Digital India’ and ‘Skill India’ “ +The PM added, “We were among the highest growing tourist destinations in the world in 2017. +India had a growth of 14 percent over 2016, while the world grew at an average of 7 percent in the same year. +We have also been the fastest growing aviation market in the world, with double-digit growth in passenger ticketing terms, for over four years”. +He summed it up saying “India is thus, a land of immense opportunities. +It is the only place which offers you Democracy, Demography and Demand”. +Gujarat CM , Vijay Rupani lauded PM Modi for his policy driven governance and visionary leadership and assured the captains of industry all possible support to facilitate easy business. +Five Heads of States who grace the occasion were the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev along with the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen; Czech Republic, Andrej Babis & Malta, Dr Joseph Muscat. +One of the highlights of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit-2019 was a special message by the Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu via video-conferencing who said, “Gujarat symbolises the powerful connection between our two people. +Together we’re building limitless possibilities for the future.” +Major events during the three-day meet include a Round-table interaction with the heads of global funds, ‘Africa Day’, MSME convention, Roundtable for Opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education & Research. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Chhattisgarh on their Foundation Day. +“On their Foundation Day, I convey my greetings to the people of Chhattisgarh and wish them the very best for the State’s development journey,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, arrived at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv today. +As part of an elaborate official welcome ceremony, Prime Minister of Israel Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, received Prime Minister Modi on arrival. +Prime Minister Modi inspected a ceremonial Guard of Honour. +Prime Minister Netanyahu began his press statement with the Hindi words “आपका स्वागत है मेरे दोस्त.” +He said the Prime Minister is welcomed with open arms and even the sky is not the limit for cooperation between the two countries. +He described the Prime Minister as a great leader and a “world leader.” +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister began with the Hebrew greeting “Shalom le’kulam. +He went on to add in Hebrew “I am delighted to be here in Israel.” +He recalled, the Israeli operation at Entebbe, exactly 41 years ago on the 4th of July, when Prime Minister Netanyahu’s elder brother had laid down his life, while saving many Israeli hostages. +In our path of sustained high growth, and all around development, India counts Israel among its important partners, the Prime Minister said. +Alongside building a partnership for shared economic prosperity, we are also cooperating to secure our societies against common threats such as terrorism, he added. +Expressing his keenness to meet the Indian diaspora in Israel, he said Jews of Indian origin, have enriched both our societies. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the signing and ratifying of an Agreement between India and Philippines on co-operation and mutual assistance in customs matters. +The Agreement will help in the availability of relevant information for the prevention and investigation of Customs offences. +The Agreement is also expected to facilitate trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between the countries. +This Agreement shall enter into force after the necessary national legal requirements for entry into force of this Agreement have been fulfilled by both the countries. +The draft text of the proposed Agreement has been finalized with the concurrence of the two Customs Administrations. +The draft Agreement takes care of Indian Customs’ concerns and requirements, particularly in the area of exchange of information on the correctness of the Customs value declared and authenticity of certificates of origin of the goods traded between the two countries. +The money will also help HEC to liquidate its Government dues, bankers’ dues and other immediate liabilities. +The transfer of land will also meet the requirements of Jharkhand Government for its Smart City project and other development projects in the State capital in the larger public interest. +Consequently, the State Government of Andhra Pradesh has earmarked 244 acres of land at Srinivasapuram, Pangur and Chindepalli villages of Yerpedu Mandal for construction of the permanent campus of IISER, Tirupati. +Meanwhile, pending construction of the ‘permanent campus for the Institute, on the recommendation of the Site Selection Committee, it has been decided to commence its functioning from the academic session of 2015-16 from the transit / temporary campus at Sree Rama Engineering College, Tirupati. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today joined other members of the Rajya Sabha, in bidding farewell to Vice President Shri Hamid Ansari. +The Prime Minister noted that Shri Ansari’s family has an illustrious history of over 100 years in public life. +The Prime Minister said that the Vice President had been a career diplomat, and he had benefited from the Vice President’s insights on diplomatic issues on several occasions. +The Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes to Shri Hamid Ansari. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP). +The decision will enhance domestic oil & gas production, bring substantial investment in the sector and generate sizeable employment. +The policy is also aimed at enhancing transparency and reducing administrative discretion. +The uniform licence will enable the contractor to explore conventional as well as unconventional oil and gas resources including CBM, shale gas/oil, tight gas and gas hydrates under a single license. +The concept of Open Acreage Policy will enable E&P companies choose the blocks from the designated area. +Present fiscal system of production sharing based on Investment Multiple and cost recovery /production linked payment will be replaced by a easy to administer revenue sharing model. +The earlier contracts were based on the concept of profit sharing where profits are shared between Government and the contractor after recovery of cost. +Under the profit sharing methodology, it became necessary for the Government to scrutinize cost details of private participants and this led to many delays and disputes. +This is in tune with Government’s policy of “Ease of Doing Business”. +Recognizing the higher risks and costs involved in exploration and production from offshore areas, lower royalty rates for such areas have been provided as compared to NELP royalty rates to encourage exploration and production. +A graded system of royalty rates have been introduced, in which royalty rates decreases from shallow water to deep water and ultra-deep water. +At the same time, royalty rate for on land areas have been kept intact so that revenues to the state governments are not affected. +On the lines of NELP, cess and import duty will not be applicable on blocks awarded under the new policy. +This policy also provides for marketing freedom for crude oil and natural gas produced from these blocks. +This is in tune with Government’s policy of “Minimum Government –Maximum Governance” +The approval will facilitate entry of foreigners for tourism, business and medical purposes. +This will also considerably ease the travel of foreigners to India for the above-mentioned legitimate purposes. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved an ex- gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh. +The Prime Minister has also approved Rs. 50,000 each for those injured due to the accident. +During the interaction, the officers shared their experiences in areas such as development works; agriculture, irrigation and food-processing; inflation; public health; tribal and social welfare; female foeticide; and skill development. +The Prime Minister appreciated the thoughts and suggestions expressed by the officers. +He emphasized the importance of continuous innovation and enhancement of administrative capacities and processes. +He spoke of the importance of judicious use of technology and infrastructure in administration, and also mentioned his interaction with various Ministries and State Governments through the PRAGATI platform. +He urged officers to work with mutual team spirit and trust. +The Minister of State in the PMO, Shri Jitendra Singh, Cabinet Secretary Shri P. K. Sinha, and Additional Principal Secretary in the PMO, Shri P. K Mishra were present on the occasion. +Ms. Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu member of House of Representatives of the United States, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on Sunday. +She presented a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to the Prime Minister. +She expressed support for the Prime Minister`s proposal for an International Yoga Day. +Defence related matters, and counter-terrorism efforts also came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister invited her to visit India. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi announced annual Sardar Patel Award for National Integration at the DGPs/IGPs Conference at Kevadia yesterday. +This award would be given for outstanding efforts to further national integration. +“Sardar Patel devoted his life towards unifying India. +The Sardar Patel Award for National Integration would be a fitting tribute to him and will inspire more people to work towards furthering India’s unity and national integration.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for extending the validity of the existing Central Order dated 27.10.2016 in respect of sugar for a further period of six months from 29.04.2017 to 28.10.2017. +The main objective of the decision is to enable the State Governments to issue control order with the prior concurrence of Central Government, for fixing stock limits/licensing requirements in respect of sugar, whenever need is felt by them. +The current decision will be notified by the Government and communicated to all the States/UTs for further action at their end. +The Cabinet in its meeting held on 27.10.2016, decided to enable the States to regulate supply, distribution, sale, production, stock, storage, purchase and movement etc, in respect of sugar for a period up to six months. +The prices of sugar are being monitored by the Department of Food & Public Distribution regularly at factory gate as well as in the domestic market. +In September, 2016 it was noticed that the retail prices had shown a sudden spurt. +The price rise appeared to be more on sentiment than actual shortage. +In order to regulate supply of sugar and address issue of speculative prices, fixing of appropriate stock limit on need basis was essential. +In addition, despite adequate availability of stocks for consumption in the current season, hoarding and consequent profiteering is anticipated due to drop in production over previous year and hence further extension of stock limit would be needed. +Also a performance based production subsidy has been extended @Rs.4.50 per quintal of cane crushed which was directly credited to the farmers account on behalf of sugar mills. +This restricted quantity will help the sugar industry to augment their liquidity and enable them to pay cane dues of farmers. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, held bilateral meetings with the leaders of Kazakhstan, China and Uzbekistan, on the sidelines of the SCO meeting in Astana. +In his meeting with President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan on Thursday, the Prime Minister congratulated Kazakhstan for membership of the UN Security Council in 2017-18. +President Nazarbayev received the Prime Minister warmly and recalled his earlier visit to Kazakhstan in 2015. +Both leaders reviewed progress on decisions and agreements made during that visit. +Kazakhstan is currently the largest supplier of uranium to India, and both sides agreed to maintain the partnership. +Cooperation in this area of hydrocarbons was also discussed. +The Prime Minister invited Kazakhstan to become a member of the International Solar Alliance. +Both leaders also discussed the importance of enhancing connectivity. +In this context, connectivity through the Chabahar port in Iran was also discussed. +Two flights connecting Delhi and Astana will be launched soon. +Prime Minister Modi had a cordial and positive meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping today. +Prime Minister thanked him for his support to India’s accession to the SCO. +Both leaders noted that in a multipolar world, and at a time of global uncertainty, India-China relations are a factor of stability, and it is important for both countries to work together. +Themes such as trade, investment, connectivity, youth and cultural exchanges came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister had a warm and productive meeting with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. +Stronger linkages in the spheres of economy, trade and health came up for discussion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the loss of lives at the Kumbh, due to heavy rains. +Prime Minister has also prayed for safety of all saints, pilgrims and tourists at the Kumbh. +“Anguished over the loss of lives at the Kumbh due to heavy rains. +May Almighty give strength to the bereaved families to overcome the grief. +I hope the injured recover quickly. +I pray for the safety and well-being of all saints, pilgrims and tourists at the Kumbh”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today said that as a former Chief Minister, he is convinced that the vision of “New India” can only be realised through the combined effort and cooperation of all States and Chief Ministers. +Delivering the opening remarks at the third meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, the Prime Minister said that “Team India�� has once again assembled today to discuss and reflect on ways to prepare India for changing global trends. +He said the meeting today would be an opportunity to exchange views on policies and implementation. +The Prime Minister said that it is the collective responsibility of this gathering to envision the India of 2022 – the 75th anniversary of independence – and see how we can swiftly move forward to achieve these goals. +Recalling the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of the centenary of the Champaran Satyagraha, the Prime Minister said NITI Aayog has been taking steps to transform India, with fresh vigour. +He said the Government, private sector and civil society, all need to work in sync. +He noted that NITI was a collaborative federal body whose strength was is in its ideas, rather than in administrative or financial control. +He pointed out that the Chief Ministers did not have to come to NITI for approval of budgets or plans. +He said NITI Aayog had gone beyond relying on government inputs and taken on board a number of outside specialists, subject experts, and Young Professionals; and States can also contribute to policy formulation. +He gave the example of e-NAM, where experiences of States played a key role in the final policy. +The Prime Minister noted that sub-groups of State Chief Ministers had given vital inputs on subjects such as Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Swachh Bharat, Skill Development and Digital payments. +The Prime Minister urged States to speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation. +Speaking of the historic change in budget presentation date, the Prime Minister said this would enable timely availability of funds at the beginning of the financial year. +Earlier, budgeted scheme funds were generally not approved by Parliament till May, after which they would be communicated to states and ministries. +By that time, the monsoon arrived. +Hence the best working season for schemes was typically lost. +He also mentioned the ending of the distinction between plan and non-plan expenditure, based on the recommendation of the Rangarajan Committee in 2011, which had found the distinction to be counter-productive. +Several important items of expenditure were included as ‘non-plan’ and hence neglected. +Hereafter the emphasis would be on distinguishing between development and welfare expenditure on one hand, and administrative overheads on the other. +The Prime Minister said that the Goods and Services Tax shows the strength and resolve of the federal structure. +He gave credit to all Chief Ministers for coming on one platform for this cause, keeping aside ideological and political differences. +Thanking the Chief Ministers, he said consensus on GST will go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism. +He said GST reflects the spirit of “One nation, One aspiration, One determination.” +The Prime Minister called for carrying forward the debate and discussion on simultaneous elections. +He said the NITI Aayog is working on a 15 year long term vision, 7 year medium term strategy, and 3 year action agenda. +He said this effort needs support of States, and will eventually reflect in benefits to States. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated to the Nation, the Centre for Nano Science Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. +He later visited the Centre, which is considered to be the most sophisticated and comprehensive cluster of micro and nano-tech laboratories in India, benchmarked against the best in the world. +The Centre is designed to provide research and technology leadership in the areas of nano-electronics and nanotechnology, which is key to the “Make in India” initiative, in the field of electronics. +The Prime Minister unveiled the foundation stone of the Centre for Brain Research at IISc. +This is being established as an autonomous centre of IISc. +The MoU envisages development of new technology for drilling of oil and gas. +The Prime Minister was given an overview of the research activities being carried out at IISc. +He took keen interest in initiatives in areas such as solar energy, water management, agriculture and enquired about collaborations between IISc and other institutes. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today gave its ex-post facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed on 11th February, 2016 to mobilise long term investment into the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). +MoU / Agreement / LoI +Exchanged by +MoU on Cyber Security Cooperation between India and Israel +Shri Vijay Gokhale, Secretary (ER) +Mr. Yuval Rotem, Director General, MoFA, Government of Israel +MoU between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Energy on Cooperation inOil and Gas Sector +Mr. Daniel Carmon, Ambassador of Israel to India +Protocol between India and Israel on Amendments to the Air Transport Agreement +Shri Rajiv Nayan Choubey, Secretary, Civil Aviation +Agreement on Film-co-production between India and Israel +MoU between the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH and the Centre for Integrative Complementary Medicine, Shaare Zedek Medical Center on Cooperation in the field of Research in Homeopathic Medicine +Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH +MoU between Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and the Technion- Israel Institute of Technology for cooperation in the field of space +Memorandum of Intent between Invest India and Invest in Israel +Shri Deepak Bagla, Managing Director & CEO, Invest India +Shri Sanjiv Singh, Chairman, IOCL +Letter of Intent between IOCL and Yeda Research and Development Co Ltd for cooperation in the area of concentrated solar thermal technologies +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today approved amendments in the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2011 by moving an amendment Bill in Parliament during the Budget Session, 2015. +This is being done with a view to incorporate necessary provisions aimed at strengthening safeguards against disclosures which may prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of the country, security of the State, etc. +The amendments would address concerns relating to national security. +The Prime Minister today presented President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj a specially commissioned reproduction of a rare 13th century manuscript on the history of Mongols from the Rampur Raza Library, Rampur. +Called Jamiut Tawarikh, this work was one of the grandest projects undertaken by the Ilkhanate king Ghazan Khan (1295-1304) and was done by the king’s wazir Rasheeduddin Fazlullah Hamedani who wrote it in Persian and chronicled the history up to the reign of Oljeitju (1304-1316). +The breadth of coverage of the work often caused it to be dubbed as the first world history. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of eminent thinker, writer and journalist Pandit Dharmsheel Chaturvedi. +The sharp writings, wit and humour of Pandit Dharmsheel Chaturvedi endeared him to a wide spectrum of readers. +He will be missed.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the Sphere of Law & Justice. +The MoU takes care of concerns and requirements in the field of exchange of experience by legal professionals, Government functionaries and their training and effective legal aid mechanism for resolution. +The MoU will facilitate greater cooperation between India and Uzbekistan in providing legal services in both countries in the field of exchange of experience through information sharing visits, and training between both countries on enhancing legal capacities of Government functionaries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the ISRO scientists, on the launch of India’s first indigenous space shuttle RLV-TD. +“Launch of India’s first indigenous space shuttle RLV-TD is the result of the industrious efforts of our scientists. +The dynamism and dedication with which our scientists and ISRO have worked over the years is exceptional and very inspiring”, the Prime Minister said. +The launch by the Prime Minister this evening, was preceded by a day-long workshop on various aspects of entrepreneurship. +The Prime Minister visited a virtual exhibition and interacted with Start-up entrepreneurs. +10 outstanding Start-up innovators shared their thoughts and experiences before the Prime Minister delivered his address. +He said that when he had launched the Start-up India Initiative on 15th August, the announcement had virtually gone unnoticed, but today it had registered with people. +He said successful start-ups are usually created by those who are driven by an idea, or an urge to solve a problem that people face. +He said making money is not the primary objective, but is often a by-product. +He said Start-up innovators are often driven by a sense of compassion for others. +The Prime Minister said he wishes to turn the youth of India from job-seekers to job-creators. +He said if a Start-up can offer employment to even five people, it would be doing a great service to the nation. +He mentioned some areas where youth innovators should focus, including crop wastage, and cyber security. +The Prime Minister unveiled the highlights of the Start-up Action Plan. +He said a dedicated Start-up fund worth Rs. 10,000 crore will be created for funding of Start-ups. +He said Start-ups will be exempted from paying income tax on their profit for the first three years. +He said the Government is working on a simple exit policy for Start-ups. +He also said the Government is working towards fast-tracking of Start-up patent applications. +He announced an eighty percent exemption in patent fee for Start-up businesses, and said a self-certification based compliance system for Start-ups would be introduced for 9 labour and environment laws. +He said the Atal Innovation Mission will be launched to give a boost to innovation. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has decided to withdraw the Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment) Bill, 2013, which had been introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 29.08.2013. +The Bill had been examined by the Standing Committee of Parliament which had made a number of recommendations for changing the provisions of the Bill. +India is one of the largest manufacturers of pharmaceutical products in the world. +The annual production of such products is in excess of Rs. 2 lakh crore. +Out of this, over 55% is exported to over 200 countries/economies of the world including the developed countries. +As such, the pharmaceutical sector in India plays a vital role in managing the public health in large number countries at a substantially lower cost. +The Cabinet has, keeping in view the role of the sector in managing public health, decided that it will not be appropriate to carry out further amendments in the present Act especially as newer areas of biological, stem cells and regenerative medicines, medical devices and clinical trial/investigation, etc. cannot be effectively regulated under the existing law. +The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has, accordingly, undertaken an exercise at two levels namely (i) to frame separate rules under the existing Act for regulating medical devices; and (ii) to bring out separate legislations for regulating medical devices and Drugs and Cosmetics. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a place of worship in Egypt. +Calling the attack barbaric the Prime Minister expressed deep condolences at the loss of innocent lives and extended India’s unwavering support to Egypt in the fight against all forms of terrorism. +“Strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack on a place of worship in Egypt. +Our deep condolences at the loss of innocent lives. +India resolutely supports the fight against all forms of terrorism and stands with the people as well as Government of Egypt.”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired his eleventh interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. +The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of public grievances. +Urging the officers to further speed up the pace of work in this regard, Shri Narendra Modi emphasized that grievance redressal is one of the biggest aspects of democracy. +He called for focused action within the next one month, to ensure that barring exceptions, grievances are disposed off within 60 days. +He reiterated his directive for top officers to intervene in this matter. +Reviewing the progress towards ease of doing business, Shri Narendra Modi observed that there is now healthy progress among states for investment. +He called for further concerted efforts to build on the momentum, to create a positive perception. +The Prime Minister asked about Mission Mode projects under Digital India. +Examining the progress of Digitization of Land Records, the Prime Minister called for integration of all land records with Aadhaar at the earliest. +He emphasized that this is extremely important to monitor the successful implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. +Reviewing the progress of provision of citizen-centric services electronically, the Prime Minister called for a comprehensive district-wise review across the country, of how many services are actually being delivered online. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the fellow citizens and Election Commission of India on National Voters` Day. +PM has also congratulated all officials and all those, who will be awarded today, for their campaigns towards voter education and awareness. +I urge all voters across India to make full use of this year`s theme of ‘Easy Registration, Easy Correction.’ +Congrats to all officials and all those who will be awarded today for their campaigns towards voter education and awareness. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Slovenia on their Statehood Day. +“Warm greetings to the people of Slovenia on their Nation’s Statehood Day. +I am very optimistic about the strong ties between our Nations”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Signing of Terms of Reference (TOR) governing the engagement of the designated Indian Expert to provide tax assistance to Swaziland (now known as Eswatini) under the Tax Inspectors Without Borders Programme between India and Eswatini. +An Indian Expert has been mutually selected by the Government of India and the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini under the TIWB programme. +The Terms of Reference will formalize the conditions of the engagement of the designated Indian Expert to provide tax assistance to Eswatini under the TIWB Programme. +The engagement of the Indian Expert under the TiWB programme will give impetus to India’s support in capacity building in tax matters in developing countries. +The Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) Programme which is jointly launched by UNDP and OECD is intended to support developing countries to strengthen national tax administrations through building audit capacity and to share this knowledge with other countries. +The TIWB Programme aims to strengthen tax administrations of developing countries by transferring technical know-how and skills to their tax auditors, and through the sharing of general audit practices and dissemination of knowledge products with them. +The TIWB Programme complements the efforts of the international community to strengthen cooperation on tax matters and contribute to domestic tax mobilisation efforts of developing countries. +India has been supportive in capacity building in tax matters in developing countries. +India being a global leader in this respect has a very important role to play in South-South Cooperation in tax matters. +The Government has accepted the recommendations of the RBI to issue Two thousand rupee notes and new notes of Five hundred rupees will also be placed in circulation. +Notes of one hundred, fifty, twenty, ten, five, two and one rupee will remain legal tender and will remain unaffected by the decision today. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi made these important announcements during a televised address to the nation on the evening of Tuesday 8th November 2016. +He said that these decisions will fully protect the interests of honest and hard-working citizens of India and that those five hundred and one thousand rupee notes hoarded by anti-national and anti-social elements will become worthless pieces of paper. +The Prime Minister said the steps taken by the Government would strengthen the hands of the common citizens in the fight against corruption, black money and counterfeit notes. +Fully sensitive to some of the difficulties the common citizens may face in the coming days, the Prime Minister has announced a series of steps that will help overcome the potential problems. +Persons holding old notes of five hundred or one thousand rupees can deposit these notes in bank or post offices from 10th November onwards till 30th December, the Prime Minister announced. +There are also some limits placed on the withdrawals from ATMs and bank for the very short run. +Shri Modi stated that on humanitarian grounds notes of five hundred and one thousand rupees will be accepted at government hospitals, pharmacies in government hospitals (with prescription of a doctor), booking counters for railway tickets, government buses, airline ticket counters, petrol, diesel and gas stations of PSU oil companies, consumer cooperative stores authorized by the state or central government, milk booths authorized by state government and crematoria, burial grounds. +Shri Modi emphasized that there is no restriction on any kind of non-cash payments by cheques, demand drafts, debit or credit cards and electronic fund transfer. +In his address the Prime Minister shared the insight into how the magnitude of cash in circulation is linked to inflation and how the inflation situation is worsened due to the cash deployed through corrupt means. +The Prime Minister added that it adversely affects the poor and the neo-middle class people. +He cited the example of the problems being faced by the honest citizens while buying houses. +A time-tested commitment to eradicate black money +The Prime Minister has time and again said that the Government is committed to ensure that the menace of black money is overcome. +Over the past two and a half years of the NDA Government, he has walked the talk and led by example. +The very first decision of the Prime Minister led NDA government was the formation of a SIT on black money. +A law was passed in 2015 on disclosure of foreign bank accounts. +In August 2016 strict rules were put in place to curtail benami transactions. +During the same period a scheme to declare black money was introduced. +The efforts have borne fruit. +Over the past two and a half years, more than Rs. 1.25 lakh crore of black money has been brought into the open. +Raising the issue of black money at the world stage +Prime Minister Narendra Modi has time and again raised the issue of black money at the global forum, including at important multilateral summits and in bilateral meetings with leaders. +Record growth in last two and a half years +The Prime Minister said that the efforts of the Government have led to India emerging as a bright spot in the global economy. +India is a preferred destination for investment and India is also an easier place to do business in. +Leading financial agencies have shared their optimism about India’s growth as well. +The historic announcements made by the Prime Minister will add value to the already thriving efforts of the Central Government. +Prime Minister positively recalled his meeting with President Nieto of Mexico on the sidelines of the UNGA in September 2015 in New York. +Prime Minister laid emphasis on strengthening bilateral cooperation, including in the fields of energy, manufacturing, infrastructure development, urban and town planning, science and technology, space, agriculture, health and traditional medicine. +The Foreign Minister of Mexico expressed keen interest to deepen bilateral ties with India in all sectors. +She extended invitation on behalf of the President of Mexico to the Prime Minister to visit Mexico. +PM condoles the loss of lives due to the landslides in Darjeeling district; announces compensation of Rs. 2 lakh from the PMNRF, to the families of the deceased. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to the landslides in Darjeeling district. +The Prime Minister has announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh from the PMNRF, to the families of the deceased. +“Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to the landslides in Darjeeling district. +Condolences to the families of the deceased. +A compensation of Rs. 2 lakh from the PMNRF would be provided to the families of the deceased. +MoS Home Shri Kiren Rijiju is going to the locations to take stock of the situation. +A team from NDRF is extending all possible support”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has expressed grief at the loss of lives in the train accident in Uttar Pradesh and has wished the injured a speedy recovery. +The Prime Minister has asked the Railway Minister to closely monitor the situation and ensure speedy relief and assistance at the spot. +Taking his innovative use of social media and latest technology to the next level, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today addressed the 18th National Conference on e-Governance through Twitter. +This is the first time such an address has taken place through Twitter. +The Prime Minister tweeted: “Good morning friends! +I am delighted to join the 18th National Conference on e-Governance through Twitter. +Am told this conference brings together several delegates from Central and State Governments, Armed Forces, Academia, Industry and private sector. +The participants and their expertise make this conference a perfect forum to look at the way forward to effective and efficient e-Governance. +I am also told that 22 awards will be presented in 12 categories. +I congratulate all the award winners and laud their efforts. +Am particularly delighted that the theme of this year`s conference revolves around digital governance, skill development and employability. +Centre is committed to realising dream of a Digital India, with a vision to make India a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. +E-Governance is an essential part of our dream of Digital India. +The more technology we infuse in Governance, the better it is for India. +I am also certain that technology and e-Governance will make processes simpler and remove several obstacles slowing the pace of work and progress. +While we look at e-Governance, let us think about ‘mobile first’ and thus give importance to m-Governance (mobile governance). +I urge you to explore ways to provide as many services as possible through mobiles. +Let us bring the world into our mobile phones! +The youthful energy that our Nation possesses is our prized asset. +Giving an impetus to skill development through technology is essential. +Scale and speed at which we have to take India`s development journey requires maximum and smart utilisation of latest technology. +Once again, my best wishes to everyone in the conference. +Recently, during President Obama`s visit to India, the Prime Minister shared through “SoundCloud” the special episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat.’ +He also shared a native video on Facebook and an audio tweet and video tweet of glimpses of his speech at the NCC parade on 28th January. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated a Pumping Station at Bhachau. +This will enable release of Narmada Waters for the Tappar dam. +Addressing a large public meeting on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that today’s inauguration will make every Kutchi proud. +He mentioned the importance of conserving water, and added that in Kutch, people understood this quite well. +He said that successive State Governments in Gujarat had placed emphasis on water conservation. +Now, he said, with the Narmada waters arriving, the region would witness a transformation. +The Prime Minister also noted that Bhuj would get a modern bus port, like other cities in Gujarat. +He said the focus is only on development and positive work which takes the State to new heights. +All party delegation of Members of Parliament from Tamil Nadu under the leadership of Dr. M. Thambi Durai, Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha met the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today on the issue of Cauvery water dispute. +The delegation members handed over a memorandum on the issue to the Prime Minister and requested for immediate and amicable solution of Cauvery water dispute. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for setting up an Empowered Committee of Secretaries under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary, in order to process the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) in an overall perspective. +The Empowered Committee of Secretaries will function as a Screening Committee to process the recommendations with regard to all relevant factors of the 7th CPC in an expeditious detailed and holistic fashion. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, hoisted the National Flag at Red Fort, to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of formation of Azad Hind Government, formed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. +Prime Minister congratulated the nation on theproud occasion of 75thanniversary of formation of Azad Hind Government. +Recalling the contributions of Netaji, Modi said that Subhas Chandra Bose was a visionary,who united Indians to fight against the powerful colonial British rule. +Prime Minister said that Netaji was not just an inspiration for Indians, but for all those who were fighting for self-determination and freedom in countries all over the world. +In context he mentioned how South African leader Nelson Mandela was inspired by Netaji. +Reminding the nation that there is a long way to go before building a new India as envisioned by Subhas Chandra Bose, Prime Minister urged the citizens to get inspired by Netaji and work towards the development of the nation. +He added that India achieved independence after lots of sacrifices and it is the duty of citizens to preservethat independence. +Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister said that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose laid down the foundation for equal opportunity for women in armed forces, through the formation of Rani Jhansi Regiment. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated athlete Hima Das on winning Gold in 400m of World U20 Championships. +“India is delighted and proud of athlete Hima Das, who won a historic Gold in the 400m of World U20 Championships. +Greetings to the Observer countries present here. +This is my first SAARC Summit. +But, this is the second time I am meeting most of you together. +I stepped into the office with the greetings of the entire world. +But, what moved me, dear colleagues, was your personal presence, with the good wishes of one-fourth of humanity. +Because the future I dream for India is the future I wish for our entire region. +The last Summit was three years ago. +Only two of us here were present in Addu. +Even Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has come here after her re-election. +President Rajapaksa will soon go into one and I wish him good luck. +I especially welcome our newest colleague, President Ghani. +Ours is a region of thriving democracy; of rich inheritance; the unmatched strength of youth; and, a strong thirst for change and progress. +In the last few months, I have travelled around the world. +From the middle of the Pacific, to the southern coast of Atlantic Ocean, I see a rising tide of integration. +And, negotiations on major trade agreements such as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the Trans Pacific Partnership and the Trans Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. +Because the barriers of boundaries inhibit progress; international partnerships add speed to it. +Because, in the life of an individual or a Nation, a good neighbourhood is a universal aspiration. +Where does South Asia wish to stand in this world? +Nowhere in the world are collective efforts more urgent than in South Asia; and, nowhere else is it so modest. +Big and small, we face the same challenges- a long climb to the summit of development. +But, I have great belief in our boundless potential; and, confidence – that comes from the many inspiring stories of innovation and initiative in each of our countries. +There is much to learn from each other; even more – to do together. +That was the vision and aspiration that brought us together as SAARC 30 years ago. +We have travelled a long distance together since then. +We have an agreement, an institution or a framework of cooperation in every field. +We also have many successes. +Yet, when we speak of SAARC, we usually hear two reactions – cynicism and scepticism. +This, sadly, is in a region throbbing with the optimism of our youth. +Today, less than 5% of the region’s global trade takes place between us. +Even at this modest level, less than 10% of the region’s internal trade takes place under SAARC Free Trade Area. +It is still harder to travel within our region than to Bangkok or Singapore; and, more expensive to speak to each other. +How much have we done in SAARC to turn our natural wealth into shared prosperity; or, our borders into bridgeheads to a shared future? +Yet, South Asia is slowly coming together. +India and Bangladesh have deepened their links through rail, road, power and transit. +India and Nepal have started a new era of cooperation in energy; and, India and Bhutan are making those ties stronger by the day. +With Sri Lanka, we have transformed trade through a Free Trade Agreement. +We will soon launch a new arrangement to meet Maldives’ need for oil. +Distance and difficulties have not held back India and Afghanistan. +For India, it has been a privilege to provide assistance of nearly 8 billion U.S. dollars in South Asia over a decade. +It may not seem a great amount in these times, but we are grateful for the opportunity to have made a difference to the lives of a few brothers and sisters in our region. +Each of us has taken our own initiatives. +However, as SAARC we have failed to move with the speed that our people expect and want. +Some argue that it is because of the region’s development gap. +But, that should actually spur us to do more. +Or, is it because we are stuck behind the walls of our differences and hesitant to move out of the shadows of the past? +This won’t resolve our differences, but will certainly deprive us of opportunities. +Today, goods travel from one Punjab to the other Punjab through Delhi, Mumbai, Dubai and Karachi – making the journey eleven times longer and the cost four times more. +India, too, has its share of responsibility –because of our size and location. +I know that many of your goods, too, have to do a Parikrama of India to reach their destinations. +Just think of what we are doing to our consumers – and to our environment! +We must shrink the distance between our producers and consumers and use the most direct routes of trade. +I know India has to lead, and we will do our part. +I hope, each of you will, too. +Infrastructure is our region’s greatest weakness and it’s most pressing need. +When I thought of coming to Kathmandu by road, it made many officials in India nervous. +Because of the condition of roads at the border! +We speak of ease of doing business in India. +Let’s extend this to our region. +I promise to ensure that our facilities at the border will speed up, not slow down, trade. +Let’s all make our procedures simple, our facilities better, our standards common and our paper work less burdensome. +India will now give business visa for 3-5 years for SAARC. +Let`s make it even easier for our businesses through a SAARC Business Traveller Card. +Excellencies, India has a huge trade surplus with SAARC countries. +I believe that this neither right nor sustainable. +We will address your concerns and give you a level playing field in India. +But, I encourage you to attract Indian investments to produce for the Indian market and create jobs for your youth. +I also look to a future when your companies can easily raise funds in India for investments at home; and, when we have cross-border industrial corridors, so that we can take advantage of the natural synergies and connected lives in our Border States. +I also believe that if we can light up each other’s towns and villages, we can build a brighter tomorrow for our region. +Or, face a future when someone looks down at us from Space, and says that this is world`s darkest corner. +Let us treat electricity as a commodity like any other that we invest and trade in. +India will fully support these initiatives in the region. +We should also think with ambition to use solar energy and micro grids to quickly provide clean power to villages across the region. +Our relations become stronger when we connect the lives of the ordinary citizens of our countries. +That is why connectivity and services by rail and road are so important. +We should also connect ourselves more by air. +We could begin with the Buddhist circuit, but we don’t have to stop there. +As we seek to build bridges to prosperity, we must not lose sight of our responsibility to the millions living without hope. +We must work with our compassion of our hearts, but also with the power of science. +In the area of health, India will meet the shortfall in funds to establish the SAARC Regional Supra Reference Laboratory for TB and HIV. +We offer the five-in-one vaccine for the children of South Asia. +Information technology has removed all barriers to quality education. +India is prepared to connect our South Asian students through online course and E-libraries. +When we set up India’s National Knowledge Network, we will be happy to extend it to the SAARC region. +India’s gift of a satellite for the SAARC region will benefit us all in areas like education, telemedicine, disaster response, resource management, weather forecasting and communication. +We will also host a conference in India for all South Asian partners next year, to strengthen our collective ability to apply space technology in economic development and governance. +And, we plan to launch our satellite by the SAARC Day in 2016. +As neighbours, we should also be together in good and bad times. +India’s capability and expertise in disaster management will always be available to South Asia. +Equally, as we reach out to Indians caught in conflicts and disasters around the world, we will also be there for all our South Asian citizens. +Excellencies, a prosperous SAARC needs the strong foundation of a secure South Asia. +If we are sensitive to each other’s security, and the lives of our people, we will deepen friendships, spur cooperation and advance stability in our region. +Today, as we remember the horror of the terror attack in Mumbai in 2008, we feel the endless pain of lost lives. +Let us work together to fulfil the pledge we have taken to combat terrorism and trans-national crimes. +The bonds will grow. +Through SAARC or outside it. +Among us all or some of us. +We can all choose our paths to our destinations. +But, when we join our hands and walk in step, the path becomes easier, the journey quicker and the destination closer. +I say this as much to my government and people, as I say to you. +Today, it is calling us to act. +Let us work to change cynicism into optimism. +Let us turn South Asia of flowering hope into a rich field of peace and prosperity. +Taking into consideration the deep concern of both countries for the global environment and their shared interest in its conservation for the well-being of present and future generations; +Keeping in mind that sustainable development in Brazil and India requires effective measures for protection and improvement of the environment; +Recalling the importance of cooperation between developing countries towards the enhancement of sustainable development; +Considering the principles and documents adopted during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held at Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002 and at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held at Rio de Janeiro in June 2012; and +Desirous of promoting the establishment and development of closer and long term cooperation between both countries in the field of protection and improvement of the environment; +Have reached the following understanding: +The Parties shall cooperate in the field of environmental protection on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit. +The Parties shall mutually extend their co-operation, inter alia, in the following priority areas: +b) Biological Diversity, with attention to the Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization; +c) Afforestation in arid areas; +d) Water conservation and protection of wetlands; +e) Waste management including agricultural waste and electronic waste; +f) Waste water management and re-use of treated effluents; +g) Use of bio-fuels; +h) Use of medicinal plant products; +i) Air and water quality management; and +j) Environmental information systems. +2. The Parties shall carry out the above mentioned co-operative activities, in accordance with their national law and their obligations under international treaties in the field of environmental protection and conservation of natural resources. +Cooperation between the Parties under this Memorandum of Understanding may be conducted in the form of: +a) Exchange of information and documentation; +b) Exchange of visits by experts, scholars and delegations; +c) Jointly organized seminars, workshops and meetings involving experts, scientists, private companies and other relevant agencies; +d) Collaborative projects; +e) Other forms of cooperation as mutually agreed upon. +1. Subject to national legislation and international agreements in force in both countries, the Parties shall adopt appropriate measures to protect the intellectual property rights arising under the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding. +2.The conditions for the acquisition, maintenance and commercial exploitation of intellectual property rights over possible products and/or processes that might be obtained under this Memorandum of Understanding will be defined in the specific programs, contracts or working plans, which shall also set out the conditions regarding the confidentiality of information whose publication and/or disclosure might jeopardize the acquisition, maintenance and commercial exploitation of intellectual property rights obtained under this Memorandum of Understanding. +1.The Parties, proceeding from the objectives of the MoU, shall promote and facilitate the establishment and development of direct contact and cooperation between them and between public and private institutions and organizations of both countries. +2.The Parties shall encourage contacts between Government agencies, academic institutions and private economic enterprises of both countries interested in cooperation, including the signing of contracts and working agreements. +The scientific and technical Information, not protected by the intellectual property rights, that may be accumulated as a result of cooperation under the present MoU, excluding information which may not be disclosed in view of national security, or commercial or industrial considerations, may be provided to the international scientific community and institutes unless otherwise agreed to by both Parties, through the usual channels and in accordance with the normal procedures of the participating institutions and organizations. +In exchanging and disseminating it to third parties, both Parties shall take into account existing legal provisions, the rights of third parties and international obligations. +1. For coordination and implementation of this MoU, an Indo-Brazil Joint Working Group on Environment shall be set up (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Working Group’). +2. The Working Group will meet, at intervals agreed upon by the Parties, alternately in Brazil and India. +It will examine concrete activities and programmes of cooperation; coordinate with the participating organizations responsible for the implementation of these programmes; and shall make recommendations to Parties, through an accepted procedure. +The composition, place of the meetings and procedure to be followed in the Working Group shall be mutually determined by the Parties, the sending side bear the cost of such visits. +3. The Ministry of Environment and Forests of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Environment of the Federative Republic of Brazil shall be the nodal agencies responsible for coordination and organization of cooperation under the present MoU. +4. The activities under the MoU will be conducted on the basis of a plan of action, formulated for period of five years, in accordance with the programmes of cooperation. +This MoU may not be interpreted so as to prejudice the rights and obligations of the Parties which result from other agreements in force concluded by each of the two Parties of their States under international law. +Disputes arising out of interpretation in or application of this MoU which cannot be resolved between the agencies responsible for coordination and organization of cooperation shall be resolved amicably by negotiation and consultation between the Parties. +1.The present MoU shall continuously remain in force from the date of signature, unless either Party terminates it by giving a written notice to the other Party, through diplomatic channel, of its intention to terminate it. +In such a case, the MoU shall be terminated six (6) months from the date of such notification. +2.The termination of this MoU shall not affect the completion of activities under agreements and contracts concluded on the basis of the present MoU, which may have not been completed on the date of its termination. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited EMERCOM –the National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) in Moscow. +The Prime Minister was given an overview of the actual functioning and real-time monitoring operations of the Centre. +He was informed in detail about the coordination among various disaster-relief agencies, which is done by this Centre. +The space monitoring and 3D modelling capabilities were also explained. +The capabilities of the Centre to monitor threats to human life and property, including natural disasters, both within and beyond Russia’s borders, and its global sphere of cooperation were highlighted. +The Prime Minister took keen interest in the disaster prevention and response activities being coordinated by the Centre, as well as its global outreach. +He described the work being done by the Centre as a “great service to humanity.” +The National Security Advisor Shri AjitDoval, the Foreign Secretary Shri S. Jaishankar, the Defence Secretary Shri G Mohan Kumar, and other senior members of the Prime Minister’s delegation were present. +The NCMC is a multi level coordination centre designed to provide inter-agency coordination, and alerting people about the threat of emergency situations. +The capabilities of the NCMC include state of the art real time monitoring, data collection, analysis and modelling. +It uses global navigation satellite systems and global monitoring technologies based on remote sensing. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for revision of pay and allowances of Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories. +It will bring the pay and allowances of LGs at par with that of the Secretary to the Government of India. +The Cabinet has approved the proposal for increasing the pay and allowances of Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories with effect from 1st January, 2016 from Rs.80,000/- per month plus dearness allowance, sumptuary allowance at the rate of Rs.4,000/- per month and local allowances to Rs. 2,25,000/- plus dearness allowance, sumptuary allowance at the rate of Rs.4,000/- per month and local allowances at the same rate as applicable to the officers of the rank of Secretary to the Govt. of India It will be subject to the condition that the total emoluments (excluding sumptuary allowance and local allowances) shall not exceed the total emoluments drawn by the Governor of a State. +The pay and allowances of Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories remain at par with those of officers of the rank of Secretary to the Government of India. +The pay of officers of the rank of Secretary to the Government of India has been revised from Rs. 80,000/- to Rs. 2,25,000/- per month with effect from 01.01.2016 as per CCS (Revised) Pay Rules, 2016. +I am happy to join you today, through Video Conferencing, at the Annual International Yoga Festival. +Before I begin, I would like to share with you, some recent, remarkable achievements of our scientists in India. +Last month, our space scientists created a unique record. +They sent 104 satellites into space, through a single rocket launch. +101 of these satellites were owned by countries such as USA, Israel, Switzerland, Netherlands, Kazakhstan and UAE. +Our defence scientists too, have made India proud. +On 11th February, they successfully tested a high altitude ballistic missile shield, which can provide effective security cover to our cities, against missile attacks. +Yesterday, they added another feather in their cap by successfully testing a low altitude interceptor missile. +This is a capability that only four other nations currently possess. +I congratulate our space and defence scientists for their achievements. +We in India believe in researching both the frontiers of science and technology, as also, researching deep within our souls, that is, both Science, and Yoga. +Perhaps, there can be no better place than Rishikesh, to host the International Yoga Festival. +This, indeed, is a place that has drawn sages, pilgrims, commoners and celebrities alike, over millennia, in quest for peace, and for the true essence of Yoga. +“If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point to India.” +From Max Muller, to many of you present in Rishikesh today – all immensely successful people in their own right – whenever the quest to know one’s real self has beckoned, their destination has been India. +And in most cases, that quest, has led them, to Yoga. +Yoga is a code to connect people with life, and to reconnect mankind with nature. +It expands our limited sense of self, to see our families, societies and mankind, as extensions of our own self. +That is why, Swami Vivekananda said, “expansion is life, contraction is death.” +By practicing Yoga, a spirit of oneness is created – oneness of the mind, body and the intellect. +This journey, as a natural by-product, brings the added benefits of good health, peace of mind, and even, prosperity in life. +Yoga makes the individual a better person in thought, action, knowledge and devotion. +It would be very unfair to see Yoga only as a set of exercises that keeps the body fit. +Yoga is far beyond physical exercises. +The quest for solace from the stresses of modern life, often drives people to tobacco, alcohol, or even drugs. +Yoga offers a timeless, simple, and healthy alternative. +There is ample evidence that practicing yoga helps combat stress and chronic lifestyle-related conditions. +The world today, is also threatened by the twin challenges – terrorism, and climate change. +The world looks to India, and to Yoga, for a durable, and sustainable answer to these problems. +When we talk of global peace, there should be peace among nations. +That is possible only when there is peace within the society. +Only peaceful families can constitute peaceful society. +Only peaceful individuals can make peaceful families. +Yoga is the way to create such a harmony and peace within individuals, family, society, nation and ultimately all over the world. +Through Yoga, we will create a new Yuga – a Yuga of togetherness and harmony. +When we talk of combating climate change, we seek to move away from a lifestyle of consumption, or “Bhoga”, to one of Yoga. +Yoga can prove to be a strong pillar to lead a life of discipline and development. +At a time, when emphasis is on personal gain, and what one may get out of any endeavour, Yoga offers a refreshingly different approach. +Yoga is not about what one can get out of it. +It is rather about what one can give up, what one can get rid of. +Therefore, instead of attainment, Yoga shows us the path to liberation, or Mukti, as we call it in this part of the world. +Swami Chidanand Saraswati ji, through his work at Parmarth Niketan has shown a way to live these noble ideals. +I appreciate the work being done by Parmarth Niketan in bringing Yoga to people across the world. +I recall the active role played by Swami ji, in compiling the 11 volume Encyclopaedia of Hinduism. +Remarkably, Swamiji and his team have accomplished this mission in less than a quarter of a century. +And the depth of their work is amazing. +They were able to include almost all aspects of Hinduism in only 11 volumes. +This is indeed, a possession that can benefit every spiritual seeker, yogi, and even a common person. +Works like Encyclopaedia of Hinduism, when made available in various languages, increase the under-standing and enhance the awareness of other traditions and cultures within the country. +This increased under-standing, in turn, reduces hatred, misunderstanding and increases cooperation, peace and amity among communities. +Let me also take this opportunity, to compliment Parmarth Niketan, for the active role played by them in the Swachh Bharat Mission – a mass movement towards Clean India. +Indian traditions lay a strong emphasis on personal hygiene. +Not only is keeping one’s body clean and pure emphasized, but also cleanliness in one’s house, place of work and place of worship is given a lot of priority. +Accumulation of any form of waste or filth within the four walls of these places is considered impure. +Even in our ancient scriptures, this importance of personal hygiene is captured. +There is, however, a tendency to dump dirt in open spaces. +This is not true for western and other developed countries, where the link between community hygiene and public health is more clearly understood. +Awareness and observance of hygiene of public goods like water bodies, land and air is crucial. +Therefore, good health is a collective effort of personal well-being and environmental well-being. +Through the Swachh Bharat Mission, we are attempting to establish the link between community hygiene and personal health. +Historically temples have played a key role in our societies. +Usually they were built at a vast area of land, and often away from the residential areas. +However, with passage of time, they were surrounded by markets, and residential colonies. +And hence, they face unclean surroundings as a major challenge. +Swachh Bharat Mission, therefore, now includes the Project “Swachh Iconic Places” to address this issue. +In the first phase, we have taken Kamakhya Temple, Jagannath Puri, Meenakshi Temple, Tirupati, Golden Temple, and Vaishno Devi temple for making them and their surroundings clean. +And therefore, Swachh Bharat Mission – the quest for clean India – is linked to faith and spirituality in the country. +We were all witness to the great global upsurge for Yoga when, in September 2014, I proposed an International Day of Yoga, at the session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. +I must confess, I did not imagine the spontaneous outpouring of support that followed. +An unprecedented number of countries from across the world, joined hands with us. +And now, every year, on the occasion of Summer Solstice – June 21 – the world comes together, for Yoga. +The coming together of so many nations to mark the International Day of Yoga illustrates the real essence of Yoga – togetherness. +Yoga has the potential to herald in a new Yuga (a new era) – a Yuga of peace, compassion, brotherhood and all-round progress of the human race. +Ladies and Gentlemen, +May the blessings of the mighty Himalayas be with you. +May you find fulfilment and bliss, in this great festival of Yoga, on the banks of the River Ganga, where our sages and rishis have meditated for millennia. +May you enjoy your stay in the spiritual city of Rishikesh, and the divine surroundings of Parmarth Niketan. +May Yoga be of benefit to one and all. +I wish the International Yoga Festival a grand success. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a high-level meeting with Government officials on the Smart City initiative. +This is part of a series of consultations on Smart Cities. +The Prime Minister has asked the Ministry of Urban Development to convene a workshop of all central and state Urban Development Authorities at the earliest. +He said the workshop should also focus on reforms in laws related to urban development. +The Prime Minister called for identifying parameters that could be laid down for smart cities. +He asked officials to identify the basics of infrastructure, quality of life, and citizen-centric services that would be essential to cities of the 21st century. +He said cities should be identified as hubs of economic activity. +He said focus on “waste to wealth” – i.e. – solid-waste management, and waste-water treatment would be an important part of the development of smart cities. +The Prime Minister asked Government officials to visualize “urban-dependent” population, in addition to “urban” population, while planning for Smart Cities. +Officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Urban Development, and Ministry of Information Technology, were present on the occasion. +My Ministerial colleagues, Shri Prakash Javadekarji, Shri Piyush Goyalji, Distinguished guests. +I am delighted to inaugurate the Indian Pavilion. +This is the first day of a historic summit in Paris. +We stand here in solidarity with Paris and France and in admiration for their resolve and courage. +The entire world, 196 Nations, have come together to shape the future of this world and the health of our planet. +This summit is of great significance to India’s future, too. +This pavilion is a window to our heritage and our progress; our traditions and our technology; our aspirations and our achievements. +India’s new economic momentum is a subject of international attention and a source of global opportunity. +Our progress will not just change the lives of one-sixth of humanity. +It will also mean a more successful and prosperous world. +Equally, the choices the world makes here will have an impact on our development. +Climate change is a major global challenge. +But, climate change is not of our making. +It is the result of global warming that came from the prosperity and progress of an industrial age powered by fossil fuel. +But, we in India face its consequences today. +We see it in the risks of our farmers, the changes in weather patterns, and the intensity of natural disasters. +That is why the outcome in Paris so important. +That is why we are here. +We want the world to act with urgency. +We want a comprehensive, equitable and durable agreement, which must lead us to restore the balance between humanity and Nature and between what we have inherited and what we will leave behind. +This will mean a partnership in which those who have the luxury of choices and the capability of technology will make adjustments to sharply reduce their carbon emission. +The extent of their commitment and the strength of their action must be consistent with the carbon space they occupy. +And, they must leave enough of what is left of our carbon space to let developing countries grow. +They should share resources and technology with those who live between want and hope, so that we can meet the universal aspiration for clean energy. +It will also mean that the developing world will also try to have a lighter carbon footprint on their growth path. +We want the conviction of the world to be matched by efforts to create conditions in which we can succeed. +I am here in the Indian Pavilion to say something else. +And, I speak not just to the world, but also to our people. +India’s progress is our destiny and the right of our people. +But, we are a Nation that must also lead in combating climate change. +It stems from our obligation to give our people clean air; clean rivers; resilient farms; healthy habitats; and, forests rich with life. +It comes from our conviction that we must aim not just for higher incomes, but better quality of life. +It comes from our commitment to the world. +Above all, it arises, from our timeless traditions and beliefs. +The choices a people make are shaped by their culture and beliefs. +In India, Nature has always been treated as Mother. +Since ancient times, we have seen humanity as part of Nature, not superior to it. +So, Nature is meant to provide and nurture, not to exploit. +When Nature is in equilibrium, our lives and our world will be in balance. +This is what we learn from Kshetrapati Sukta in our Rig Veda. +This is why Atharva-Veda calls it a bounden duty that we must protect the Earth so that Life can be sustained. +This is what we have tried to capture in the publication PARAMPARA that we have released today. +This is why recycling and conservation comes naturally to us. +And, why we have sacred groves across our Nation. +And, it is this spirit that leads us to set an ambitious and comprehensive strategy to combat climate change. +We have a target for renewable generation of 175 Gigawatt by 2022. +Like cellular phones before, we can use renewable energy to bring power to our 18000 unconnected villages quickly and cleanly. +By 2030, 40% of our installed capacity will be based on non-fossil fuel. +We will convert waste to energy. +We are investing in supercritical technology in thermal plants. +We have imposed tax on coal and reduced subsidies on petroleum products. +We are raising fuel standards for automobiles. +And, we have introduced tax free bonds for renewable energy. +We have a massive programme to expand our forest cover and protect our biodiversity. +Our vision of India as a global manufacturing hub rests on the simple principle of “zero defect, zero effect” – production that is perfect and leaves no footprint on environment. +And, research and innovation in clean energy is a high priority. +We want to make conventional energy, like coal, cleaner. +We will make renewable energy cheaper and convenient to install even in our homes. +We want to make it more reliable and easier to feed into our transmission lines. +From governments to communities, there are countless examples of innovation and enterprise that are restoring the health of our environment. +I have tried to capture some of these initiatives in my book, Convenient Action, which we shall present today. +This is the voice of our people, the call of our Nation and the consensus of our polity. +India’s leadership on environment has been the vision of Indian leaders and successive governments – from Stockholm in 1975 to Copenhagen in 2009. +Later today, I will join leaders from major developed and developing world for an innovation summit; because I believe that innovation and technology hold the key to our collective success. +President Hollande and I will also co-chair the launch of my long cherished dream of an international solar alliance to promote greater use of solar energy in the 121 solar-rich Nations. +And, I will also call for a change in lifestyles, so that we reduce the burden on our planet. +For, the enduring success of our efforts will depend on the way we live and think. +The desire for well being should include our planet, our Nature, all countries and the entire humanity. +If our thinking is right, we will form a true global partnership of capabilities and needs that leads us to a low carbon age. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, was today presented with a unique artwork made of pearls. +The artwork depicts a map of India, and an image of the Prime Minister. +According to the creator of the image, Ms. Khushboo Akash Davda, over five lakh pearls have been used in the artwork. +Thread of length 10 kilometres has been used in the same. +The artwork which has dimensions of 7 feet by 7 feet, took 850 hours to prepare. +Member of Parliament from Rajkot, Shri Mohanbhai Kundariya was present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the brave CRPF personnel who were martyred in the attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh. +“India salutes the brave CRPF personnel who were martyred in the attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh. +My thoughts are with the families and friends of the brave martyrs. +The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with them in this hour of grief”, the Prime Minister said. +It is a great honour to participate in the Indian Science Congress. +I thank University of Mumbai for hosting this Congress. +I had the opportunity to participate in the Congress as Chief Minister of Gujarat. +I am delighted to return here after ten years. +I greatly admire the rich history of this hundred-year old institution. +Human civilization has advanced because of the basic human spirit of enquiry and quest for understanding our universe and world. +We have here with us Nobel Laureates, whose work in science has given new hope against dreaded diseases. +We also have one whose own understanding of social science gave the poorest a life of hope, opportunity and dignity. +Science and technology has helped reduce poverty and advance prosperity; fight hunger and improve nutrition; conquer diseases, improve health and give a child a better chance to survive; connect us to our loved ones and the world; spread education and awareness; and, given us clean energy that can make our habitat more sustainable. +A Nation’s progress and its human development are linked to science and technology. +In more recent times, China’s emergence as the second biggest global economy is in parallel to its rise to the second place in science and technology activities. +Science and technology can also remove national barriers, unify the world and advance peace. +It can bring nations, rich and poor, in a shared effort to address global challenges. +But, we also know that it can increase inequality, make wars more lethal and damage our environment. +Sometimes, we learn about their consequences later, as we did on climate change; sometimes, these are the result of our own choices. +For example, information technology was meant to increase efficiency and productivity; sometimes, however, its various distractions can easily overpower us! +How often do we sit in meetings and cannot resist the temptation to catch up on our messages! +So, when we speak of science and human development, we cannot divorce it from the questions of political decisions; social choices; and of equity, ethics and access. +At the dawn of freedom, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru placed science and technology at the heart of national development. +Our scientists launched pioneering research and built outstanding institutions with modest resources that continue to serve us well. +Since then, our scientists have placed us at the forefront of the world in many areas. +Whenever the world shut its door on us, our scientists responded with the zeal of a national mission. +When the world sought our collaboration, they reached out with the openness that is inherent in our society. +They have alleviated some of our most acute and pressing challenges of human development. +They helped us overcome dependence on others for such basic needs as food. +They have secured our borders; supported industrial progress; and, given our people a life of opportunities and dignity. +Our achievements give us pride, but they do not blind us to the enormous challenges that we face in India. +We are at yet another moment of expectation and excitement, as we were at the birth of independent India. +There is a mood of optimism for change in the country; the energy to pursue it; and, confidence to achieve it. +This is an enterprise of national importance in which each of us – Government, Industry, National Laboratories, Universities and research institutions – have to work together. +But, our own achievements have shown that very often a need and vision and passion are more important than resource for success. +And, it is how we use resources that will determine how effective we are in making science and technology work for us. +Our development challenges will naturally shape our strategic priorities in science and technology. +Even as we focus on some key areas, we should not confine research and development to a few pre-determined paths. +And, it is as important to focus on basic research as on research and development and innovation. +We should also recognize that science is universal, but technology can be local. +If we incorporate traditional and local knowledge, systems and technologies, we may develop more appropriate, effective, affordable and sustainable solutions that contribute immensely to human development and progress. +As the major source of science and technology efforts in the country, Government must do its part. +When I speak of ease of doing business in India, I also want to pay equal attention to the ease of doing research and development in India. +Funding proposals must not take too long to clear; meeting application requirement should not become more complex than research; approval process should not become a deterrent for international conference; and, our scientific departments must have flexibility of funding decisions based on the uncertainties inherent in research activities. +We want our scientists and researchers to explore the mysteries of science, not of government procedures. +We want them to consider publications, not government approvals, to be the epitome of their success. +We must also have clear regulatory policies for research and development in areas like biotechnology, Nano-Science, agriculture and clinical research. +We should ensure that our strong intellectual property regime continues to work effectively and provides the right balance between private incentives and social good. +We have begun this experience with Space technology. +Investments in science and technology activities should also become part of the expenditure on corporate social responsibility – to be funded directly or through an autonomous fund. +We also need to foster a strong culture of collaboration between institutions and across disciplines to take advantage of developments, innovations and expertise in diverse areas. +My impression is that this is far from the ideal in India. +I will ask our ministries to make collaborations a critical requirement for their institutions and for supporting funding requests for research. +Our universities must be freed from the clutches of excessive regulation and cumbersome procedures. +They must have a higher degree of academic freedom and autonomy; and, there should be as much emphasis on research as on teaching. +We have to rapidly expand our higher education sector; yet, our existing institutions face shortage of faculty. +Our industry must also step up investments in science and technology in its own interest. +India’s own pharmaceutical industry has carved out a place for itself in the world, because it invests significantly in research. +Indeed, our long term global competitiveness will depend not on replicating what others have done, but through a process of sustained development and innovation. +There is a growing trend of international collaboration in research and development, not just among business enterprises, but equally among researchers and scholars at universities and laboratories. +We should take full advantage of this. +For this reason, I have placed science and technology at the forefront of our diplomatic engagement. +As I have travelled abroad, I have personally sought out scientists to explore collaborations in areas like clean energy, agriculture, biotechnology, medicine and healthcare. +School education in science and mathematics should become more creative and stimulating. +I welcome the initiatives of Department of Science and Technology for involving thousands of children and youth in science and technology. +It is not surprising that our young minds are winning international competitions and 12 of them have minor comets named after them! +Our children should seek role model in scientists as much as in sportsmen. +We should give young participants and winners in science fairs maximum public recognition and sustained support of the government. +I would personally love to meet the best of our young scientists. +In conclusion, let me say for a safe, sustainable, prosperous future for India; or global leadership in a knowledge and technology intensive world, we need to put science, technology and innovation at the top of national priorities. +I am confident that we can do it. +We in India are the inheritors of a thriving tradition of Indian science and technology since ancient times. +Mathematics and medicine; metallurgy and mining; calculus and textiles; architecture and astronomy – the contribution the Indian civilization to human knowledge and advancement has been rich and varied. +Thank you very much, wish you all the best. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today received Mr. John Baird, Foreign Minister of Canada and Mr. Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade of Canada. +The Prime Minister welcomed close cooperation between India and Canada and expressed satisfaction at comprehensive nature of bilateral ties, including in areas of economic cooperation, agriculture, security, civil nuclear energy, education, and science and technology. +The Prime Minister called for strengthening bilateral engagement in the areas of trade and investment, energy, healthcare, infrastructure development and people-to-people contacts. +Mr. Baird conveyed the commitment of the Government of Canada under Prime Minister Harper to further strengthen the Strategic Partnership with India and extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Canada. +Mr. Ed Fast also sought earlier conclusion of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between the two countries. +The Prime Minister thanked Mr. Baird for Prime Minister Harper’s invitation and said that he looked forward to visiting Canada at mutually convenient date. +The Prime Minister also said that he looked forward to meeting Prime Minister Harper at the G-20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia, in November 2014. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Morocco on cooperation in the field of health. +The MoU covers the following areas of cooperation:- +i) Non-communicable diseases, including child cardiovascular diseases and cancer; +ii) Drug Regulation and Pharmaceutical quality control; +iii) Communicable Diseases; +iv) Maternal, child and neonatal health; +v) Hospital twinning for exchange of good practices; +vi) Training in administration and management of health services and Hospitals; +vii) Any other area of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon. +A Working Group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this MoU. +Estate Officers can even make an order for the eviction of such persons forthwith following the procedure proposed in the new section. +The amendment will thus facilitate smooth and speedy eviction of unauthorised occupants from government residences. +As a consequence to these amendments, Government of India can now ensure that the unauthorised occupants are evicted from government residence in a speedy and smooth manner and the vacated accommodations are made available to eligible Govt. employees thus reducing the waiting period. +The beneficiaries include the employees of the Central Government offices who are eligible for General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) and waiting for the maturity of their turn. +The Government of India has to evict unauthorized occupants from Government accommodations under the provisions of PPE Act, 1971. +However, the eviction proceedings take unusually long time, thereby reducing the availability of govt. accommodations to new incumbents. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and interacted with the winners of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2019. +The children explained in detail, their special achievements, and shared their inspirational stories. +The Prime Minister appreciated and congratulated the award winners for their achievements. +He said that these awards offer an opportunity for recognition of talented children, and serve as inspiration for others like them. +The Prime Minister urged the extra-ordinarily gifted children to stay connected with nature. +He shared some light and informal moments with the children who also requested him for autographs. +A total of 783 applications were received for the Bal Shakti Puraskar this year. +The Ministry for Women and Child Development selected 26 awardees for Bal Shakti Puraskar, under the category of innovation, scholastic, sports, arts & culture, social service and bravery. +The National Selection Committee also finalized the names of 2 individuals and 3 institutions for Bal Kalyan Puraskar. +President of CPAFFC Madame Li Xiaolin, +Hon’ble Chief Ministers, Governors and Mayors, +This is a historic moment in the relationship between India and China. +Today, we are launching a new vehicle for advancing cooperation between our two countries. +In times to come, this will become one of the most important instruments for deepening our economic partnership and contact between our people. +As someone who has been Chief Minister for thirteen years and Prime Minister for one, this forum has a special place in my heart. +But, it is not just my sentiments that lead me to give such importance to this new institution. +It comes from a serious conviction, born from my experience, that states have a vital role to play in the national development. +This is especially true for large and populous countries, with a high degree of geographical, social and economic diversity. +It becomes even more relevant, when the constitutional and political systems are federal in structure. +These attributes exist in both India and China, the world’s two most populous nations. +In India’s Constitution, state governments have predominant role in economic and social development. +The Central Government creates the macro-economic environment. +It can set the broad social and economic agenda and directions for the nation. +It can launch development policies and schemes. +It can manage resources. +But, in the end, the state governments have an important role in their implementation. +But, as I saw in my own experience, state governments can take innumerable initiatives for the development of the states. +That is the level of autonomy and responsibility that they enjoy under our Constitution. +In the same national environment, states are performing at different levels. +For business investors, too, whether they are Indian or foreign, their journey may begin in Delhi, but their success ultimately depends on state capitals. +Many of the critical requirements for success – infrastructure, land, utilities, skilled human resources and many approvals –ultimately depend on the state governments. +But, for me, the involvement of states in our national effort is not just because of their constitutional and legal responsibilities. +It is also stems from a basic management principle. +The chances of success are higher when we create a sense of participation for everyone; when we give everyone a stake in success. +That is why I speak of Team India. +That is why I believe that the foundation for India’s development will not be the single pillar of the Central Government, but 30 pillars comprising the Central Government and all our States. +It follows from the simple logic of science that this foundation will be stronger and more stable. +It can support a much taller structure of development. +That is why I speak of Cooperative Federalism, when the Centre and the States are partners. +I also speak of cooperative and competitive federalism, in which states compete with each other to attract investments and jobs. +We have moved quickly in the past year to give shape to this vision. +When we replaced the old Planning Commission with the institution called Niti Ayog, we gave a formal place and role for state governments in an institution of this nature for the first time in India. +We have radically increased the amount of resources that the Central Government must transfer to the state governments. +And, when we began to raise large revenues from the auction of our coal, it also filled the coffers of the states where the mines are located. +I am asking my ministries to move conferences out of Delhi to state capitals and other cities, so that they do get the benefits that come from hosting such events. +More than anything else, we deal with the state governments in a spirit of partnership and with sensitivity to their concerns. +And, in doing so, we do not look at the symbol of the political party that is in power in the state. +Which is why, when I invited state governments to participate in this event, I did considered the linkages of their states with China, but also broader political representation. +Every nation needs strong international partnerships for its progress. +The linkage has deepened in an integrated world. +As international partnerships in trade, investments, innovation, technology, tourism, education, skills and health grow, state governments have a stake in them and responsibility for their success. +I have found, both through outbound and inbound state delegations, that state level interactions can be often more focused and productive. +A number of decisions can be taken quickly by the state governments. +These interactions also make the state governments more sensitive and aware of the international dynamics and requirements. +Therefore, I attach great significance to this forum. +It is the first that India has with any country. +And, it is appropriate that it has started with China. +We are two of the world’s largest economies and among its fastest growing major economies. +We have enormous economic synergies. +We also face similar challenges. +We have some similar experiences. +We have both seen differences in the pace of development in different parts of our countries. +Our economic relations are growing rapidly. +During President Xi’s visit last year, we set for ourselves an ambitious plan to take our economic relations to a new level. +We agreed on China setting up two industrial parks in India – in Maharashtra and Gujarat. +We are pleased that both Chief Ministers are here. +We have agreed on cooperation in the upgrading of India’s railway sector. +I have invited Chinese companies to invest in India’s manufacturing sector. +President Xi spoke of 20 billion dollars of Chinese investments over the next five years. +Some of the business agreements will take shape in Shanghai tomorrow. +I believe it will be much easier to translate our vision into reality, if provincial and state governments come into closer contacts. +It will also serve our other interests – especially promoting greater people-to-people contacts, which is at the heart of all relationships. +Between India and China, we already have sister-state relationships between Gujarat and Guangdong. +We also have a number of sister-city relations. +During this visit, we will see the launch of Karnataka Sichuan relations and four sister-city relationships. +It is also consistent with this spirit that President Xi began his visit to India in Ahmedabad and I started this visit in Xian. +These are welcome developments. +We are truly taking our relationship outside our national capitals to state capitals and cities. +So, it is a great pleasure for me to join Premier Li in launching this forum. +“Jan Mann” (People’s attitude) has changed in India +Development is the solution to all problems India faces +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said a change has occurred in the “Jan Mann” (people’s attitude) in India. +Addressing a large gathering of the Indian community in Toronto, Canada, the Prime Minister illustrated how changing attitudes were bringing about positive developments in India. +He said bank officers had worked hard, and approached the underprivileged, unbanked sections of society, to ensure that 14 crore new bank accounts were opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. +The Prime Minister said development is the cure to all problems faced by India. +He spoke of his Government’s vision and emphasis on skill development, and the importance of instilling a sense of “dignity of labour” in India. +He added that this would ensure that India can become a major global supplier of skilled manpower. +He said India needed to produce job-creators, not job seekers. +The Prime Minister spoke of the MoU signed with France, that would allow components of nuclear power plants to be built in India. +He said those power plants could perhaps, one day, be energized using Uranium that would come from Canada. +He said this was a big step in enhancing clean energy production in India. +This would enable one-sixth of humanity to make a contribution to protect the environment, he added. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved an ex- gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to a building collapse in Ghatkopar, Mumbai. +The Prime Minister has also approved Rs. 50,000 each for those injured due to the building collapse. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved setting up of six new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in Andhra Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Goa, Jammu, Kerala and Karnataka. +The Cabinet further gave its approval for operationalisation of these IITs initially by forming of Societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in order to give a legal status to them till the amendment for their incorporation in The Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 is enacted. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to carry out official amendments in “The National Waterways Bill, 2015”. +The amendments are based on the recommendations of the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture and comments of State Governments. +It provides for enacting a Central Legislation to declare 106 additional inland waterways, as the National waterways. +After the inclusion of 106 additional inlands waterways to the existing five National waterways, the total number of National waterways goes upto 111. +Declaration of the above additional 106 waterways as National Waterways would not have any immediate financial implications. +Financial approval of the competent authority for each waterway would, however, be taken based on the outcome of the techno-economic feasibility studies etc. that are being undertaken by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) currently. +IWAI will develop the feasible stretch of National Waterways for shipping and navigation purpose through mobilization of financial resources. +The declaration of these National Waterways would enable IWAI to develop the feasible stretches for Shipping and Navigation. +The right over the use of water, river bed and the appurtenant land will remain with the State Government. +In addition, other benefits to States are: fewer accidents, less congestion on roads, cheaper mode of ferrying passengers, reduced logistics costs in cargo movement and development of adjoining areas. +The expeditious declaration of National Waterways and its subsequent development will enhance the industrial growth and tourism potential of the hinterland along the waterway. +This will also provide an additional, cheaper and environment friendly mode of transportation throughout the country. +Inland Water Transport is considered as the most cost effective and economical mode of transport from the point of view of fuel efficiency. +One horse power can carry 4000 Kg load in water whereas, it can carry 150 Kg and 500 Kg by road and rail respectively. +Further in a study as highlighted by the World Bank, 1 litre of fuel can move 105 ton-Km by inland water transport, whereas the same amount of fuel can move only 85 ton-Km by rail and 24 ton-Km by road. +Studies have shown that emission from container vessels range from 32-36 gCO2 per ton-Km while those of road transport vehicles (heavy duty vehicles) range from 51-91gCO2 per ton-km. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has said that he is appalled at the news of a Temple being built in his name. +“Have seen the news about a Temple being built in my name. +I was appalled. +This is shocking and against India`s great traditions. +Building such Temples is not what our culture teaches us. +Personally, it made me very sad. +Would urge those doing it not to do it. +If you have time and resources, please devote the same towards fulfilling our dream of a Clean India,” the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the “Stand Up India Scheme” to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and Women entrepreneurs. +The expected date of reaching the target of at least 2.5 lakh approvals is 36 months from the launch of the Scheme. +The Stand Up India Scheme provides for: +• Refinance window through Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) with an initial amount of Rs. 10,000 crore. +• Creation of a credit guarantee mechanism through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC). +• Handholding support for borrowers both at the pre loan stage and during operations. +This would include increasing their familiarity with factoring services, registration with online platforms and e-market places as well as sessions on best practices and problem solving. +The details of the scheme are as follows: +• Focus is on handholding support for both SC/ST and Women borrowers. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved promulgation of an Ordinance for establishing the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) for the purpose of creating an independent and autonomous regime for institutionalised arbitration. +The benefits of institutionalized arbitration will accrue to Government and its agency and to the parties to a dispute. +This shall be to the advantage of the public and the public institutions in terms of quality of expertise and costs incurred and will facilitate India becoming a hub for Institutional Arbitration. +The NDAIC shall be established with an aim to:- +(a) to bring targeted reforms to develop itself as a flagship institution for conducting international and domestic arbitration +(b) provide facilities and administrative assistance for conciliation mediation and arbitral proceedings; +(c) maintain panels of accredited arbitrators, conciliators and mediators both at national and international level or specialists such as surveyors and investigators; +(d) facilitate conducting of international and domestic arbitrations and conciliation in the most professional manner; +(e) provide cost effective and timely services for the conduct of arbitrations and conciliations at Domestic and International level; +(f) promote studies in the field of alternative dispute resolution and related matters, and to promote reforms in the system of settlement of disputes; and +(g) co-operate with other societies, institutions and organisations, national or international for promoting alternative dispute resolution. +In order to facilitate the setting up of NDIAC, the Ordinance envisages the transfer and vesting of the undertakings of the ICADR in the Central Government. +The Central Government will subsequently vest the undertakings in NDIAC. +There will be two Full time or Part time Members from amongst eminent persons having substantial knowledge and experience in institutional arbitration, both domestic and international. +Also, one representative of a recognised body of commerce and industry shall be chosen on rotational basis as Part time Member. +President Hollande, Excellencies, +The pain of Paris is yet to heal. +So, I speak in admiration for your resilience and resolve. +And, I salute the world for standing, in full strength, with France and Paris. +Over the next few days, we will decide the fate of this planet. +We do so when the consequences of the industrial age powered by fossil fuel are evident, especially on the lives of the poor. +The prosperous still have a strong carbon footprint. +And, the world’s billions at the bottom of the development ladder are seeking space to grow. +So, the choices are not easy. +But, we have awareness and technology. +We need now national will and a genuine global partnership. +We will enlarge our forest cover to absorb at least 2.5 billion tonnes worth of carbon dioxide. +We hope advanced nations will assume ambitious targets and pursue them sincerely. +It is not just a question of historical responsibility. +They also have the most room to make the cuts and make the strongest impact. +And, climate justice demands that, with the little carbon space we still have, developing countries should have enough scope to grow. +The principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities must remain the bedrock of our collective enterprise across all areas – mitigation, adaptation and means for implementation. +Anything else would be morally wrong; and disparities. +Equity means that national commitments must be consistent with the carbon space nations occupy. +We also need a strong Agreement on Adaptation and Loss and Damage. +They must fulfill their commitment in a credible, transparent and meaningful manner. +Energy is a basic human need. +For this, we need to scale up Green Climate Fund that will improve access to technology and intellectual property. +We still need conventional energy. +We should make it clean, not impose an end to its use. +And, there should be no place for unilateral steps that become economic barriers for others. +We welcome stocktaking that is transparent, covers both support and commitments, and based on differentiation. +The presence of 196 countries tells us that we have a chance to unite behind a common purpose. +I am confident that we will. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO scientists on the successful launch of IRNSS1F into the orbit. +“Successful launch of IRNSS-1F is an accomplishment we all take immense pride in. +I salute the hardwork of our scientists & ISRO”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke on the telephone with Mr. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth a short while ago to congratulate him on his assumption of office as the Prime Minister of Mauritius. +Prime Minister Jugnauth thanked the Prime Minister for the telephone call. +The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Jugnauth affirmed their shared commitment to further strengthen the time-tested and unique relationship between India and Mauritius. +The Prime Minister also appreciated the leadership and contribution of outgoing Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth to strengthening the strong bonds of friendship between India and Mauritius. +The project will reduce the distance from Salsalabari and Alipurduar to Siliguri by nearly 50 km. +This is significant as better access to Siliguri means better access to railways and airways. +The National Highway will facilitate better movement of tea and other agricultural produce from the region to markets. +The improved connectivity will also lead to an increase in tourism in the region. +All this in turn will give a major boost to socio-economic activity in the state, opening up employment opportunities for the local people. +The National Highway will incorporate all necessary safety features to provide relief to road users. +There will be 3 Railway Over Bridges, 2 Flyovers, 3 Vehicular Underpasses, 8 Major Bridges and 17 Minor Bridges on this section of National Highway. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiwill also inaugurate New High Court Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri. +The Circuit bench of Calcutta High Court at Jalpaiguri will provide speedy justice to people of Darjeeling,Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar in North Bengal. +Residents of these four districts will now have to travel less than 100 km to access the bench instead of 600km trip to Calcutta High Court. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post-facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Iran for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. +The MoU was signed on 17th February, 2018 during the visit of the President of Iran to India. +The MoU provides for cooperation in the areas of agricultural crops, agricultural extension, horticulture, machinery, post harvest technology, plant quarantine measures, credit and cooperation. +It also provides for cooperation in soil conservation and water management, integrated nutrients management, seed technology and agricultural marketing. +Livestock improvement, dairy development, animal health and other fields as mutually agreed upon fall within the scope of this MoU. +Cooperation will also be effected through exchange of experts, materials and information, exchange of trainees and scientists on study visits/training programmes, facilitation of relevant conferences and workshops and any other means as may be mutually agreed upon. +Under the MoU, a Joint Working Group (JWG) will be formed to monitor the activities carried out in fulfillment of this MoU. +The JWG will hold its meeting alternately in India and Iran once in every two years. +The MoU will be valid initially for a period of five years and will be automatically extended for a subsequent period of five years unless either party notifies the other party of its intent of terminating it. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to the US $ 1,500 million project of World Bank Support to Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) [(SBM(G)]. +The Project basically provides for incentivising States on the basis of their performance in the existing SBM-G. +Incentivisation of States was approved by the Cabinet while approving the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) on 24th September, 2014. +The current approval provides for the mechanism of such incentivisation through World Bank credit. +Under the approved project, the performance of the States will be gauged through certain performance indicators, called the Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs). +Following are three DLIs. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India India and Canada. +The MoU was signed on 23rd February, 2018 to establish bilateral cooperation activities in the field of Intellectual Property (IP). +The MoU is intended to promote innovation, creativity and economic growth in both countries. +The MoU establishes a broad and flexible framework through which both countries can exchange best practices and work together on training programs and technical exchanges to raise awareness on IPRs and better protect intellectual property rights (IPRs). +The priority initiatives under the MoU include: +Exchange of best practices, experiences and knowledge on how to raise IP awareness among the public, businesses and educational institutions of both countries; +Exchange of experts for interacting with the human resources engaged in specialized IP fields; +Exchange and dissemination of best practices, experiences and knowledge on IP with industry, Universities, research and development organizations and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) through participation in programs, training, and events, organised singly or jointly by the participants; +Cooperation in the development of automation arid implementation of modernization projects, new and existing documentation and information systems in IP and procedures for management of IP; +Cooperation to understand how traditional knowledge is protected; and the exchange of best practices, including traditional knowledge related data bases and awareness raising of existing IP systems; +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his 125th birth anniversary. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval for amendment to the ‘Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC Member Countries’ to incorporate a ‘Standby Swap’ amounting to USD 400 million operated within the overall size of the Facility of USD 2 billion and build in flexibility with respect to modalities of its operation, such as period of swap, roll over, etc. after due consideration of conditions of requesting SAARC member countries and domestic requirements of India. +Due to heightened financial risk and volatility in global economy, short term swap requirements of SAARC countries could be higher than the agreed lines. +The incorporation of ‘Standby Swap’ within the approved SAARC Swap Framework would provide necessary flexibility to the Framework and would enable India to provide a prompt response to the current request from SAARC member countries for availing the swap amount exceeding the present limit prescribed under the SAARC Swap Framework. +Cabinet approved the Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC Member Countries on March 1, 2012 with the intention to provide a line of funding for short term foreign exchange requirements or to meet balance of payments crises till longer term arrangements are made or the issue is resolved in the short-term itself. +Under the Facility, RBI offers swaps of varying sizes in USD, Euro or INR to each SAARC member country depending on their two months import requirement and not exceeding US$ 2 billion in total. +The swap amount for each country has been defined in the above Facility, subject to a floor of USD 100 Million and a maximum of USD 400 Million. +Each Drawal will be for three months tenor and upto maximum of two rollovers. +RBI will negotiate the operational details bilaterally with the Central Banks of the SAARC countries availing the Standby Swap. +The Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) successfully concluded the dialogue on Naga political issue, which has existed for six decades, and signed an agreement today in the presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. +Government’s Interlocutor for Naga Peace Talks, Shri R. N. Ravi, signed the Agreement on behalf of the Government of India. +The entire top leadership of the NSCN (IM), including all members of the “collective leadership”, has fully endorsed the agreement and was present during the ceremony. +This agreement will end the oldest insurgency in the country. +It will restore peace and pave the way for prosperity in the North East. +It will advance a life of dignity, opportunity and equity for the Naga people, based on their genius and consistent with the uniqueness of the Naga people and their culture and traditions. +Attempts were made from time to time to resolve the issue through discussion with representatives of the Naga people. +A fresh attempt for a comprehensive resolution was initiated with the NSCN in 1997. +The new Government on assuming power in May 2014 accorded highest priority to this lingering problem. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has on a number of occasions, including during visits to the Northeast region, articulated his vision for transforming the Northeast and has attached the highest priority to peace, security, connectivity and economic development in the region. +This has also been at the heart of the Government’s foreign policy, especially ‘Act East’ Policy. +The sustained dialogue between the two sides, conducted in a spirit of equality, respect and trust, deepened their mutual understanding and confidence, and enabled the two sides to reach an equitable agreement. +The Government of India recognized the unique history, culture and position of the Nagas and their sentiments and aspirations. +The NSCN understood and appreciated the Indian political system and governance. +The Government interlocutor also held frequent consultations with broad spectrum of Naga leaders, including those from the traditional tribal bodies, civil society, youth and students’ bodies, women’s groups, elected representatives and other stakeholders. +These consultations helped in distilling the popular aspirations of the Naga people and in enhancing a healthy atmosphere of trust and understanding. +In his statement at the signing ceremony, the Hon’ble Prime Minister lauded the courage and wisdom of the Naga leaders and civil society and thanked them for their co-operation in reaching the agreement. +He also praised the Naga people for their support and the NSCN for maintaining the ceasefire for nearly two decades that enabled the dialogue to succeed. +Prime Minister spoke of his vision for the transformation of the Northeast region. +Within this framework agreement, details and execution plan will be released shortly. +Hon’ble Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, National Security Adviser, Shri Ajit Doval and other high dignitaries of the Government of India were present. +The NSCN was represented by its entire collective leadership and senior leaders of various Naga tribes. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post-facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Iran on cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine. +The MoU was signed on 17th February, 2018 during the visit of the President of Iran to India. +The MoU will encourage cooperation between the two countries and strengthen bilateral ties between them. +The MoU covers the following areas of cooperation:- +A Working Group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this MoU. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today laid the foundation stone of Integrated Command and Control Centres at five North Eastern Smart Cities, through video conference from New Delhi. +The Prime Minister, digitally unveiled the plaque for the Command and Control Centres at Namchi and Gangtok in Sikkim, Itanagar and Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh and Agartala in Tripura. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today dedicated India’s longest road tunnel, the 9 kilometre long Chenani-Nashri Tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir, to the nation. +The Prime Minister travelled the entire length of the tunnel, and was briefed on some of its key features. +Addressing a public meeting in Udhampur, the Prime Minister said that the tunnel is world-class, and matches the best standards. +He said the tunnel is environment-friendly and will help in the fight against global warming. +He said that while some misguided youngsters were pelting stones, the youth of Kashmir were cutting stones to create infrastructure. +He said the tunnel would also boost tourism, which will bring economic growth. +The Prime Minister said that violence and terrorism can never help anyone. +He thanked the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, and said that work had begun on the package that the Union Government had announced for the State. +Recalling the vision and work of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Prime Minister said that the Union Government’s sole mantra is development, and this could be achieved through people’s participation. +Says, Guru Gobind Singh’s teachings show the path of humanity +PM greets the nation on Lohri +Prime Minister Narendra Modi released today a commemorative coin of Rs. 350 in the national capital to mark the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh jee. +He lauded the lofty ideals and values of the Guru Gobind Singh jee – the selfless service to humanity, devotion, heroism and sacrifice and urged the people to follow his path. +The Prime Minister was addressing a select gathering at his residence, 7 Lok Kayan Marg after releasing the commemorative coin to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh jee. +Mr. Modi said that Guru Gobind Singh ji was a great warrior, philosopher poet and guru. +He fought against oppression and injustice. +His teachings to people focused on breaking the barriers of religion and caste. +His message of love, peace and sacrifice are equally relevant today. +The Prime Minister said that Guru Gobind Singh Ji , his values and teachings will continue to be the source of inspiration and the guiding spirit for the mankind in years to come. +He added that the Commemorative Coin is a small effort on our part to show our respect and reverence to him. +He urged the people to make a resolve to walk the talk on the 11-point path shown by Guru Gobind Singh ji Maharaj. +The Prime Minister greeted the nation on Lohri on this occasion. +The Prime Minister earlier urged the people of the country to follow the path of devotion and sacrifice for the nation along the lines of Furu Gobind Singh jee in his monthly radio program, Mann Ki Baat on December 30, 2018. +He attended the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh in Patna on January 5, 2017 and released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the occasion. +Mr. Modi also recalled the ideals and values of Guru Gobind Singh jee’s as the core of humanity at the Independence Day Address from the ramparts of Red Fort on 15th August, 2016 and then at the National MSME Awards Ceremony in Ludhiana on 18th October., 2016. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his best wishes to the women’s cricket team for the World Cup finals today. +“As our women’s cricket team plays the World Cup finals today, I join the 125 crore Indians in wishing them the very best. +Captain Mithali Raj has been leading from the front. +Her cool approach to the game shall surely help the entire team. +All the best Smriti Mandhana. +Have a great game out there and play with calm and poise. +India wishes Poonam Raut the very best for the Women’s World Cup Final. +Her game makes all of us very proud. +Who is not a fan of Harmanpreet Kaur? +Her stellar innings in semi finals will always be remembered. +Do your best today. +Good luck to Deepti Sharma for the finals. +She adds immense value to the team & her game has changed the course of many matches. +The experienced Veda Krishnamurthy gives a much needed stability to the middle order. +All the best for today. +Sushma Verma plays the important role of the wicket keeper. +Remember, catches win matches. +Jhulan Goswami is India’s pride, whose wonderful bowling helps the team in key situations. +All the best Jhulan. +Shikha Pandey’s all round performances are crucial to the team. +Poonam Yadav’s fantastic bowling can be lethal for even the best batsmen. +Best wishes. +Rajeshwari Gayakwad is known for her economic bowling performances. +Good luck,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will visit Lucknow on 28th and 29th July. +On the 28th, he will attend an event on “Transforming Urban Landscape.” +This will mark the third anniversary of three key Government initiatives related to Urban Development. +These include: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban); Atal Mission for Rejuvenation of Urban Transfornation (AMRUT); and the Smart Cities Mission. +He will receive feedback from PMAY beneficiaries, via video link, from different cities of Uttar Pradesh. +This led to generation of investment intent worth more than Rs. 4.28 lakh crore across sectors like Renewable Energy, Infrastructure, Power, IT & Electronic Manufacturing, Tourism etc. +Within a few months, investment proposals for 81 projects amounting to an investment of about Rs. 60,000 crore have now materialised for Ground Breaking. +The Prime Minister will attend a Ground Breaking Ceremony for these projects in Lucknow on 29th July. +The Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved signing and ratifying the SAARC Regional Railways Agreement by India, as a member State of SAARC. +Accordingly, the Regional Rail Agreement (RRA) was drafted by India for SAARC countries in 2008. +The SAARC Regional Railways Agreement will strengthen transport connectivity in the SAARC Region. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated Shri Rajesh Kumar, son of Shri Devkaran, a senior employee working in the Prime Minister’s Office as a Daftary. +Rajesh’s grandfather, Shri Narayan Ram, had also worked in the Prime Minister’s Office during the tenure of Shri Jawaharlal Nehru. +Rajesh holds a B. Tech degree in Electronics Communication. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched development projects worth Rs. 750 crore in Manipur. +He laid the Foundation Stone of the National Sports University, 1000 Anganwadi Centres, and several other important development projects. +He inaugurated the Luwangpokpa Multi Sports Complex, the Rani Gaidinliu Park, and other important development projects. +He also addressed a public meeting at Luwangsangbam. +Addressing the enthusiastic gathering, the Prime Minister complimented the State Government for the work done by it over the past one year. +He said the projects launched today are related to the aspirations and talent of the youth, their employment, women empowerment and connectivity. +He said the National Sports University is being established, keeping in mind the talent and sporting capability of the youth in the North East. +He urged the youth of Manipur to take maximum advantage of the recently launched Khelo India Initiative. +He also complimented Manipur for its good performance in the recently concluded Khelo India Games. +He said the Multi Sports Complex would offer opportunities for training and competitions. +The Prime Minister said Manipur has shown how sports can become a means of women empowerment. +He appreciated famous sportspersons of the State including Mirabai Chanu and Sarita Devi. +He also appreciated other initiatives for women empowerment taken by the State Government. +In this context, he also mentioned the 1000 Anganwadi Centers whose foundation stone was laid today. +He spoke about the recently launched National Nutrition Mission. +The Prime Minister said that the Union Government’s vision for the North East has been ‘Transformation by Transportation.’ +The Prime Minister said that the North-East can be the New Engine of India’s growth. +He said the Government is addressing the special needs of the North East to enable growth parity with the rest of the country. +He remarked that he has himself visited the North East more than 25 times in the last 4 years. +The Prime Minister said that the Central Government has given a huge thrust on improving the infrastructure in the region. +He spoke of initiatives taken for improving road and rail connectivity in the region. +The Prime Minister appreciated the citizen-centric initiatives of the State Government, including for structured interaction and resolution of public grievances. +The Prime Minister recalled that it was in April 1944, in Manipur, that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s INA gave the clarion call for freedom. +He said that today Manipur has decided to play an important role in the rise of a New India. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today summoned the Police Commissioner of Delhi, Shri B.S. Bassi, and expressed his deep concern and anguish over the rising crime rate in the Capital. +The Prime Minister asked the Police Commissioner to speedily investigate the recent incidents of vandalism and ensure that the guilty are brought to book. +The Prime Minister also spoke over telephone to the Union Home Secretary, Shri L.C. Goyal. +The Prime Minister asked the Home Secretary to pay special attention to the rising incidents of crime, and vandalism, and to work towards ensuring the safety and security of women in the Capital. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today approved the Ratification of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention No. 185 on the Seafarers Identity Document (SID). +A biometric based seafarer’s identity document will be developed, mainly, to ensure a foolproof security system to ward off the potential risk of breach of security and possible terrorist attacks. +India’s ratification of this Convention will benefit Indian seafarers, who may otherwise find a threat to their job opportunities, in the near future, in the global maritime sector if India doesn’t ratify the Convention. +The proposed SID has provisions for bar coding of the biometrics based identity of seafarers and a centralized data base maintained in the issuing country, which can be accessed globally through an inter-operable and standard biometric template. +Indian Seafarer holding SID will be able to have unrestrictive movement in foreign shores during leave, get recognition as identified seafarers in the global market and will have easy access to better job opportunities in the global maritime sector. +Around 1.8 lakh seafarers will benefit from the ratification of this Convention. +The SID project will be self-sustainable and will not entail any expenditure by the Government. +The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Equatorial Guinea for Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine. +The MoU was signed on 8th April, 2018. +The MoU will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of Traditional Systems of Medicine. +These systems hold tremendous potential in the global health scenario. +The Ministry of AYUSH having the mandate to promote, propagate and globalize these Traditional Systems has taken effective steps by entering into MoU with Malaysia,Trinidad & Tobago, Hungry, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mauritius, Mongolia, Iran and Sao Tome & Principe for cooperation in the field of Traditional Medicine. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved Measures to promote Hydro Power Sector. +These include Declaring Large Hydropower Projects (HPO) as part of non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) +Large Hydropower Projects to be declared as Renewable Energy source (as per existing practice, only hydropower projects less than 25MW are categorized as Renewable Energy). +HPO as a separate entity within non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligation to cover LHPs commissioned after notification of these measures (SHPs are already covered under Non-Solar Renewable Purchase Obligation). +The trajectory of annual HPO targets will be notified by Ministry of Power based on the projected capacity addition plans in hydropower sector. +Necessary amendments will be introduced in the Tariff Policy and Tariff Regulations to operationalize HPO. +Tariff rationalization measures including providing flexibility to the developers to determine tariff by back loading of tariff after increasing project life to 40 years, increasing debt repayment period to 18 years and introducing escalating tariff of 2%; +Budgetary support for funding flood moderation component of hydropower projects on case to case basis; and +Major Impact including employment generation potential: +As most of the hydro power potential is located in the higher reaches of Himalayas and North- East Region, it will result in overall socio-economic development of the region by providing direct employment in the power sector. +It will also provide indirect employment/ entrepreneurial opportunities in the field of transportation, tourism and other small scale businesses. +Another benefit would be of having a stable grid considering 160 GW capacity addition by 2022 from infirm sources of power like solar and wind. +India is endowed with large hydropower potential of 1,45,320 MW of which only about 45,400 MW has been utilized so far. +Only about 10,000 MW of hydropower has been added in the last 10 years. +The hydropower sector is currently going through a challenging phase and the share of hydropower in the total capacity has declined from 50.36% in the 1960s to around 13% in 2018-19. +The importance of hydropower is increasing even more as the country has targeted to add 160 GW of intermittent Solar and Wind power by 2022 and 40% of the total capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 to honour its Nationally Determined Contribution for Climate Change. +However, DISOMS are reluctant sign Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) Hydro Power due to higher tariff, particularly, in the initial years. +One of the reasons for high tariff of hydropower is the loading of cost of flood moderation and enabling infrastructure in the project cost. +Government of India has initiated numerous steps to combat the scourge of Corruption and Black Money in the last two and a half years. +The Union cabinet had approved a slew of initiatives in February 2016 to encourage digital payments and a transition to less-cash economy in a strategic manner. +The Prime Minister had highlighted these measures in his Man Ki Baat address in May 2016. +He had urged people to adopt cashless transactions. +He said “If we learn and adapt ourselves to use cashless transactions, then we will not require notes. +Businesses will function automatically, resulting in a certain transparency. +Under-hand dealings will stop; the influence of black money will be reduced. +So I appeal to my countrymen, that we should at least make a beginning. +Once we start, we will move ahead with great ease. +Twenty years ago who would have thought that so many mobiles would be in our hands. +Slowly we cultivated a habit and now we can’t do without those. +Maybe this cashless society assumes a similar form. +But the sooner this happens, the better it will be”. +It would be recalled that towards this end, the Government had launched a major drive for financial inclusion in terms of opening Jan Dhan accounts, giving a statutory basis for Aadhar, implementation of Directs Benefits Transfer, introduction of RuPay Cards and Voluntary Disclosure Scheme for unaccounted money. +Demonetization of 500 and 1000 Rs. notes was another important milestone in this endeavour. +Yet, as on date, nearly 95 per cent of India’s personal consumption expenditure transactions are cash-based giving rise to a very large informal economy limiting the ability of State to levy and raise taxes. +The Government of India had recently (December 8th) announced a slew of measures to promote digital payments (https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/807069075616608256/). +To increase overall transparency in the economy and to remove the pernicious influence of cash on the political and economic system, it is essential that we take a longer term view and bring in measures that would influence the behaviour of the consumers as well as merchants to shift to digital payment instruments. +It is now possible by leveraging technology to carry out business transactions digitally through mechanisms like UPI, USSD, Ru Pay cards and Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS). +In a country like India where 65% of the population is below 35 years of age, whose IT prowess is well recognized and where even poor and illiterate people exercise their franchise through EVMs, this transformation toward digital economy is definitely possible, provided the citizens resolve to do so. +NITI Aayog announces the launch of the schemes Lucky Grahak Yojana and the Digi-धन Vyapar Yojana to give cash awards to consumers and merchants who utilize digital payment instruments for personal consumption expenditures. +The scheme specially focuses on bringing the poor, lower middle class and small businesses into the digital payment fold. +It has been decided that National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) shall be the implementing agency for this scheme. +It would be useful to reiterate that NPCI is a not for profit company which is charged with a responsibility of guiding India towards being a cashless society. +The primary aim of these schemes is to incentivize digital transactions so that electronic payments are adopted by all sections of the society, especially the poor and the middle class. +It has been designed keeping in mind all sections of the society and their usage patterns. +For instance, the poorest of poor will be eligible for rewards by using USSD. +People in village and rural areas can participate in this scheme through AEPS. +It will comprise of two major components, one for the Consumers and the other for the Merchants: +a) Lucky Grahak Yojana [Consumers]: +i. Daily reward of Rs 1000 to be given to 15,000 lucky Consumers for a period of 100 days; ii. +b) Digi-धन Vyapar Yojana[Merchants]: +i. Prizes for Merchants for all digital transactions conducted at Merchant establishments ii. +To ensure that the focus of the scheme is on small transactions (entered into by common people), incentives shall be restricted to transactions within the range of Rs 50 and Rs 3000. +All transactions between consumers and merchants; consumers and government agencies and all AEPS transactions will be considered for the incentive scheme. +NPCI has been directed to ensure a technical and security audit of the same to ensure that the technical integrity of the process is maintained. +The estimated expenditure on the first phase of the scheme (up to 14th April 2017) is likely to be 340 Crores . +The Government will simultaneously carry out a review for further implementation. +India is transitioning at a rapid rate from a cash-user society to a cashless society. +This is a historic moment in our nation’s history when our nation is shedding old habits and rapidly adopting new means which shall propel us into a truly modern age. +PPT on ‘INCENTIVIZING DIGITAL PAYMENTS’ +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Justice Dalveer Bhandari on being re-elected to the International Court of Justice. +Our deep gratitude to all the members of UNGA as well as UNSC for their support and trust in India”, the Prime Minister said. +Thank you, every one! +Let’s give a big hand to our outstanding young exhibitors today. +Thank you for coming out in strength on a Sunday. +Reid Hoffman, your LinkedIn is a great product. +And, you are an inspiration to many here and in India. +Thank you, Mohan, Venkie, Ambassador. +It is a great pleasure to be here. +For me, this is a special event, because the idea of startups is close to my heart. +You are likely to wonder why, because governments and National capitals are supposed to stop or slow things down, not start them up. +I know this was once the view of Washington from Silicon Valley; and, this is exactly how tech specialists in Bengaluru thought about New Delhi. +And, I know that many of you think that the only problems that have not been solved are the ones for which you have not written the apps yet. +When I shifted to Delhi last year, I thought of my government as a Startup. +So, I also saw some of the bumps you face on the road. +I understand your challenges, but also the wonderful feeling of creating something new. +The course of human history and progress has been shaped by imagination, inspiration, invention and innovation. +I often say, if there’s a strong wind blowing, some might want to shut the window. +Others will want to put up a windmill or launch their sails on the seas. +The difference between perception of something as a challenge or an opportunity is the difference between inertia and initiative; status quo and progress. +The idea of Start Ups is as ancient as this world. +Each economic age has been defined by disruption of the previous one, by the evolution of ideas and products that displace the old ones. +Start Ups have always been the engine of progress. +The mega corporations of today were Startsup of yesterday. +What is different now is that the digital age has created a fertile new environment for Startups. +This is a world in which you don’t grow by extracting resources, but by spreading an idea. +More than the creator, it is the consumer, who discovers applications. +Today, the Startups defy the natural rates of growth. +An idea can become a global name within a year. +Customers can multiply at the rate of millions, employees at the rate of thousands and valuation at the rate of billions. +The convergence of technology, integration across diverse fields, distributed architecture and people willing to back an idea, have opened a new world for enterprise. +This ecosystem was born in the Silicon Valley. +No community is shaping our world as much as the one on this Californian Coast. +It isn’t just big names, but small firms that are fashioning every day new ways to enrich human life with the joy of artists and creators. +That underlines America’s success and inspires the world. +So, I see Startups, technology and innovation as exciting and effective instruments for India’s transformation, and for creating jobs for our youth. +We are a nation of 800 million youth below the age of 35 years. +They are eager for change; have the energy and drive to pursue it; and, the confidence to achieve it. +When each of the five hundred odd towns produces ten Startups and each of our six hundred thousand villages produce six small businesses, on a regular basis, we will create an enormous economic momentum and generate a huge number of jobs in our country. +India’s own ecosystem of startups is evolving rapidly. +It is driven by the energy, enterprise and innovation of our youth. +We have a huge market with rapid growth and untapped opportunities in every sector. +We now have the institutions, incentives and interest for new ventures. +We have incubators, accelerators and investors willing to back an idea and assume risks. +India has woken up to the potential of Startup Ventures with great enthusiasm and energy. +In the past few years, they have grown exponentially. +We have here an outstanding group of Startups from India. +They are applying technology to transform healthcare, education, agriculture, clean energy, security, financial inclusion of the poor and access to clean water. +Our Startups represent not just commercial success stories, but are powerful examples of social innovation. +The pace at which people in India are taking to digital technology defies our stereotypes of age, education, language and income. +There are nearly a billion people with cell phones in India; smart phones and internet users are in hundred millions, growing at high double digits. +We cannot simply continue on the traditional paths to development. +This is the vision and the spirit behind Digital India, which I spoke about last night: to use technology to transform governance, empower our citizens, eliminate barriers to opportunities, deepen social change, impart scale and speed to development, improve delivery of services, design affordable products for the poor, customize services for specific groups,and build a more sustainable future for our planet. +Startups will have an important role in achieving our vision. +From creating infrastructure to providing services, from manufacture of products to human resource development, from supporting governments to enabling citizens and promoting digital literacy, Digital India is a vast cyber world of opportunities for you. +I see Startups, not as short term investments, but as long term commitments. +Our application and enterprise is limited only by our imagination. +We have here today our Department of Space that provides free data on its portal. +In the course of past few months, we have put together 170 applications of space technology in governance and development. +Many of these could become the vehicles of new ventures in India. +But, it is not just about the opportunities generated on the digital platform and advanced science by urban enterprises. +I want to see the idea and the spirit of Startups light up the economies and the fortunes of people in rural India. +From handicrafts to tourism, the frontiers of possibilities and the scale of reach in India is immense. +I want this especially for our rural women, who have shown marvelous success in enterprise, whenever they have had opportunity. +They transform not only our rural economy, but also our society. +Our development models speak of Public Sector and Private Sector. +I speak of a third sector, Personal Sector, of individual enterprises, micro enterprises and micro finances. +That is why I focused on Startup India in the Independence Day Address this year. +We are launching schemes that will support our mission. +And, I assure you that they won’t trap your creativity in long government procedures. +One is the Atal Innovation Mission, after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji to promote innovation. +Another is SETU, which means bridge in Hindi – Self Employment & Talent Utilisation (SETU). +This will be an incubation and facilitation programme. +We are also setting up Electronics Development Fund to support design, development and launch of new products. +We are reforming our regulations and processes, and making it easier to start and do business in India. +We are making our digital infrastructure and services accessible and affordable that will also bring broadband to six hundred thousand villages, and free Wi Fi to schools, universities and public places. +We are also giving the highest importance to data privacy and security, intellectual property rights and cyber security. +So, Make in India, Skill India and Design India will create a surge of opportunities. +So, friends, as we thought of Startups, it was natural to choose Silicon Valley for our first overseas event. +For, India and the United States have a natural partnership of innovation and technology that has shaped the knowledge economy. +I am told thatIndians account for 15% of startups here. +Hundreds of thousands of Indian professionals here and in India are contributing to the global success of U.S. enterprises. +Many are leading them today. +Our universities, labs and firms are working together for next generation advanced bio fuels, solar energy and energy efficiency. +Young Stanford scholars are teaming up with Indian counterparts in Delhi to make affordable biomedical devices for rural India. +MIT Tata Centre’s Khethworks is changing the lives of small farmers with solar-based irrigation systems. +We have here with us Manu Prakash, a young Indian scientist in Stanford, who has a lab to his name at the university. +This is the power of our cooperation and collaboration. +Sitting here, you can touch the life of a young child in a remote village. +I also hope that a young girl in a small town in India will look at the exhibitors today and dream of her own project. +And, someone in Mumbai or the Bay Area will be the angel to her dreams. +This is the possibility of the digital bridge – to connect distant lives and change fortunes and future. +This is the potential of youth and innovation. +It can ignite a partnership between India and the United States, which can advance prosperity in our two countries and give new content to our strategic partnership. +It can enable us to lead in the digital century and find solutions to enduring human problems and emerging global challenges. +I am delighted to see so many new partnerships formed today. +I am honoured to launch the BHARAT Fund today – which stands not just for India, but also for Better Health, Agriculture, Renewable and Technologies. +I am delighted that Qualcomm announced a fund of USD 150 million for Startups in India. +I want to than TiE for its valued suggestions for creating a more supportive environment for Startups. +I know you will succeed on the strength of your genius and enterprise. +But, when you need a helping hand, or when you find hurdles in your way, we will be there for you. +Let me thank NASSCOM, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and TiE Silicon Valley for this very special event. +I am confident that you have inspired many young talents in India, launched thousand new dreams, and sown the seeds of many India-U.S. partnerships. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the CISF personnel on theRaising Day of the Central Industrial Security Force. +“Greetings and best wishes toCentral Industrial Security Forceon their Raising Day. +CISF has distinguished itself by effectively catering to the security needs of vital establishments, many of which are driving India’s resurgence as well as connecting the nation”,the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today witnessed the launch of the navigational satellite IRNSS-1G from South Block in New Delhi. +The PSLV, carrying the satellite, lifted off from Sriharikota at 12.50 PM. +Moments after the successful launch, the Prime Minister congratulated and addressed the scientists at ISRO in Sriharikota, through video-conferencing. +He said Indian scientists have achieved a lot in space science, which has the capacity to transform the lives of the people. +“With this successful launch, we will determine our own paths powered by our technology. +He declared that this navigation system will be known as NAVIC – “Navigation with Indian Constellation.” +He described this as an example of “Make in India,” and “Made for Indians.” +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed the Krishi Kumbh in Lucknow, via video conference. +The Prime Minister expressed confidence that this gathering of farmers would pave the way for new technology to be imbibed and better opportunities to be created in the agriculture sector. +The Prime Minister appreciated the State Government of Uttar Pradesh, for its efforts in augmenting substantially, the procurement of foodgrains. +He asserted that the farmers are the ones, who take the country forward. +He reiterated the Union Government’s commitment to double the income of farmers by 2022. +In this context, he mentioned the series of steps that the Government is pursuing to reduce input costs and raise profits. +He mentioned that a large number of solar pumps will be installed in farms across the country in the near future. +He said the Government is working to deliver the benefits of science to agriculture. +He said the Rice Research Centre being set up in Varanasi, is a step in this direction. +The Prime Minister also spoke of the importance of value addition in farming. +He mentioned the steps being taken in the Food Processing Sector. +He said that after the Green Revolution, the emphasis now is on milk production, honey production, and also on poultry and fisheries. +The Prime Minister called for discussions on matters such as judicious use of water resources, better technology for storage, and use of latest technology in farming, during this Krishi Kumbh. +He emphasized the need to evolve new technologies and ways that will help eliminate the need for farmers to burn crop stubble (Parali). +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met all Secretaries to the Government of India. +Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State for Independent Charge were also present at the meeting. +The Cabinet Secretary made a brief presentation on the work done so far, as a follow up to the reports presented by the eight Groups of Secretaries to the Prime Minister in January this year. +The rapporteurs for two out of the eight groups also made presentations on the status of implementation of the recommendations of their groups. +Ten new Groups of Secretaries are being formed, who will submit their reports on various Governance issues, by the end of November. +As compared to the earlier groups, which worked on specific themes, the focus of the groups this time will be on sectors, such as agriculture, energy, transport etc. +Addressing the Secretaries, the Prime Minister complimented them for the work done by them as part of the eight thematic groups in the month of January. +He urged them to undertake a critical review of the work done by the Union Government in the respective sectors that they will be studying. +He also asked them to engage young officers to research related issues. +Speaking of demographic dividend, the Prime Minister said all groups must prioritize harnessing the strengths of the 800 million youth of India as part of their recommendations. +He said that the team of Secretaries to the Government of India, has the collective wisdom and experience to create policies to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of India’s people. +He exhorted them to put their best foot forward to the task ahead. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Kerala on the occasion of Kerala Piravi. +“Kerala Piravi greetings to people of Kerala. +May the development of Kerala scale new heights in the years to come.” the Prime minister said in a tweet. +Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today. +Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation (SILF) is a charitable institution dedicated to the task of mainstreaming leprosy affected and cured people through economic and social empowerment. +During the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed deep appreciation for Mr. Sasakawa’s personal commitment to the cause of eradication of leprosy, both in India and across the world. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi spoke on telephone to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif late in the evening soon after Prime Minister Sharif returned from Peshawar to Islamabad. +Prime Minister condemned in the strongest terms the brutal terrorist attack in a Peshawar school today. +Prime Minister said that this savage killing of innocent children, who are the epitome of the finest human values, in a temple of learning was not only an attack against Pakistan, but an assault against the entire humanity. +He said that the people of India shared the heart-rending pain and sorrow of the bereaved families and the people of Pakistan and stood with them in solidarity in this hour of immeasurable grief. +He also hoped that the children who had witnessed the horrific attack and loss of their friends would come through this trauma through counselling. +He told Prime Minister Sharif that this moment of shared pain and mourning is also a call for our two countries and all those who believe in humanity to join hands to decisively and comprehensively defeat terrorism, so that the children in Pakistan, India and elsewhere do not have to face a future darkened by the lengthening shadow of terrorism. +The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its post-facto approval to the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Competition Commission of India (CCI) and Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) with Foreign Countries/Organizations. +The Memoranda of Understanding are between the following: +(i) Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands; +(ii) Competition Commission of India (CCI) and Federal Anti-monopoly Service of the Russian Federation; +(iii) CCI and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission; +(iv) CCI and Directorate General for Competition of the European Commission; +(v) CCI and Competition Bureau, Canada; +(vi) Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and George Washington University, USA; +(vii) IICA and Institute of Directors, London, UK; and +(viii)IICA and International Finance Corporation. +The signing of MOUs will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and information, technical cooperation, experience sharing, enforcement cooperation etc. with the concerned organizations. +Implementation of the MOUs will be monitored by a bilateral Working Group on corporate governance and corporate social responsibility (CSR). +The Prime Minister emphasized that in each of these areas, the focus should be on measures which will transformatively improve the lives of people. +He laid stress on people’s participation in governance, and empowerment of the common man. +Secretaries will now interact among each other, in sub-groups over the next two weeks, after which they will present their ideas and suggestions to the Prime Minister. +Senior officers of Cabinet Secretariat and PMO were also present. +It is an honour to speak at the inaugural session of the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia- Istanbul Process on Afghanistan. +And, it is a particular pleasure to jointly inaugurate this Conference with our friend and partner, President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan. +I thank Excellency Ghani for accepting my invitation and for gracing this conference. +It is also a great privilege for me to welcome all of you in Amritsar, a city blessed with simplicity, beauty and spirituality, and abode to the Golden Temple, the holiest shrines of Sikhs. +It is a place made sacred by Sikh Gurus who meditated here. +It embodies peace and humanism, and is open to all people and religions. +Its streets and parks tell stories of great valour and immense sacrifice. +The flow of trade, people and ideas through our region has often intersected in Amritsar on one of Asia’s oldest and longest surface arteries, the Grand Trunk Road. +Amritsar reinforces the value of restoring connectivity which is so crucial for the overall growth, stability and economic prosperity of Afghanistan. +Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, +Since the turn of this century, the international community has extensively engaged in Afghanistan. +Major powers, regional countries and concerned nations from around the world have cooperated through multiple programmes of political, social, military, economic, and developmental support. +Our gathering today re-affirms the commitment of the international community to durable peace and lasting political stability in Afghanistan. +Our words and actions remain focused at advancing a critical unfinished mission of our time. +Indeed, this is also the intent of this conference, aptly captured in its theme, “Addressing challenges; Achieving prosperity”. +We have no doubt about the scale of the challenge. +But, we are equally determined to succeed. +The results of our collective efforts thus far have been hard-won, but mixed. +There have been important successes. +Much more remains to be done. +The need of the hour is to stand our ground and continue with our line of effort. +We must protect and build on the gains of the last fifteen years and march ahead. +The answers are all there. +The question is of resolve and action. +And, of putting Afghanistan and its people first. +For this, First, an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled process is key. +It is the only guarantor of durability of solutions. +Second, we must demonstrate strong collective will to defeat terror networks that cause bloodshed and spread fear. +Terrorism and externally induced instability pose the gravest threat to Afghanistan’s peace, stability and prosperity. +And, the growing arc of terrorist violence endangers our entire region. +As such, support for voices of peace in Afghanistan alone is not enough. +It must be backed by resolute action. +Not just against forces of terrorism, but also against those who support, shelter, train and finance them. +Silence and inaction against terrorism in Afghanistan and our region will only embolden terrorists and their masters. +Third, our bilateral and regional commitments of material assistance for Afghanistan’s development and humanitarian needs must continue and increase. +Our cooperative endeavours in Afghanistan should contribute to its infrastructure and institutional capacity, and self-propelling engines of growth. +Fourth,we should all work to build stronger positive connectivity between Afghanistan and other countries of the region. +Afghanistan should be at the centre of our connectivity networks, not peripheral to them. +On our part, we see Afghanistan as the hub for strengthening links of connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia. +We cannot deny that the more connected Afghanistan is with the regional arteries of trade, capital and markets, the more assured would be its economic growth and progress. +President Ghani and I have converged on the priority of strengthening trade and transport linkages with other partners in the region. +On India’s part, our commitment to our brave Afghan brothers and sisters is absolute and unwavering. +The welfare of Afghanistan and its people is close to our hearts and minds. +The successful record of our partnership in projects, big and small, in Afghanistan speaks for itself. +And, the reach and benefit of such efforts extends to all corners of Afghanistan. +The Parliament Building in Kabul represents our strong commitment to Afghanistan’s democratic future. +Zeranj-Deleram highway and India-Afghanistan-Iran cooperation on Chahbahar would enable Afghanistan to link its economy with centres of strong economic growth in South Asia and beyond. +We also plan to connect Afghanistan with India through an air transport corridor +President Ghani and I have discussed additional measures for deepening our bilateral cooperation. +We are making progress in developing plans for utilization of the additional 1 billion US Dollar earmarked by India for capacity and capability building in Afghanistan. +It will extend to areas like water management, health, infrastructure, energy and skill development. +As India implements its additional commitments, we are open to work with other like-minded partners for the development of Afghanistan. +We are also happy to note the international commitments at the Brussels Conference in October and NATO’s Warsaw Summit in July this year. +We will continue efforts to scale up our ambition and dedication to assist Afghanistan. +I hope that your deliberations will produce constructive and forward looking pathways for action that: +Let us re-dedicate ourselves to making Afghanistan a Geography of Peace. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of an Agreement between India and Uzbekistan for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. +The Agreement between India and Uzbekistan provides for cooperation in the following fields: +1. Exchange of information regarding laws, standards and product samples of mutual interest; +2. Establishment of joint agriculture clusters in Uzbekistan; +3. Exchange of experience in the field of crop production and theirdiversification; +4. Exchange of experience in the field of seed production based on modern technology; exchange of information concerning certification of seed in accordance with the legislation of the States of the Parties; exchange ofsamples of seeds on beneficial terms. +5. Application of technology for enhanced water use efficiency in agricultureand allied sectors, including irrigation; +6. Conduct of joint scientific research on genetics, breeding, biotechnology, plant protection, soil productivity conservation, mechanization, waterresources, and mutual application of scientific results; +7. Development and extension of cooperation in the field of plant quarantine; +8. Exchange of experience in the field of animal husbandry, including animal health, poultry, genomics, setting up of quarantine facilities; +9. Exchange of information between research institutes in the fields ofagriculture and food industry on scientific and practical activities (fairs, exhibitions, conferences, symposia) +10. Cooperation in agricultural and food trade; +11. Explore setting up of food processing joint ventures; +12. Any other form of cooperation as mutually agreed between the Parties. +The meetings of the Working Group shall take place at least every two years, alternately in India and in Uzbekistan. +This Agreement shall be terminated after six (6) months from the date of receipt of notification of either Party of its intention to terminate. +The MoU will considerably reduce the logistics cost of cargo movement to North Eastern India. +It will also reduce the congestion through the Siliguri Chicken’s Neck corridor. +The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain, Mr. Jose Manuel Garcia – Margallo y Marfil called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Minister Garcia-Margallo requested India’s assistance in evacuating Spanish nationals from the Earthquake-hit Nepal. +Prime Minister Modi and Minister Garcia-Margallo discussed possible avenues for cooperation in the sectors of Railways, Smart Cities and Renewable Energy. +Prime Minister Modi also invited Spanish companies to participate in the “Make in India” initiative and set up manufacturing bases in India to connect with the global supply chain. +Congratulating Spain on their election to the UNSC for a non-permanent seat for 2015-17, Prime Minister Modi urged Spain to take the lead in coordinating international efforts to combat terrorism. +Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation of Spanish Prime Minister to visit Spain in 2016. +This will benefit about 50 lakh Government employees and 58 lakh pensioners. +The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission (CPC). +The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be of Rs. 6796.50 crore per annum and Rs.7929.24 crore respectively, in the financial year 2016-17 (for a period of 14 months from January, 2016 to February, 2017). +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today arrived at the BSF Academy at Tekanpur in Madhya Pradesh, for the Conference of Director Generals of Police and Inspector Generals of Police. +Through the day, there were presentations and useful discussions on various subjects relating to security. +A presentation was also made on the implementation status of decisions taken during the last three years. +Over meals, the Prime Minister had focused discussions with select groups of officers, on specific security and policing issues. +The Prime Minister’s interactions lasted a total of over nine hours. +Earlier, on arrival, the Prime Minister unveiled plaques to mark the inauguration of five new buildings at the BSF Academy. +The discussions shall continue tomorrow. +The Prime Minister will address the valedictory ceremony of the Conference tomorrow afternoon, before departing for Delhi. +A total amount of more than Rs.2000 crores has already been released to more than one crore farmers’ families across the country in the first lot of 1st installment. +Further releases for the 1st installment to the remaining beneficiaries are being made. +The 2nd instalment under the scheme would be admissible after the1st of April, 2019. +In this connection, it is stated that the Union Cabinet, while approving the scheme on 1.2.2019, made Aadhaar seeding of the beneficiaries’ data compulsory for release of 2nd installment onwards. +However, it would be difficult to get 100% Aadhaar seeding for release of funds for 2nd installment, as efficient seeding of beneficiaries’ details with Aadhaar requires bio-metric authentication. +Demographic seeding will result in large scale rejection as the spellings of names have to be exactly the same. +However, Aadhaar number shall be compulsory for release of 2nd installment. +The Government will take adequate measures to validate the data before payment is made. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the demise of renowned journalist, Shri Madhav Vittal Kamath. +“A prolific writer and a fine human being, Shri M V Kamath’s demise is a loss to the world of literature and journalism. +My mind goes back to the several interactions I had with M V Kamath ji. +He was a repository of knowledge, always full of humility and grace,” the Prime Minister said. +The transfer of land shall be subject to an undertaking by the Government of Rajasthan that the transferred land will be used exclusively for the stated purpose and CSWRI / ICAR will extend the needed technical support (without any financial involvement) for carrying out research in the area of Veterinary and Animal Science in Rajasthan. +If the Training centre is discontinued in future, the said 50 acres of land will be returned back to CSWRI along with the available infrastructure free of cost for Veterinary and Animal Science research purpose. +Establishment of the Centre at Avikanagar will strengthen collaboration between the University and the CSWRI for mutual benefit. +The Centre will impart training to rural masses, especially women for enhancing livelihood security and gender equity leading to empowerment of rural people, especially women. +Further, the Centre will showcase/demonstrate and transfer area specific, low cost, eco-friendly and sustainable technologies for enhancing productivity and profitability from livestock rearing. +The availability of power and water through the project upon its successful completion will lead to the overall economic development of the western region of Afghanistan and generate goodwill for India in Afghanistan. +The completion of this project will address the energy requirements and irrigation needs of western Afghanistan. +It also has a provision for releasing water for irrigation of 75,000 hectares of land. +The availability of power and water through the project, upon its successful completion, is expected to contribute to the overall economic development of the western region of Afghanistan and generate goodwill for India in Afghanistan. +A delegation of OBC Parliamentarians and leaders from BJP called on Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at New Delhi, today. +Members of the delegation felicitated the Prime Minister for providing constitutional status to OBC Commission. +The members said that the historic step would help in strengthening the OBC community. +The Prime Minister thanked the delegation for their words of appreciation and support. +The Prime Minister encouraged the delegation to continue working for the upliftment of the OBC community, especially at the grass root level. +He urged the members to raise awareness among the community about their rights. +Union Minister, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State (Independent Charge), Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar were also present on the occasion. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Myanmar for the conservation of earthquake-damaged pagodas at Bagan, Myanmar. +The MoU will be signed during the visit of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Myanmar during 6-7 September 2017. +Implementation of the project will further strengthen India’s enduring ties in culture and religion with Myanmar. +It will also generate immense goodwill for India among the people of Myanmar due to the religious significance as well as the touristic significance of the project. +It will also contribute to India’s development partnership with Myanmar. +Bagan is one of the premier tourist attractions of Myanmar. +It will be an opportunity to showcase India’s expertise in the restoration and conservation of monuments not only to the people of Myanmar but also to the tourists from other countries. +The Ashgabat Agreement has Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as founding members. +Kazakhstan has also joined this arrangement subsequently. +Accession to the Agreement would enable India to utilise this existing transport and transit corridor to facilitate trade and commercial interaction with the Eurasian region. +Further, this would synchronise with our efforts to implement the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) for enhanced connectivity. +India’s intention to accede to the Ashgabat Agreement would now be conveyed to the Depository State (Turkmenistan). +India would become party to the Agreement upon consent of the founding members. +During the 12th Five Year Plan, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has targeted 30,000 MW from various renewable energy projects out of which IREDA aims to finance projects of an aggregate capacity of 4800 MW. +For this, IREDA would need to mobilize financial resources to the tune of Rs.14,000 crore. +A higher level of authorised share capital would facilitate in leveraging higher levels of debt from the market. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today urged both greater awareness, and greater pride, in India’s heritage. +He was speaking after releasing a book “Early Hindu Temples of Gujarat,” by Varun Maira, in New Delhi. +He said efforts such as this book would help us rediscover this heritage. +The Prime Minister said heritage and history go together, and heritage buildings are not just stone, but “living history.” +The Union MoS(I/C) for culture, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, was present on the occasion. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, handed over the tricolour flag to Arunima Sinha, marking the beginning of her expedition to Mount Vinson, Antarctica. +Shri Modi lauded her impressive achievements and extended his best wishes for her latest venture. +Arunima Sinha had earlier conquered the highest peaks in five continents, becoming the first female Divyang to achieve the feat. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modicalled His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Republic of Maldives today, and complimented him on the victory of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in the recent Parliamentary elections. +He welcomed the successful completion of the elections, which marked consolidation of democracy and strengthening of democratic institutions in the Maldives. +The Prime Minister also spoke to former President Mohamed Nasheed and congratulated him on the momentous electoral victory. +The Prime Minister lauded the participation of all democracy-loving forces in deepening the roots of democracy in the Maldives, and offered India’s continued assistance for this objective. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated the world’s tallest statue, the ‘Statue of Unity’, to the nation. +The 182 metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, was dedicated to the nation on his birth anniversary, at Kevadiya in Narmada District of Gujarat. +At the launch ceremony, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries’ poured soil and Narmada water into a Kalash to mark the dedication of the ‘Statue of Unity’ to the nation. +The Prime Minister pressed a lever to commence a Virtual Abhishek of the statue. +He inaugurated the Wall of Unity. +At the feet of the Statue of Unity, the Prime Minister performed a special prayer. +He visited the Museum and Exhibition, and the Viewers’ Gallery. +This gallery, at 153 metres height, can accommodate upto 200 visitors at one time. +It offers a spectacular view of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, its reservoir, and the Satpura and Vindhya mountain ranges. +The dedication ceremony was punctuated by flypast of IAF aircraft, and performances of cultural troupes. +Greeting the people of India on this occasion, the Prime Minister said that the entire country is celebrating Rashtriya Ekta Divas today. +He said today marks a special moment in the history of India. +He said that with the Statue of Unity, India has given itself today, a towering inspiration for the future. +He said the Statue will continue to remind future generations of the courage, capability and resolve of Sardar Patel. +He said that the integration of India by Sardar Patel, has resulted today in India’s march towards becoming a big economic and strategic power. +The Prime Minister also recalled Sardar Patel’s vision of the administrative services as a steel frame. +He described the Statue of Unity as a symbol of the self-respect of the farmers who gave soil from their land, and iron from their farming implements for the Statue. +He said the aspirations of the youth of India can be achieved only through the mantra of “Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat.” +He congratulated everyone associated with the construction of this Statue. +He said the Statue would generate considerable tourism opportunities for the region. +The Prime Minister mentioned that several memorials have been made to recall the contributions of freedom fighters and great leaders, in recent years. +Besides the Statue of Unity, he mentioned the museum dedicated to Sardar Patel in Delhi, Mahatma Mandir and Dandi Kutir in Gandhinagar, the Panchtirth dedicated to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, the Statue of Sri Chhotu Ram in Haryana, and the memorials of Shyamji Krishna Varma and Veer Nayak Govind Guru in Kutch. +He said work is in progress for the museum dedicated to Subhash Chandra Bose in Delhi, the Shivaji statue in Mumbai, and tribal museums across the country. +The Prime Minister spoke of Sardar Patel’s vision of a strong and inclusive India, and said the Union Government is working towards making this dream a reality. +He mentioned the efforts to provide a home to all, to provide electricity to all, and towards road connectivity and digital connectivity. +He also mentioned the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. +He said that efforts such as GST, e-NAM, and “One-Nation, One-Grid” have also contributed to integrating the nation in various ways. +The Prime Minister spoke of our collective responsibility to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation, and to counter all divisive forces. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of China, Korea, Vietnam, and Mongolia, on the occasion of their respective New Years. +“Greetings on the start of the Chinese New Year. +May the coming year brighten your lives with peace, joy and prosperity. 祝中国人民新羊年快乐，恭喜发财. +Seollal greetings to my Korean friends around the world. +On the occasion of Tết and the coming of Spring, may I wish the people of Vietnam a New Year with full of happiness, peace and good health. +TsagaanSar greetings to my sisters and brothers of Mongolia. +The Prime Minister also conveyed his greetings and best wishes to the new Government of Nepal, led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. +Mr. Bimalendra Nidhi briefed the Prime Minister about developments in Nepal. +Stating that the relations between India and Nepal were not merely between the two Governments, but between the people of both countries, the Prime Minister reiterated that India is committed to strengthening these traditional bonds of friendship and kinship with the people of Nepal. +The Prime Minister said that India is fully committed to support the Government and the people of Nepal in the post-earthquake reconstruction efforts. +The Prime Minister also conveyed an invitation to the Prime Minister of Nepal to visit India at his earliest convenience. +However, an exception has been made: +The Prime Minister was given an overview of the work done by CSIR in addressing national challenges, and its recognition as a major Indian innovator. +Members mentioned the potential that exists for a large number of start-ups to emerge from the research being done by CSIR labs. +They stressed the importance of converting lab research to commercial applications. +Medical device manufacturing, energy, and waste management were some of the areas mentioned where CSIR could play a key role. +The Prime Minister called for laying down parameters to assess the performance of CSIR labs; and a mechanism whereby there could be internal competition among various labs. +Mentioning key areas where CSIR could take the lead in providing breakthroughs, the Prime Minister spoke of sickle cell anaemia among the tribal people, defence equipment manufacturing, life-saving equipment for the jawans, innovations related to solar energy, and innovations related to the agriculture sector. +The Prime Minister emphasized that he would like to see CSIR oriented towards making the life of the common man better, and providing technological solutions to the problems of the poor and downtrodden sections of society. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended a function organized by the Press Council of India on the occasion of National Press Day. +The occasion also marks the Golden Jubilee of the Press Council of India. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister emphasized on the importance of freedom of press, and said press should self-regulate, adding that any external interference or regulation on press is not called for. +The Prime Minister expressed concern over the recent killings of journalists in some parts of the country. +He said that journalists losing their lives in the quest for telling the truth, is an extremely serious development. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Dilma Rousseff, on her re-election as President of Brazil for the 2nd term. +Prime Minister has looked forward to continuing to work with her to strengthen India-Brazil relations in the years to come. +Government gives a push to port-led development +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the incorporation of Sagarmala Development Company (SDC) under the Companies Act, 2013. +SDC will be under the administrative control of the Ministry of Shipping. +It will provide equity support to the project Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and funding support to the residual projects under the Sagarmala Programme. +SDC will be incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013, with an initial Authorized Share Capital of Rs. 1,000 Crore and a Subscribed Share Capital of Rs. 90 Crore. +SDC will Identify port-led development projects and assist the project SPVs in project development and structuring activities, bidding out projects for private sector participation, putting in place suitable risk management measures for strategic projects cutting across multiple States / Regions and obtaining requisite approvals and clearances. +Since the Identified projects will be undertaken by multiple agencies, SDC will also work as the nodal agency for coordination and monitoring of all the currently identified projects as well as other projects emerging from the master plans or other sources. +SDC will undertake the preparation of the detailed master plans for the Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) identified as part of the NPP and provide a framework for ensuring the integrated development of Indian maritime sector. +As part of the coastal community development objective of the Sagarmala Programme, the Ministry of Shipping is taking up a number of initiatives/projects. +Notable among them are the coastal community skill projects and projects for development of marine fisheries sector. +I am really happy to be here in the Hannover fair. +It is an added pleasure to talk to you that too in the presence of Chancellor Merkel. +Myself and Chancellor Merkel had a very good interaction over dinner last night. +You also must have met a number of Indian companies and CEOs. +I believe that the participation in Hannover fair would be very useful for both sides. +I request you to visit the India pavillion and the stalls of our State Government and private companies. +You will be able to see for yourself the winds of change in India. +We are very keen to develop the sectors where you are strong. +We need your involvement. +The scope and potential, the breadth and length of infrastructure and related developments is very huge in India. +Just to give you some examples: +• We have planned to build 50 million houses by 2022. +In addition, we are going to develop smart cities and mega industrial corridors. +• We are modernizing our Railway systems including signals, and railway stations. +We are planning metro rail in fifty cities and high speed trains in various corridors. +• Similar is the case with Highways. +• We are putting up new ports and modernizing the old ones through an ambitious plan called Sagarmala; +• Similar focus is on upgrading the existing Airports and putting up regional airports to enhance connectivity to places of economic and tourist importance. +• In financial services too, we are moving towards a more inclusive and faster delivery of financial products including bank loans and insurance. +• For this purpose, we opened 140 million bank accounts; increased FDI in insurance upto 49% and have set up MUDRA Bank. +• We also announced innovative schemes for insurance and pension to enhance social security for our citizens. +We also want to promote manufacturing in a big way particularly to create jobs for our youth. +For this purpose, we have launched a campaign called “Make in India”. +All this is a historic opportunity for the German companies. +You would already be knowing the direction of my Government and the steps we are taking. +We have committed ourselves for creating and improving the business environment. +I can assure you that once you decide to be in India, we are confident to make you comfortable. +Germany ranks 8th among foreign investor countries in India. +About 600 Indo-German Joint ventures are presently operating in India. +The purpose of my being here and participating in the Hannover Fair is to highlight that there is more potential in Indo-German economic collaboration. +Though we have a vibrant relationship, our economic partnership is not as much as both countries would like to have. +The flow of investments from Germany is well below the potential and less than Indian investments in Germany. +Many more German companies have the possibility of investing in India to take advantage of India’s potentials. +The potential lies in Manufacturing as well as infrastructure and in skill development for that purpose. +I know that the reason for this situation may not be from German side. +It is from the Indian side also. +I am here to assure the German companies that India is now a changed country. +Lot of efforts have been made and are still underway to improve the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in the country. +• Reducing the complicated procedures, making them available at one platform, preferably online, simplifying the forms and formats has been taken up on war footing. +We do believe that FDI is important and it will not come in the country without a globally competitive business environment. +• We have removed lot of regressive taxation regimes. +We have taken bold steps of not dragging the litigation in a few cases where we felt that the steps of the previous government were not on right lines. +• In this budget, we allowed Tax pass through for AIFs, rationalization of capital gains of REITs, modification in PE norms and deferring the implementation of GAAR for two years. +We are constantly working to improve the business environment further. +• We are trying to introduce an element of transparency and predictability in taxation system. +• We have fast tracked approvals in industry and infrastructure. +This includes environmental clearances, extending the industrial licences, delicencing of defence items, and simplification of cross-border trade. +• Within a very short time, we introduced GST Bill in Parliament. +Such measures have helped in building up an enhanced investor confidence. +The sentiments for private investment and inflow of foreign investments are positive. +FDI inflows have gone up by 36% during April-2014 and January-2015 against the same period in previous year; +Our growth rate is about 7%-plus. +Most of the international financial institutions including the World Bank, IMF, UNCTAD, OECD and others are predicting even faster growth and even better in the coming years. +MOODY’s have recently upgraded the rating of India as “positive” on account of our concrete steps in various economic segments. +It is the effort of my Government to encourage innovation, R&D and entrepreneurship in the country. +In this year’s budget, we have set up some innovative institutional mechanisms for that purpose. +Similarly, for infrastructure development, we have taken some far reaching steps. +• First of all we have made an all-time high allocation for Roads and railways sectors. +• In addition, we are setting up India Infrastructure Investment Fund. +• We have also allowed Tax free Bonds in the Infrastructure sector including roads and railways. +I wish all success to the Hannover Messe. +I also wish all participants good luck and progress. +I also take this opportunity for inviting more and more German companies to India. +I assure them all support from my side. +Let us work together in mutual interest and for welfare of the people of the two great countries. +At the end, it is my advice to you to come and feel the change in India’s regulatory environment. +Please do not go by old perceptions. +The symbol of lion for make in India has been chosen very carefully. +We know that our biggest need today is to create jobs for our 65% population which is young. +We must and we will make corrections wherever it is required. +Thank You, very much. +Malaysian Association of Company Secretaries (MACS)” is a Malaysian professional body of Company Secretaries whose core objective is to improve and advance the professional competence and status of Practicing Company Secretaries in Malaysia. +A high-level delegation of saints of Shri Bochasanvasi Akshar Puroshottam Sanstha (BAPS) today called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and blessed him to serve the nation with compassion and strength. +The delegation also conveyed the best wishes and blessings of the Head of BAPS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, to the Prime Minister. +The delegation comprised of Shri Brahmvihari Swami, Sadhu Ishwarcharan Das, Sadhu Atmaswarup Das, Sadhu Gnanmuni Das and Shri Yeshwant Jethwas. +“I bow to the venerable Shyamji Krishna Varma on his Jayanti. +His patriotic zeal and efforts for India’s freedom can never be forgotten. +Sharing an old speech in which I have spoken extensively about Shyamji Krishna Varma and his greatness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLw_2cNVRuQ , the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, is constantly monitoring the situation in Gorakhpur. +“PM is constantly monitoring the situation in Gorakhpur. +He is in constant touch with authorities from the Central and UP Governments. +MoS Health Anupriya Patel and the Union Health Secretary will take stock of the situation from Gorakhpur”, the Prime Minister said. +Honourable President, Respected Vice President, Madam Speaker of Lok Sabha, our Former Prime Minister Shri Devegowdaji, Members of the Council of Ministers, all the other members of the House, and the esteemed conglomerate gathered here representing diverse sectors. +In the process of nation building, we often arrive at a moment which leads us to a path breaking juncture and opens up a plethora of opportunities imploring us to aspire for new dreams. +At the stroke of the midnight hour today, together we shall ensure a pioneering future of the nation. +Within a few moments from now, our nation will embark upon a new economic regime. +The entire 1.25 billion citizens of the country are a witness to this historical event. +I do not believe that this process of GST is restricted to the scope of economy only. +Let us reminisce the 9th of December, 1946 when this same Central Hall witnessed the first meeting to discuss the country’s Constitution. +Today we share the same place of pride. +The front seats of this hall were ordained by the iconic national heroes like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, Acharya Kripalani, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sarojini Naidu. +The same House which once on 14 August, 1947, at the stroke of the midnight hour, witnessed the most pious moment of the nation attaining freedom! +When the Constitution was framed, it introduced a framework of equal opportunity and rights for all. +Very importantly, GST also intends to bring in economic reforms. +It is a great example of Co-operative Federalism which shall facilitate inclusive growth of the nation. +With the launch of GST, Team India has proven its potential and diligence. +This GST Council has developed such systems wherein the underprivileged gets all the promised facilities. +Today, GST Council had its 18th meeting and GST would be implemented in a short while from now. +Incidentally, the Holy book Gita also has 18 chapters and today we are moving forward successfully. +Chanakya’s words summarize the whole GST process. +Even if something is very difficult to be achieved, one can obtain it with penance and hard work. +Can we imagine, when we became independent there were more than 500 Princely states. +Just as Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel unified India by helping several princely states subsume into a common entity, the GST will bring economic unification. +If we take into consideration the 29 states, the 7 Union Territories, the 7 taxes of the Centre and the 8 taxes of the states, and several different taxes for different commodities, the number of taxes sum up to a figure of 500! +I was wondering if he was present here then how he would have reacted looking at the plethora of taxes. +The same product will have different prices in, say Delhi , Gurugram and Noida which are 25-30 kilometres apart. +This is because Haryana , Delhi and Uttar Pradesh have different tax regimes. +As a result of these variations, a citizen wonders that – if I go to Gurugram I get the product at one price, if I go to Delhi I get the same product for a different price and if I go to Noida I get it for yet another price. +There was confusion in everybody’s mind. +Arun Ji has vividly explained that once GST is in place, all sorts of taxes like sales tax, VAT etc. will cease to exist. +Long wait by vehicles at toll plazas will end. +Fuels worth crores of rupees are wasted. +And that causes damage to the environment as well. +Now we will be free from of all those troubles as the entire country will have a similar tax structure. +Sometimes certain items, especially the perishable ones that were supposed to reach their destination in time, were delayed because of the time taken for processing; and it resulted in losses at both ends. +Today we are getting rid of all that. +GST has an inherent strength of eliminating the possibility of ordinary businessmen being harassed by the officers. +Traders with a turnover up to Rs. 20 lakh are totally exempt from this. +Traders with a turnover up to Rs. 75 lakh are also having many exemptions. +Friends, GST is not limited to the technicalities of the term. +In fact, the system is for the welfare of the poor. +But somewhere the limited resources became a hurdle in the fulfillment of the needs of our country’s poor. +Even today we hear about such issues. +It is true that everyone is not tech-savvy. +However, if any household has a class 10th-12th student, he would definitely know about technology. +GST is a system that ends the imbalances in the country’s trade. +It also boosts the exports of the country. +All the states of India will get equal opportunity for development. +GST is like our Railways. +Under GST, for the first time, the central and the state governments will work together towards the same direction. +In 2022, India will celebrate the Diamond Jubilee year of achieving Freedom. +We have embarked upon a journey to create a New India. +The New India which is the dream of our 1.25 billions Indians! +Therefore Ladies and Gentlemen, GST shall play a key role in helping us build the India of our dreams. +The last verse of Lokmanya Tilak’s “Gita Rahsaya” ideally encapsulates the essence of the way the GST team has strived to achieve it. +The verse from the Rigveda continues to inspire us till today. +It means that we all must have similar resolution, decision and emotion, our hearts should be on the same plane, so that everyone supports and collaborates towards same accomplishments. +GST is the path breaking legislation for New India. +A revolutionary taxation system for the digital India. +GST is the taxation system of New India; of the Digital India. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lead the 4th International Yoga Day Celebrations in Dehradun on June 21, 2018. +The Prime Minister will join thousands of volunteers, performing Yoga asanas in the lawns of Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, located in the lap of the Himalayas. +A series of Yoga related events are being organized across the world to mark the occasion. +The Prime Minister had earlier participated in Yoga celebrations at Rajpath in New Delhi in 2015, the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh in 2016, and the Ramabai Ambedkar Sabha Sthal in Lucknow in 2017. +Greeting Yoga enthusiasts across the world on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that Yoga is one of the most precious gifts given by the ancient Indian sages to humankind. +“Yoga is not just a set of exercises that keeps the body fit. +It is a passport to health assurance, a key to fitness and wellness. +In the run-up to International Yoga Day, the Prime Minister has also taken to social media to share the intricacies of various Yoga Asanas. +He has also shared pictures of people performing Yoga, at various locations across the world. +My dear fellow Indians and citizens of the world, +I envision this website as a very important medium of direct communication between us. +I am a firm believer in the power of technology and social media to communicate with people across the world. +I hope this platform creates opportunities to listen, learn and share one’s views. +Through this website you will also get all the latest information about my speeches, schedules, foreign visits and lot more. +I will also keep informing you about innovative initiatives undertaken by the Government of India. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Car Nicobar today. +He laid a wreath at the Tsunami Memorial, and lit a candle at the Wall of Lost Souls. +He interacted with Tribal Chiefs and eminent sportspersons from the islands. +At a public meeting, he inaugurated the ITI at Arong, and a Modern Sports Complex. +He also laid the Foundation Stone for Shore Protection Work near Mus Jetty, and Extension of Campbell Bay Jetty. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister spoke of the great natural beauty, culture, tradition and art of the Islands. +Speaking of the family and collective traditions of the Islands, he said this has been a strength of Indian society, over the years. +The Prime Minister spoke of his visit to the Tsunami memorial – Wall of Lost Souls – just before arriving for this function. +He appreciated the people of the Nicobar Islands for their spirit and hard work in rebuilding the islands after the tsunami. +He said the projects unveiled today would go a long way in developing sectors such as education, health, employment, skill development, transportation, power, sports and tourism. +The Prime Minister reaffirmed his Government’s determination to not leave anyone, or any part of the country behind, in the march towards development. +He said the aim is to reduce distances, and develop a sense of closeness in hearts. +He said the work for the sea wall, once completed, will help protect the island of Car Nicobar. +He said the ITI would help empower the youth of the island, with skills. +Speaking of the sporting prowess of the youth of Nicobar Islands, the Prime Minister said that the modern sports complex would help them hone their skills. +He said more sports infrastructure would be added in future. +The Prime Minister said that the effort is to undertake development work while preserving the environment and local culture. +In the agricultural sector, the Prime Minister spoke of the increase in support price of Copra. +He said the government is working towards empowering those engaged in the fisheries sector. +He said a sum of Rs. 7000 crore has recently been approved for making the fisheries sector in the country more profitable. +He said the areas of the country that are near the sea, can become centres of our blue revolution. +He said seaweed farming is being encouraged, and fishermen are getting financial assistance for procuring modern boats. +He said India is making concerted efforts to harness solar energy. +In this context he mentioned the International Solar Alliance. +He said areas contiguous to the sea have tremendous potential for renewable energy generation. +He mentioned efforts being made in Car Nicobar, in this direction. +The Prime Minister said this entire region of the Nicobar Islands, and the nearby Malacca Strait, is important from the point of view of both resources and security. +He said suitable transportation infrastructure is being developed, keeping this in mind. +He spoke of the development work being done for the Campbell Bay Jetty, and the Mus Jetty. +The Prime Minister reiterated his Government’s commitment to the development of the Islands. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and interacted with the Indian Police Service (IPS) probationers of 2015 batch. +Subjects such as specialization and training, intelligence, law and order, cyber crime, radicalization, and the use of technology in policing, came up for discussion during the interaction. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK). +It will help to establish mutual co-operation and collaboration in the areas of knowledge sharing through joint research, quality support, capability and capacity building, trainee accountant exchange programmes and conducting Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Courses, workshops and conferences. +• ICAI and ICPAK will provide opportunities to key members of the reciprocal body’s staff to learn from their knowledge and experience through informal work placements to be agreed through a work schedule. +• Jointly promote activities to raise awareness and the overall visibility of the ICAI/ ICPAK strategic partnership and the collaboration outlined in this MoU with members. +• ICAI and ICPAK will collaborate on benchmarking initiatives and trainee accountant exchange programmes. +India is Kenya’s sixth largest trading partner and the largest exporter to Kenya. +Considering that Kenya’s economy is one of the top amongst the African countries and the kind of investments and trusts entrusted by the two counties in the recent past, India’s Chartered Accountants have already been playing a significant role in the economic growth of the country; there is a lot of scope for professional opportunities for Indian Chartered Accountants in Kenya. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, welcomed Corporators from Varanasi at his residence in New Delhi, today. +The Prime Minister asked the Corporators to join hands in making the City more attractive for tourists. +He also motivated them to keep cleanliness in their respective wards. +This was the last of Prime Minister’s five day interaction with Village Pradhans and Corporators from Varanasi Parliamentary Constituency. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bolivia in the Field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy. +The MoU will provide a framework for cooperation, and will be mutually beneficial between the two countries for promotion of traditional systems of medicine and homoeopathy. +It will lead to promotion and propagation of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy in Bolivia, and will boost the importance of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) systems of Medicine in Bolivia. +The MoU will further facilitate exchange of experts for training for the practitioners and Scientists undertaking collaborative research, which will lead to new innovations in drug development and practice in Traditional Systems of Medicine. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today planted a Kadamb sapling (Neolamarckia Cadamba), at the Race Course Road lawns, to mark the occasion of World Environment Day. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister exhorted each family to plant trees in the coming monsoon season, and to take pride in the number of trees planted by the family, just the same way as they take pride in worldly possessions. +The Prime Minister said that living in harmony with nature is the only way to avoid a catastrophic situation on Mother Earth. +The Prime Minister also placed a traditional earthen-pot (matka) along with the sapling, which is a traditional way of conserving water, and ensuring that the sapling has regular water supply. +Planting the Kadamb sapling, the Prime Minister recalled the poem of Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, on the subject: +The Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Shri Prakash Javadekar, was present on the occasion. +Board members of United States India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) comprising senior industry and business captains of the United States of America, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +They briefed the Prime Minister on the outcomes of India Leadership Summit held earlier in the day. +The business leaders appreciated the economic and regulatory reforms implemented by the Government in the past four years, and expressed their desire to further deepen their engagements with India to make use of the mutually beneficial opportunities created by the rapidly growing Indian economy. +The Prime Minister stated that both countries have benefitted in an unprecedented manner through economic engagement. +He encouraged US companies to fully avail of the business opportunities in new areas as well, such as start-ups, energy, health care and digital technology. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated IIT Gandhinagar campus to the nation. +He also felicitated Trainees under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan. +On this day, a few years ago, I took oath as Chief Minister for the first time. +Till then, I had never even been an MLA. +I had decided that whatever I will do, I will do to the best of my abilities,” the Prime Minister said. +Shri Narendra Modi said that work is underway to spread digital literacy to every part of India, among all age groups and sections of society. +In this day and age, we cannot afford to have a digital divide, he asserted, adding that a Digital India guarantees transparency, effective service delivery and good governance. +Our academics should not be exam driven; the focus should be innovation, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today, launched the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) Yojana at Vastral in Gujarat. +He also distributed the PM-SYM pension cards to select beneficiaries. +Over two crore workers at three lakh Common Service Centers across the country witnessed the launch event through video conference +Terming it as a historic day, the Prime Minister dedicated PM-SYM Yojana to the forty two crore strong unorganized sector workers in the country. +He said that the scheme will assure a monthly pension of Rs.3000 for the enrolled unorganized sector workers during their old age. +It is for the first time since independence that such a scheme is envisaged for the crores of workers engaged in the informal sector, PM added. +The Prime Minister explained in detail about the benefits of PM-SYM. +A contribution of equal amount as that of the beneficiary will be made by the Union Government, PM said. +He appealed to the informal sector workers earning less than Rs.15000 per month to enroll as beneficiaries in the nearby Common Service Centre. +The cost incurred by the Common Service Centre for enrolling a beneficiary will be borne by the Union Government. +“This is the miracle of Digital India”, PM said. +The Prime Minister appealed to citizens to help and enroll in PM-SYM, those working in the unorganized sector, whether it is in one’s house or in the neighborhood. +He also mentioned about the initiatives taken the government for the empowerment of women and girl children in the country. +The PM-SYM along with the health coverage provided under ‘Ayushman Bharat’ and life & disability coverage provided under ‘Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana’ and ‘Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, will ensure comprehensive social security coverage for the workers in the unorganized sector at their old age. +Reiterating his strong stance against corruption, PM said that his Government is committed to eliminating middlemen and corruption. +He added that the Prime Minister is always on alert. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted people of China, Korea, Mongolia and Vietnam, on the Lunar New Year Celebrations. +“A very Happy New Year to Chinese friends around the world. +May the Year of the Monkey bring joy and prosperity in your lives. +Dear Korean friends, Seollal greetings to you all. +Have a great year ahead. +Praying for a year filled with joy, good health and prosperity. +Tết greetings to the people of Vietnam. +May this year be full of joy and prosperity”, the Prime Minister tweeted. +Three MoUs have been signed on cooperation in Cyber Security and the details are follows:- +(i) MoU between CERT-In of the Republic of India and CyberSecurity, Malaysia for Cooperation in the area of Cyber Security signed on 23rd November, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during Prime Minister’s visit to Malaysia. +(ii) MoU between CERT-In of the Republic of India and Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team (SingCERT), Cyber Security Agency (CSA) of the Republic of Singapore for Cooperation in the area of Cyber Security signed on 24th November, 2015 in Singapore during Prime Minister’s visit to Singapore. +(iii) MoU between CERT-In and Japan Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center (JPCERT/CC) for Cooperation in the area of Cyber Security signed on 7th December, 2015 through diplomatic exchange and exchange of the signed MoU between the two parties completed by 22nd December, 2015. +The MoUs related to Cyber Security will promote closer cooperation for exchange of knowledge and experience in detection, resolution and prevention of security related incidents between India and respective country. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi attended theme-based sessions on the second day of the Conference of DGPs in Kutch today. +Earlier in the morning, he attended the morning Yoga session along with the delegates. +He witnessed the sunrise at the White Rann. +The presentations, break-out sessions and interactions over meals, were scheduled for a total of 13 hours today. +Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, and Ministers of State for Home, Shri Kiren Rijiju and Shri Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary were present during the sessions. +Taking note of the current supply-demand issues with regard to sugar, the Prime Minister called for assiduous efforts to increase ethanol blending of fuel. +He also called for exploring all possibilities for export of sugar. +The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress with regard to the Rs. 6000 crore incentive package approved by the Union Government in June 2015. +The Prime Minister emphasized that the farmers’ interest be kept foremost at all times, and issues related to sugar sector be monitored regularly. +Long-term measures with regard to the sector were also discussed. +Senior officers from the Ministries of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Affairs, Finance, Commerce, External Affairs, Petroleum and Natural Gas, besides NITI Aayog and PMO, were also present. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness and strongly condemned the attack in Kokrajhar, Assam. +“Saddened by the attack in Kokrajhar. +We strongly condemn it. +Thoughts and prayers with the bereaved families and those injured. +The Home Ministry is in touch with the Assam Government and is monitoring the situation closely”, the Prime Minister said. +Shri R. Basant, a former Judge of the Kerala High Court is the Member of the Commission. +The Commission will make its recommendations to the State Governments preferably within a period of 18 months. +It will examine the present structure of emoluments and conditions of service of Judicial Officers in the States and UTs. +The Commission aims to evolve the principles which would govern pay structure and other emoluments of Judicial Officers belonging to the Subordinate Judiciary of the country. +It will examine the work methods and work environment as also the variety of allowance and benefits in kind that are available to Judicial Officers in addition to pay and to suggest rationalization and simplification thereof. +The Commission will devise its own procedures and formulate modalities necessary for accomplishing the task. +The Commission also aims at making the pay scales and conditions of service of Judicial Officers uniform throughout the country. +The recommendations of the Commission will help in promoting efficiency in Judicial Administration, optimizing the size of judiciary etc. and to remove anomalies created in implementation of earlier recommendations. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the introduction of the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2014 in Parliament to make certain amendments in the Companies Act, 2013. +The Companies Act, 2013 (Act) was notified on 29.8.2013. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to allow the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as an eligible financial instrument / structure under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999. +As a result of this decision, entities registered and regulated under the SEBI (REITs) Regulations 2014 will be able to access foreign investments which as of now are prohibited under the FEMA Regulations. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today released a commemorative coin to mark the birth centenary of Swami Chinmayananda. +He said, that in this sense, Swami Chinmayananda’s life is an inspiration for others. +The Prime Minister recalled his meetings with Swami Chinmayananda, and said it was a matter of great pride that a commemorative coin was being issued to mark his centenary. +Union Minister for Finance Shri Arun Jaitley, Union MoS for Finance Shri Jayant Sinha, Global Head of Chinmaya Mission Swami Tejomayananda, and National Director of Chinmaya Yuva Kendra Swami Mitrananda, were present on the occasion. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired a follow-up meeting late evening today, to review the progress of relief and rescue operations following the major earthquake in Nepal on Saturday. +This was the third meeting chaired by him on the subject. +The Prime Minister was briefed on the progress of relief and rescue work being carried out by various agencies involved in relief and rescue work, both in India and Nepal. +He took stock of the evacuation of stranded people from Nepal both by air and road routes, and provision of relief supplies and material to the affected areas. +The Prime Minister emphasized on the need for ensuring proper coordination between the Centre and State Governments, both for ensuring smooth flow of relief operations in the affected states, and to streamline the delivery of relief and rescue material to Nepal. +He said all necessary medical help should be given to the injured, including treatment in India, if required. +The Prime Minister stressed on the need for effective coordination of relief operations within Nepal, and especially at Kathmandu airport. +He suggested that ex-servicemen could be approached to help in the coordination effort. +The Prime Minister also made a broad assessment of the long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction work that would be required, especially in Nepal, and was briefed on the first steps that were being taken towards this end. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave its approval for conduct of FM Phase-III auctions and migration (renewal) of Private FM Radio licenses from Phase-II to Phase-Ill in 69 existing cities for 135 channels. +This will be on an ascending e-auction basis. +Approval was also given to migration (renewal) of private FM Radio licenses from Phase-II to Phase-III on payment of migration fee according to TRAI recommendations. +The auction process will add an estimated revenue of over Rs. 550 crore to the National Exchequer on successful auctions of all proposed channels. +Roll out of the first batch of FM Radio Phase-III auction will provide more channels to listeners with richer content in 69 existing cities. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will address the global celebrations of World Environment Day 2018at New Delhi tomorrow. +Prime Minister will also visit the exhibition set up on the occasion atRajpath lawns. +The theme for this year’s World Environment Day is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. +Prime Minister in the 44th edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ had underlined that India being the official host of the World Environment Day Celebrations is a recognition of India’s growing leadership in tackling climate change issues. +Your Excellency President Michel Temer, Members of the media, Friends, +President Temer as a foremost constitutional expert understands and appreciates this well. +This visit takes place as both countries mark a decade of our strategic partnership. +The world has changed in these ten years. +The bilateral relations between India and Brazil have grown for the better. +We have increased interaction at all levels. +We are also joined together in shaping the international context to support our common pursuits and endeavors. +I warmly recall my visit to Brazil in 2014. +It was the first country I visited outside Asia after assuming office. +Your visit reflects the importance we attach to our bilateral relationship. +This was evident in our productive discussions this morning. +President Temer and I have reviewed the full range of bilateral cooperation. +Noting the potential for much more, we have agreed to scale up our engagement. +This is in line with our mutual desire for a reinforced strategic partnership. +Brazil is among our most important economic partners in Latin America. +I am happy to note that India and Brazil have finalized the text of a bilateral investment agreement. +It will provide much needed momentum to increased bilateral business and investment linkages. +We have taken note of the priority that President Temer attaches to reviving the domestic economic agenda in Brazil. +In this, India can be a valuable partner. +I welcome Brazilian companies to come and invest in India and to forge long term commercial partnerships. +We will fully support this. +I have sought President Temer’s support in facilitating greater market access and investment opportunities for Indian products and companies. +I am thankful for President Temer’s positive consideration. +We have also made progress in opening new areas of cooperation during this visit in drug regulation, agricultural research and on cyber security issues. +President Temer and I also agreed to intensify and strengthen our coordination in important international fora. +There is much that is common in our approach and positions. +We will work closely at the United Nations, the G-20, G-4, WTO, BRICS, IBSA and other important platforms. +We deeply appreciate Brazil’s support for India’s actions in combating terrorism. +We thank Brazil for understanding India’s aspiration for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group. +Excellency and Friends, +Both bilaterally and multilaterally, the partnership between India and Brazil is filled with possibilities that we are keen to harvest. +President Temer’s visit provides an important occasion to work on a roadmap to achieve this. +As they say in Portuguese “A uniao faz a forca” – ‘our union makes us stronger’. +An eight-member delegation of British Parliamentarians called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. +The Prime Minister fondly recalled his own visit to UK in November 2015, and the visit of Prime Minister Theresa May to India in November 2016. +The Prime Minister welcomed the celebration of 2017 as the India-UK Year of Culture. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a prayer meeting in New Delhi, organized in memory of the former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away recently. +He said that how long our life is, is not in our hands, but we can determine ‘how’ our life will be. +He said that Atal ji showed through his life, how life should be, and what its purpose should be. +He said Atal ji lived each moment for the common man. +Right from youth till the time the physical body supported him, he lived for the country, the Prime Minister added. +He said Atal ji lived for the countrymen, for his principles, and for the aspirations of the common man. +The Prime Minister noted that Vajpayee ji spent most of his political life at a time when there was virtually no alternative to the dominant political ideology. +He said that despite facing isolation, he remained committed to his ideals. +He stayed in opposition for so long, yet his ideals remained untouched, the Prime Minister said. +Shri Narendra Modi said that Vajpayee ji respected Parliamentary traditions; and when the opportunity came, he implemented his vision for the benefit of the people. +In each moment you could feel the “Atal” in him, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister recalled that on May 11, 1998, he surprised the world through the nuclear tests. +He attributed the success of these tests, to the skill of our scientists. +And despite the widespread adverse reaction globally, Atal ji did not buckle under pressure, and showed the world that India is “Atal,” the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister said that three new states were formed, under Vajpayee ji’s leadership, without any trace of bitterness. +He said Vajpayee ji showed how to take everyone together in decision making. +The Prime Minister said that Vajpayee ji changed the global narrative on Kashmir. +He highlighted the issue of terrorism, and brought it to the centrestage, globally. +The Prime Minister said that Atal ji shall remain an inspiration. +He was away from public life and politics for over a decade; and yet there was such an outpouring of emotion at his passing. +This shows his greatness, the Prime Minister said. +He noted that the young Indian wrestler, Bajrang Punia, who may never have met Atal ji, dedicated his gold medal at the Asian Games yesterday, to Atal ji. +What greater heights, and what greater success can a man achieve, the Prime Minister remarked. +Agreement/MoU +Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Korea for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income. +India-Republic of Korea Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (signed 1985) has been revised with a view to avoiding the burden of double taxation on taxpayers in the two countries. +India-Republic of Korea Agreement on Cooperation in Audio-Visual Co-Production. +The Agreement is being signed under the provisions of India-RoK CEPA; it would enable co-production of films, animation and broadcasting programmes. +The Agreement would enable opportunities for collaboration between Indian and Korean film industries, and facilitate collaboration and exchange. +MoU for Cooperation between the National Security Council Secretariat of the Republic of India and the Office of National Security of the Republic of Korea. +The MoU would formalize consultations between National Security Council structures of the two countries in a number of areas. +MoU between the Ministry of Power of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea concerning Cooperation in the field of Electric Power Development and New Energy Industries. +The MoU envisages cooperation in areas of electric power development and new energy industries such as renewable energy, smart grids and power information and technology, transmission and distribution of electric power, energy efficiency and storage system. +MoU between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea on Cooperation in Youth Matters. +The MoU will strengthen and encourage cooperation on youth matters through participation in events and activities through exchanges, international conferences, seminars, youth camps, festivals etc. +Framework of Cooperation in the Field of Road Transport and Highways between the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea. +To be signed under the provisions of India-RoK CEPA, the FOC envisages cooperation in areas including road policies, design and construction, road operation, road management and safety, intelligent transport systems and electronic toll collection systems. +MoU between the Ministry of Shipping of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea on Cooperation in the Fields of Maritime Transport and Logistics. +The MoU envisages cooperation between the two countries in the fields of maritime transport and logistics including through sharing of technologies, information and experiences, the training of seafarers, exchange of experts and port operations etc. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives caused due to cloudburst and heavy rain in Uttarakhand. +“I am grieved by the loss of lives caused due to cloudburst and heavy rain in parts of Uttarakhand. +Condolences to bereaved families. +My prayers are with those injured. +I hope normalcy returns to the rain-affected areas at the earliest”, the Prime Minister said. +The Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, Ms. Sheryl Sandberg, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. +She said India is a very important country for Facebook, considering the high number of active Facebook users in India. +The Prime Minister discussed with Ms. Sandberg, ways through which a platform such as Facebook can be used for governance and better interaction between the people and governments. +He also talked about how Facebook can be used to bring more tourists to India. +Shri Narendra Modi also spoke to Ms. Sandberg on how Facebook can assist us in commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary year with a special focus on cleanliness. +Later the Prime Minister shared the following post on his Facebook page: +“Had a very fruitful meeting with Sheryl Sandberg. +She pointed out that India is a very important country for Facebook, considering the high number of active Facebook users in India. +Being an avid user of social media myself, I talked about ways through which a platform such as Facebook can be used for governance and better interaction between the people and governments. +I also talked about how Facebook can be used to bring more tourists to India. +We intend to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary year with a special focus on cleanliness and I spoke to Ms. Sandberg on how Facebook can assist us in this endeavour.” +As per the package, Rs. 5.5 lakh cash benefit per family will be disbursed to the displaced families to enable them to earn an income and subsist their livelihood. +The amount will be released to the State Government of J&K to be disbursed to eligible families through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). +In the aftermath of partition of the country in 1947, thousands of families from Pakistan occupied areas of Jammu & Kashmir migrated to the State of Jammu & Kashmir. +Subsequently, during Indo-Pak Wars of 1965 and 1971, a large number of families were displaced from Chhamb Niabat area of Jammu & Kashmir. +Series of relief and rehabilitation packages have been extended by the Government of India/State Government of J&K from time to time to mitigate the hardship of displaced persons from PoJK and Chhamb and to rehabilitate them. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has bowed to Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan, on his birth anniversary. +“I bow to the venerable Loknayak JP on his Jayanti. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed his grief on loss of lives in road accident in Bihar. +PM said, “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a road accident in Araria, Bihar. +My thoughts are with the families of the deceased. +I pray for the quick recovery of those injured.” +The plan aims to make India disaster resilient and reduce loss of lives +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today released the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP). +This is the first ever National plan prepared in the country. +It aims to make India disaster resilient and significantly reduce the loss of lives and assets. +Salient Features of the Plan +The plan covers all phases of disaster management: prevention, mitigation, response and recovery. +It provides for horizontal and vertical integration among all the agencies and departments of the Government. +The plan also spells out the roles and responsibilities of all levels of Government right up to Panchayat and Urban Local Body level in a matrix format. +The plan has a regional approach, which will be beneficial not only for disaster management but also for development planning. +It is designed in such a way that it can be implemented in a scalable manner in all phases of disaster management. +To prepare communities to cope with disasters, it emphasizes on a greater need for Information, Education and Communication activities. +Minister of Home Affairs Shri Rajnath Singh, Minster of State for Home Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju, and senior officers of the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Home Affairs and National Disaster Management Authority were present during the function. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has lauded the contributions of eminent personalities and groups towards “Swachhta Hi Seva”. +Excellent effort by noted actor @Mohanlal. +I laud the @IndiaToday family for the proactive steps to further awareness on Swachhata. +Congrats to all #Safaigiri awardees. +Wonderful initiative by @indiatvnews. +This will further spread the message of cleanliness across the nation. +I congratulate @SadhguruJV & the team of Isha Foundation for their exemplary effort to generate awareness on keeping our rivers clean. +Appreciable message by the Indian Cricket Team on making India Clean. +Good effort Rajeev ji. +I laud @DettolIndia & @ndtv for the initiative. +Events related to sanitation and renewable energy shall be the focus of the Prime Minister’s engagements on Gandhi Jayanti. +Shri Narendra Modi, will offer floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, on October 2nd, 2018 – the day which will mark the launch of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Mahatma. +The Prime Minister will also visit Vijay Ghat to offer floral tributes to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary. +He will attend the closing session of the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC) at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. +MGISC has been a 4-day international conference that has brought together Sanitation Ministers and other leaders in WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) from around the world. +At this event, the Prime Minister will visit a mini Digital Exhibition. +He will be accompanied by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres. +Later in the day, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the first Assembly of the International Solar Alliance at Vigyan Bhawan. +The same event will also mark the inauguration of the second IORA Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting, and the 2nd Global RE-Invest (Renewable Energy Investors’ Meet and Expo). +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has congratulated Dr. Manmohan Singh on receiving Japan’s Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers. +“Matter of joy & pride that Japan has conferred Dr. Manmohan Singh with Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers. +This digital exhibition, which showcases the integration of India, and the contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, has been prepared with the inspiration of the Prime Minister. +The exhibition has around 30 exhibits, and features about 20 different kinds of interactive and media experiences. +It provides visitors with a range of opportunities to engage with various digital installations which explain the role of Sardar Patel in the unification of India. +Technologies like 3D films (without glasses), Holographic Projection, Kinetic Projection, Oculus based Virtual Reality experience etc have been used in the exhibition. +The relevant documentation has been sourced by the Ministry of Culture, from the National Archives of India. +The design of the exhibition has been conceptualized by the National Institute of Design. +The exhibition will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister on October 31, 2016 – the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received a delegation led by Ms. Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario and Mr. H.Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island of Canada on February 3, 2016. +The Premiers of Ontario and the Prince Edward Island expressed deep appreciation and support for the initiatives launched by the Government of India, including in the fields of manufacturing, skill, infrastructure development, renewable energy, urban renewal, waste management, education, agriculture. +They conveyed that over the past year, the Canadian businesses and investors, including various Canadian Pension Funds, have shown enhanced interest and confidence in India. +This was evident from a strong participation from Canada in the India investment Summit being held on 4-5 February 2016 in New Delhi. +Prime Minister mentioned that India attached high priority to its relations with Canada. +His own visit to Canada in April 2015, which was the first bilateral visit of the Prime Minister from India after a gap of nearly 42 years, and subsequent developments in bilateral relations have highlighted the synergy and complementarities between the two countries in various fields. +Prime Minister conveyed his warm greetings to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and expressed confidence that his visit to India later this year would provide an opportunity to further deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President Donald J. Trump of the United States exchanged New Year greetings in a telephonic conversation last evening. +They expressed satisfaction at the progress in India-U.S. strategic partnership in 2018. +They appreciated developments such as the launch of the new 2+2 Dialogue mechanism and the first-ever Trilateral Summit of India, the U.S. and Japan. +The two leaders took positive note of growing bilateral cooperation in defence, counter-terrorism and energy and coordination on regional and global issues. +They agreed to continue to work together for further strengthening India-U.S. bilateral relations in 2019. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said that the ideology propounded by Sufi saints is an integral part of Indian ethos, and has contributed significantly to the creation of a pluralistic, multi-cultural society in India. +In his remarks during a meeting with a delegation of 40 Barelvi Sufi Scholars from various parts of the country this evening, the Prime Minister said that forces of extremism are attempting to weaken the Sufi ideology today. +He added that it is essential for Sufi saints and scholars to counter these forces through various avenues including on social media, so that the ideology of extremism does not take root in India. +The Prime Minister said that the tradition of Sufism has kept evil at bay, wherever it has continued to flourish. +He exhorted the Muslim community in India to take maximum advantage of the skill development schemes and programmes being initiated by the Union Government. +He assured the delegation that issues of Waqf property raised by the members would be looked into. +He said Sufi culture and music should be suitably promoted in each State. +Earlier, during the course of their interaction with the Prime Minister, members of the delegation stated that Islam does not preach hatred or extremism. +They urged the Prime Minister to work towards development of people which is irrespective of caste, community or religion. +The delegation members said that the spread of terrorism in the name of Islam, represents a danger to peace all over the world, and there is urgent need to take action to marginalize the forces which are promoting “Jihad” for social, economic or political considerations. +They added that there is need to spread awareness among the Muslim community that organizations such as the ISIS and Al-Qaeda, do NOT represent the path of Islam. +The members also gave several suggestions for the promotion of Sufi thought and culture in India. +They suggested the creation of a “Sufi circuit” to promote tourism, and steps for the rejuvenation of Sufi shrines and sites in India. +The delegation members included:- +• Hazrat Syed Mohammad Ashraf Kichhowchhwi, President and Founder of the All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB). +• Sheikh Aboobacker Ahmed Musliar, General Secretary, All India Muslim Scholars Association. +• Hazrat Syed Mehndi Chishty, functionary of the Dargah-e-Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty, Ajmer Sharif. +• Janab Nesar Ahmed, Educationist. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people of Canada on Canada Day. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval for the creation of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and associated activities for the disinvestment of Air India and its subsidiaries/JV. +Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) issued order for creation of a new SPV. +The SPV, Air India Assets Holding Ltd. was incorporated on 22nd January 2018. +The Board of Directors of SPV includes CMD, Air India Ltd. and Joint Secretaries of MoCA, Deptt. of Expenditure, Deptt. of Economic Affairs, DIPAM and Director(Finance) Air India Ltd. +As on date, one subsidiary, namely AIATSL has been transferred to AIAHL, as per the Share Purchase Agreement between Air India Ltd. and AIAHL subject to conditions precedents which include lenders’ approval. +Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) for disinvestment of AIATSL has been issued on 12.02.2019 by AIATSL with last date of submission of Expression of Interest (EOI) on 26.03.2019. +The Government has decided to transfer following to the newly-created SPV: +AIATSL, AIESL, AASL are to be shifted to the SPV; and Non-core assets, painting and artifacts and other non-operational assets of Air India Ltd. +The approval will ease warehousing of Air India’s subsidiary companies approval namely, AIATSL, AIESL, AASL and HCI from Air India to the newly created SPV company. +The disinvestment proceeds will be utilized to set off the working capital loan liability of Air India not backed by any asset also warehoused in the same SPV. +Remembering the heroes of freedom struggle, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paid floral tributes and inaugurated the Subhas Chandra Bose museum at Red Fort today, to mark his 122nd birth anniversary. +He visited the Museum on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Indian National Army. +PM said, ‘I bow to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his Jayanti. +He was a stalwart who committed himself towards ensuring India is free and leads a life of dignity. +We are committed to fulfilling his ideals and creating a strong India.’ +He also added that History echoes from these walls. +In this very building, brave sons of India, Colonel Prem Sahgal, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon and Major General Shah Nawaz Khan were put on trial by the colonial rulers. +He glanced over the photographs depicting a detailed account of Subhas Chandra Bose and the history of Indian National Army. +PM also saw some of the artefacts associated with Netaji and INA such as wooden chair and sword used by Netaji, medals, badges and uniforms of INA. +The Prime Minister browsed at the photographs, paintings and newspaper clippings depicting the authentic account of Jallianwala Bagh massacre showcased in the Yaad-e-Jallian Museum. +The museum intends to take visitors through the history of Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 and sacrifices made by Indian soldiers during World War-1. +He also visited the Museum on 1857- India’s first war of Independence and saw the portrayal the historical narrative of 1857 war of independence, showcasing the valour and sacrifices made by Indians during the period. +These museums to showcase the sacrifice of our freedom fighters. +Prime Minister had a look at the Exhibition on Indian Art at the Drishyakala- Museum organized at the same venue. +He said ‘To see Gurudev Tagore’s works at Drishyakala is a treat for art lovers. +We all know Gurudev Tagore as a prolific writer but he also had a strong link with the world or art. +He produced lots of works, featuring multiple themes. +Gurudev’s works were also exhibited internationally.’ +He also tweeted ‘I would specially urge art lovers to visit Drishyakala, which will take you through the finest aspects of Indian art and culture. +Works of eminent Indian artists like Raja Ravi Varma, Gurudev Tagore, Amrita Sher-Gil, Abanindranath Tagore, Nandlal Bose, Gaganendranath Tagore, Sailoz Mookherjea amd Jamini Roy are on display at the exhibition.’ +PM while inaugurating the museums said that, it was extremely humbling to inaugurate four museums relating to India’s rich history and culture. +All four museums have been named as Kranti Mandir. +This complex includes Museums on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army, Yaad-e-Jallian Museum (on Jallianwala Bagh and World War 1), Museum on 1857- India’s First War of Independence and Drishyakala Museum on Indian Art, spanning three centuries, with over 450 works of art! +Kranti Mandir is a tribute to the revolutionary zeal and courage of our great freedom fighters. +Ahead of the Republic Day, these will deepen the connect between our glorious history and our youth as well as add to the patriotic fervour among citizens. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO team for the successful launch of its 100th satellite. +“My heartiest congratulations to ISRO and its scientists on the successful launch of PSLV today. +This success in the New Year will bring benefits of the country’s rapid strides in space technology to our citizens, farmers, fishermen etc. +The launch of the 100th satellite by ISRO signifies both its glorious achievements, and also the bright future of India’s space programme. +Benefits of India’s success are available to our partners! +Out of the 31 Satellites, 28 belonging to 6 other countries are carried by today’s launch”, the Prime Minister said. +Based on further examination, a fresh set of amendments will be finalized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. +Prime Minister has looked forward to continuing to work closely with him to strengthen the relations between India and Japan. +“Congratulations @AbeShinzo on your victory in the elections. +Japan will scale newer heights of progress under your able leadership. +I look forward to continuing to work closely with @AbeShinzo to strengthen the relations between India and Japan”, the Prime Minister said. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today made an intervention during the dinner hosted by US President Barack Obama, on the theme of nuclear security threat perceptions. +Appreciating the US President for putting the spotlight on nuclear security, the Prime Minister said he had, by doing so, done great service to global security. +Referring to the recent terror attacks in Brussels, the Prime Minister said that Brussels shows us how real and immediate is the threat to nuclear security from terrorism. +Shri Narendra Modi called for focus on three contemporary features of terrorism: First, today’s terrorism uses extreme violence as theatre. +Second, we are no longer looking for a man in a cave, but we are hunting for a terrorist in a city with a computer or a smartphone. +Third, state actors working with nuclear traffickers and terrorists present the greatest risk. +Noting that terror has evolved and terrorists are using 21st century technology, the Prime Minister observed that our responses are rooted in the past. +He said terrorism is globally networked, but we still act only nationally to counter this threat. +He added that the reach and supply chains of terrorism are global, but genuine cooperation between nation states is not. +The Prime Minister said that without prevention and prosecution of acts of terrorism, there is no deterrence against nuclear terrorism. +He urged everyone to drop the notion that terrorism is someone else’s problem and that “his” terrorist is not “my” terrorist. +The Prime Minister said nuclear security must remain an abiding national priority, and all States must completely abide by their international obligations. +Monsoon Session: Respect for the time, resources and dignity of the Parliament +• Monsoon Session of the parliament gets underway tomorrow. +The need of the hour is to ensure that we make maximum use of the time in this session. +Barring a few exceptions, there has been a considerable increase in parliament productivity over the past three years. +My thanks to all the political parties for this. +• I am quite optimistic that the time allocated for the business of the house would be utilized in an effective manner in the monsoon session and it will set a record in terms of parliamentary productivity. +Thanks for GST +• I am grateful once again to all of you for having joined hands together for the implementation of GST +• GST has been in place for past 15 days and we have seen positive results in these 15 days. +Check posts have been removed from the borders of many states and the movement of trucks has become easier. +• Centre has been working in close co-ordination with the states to bring on board the traders who have not yet been registered on GST platform by expediting the processes at the earliest. +Outcome of the Budget Session +• The budget session was convened was convened about a month ago. +All political parties extended their co-operation. +I would like to share positive outcome of the budget session. +• A major impact of advancing the budgetary process by a month has been that the funds allotted to several departments for various schemes reached before the monsoon season. +Earlier, it used to take two to three months for the funds allocated to the schemes to reach up to the departments. +The implementation was delayed due to the monsoon. +It did not happen this time and there has not been any lag period after March. +It has also provided three months additional time for the completion of infrastructure projects. +• According to the estimates from Controller General of Accounts, the expenditure in April-June this year has been 30% more than the same time previous year. +• Capital Expenditure in Infrastructure related projects has gone up by 48% over the previous year. +• The trend of expenditure in the schemes reflects that the funds allocated would be spent in a balanced manner throughout the year. +Earlier, the expenditure used to begin after the monsoon and unnecessary pressure was there to spend the money before March. +It was one of the reasons for the faults in the system. +Floods in North Eastern States +• Incessant rains in many parts of the country and the floods in the north eastern states has been a cause of concern. +Centre is in constant touch with the state governments and the situation is being closely monitored. +Many Central Government agencies are engaged in flood rescue and relief operations. +State Governments have been told to inform urgently whenever they need any assistance. +Tough on terrorism +• Entire nation has been in a state of shock in the wake of the attack on Amarnath pilgrims by the terrorists. +My heartfelt condolences to the pilgrims who were killed in this attack and my sympathies are with the families in this hour of grief. +The Government will ensure that the perpetrators of this attack are brought to book. +• We are fully committed to maintain peace in Jammu and Kashmir and to wipe out the anti national elements from the state. +The Government is trading the path laid down by Atal ji. +State Governments must act tough on those inciting violence in the name of Cow protection +• Some anti social elements have incited violence in the name of cow protection. +State Governments must deal sternly against such anti-social elements. +• Cow is revered as the mother in our country. +Public sentiments are attached with the cow. +However, people must know that there is a law to protect the cow and the violation of law is not an alternative. +• Maintaining law and order is the responsibility of State Governments and wherever these incidents are taking place, state Governments must deal firmly with it. +The State Governments must also see to it that in the name of cow protection some people are settling their personal rivalry. +• All the political parties should condemn strongly this goondaism in the name of cow protection. +Acting against corruption +• Over the past few decades, the image of political leadership has been at crossroads due to the deeds of some of the leaders amongst us. +We need to convince the people that every leader is not tainted and every leader is not only running after money. +• What is required that we have to be transparent in our public life and yet there should be action against corrupt leaders. +• The onus lies on the political parties to identify such leaders among them and segregate them from their political journey. +• If the law of the land is working, then we have to join hands together ward off the challenge from those who try to save themselves by raking up the issue of political conspiracy. +• Nation will not gain anything by standing with those who have plundered the nation. +• It would have been better had the Presidential election been held by consensus. +However, it is a matter of satisfaction and pride that the election campaign has been a dignified one. +All the political parties need to be congratulated. +All parties must train their MPs and MLAs to cast their votes so that not a single vote is wasted. +Urges People To Share Their Photos Of Northeast Visits +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi praised the spectacular beauty of the Northeast. +He asked, “Do you have pictures of your own Northeast visits or glimpses of the spectacular natural beauty of the region?” +He requested the people to share them on Instagram using #MagnificentNortheast. +“I will share some of the posts on my page too!”, he added. +Madam Lagarde, My Cabinet colleague Shri Jaitley, Ladies and Gentlemen, +I warmly welcome you all to India and to Delhi. +Delhi is a city with a rich heritage, and has several historical landmarks. +I hope you will have time to see some of them. +I am very happy that the IMF has collaborated with us in organizing this conference. +Madam Lagarde, this event is another example of your fondness for India and Asia. +I congratulate you on being appointed as Managing Director for a second term. +This reflects the confidence the world has in your understanding of the global economy, and your ability to lead this institution. +Madam Lagarde, the long pending quota revisions agreed in 2010 have finally come into effect. +The quotas of emerging countries will now better reflect their weight in the world economy. +This will give them more say in collective decisions in the IMF. +You have demonstrated exceptional leadership, in managing the tensions that emerged due to the delay. +You played a major role in finally persuading all members to ratify the decisions taken in 2010. +I am sure, the IMF will be able to build on this success. +Reform of global institutions has to be an on-going process. +It must reflect changes in the global economy, and the rising share of emerging economies. +Even now, IMF quotas do not reflect the global economic realities. +Change in quotas is not an issue of increasing the ‘power’ of certain countries. +It is an issue of fairness and legitimacy. +The belief that quotas can be changed, is essential for the fairness of the system. +For poor nations to respect the legitimacy of such institutions, they must be able to aspire and to hope. +I am, therefore, very happy that the IMF has decided to finalize the next round of quota changes by October 2017. +India has always had great faith in multi-lateralism. +We believe that as the world becomes more complex, the role of multilateral institutions will increase. +Some of you may not be aware that India was represented at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944, which gave birth to the IMF. +India’s delegate was Mr. R.K. Shanmukham Chetty, who later became independent India’s first Finance Minister. +Our ties, therefore, are more than seventy years old. +We are a Founding Member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank. +We are confident that these banks will play an important role in the development of Asia. +The Fund has built up an immense stock of economic expertise. +All its members should take advantage of this. +All of us need to pursue policies that provide a stable macro economy, enhance growth and further inclusion. +The Fund can be of great assistance in this. +Apart from advice, the IMF can help in building capacity for policy making. +I am happy to announce a new partnership with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India and the IMF. +We have agreed to set up the South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Centre. +The centre will provide training to government and public sector employees. +It will enhance their skills and improve the quality of their policy inputs. +It will also provide technical assistance to governments and public institutions. +Let me now turn to the theme of this conference. +I will touch on two issues: firstly, “Why Asia?” +And secondly, “How India”? +Why is Asia so important, and how can India contribute? +Many knowledgeable people have said that the twenty first century is, and will be, the Asian Century. +Three out of every five people in the world live in Asia. +Its share in global output and trade is now close to one-third. +Its share in global foreign direct investment is about forty percent. +It has also been one of the world’s most dynamic regions. +Although Asia has slowed down, it is still growing at a rate three times greater than that of the advanced countries. +It is, therefore, the ray of hope for global economic recovery. +When we think about Asia, we must recognize that it is distinct in many ways. +For example, the theme of this conference is ‘Investing for the Future’. +Asian Families tend naturally to save more than people in other parts of the world. +Thus they invest for the future. +Economists have commented on the savings ethic of Asian countries. +Asians tend to save to buy a house, rather than borrow to buy a house. +Many Asian countries have relied more on developmental financial institutions and banks than on capital markets. +This provides an alternative model for the financial sector. +Social stability built on strong family values is another feature of Asia’s development. +Asians tend to leave things behind for the next generation. +Madam Lagarde, you are one of the world’s top women leaders. +You will be interested in another unique feature of Asia which is rarely commented upon: which is, the large number of women leaders. +India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Myanmar, and Philippines: All of these countries have had women as national leaders. +Asia has done so to a much greater degree than other continents. +Today, four large states of India – West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan – are headed by democratically elected women. +The Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament in India is also a woman. +India has a special place in Asia. +It has historically contributed to Asia in several ways. +Buddhism spread to China, Japan, and other parts of South East Asia from India. +It has had a lasting influence on the continent’s culture. +Kingdoms in the South and West of India have engaged in maritime trade with other parts of Asia for over a thousand years. +The Indian national movement showed other Asian countries that freedom from colonial rule could be achieved without violence. +It also demonstrated clearly that the sense of nationhood, could be broad and inclusive. +It need not be defined by narrow linguistic or religious identities. +India has dispelled the myth that democracy and rapid economic growth cannot go together. +India’s growth rate of over seven per cent is being achieved in a country that is also a vibrant democracy. +It is sometimes assumed that democracy is a colonial gift to India. +But historians tell us that India had produced forms of democratic self governance, many centuries ago, when democracy was unknown in many parts of the world. +India has also shown that a large, diverse country can be managed in a way that can promote economic growth and maintain social stability. +One way in which we are doing this is through cooperative and competitive federalism. +The states and the Centre come together to pursue common objectives. +States which pursue good policies and deliver essential services for the poor, induce others to follow. +Our rapid economic growth is also very distinct in Asia. +We have never tried to gain in trade at the expense of our partners. +We do not follow “beggar thy neighbour” macro-economic policies. +We have never undervalued our exchange rate. +We add to world and Asian demand by running current account deficits. +We are therefore good Asian and good global economic citizens, and a source of demand to our trading partners. +We all want Asia to succeed. +I firmly believe that India can contribute to Asian prosperity and development by being economically strong. +Amid global problems, I am happy to say that India is a haven of macro-economic stability and a beacon of hope, dynamism and opportunity. +Madam Lagarde, you have referred to India as the “bright spot” in the global economy. +I view this as a great privilege and, at the same time, a major responsibility. +Let me outline our achievements in the last few months and our priorities for the period ahead. +In a difficult external environment and despite a second successive year of weak rainfall, we have increased our growth rate to 7.6 per cent, the highest among major economies in the world. +We have improved our economic governance. +Corruption and interference in the decisions of banks and regulators are now behind us. +We undertook a highly successful financial inclusion programme, bringing over two hundred million unbanked people into the banking system within a span of a few months. +Thanks to our financial inclusion programme, we now have the world’s largest and most successful programme of direct benefit transfers, in cooking gas. +We plan to extend it to other sectors such as food, kerosene, and fertilizers. +This has improved targeting and the quality of public expenditure. +We have opened up nearly all sectors of our economy to FDI. +India achieved the highest ever rank in the World Bank Doing Business indicators in 2015. +India reached an all-time high in many physical indicators in 2015, including +Entrepreneurship is booming, following a series of steps we have taken. +India is now fourth in the world in the number of technical start-ups, after USA, Britain and Israel. +PM: Teachers should be two steps ahead of time – anticipate change and prepare the new generation for it. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today informally interacted with about 350 awardee teachers at his residence, on the eve of Teachers’ Day. +In course of the conversation, the Prime Minister remarked that “teaching” is not a profession or job, but a way of life – “jeevan dharm.” +He said a teacher never retires, and always continues to endeavour to teach the new generation. +The teachers participated enthusiastically in the informal interaction, and expressed their views on various aspects of teaching, and what being a good teacher entails. +The Prime Minister said that if a society is to progress, its teachers must always be two steps ahead of time. +They need to understand changes happening across the world, and prepare the new generation accordingly by arousing curiosity in them, he added. +The Prime Minister remarked that when he became Chief Minister of Gujarat for the first time, he had two wishes: to meet his schoolfriends, and to meet all the teachers who had ever taught him. +He expressed satisfaction that he had been able to fulfil both these wishes. +The Prime Minister wished the teachers’ well in their endeavour to mould the new generation of India. +His Excellency Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohammed Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Members of the media, +And, Excellency, your personal attention and leadership has contributed much to the steady direction, strength and vibrancy in our ties. +Your contributions have been instrumental in forging a wide-ranging Strategic Partnership with India. +Our links with Malaysia have been civilizational and historic. +Malaysian companies are participating in many of our infrastructure projects across different states in India. +I am confident that the business partnerships that they forge will enhance the level and momentum of our commercial engagement. +We are also converging efforts aimed at food security that are linked to the wellbeing of our farmers. +The MOU on proposed development of a fertiliser plant in Malaysia and off-take of surplus urea from Malaysia to India is a welcome development. +The signing today of the MOU on Mutual Recognition of Degrees is a landmark development that will benefit the students and societies of both our countries. +Excellency, your own leadership in countering radicalization and terrorism is an inspiration for the entire region. +Our wide-ranging defence partnership has already brought our armed forces closer. +We are cooperating in: +Excellency Prime Minister Najib, +I am confident that our decisions today will drive our strategic partnership to the next level. +I wish you an enjoyable and fruitful stay in India. +Thank you very much. +The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Australia on cooperation in the fields of education, training and research. +The costs of the cooperative activities under this MoU will be funded on mutually agreed terms and will be subject to availability of funds. +The MoU will help intensify existing partnerships between India and Australia in higher education & research, including technical and professional education, schools, vocational education and training and will open up new and innovative areas of cooperation. +The main objectives of this MoU, amongst other things, are:- +(i). Consideration of expansion of the Australia India Education Council membership from time to time to ensure appropriate representation from academia, policy makers and industry as required and agreed; +(ii). Strengthening the policy dialogue and exchange in areas of mutual benefit, including qualification and quality frameworks and standards for education, research and training; +(iii). Supporting mobility of students and faculty members through formal exchange programs, internships and other modalities; +(iv). Improving credit transfer arrangements and work towards qualifications recognition between Australia and India; +(v). Supporting and organizing professional development programmes for subject experts, educational administrators, faculty members and teachers; +(vi). Encouraging twinning arrangements between institutions of higher learning and organisation of joint research programmes and publications; +(vii). Encouraging research collaboration between institutions of higher learning to enlarge the scope for joint research, joint Ph. D. programmes and joint degrees; +(viii). Sharing best practice education materials including research materials, publications, and educational literature; +(ix). Supporting skills development through joint conferences, seminars, policy dialogue and technical cooperation in national standards development; +(x). Strengthening communication for exchange of information on new policy initiatives and opportunities for development of education, training and research activities of both countries; +(xi). Further develop bilateral programmes between institutions of educational excellence in technical, vocational, schools and higher education, subject to availability of funds; and +(xii). Any other activity as mutually determined by both parties. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and United Kingdom and Northern Ireland regarding cooperation and Exchange of Information for the Purposes of Combating International Criminality and Tackling Serious Organised Crime. +Both the countries desire to further strengthen cooperation in fighting international criminality and serious organized crime. +The MoU will reinforce the collaboration in the field of security that will be mutually beneficial. +The long-term objective which is sought through this arrangement is to reduce the country’s reliance on the import of gold to meet domestic demand. +In fiscal year 2014-15, gems and jewellery constituted 12 per cent of India’s total exports and the value of gold items alone was more than $13 billion (provisional figures). +The mobilized gold will also supplement RBI’s gold reserves and will help in reducing the government’s borrowing cost. +The revamped Gold Deposit Scheme (GDS) and the Gold Metal Loan (GML) Scheme involves changes in the scheme guidelines only. +The risk of gold price changes will be borne by the Gold Reserve Fund that is being created. +The benefit to the Government is in terms of reduction in the cost of borrowing, which will be transferred to the Gold Reserve Fund. +The scheme will help in mobilizing the large amount of gold lying as an idle asset with households, trusts and various institutions in India and will provide a fillip to the gems and jewellery sector. +Over the course of time this is also expected to reduce the country’s dependence on the import of gold. +The new scheme consists of the revamped GDS and a revamped GML Scheme. +Revamped Gold Deposit Scheme +Collection, Purity Verification and Deposit of Gold under the revamped GDS:- +The minimum quantity of gold that a customer can bring is proposed to be set at 30 grains. +Gold can be in any form (bullion or jewellery). +The number of these centres is expected to increase with time. +Gold Savings Account:- +In the revamped scheme, a Gold Savings Account will be opened by customers at any time, with KYC norms, as applicable. +This account would be denominated in grams of gold. +Transfer of Gold to Refiners:- +Collection and purity testing centres will send the gold to the refiners. +The refiners will keep the gold in their ware-houses, unless banks prefer to hold it themselves. +For the services provided by the refiners, they will be paid a fee by the banks, as decided by them, mutually. +The customer will not be charged. +In case the customer will like to change the option, it will be allowed at the bank’s discretion. +Redemption of fractional quantity (for which a standard gold bar/coin is not available) would be paid in cash. +For medium and long-term deposits, redemption will be only in cash, in equivalent rupees of the weight of the deposited gold at the prices prevailing at the time of redemption. +The interest earned will however be based on the value of gold at the deposit on the interest rate as decided. +The deposited gold will be utilized in the following ways:- +(1). Under medium and long-term deposit: +(ii). Replenishment of RBIs Gold Reserves. +(iv). Lending to jewellers. +(ii). Lending to jewellers. +(3). Tax Exemption: Tax exemptions, same as those available under GDS would be made available to customers, in the revamped GDS, as applicable. +(4). Gold Reserve Fund: The difference between the current borrowing cost for the Government and the interest rate paid by the Government under the medium/long term deposit will be credited to the Gold Reserve Fund. +(5). Revamped Gold Metal Loan Scheme. +(6). Gold Metal Loan Account: A Gold Metal Loan Account, denominated in grams of gold, will be opened by the bank for jewellers. +(7). Delivery of gold to jewellers: When a gold loan is sanctioned, the jewellers will receive physical delivery of gold from refiners. +The banks will, in turn, make the requisite entry in the jewellers’ Gold Loan Account. +Interest received by banks: The interest rate charged on the GML will be decided by banks, with guidance from the RBI. +(8). Tenor: The tenor of the GML at present is 180 days. +Given that the minimum lock-in period for gold deposits will be one year, based on experience gained, this tenor of GML may be re-examined in future and appropriate modifications made, if required. +A new paradigm to the PPP model involving all stakeholders in decision-making process. +PM: Wish to change the “ABCD Culture” (Avoid, Bypass, Confuse, Delay) of Government. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today said his Government was adding a new paradigm to the PPP (Public Private Partnership) model, by involving all stakeholders in key decision-making processes. +Addressing participants of the National Workshop on “Make in India” at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi today, the Prime Minister said that this workshop had not only discussed the concerns of various stakeholders, but also taken steps to find ways to collectively address them. +He said that the Government had hitherto operated in secrecy, but this workshop was an example of openness, and working together to achieve desired goals. +He said the decisions taken today at this workshop, would have taken years in normal course. +The Prime Minister said one of his main goals has been to break down the silos in which Government operates. +Recalling the `Make in India` launch in September, the Prime Minister said that in the last three months the government machinery has geared up, and is now ready to change rules and laws, and speed up processes. +The Prime Minister said he wished to change the “ABCD” culture of Government – “Avoid. +Delay;” and change it to the ROAD to success – “Responsibility. +He added that he would be meeting the banking sector on this subject in the first week of January. +He called upon all sectors of manufacturing in India to take inspiration from the “Space” sector, and the achievements of India`s space scientists. +The Prime Minister said growth should be balanced across India, and special efforts should be made to ensure that the east, which is rich in natural resources, should be as developed as the western part of the country. +He called for making a globally recognized “Brand India” famous for “Zero Defect, Zero Effect” Manufacturing – free from defects, and with no adverse impact on the environment. +He said he wanted maximum movement of Men, Money, Machinery, Materials and Minerals across the country. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives and devastation due to tsunami and earthquake in Central Sulawesi in Indonesia. +“Deeply saddened by the loss of lives and devastation due to tsunami and earthquake in Central Sulawesi in Indonesia. +I offer deepest condolences. +India stands with its maritime neighbour in this difficult hour”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has pledged for wholehearted commitment towards energy conservation, on National Energy Conservation Day. +“On National Energy Conservation Day we pledge our wholehearted commitment towards energy conservation in our daily lives”, the Prime Minister said. +All the distinguished dignitaries present here, +First of all, I would like to congratulate the 5 award winners from the bottom of my heart. +The country must be watching this event on T.V. and wondering that they are the same Parliamentarians whom they see during the day. +Even the Vice President and the Speaker Madam must be really delighted to be a witness to this event as everyone is calm and composed. +However, because of pandemonium, chaos and noise the government per se is not that much affected as much as the country is. +It also does tremendous amount of damage to the representatives who have come here after a lot of hardwork and struggle to speak about the problems of the people but are not given the opportunity to speak. +Therefore, it is also a loss of that region and the local people of that region to which he belongs. +But, the MP who gets the opportunity to speak, even if he launches a scathing attack on the government, even if he has points to make, his words become a part of the history. +It’s the responsibility of everyone to ensure that the words of every Parliamentarian go on record. +It’s the responsibility of all of us to ensure that the issues related to the villages, poor and farmers, spoken by the Parliamentarians must compel the government to take action. +We can create such a scenario in the House. +The better the atmosphere is, stronger will be the force to carry our nation ahead. +As per my experience, the Parliamentarians never speak anything that is valueless. +Therefore, it is not easy to be a Parliamentarian. +They carry the dreams of 125 crore Indians and the resolutions of the people of their region and with the promise of a bright future. +It is a matter of immense pride and prestige for us. +Thanks a lot! +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met and felicitated the medal winners of the 2018 Asian Para Games. +Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister expressed happiness at receiving the medal winners. +Appreciating their performance, he remarked that their mental strength was a key factor in their success. +The Prime Minister complimented them for contributing to raising India’s profile on the global stage. +The Prime Minister also expressed appreciation for the coaches of the medal winners. +He urged the athletes to keep up their spirit of optimism, and persevere to achieve even greater heights. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted NDRF team, on their 12th Raising Day celebrations. +“Greetings to NDRF team on their 12th Raising Day celebrations. +NDRF’s efforts in disaster response, rescue and relief are commendable. +The NDRF is rightly focussing on strengthening systems, processes and capacity building, which help in minimising loss of life or property”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Protection of Human Rights (Amendments) Bill, 2018 for better protection and promotion of human rights in the country. +It proposes to amend the term of office of Chairperson and Members of National Human Rights Commission and State Human Rights Commission to make it in consonance with the terms of Chairperson and Members of other Commissions. +The Amendment will strengthen the Human Rights Institutions of India further for effective discharge of their mandates, roles and responsibilities. +Moreover, the amended Act will be in perfect sync with the agreed global standards and benchmarks towards ensuring the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual in the country. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the policy guidelines to allow financially sound State Government entities to borrow directly from bilateral ODA (Official development Assistance) partners for implementation of vital infrastructure projects. +The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), a State Government entity, has also been allowed to borrow directly from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan for implementation of Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) project. +The estimated project cost for Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) is Rs.17,854 crore, out of which JICA loan portion is expected to be Rs.15,109 crore. +The guidelines will facilitate the State Government entities to directly borrow from the external bilateral funding agencies subject to fulfilment of certain conditions and all repayments of loans and interests to the funding agencies will be directly remitted by the concerned borrower. +The concerned State Government will furnish guarantee for the Loan. +The Government of India will provide counter guarantee for the loan. +External assistance today plays a supportive role in financing major infrastructure projects, social sector projects and in building up institutional capacity. +The existing guidelines do not allow direct borrowings by the State Government entities from external agencies. +Several State agencies are implementing major infrastructure projects of national importance. +These projects, even if viable and sound, have huge funding requirements and borrowing by the State Governments for such projects may exhaust their respective borrowing limits. +Therefore, in order to accelerate the pace of investment in major infrastructure projects in the country without compromising the need for external assistance for other sectors, an enabling provision in the existing guidelines was considered necessary to facilitate direct borrowing by the State Government entities from bilateral external agencies. +This dispensation will allow the financially sound State entities to directly borrow and repay the loan required for major infrastructure projects without burdening the State exchequer. +The approval of these guidelines reiterates Government’s commitment to promote inclusive growth and strengthen the economy. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Eminent Cartoonist RK Laxman. +“India will miss you RK Laxman. +Honourable Jayalalithaa ji, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, +My Dear Friends. +Today is indeed a special day. +Today, Excellency Putin and I have the honour to dedicate Kudankulam nuclear power plant unit-1. +I am particularly grateful to President Putin for his presence at this event. +And, I am delighted that Jayalalithaa ji, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is also present with us on this occasion. +In dedicating Kudankulam 1, we mark another historic step in India-Russia relations. +And, it is only a start of our collaboration in this field. +It is perhaps not commonly known that at 1000 Mega Watt, Kudankulam 1 is the largest single unit of electrical power in India. +In years ahead, we are determined to pursue an ambitious agenda of nuclear power generation. +At Kudankulam alone, five more units of 1000 Mega Watt each are planned. +In our journey of cooperation, we plan to build a series of bigger nuclear power units. +Today’s event is also a joyful occasion for the team of Indian and Russian engineers, scientists and technicians. +We salute their dedication and hard work and congratulate them for the fruits of their labour. +The story of human development has been of wide spread technological advancement and growing economic prosperity. +But, as we all know, it has not been without burden on our environment. +Kudankulam 1 is an important addition to India’s continuing efforts to scale up production of clean energy in India. +It also signals our joint commitment to build pathways of partnership for green growth. +The success of our joint efforts in nuclear power generation is a proud achievement of our cooperation. +It demonstrates our common resolve to keep our ties firm and steady. +Above all, it showcases your personal commitment, consistent support and strong leadership in transforming the substance and character of our relationship. +For this, I am grateful to you Mr. President. +The people of India associate naturally and with great ease with the people of your great country. +And, personally, I have always deeply valued our friendship. +It is, therefore, only fitting that today we join together to dedicate the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Unit-1 to the strength and vigour of our friendship and cooperation. +Long live Indo-Russian friendship! +I once again thank you Excellency Putin for joining me in this dedication. +Also, my sincere thanks to Jayalalithaa ji for being with us. +Thank you very much. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated state-of-the-art super speciality Rasilaben Sevantilal Shah Venus hospital in Surat. +He expressed happiness that this hospital will also serve the people under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. +He said that initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan and Mission Indradhanush played a vital role in the decline in the mortality rate. +In a befitting reply to those who made a mockery of PM’s announcement of Swachta Abhiyan from the Red Fort, he said that today due to extensive sanitation drive, 97% population has access to clean toilets now. +PM also emphasized the importance of preventive health care and said the world has recognized the role of Yoga for wellness. +PM said that Ayushman Bharat Scheme will create an entirely new ecosystem which helps to create healthier India. +The scheme will boost set up of new hospitals in tier 2-3 cities, which also increases job opportunities in the healthcare sector, he added. +He said that more number of generic medicines are now available for the people which will not only reduce the cost of health care but also save many precious lives. +PM also congratulates Gujarat for first implementing the 10% reservation quota for economically weaker section. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had telephonic conversations with the President and Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and conveyed heartfelt condolences on his own behalf and on behalf of all Indians at the loss of over one hundred and fifty innocent lives in today’s terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. +Prime Minister Modi condemned in the strongest terms the serial terrorist attacks, perpetrated at sites including religious places and during a religious festival. +Terming them as cold-blooded and pre-planned barbaric acts, he pointed out that these attacks were another grim reminder of the most serious challenge posed to the entire humanity by terrorism in our region and the entire world. +Prime Minister renewed the offer of all possible help and assistance to Sri Lanka for ensuring its security against the challenges such as those posed by terrorism. +He also wished the injured speedy recovery and offered all required assistance for their treatment. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in his message on World Environment Day has said that this day is the right time to reaffirm our commitment to protecting our environment and nurturing a better planet. +The Prime Minister in his message has saluted the will and determination of all those individuals and organisations working towards protecting the environment. +We salute the will and determination of all those individuals and organisations working towards protecting the environment. +This year’s theme of ‘Connecting People to Nature’ is nothing but getting connected with ourselves.” +His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the Religious Head of the Dawoodi Bohra Community, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi today. +He was accompanied by a nine-member delegation. +The Prime Minister appreciated the social reform efforts of the Dawoodi Bohra community, and said the Union Government fully supported these initiatives. +The Prime Minister also appreciated the progress made by the Dawoodi Bohra community, in the development of the Bhendi Bazaar area of Mumbai as a smart city. +The Prime Minister urged the Dawoodi Bohra community to work towards development of toilets in the villages along the banks of the River Ganga. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, met the Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu on Sunday. +The two leaders reviewed the robust relationship, and rapidly growing trade. +They also discussed how ties could be further expanded. +The Israeli side briefed the Prime Minister on their perception of the situation in West Asia. +Defence ties and cooperation in the field of computer software, and cyber security were also discussed. +Issues of water management and agriculture in arid areas came up for discussion, with Israel offering to share its technology in this regard. +The Prime Minister also outlined his vision of waste water management and solid waste management in 500 towns across India. +The Israeli Prime Minister extended an invitation to Shri Narendra Modi to visit Israel. +The duration of each training programme shall be of two to three weeks. +The Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development Management Course at NIRD & PR under this scheme is for one year. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has wished the people of Jharkhand on their Statehood Day. +“On their Statehood Day, I extend my best wishes to the people of Jharkhand. +I pray that Jharkhand continues to develop in the years to come,” the Prime Minister said. +‘It’s my destiny to serve Maa Ganga’ said PM Modi when he was elected in May 2014 to Parliament from Varanasi, situated on the banks of Ganga in Uttar Pradesh. +The River Ganga is important not only for its cultural and spiritual significance but also because it hosts more than 40% of the country’s population. +Addressing the Indian community at Madison Square Garden in New York in 2014, the Prime Minister had said, “If we are able to clean it, it will be a huge help for the 40 per cent population of the country. +So, cleaning the Ganges is also an economic agenda.” +To translate this vision, the Government launched an integrated Ganga conservation mission called ‘Namami Gange’ to arrest the pollution of Ganga River and revive the river. +The Union Cabinet approved the action plan proposed by Centre to spend Rs 20,000 Crores till 2019-2020 on cleaning the river, increasing the budget by four-fold and with 100% central share – a central sector scheme. +Recognizing the multi-sectoral, multi-dimensional and multi-stakeholder nature of the Ganga Rejuvenation challenge, efforts have been made to improve the inter-ministerial, and centre-state coordination with increased involvement in preparation of action plan and increased monitoring at central and state levels. +The implementation of the program has been divided into entry-level activities (for immediate visible impact), medium term activities (to be implemented within 5 years of time frame), and, long-term activities (to be implemented within 10 years). +Entry-level activities includes river surface cleaning to address the floating solid wastes; rural sanitation to arrest the pollution (solid & liquid) entering through rural sewage drains and construction of toilets; renovation, modernization, & construction of crematoria that prevents the disposal of un-burnt/ partially burnt bodies in the river; repair, modernization & construction of ghats to improvise the human-river connect. +Medium-term activities will focus on arresting the municipal and industrial pollution entering into the river. +To address the pollution through municipal sewage, 2500 MLD additional treatment capacity is to be created in next 5 years. +Major financial reforms are underway to make the program efficient, accountable, and sustainable in the long term. +Hybrid Annuity based Public Private Partnership model for project implementation is currently being considered by the Cabinet. +If approved, Special Purpose Vehicle will manage concessionaires in all major cities, market will be developed for treated water, and long term sustainability of assets will be assured. +For managing the industrial pollution, efforts have been initiated to improvise the compliance through better enforcement. +Grossly Polluting Industries located along Ganga have been directed to reduce the effluent quality & volume or implement zero-liquid discharge. +Action plan for the implementation of these directions by Pollution Control Boards are already prepared and timelines have been assigned for each category of industry with detailed consultations. +All the industries have to install real-time on-line effluent monitoring stations. +Apart from these activities, biodiversity conservation, afforestation, and water quality monitoring are also being taken up under the program. +Programmes for conservation of key iconic species such as Golden Mahaseer, Dolphins, Ghariyals, Turtles, Otters, etc. have been already initiated. +Similarly, under ‘NamamiGange’ 30,000 hectares of land will be afforested for increased recharge of the aquifers, reduced erosion, and improved health of river ecosystem. +The afforestation programme is set to begin in 2016. +Also, comprehensive water quality monitoring will be done with installation of 113 real-time water quality monitoring stations. +Under the long-term, providing adequate flow to the river is envisioned through determination of e-flow, increased water-use efficiency, and improved efficiency of surface irrigation. +It is worth mentioning that cleaning river Ganga is extremely complex due to its socio-economic & cultural importance and yet, exploitation for various uses. +Never in the world such a complex program has been implemented and will require participation across sectors and each and every citizen of the country. +There are various ways in which each one of us can contribute to the cause of cleaning river Ganga: +• Contribution of funds: Restoring the quality of a river with the length and population as large as that of Ganga requires huge investments. +Government has already increased the budget by four-fold but still may not be enough to the requirements. +Clean Ganga Fund has been established that provides a platform to all for contributing funds to clean river Ganga. +• Reduce, Reuse and Recovery: Majority of us do not realize that used water and filth of our homes can end up in the rivers if not disposed properly. +Sewerage infrastructure is already being constructed by the Government but citizens can reduce the usage of water and generation of waste. +Reusing and Recovery of used water and organic waste & plastics can greatly benefit the program. +Let us all join hands to save our national river Ganga which is a symbol of our civilization and is an epitome of our culture and heritage! +President of the Republic of Korea, PARK Geun-hye, prominent CEOs of the two countries, other representatives of Business and Industry, ladies and Gentlemen! +I am extremely happy to be here with you this morning. +I also thank you for being with us. +I hope the interactions among the CEOs of the two sides would have been very fruitful. +India and Korea have had cordial relations from the ancient past. +The relationship between the two countries goes back to the first century, when an Indian Princess travelled from the kingdom of Ayodhya in North India to Korea by a boat. +She married the Korean King Suro and she became the first queen of the South Korean kingdom. +Several Koreans trace their lineage to her +We are also bound by the Buddhist traditions. +A famous Korean visitor to India was Hyecho, a Buddhist monk who visited India in the eighth century to know the language and culture of the land of Buddha. +He wrote the “account of travel to the five Indian kingdoms”. +We have so much in common. +No wonder then that Bollywood films are very popular in Korea. +I am here to build upon this relationship. +In fact, I have always been fascinated by Korea. +I came here when I was Chief Minister of Gujarat and even before that. +Honestly speaking, while in Gujarat, I used to wonder as to how a country of the size of Gujarat can do so much economic progress. +I admire the spirit of entrepreneurship of the Korean people. +I admire the way in which they have created and sustained their global brands. +From IT and Electronics to Automobile and Steel, Korea has given exemplary products to the world. +Similarly, Korean companies are very strong in construction sector and were involved in building iconic structures around the world. +You also have an impressive infrastructure and record for R & D as well as innovation. +We in India want to achieve a lot of what Korea has already done. +That is why I, along with a large business delegation, are here. +The good news is that India-Korea bilateral trade has risen after signing of Korea-India CEPA in January 2010. +The South Korean investment zone in Rajasthan State is progressing well. +Several Hundred Korean companies are operating in India. +Hyundai Motor is the 2nd largest car manufacturer of India. +However, there is still a lot of scope for improvement. +South Korea ranks only 14th in FDI flows in India. +I can admit that the reason for this low volume of FDI lies with us not with you. +But I can tell you that India was and is a land of potentials. +Now, India is also a land of enabling policy environment. +Moreover, there is renewed commitment of my Government for changing the face of the country. +We can join hands in the mutual benefit of our people and industry. +There is a lot that we can do together. +For example, there is potential for cooperation between India’s software and Korea’s hardware industry. +Your car making and our designing capabilities can be put together. +Though we have become the third biggest producer of steel, we need to add a lot of value in it. +Your steel-making capacity and our resources of iron ore can be put together. +Your ship-building capacity and our agenda of port led development can become driver of our growth. +Infrastructure including housing is another field where we can work together in a big way. +In my last visit, I had gone to see your wonderful Saemangeum project. +We have to create many such Saemangeums. +Let us do this for mutual benefit and with a win-win spirit. +Since my Government has taken over, we are working day and night to create conditions for faster and inclusive growth. +With your presence in India and through your interactions with our CEOs, you must already be knowing what we are doing and in which direction we are going. +I would only throw some light on the size and scale of the opportunities. +For this purpose, we have refined our FDI Policy in construction. +We have eased the conditions for Real Estate Investment Trusts for making investments. +We are also coming up with a regulatory framework for this sector. +We have targeted 175 Giga Watt of renewable energy in next few years. +We have to upgrade our Highways. +This year we have made maximum allocation for these two sectors. +In addition we have opened up Railways for 100% FDI. +We are putting up new ports and modernizing the old ones through an ambitious plan called Sagarmala. +There is a similar focus on upgrading the existing Airports and putting up regional airports to enhance connectivity to places of economic and tourist importance. +We particularly want to promote manufacturing in a big way to create jobs for our youth. +For this purpose, we have launched a campaign called “Make in India”. +This campaign and commitment includes bringing our industrial infrastructure, policies and practices to best global standards and to convert India into a global manufacturing hub. +To provide digital infrastructure across the country, we have launched another campaign called Digital India. +Cleaner and greener development and Zero defect Zero effect manufacturing is another commitment. +We have launched a clean India campaign with emphasis on adoption of better environmental technologies. +To enable all this, in last eleven months, we have taken a series of measures to improve the business environment and enhance the investor confidence. +We do believe that ‘ease of doing Business’ has become an important factor in attracting investments in the country. +We also believe that FDI is important and it will not come in the country without a globally competitive business environment. +So, we are working aggressively for making India a very easy place to do business. +To create employment and self-employment opportunities in the country, we have launched the Skill India Mission and other innovative missions. +On the other hand, we have fast tracked approvals in industry and infrastructure. +This includes environmental clearances, industrial and shipping licences. +In addition, we also enhanced the FDI limits in key sectors like Defence and Insurance. +We also refined the FDI policy in medical devices sector to encourage the manufacturing of medical equipment. +Within a very short time, we introduced GST Bill in parliament. +We are making our taxation system more stable, predictable and transparent. +We have got good results of these initial steps. +The sentiments for private investment and inflow of foreign investment are positive. +Our growth rate is above 7%. +FDI inflows have gone up by 39% during April-2014 and February-2015 against the same period in previous year. +Many international financial institutions including the World Bank, IMF, OECD and others are predicting even faster growth in the coming years. +MOODY’s have recently upgraded the rating of India as positive on account of our concrete steps in various economic segments. +Thus, we have restored the global positioning of India in terms of its politics, governance and economy. +We are also prepared to work with you in making the conditions more conducive for you. +Yesterday, I announced the forming of a dedicated mechanism for hand holding of Korean investors. +It will be known as Korea Plus. +In addition I assure you of my personal attention if there are any issues. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has urged everyone to be a part of the first International Yoga Day celebrations. +“Tomorrow the world will celebrate the first Yoga Day. +I urge you all to be a part of it and inspire others to join as well”, the Prime Minister said. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and former Mayor of New York City, Mr. Michael Bloomberg, today announced a partnership between Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, to advance the “Smart Cities Initiative.” +The Smart Cities Initiative is a historic effort to promote economic growth, improve governance, and deliver more effective and efficient public services to India`s urban residents. +Under the partnership, Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide assistance to the Ministry of Urban Development to select cities for Smart Cities Mission funding on a continuous basis. +It will ensure that real citizen engagement happens, as people get involved both in design and execution of city development plans. +This will actualize the idea of cooperative and competitive federalism. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing and ratifying an Agreement between India and Jordan on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters. +The Agreement will help in the availability of relevant information for the prevention and investigation of Customs offences. +The Agreement is also expected to facilitate trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between the countries. +The Agreement would provide a legal framework for sharing of information and intelligence between the Customs authorities of the two countries and help in the proper application of Customs laws, prevention and investigation of Customs offences and the facilitation of legitimate trade. +The draft text of the Agreement has been finalized with the concurrence of the two Customs Administrations. +The draft Agreement takes care of Indian Customs’ concerns and requirements, particularly in the area of exchange of information on the correctness of the Customs value, tariff classification and origin of the goods traded between the two countries. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives due to landslide related accidents in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district. +“Pained by the loss of lives due to landslide related accidents in HP’s Mandi district. +My condolences with the families of the deceased. +I pray for the quick recovery of those injured in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh. +Team of NDRF is going to Mandi to take part in the rescue and relief operations and provide all possible assistance required.” the Prime Minister said. +Gentlemen present on the dais and brothers & sisters of Pune now gathered here in large numbers. +Only then we will be able to meet the challenges of this fast pace urbanisation. +This is sufficient for now so make only a small road. +In later stage when the road has to be widened, there comes encroachment on its side by persons residing there. +This leads to court cases and matter is kept in store for another 25-30 years. +This has been the practice. +Laying of water pipelines will begin and by the time work is over, there will be so much population there that the pipeline will become insufficient. +Then there will arise the issue of laying big pipelines but how? +This indicates that we have not cared for future requirements and opted that kind of development model which gives only short term gains. +Now a solution should be evolved. +It is our endeavour now to develop more than 50 Metro cities in one go. +You can imagine the magnitude of burden we have decided to bear. +A decision to implement this in staggered manner and efforts of delaying the process may have resulted in enhanced project cost with increased problems on one hand with no surety of fulfilment of requirements on the other. +So it is our resolve to take projects in hand in such a manner that it should be complete in the given time frame. +So if possible, effort should be to plan for things that are estimated to be required after 25-30 years. +Today this approach may not be economically viable but ones the process takes off, we will also learn getting economically viable. +We want to bring chances in quality of life. +Today a Herculean task of connecting 2.5 lakh panchayats through Optical Fibre Network in the country is underway. +This Digital India is not a city specific work. +We can not push forward the nation unless we link the entire country with latest technique and science. +For I-Way we need Optical Fibre connectivity throughout the country. +There is no parking space too. +Anyhow, better late than never. +I feel lucky in being with you now. +How happy Mr. Jagtap ji is feeling now, I don’t know. +It is very difficult to express ones happiness if arising out of political factors. +Just now Venkaiah ji said that Pune is getting 160 crore rupees instead of 28 crore rupees. +On the eve of elections, if a municipality have 160 crore in its coffers, what can not be done? +This happened because of my 8th November evening 8 pm address. +This is not only in Pune but all over the country with the increase of 200 to 300 percent income for urban bodies. +Everybody though that better place it here else this will be swept away by Modi. +In a country everyone is equal. +I am not criticising anyone. +But it gives heart burns and pain. +What the country has been made? +Law didn’t came into force. +Had it been enforced by those who were in power in 1988, there might have been no sin in the name of Benami. +The nation would have been safe. +Such sin has been committed by those. +You ask me should I allow this to go further. +Such timely steps would not have forced my 125 crore fellow countrymen to stand in queues. +I am also pained by this. +But this decision is for country. +Brothers and sisters I have special expectations from Pune. +This is a city of our country with industrial heritage. +This is an educational hub also. +If in the past Kashi was known for its intellectual bastion, so was Pune too. +IT profession has deep roots in Pune. +Can Pune march further towards online payment? +Can our mobile gets converted as mobile phone bank, yes or no? +This bank could be in our hands. +Business can be done at ones wish any time. +Is it necessary to stand in bank queue? +Is it required to stand outside ATM? +Whether every facility is available or not? +Will Pune people help me, yes or no? +This will go further. +Shri Sharad Rao, Kissan Leader are here with us. +After 8th November it is now Rs. 100 everywhere glittering. +Small currency has now more value. +But you might have seen earlier instances. +Some people thought that all governments are alike. +Same as in the past. +Later we are all the way. +Have done this for years and will do it again. +Taking this as granted they went for bank deposits in the hope of getting it converted to white and valid. +With state of the art technology everyone can be traced right from his home to everywhere. +After one, two or three months everyone will be asked and approached for their transactions. +Return back that one belonged to poor. +Hence forth their no escape route. +So from this Pune soil I want to appeal everyone that be a law respecting and following person. +There are still certain rules that can be of your help. +Come on the right track and have a peaceful tension less nap, There will be nothing to worry. +If you don’t return then I am not going to rest. +Brothers and sisters I have started this war against corruption, black money, fake currency, terrorism and naxalism not for saying only but for with a big stride. +Now it is the turn of 125 crore people to have their say. +You will see this and this has begun. +Many bank employees have been rested to their homes. +Some were dismissed and some have been imprisoned. +This is the power of double engine. +So you gave us an opportunity for this and for this many- many thanks to you all. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the Myanmar military transport plane crash. +“Deeply saddened at the tragic loss of Myanmar’s military transport plane. +India stands ready to help in every way in the recovery efforts”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the cooperation between Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), India and Republic of Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) to strengthen and promote scientific and technical cooperation in the field of railways. +The MoU was signedon 10thJuly 2018. +The MoU will provide a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector with its Korean counterpart. +It will facilitate exchange of technical experts, reports and technical documents, training and seminars/ workshops focusing on specific technology areas and other interactions for knowledge sharing. +The MoU will provide a framework of cooperation for focused approach in following key areas:- +1. Planning and execution of Joint research for the mutual interests; +2. Co-operation in setting up of latest railway R&D facilities in India; +3. Planning and execution of Technical seminar or forum; +4. Short Term Training Programme for RDSO personnel by KRRI; +5. Exchange Programme of Personnel between KRRI & RDSO for limited period, for specific Projects; +6. Consultancy for the development of railway industry of both the countries; and +7. Any other form of cooperative activities agreed upon by the Parties. +Ministry of Railways have signed MoUs for technical cooperation in the Rail sector with various foreign Governments and National Railways. +The identified areas of cooperation include high speed corridors, speed raising of existing routes, development of world class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure, etc. +The cooperation is achieved through exchange of information on developments in areas of railways technology & operations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training & seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest. +The Foreign Minister of Japan, Mr. Fumio Kishida, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. +Referring to his close personal friendship with the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister Modi reiterated that India-Japan relationship is close to his heart and he attaches the highest importance to it. +He conveyed his congratulations to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on his recent victory in the general elections in Japan. +Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will interact directly with farmers across the country through video bridge at 9.30am tomorrow. +The interaction will provide an opportunity to hear directly from the farmers. +Initiatives related to doubling the farmer’s income will also be discussed. +It will be broadcast directly by Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s, Common Service Centers (CSC), Doordarshan, DD Kissan and Aakashvaani from all over the country. +People will also be able to interact with the Prime Minister through “Narendra Modi App”. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur on their Statehood Day. +During my recent visit to the Northeast, I was fortunate to have inaugurated the first train that brought Meghalaya on India’s railway map. +This will add tremendous impetus to Meghalaya’s progress. +I am committed to leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the dreams of Meghalaya’s youngsters are fulfilled and they get opportunities to shine.” +I have very fond memories of my visit to Tripura in December last year. +I will always remember your warm nature and the excellent hospitality. +I hope Manipur scales newer heights of progress in the years to come. +I can never forget the enthusiasm with which I was welcomed to Manipur during my recent visit. +I was fortunate to join the Sangai Festival, which showcases Manipur’s rich culture. +We are very proud of the hardwork and dynamism of the people of Manipur. +We are committed to doing everything possible that will give an impetus to Manipur’s all-round development.” +The Prime Minister also tweeted his greetings in local languages of the three states. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. +“The valour of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose makes every Indian proud. +We bow to this great personality on his Jayanti”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing the Memorandum of Understanding between India and United Arab Emirates for cooperation in the field of Small and Medium Enterprises and Innovation. +The MoU would benefit Indian SMEs and lead to equitables and inclusive development. +The exposure to best practices in SME sector abroad would provide an opportunity to Indian SMEs to improve upon them and innovate further. +It would also provide to Indian SME sector an opportunity to have a mutually beneficial relation with SME sector of the United Arab Emirates and to explore their markets. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Meghalaya on their Statehood Day. +“I will always cherish the affection of the people of Meghalaya. +The state’s natural beauty is enchanting. +I pray for good health and wellbeing of the people of Meghalaya”, the Prime Minister said. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Denmark regarding cooperation in the areas of food safety. +The MoU was signed on 16thApril 2018. +The MoU will help improve food safety standard setting by getting access to best practices and facilitating food trade of important commodities. +Shri Ramnath Kovind, Governor of Bihar, +Venerable MING KUANG SHI from Taiwan, +Venerable THICH THIEN TAM from Vietnam, +Venerable TELO TULKU RINPOCHE from Russia, +Venerable Banagala Upatissa from Sri Lanka, +My Ministerial colleague Shri Kiren Rijiju, +Minister Lyonpo Namgay Dorji of Bhutan, +Minister Bayarsaikhan of Mongolia, +Venerable members of the Maha Sanga, visiting Ministers and Diplomats from foreign countries, +I am very happy to be in the midst of all of you. +I feel very blessed to be here at Bodh Gaya. +After Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, I have the opportunity to visit this sacred place. +I am meeting you all on a very special day. +Today, we in India are observing Teachers’ Day, to commemorate the birth anniversary of our 2nd President, a great scholar and teacher, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. +In this symposium we have been talking about one of the most impactful teachers in world history, Gautama Buddha. +His teachings have inspired millions of people over centuries. +Today, we are also celebrating Janmashtami, the day Lord Krishna was born. +The world has so much to learn from Lord Krishna. +When we talk about Lord Krishna we say, श्री कृष्णम वंदे जगतगुरुम -Shri Krishna, the teacher of all teachers; the Guru of all Gurus. +Both, Gautama Buddha and Lord Krishna have taught the world so much. +The themes of this conference, in a way are inspired by the values and ideals given by these two greats. +Shri Krishna gave his message before the start of the Great War in the Mahabharata and Lord Buddha repeatedly emphasized on rising above warfare. +The message by both of them was about establishing Dharma. +Both of them gave great prominence to principles and processes. +Gautama Buddha gave the eight-fold path and the Panchsheel. while Shri Krishna gave invaluable lessons of life in the form of Karma Yoga. +These two divine souls had the strength to bring people together, rising above differences. +Their teachings are most practical, eternal and are more relevant in this day and age than ever before. +The place where we are meeting makes it even more special. +We are meeting in Bodh Gaya, a land that has a distinctive place in the history of humankind. +This is the land of enlightenment. +Years ago, what Bodh Gaya got was Siddhartha but what Bodh Gaya gave to the world was Lord Buddha, the epitome of knowledge, peace and compassion. +This is, therefore the ideal venue for a dialogue and meeting here on the auspicious day of Janmashtami and the special day of Teachers’ Day makes this unique. +It was my great privilege to have participated in the Inaugural function of the first International Hindu Buddhist Initiative on “Conflict Avoidance and Environmental Consciousness” hosted by the Vivekananda International Foundation and Tokyo Foundation with the support of the International Buddhist Confederation at Delhi day before yesterday. +The Conference was conceptualised on shifting the paradigm from conflict resolution to conflict avoidance and from environmental regulation to environmental consciousness. +I had shared some of my thoughts on the two critical themes which are threatening humanity as no other challenge before. +This is an extraordinary development which coincides with the rise of Asia as an economic and civilisational phenomenon. +The themes of the conference, informed and shaped by the Hindu-Buddhist civilisational and cultural perspectives, promise to deepen the notion of conflict avoidance philosophy and environmental consciousness in Asia and beyond. +The two day conference seems to have arrived at a broad consensus on both issues. +On the issue of conflicts — most of which are being driven by religious intolerance — the participants in the conference seem to have agreed that while there is no problem about the freedom to practise one’s religion, it is when the radical elements try to force their own ideologies on others, that the potential for conflict arises. +On the issue of environment, the conference seems to have agreed that the philosophic underpinning of the Dharma, which stresses the protection of natural heritage, is critical for sustainable development. +I may add that the United Nations too has arrived at the view that sustainable development is achievable only through aligning development to the local culture of the people. +This, in my view, is a positive turn in the development modelling of the world of diversity. +I may add that the turn in thinking at the global level has created the eco-system for the Hindu-Buddhist societies to carry forward their consensual ideas to the global fora. +I personally consider the Hindu Buddhist Conference on Conflict Avoidance and Environmental Consciousness as an important development in a world that seems to be short of durable ideas on both issues. +Hindu philosophy was one of the greatest beneficiaries of the advent and the teachings of the Lord Buddha. +Many scholars have analysed the impact of Buddha on Hinduism. +In fact, Adi Sankara was even critiqued for the way he was influenced by the Buddha and Sankara was called as “Prachhanna Boudha” — meaning Sankara was Buddha in disguised form. +That was the extent of influence of the Buddha on Adi Sankara, regarded by many as the tallest Hindu philosopher. +At the mass level Buddha was so venerated that Jayadeva in his Geeta Govinda even praised him as Mahavishnu or God himself who descended to preach Ahimsa. +So, Hinduism after the Buddha’s advent became Buddhist Hinduism or Hindu Buddhism. +They are today an inseparable amalgam. +This is how Swami Vivekananda praised Buddha. +At the time Buddha was born, India was in need of a great spiritual leader, a prophet. +Buddha never bowed down to anything, neither Veda, nor caste, nor priest, nor custom. +He fearlessly reasoned so far as reason could take him. +Such a fearless search for truth and such love for every living thing the world has never seen. +Buddha was more brave and sincere than any teacher. +Buddha was the first human being to give to this world a complete system of morality. +He was good for good’s sake, he loved for love’s sake. +Buddha was the great preacher of equality. +Every man and woman has the same right to attain spirituality— that was his teaching. +I would personally call India Buddhist India as it has imbibed all the values and virtues of the teachings of Buddha by their religious scholars incorporating them in their literature. +When this highest tribute is paid by one of the great Hindu philosophers would it be wrong to call today’s Hinduism in quality and substance as Buddhist Hinduism? +Buddha is the crown jewel of the Indian Nation which accepts all ways of worship of all religions. +This quality of Hinduism in India was a product of many great spiritual masters chief among them was Buddha. +And this is what sustains the secular character of India. +The Enlightenment which Buddha attained in Bodh Gaya also lit the light of enlightenment in Hinduism. +As the first Servant of this ancient nation I revere Buddha as a reformer of not only Hinduism but also the world, who has given all of us a new world view and vision which is critical for the survival of all of us and the entire world. +I recognise how Buddhists all over the world revere Bodh Gaya as a place of pilgrimage. +We in India would like to develop Bodh Gaya so that it can become the spiritual capital and civilisational bond between India and the Buddhist world. +The government of India would like to provide all possible support that its Buddhist cousin nations need for the satisfaction of their spiritual needs from this holiest of holy places for them. +I am happy to read the Declaration of Buddhist Religions and Spiritual Leaders. +This declaration is the result of hardwork and extensive dialogue, which is why it is a pioneering document that will show us the way ahead. +I also echo Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, who the other day highlighted the importance of tolerance, appreciation of diversity, and spirit of compassion and fraternity. +His message to this august gathering and his continuous support for furthering this initiative is a matter of great strength for us. +Once again, my congratulations and best wishes to you all. +This conference has raised a hope and urge to go beyond clash and create a dialogue framework for civilizational harmony and world peace. +I wish you well in your constant and determined efforts to ensure that our wisdom reaches the future generations and that too in a manner in which they can practically relate to. +This is essential not for us or them but for the progress of the entire human race and the beautiful surroundings which we have got from Mother Nature. +Thank you very much. +Thanks a lot. +Following is the text of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s message on Swachh Bharat:- +“Dear Friends, +On 2nd October we are launching Swachh Bharat Mission, a massive mass movement, that seeks to create a Clean India. +I urge every one of you to devote at least hundred hours every year, that is two hours every week towards cleanliness. +We can’t let India remain unclean any longer. +On 2nd October I myself will set out with a broom and contribute towards this pious task. +Today, I appeal to everyone, particularly political and religious leadership, mayors, sarpanchs and captains of industry to plan and wholeheartedly engage in the task of cleaning your homes, work places, villages, cities and surroundings. +I request your active support and participation in our collective quest to make a Swachh Bharat.” +The Mou will support creation of long-term Research, Development & Innovation collaboration mechanism and to establish and strengthen cooperative network between Indian and Finnish organizations. +By funding need-oriented, ambitious joint projects of high international standards, the two countries aim to help reach world-class innovations beneficial to both countries. +It will also facilitate knowledge sharing and knowledge generation among scientists, researchers and industry in the two countries. +Identifying innovation as the cornerstone of the collaboration, both DBT and Business Finland have agreed to cooperate with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), the Public Sector Enterprise of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India for funding and implementing ambitious industry-led innovative and transnational projects. +Based on their mutual interest following research areas have been identified, i. +Mission Innovation; Biofuture platform: biofuels, bioenergy and biomass based products; +Other fields of life science industry +Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus +Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of the Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Education of the Government of the Republic of Belarus for Cooperation in the Field of Vocational Education and Training +MoU between Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India and Belarusian State Agricultural Academy, Gorki, Belarus for Cooperation in Agricultural Research and Education +Protocol amending the Agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus signed on April 16, 2007 +He was the architect of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Portugal. +We stand with Portugal in full support in this hour of grief. +It is a great pleasure for me to welcome all of you on this 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. +Thousands of you have travelled from far-off lands to join us here today. +Millions more are connected through digital platforms. +I wish to thank the Chief Minister, Siddharamaih ji, and his entire government for his assistance and efforts in organizing this event and making it a big success. +It is my particular pleasure to welcome Excellency the Prime Minister of Portugal, the Vice President of Suriname, the honourable Ministers from Malaysia and Mauritius to the event. +Their achievements, the name they have earned in their own societies and globally, are a great inspiration for all of us. +It also reflects the success, glory and enterprise of Indian diaspora the world over. +There are over 30 million Overseas Indians living abroad. +Their hard-work, discipline, law-abiding and peace loving nature are role models for other immigrant communities abroad. +And, sorry, did I mention our well known Information Technology professionals? +For this, we are strengthening the entire eco-system of our administrative arrangements. +Our response to the needs of the Indian nationals overseas is defined by Accessibility, sensitivity, speed and promptness. +Under Operation संकट मोचन in July 2016, we evacuated over one hundred and fifty Indian nationals from South Sudan within 48 hours. +Prior to that, we evacuated several thousands of our citizens from conflict situations in Yemen in well-coordinated, smooth and swift operations. +In the last two years – 2014-2016, we facilitated the repatriation of over ninety thousand Indian nationals from nearly 54 countries. +Through the Indian Community Welfare Fund we have assisted more than eighty thousand Indian nationals abroad/ who were in contingency situations. +For this, we have streamlined our systems and taken several measures to safeguard emigration of Indian workers. +About six lakh emigrants have been granted Emigration Clearance online for overseas employment through registered recruitment agents. +Online registration of foreign employers on e-Migrate portal has been made mandatory. +And, the grievances, complaints and petitions of the Indian migrant workers continue to be addressed online through e-Migrate and MADAD platforms. +We are also taking strict action against illegal recruitment agents in India. +We are aware of difficulties faced by Persons of Indian Origin from these countries in obtaining an OCI Card if they moved abroad four or five generations ago. +We acknowledge their concerns and have made efforts to address these issues. +We remain committed to addressing similar difficulties of PIOs in Fiji, Reunion Islands, Suriname, Guyana and other Caribbean States. +Under the scheme an overseas Indian can work for one to three months in an institution in India. +To meet this goal, in October last year,महात्मा गाँधी की जन्म दिवस पर, I had the honour of inaugurating the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi. +This Kendra is dedicated to the over-seas Indian community. +We want it to become a symbol of the global migration, experiences, struggles, achievements and aspirations of the Indian Diaspora . +I am very happy to know that 160 of these young over-seas Indians are here today to participate in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. +Last year, the first edition of the online quiz for young overseas Indians called “Bharat ko Jaano” saw participation of more than 5000 young NRIs and PIOs. +There are some amongst you who would like to contribute in business and investments. +Others may feel more comfortable supporting through contributions made to Swachh Bharat, Namami Gange and others. +Some others may feel motivated to spare their valuable time and effort in volunteering in India helping the under-privileged or contributing to capacity building programs in various sectors. +We welcome all your efforts that seek to strengthen India’s partnership with the over-seas Indian community. +Finally, I would like to say that as Indians, we have a common heritage that brings us all together. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, attended the CPSE Conclave at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi today. +Thematic presentations were made to the Prime Minister on subjects such as corporate governance, human resource management, financial re-engineering, innovations and technology, and Vision 2022 for New India. +Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister described this conclave as a new beginning in the public sector sphere. +Appreciating the presentations, the Prime Minister said that the Union Government has given operational freedom to the public sector undertakings, so that they can improve their performance. +He said PSUs have contributed significantly in nation-building, and in the nation’s economy, since independence. +He said that for Public Sector Enterprises, both profit and generating social benefit are important. +Complimenting the PSE employees for their contribution, the Prime Minister said that major objectives of the Government, such as electrifying all unelectrified villages, and providing LPG connections to the poor, could not have been fulfilled without the hard work of the PSE workers. +The Prime Minister said that it is not enough to rest on past laurels, but is also important to adapt to emerging challenges. +He said enterprise and innovation should be the guiding principles in the 21st century. +He said Incentives, Imagination and Institution Building would be the three keys to success. +The Prime Minister exhorted PSEs to help in making the New India, through changes in technology and processes. +For this he said, PSEs would need a 5-P formula – Performance, Process, Persona, Procurement and Prepare. +Elaborating the same, he mentionedimproving operational and financial performance; transparency and accountability in processes; procurement through the GeM platform and from MSMEs; and preparation for technological disruptions such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing and Robotics. +He set five challenges before the PSEs, for New India: +By 2022, how will Indian PSUs maximize their geo-strategic reach? +By 2022, how will Indian PSUs minimize the country’s import bill? +By 2022, how will Indian PSUs integrate innovation and research? +By 2022, what will be the roadmap for Indian PSUs to optimally utilize their CSR Fund? +By 2022, what new development model will Indian PSUs give the country? +The Prime Minister said that out of the 500 biggest companies in the world, one-fourth belong to the public sector in some country. +He suggested that Indian PSUs can link with PSUs with other countries, and develop a comprehensive strategy for overseas investment. +He said PSUs can also play a key role in reducing India’s import bill. +In this context, he called for greater information sharing among CPSEs and Government Departments. +The Prime Minister suggested that the CSR spend of CPSEs should be focused largely on one specific theme each year. +In this context, he noted the success that was achieved when this CSR spend was utilized for toilet construction in schools. +He said one good theme could be the development of aspirational districts. +He said CPSEs can also take up skill development programmes, as part of CSR. +The Prime Minister said CPSEs can work as role models in many areas such as paperless work culture, cashless transactions, and waste management. +The Prime Minister expressed hope that CPSEs would participate in a big way in realizing the resolve of New India. +Cabinet approvesKanpur Metro Rail Project 14 Elevated and 8 underground Stations along 23.785 km IIT-Naubasta Corridor 4 Elevated and 4 underground Stations along 8.60 km in Agricultural University to Barra-8 corridor Rs.11076.48 Crore Project to be completed in 5 years +Highlights of Kanpur Metro Rail Project include- +2. The length of Agriculture University to Barra-8 corridor is 8.60 km comprising of 4 Elevated & 4 Underground stations. +Agriculture University to Barra-8 corridor will provide smooth connectivity to various densely populated residential areas including Kakadeo and Govind Nagar etc. +The Metro will provide Eco friendly and sustainable Public Transport to residents, commuters, industrial workers, visitors and travelers. +About 40 Lakh population is expected to be benefitted by Kanpur Metro Rail Project directly and indirectly at the time of commencement of commercial operations. +The proposed corridors will be having Multimodal Integration with Railway Stations and will have feeder network of Bus, Intermediate Public Transport (IPT) and Non Motorized Transport (NMT). +The residential areas along these Metro Rail corridors shall be immensely benefitted by this project, as the people of these areas will be able to travel on trains from their own neighborhoods to reach different areas of the city conveniently. +The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Jharkhand and Odisha on 5th January 2019. +In Jharkhand, PM will unveil plaque to mark the layingoffoundation stone of revival of North Koel (Mandal Dam) project andKanhar Stone Pipeline irrigation system. +He will inaugurate the collective e-grihapravesh of twenty five thousand beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri AwasYojana through video conferencing. +He will also address a public gathering. +Prime Minister will then proceed to Odisha. +At Baripada, he will dedicate to the nation, Balasore-Haldia-Durgapur section of LPG pipeline project of IOCLand the Balasore multi modal logistic park. +The Prime Minister will unveil plaque to mark the commencement of work for the development and conservation of Rasika Ray temple at ancient fort, Haripurgarh. +He will also flag off the second passenger train from Tatanagar to Badampahar. +He will also address a public gathering at Baripada. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today met India’s Blind World Cup winning team. +The team had won the 4th ODI World Cup, 2014 for the Blind, hosted by South Africa earlier this month. +The Prime Minister was presented a special cricket ball which is used for blind cricket. +He later asked the players to sign on the ball, adding that he would present this ball to a museum in a cricket club. +The Prime Minister told the players that they had not only brought laurels to the India, but had also inspired many physically challenged people through their feats. +The Prime Minister met each of the cricketers individually, and posed for photographs with them. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing and ratifying of an Agreement between India and Qatar on Co-operation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters. +The Agreement aims to entering into a bilateral Agreement on co-operation Customs matters between India and Qatar. +The Agreement will help in the availability of relevant information for the prevention and investigation of Customs offences. +The Agreement is also expected to facilitate trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between the countries. +Qatar is an important trading partner of India. +Trade between the two countries has been expanding over the years. +In view of the steady growth in bilateral trade, it was felt imperative to provide a legal framework for sharing of information and intelligence between the Customs authorities of the two countries to help in proper application of Customs laws, prevention and investigation of Customs offences and to facilitate legitimate trade. +A draft text of the Agreement has been finalized after mutual discussions. +It takes care of Indian Customs’ concerns and requirements, particularly in the area of exchange of information on correctness of the Customs value declared, the authenticity of certificates of origin of goods and the description of the goods traded between the two countries. +In the run-up to COP-21, the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, scheduled later this year, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today met the Heads of Delegations of Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) in New Delhi. +India has hosted a meeting of the LMDCs over the last two days. +Interacting with the delegates, the Prime Minister emphasized that the world, which is now well aware of the challenge of climate change, also needs to be made aware about the principle of climate justice. +He said there is a need to counter the atmosphere being created by certain groups, including in developing countries, that development and growth are enemies of the environment – and all those who pursue development and growth are therefore guilty. +He said that the world needs to be convinced that developing countries are not enemies of environment. +The Prime Minister suggested that there should be a common school syllabus on environmental subjects across the world, both in developed and developing countries, so that the younger generation grows up with common goals in the battle against climate change. +The Prime Minister laid emphasis on the need for the developed world to fulfil its commitments with regard to sharing clean technology, and providing financial assistance to help the developing world combat climate change, while simultaneously meeting its legitimate development aspirations. +He said that while the developed countries should have targets for emission cuts, developing countries should work on targets of encouragement, such as initiatives towards renewable energy and green buildings. +The Prime Minister called for a change in lifestyle to reduce energy consumption. +He said India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the LMDCs on climate issues. +The Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Shri Prakash Javedekar, was present during the interaction. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has made the following appointments to the NITI Aayog: +Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Former Secretary Defence R&D +Shri Rajnath Singh, Union Minister +Shri Arun Jaitley, Union Minister +Shri Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister +Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister +Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister +Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot, Union Minister +1. H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, is currently paying an official visit to China at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. +Prime Minister Modi called on H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China and held talks with H.E. Mr. Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council. +He also met with H.E. Mr. Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. +Prime Minister Modi expressed his deep appreciation for the special gestures extended by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang during the visit and thanked the Chinese people for the warm welcome accorded to him. +2. Leaders of the two countries reviewed the progress of bilateral relations. +The two sides shared the view that President Xi’s visit to India in September 2014 was a significant milestone in the development of bilateral relations. +3. The leaders agreed that simultaneous re-emergence of India and China as two major powers in the region and the world offers a momentous opportunity for realisation of the Asian Century. +They noted that India-China bilateral relations are poised to play a defining role in the 21st Century in Asia and indeed, globally. +This constructive model of relationship between the two largest developing countries, the biggest emerging economies and two major poles in the global architecture provides a new basis for pursuing state-to-state relations to strengthen the international system. +Strengthening Political Dialogue and Strategic Communication. +5. The two sides agreed to regular visits at the level of Heads of State/ Government. +7. Acknowledging the contribution of high-level exchanges organised under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in fostering cooperation and understanding, the two sides agreed to institutionalise and expand the exchange mechanism. +8. In order to facilitate and promote greater cultural, tourism, economic and people-to-people engagement between the two countries, an additional Consulate General shall be established in each other’s country. +9. The two sides believed that enhanced military ties are conducive to building mutual trust and confidence. +The fifth joint counter-terrorism training between the two armies will be held in China in 2015. +The two sides will exchange visits of naval ships and hold PASSEX and SAR exercises. +10. The two sides acknowledged the positive role of the Agreements and Protocols that have been signed so far in maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas. +11. The two sides affirmed that an early settlement of the boundary question serves the basic interests of the two countries and should be pursued as a strategic objective by the two governments. +Bearing in mind the overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoples, the two sides are determined to actively seek a political settlement of the boundary question. +Next Steps in Closer Developmental Partnership. +13. The two sides resolved to work together to further strengthen their closer developmental partnership as it would provide impetus to economic growth and prosperity of the two countries as well as of their respective regions and the world at large. +14. Taking note of the increase in two-way trade and investment flows in the past few years, the two sides acknowledged its positive contribution to strengthening their overall bilateral relationship and to supporting each other’s growth and development processes. +15. The two sides resolved to take joint measures to alleviate the skewed bilateral trade so as to realize its sustainability. +Such measures will include cooperation on pharmaceutical supervision including registration, speedier phytosanitary negotiations on agro-products for two-way trade, stronger links between Indian IT companies and Chinese enterprises, and increasing services trade in tourism, films, healthcare, IT and logistics. +Both sides will make full use of the India-China Joint Economic Group to work on this. +The leaders welcomed the decision to expedite discussion and endeavour to favourably address, in the spirit of mutual cooperation and reciprocity, the issues pertaining to tariff reduction in respect of relevant Indian products under the framework of Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement. +16. The two leaders agreed that the Strategic Economic Dialogue is an important mechanism to explore new areas of bilateral economic cooperation. +The next meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue, co-chaired by Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog of India and Chairman of NDRC of China, will be held in India during the second half of 2015. +17. The leaders noted with appreciation the positive momentum in investment projects as Chinese companies respond to the invitation to ‘Make in India’ and Indian companies expand their presence in China. +They welcomed the Action Plan outlining the next steps in the partnership in this key infrastructure sector. +19. The leaders welcomed the signing of the MoU to institute a dialogue mechanism between the NITI Aayog of India and the Development Research Centre of the State Council of China. +20. The two sides expressed their readiness to enhance cooperation between the financial regulators and enterprises of the two countries in support of the building of the Closer Developmental Partnership. +Culture and People-to-people Exchanges. +21. Prime Minister Modi and Premier Li attended the Yoga-Taichi demonstration event in Beijing on 15 May 2015. +The two sides also agreed to work together to successfully organize events related to the International Yoga Day on 21 June 2015. +The leaders welcomed collaboration between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Yunnan National University. +22. The leaders noted that enhanced exchanges among education institutions of the two sides will play a positive role in socio-economic development of the two sides. +They welcomed the signing of the expanded Educational Exchange Programme. +23. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved in the India-China Cultural Exchange Initiative. +The two sides will have the annual exchange of 200 youths from each side in the second half of this year. +24. The agreements on establishing a provincial partnership between Karnataka and Sichuan and sister-city relationships between Aurangabad – Dunhuang, Chennai – Chongqing and Hyderabad – Qingdao were welcomed. +25. With a view to foster closer dialogue and mutual understanding, the two sides decided to establish a ‘India-China Think Tanks Forum’, which will meet annually, alternately in India and China. +They also agreed to institutionalize the ‘High Level Media Forum’ and tasked the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the State Council Information Office of China to convene it on an annual basis, alternately in India and China. +The leaders welcomed the establishment of the Center for Gandhian and Indian Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai. +New Avenues for Cooperation +26. The leaders welcomed continuous enrichment of India-China Closer Developmental Partnership with its expansion into newer areas of cooperation. +The leaders welcomed initiation and expansion of cooperation in the following fields and mandated the relevant agencies to implement the projects in a purposeful manner: +(i). Enhanced cooperation in vocational training and skill development, including through the signing of the Action Plan on the establishment of Mahatma Gandhi National Institute for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship at Gandhinagar/Ahmedabad in Gujarat; +(ii). Initiating cooperation in development of smart cities with identification of GIFT City in India and Shenzhen in China as pilot smart cities for joint demonstration projects; +(iii). In peaceful uses of outer space and the peaceful use of nuclear energy; +(iv). In the sphere of public health, medical education and traditional medicine; +(v). Welcomed the establishment of the Space Cooperation Mechanism between space authorities of India and China and the signing of the 2015-2020 Space Cooperation Outline between the Indian Space Research Organization of the Republic of India and China National Space Administration of the People’s Republic of China. +The two sides agreed to reinforce the cooperation in the field of Satellite Remote Sensing, Space-Based meteorology, Space Science, Lunar and Deep Space Exploration, Satellite Navigation, Space Components, Piggy-back Launching Services, and Education and Training. +The two sides welcomed start of discussions on an agreement for transfer of sentenced persons. +Trans-border Cooperation. +27. The Indian side expressed appreciation to China for providing flood-season hydrological data and the assistance in emergency management. +The two sides will further strengthen cooperation through the Expert-Level Mechanism on the provision of flood-season hydrological data and emergency management, and exchange views on other issues of mutual interest. +28. The two sides recognized that enhancing border areas cooperation through border trade, pilgrimage by people of the two countries and other exchanges can effectively promote mutual trust, and agreed to further broaden this cooperation so as to transform the border into a bridge of cooperation and exchanges. +The two sides agreed to hold negotiation on augmenting the list of traded commodities, and expand border trade at Nathu La, Qiangla/Lipu-Lekh Pass and Shipki La. +29. The Indian side appreciated the support and cooperation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the local government of Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China to Indian pilgrims for the Kailash Manasarover Yatra (Gang Renpoche and Mapam Yun Tso Pilgrimage). +To further promote religious exchange between the two countries and provide facilitation for Indian pilgrims, the Chinese side would launch the route for the Yatra through Nathu La Pass in 2015. +Shaping the Regional and Global Agenda. +30. As two major powers in the emerging world order, engagement between India and China transcends the bilateral dimension and has a significant bearing on regional, multilateral and global issues. +Both Sides agreed to not only step up their consultations on developments affecting international peace, security and development but also coordinate their positions and work together to shape the regional and global agenda and outcomes. +They agreed to further strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral forums including RIC, BRICS and G20, promote the interests of developing countries and the building of a better world. +India will support China in hosting the G20 summit in 2016. +31. The leaders welcomed the decision to launch a bilateral consultative mechanism on WTO-related issues as a positive step for enhancing coordination in the context of global trade talks. +32. Both sides reiterated their strong condemnation of and resolute opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and committed themselves to cooperate on counter-terrorism. +They agreed that there is no justification for terrorism and urged all countries and entities to work sincerely to disrupt terrorist networks and their financing, and stop cross-border movement of terrorists, in accordance with the relevant principles and purposes of the UN Charter and international laws. +They called for early conclusion of negotiations on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. +33. The two sides support a comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including recognizing the imperative of increased participation of developing countries in UN’s affairs and governance structures, so as to bring more effectiveness to the UN. +China attaches great importance to India’s status in international affairs as a large developing country, and understands and supports India’s aspiration to play a greater role in the United Nations including in the Security Council. +34. The two sides are ready to continue cooperation under the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. +China welcomed India’s application for full membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. +35. The two sides agreed to work together with relevant parties to accelerate the preparation for establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to promote regional infrastructure and economic development. +36. The two sides welcomed the progress made in promoting cooperation under the framework of the BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar) Economic Corridor. +Both sides recalled the second meeting of the Joint Study Group of BCIM Economic Corridor, and agreed to continue their respective efforts to implement understandings reached at the meeting. +37. The two sides agreed to broaden cooperation in SAARC. +China acknowledged India’s important role in driving the global economic growth, supported the openness of APEC, and welcomed India’s desire to strengthen its link with APEC. +39. The two sides welcomed the India-China Dialogue on Arms Control and Non-Proliferation held in Beijing on April 17, 2015. +Noting the commonalities in their approach to global arms control and non-proliferation, they agreed to continue their engagement bilaterally and in multilateral fora on arms control and non-proliferation. +The Chinese side took note of India’s aspirations to become a member of the NSG, in a bid to strengthen international non-proliferation efforts. +40. The two sides shared the view that the issue of climate change is of vital importance for the sake of today’s world and future generations. +The two sides issued Joint Statement on Climate Change between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the People’s Republic of China during the visit. +41. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Premier Li Keqiang to visit India at a mutually convenient time. +Premier Li accepted the invitation with pleasure. +The Indian Council for Cultural Relations organized a special event at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in Delhi today, to felicitate delegates from 188 countries, who participated in the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj. +Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, joined the 188 delegates for a historic group photo. +He said that this tradition has continued uninterrupted for thousands of years. +He said the Kumbh is as much about social reform as it is about spirituality. +He said that the Kumbh has been a forum for discussion among spiritual leaders and social reformers, to chart a roadmap for the future, and monitor progress. +The Prime Minister said that the effort is now to blend modernity and technology, with faith, spirituality, and cultural consciousness, at the Kumbh Mela. +He said that the world will recognize India, both for its modernity, and for its rich heritage. +He thanked the delegates from across the world, and said that their participation has also been an important part of the success of the Kumbh. +The Prime Minister described the Indian Parliamentary elections as a “Kumbh of Democracy.” +He said that just like the Kumbh Mela, Indian Parliamentary elections, with their huge scale and complete impartiality, can be a source of inspiration for the world at large. +He said people from across the world must also come to see India conduct its Parliamentary election. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan for cooperation in the Postal field. +The MoC seeks to improve postal services and cooperation in the postal field between the two countries. +The MoC would help improve postal services and cooperation in the postal field between India and Japan by: +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today released a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. +Speaking on the occasion, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, the Prime Minister appreciated Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, and said that the path shown by him is not about Mukti, but about ‘Antaryatra.’ +The Prime Minister said India’s spirituality is its strength, and it is unfortunate that some people link even spirituality with religion, whereas the two are very different. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has hoped of productive meetings and interactions at the BRICS and SCO Summits. +“It is very special to be in Russia, a Nation whose remarkable friendship with India has always been known. +The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Agreement between India and Myanmar on Land Border Crossing. +The Agreement will facilitate regulation and harmonization of already existing free movement rights for people ordinarily residing in the border areas of both countries. +It will also facilitate movement of people on the basis of valid passports and visas which will enhance economic and social interaction between the two countries. +The Agreement is an enabling arrangement for movement of people across India-Myanmar border. +It is expected to provide connectivity and enhance interaction of the people of North Eastern States of India with the people of Myanmar. +The Agreement would give a boost to the economy of the North East and allow us to leverage our geographical connections with Myanmar to boost trade and people to people ties. +The Agreement will safeguard the traditional rights of the largely tribal communities residing along the border which are accustomed to free movement across the land border. +He was speaking during a discussion to commemorate Constitution Day, and the 125th birth anniversary of the architect of the Constitution, Dr B. R. Ambedkar. +He said the nation cannot ignore or forget the exemplary contribution of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. +The Prime Minister outlined his vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat, which he had first referred to, at the “Run For Unity,” on Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary. +In the course of his remarks, the Prime Minister quoted Dr. Ambedkar, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and Max Mueller, and highlighted various aspects of their vision. +The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of veteran journalist and former Rajya Sabha member, Kuldip Nayar. +“Kuldip Nayar was an intellectual giant of our times. +Frank and fearless in his views, his work spanned across many decades. +I’m delighted that I got the opportunity to welcome my unique friend, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in India, especially in Gujarat. +Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit the Sabarmati Ashram with him. +Today both of us visited the Dandi Kutir. +This morning, together we carried out the ground-breaking ceremony of Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed railway project, which is being built with Japanese cooperation. +This is a very big step. +This is not just the beginning of high speed rail. +While looking forward at our future needs, I consider this new railway philosophy as the lifeline of a New India. +India’s uninterrupted progress has now been attached to a much faster pace. +Mutual trust and faith, understanding of each other’s interests and concerns, and continuous high level interactions, this is the uniqueness of Indo-Japan relations. +The scope of our special strategic and global partnership is not confined to bilateral or regional levels only. +We also have close cooperation on global issues. +Last year, during my visit to Japan, we had a historic agreement for peaceful use of nuclear energy. +I express my gratitude to the people of Japan, Parliament of Japan, and especially Prime Minister Abe for its ratification. +This agreement has added a new chapter to our cooperation on the issue of clean energy and climate change. +In 2016-17, India got Japanese investment worth $ 4.7 billion which is 80 percent more than the previous year. +Now Japan is the third largest investor in India. +It clearly shows how much confidence and optimism is prevalent in Japan towards India’s economic development and a golden tomorrow. +And by looking at this investment, it can be assumed that in the coming days people-to-people ties between India and Japan will grow further along with a growing business. +At the same time, I would also request the Japanese business community to open more Japanese restaurants in India! +Today, India is on the path of a radical change at many levels. +This is a huge opportunity for Japanese businesses. +And I’m glad that many Japanese companies are deeply involved with our flagship programs. +We will also get to see its direct benefit during our conversation in today’s evening program with the business leaders of both the countries. +We are the largest partner in Japan’s official development assistance programme and I warmly welcome the agreements that have been signed today for the projects in several sectors. +I am confident that our dialogue and the agreements signed by us today will further strengthen the partnership between India and Japan in all areas. +With these words, I once again warmly welcome Prime Minister Abe and the high level delegation accompanying him. +PM: Recovery of black money from abroad is an article of faith, and a commitment for me – we are on the right track. +Swachhta Abhiyaan is becoming a mass movement – I foresee good results. +Happy that people from all walks of life have begun to express willingness to take responsibility for social issues when they meet me. +Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has said that recovery of black money from abroad is an article of faith, and a commitment for him. +He said it was natural in a democracy that there could be different views about how to approach this issue, but he wished to assure the people on the basis of the information currently with him, that the Government was on the right track. +The Prime Minister said no one could have imagined that the Swachhta Abhiyaan would become such a mass movement. +He said good results are already visible. +The Prime Minister said children too are now aware about cleanliness. +The Prime Minister said he sees this as a big change. +The Prime Minister praised the officers of the Ministry of Human Resource Development for coming up with two innovative schemes for specially-abled children. +The Prime Minister referred to his visit and interaction with soldiers at Siachen on Diwali day. +He said he went there because we could celebrate Diwali only because of them. +The Prime Minister invited suggestions from people on how to tackle the menace of drug abuse among the younger generation. +He said he would talk about this subject in his next radio address. +Shri Narendra Modi stated that an active citizen is the biggest strength of development. +The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for Constitution of a Committee to recommend the process for conferring / recognizing ownership or transfer / mortgage rights to the residents of Unauthorized Colonies (UCs) in Delhi. +The Committee will be chaired by the Lt. Governor of Delhi with the following Members: +Vice Chairman, Delhi Development Authority (DDA); +Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs(MoHUA), Govt. of India; +Chief Secretary, Govt. of NCT of Delhi; +Commissioners of East, North and South Municipal Corporations of Delhi; +Chairman, Delhi Urban Arts Commission; +Professor, Urban Transport, School of Planning & Architecture (SPA), Delhi +Urban Planner & Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs; +Former Director, Delhi Fire Services; and +Principal Commissioner, DDA as Member Secretary. +The Committee constituted will submit its report in 90 days to the MoHUA. +On submission of this report by the Committee, Cabinet Secretariat will be informed and further action taken after considering recommendations of the Committee. +The recommendations of the Committee will provide a way forward for conferring ownership or transfer / mortgage rights to the people living in UCs in Delhi. +This is for the first time that the conferment of the above rights to the residents of UCs in Delhi is being considered. +